SPOILER-FREE
Because I'm about 11 hours deep, six of those played yesterday, and I'm struggling to find anything at all I dislike about it. Graphics and sound are basically flawless, but the real meat is in the gameplay, naturally.
In terms of the basic game feel, character movement is smooth and responsive, attack feedback is thrilling (and taking a hit is heartbreaking every single time), even the way you climb the walls feels great.
The systems, the Charms - they feel like an advantage without being gamebreaking or a total power trip and they're managed perfectly. The Soul system balances risk/reward - do you take a long-range shot at this boss or save that Soul for a heal you may not even get space to execute?
The level design - this is the only game of its genre that I feel has handled platforming challenges/obstacle courses to any degree of excellence. The wall-climbing and air-dashing means you always feel mobile enough to tackle what it throws at you, so deaths always feel like your fault. And the map is beautifully stitched together - daunting at first, but genuinely relieving when you find the next Bench or Stag Station, or even an NPC for levity. Better yet, a Merchant. There's so much to find.
The boss battles are heart-in-mouth stuff. Challenge is high but always surmountable. You have what you need to survive and triumph, but they make you work for it.
I think this might be a masterpiece. Production values never feel compromised, it's a dedicated, brilliant game. Maybe it turns to garbage at hour 12, but I strongly doubt it. I mean, this to me is the equivalent of the very best AAA games, the very most thought-provoking art games. It's a 10/10, isn't it?
Because I'm about 11 hours deep, six of those played yesterday, and I'm struggling to find anything at all I dislike about it. Graphics and sound are basically flawless, but the real meat is in the gameplay, naturally.
In terms of the basic game feel, character movement is smooth and responsive, attack feedback is thrilling (and taking a hit is heartbreaking every single time), even the way you climb the walls feels great.
The systems, the Charms - they feel like an advantage without being gamebreaking or a total power trip and they're managed perfectly. The Soul system balances risk/reward - do you take a long-range shot at this boss or save that Soul for a heal you may not even get space to execute?
The level design - this is the only game of its genre that I feel has handled platforming challenges/obstacle courses to any degree of excellence. The wall-climbing and air-dashing means you always feel mobile enough to tackle what it throws at you, so deaths always feel like your fault. And the map is beautifully stitched together - daunting at first, but genuinely relieving when you find the next Bench or Stag Station, or even an NPC for levity. Better yet, a Merchant. There's so much to find.
The boss battles are heart-in-mouth stuff. Challenge is high but always surmountable. You have what you need to survive and triumph, but they make you work for it.
I think this might be a masterpiece. Production values never feel compromised, it's a dedicated, brilliant game. Maybe it turns to garbage at hour 12, but I strongly doubt it. I mean, this to me is the equivalent of the very best AAA games, the very most thought-provoking art games. It's a 10/10, isn't it?
