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SvennoJ on 08 December 2020
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Shaunodon said:
SvennoJ said:

I found very little in the main story, side quests, or environment that explores any of these topics. It's a tough world and a hard one to exist in, by design; with no apparent purpose and context to that experience, all you're left with is the unpleasantness.

"Questioning if that kind of world could even have purpose, or should exist at all, is another common and likely deliberate theme."

That's exactly what the reviewer complains about, the game does not explore or question the superficiality, which makes it superficial itself. Afaik this was not meant to be a 'game' like Airplane mode where the purpose is to simply give you the dreadful experience.

She does understand the context for making the world unpleasant. Her argument is that she misses the purpose and context to that experience, thus you only get the unpleasantness, like the superficial game Airplane mode.

Why does the game have to explore it for her? Does it need to spell everything out? Why can't those themes just be a by-product from experiencing the world, instead of being the main focus?

Not every story/plot needs to have a great philosophical journey and message, while plastering you with in-your-face social commentary. Some writers prefer to tell a more personal and gritty story, with the greater themes of purpose in the world being subtle and in the background. The reason "...all you're left with is the unpleasantness..." is because that's how the world is intended to feel. It's not meant to be a journey of hope and change, or finding purpose. It's about surviving and rebelling.

Again, this reviewer was searching for things in this game that were (probably) never intended to be there. It's not the kind of experience they wanted, and instead of judging it by what it does offer, they've given their own subjective viewpoint.

It doesn't have to but that makes it superficial set dressing, just like she said.

She doesn't ask for it to be spelled out, she asks for the game / characters to recognize the superficial world and react to it or at least acknowledge it. What are they rebelling against if none of these issues are touched on?

She also said she was disappointed in the main story and the side quests save the game. "The side quests and the characters they showcase are the shining beacon through the neon-soaked bleakness of Night City, and they give you room to explore the best the core RPG mechanics have to offer. These are what carried me through an otherwise disappointing experience." Not very different from TW3.