Does anything ever happen?

[Kuriousjorj]

I just started playing (watching) this game on another platform. Not gonna go into anything else but this question: does anything else happen; do I engage in detailed and impactful combat, growth of my character, or anything similar to an arc or progress?

Or is it largely just running back and forth and collecting things while avoiding whatever, then watching cutscenes of dysfunctional stuff presented as profundities?

Because that's all the first hour or so was. Does it change?

[Moge]

The answers are "no" and then "yes".

[Protoman]

The first two hours are just delivering stuff on foot and learning the ins and outs of the game, kinda like an extended tutorial. Once the game reaches Chapter 3, you're free to do almost anything, save for a few story-locked things (a few things unlock after each chapter).

Yes, there is combat. But it is discouraged to actually go around and murder humans (plot reason), but you unlock non-lethal weaponry pretty fast.

[Overseer]

The game intentionally starts distant as that is the feeling the player character has. He is just doing what he is good at but has no personal investment except with Amelie. Then slowly you uncover new details and relationships change. It has a focus on "struggle". Be it gameplay or character development.

[CrAAAs]

I mean I consider the progression the equipment you unlock no? Vastly changes how you deal with terrain and encounters. It is definitely running around and avoiding things and/or fighting them if you want as you get the equipment to do so. I am kind of confused with what you are asking. Even in the first hour you unlock equipment that is "progression".

[Defective Dopamine Pez Dispenser]

Delivering things by foot gives way to delivering things by vehicle, and carefully avoiding hazards gives way to constructing roads and ziplines that allow you get around a lot more safely and quickly eventually.

Progression takes the form of new abilities, equipment, and traversal options.

That said, based on your characterization of the game's narrative content and symbolism as, "dysfunctional stuff presented as profundities," the game simply might not be your jam. Which is fine.

[TarouDem]

If the first hour of introduction and gameplay to you was "running back and forth and collecting things while avoiding whatever, then watching cutscenes of dysfunctional stuff presented as profundities" what can we possibly say to convince you otherwise?
Yes, moving forward there is combat, development of characters and story and an arc of progress in the same manner as it happens during the first hour of gameplay. You'll see cutscenes that keep developing that same story you find "dysfunctional" and you'll continue running back and forth delivering packages because that is the gameplay.

Don't get me wrong, you're entitled to you opinion, but i feel like if those are your feelings during the introduction of the game, nothing we say will ever make any difference to you. My concern is more as to why people who has this specific opinion about the game always feels the need to come and ask this in this way, as if the reason why we like the game was something so specific we could come and explain to you and change your mind entirely. I get the story is not for everybody, nor the gameplay. It just happens to be something that some people likes and others don't, which is fine.

I feel like you could've come to this conclusion by yourself, but maybe if you feel so strongly about how much you don't like how this game is going, you should just quit playing. Hope you can still get a refund or something.

[unendinglabor]

I bought this game on Playstation.
It is a boring and uneventful game.
There is some story, but the missions rarely evolve from delivery.
That's pretty much it, delivery and occasional combat.
Very bad game, how it has a mostly positive review is beyond me.