Any chance I'd like this if I didn't care for its predecessors? I admired UC2 for its excellence across all objective metrics, but I didn't like the way it controlled, I didn't like the way it handled platforming and I didn't like the sense of spending an entire game traversing a hollywood set piece.
I DID really like TLoU.
So, I played UC2 on PS3 and thought it was a decent enough game, but quite honestly, I didn't think it lived up to the hype. It was good, don't get me wrong, but there was something missing. I couldn't finish UC3 - it felt like a slog. I tried to play the original UC, and turned that off as well. I have not purchased the PS4 editions. So out of all of that in the series, I finished 2, couldn't get into 3, and didn't like 1. I also loved the last of us.
Now for this game, and I am really trying to place my finger on it because I am still trying to come to grips with what it is. Or a combination of things.
1) The settings and set pieces are bar none gorgeous to look at. Especially on a big screen.
2) The story, the pacing, the atmosphere, and MOST especially, the in-character bantering is just absolutely, bar none, the best I have ever experienced in any video game. There have been more than a handful of times I am outright laughing at the screen. So many times actually in the banter. The expressions that go along on their faces in cut scenes, to the dialogue, to the voice acting... And how engaging the story is. I feel emotionally connected and that NEVER happens to me in video games, although I hear about it a lot from marketing brochures - it never comes to fruition. This time? I have felt anger, love, remorse, sadness, hilariously laughing, it's crazy. I would get into specifics but I do not want to spoil it for anyone.
3) The gameplay and parkour moves a lot faster than in previous games. The shooting mechanics are righter and more responsive. The puzzles are very fun so far. And honestly, just when I get sick of shooting, I enter a door and find a puzzle or I am jumping around navigating. It seems whenever I am about to get sick of a certain play style, the game is reading my mind and has me do something else.
My advice is to buy it if you like what you see above. It's at least worth a rental. But be prepared to rent for 4-5 days. It's along game so far. I have sunk in 10 hours, on casual mode, and I am not even half way through the game yet. Last night I didn't want it to end, like the night before. And time FLIES by when playing.
