bysarumann

There’s really not much more to say. This game has the most refined and beautiful sword combat system in the history of gaming. I’ll just set aside how incredibly difficult it is. :c

First of all, what I mean is that the game didn’t really satisfy me. In choice-based games like this, you naturally expect your decisions to have an impact. Of course, if you don’t sit down with that mindset, the game can actually be quite satisfying — its story and the liveliness of its characters are genuinely well done. But I thought I was going to play something like a Quantic Dream or Telltale Games title, where our choices truly influence the outcome. Unfortunately, that’s not the case here. The game emphasizes that some of your decisions matter, but that’s nothing more than an illusion. Other than that, there isn’t much to say. It’s a nice story-driven game to play when you want to turn off your brain for a while.

Unlike most people, I actually loved the game’s combat system. It was solid in the first game too, but this time they’ve expanded it significantly, adding a variety of combos and depth. The first few hours are undeniably tough—no argument there. The game suddenly throws you into an open world and, apart from the main quests, it doesn’t hold your hand at all.I have to say, though, that after the tenth hour or so, combat becomes noticeably easier. Once you position yourself correctly, you can take down ten enemies in a sword fight without much trouble. The combat system was incredibly fun for me. The only real downside is that, after learning the Master Strike, battles tend to devolve into a pattern of “wait for the enemy to attack, then counter with a Master Strike.”As for the story, I can confidently say it drew me in. I’ve heard some people say the game turns into a “Disney movie” or that it doesn’t feel like a true medieval experience—honestly, I completely disagree. I’ve never seen such a detailed, realistic depiction of the Middle Ages in a game before. The story, for me, was more of a secondary element; I mostly spent my time completing side quests. Of course, I did finish the main story too, but to be honest, the game didn’t give me much motivation to push forward with the main quests.There are a few boss fights, though some of them end before you can actually defeat the opponent. Still, I could praise this game all night long and barely find ten minutes’ worth of real criticism. Because if you ask me, this game is a masterpiece—an experience everyone should have at least once.

As someone who experienced the game quite late, I never believed an interactive story could affect me this deeply or win me over so completely. The game’s depressive atmosphere and the sheer weariness embodied by Ethan Mars are portrayed to perfection. For me, this is a masterpiece—one I have yet to see surpassed, and honestly, I doubt I ever will.