Recent reviews by NeioGeo

Alright, I've read a lot of reviews on this game, and I think that, based on the fact that I actually beat the whole thing, I should type out a review to set the record straight.

I'm not going to comment on the launch, the hearsay, or how others see it - I'm only going to speak on my experience.

This game is good, not great. 7/10. It is NOT Monster Hunter. It may look like it, but looks is all it shares. The gamaplay is more along the lines of Dark Souls/Elden Ring. Its optimization is awful and the grind is very much a slog. While the game is "open world" the storyline progression is not organized at all. This feels like a portable game, but isn't even playable on Steam Deck or Lenovo Legion Go, at least with decent FPS. It's not as deep as say, Monster Hunter Rise, yet, plays like a lite version of that game mixed with Dark Souls-like progression and combat. The pop-in is constant, specially in the larger cities, and even at low settings, it stutters. More than once, even at the endgame, I fell through the ground into nothing. Again, open world.

However it has its moments, and among those moments, bright spots that shine a light at what could've been - a much grander, more ambitious port, had the engine managed to hold up. Cities are alive. NPCs, the important ones, convey emotions based on your actions. The AI pawns will be very useful, and at times, will defeat entire rows of enemies (and a boss) for you. It's impressive. The bosses aren't plentiful, but those who are, are ominous. You will feel epic if you can beat them. However, the way the game is structured, you will miss something if you're pushing too hard. You will get lost. You will hit the brine looking for hidden stuff. You will fall into the brine and either get hurt or lose a pawn by mistake. However, IF you can make it to the end, you will experience something that will either hurt or hype your playthrough. The game doesn't HAVE to end when you reach the climax...

One last tip: Play without Mods first, then seek them out. They help with a lot of issues you'll face eventually. I hope this helps.