Wow, just wow!
I've been an enthusiastic gamer for as long as I can remember. I believe I started gaming around the age of 6. Thanks to my dad, it was possible; in his "young" years, he was also an avid gamer, or whatever it was called around 1990. :)
As I mentioned, gaming has always been a hobby for me, something I did almost daily until I was 28. There were even phases, usually the ones without a girlfriend :), where I completed every game that hit the market and had a "okay enough" reputation.
A lot of money went into this hobby.
However, at some point, no game really grabbed me anymore. Whether multiplayer or single-player, everything seemed to have been done before — the same mechanics, gameplay, settings. Everything felt the same,...... just boring.
Sometimes I had to force myself to play. It was enjoyable, but no game left a lasting impression anymore.
This has been going on for the last ~5 years; I hardly play anymore due to work and family.
There are months where I don't sit in front of the PC except for work. Occasionally, a game reaches me, mostly some multiplayer game played with friends, which is fun mainly because the right people are involved, and it often turns into a sort of competitive game.
However, all the single-player games I touched in the last 5 yearsor more were rather underwhelming, including genuine AAA gems like Elden Ring. It was nice, motivating, played it three times, but it was still.. just.... just Dark Souls......
The last game that surprisingly blew me away was Nier: Automata, released in 2017, also played multiple times to see 110% of the game. Story and what needs to be done to uncover all of the story, and what the game tries to deliver was just amazing!
I still think about it sometimes. But enough about other games.
I stumbled upon Chordosis through a German YouTube channel, and I have to say...
Those were the best 2 hours of gameplay I've had since 2017!!!!!!!!!
I can't exactly explain it, but the atmosphere created here is spot on. Every step felt like I was taking it myself.
The details, setting, movements, sound, gameplay, storytelling – everything merged into an immersion that is simply fantastic.
Nevertheless, it's worth mentioning that not everything was groundbreaking, but the execution of those parts still felt new, "juicy."
Within those 2 hours of gameplay, there was not a second of boredom. The tension was always high.
The rewards obtained by exploring the game's wolrd & story were well implemented. Unique, different, it doesn't bother for a second that there are actually no speakers for the NPC and Char.
The attention to detail is rarely seen. I still don't understand why not every AAA game, with a hundred times the development power, looks, feels, and plays at least as good.
I have great respect for what has been achieved here. I am incredibly looking forward to seeing and experiencing more of this game.
I almost have to say wistfully that the game reminds me of the good old times.
So, basically, all that's left to say is: Game of the decade for me, a game that captivated me for 2 hours, bringing me back a bit more to the gaming I used to love so much.
Many, many thanks for this experience, and here's to many more experiences with future episodes.
Thank you very much, Adam.