Lightning quick loading times are amazing. It's nice to play it on the 4k monitor I picked up too. The controller is lovely, but I can't help wonder how long it's going to last given how complex the design of it is, and how many working parts it has. I think I'd rather have a sturdy, simple one.

Oh, I should also say - I finally recently got a PS5 (mostly for DS2 and THPS3+4) nearly 5 years after it's release!

I was originally holding off because I didn't see the point (basically no games for me) but it's good to finally have one, and it's exceeded my expectations!

There's a shit load more I could say (a lot of which I've probably forgotten in the 80 hours I spent playing this game) but I've already spammed enough.

Game is probably objectively an 8/10, but for me personally I'm feeling a 9. Peace x

I'm not sure if I'm tweaking on this take, because I haven't played DS1 since it came out, but I do think this game was a touch easier? a little bit to it's detriment. The A to B on foot delivery aspect of the game feels a little less punishing, like you need to consider your movement less.

DS2 adds a bunch of new characters who are instantly likeable.

As long as the game is, I kind of wished the game was longer so we could spend more time with these characters - especially Tomorrow and Rainy, who feel extremely light on character development.

The sequel leans more into the combat side of things, you get a wider variety of weapons thrown into the mix, some of which are very fun. None of the combat is particularly challenging, save for a few sections, but it's a good time.
I like some of the new enemy designs, especially the ghost mechs:

Absolutely incredible visuals, which kind of carry the slower parts of the game. I don't think you could have a game with such a heavy emphasis on slow movement from A to B without such jaw-dropping scenery.

It's going to be a very 'you either love it or hate it' kind of game. (evidenced by the lukewarm reception it's received) but for me, I loved it. It's not without it's flaws, but those are greatly outshined by the parts I enjoyed.

There's brief moments of good gameplay in this game that keep you going, but it's mostly just a cobbled together asset flip with no real thought put into pacing or difficulty curve. 4/10

That being said, it's good to play this game with a homie. (thanks Chris) I'm not sure I could have endured the whole experience solo.

The story involves rushing around, finding caves and bunkers, piecing the story together through notes and environmental storytelling. The base building you wouldn't necessarily *need* to do unless you reach the endgame and decide to go all in on the survival craft stuff.

A lot of the enjoyment I got from this game from the organic discovery of stuff; finding blueprints & figuring out what they did, stumbling across caves etc.

There's a bit of a disparity between the story aspect of the game and the base building (very much similar to the first game)

The immersion is good, but I do question how much impact I'm having on the game in any given moment. Stuff just kind of ...happens. (But I guess that's all part of the immersion)