Recent reviews by Killpo1

I cannot in good conscience recommend an indie game with always online elements with no public dedicated servers in 2024, it's just asking for failure.

This isn't a gameplay review, this is a sustainability review. Even if you love the game you're still at the whims of the servers being kept online to enjoy a game you purchased.

First and foremost. This is an actual early access title, not a glorified beta with the disclaimer of "there will be bugs". A lot of the systems are rudimentary and untested, there are asset placeholders and the game is not optimized (in regards to FPS). On top of that there are bugs aplenty too.

With all of that being said, this game's atmosphere in its current state is great, and there really isn't another game quite like it in the Extraction shooter space, with the most notable item that this game is being developed for exclusively PvE coop. Don't get me wrong I love me some PvP but with PvP it brings in an entirely different balance and design decisions to a game, and the very vocal, and often a minority, along with it.

Summary:
This is a true early access game. It's a great start but expect a very bumpy ride, if you are easily frustrated and that turns you off of a game, wait for now, but if you want to get in early to a potentially great coop extraction shooter and see its progress, I'd recommend it.

A good base so far, excited to see what comes next.

Going into this thinking it's a traditional horror game is probably a mistake.

It's basically a very well done visual novel / interactive movie (albeit 100% on rails). I was able to finish it in a little over 3 hours. Atmosphere, voice acting, and set pieces / levels are all great. The story is good. There are several times throughout the game where you are avoiding monsters, most of these are either scripted escapes or a very simple game play loop of throw item, walk around monster. They were spaced well enough apart and were forgiving enough to be a short change of pace but not burdensome.

All in all, it's a nice little short experience, with the biggest thing going against is the expectation that games should last longer. For me personally I don't have buyer's remorse (even though I went into this game essentially blind) but I imagine that can easily change depending on what people expect for ~$30 USD.

Out of the blue pivot that they kept hidden from the player base for way too long. Feels incredibly shady. The fact that you can still buy Standard Edition right now when that will be defunct in 4 months also feels crazy.

Where to begin. This game is a hybrid 4X / RTS. It's not a true RTS and it isn't a true 4X. It takes elements of both and combines them into this weird mixture of both systems. Real time combat, tech trees, diplomacy, espionage and more. These systems that might be deep and fully fleshed out in their respective genres are simplified quite a bit, which is definitely alienating for people expecting a pure 4X or a pure RTS, as this is neither. If you're looking for a pure 4X or RTS (Dune 2000 remake) this is not it.

Without this expectation though, and definitely for fans of both genres there can be some appreciation for what they've managed to do here, as its truly a very unique experience that I haven't quite had before in a game.It creates complexity in the breadth of things available to you and decision trees become vast and complex as each game is always not quite like the last.

The game has a few different modes, Conquest(Basically customized skirmish games in the form of a campaign(no story)), Skirmish(Which can be MP), and Kanly (1v1, Can be MP). This review is from early access (for posterity) and I do hope they continue brushing up conquest, like its fine but its nothing really special. The game shines if you're ever able to get into the MP scene where the games feel incredibly rewarding to play. Skirmish against AI is good, for a while, but as with most AIs in games the more you play the more you begin to see the cracks. It did take me quite a bit of time (as you can see) to start seeing a lot of these cracks but I still do find the game enjoyable with the AI (though Shiro if you read this improving the AI would be great).

All in all if you're looking for a interestingly weird and unique strategy game I feel like you should definitely give this game a try, but if you're looking for a true 4X or true RTS this is probably not it.

Now to lore.....

This is not a canonical game, if you need a game to be canonical to enjoy it this game is probably not for you. In regards to this and House Ordos (a popular non-canon house people want added), while it might be nice EA's legal team probably says otherwise.

Good

Progression is bad.

Maps are bad.

Balance is bad.

People have been complaining about all three of these for forever for this game. Nothing has changed and nothing will.