City of Springs

Writing this from the start of chapter 3, playing hard mode, close to release day. The game is extremely rough and needs a QC run-through, but no game-breaking bugs, cool concept, and is a "thumbs up" from me. The world is impressively large and well decorated, main/side quest NPCs and stories are good, all dialogue is voiced, the combat is generally engaging, exploration is rewarding, and controller support is golden. Further, the core of the combat is engaging, the small customization for bots is very welcome, and the stealth sections are generous about detection timers. I plan to play the game through to the end. I don't think I'll replay it in its current state, but if parts were changed/improved, I'd be happy to play it again. I'll list my issues + feelings in detail below, then some parts I like the most. I see something very good in this game, and I think the changes needed aren't too hard to make. The progression of the bots in the game is way, way too slow. It took 3-4 hours + chapter 2 to unlock my first bot beyond the starters - it was simply too expensive to buy 1 ability (1-2 hours in) and 1 new bot, with completing side quests and hunting for loot, fights, etc. Even …

There's an expression I like to use for games like City of Springs, which is 'this is going to be someone's first and favorite game'. If you've been into games for a while, and especially if you were around in the 90's / 00's era, you have one of these: A game that maybe isn't too well known, maybe isn't *strictly* incredibly good, but something about it just scratched or scratches a particular itch and it's embedded itself on you. For me, that's stuff like Netstorm and Chaos Overlords. For this generation of new gamers, it might well be City of Springs. If you *have* been around for a while, City of Springs is mostly a decent idea wrapped in somewhat disappointing execution. Nothing about it is strictly bad or wrong, it just suffers from odd game design principles and a need for polish. Like what do you *mean* there's fall damage, and it's persistent, and I can only heal by hoofing it to healing stations around town that are otherwise totally free to use? What do you *mean* I can murder most robots effortlessly, unless it's a Mandatory Stealth Section, in which case the same robots I've been fighting directly can now instakill me -- sorry, I mean 'stun' me -- and I have to start …

An absolute steal full price or on sale, amazing depth and clean graphics. I always want to support people trying something new, and they did a good job on the unique combat system. Give it a look, you will not be disappointed

Fun game, just wish it had an unstuck button.

The setting is interesting and it ran well enough, but unfortunately, for me at least, they were the only positives. The script and voice acting weren't particularly good. The animations weren't very good, with texture stretching circa 1997. Exploration was unrewarding. I really disliked the combat. I think there was meant to be some form of 'tactic' ... but I just ended up spamming drones out at random. It felt more like a battle of attrition than tactical. Maybe the game just isn't for me.

Significantly more gameplay and story than I expected. Interesting story and pleasing visuals. Collectibles could have appeared on the map as you progress through the area - then I would have been tempted to pick them up.