GreedFall - Standard Edition

To start with, it's important to make clear that there is a good game here. But, that good game is packaged with a lot of flaws and rough edges that make it difficult to recommend for everyone. First, the good stuff: 1. The story, setting, characters, and atmosphere are fantastic. 2. The voice acting is surprisingly well done for a low budget RPG. 3. The RPG systems have a lot of depth. (Every little choice matters in this game.) 4. The graphics and performance are very good for a AA title. 5. The game really allows the player to build their character however they choose (but not all builds are equally balanced). 6. It's almost always on sale, so it is absolutely a great option if you're looking for a solid, affordable RPG experience. Okay, now for the flaws: 1. Combat is a bit stiff, but you do get used to it after the first couple hours of game play. (There is depth to it, but it's far from being a smooth experience). 2. There is some button delay during combat, so you really have to learn the timing for each command. 3. The "fast travel" system in this game is awkward at first. You do get used to it, but traveling in this game feels tedious. 4. There is a lot of backtracking in this game. Some backtracking is part of the quest line, and some of it is simply because the open world isn't always well designed so you waste time trying to find the right path to travel. 5. There is a lot of grinding in this game. It is common to get stuck in the middle of a quest because you don't have enough vigor to cross a river, or because your agility isn't high enough to climb a specific cliff. So then you have to go back and grind to level up those skills before you can complete that quest. 6. This game is not very forgiving. Your choices matter. If you don't have a plan when you're leveling up your character, you're going to suffer. If you choose the wrong dialogue options, it's going to be more difficult. 7. There isn't much variety in the overall gameplay. It's a lot of fetch quests, repeat enemy encounters, and recycled bosses. In conclusion, as I said at the start, there IS a very good story and game here. If you're willing to tolerate the stiff combat and tedious grinding that this game requires, it is a rewarding experience. It is also usually on sale for a really good price. Overall, a solid AA title with a lot to love if you can look beyond its flaws. Sadly, the French studio that made it has closed, but this is probably the best game they ever developed. It's at least worth trying out.