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[stn]

Its a good game but it definitely has the open world bloat. Luckily, the bloat brings it to 40 hours instead of 100+.

 

[Roman Empire]

It suffers of the same problems as the InFamous games by Sucker Punch. Mission structure being repititve was something I already expected, but despite of it I had too much fun with the game.

A lot of OP's points are valid and I don't expect Ghost of Yotei addressing all of them. Still, Ghost was my second favorite game of 2020 next to FF7 Remake.

 

[CompleteGlobalSaturation]

Bloated games is a real thing.
Too many chefs in these kitchens adding way more than anyone asks for and it ruins the dish.

I've been playing FFXVI on PC and brute forcing my way through the side quests, but side questing also being force upon the player, in the main story missions. This also ruins the otherwise great experience.

I thought about playing this game.

Does the game move with any urgency or is it an incredibly slow paced experience?

 

[Jigsaah]

I just felt that I got too powerful really early in the game and it no longer offered the challenge I was looking for. I did double dip on PC and finally finished it. Still a great game, it was a just a bit too long IMO.

 

[EN250]

Best Sony 1st Party Game released in 2020, nothing else came close to it, idgaf what outlets and reviewers say, it was 2020 GOTY

 

[JayK47]

I agree OP. I played the game and enjoyed it well enough, but I was not demanding a sequel after finishing it. It became a chore at some point like most open world games. Even if the sequel had the original protagonist, I would not be that interested in it.

 

[MSduderino]

I think OP criticism is on the money and valid. It's also a criticism that could given to most if not all open world games. I think many games including GoT and even BOTW and TOTK (don't @ me pls) try to avoid the bloat but end up feeling that way anyway.

 

[IntentionalPun]

There’s just nothing really going on as you walk around, there is that 1 bridge you cross where it felt like a unique thing was happening and maybe 1 interesting area in the snow act, but other then that it’s just copy-pasted stuff.

The rest of your encounters are just the “spawned” groups of enemies that slightly change as you progress and the same-y little towns.

BUT I still ended up really enjoying it.

And wanting to replay it….

However the endless unskippable cut scenes and boring as sin forced walking and talking sections have stopped me.

 

[Outlier]

I thought about playing this game.

Does the game move with any urgency or is it an incredibly slow paced experience?

So far I'm on the chapter "Things Fall Apart" (chapters aren't numbered) over 13 hours of game time.
I would say the main meat of the game moves at a good pace, but the quests in between the juicy chunks drag down the pace (for me), but I understand what they are trying to do.

TL;DR: If you've played The Witcher 3, you will NOT find side quests anywhere near as complex or well produced in FFXVI, as you would in TW3.

The main story side quests and optional side quests serve to world and character build. Helps us get a better understanding of what's happening around the world and the effects events have on the people.
It's mainly a lot of "Please go here/there and help this person or fetch these things for me/us, because your efforts truly help the people in need, Clive/Cid.". All things other characters could do.

But, I'm managing to get through them. The main story is great, though. They went out of their way to make some of the battles special.

 

[Project EVE]

Open world game is often like that so hard to blame it about the bloat.

 

[Chuck Berry]

Everyone always says the unskippable cutscenes in Max Payne 3 was such blasphemy.

But I’ve never heard anyone mention the fact that in THIS game you can’t skip ANY cutscene or dialogue, no matter what. It’s actual bullshit. Worse when all of the characters lack any sort of emotion when speaking and when the story is dull as fuck until the final act.

 

[sendit]

The game started off very brightly (I thoroughly enjoyed the early levels), but I have developed severe burnout and fatigue from this game. I am currently nearing the later stages of Pac-Man, but it is difficult to finish due to the repetitive nature.

As I've spent so much time in the game already, I will force myself to complete as many levels as I can, but if there is one thing I know, I will safely skip the more challenging maze variants. Whether the later levels win me over remains to be seen.

Pros:

• Gameplay is satisfying and fun. You have different patterns and strategies effective against different ghosts. It's also nice the game is not a carbon copy of other arcade maze games (which have been done to death in the genre).
• Boss fights/1v1 moments with ghosts are fantastic. The tension of avoiding ghosts while grabbing power pellets adds depth.
• Good visuals and superb art direction. Despite the retro style, Pac-Man looks timeless with its vibrant and iconic maze design.
• Excellent sound design and soundtrack; the iconic "waka-waka" sound is unforgettable, and the game makes great use of minimalist audio effects that enhance the tension.
• For an arcade game, the mazes are extremely varied, and the dynamic speed increase as you progress keeps the gameplay challenging and impressive.

