WARNING: After the most recent update, this game that I bought ON STEAM years ago, PAUSES my game during a single player campaign to ask me to link my Epic account. The embedded Epic update is FORCE PAUSING me in the middle of a SINGLE PLAYER game to make me link my accounts... I didn't even buy this from Epic. This is why Steam will always be better than Epic launcher.

Purchased in the Cozy Couch Co-op Bundle and immediately fell in love. It's a simple game with ever increasing complexity. It's a bullet-hell-light asteroid shooter. Love that you can play with only one account and still co-op. It's just fun!

tl;dr
81% (17/21)
Gameplay (4/5)
Graphics (4/5)
Story (5/5)
Replay Value (1/3), 1 & Done.*
Monetary Value (3/3), worth Full Price.

Note: Haven't completed it yet, if this changes will edit.

The lore is obtusely enjoyable. Initially it fills like word salad, until it starts to make sense, or it could just be the chanting. The humor can be rather subtle at times. It feels like "What if the Room were a 3rd Person adventure?" I grabbed the Definitive Edition on sale; however, this review is my first take during the base game only.

Gameplay (4/5)
[ ] Lacking
[ ] Passable
[ ] Decent
✅ Good
[ ] Great

Gameplay is Good. The controls are responsive, but the initial key binds seem a bit off for me. I am a K&M exclusive, though I see how it would work well for a controller. The best part is, you can remap the keys to any combination you want. AND you can set the individual abilities to Toggle or Hold as well. Because of the 3rd Person nature a bit of the minor platforming and more populated battles would quickly overwhelm me initially, though that might have been the point.

There is no 'save' function per se. There is auto save and then a semi-save which is handled by a series of Control Points. If you die you lose 10% of your collected Source (points used for weapon and mod upgrading) and are returned to the last Control Point you interacted with.

Graphics (4/5)
[ ] Lacking
[ ] Passable
[ ] Decent
✅ Good
[ ] Great

Graphics are Good. The look and feel of the game is seemingly a collection of contrasts: Light & Dark, Condensed & Expanded, Sterile & Infested, etc. Light and dark play a big role, but I am unsure if some of the light is intentionally too bright or it's just me. I've had no graphical tearing, or really any bugs come to think of it, and the environment looks polished and well put together.

Story (5/5)
[ ] Lacking
[ ] Passable
[ ] Decent
[ ] Good
✅ Great

Story is Great. As mentioned above, it feels like "What if 'The Room' were a 3rd Person adventure?" If you haven't played The Room (1-4) I suggest those as well. Lore is passed on in a way conducive to the environment itself: files and notes, audio recordings, video recordings, and other methods. These methods feel immersive and do a great job at fleshing out the world and its lore without constant exposition.

Thankfully, this story is told from a first person perspective even though it is a Third Person game. Meaning the protagonist is also the narrator as we go. So you get the internal thoughts and motivations without having awkward nonsense questions from NPCs, or exhausting exposition dumps. Even the instances of narration (read: spoken thought bubbles) are brief and for the player.

The world likewise is well built. There is a bit of backtracking insomuch as gaining clearance levels for previous doors, but the Control Point system allows fast travel to previously visited areas, so it isn't a chore. The lingo is initially obtuse (word salad), but you quickly pick up on how it is used in the world. Thus by learning snippets of lingo you gain a bit more immersion and are drawn in that much more.

Replay Value (1/3)
✅ 1 & Done
[ ] Multipath
[ ] Skyrim

The Replay Value is seemingly 1 & Done. That isn't a bad thing in this situation! Thanks Control Point system that allows fast travel to previously visited areas, and the ability to replay main story missions from the main menu, you can theoretically unlock everything in a single play through. I have yet to find any missable collections or achievements. It is certainly worth playing again at a future date, as I have done with most of my favorite 3rd Person games, but the base game design seems to be geared towards a single play through.

Monetary Value (3/3)
[ ] Let's Play
[ ] Sale Only
✅ Full Price

Monetary Value: Full Price. I managed to snag this on sale and got the Definitive Edition; however, after playing I can certainly recommending this game even if you have to pay full price. It drew me in, kept me entertained, and ultimately was worth every penny of its value.

My Specs:
Windows 10 64bit 32G RAM DDR4
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X 8-core 3.70 GHz
EVGA GeForce GTX 1070Ti 8G GDDR5

Note: It was brought to my attention that the day my review went up the game was updated, some of the information here may be out of date. I will update when I can.

Wish Steam had a "meh" review option, but I will list the reason why I selected Yes to recommending this "expansion."

Disclaimer: Please note, this review is from the perspective of an Adventuring PVE focused player who plays solo or at most with only one other person. If you are not such a player take the following with a grain of salt.

Not Technically an Expansion
As many have already pointed out, though it is listed as an expansion, this is a separate map with a separate character. NOTHING from the base game carries over to Siptah and nothing from Siptah can be carried back to the base map. For all intents and purposes Isle of Siptah is not an expansion, it is a separate Game Mode. Note: According to patch notes they are testing ways to transfer characters, if this changes I will edit this.

Not Adventurer Friendly
The map itself is a small mirror with the most interesting (and arguably only) POI in the center of the map. This is the maps purpose and function to funnel you to this POI. The tower is pretty cool, I admit if the island were IN the base world this recommendation would still be "meh" but positive as it would be something you could experiment with without losing everything. As mentioned initially the map is much smaller than the original map, which is lamentable but understandable. But the size is even more noticeable with the previously mentioned issue of no travel between. If you start on Siptah, that is all the space their is.

Not PVE Friendly
It is obvious by the mirrored map, small/medium size of the island, and the fact you can bring resources in that this game mode was intended for those who focus on PvP. Everything about it screams Battle Royale (except for the fact that you re-spawn so there is no "winner"). Close quarters, limited resources, and the best stuff is in one central fortified location. When I point out this is not PVE friendly I am also suggesting it is not safe at all for solo play. Unless of course you've mastered combat mechanics (and they execute flawlessly).

But Hopeful
All that being said, the map itself is beautiful (even if it is obviously shaped) and the additional clothing and building options are good too (these can be used in the base game!). The game mode itself isn't a bad idea per se, but definitely not something I'd base a whole character grinding (material, level, thralls, base building, etc.) around. If it ever becomes possible to sail back and forth from Siptah to the Exiled Lands that would definitely change my "meh" a full Yes. Just wanted to make sure you were aware of all of this before you buy this Expansion New Game Mode.

I am a simple, inquisitive man. I see The Room; I acquire The Room. I seek to unravel its secrets and determine truth at the heart of this mental labyrinth. It is all, or merely nothing. Lovecraftian mystery puzzle box. Beautifully detailed with a compelling and immersive soundtrack. I gladly recommend! And patiently wait for more!

I wish there were a neutral or meh option. Not bad enough to say No, as I do have over 100 hrs. But it isn't an enthusiastic Yes either.

Playing the game was enjoyable, relatively bug free. Totally felt the train tracks where it is obvious the story/framing was rushed, but I let the game tell its story. Finishing the game in no way felt as though I had 'won.' The story was completed and I felt completely irrelevant to the entire thing. Felt more like a side character watching someone else's story. More of an Action Adventure than RPG. Not sure if I'll bother playing anymore or not as from what I've looked up I got the 'best' ending. Maybe some future DLC where I can be me instead of V. I am tired of being V.

Head to Nord Highlands - Northeast on Southeast of Nord Highlands - North.