Being placed in a world akin to a setting kids might be whisked away to if they were transported to a nightmarish version of their own imagination -- by that interdimensional beast that lives underneath their floorbirds -- it's, yeah, terrifying.
It's also as strange as Mario's team-up with a sentient hat that for some reason lets him Being John Malkovich a dinosaur.
In the end though, by not committing to either the sim-style of TIE Fighter or the arcade-action of Rogue Squadron – the middle-ground falls a short of brilliance. Most campaign missions follow a similar flow, rarely delving into sheer cinematic spectacle or pure sim-like protracted and intense battles. But there’s no denying that when played in VR Squadrons often feels like a dream come true - and when it stays on target, it’s a force to be reckoned with.
Underneath the beauty, there’s a morality tale that slowly unfolds amid the sometimes overblown spectacle. An element that was present in the original but feels more prevalent and potent here. The ending backs an even bigger gut punch this time around.
What we’re presented with throughout the campaign and as a whole though is as they say, rough around the edges.
Carrion is ultimately fascinating, engaging, and short and sweet. By putting you in the role of the alien threat it imbues you with a strange supervillain-like sense of playing in an insect farm.
Ghost of Tsushima isn’t perfect, not even close. But neither is Jin Sakai, and his journey from Samurai to Ghost is one worth savouring, and a Legendary Tale all its own.
In the end there is inherent value in a release like this, particularly from a preservation standpoint. And truth be told, playing through each campaign on the easier difficulty settings allows for the enjoyment of often cheesy but ultimately engaging b-movie stories being told to take centre-stage.
An entry level take on a well-worn genre that after a few hours will have you heading for the exit.
Saints Row The Third is an experience that drops all pretence of realism, the digital city of Steelport is presented as a sandbox of colourful, comic, and juvenile excess.