Recent reviews by Burger N' Fries

Cairn is not the first game that I've played that tries to simulate rock climbing realistically (Shoutout to Wildebeast Games' Vertigo), but it is the first that has executed it in a way that is intuitive and accessible.

I really enjoyed the experience overall, but there were some elements that I found frustrating. I'm going to lay those out first before I get into what I really loved:
1. Aava is remarkably unlikeable. She's impulsive, rude, and selfish. The story gives you opportunities to buck that trend, but she is who she is.
2. The movement mechanics are sometimes a little too jank for flowing through sequences. I don't know how the game determines which limb is best to move next, but often it would remove the most solidly placed limb and leave Aava in a position where the rest of the points of contact were terrible. I got into the habit of using the limb selection mechanic (not enabled by default) in order to force a more intentional sequence. It limits the flow sometimes, but is necessary when attempting more difficult sections.
3. Unclear signposting of story segways. The game is ultimately split into acts, but there are several times where those transitions are triggered mid-climb, typically during the upper section of a difficult pitch. I felt cheated of actually finishing the climb and managing my resources when the cutscenes would push me past the final fifth of a climb.

What I loved:
1. The art direction is phenomenal. I was worried when I played the demo that the performance would be rough on my rig, however I had a really smooth experience overall. There was one section that I dropped my settings for toward the end, but once the scope narrowed back in I was able to bump it back up without issue.
2. I cannot understate how IMPRESSED I am with the overall movement mechanics in this game. It is remarkable and I cannot fathom how difficult it must have been to code. I can only hope that they continue to iterate upon what works here and work out the sometimes frequent jank. I will say the weird inverse kinematics are less noticeable when you play compared to watching. Aava's body sometimes contorts in horrifying ways, but she's a pro, right?
3. The survival mechanics heighten the decision making along the way. There's more to the climb than the cliff in front of you. I like how it feels like a proper trek to get up this mountain. By then end, I was really stressing my resources.
4. This game really captures the feeling of rock climbing. It's sometimes frustrating, but that's also kind of part of it? If you know you know. It just makes sending that much more satisfying if you had to earn that top.

If I had to give this game a score, I'd put it at 4/5. It's a remarkable experience that has some quirks that are dealbreakers for some, but I encourage everyone to push through and see it to the conclusion regardless.

It works very, very well. Sometimes there's a bit of jank to get it working, but that's rare. I have been able to crank the visual settings on games like Helldivers 2 and still get a high framerate experience. There's a catch though, because if you're running a game at a low internal FPS you will still have that level of latency even if the visual framerate doesn't look it. It's a great tool and it works like magic with only a somewhat compromised experience.

As it is at time of writing, this is one of the most satisfying shooters I've ever played. It's a surprisingly accessible experience despite having many hardcore trimmings. Helldivers 2 is essentially a camera position change of first game in that it maintains much of what worked then. It lacks the same depth of content currently, but the change of perspective coupled with excellent design creates a cinematic, immersive experience that I cannot get enough of.

Strongly recommend!