Similar story for me. I bounced off this game several times, going back to it repeatedly because (to this day) Matsuno’s games are some of my all-time favorites. Then maybe 15 years after release, I realized I’d stopped just short of the crafting station which was such a strong hook for me I ended up with multiple spreadsheets!
Unfortunately, as I began to realize as I delved into the game, it had a lot in common with looter ARPGs, a genre that ages so rapidly. I probably would have loved the game back in 2000 but didn’t give it enough of a chance back then. By the time I did, it was just too dated.
Man, I wanna live in your neighborhood. I’m surrounded by bougie people or people with bougie fantasies. They talk all the time about drinking wine on a boat.
Considering it’s a press award, I’d be shocked if one of the lowest reviewed games ever to get nominated won. Feels like compensating for none of these being huge sellers (which might also be part of the reason that DLC is in there). And even then, BM:W only sold one out of four outside of China. Says a lot about the state of Western AAA gaming this year.
As long as one is okay with the requisite time tinkering to get it up and running, the gaming PC still seems like a no-brainer to me at these prices. So much utility, including doubling as a work station.
I guess a bit can be saved on games by selling the discs later, but that requires the disc drive add-on, so we’re already looking at more up-front cost. And yet somehow, the base unit is still cheaper than the PS3 was, adjusting for inflation.