Recent reviews by cactus

As someone who understands people overreact to any usage of AI, using generative AI images when you can develop a whole game is unacceptable. I'd make bad art for free that would be more consistent in style than the AI images used here if it meant they removed it entirely. If I saw the AI disclaimer beforehand, I would not have purchased. Even MS paint scribbles would be an improvement.
The game is overall fun, but the daily maintenance is annoying like many people have said.

Another detailed review to get lost in the void:

**TW: Embark glazing**

I love Arc Raiders. As a long time fan of the Finals I had very high hopes for Arc Raiders despite extraction shooters being a category I was never really interested in and had only played for maybe 2-3 hours before this. Embark truly pours love and passion into their games, and it's so refreshing to pay for a game that felt launch ready in an age of overpriced games riddled with bugs and patches for months before they're at a playable state. I didn't even think I would particularly like the game, but tried it out during the server slam and within a few hours pre-ordered it.

The gameplay feels unique in both squads and solos, with solos feeling like you're very vulnerable but run into more friendly players, and squads feeling more protected but knowing you will be fighting anyone on sight. Progression seems like a grind but relatively forgiving for those who don't have hours to drop in the game (read: jobs). I've won a fight against teams with a free kit and lost some with my best loot. The arc add another level of fun to each fight, and overall once I get out of my loot goblin fear of losing my stuff, I'll enjoy the game even more.

Currently my only gripe with the game is the cosmetics. Seeing the freedom and pricing in the Finals has spoiled me, and I think for the price point there needs to at least be more custom options like wearing a certain color hat with a certain color jacket within the same set. But at the end of the day cosmetics aren't essential to the game, especially this one.

As for the whole PvP v PvE debacle, as someone who prefers the PvE aspect and teaming with friendly players, both must exist for the PvE experience to shine. When you fight everyone for 3 games in a row, then find 4 friendly players who help each other find loot, locked rooms, kill a leaper, and even extract together it feels so much more rewarding. Do I think there should be something to encourage cooperation? Yes. But this needs to be done carefully, as the balance is absolutely needed and anything too harsh either way will negatively impact the game.

Overall I am very biased because I've seen Embark pump out updates and content for the Finals despite a dwindling playerbase for a free game. I can only imagine that same drive and attitude will extend over to Arc. If you've been interested in extraction shooters but weren't sure where to start or didn't want to do in depth military larping, this is a good start imo. I have friends who enjoyed Tarkov who love this game and some who don't. You won't know if you don't try, and this is a game worth trying. Wait for a sale or remember you can refund games as well.

See you topside

good game. lots of walking. pretty views. i miss my wife. 8.5/10

ps: if you run a monitor over 144hz you'll have to lock it to 144 in windows settings and turn on vsync in game so you can actually walk lol

As an OW1 player, just play Marvel Rivals. Its more fun and they actually care about their community and feedback.

Added to give better clarification:

Originally Overwatch felt like a game for everyone. Sweats and casual players, big spenders and more frugal players. The heroes in the game all felt strong, but over time everything has been nerfed to the ground, and most tanks or supports feel like they have less impact on a team, as well as not feeling rewarding while playing them.

Since the release of Overwatch 2, they have only continued this trend, as well as removing some loved features like the loot boxes (not even the paid ones, just the free ones) and their promise to make a PvE mode. They also use cheap tactics to with minimal effort to raise money for charity. Don't get me wrong, it's awesome they do that, but the only reason they re-released an exclusive skin with a minimal recoloring was because they knew it was a quick cash grab. You know they don't care about anything other than money when they had employees doing... well... probably can't type it all here. I tried to hold onto this game after the release of Overwatch 2, but it falls so short of how it originally felt. You can still play it, or even Paladins or Rivals. You might even enjoy it. But this game has continuously been less and less fun, as well as the obvious lack of care for the game and community, I don't see a reason to keep supporting something that in my opinion is a failing game, especially from such an excessively greedy, corrupt, and money hungry company. Most developers aren't perfect, but they're definitely not Blizzard.

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cat game fun

cannibals are my sleep paralysis demons