I'll dump this into the review section when I'm finished with the game but I'll just dump my thoughts here as I play through the game.
Chapter 1 notes: - I should probably stop assuming every game tagged "Open world" will feature a large, sandbox map. The map in this game is comparatively small and serves more as a "hub" world, really. This doesn't detract anything, in fact, it's probably better that way as the tighter map design has less meandering exploration between destinations.
- JFC, there's so many cutscenes and so few gameplay. Some of the cutscenes (especially the more cinematic ones) are solid and hook me in but a lot of them are just these dialogue marathons that makes me want to speedread it so I can beat up more dudes. I don't want to skip the cutscenes as I'm invested in the plot and want to give this game a chance but I feel this is going to be a slog to get through.
- Real estate is serious business, no matter the size (Muh empty lot)
- The combat seems to be okay, but, I feel my thoughts will soon reflect PiccoloZ's as the timing and movement feel very off atm (and this is coming from the same user who thinks Wrestling Empire is awesome as fuck).
- Considering how the internet loves to portray this game as "wacky Godfather clone", I expected the drama and comedy aspects to be simultaneously present, causing emotional whiplash after emotional whiplash. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case. The main story seems to be purely drama while all the funny stuff (that gets shitposted) is left for you to discover in-between missions/cutscenes. However, I should probably expect the two to converge at certain points, like how when Nishikiyama and Kiryu decide to sing on the karaoke to cope with their criminal lifestyles early on in the chapter. For now, I'll set aside the comedic elements and focus on the main story but I might change my mind about that sooner or later.
- I wasn't too thrilled by the story or combat throughout the chapter up until the Tojo Clan HQ sequence. Raiding through the building and beating that old man's ass was so energetic. I hope the game lives up to this set piece.
There is nothing open world about it, its just hub-based areas which i think is the best design choice to make a game as it can blend between the best of linear and open ended world design, it can remove the bloat and at the same time gives a sense of focus for the player on the area, sadly here it wasn't done in a good way given the world is just a set-dressing for the player, giving visuals and spots for minigames, but nothing is interactable with it. Its like not even as good as Ubisoft design when it comes to a depiction of a city.
The cutscenes will becomes less as the story progresses, but they are still too many, which is fine, a story-driven game has to make lots of cutscenes to convey its storytelling, i just wish the presentation was better because i absolutely didn't like the constant change in direction.
First few chapters are engaging, its not until later that the game story starts to crack and fall apart, i think up until chapter 6 its pretty good, then from chapter 8 all the way towards the end it becomes a trainwreck.
Looking forward to read your take on it once you are done with it.
"Q: What is the white stuff in bird poop?
A: That is bird poop, too." - Kurt Vonnegut
Chapter 1 notes:
- I should probably stop assuming every game tagged "Open world" will feature a large, sandbox map. The map in this game is comparatively small and serves more as a "hub" world, really. This doesn't detract anything, in fact, it's probably better that way as the tighter map design has less meandering exploration between destinations.
- JFC, there's so many cutscenes and so few gameplay. Some of the cutscenes (especially the more cinematic ones) are solid and hook me in but a lot of them are just these dialogue marathons that makes me want to speedread it so I can beat up more dudes. I don't want to skip the cutscenes as I'm invested in the plot and want to give this game a chance but I feel this is going to be a slog to get through.
- Real estate is serious business, no matter the size (Muh empty lot)
- The combat seems to be okay, but, I feel my thoughts will soon reflect PiccoloZ's as the timing and movement feel very off atm (and this is coming from the same user who thinks Wrestling Empire is awesome as fuck).
- Considering how the internet loves to portray this game as "wacky Godfather clone", I expected the drama and comedy aspects to be simultaneously present, causing emotional whiplash after emotional whiplash. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case.
The main story seems to be purely drama while all the funny stuff (that gets shitposted) is left for you to discover in-between missions/cutscenes. However, I should probably expect the two to converge at certain points, like how when Nishikiyama and Kiryu decide to sing on the karaoke to cope with their criminal lifestyles early on in the chapter. For now, I'll set aside the comedic elements and focus on the main story but I might change my mind about that sooner or later.
- I wasn't too thrilled by the story or combat throughout the chapter up until the Tojo Clan HQ sequence. Raiding through the building and beating that old man's ass was so energetic. I hope the game lives up to this set piece.
Its like not even as good as Ubisoft design when it comes to a depiction of a city.
The cutscenes will becomes less as the story progresses, but they are still too many, which is fine, a story-driven game has to make lots of cutscenes to convey its storytelling, i just wish the presentation was better because i absolutely didn't like the constant change in direction.
First few chapters are engaging, its not until later that the game story starts to crack and fall apart, i think up until chapter 6 its pretty good, then from chapter 8 all the way towards the end it becomes a trainwreck.
Looking forward to read your take on it once you are done with it.