Not Recommended 15.4 hrs on record (7.0 hrs at review time)

It's like this: Imagine Skyrim was a well crafted game with great graphics, characters, writing, and no magic, but was firmly grounded in reality - as though the devs actually consulted historians before crafting the game. It's like that.



I'm about 4 hours in now and have to say this is a beautiful game.

1st thing's first - Play with a controller! The keyboard controls are bonkers. The combat doesn't make sense until you have 2 analogue sticks (my opinion).



But the writing, the world, the characters, everything is so much more alive than any game I've played with maybe the exception of Witcher3. People have character, there's ruts in the road, coppiced trees near houses, unique structures sculpted to the environment like people are settled to THAT spot, rather than some copy pasted plot. Do you know where willows grow? These devs do. The attention to detail is astonishing. This is as much a history lesson as it is a game - if you want to look around and read a bit. I've already learned some new facts, fo sho.



EDIT: Further in, this game is tough as nails and on rails. Combat is a chore. Riding a horse is a chore. Your controls and UI is a chore. Your inventory is a chore. Your character is a jackass . . . which makes him a chore.

As beautiful as this game is, everything else feels like it's working against it.

EX: You are tired and know you'll need to fight 2 bandits in the morning. You just got out of a fight with a guy that took a chunk of your life. Maybe you can camp near these other people, rest up, have some food - NO. No you can't. ♥♥♥♥ you. You can't make camp here. If you leave the area you'll be attacked by a group of no less than three armored guys. Good luck switching targets, the enemy has NO problem surrounding and raping you. If you wait until morning you'll be exhausted and die the same way just looking for the camp! IF you manage to find the camp, you will get your butt handed to you because you are nobody. Maybe you can get there early and kill them in their sleep? Hmm? You know who they are, they've already killed you several times, no need to talk to them right? You could possibly ride back to your boss, if you cut through the woods and get lucky or teleport via fast travel. He is doubtlessly standing where you left him, not offering any help or aid - but that is such a waste of time, right? Well, guess what, the devs WANT you to spend that time and go fetch a couple of guys WAY WAY better than you (almost anyone with a sword) to help, but you have to get chewed out first for doing as you were told. Jesus Christ.

Many people will say Git Gud. HOW? The game doesn't give you a chance! It bustles you along to the next fight with this sense of urgency not caring if you are bloodied or starving or tired - and the time just flies by. AND THEY WANT YOU TO FAIL, so you'll be forced to do it this other way.



Also, it feels like I'm still in the tutorial! The training wheels still feel like they are on and I have no real agency in the game. I'm just some dumb kid.



They want you to be the dumb hero and then tell you to go ♥♥♥♥ yourself.

So, game over. My guy died in the woods, his body was stripped by bandits and animals sucked the meat from his bones. The world moved on. Only a hand few of people noticed his passing. Sucks, cause I'd like to "play" the "game" but it's got other ideas. Guess I'm a Casual player.



Tried it with a trainer! God mode, why not. Got into a fight against 3 bandits and my screen just stayed blue as they pounded on me, jerked me around, blocked everything, grappled me, surrounding me over and over because I CAN'T RELIABLY SWITCH TARGETS. Hilarious. There's other games out there I think I'd rather play.

Posted 23 March. Last edited 3 April.