Trepang2

This game was unexpectedly spooky at parts, but that honestly leaned into how well the game's overall design is because every time I got caught up in the scenery or whatever supernatural thing was going on in a given level, it turned out that 9/10 times I could just shoot it to death and it always made me feel silly after! Great game, 106 is a badass and this studio is now one I'll be paying attention to.

Trepang2 is an abusive relationship that I never want to leave. This game is the most addictive, frustrating, nail biting, knuckle grinding game I have ever played. It has been a year since my hyperfixation started (though I have been quite fascinated in this game since its earlier days), and every time I think I am free of it, something drags me back into the burning house and fuels the fire. The atmosphere, the gameplay, the voice acting, the memorable moments of comedically timed cinematic unnecessarily gorey and horrific times MOSTLY caused by our beloved 106 himself makes this game worth the play. There's not enough. There was never enough. Those that yearn for more and feel as though it was unfinished, feeling unaccomplished, and grueling, are experiencing exactly what 106 did upon the realization that his choices in life could be free. We are humans, and humans must experience love and freedom to live, two things that he did not get. That is why we feel unaccomplished by the end - NO SPOILERS. If you have not yet gotten the secret ending, I would highly recommend you do so. Those that ONLY see it for its overly violent light-em-up style gameplay are lacking a fundamental part of life that many are aloof to, and thus are missing out on a deeper aspect that must be found through patience, effort, and the strength to be gentle (well.. "gentle", as in to literally slow down and pay attention to small details like in intel - There is a LOT of fascinating things behind the scenes). But yes, pew pew gungasm game that gets the veins in my hands throbbing like my racing heart of excitement and frustration when playing this maniacal mass of mechanical and mortifying monstrosity. And the CHARACTERS?! I don't think there has ever been a single game where I like EVERY SINGLE one of the characters. No, not tolerate or feel indifferent to; I like every. Single. Character. Including the unnamed NPCs, the HVTs (+ Bladekisser HVTs, I mean.. Sokol is my favorite), the Syndicate, Horizon, ALL OF THEM. They're so memorable, enjoyable, unique and fresh. They feel real, and it's such an amazing thing to have all of them have their own quirks, reactions, and habits. Not only is the AI and inspiration from F.E.A.R. great (and it strives to be its own thing), but it feels fitting to each NPC type, and I often find myself forgetting they're NPCs. I just want to follow them around sometimes and heel my gun, hoping maybe one moment will be different. Alas, 106 is a supersoldier, and what needs to be done will be done. I genuinely cannot stop obsessing about the characters and how natural the environment feels, these "random" bits of lore that nestle within the timeline just vague enough that it makes interpretation fun and exciting, and the horror aspects are so delightful as well. It's not distracting, its convoluted. And that's what I love about it. As an autistic person, I always shovel every grain of information, lore, and data I can about something I am really interested in, and a game like Trepang2 has me second guessing myself and putting in more time to research all the time. I adore it. I could ramble on and on, of course there is some cons, but honestly I don't give a damn because I just keep coming back to this game and the wonderful deep dives getting further into it. I love being confused, it makes me curious. I love being frustrated, it drives me to do more. I love being angry, because it motivates me to express myself. I get to see such fantastic, humorous, deranged, silly, and skilled people within the community, and it's so lovely. Keep Trepang2 alive. Bark at the corporate hell that tries to take you. Hold your fist to a flame until it submits to your palm. Break the cycle.