Ok, just finished. Explored thoroughly before getting to the Hardware Labs door.
Pros
- Nail the System Shock 2 vibe. Loved it.
- The simulation stuff is cool, like turning the Helicopter Pad on and off, hope we see more of that later on.
- Exploration, feels great. Love stuff like jumping off the Office balcony on to the girders.
- Resi. 4 Style Inv. Mgmt.
- Stuff like the Upgrader/Recyler is fun to use.
Cons
Okay, pretty much two things. Music and Encounter Design.
Firstly, the music is WAY too loud. I changed it in the options but it seems to be unaffected when they constantly use music cues whenever an enemy jumps out of nowhere. This gets borderline insufferable towards the end of the demo, in my opinion.
- If one of the Mimics disappear during an encounter for a moment. The music is blaring in your ear when you're trying to find it and won't go away until you find it and kill it. Due to the way they can hide for long periods (in terms of combat time), this removes the otherwise effective immersion.
- It's the same music cue each time, trying to initiate a jump scare.
The worst part about this music volume/erncounter design stuff is it changed the way I played the game by the end of the demo. I would sprint around a new room to make the enemy "jump scares" cue so I could take care of them before exploring the room. There'd be times prior to doing this where I would pick up an audio-log when, whilst listening, a Mimic would appear cueing deafening music that is louder than the audio-log.
It sounds hyperbolic but I don't think I could stand a whole game of that music/encounter design.
The actual music is amazing btw.
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Small note, when you get the video message in the office, if you smash the window, it gives off such a cool effect. Love the amount of interactivity in the game.