if you view my steam reviews, you'll see that all of them say "this happened to my buddy eric," i put this because i don't usually have much to say about games i like/dislike. but i'm going back to edit this review because i just finished my playthrough, and oh my god. this game is phenomenal. TLDR: AS SOMEONE WHO WENT INTO IT ON THE FENCE, THIS GAME BLEW ME AWAY. ABSOLUTELY PLAY IT. YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY.

(NO SPOILERS)

COMBAT:
i normally HATE turn based combat, i normally think it's the most draining, unrealistic, and boring way to do combat. but this game has made it incredibly engaging and satisfying. it got a little redundant at times when i just wanted to reach the next part, but it isn't a huge glaring issue that made me want to turn off the game. i still thoroughly enjoyed myself even in those very minuscule times of discomfort. the times where i felt like i was getting screwed over, i just changed the way i approached things until i found what worked, and as a big fromsoftware/soulsborne fan, i really appreciated the ability to do that a lot. it's simple on the surface, and it can be if you choose to play that way, but the game also gives you that freedom to play more in depth if you want to.

STORY:
the same as turn based combat, i also hate games i have to read everything in. but every time dialogue started, i couldn't help but be sucked in. the story is so well thought out with so many layers to it, so many twists i never saw coming, so many times i thought the game was going to end, just for it to keep going, and i'm so glad it did, because there wasn't a single point in this game where i felt bored, or like things were dragging on, or that there was just unnecessary padding. everything had a purpose, and each component executed that purpose perfectly. the plot is heavy, the lore is deep, the characters are lovable and distinct from one another. there's happiness, heartbreak, hopelessness, love, triumph, malice, you name it. such a perfect blend of emotions that by the end, i wasn't entirely sure how to feel, but i mean that in the best way.

GRAPHICS:
the graphics are absolutely beautiful, and it's actually what drew me to this game to begin with. the general way things look is already very good, but wait until you see some of the ultimate attacks, or some of the environments this game takes you to. it's not very often i'll stop to take a minute to just appreciate how beautiful a game looks, but i did that several times from beginning to end.

SOUNDTRACK:
the music in this game is so versatile. the combat music gets you hyped, the down time music makes you feel relaxed, safe even. some areas, the music writing will stay the same, but the production elements will change as you switch from day to night, above water to underwater, explore new areas, etc. it's such a small detail but it adds sooo much extra depth that i think the game wouldn't feel the same without. and as a songwriter/producer myself, i think it's incredibly creative and ambitious to go that extra mile, when i think people would have been content with just one consistent set of songs. that tells me that the devs were passionate about this game, which is awesome.

OVERVIEW:
i'll admit, i was skeptical at first, because a lot of what this game has, i'm not normally the demographic for. but let that fact be a testament to how good this game is. it's a well thought out experience with so much life to it, and it is 100% worth your time. whether you enjoy these types of games or not, i urge you to give it a chance. the demo only gives you a crumb of what this game has to offer. i would 100% help fund a sequel. i gotta see what happens next. 10/10