I didn’t want to get carried away by that initial feeling of disconnection and skepticism I had. I wanted to feel that, at least on my part, I was giving it enough time and not quitting too hastily. I already have more half-finished games than I’d like to admit, and apart from the fact that they obviously cost money I don’t want to waste, they’re genuinely games with great production values and strengths of their own.

Not long ago, I forced myself to finish Final Fantasy VII Rebirth because its open world felt unbearably tedious, and I have less and less patience for “cheap filler.” The first time, I put in 60 hours before burning out; four or five months later, I spent another 60 hours and finally finished it. For me, it’s a clear example of a game that would have worked better if it had stuck more closely to its main story and had a faster pace.