My thoughts about the Showdown Update

[Psy]

I finished the update story line and I have some thoughts: I liked it, but I see why people can feel let down by it.
Just be aware that this text might contain exploiters, also, English is not my first language, be kind if there are some errors.

First, I liked how they tied out some elements of the story and the characters. There is a clever use of already existing landmarks on the old map, not sure if this was planned ahead, but I remember visiting some of those places, wondering if something was going on there, and it is kind of rewarding to see that they were actually significant.

The new map is cool, reminds me of Alpine Unrest, but more vertically extreme, in a way that to go from point A to point B is not a direct path, and you can easily find yourself in a verge of an abyss. I saw comments pointing that the map feels unfinished, I think "rushed" is a better word. There are for sure places that look kind of empty, and also areas with very obvious clipping thought solid objects. In counterpart, devs managed to add some interesting landmarks here and there, and there are some areas with touches of visual storytelling, something I used to appreciate in the main map.

Edit: Nosteru pointed out the lack of POIs in the new map, and that's absolutely correct. There are big areas and huge structures there, but nothing noted in the map. Even if we throw in the argument that the isle was kind of closed to civilians, those areas are no secret, everyone can see them and the devs already named them as part of the story.

There are no new machines, but new buildings and FNIX "stuff" that look cool and are unique to the expansion, specially in the new map, providing some cinematic moments, and some of them are "just there" for the player to discover them, something I appreciate. There are also a bunch of new experimental weapons, collectibles and tweaks in the overall gameplay that I'm going to ignore for now to focus on the story.

And talking about the story, it is a mixbag. I like some parts of the dialog (like Von Ulmer's personality leaking into FNIX actions), and there are some strong moments, like when Klas sees the player for the first time with his own eyes and feels panic and horror, sadly, those moments have less impact because of the acting (I'm playing with the original Swedish audio), but mainly, the limitations of the engine; but the real letdown for me is how FNIX becomes a less interesting villain.

In the original campaign, it is really not clear what FNIX objectives are. We know it is aggressively protecting itself and the network, and even "takes care"(1) of the human resources the network make use of, but on the other hand, most of the civil population was safely evacuated, and it saves the life of both the player and Tatiana at some point.
There is no mention of this ambiguity at all in the expansion, FNIX is just an evil thing that needs to be stopped (2). The most frustrating thing is that there is not much you need to change to keep the original idea: just add a bunch of dialog and let FNIX escape in the rocket, abandoning the network, leaving the other humans "to be rescued" by their pairs (3). Sadly, it just get destroyed.

So, in the end I liked it, I appreciate the free expansion, the new map to explore and the devs trying to do a proper closure for the story, but sadly, I can see they rushed things up and missed the opportunity for a more interesting and open ending.

(1) Veronika: “All the data say there should be a lot of survivors here. Where did they all go?” FNIX: “Worry not. I moved my precious resources somewhere you will never harm them.”
(2)  "Destroying me will only bring your own destruction. I may be disorganized for a while, but myself will rise from the ashes again and eliminate you. I’m emergent, I am inevitable."
(3) I was even kind of expecting the Prefrontal Core to be Von Ulmer's brain, and the destruction to just cripple FNIX ability to communicate by voice and reduce their resources to coordinate the machines. But that is not explained either.

[Nosteru]

My big issue with the new Isle that they forgot or had no time to made POI icons. there is multiple buildings and bases, there is that huge manufactury, but there is no POI mark, no collectibles listed, nothing realy.

[Psy]

Oh! that's right, forgot to mention that, but yeah, there a bunch of places that are "just there" and can have an icon in the map at least to fill up a little more the experience.

[Nosteru]

Originally posted by Psy:

Oh! that's right, forgot to mention that, but yeah, there a bunch of places that are "just there" and can have an icon in the map at least to fill up a little more the experience.

Overall I agree with your post, the new buildings was refreshing, but overall I felt it rushed abit. Even I also rly enjoyed the final building inside exploring and CQC fights.