There were a few things, I think. Stylistically I thought it was gorgeous and made well, coupled with the absolutely beautiful soundtrack by Austin Wintory. But I also got lucky my first time though, and ended up sticking with the same partner pretty much from the very beginning all the way through the end.

The argument that games are art is something that was pretty widely discussed around the release of Journey, but what I think made that game in particular so impactful is the way that it took a basic mechanic like multiplayer support and wove it so perfectly in with the narrative it was trying to tell. Walking into the light with the same person who was with me from so early on, after everything we went through, and then saying our goodbyes before that beautiful OST played through the credits, it was pretty moving.

Oh, it lives up to it, all right. It’s pretty mind bending in its own way.

The DLC is good, but it’s different. Quite different.

And without spoiling anything, let me say that during the beginning and middle it feels even more different than it ends up being, which is a bit jarring to some fans of the original.

I like it, I’m glad I played through it, but I understand people that are grumpy with it or don’t gel with it.

I think the flaw it has, by nature of being DLC, is that it has a bit less surface area than the main game. In the main game if you get stuck there are a hundred other areas to explore and learn stuff that may help get through the stuck parts, or even just give you a break so you can prevent frustration. But in EotE if you get stuck in, like, 3 places it sorta locks you up, because those are the only 3 threads you have available to you at that time. So it’s not bad, but is more prone to frustration and feeling stuck than the original.

But if you relax, and push through, and in some cases have “faith” that the designers have way through in mind, I think it’s good and scratches a similar but different itch.

I won’t overhype it, as others are saying it changes up a lot and there’s a particular section near the end that a few people I know bounced off of. It will be a very different experience, built on the same bones, but trying to accomplish something different.

But holy shit, to me it’s an improvement on an already phenomenal game, and builds on its narrative and mechanics in ways I thought were really clever. It feels like the other side of the coin from the main game and bolsters its themes from another perspective. Can’t recommend it enough.

Lol, I tear up just hearing River’s song, it’s such an amazing story. We also played Laura Shigihara’s cover of “Everything’s alright” for my wife walking down the isle. It’s a special game.

Beginning of Stray: “Oh, this cat game is so cute!”

End of Stray: [Hey, come see this big, grown-ass adult guy start ugly-crying!]

Movies don’t hit me as hard, but the medium that is video games really sells the rough moments for me. Maybe it’s something about being responsible for moving the narrative that makes me connect with video game characters.

Bring a blanket and a box of tissues. There is no “I’m too tough to cry” in this game, at least I don’t know anyone who hasn’t.

Oh God, that part with all of the get well cards. Right in the feels.

It is an embodiment of “it’s all downhill from here,” aside from the fact that evil is vanquished.

As a middle aged guy with a young daughter at the time, I cried at the opening and had to take a break before actually playing the game.

The boss fight in the dinner. This was traumatic to me. The violence in this scene feels much to real to be in a video game, I was not prepared.

Sam.