I haven't finished the game yet. But I have played enough to give a review now. This is a solo experience, I have made my friends hold off on purchasing, at least until Multiplayer isn't such a hassle to deal with.
The Good things:
- The Ambience, sounds, atmosphere is both amazing and terrifying. Especially when walking through an enclosure, it's always more tense when you can't hear anything.
- For me personally, being able to play in first person, makes me feel a bit closer to the action, like I'm seeing through Hudson's eyes instead of behind him. It certainly makes for good reactions during some of the intended jump scares.
- The park is huge, and while it feels like a chore to get around, I think it's just the right size to not feel empty.
- The tribute for Sam Neill behind Prehistoria Control is beautiful. Respect to you guys for adding that, it was a nice sweet moment.
The Neutral:
- The amount of dinosaurs that want to kill you is a little overwhelming. I have died to Ankylo's and Triceratops because they wanted to kill me for some reason, yet the Stegosaurus just walks on by and even runs from me? Seems a bit weird, but not a big issue.
- I still have the quest to Secure Herbivore Haven/ Grab the Therizone card even though I have the card, and have secured all Herbivore Enclosure at the point in the game I'm at, a chalk this up to a bug, but it's not stopping me progressing so again, it's not a big deal.
- Graphics seem kind of a step back from the demo. Although when I loaded up the game on release, the first tunnel was dark, and I felt uneasy. The next day I played to stream it to some friends, Intro included, the same tunnel was now no longer dark, and actually had a blue tint to everything, making it less dark and more of an annoying graphic issue despite me not changing anything.
- I feel like the tranquiliser weapons are useless, they don't work quick enough, and whatever you have shot at has already helped itself to a few chunks of your Health. Not a super issue since I just Shotgun everything, but the Tranqs could do with a rework so they are harder to come by or craft, but work better than straight up killing the Dino's.
The Bad:
- I expected jank, but Clawed has too much of it. Being able to climb vertically up rock walls in enclosures seems kinda weird, and then phasing through those rock walls and having to unstuck to get out or jumping around until it eventually lets you get free is an issue I've had a few of already.
- The T-Rex encounters are pretty poor so far, which is really sad but everytime I've encountered them, they just attack me through walls and barriers where I think i'm safe. There is a spot mid-game where you have to outsmart a Rex, and I figured hiding in the containers scattered around the small area was the plan. 7 times I got munched during this part, one time I even managed to get into the other side of a gate, as the gate closed, the rex just stuck it's head through the gate and killed me. Also, whilst in T-Rex Dominion, the Black Rex, just stuck it's head in one of the research bunkers glass viewing domes I happen to be in, got me stuck in the glass, popped out on the side onto the ground and was swiftly eaten, and again after the reload, stuck it's head in the building and just chomped me despite being inside the bunker.
- I don't expect hand holding, I don't want it. But I spent too long looking for the Megalodon Lagoon securement lever, and I gave up in the end, all it says is something like " Secure the Megalodon Lagoon by going through the gate." What gate? Is it in the water? Is it in the Aquarium? Where is this gate? I sprinted through the entire aquarium twice, did 3 full circles of the actual giant tank for them all and still nothing. I found the keycard for the Dominion but I'm supposed to find it, why can't I find this gate. Oh, and when I went back to the part before diving, it came up with " You have enter Megalodon Lagoon, now search for the GAte to secure it." HOW. Really frustrating.
I'm enjoying the game, I really am, but there are moment where it's frustrating, and I find a save point and stop for the day. Is this a good game? No. Is it a bad game? No. It's settled nicely in the middle where it's a decent 6/10. The park exploration, the ambience, the atmosphere has been done perfectly. You can tell the Jurassic Park inspiration has really carried the game. Unfortunately that's what you're paying for because at times the game is frustrating. I like the game, I really do, I just need the jank and the bugs to be fixed to appreciate it. It's a fun slog, but not a slog I want my friends to join me for. So yes, I do recommend it, but only for a solo experience. If you're after some Multiplayer fun, or a fun 7-8/10 experience, this isn't it right now.
