Recent reviews by elixirtheft

The best-feeling, most intrinsically satisfying shooter I have ever played. World design, weapon design, character design, enemy design, level design, all exquisite. World-building and lore are quite deep, thoughtful, and majestic, though if you don't dig into the lore text and just experience the game-world as-is, it might feel a bit superficial. There's a lot of neat sci-fi in there to read though, if you're into it. The music is also fantastic. Great opportunities for co-operative experiences with friends. PVP is also quite interesting, though it's not the main reason I play, and I don't do play it too often - but do a youtube search for 'Cammycakes' to get a sense for the possible tactical richness and journey of skill improvement available in PVP. All in all, this is a game world I love to get lost in. It's wondrous and awe-inspiring and heroic, and full of interesting weapons and experiences and challenges to pursue to engage you for a long time. (I played a few hundred hours on Xbox One before transferring a few days ago to PC via Cross-Save).

The artful evocation of late 90s internet is super charming. The webpages you visit have a unique aesthetic that some are sure to find nostalgic: blunt, earnest, unsubtle expressions of passion, identity, fandom, conviction, etc., all invented with the developers' delicate and rare insight into humanity.

The thing that blows me away about this game, beyond the excellent puzzles, the charmingly retro graphics and sound, the satisfying story structure and all of its revealed mysteries, is its empathy. Hubristic, short-sighted corporations, cheeseball fanpages, awkward teenage assertions of identity, etc., all seem ripe subjects for cruel mockery. And indeed, there are laughs (or groans) to be had as the game goes by. There is so much detail, so many little portraits of unsophisticated, embarrassing zeal, such a weird little ecosystem of personalities.

But there is a deeper feeling that seems to inform and guide it all. A very broad and loving view of humanity must have created this. Marvellous imperfections abound. Your own engagement with the game is not as some virtuous evil-slaying hero, but as a moderator enforcing sometimes questionable policies. The game squeezes some juice out of its premises, let me just say.

Amazing art, so glad I played it.