Earl Barker

Bend Studio’s return to AAA home console gaming is a welcome one. I first played the game at launch and at the time its gameplay mechanics felt like album of songs that remind you of the others you have fond memories of. I’ve played the first hour of the game 3 times over the years because I just couldn’t get into the story. One of the first people you meet — Copeland — is the type of guy you just want to punch in the face. 684 days gone since its 2019 release and I’ve grown to love the hell out of this game. The attention Bend has given to Days Gone post release is astounding. Bonus skins, Challenge modes and a solid 60FPS framerate on PS5 helped to elevate this game to another level. Sam Witwer is fantastic as Deacon St. John and has cemented himself as one of my favourite protagonists. The rest of the cast are convincing in their roles too. The pacing is on point too. Nothing ever feels like a grind and the upgrades are meaningful. Your bike is as much of a character as everyone else as fuel consumption and durability can become a factor if you neglect them. It actually reminds me of the first Mafia but is more involved since it’s not just a throwaway vehicle like in most open world games. Calling this game “The Last of Us x Far Cry” is doing this game a disservice as it’s more than the sum of its parts. They knocked it out of the park here. I look forward to the sequel!