izigame.me

Wow, I have to say I really underestimated this game at a first look from gameplay videos and reviews.
Just coming off my first session and I played 4h straight.
So many great things about this game. Combat system is very well put together, not overcomplicated, but enough room for depth with chaining together different stances, different directional attacks and special moves with dodges and parries. Interesting fresh ideas, like the stamina deflecting 50% of damage with passive blocks.
Hitsounds sounds straight out of Dragon Ball Z, that makes bashing alien creatures just feel right. If you are a fan of anime type over the top martial arts, this is definitely a game for you, the combat is very statisfying. Very nice level of difficulty, challenging, yet beatable if you use what options are given to you smart. I heard things like the game being frustratingly difficult, which I cannot agree to.
The Ritual system is a very fun way to switch up fights, and can be skipped or tactically used, depending on what your opponents strenghts are. Also cool risk reward and completly believable to have such a ritual in a world centered around fighting and brute power.
I was really suprised how much I liked the exploration aspect, there is meaningful loot, that actually let's you progress leveling your stances and moves, and crafting materials for things you wanna buy, or even complete armour sets. Also the Leveldesign actually caught me off guard. Pathways are very well connected, with lots of sidepaths, vertically overlapping lanes and plenty of shortcuts that make sense. Theres tons of hidden stuff to find, and in most places where you'd expect some hidden loot, you get rewarded for going there.
Also great world building I get really strong Dragon ball/ Z vibes with the colourful pterodactyl creature. Sweet details, like the boy calling out creatures names when he sees it, so you get to know what they're called. despite, what a cute little sidecharachter! The Alien creatures and charachters in general just look so unique and fantastic. I guess the artistic style speaks for itself, it has this very surreal and unique look to it, I personally love it. Ontop of that you get a really great soundtrack.
I read in so many reviews that it's confusing and you have no idea where to go etc. I can't confirm this. It sure is possible to get lost if you don't pay attention, no doubt. But there's plenty of Landmarks spread, so if you pay abit attention you can always orient yourself. The game basically teaches you this in the first sequence of exploration, where someone literally points you to a big bridge throning over a cliff. there's no minimap but honestly, the game feels like it doesn't really need it.
The Day/Night Cycle switching up levels and enemies, and also adding new loot is really cool. When I saw gameplay footage of the thorn wall sequences, I tought it's just a simple way to switch up traversel, like in many other games. I didn't realize it actually limits you to only go trough in your night wood form and actually has a deeper mechanic gameplaywise.
Honestly I was never so off with my first impression of a game. I really judged this the wrong way from gameplaymaterial and reviews. I was really doubting if I'd like it. And I totally love the game.
And also a shame how this game gets 6s and 7s in many reviews. I think many reviewers are just too used to unchallenging and handholding type tripple A games nowadays. For me personally, this game even tough not perfect, does many things right.
I'd rate it a strong 8, possibly a 9 from what I've expirienced so far.