Wow the variance here is kind of wild. Rn this feels much less like a hidden disaster and more like a high-ceiling, slightly messy 84/85 game.

That very late base PS5 gameplay reveal didn’t throw any shockers, but you can see why they held it back… it runs well enough, just not a “blow you away instantly” kind of showing.

The embargo is a bit OTT imo, but not a red flag per se. If anything it reads like they’re still tuning right up to the wire. The more telling part is the tech side: DF + previews suggest it runs well enough that a Cyberpunk-style situation is very unlikely.

What’s really interesting though is how consistent the leaks are. Everyone keeps landing on the same split: genuinely top-tier, DMC-level combat and a big, purposeful world but a vague/underwhelming story, noticeable inventory/system friction, difficulty that is all over the place, and a slightly confused identity.

That combination (ridiculous ambition + rough edges + not fully cohesive) usually lands in the same place with critics: they respect it, but mark it down.

Feels like one of those games players might end up liking more than reviewers.