honestly?

it's one of the best non-fromsoft souls likes in the regard that it feels a lot like dark souls 1 or demon souls. it's clunky, it has a bunch of little mysteries, the balance is wonky and there's clearly some loadouts that surpass others but. it has so much charm, it has a lot of neat worldbuilding, and the environment is gorgeous.

is it a good game? yeah honestly i'd say so.
is it a game most people would enjoy? no, but neither was demon souls.

if you really like souls-likes, i think give it a try without comparing it to others and you'll have a fresh and unique experience, if sometimes frustrating.
if you aren't super in to souls-likes but you're into games you really gotta struggle through, you'll also probably have a good time - the game is punishing and almost unfair at times, but there are ways gear-wise to make it easier, and if you explore (or get a co-op partner) you'll find a way through almost any gate that tries to block you.

tl;dr: lacks polish and has clear issues (with both balance, bugs, and gameplay decisions), but so did dark souls and everyone praises that game. it feels genuine and unique, and it's worth giving it a shot if you want that sense of mystery and difficulty that pioneered souls-like games.

honestly? it's one of the best non-fromsoft souls likes in the regard that it feels a lot like dark souls 1 or demon souls. it's clunky, it has a bunch of little mysteries, the balance is wonky and there's clearly some loadouts that surpass others but. it has so much charm, it has a lot of neat worldbuilding, and the environment is gorgeous. is it a good game? yeah honestly i'd say so. is it a game most people would enjoy? no, but neither was demon souls. if you really like souls-likes, i think give it a try without comparing it to others and you'll have a fresh and unique experience, if sometimes frustrating. if you aren't super in to souls-likes but you're into games you really gotta struggle through, you'll also probably have a good time - the game is punishing and almost unfair at times, but there are ways gear-wise to make it easier, and if you explore (or get a co-op partner) you'll find a way through almost any gate that tries to block you. tl;dr: lacks polish and has clear issues (with both balance, bugs, and gameplay decisions), but so did dark souls and everyone praises that game. it feels genuine and unique, and it's worth giving it a shot if you want that sense of mystery and difficulty that pioneered souls-like games.