I have issues with the combat, it's very restricting with no freedom, Disarm is a BS mechanic that if you fail you insta die. Lethal difficulty is too punishing but hard mode is way to easy but that's a problem with all difficulty sliders games when you have to draw your own line and a great deal of frustration figuring out if it's you or the game. Lethal seems to be the way to go and and level with side content but I wish there was a middle option between these two. The weapons can be seen as stances but somehow it does not feel satisfying having to match a weapon against another, it goes against something the mind expects of a game but it's a bold decision and I have to respect it for what it is, something in a small way the has a feeling of uniqueness, almost indie game like.
With the above said, this is the closest any game has come to matching that RDR2 feeling of tranquility with engagement and it even does some things better like having side content or random stuff pull you back into progressing the main quest. It may lack the deep narrative and film quality VA of RDR2 but it has the feeling of the game down so well. The story telling here is extremely bold and while not unique it is the first time I've seen something loose like this actually working and feeling cohesive and tight yet loose and free with an illusion (at least I think it's a design trick where content just leads to an unlock that all gamers will converge on no matter what path they persue) of emergence.
Is the combat fun? Yes. Is it also annoying? Yes. Is it poorly designed? It's hard to say yet, it definitely wants you to play one certain way and while not a bad thing it does not match the rest of the games design philosophy. However it feels new and a tad unique.
This game will be extremely decisive. Many will hate it. Many will love it and some fools will cry woke. There will be a TLOU2 like debate between gamers for some time to come, I would reckon. I have a fair idea, just like TLOU2 I'll be a lover and not a hater.
Last edited by LegitHyperbole - on 04 October 2025
