8/10
To be honest, even though I ended up really loving—and even being moved by—this game, it took me quite a while to warm up to it. So I definitely can’t say it’s a game for everyone.
If the core gameplay loop appeals to you—or if you give it a shot and find yourself enjoying it—you’ll likely end up loving the whole experience. I think the biggest make-or-break moment comes down to that loop. From what I’ve seen, some people were intrigued by the story but just couldn’t enjoy what they were actually doing while playing.
I believe a big reason for that is the way major games today tend to stick within familiar mechanical loops, depending on their genre. Experimental approaches like this are often expected from indie titles, not AAA productions.
Personally, one of the things that kept me at a distance in the beginning was the acting. It felt like the characters weren’t truly interacting—as if everyone had performed their scenes in isolation. Troy Baker and Mads Mikkelsen are exceptions, of course.
And in the end, I have to say: the time spent with Lou played a big part in how emotionally connected I became by the finale.