Negatives:

• Repetitive mazes. Once you've done a few levels, you've seen most of the variations. As a result, high-level play can feel monotonous.
• No story or characters to connect with. While it’s an arcade classic, it’s difficult to stay engaged without a narrative.
• Predictable mechanics. Playing Pac-Man reminds me why some arcade games can feel like a grind. The lack of a progression system or modern twists makes it feel repetitive after a while.

I heard Ms. Pac-Man is a considerable improvement over the base game, but my only objective at present is to reach as far as I can and be done with it.

 

[Chuck Berry]

The game started off very brightly (I thoroughly enjoyed the early levels), but I have developed severe burnout and fatigue from this game. I am currently nearing the later stages of Pac-Man, but it is difficult to finish due to the repetitive nature.

As I've spent so much time in the game already, I will force myself to complete as many levels as I can, but if there is one thing I know, I will safely skip the more challenging maze variants. Whether the later levels win me over remains to be seen.

Pros:

• Gameplay is satisfying and fun. You have different patterns and strategies effective against different ghosts. It's also nice the game is not a carbon copy of other arcade maze games (which have been done to death in the genre).
• Boss fights/1v1 moments with ghosts are fantastic. The tension of avoiding ghosts while grabbing power pellets adds depth.
• Good visuals and superb art direction. Despite the retro style, Pac-Man looks timeless with its vibrant and iconic maze design.
• Excellent sound design and soundtrack; the iconic "waka-waka" sound is unforgettable, and the game makes great use of minimalist audio effects that enhance the tension.
• For an arcade game, the mazes are extremely varied, and the dynamic speed increase as you progress keeps the gameplay challenging and impressive.

Negatives:

• Repetitive mazes. Once you've done a few levels, you've seen most of the variations. As a result, high-level play can feel monotonous.
• No story or characters to connect with. While it’s an arcade classic, it’s difficult to stay engaged without a narrative.
• Predictable mechanics. Playing Pac-Man reminds me why some arcade games can feel like a grind. The lack of a progression system or modern twists makes it feel repetitive after a while.

I heard Ms. Pac-Man is a considerable improvement over the base game, but my only objective at present is to reach as far as I can and be done with it.

 

[gow3isben]

Agreed almost dropped it halfway it is literally an above average Ubisoft game

 

[TropicanaTwista]

This thread would not have been made in 2020. Back then, the mere mention of TLOU 2 getting GOTY over this game caused much fake outrage and pearl clutching.

Typical gaf thread. Great games anytime after 6 months after release will have a thread pop up on how said game sucks and a majority of people agree, but in the games honeymoon phase, those people never seem to exist. Tale as old as time.

For OP, I disagree completely. I absolutely loved the game and I typically don't care for open world games. Combat loop is super fun. The repetitive missions structures are a fair complaint I guess, but I feel like that's a prerequisite for an open world game. Maybe there's a game out there but I can't recall ever playing an open world game where you consistently do different things in terms of mission structure. Another thing I hate about open world games is traveling. As more times then not it's just having you walk or drive from point A to point B, but I really enjoyed just taking in the scenery and having the wind guide you. It added a nice immersion.

 

[Danjin44]

I wish they would have done like they did with their InFAMOUS series based on you morality choice you get access different skills and new story quest and different ending.

I actually really liked InFAMOUS 1&2 and somewhat Second Son, it’s my reason why I was excited for Ghost of Tsushima but instead Sucker Punch went with most boring design for this game.

 

[WorldHero]

Glad someone said this. The game’s juice wasn’t worth the squeeze for me.

 

[EDMIX]

This is actually a really good assessment of the game. I think this is a tough pill for many to take lol

Danjin44 Same.

Its like they wanted to provided some "choice" but already made a character they wanted to be morally "just" and its like, well you already made this choice for us, the rest of the game doesn't even matter at that point. They should have given more free agency.

Let us be a bandit robbing people or let us be the person saving people, but shit, allow that to really be the player's choice.

 

[Giallo Corsa]

Open world game is often like that so hard to blame it about the bloat.

Don't know man, not once I got bored when playing RDR, The Witcher 3 or RDR2 - not all open world games are equal and the ones that feel "bloated" are usually the Ubisoft tripe ones or, the ones that follow the typical and tired Ubisoft formula...
Heck, even Days gone felt more "organic" and not as formulaic as GOT - and that was also a Ubisoft-like game.

After the 153647271th temple, haiku spot, wood chopping spot, "random" copy-pasted save-a-paesant encounter, flag collecting, bathing spot and all the other shit things got tiring to say the least.

This was a Ubisoft title in all but name