Not sure if I like the sound of that. One of the things I enjoyed about the first game is that there wasn't a chore waiting around every corner. It let me enjoy the world more when there weren't so many things to do, and I think that was something that set the first game apart from many other open world games. Of course it wouldn't have worked if the world wasn't so gorgeous. I expect this to be a fun game anyway once I do end up getting it somehow, but I might have to temper my expectations further.

Atsu certainly has more personality than Jin. While I liked his over all story he was a bit bland by comparison.

I'm liking Atsu up until now, she is definitely more badass from the get go (well, it has been 16 years she is struggling and training for revenge already once the game starts), but Jin is not bland at all, Jin struggles with his prideful life and uncle and he develops quite the strong personality by the later parts of the game, to confront and lose all he believed in order to be able to protect his land. Jin is awesome.

I don't understand the camera in this game at all, it'll pull back when you're riding a horse and become super stiff. I feel with the inconsistencies with the camera both on horse and not they ate hiding a lot technical difficulties like when they blur the background of memories. Riding the horse esspecially through flower boosts is extremely aggravating. I feel like going on foot to most places same as The Oblivion remake but at least here things feel in reach rather than a massive trek but still very annoying that I can't get on my horse and have consistency in traveling.

What I will say that is really, very much actually amazing and top teir is the sounds and ambience. OMG hits so hard even in the most mundane parts of the game, alas, there is a lot of small nucenses holding this game atm, I hope to get used to it or it alleviates.

I don’t understand what you’re trying to say here, as the flow of the game is pretty much like it is in Tsushima, only improved and more varied. It doesn’t overwhelm you by stacking your objectives list with endless new elements like, say, Tear of the Kingdom, but there’s always something to do, something that sticks out of the landscape in the distance (like smoke, a peculiar tree, and the likes), various NPCs/enemies situations happening as you roam, etc.

The first game was pretty much like that as well, and GoY improves on it all.

You can change the camera on horseback between letterbox, fullscreen, and over the shoulder via R3 iirc. One thing I will say about the riding in this game is that I wish there was a speed between casual trot and full on sprint; feels like I'm either going too slow to bother with a horse or too fast to see anything I'm passing by. 

Oh cool, I'll try that and yep, it's Geralt controls for thr horse, not a deal breaker but one of those nagging things. 

Okay, electricity is gone from a storm here and I can't play. The game must be good cause I can't stop thinking about playing it. Can't wait to get in the world again and just be in it, I could give a fuck less about missions or content, I just want to wander and gawk at it and get lost and follow trivial little tasks, I'm solidly addicted. I have found my way back to the main story by accident, or maybe by intention cause they littler stuff in the side content that brings you back to the main quest or onto a completely different thread. I fucking love it 

Also. The fast travel is unbelievable, like I litterally can't believe it works so fast even though it clearly does, it's instant with zero loading. It is extremely impressive. 

Well, considering you answered exactly my concerns, I'd say you understand what I was trying to say. Sounds more promising than I thought when I posted my previous post, so thanks for the clarification!

I'd say I've properly adjusted to the combat by now. The new weapons and techniques like iaido are appreciated but honestly what I appreciate most are the animation flourishes. The extra finishers and combat animations in general make you feel like a total badass. I always made a point of manually sheathing my sword in Tsushima and now it's that much more satisfying.