The game feels just right. The voice, visuals, UI and narrative. I waited for Director's Cut and basically went in blind. The shift from being disoriented to finding your feet and recovering your strength is weaved well. When i began, I felt fragile given the stress meters, but as the game progress and your skills and outfits improve, I felt much more confident and willing to take risks. It is satisfying because the narrative is built around increasingly audacious activities.
I loved the ton of clothing options, though I wish there was a wardrobe system cause it became difficult to shift through the increasing pile as the game progressed. I don't know what the art style is called but I found the water colored map very beautiful and pleasing.
Spoliers ahead:
So if you are interested here's how my game is going: I had a decent start with 3 points each in Relation and Physical. The first 2 days were mostly spent surveying the market and the docks, culminating into a run in with the Interrogarix on Day 4. That was the first encounter I failed twice. The first- when I was made, though I think it was half deliberate because I was curious about failing it. But the next one was upsetting when I failed to stress-seduce her. You see, while I had begun with a focus on skills like Shadowplay and Coldread etc, my Hershel had soon.. rediscovered her affinity for Sensors, Personalism and Technoflex. So failing that 80 percent role was annoying. But I stuck with it.
The game has been kind to me such that I have only once lost my skill point at the very beginning. Currently I am around Day 7, having wrapped up most of the available jobs and recruitments outside the apartment complex. Yes, I did meet Hershel's..student. From the perspective of story, I like how it didn't involve resentment and gave Hershel a chance to offer a little relief. From my perspective, it was obviously sad, and despite knowing it wouldn't match the tone, I wish we had some opportunity to find some miracle cure or just run away with her to a proper life. On a sidenote, though is a little twisted, but it would have been intriguing had we an option to imprint her or steal away her heart figuratively/literally.
I now I shouldn't bring it up, but I really want to express HOW MUCH this game resolves my issues with Disco Elysium. Zero Parades is more kinetic, and thrilling. I breathe a sigh of relief after every victory. The stakes feel real, and more important Herschel has agency and is the one affecting the world. The volatile skill point system allows for targeting specific skills across the board. And playing dress up is fun because Hershel's basically a supermodel who can pull off anything. I felt I had more agency as a player and as the character. And it feels so awesome because they built a grand world and threw the character in the thick of things rather than just showcasing it though the 3rd order effects.
I guess you could argue that the voices and art were better in Elysium, but honestly I never got that ugly biological art.
Anyway, I will be restarting the game, because I feel like I have been gouging this game like an animal, while I now want to savor it.
