They invested too much into the shield, and so far, all the enemies behave like slightly different variations of the same thing. Hitboxes are wonky. It's like it's ALMOST good, but when I'm mowing down demons on the back of a dragon, I shouldn't feel even slightly bored. (I'm slightly bored)

That might be part of it. You feel less like an enraged cybernetic gorilla, and more like a bulldozer. The combat doesn't feel as varied. The story feels flat, and the level selection interface is just selecting cards on a screen? What happened to having an interactive ship in between levels?

Coffee is for closers.

I don't feel like their reputation was for quality, I feel like their reputation was for creative freedom without studio interference...which led to quality. It also led to some weird stuff too, but we don't have to like every film a studio releases.

DISAGREE! They are into experimentation/allowing filmmakers to achieve their visions, no matter how weird or divisive those visions may be. I love Midsommar and The VVitch and I also love Y2K and I Saw the TV Glow. A24/Neon are the only studios making original films.

If Childs knos what Whiskey tastes like, The Thing knows what whiskey tastes like. Assimilation includes memory. It knew where the blood bags were stored.