Need For Speed Payback

Alright. Bean the game now. Previous comment still stands. The concepts in the game are great. The setting is fun. I like that there are multiple endings - but I continued to experience being unable to deviate from 'the path'. I wouldn't have minded the game letting me fail more outright, and punishing me for it.

That being said; It's a gem. There's not a lot else quite like it, and I'm happy I've played it. Looking forward to whatever the developer does next.

This is a fun indie gem. Visual Novel, slight choose your own adventure (so far). 10 Hours in currently. The premise and world is really interesting, and the type of scenario I wanted after reading Permutation City by Greg Egan. Dealing with mind/consciousness, and AI. Topics I like exploring.

Biggest downsides so far are that it's quite wordy. The English translation has issues now and then. So far is it doesn't feel like I can actually make very many impactful choices. I can sometimes, but even if I do 'all the things I'm absolutely not supposed to do', the game steers me back to being successful. So more like an interactive story so far; though I know there are supposed to be multiple endings.

Absolutely loving playing through this right now. If you like the old-school combat/puzzle mix that quite a few old jpgs have - this game is gonna blow you away. Dungeons, puzzles, bosses, nice progression - it's a love letter in the best sense of the phrase. Worth every penny and then some.