Escape from Tarkov is one of the original hardcore extraction shooters that hit the gaming market back in 2017/2018. Its main grab to its audience is its gunplay, its environment, gameplay loop, etc. With under 100 hours when making this review I had my fair experience with playing the game casually on PvE, here are the things I like and don't like about Tarkov.
Things I like
The environment- I have the nack for exploring my environment on any kind of open world and this game MAKES you explore, It allows you to gain familiarity on many locations that you go in when you start a raid. Deciding what routes to take when extracting, finding the best loot spots, and seeing what areas are hotspots for scavs, PMC's, and boss locations. And with each death you can retry your approach when you head back again
The Story/Lore- Many can give out their opinions about the story, for me learning about what events led to the Contract wars and trying to uncover what happens, the story chapter can be found throughout the map and give out any additional lore and uncover what transpired to what you found while trying to escape from Tarkov
Guns and Equipment- Nuff said, I like guns, the sheer modifiability of your firearm to make it work your way and the sheer wackyness of the weapons that scavs use to try and kill you with like what do you mean a scav can (Head,eyes) me from 200 meters away with a stubby mosin or a TOZ.
Feeling of completion- Sometimes the game gives me a sense of completion on what task, from finding a rare item in raid to killing a raid boss that you prepared for, it gives a bit of a rush when you finish that thing
Things I don't Like
The GRIND- Tarkov is also known for being quiet labor intensive. Many of the things you have to do to try and get a simple level up to one of your traders, upgrading a thing in your hide out, and leveling your character. You have to go through multiple raids to try and put a dent into what your working for.
The AI- The AI, Oh the AI, the AI in the game can be pretty unfair in some circumstances the AI can be dumber than rocks and other times they are crackshots, they sometimes like to see through walls and have eyes of a hawk and will try to cross map snipe you without notice. Not only that some ai are bullet sponges and will take mags to try and kill.
Getting thrown into the Deep end/ learning curve- No map assists, mini-maps, compass, and no other assists, you are going to be lost without any help from anyone else. Almost at the start I had to look up maps to the different locations so I have at least a chance to extract. I also had to look up different information on the ammo, armor values, boss locations, story items, ect. ect. not only that the game has a learning curve that you have to learn, you have to take it slow and watch yourself when walking around tarkov.
To wrap it up EFT, might not be for everyone if your not too dedicated to extraction shooters, but could be a game you could sink some hours to.
