This game grasped the feeling of a sci-fi world a bit like in the book Neuromancer or Bladerunner. Visuals are perfect, some of the best pixel art I've ever seen. The 2.5D is really great and adds layers to the game, compared to regular 2D platformers.
Gameplay: Combat was cool for the first 2 fights then it becomes very repetitive, it's the same enemies, press X to hit, you have a finisher, and a ultimate where you just start blasting. Then you need to dodge or parry depending on the attack, but I never really felt challenged by the enemy I always knew that to do, wait for enemy attack prompt and press button accordingly, since the enemies are the same well you know what to look out for. Lastly the game feels like very slow? Platforming is realistic which is a cool idea, but it's like you run slow, jump low, and when you platform you jump on to to ledge, you grab, pull yourself up, then jump, it's not very seemless and quick. Im guessing they wanted a more realistic game which is fine, it's just personally I don't like it and it feels like the platforming isn't a challenge in itself, its just jump from one thing to the other.
Story: This part I think needs work, I didn't feel very attached to the characters. Sometimes I think due to pacing which is go on a mission platform/fight. Then go back home talk to some people find/scan something for them. Then rince and repeat. It's not like you have a strong connection with them, they don't help you on missions or you don't make decisions that can affect them. They don't have their own personal missions. So it ends just being a lot of dialog to read. Now i feel like the conclusion Reach comes too is a bit rushed, like just the typical humans help each other, and I need to save everyone. Which in the world they've created feels a bit cliche and unearned, it's like Reach says he wants to save others but in the process of the story kills over 100 human cops and termites, so it falls flat when we get to the end of his character arc. Game is beautiful but what is gripping is a good story with characters i get attached too. Like Veronica was an awesome start, we learn that her voice has been taken out, to give to a richer person I would've loved to dive in more into that, like a mission where you go and retrieve it and at the same time discover life in the city. It Just feels very one dimensional, disposals are organ donors for the rich and we must help free the disposals. The characters end up feeling very one dimensional.
Soundtrack: I see all those songs we pick up through out the game, but I wish sometimes they played more often or a lot louder, and really set the different tones or worlds I explore.
Im excited to see this studio develops more they clearly have a talented team, I just think they need to see what makes games fun to play, and how to challenge the player more. They built a great world, it's really just a question of making it come to life and making it fun to play.
