Directive 8020: does it live to the expectations?

GAMING NEWS OctaneE - 2 hours ago

As of now, Directive 8020 has been out for two days, and the reviews are beginning to stabilize. It can be said that this is one of the most polarizing entries in the series: those who like it are absolutely obsessed, while those who don't feel a sense of disappointment.

An overview of the Steam community's evaluation of Directive 8020

Two days after its release, the game holds a "Mixed" rating due to the tug-of-war between the storyline and the new gameplay mechanics. First, the selling point of the game, according to player reviews, comes from its atmosphere and graphics. Many players assert that this is Supermassive's most beautiful game to date. The transition to Unreal Engine 5 helps the body horror sequences look incredibly realistic and terrifying.

Not only that, the biggest plus point of the game comes from the Turning Points system, as players love being able to view branching paths and "turn back time" to try different choices without having to replay the entire 8-hour experience. Regarding the characters, Lashana Lynch's performance is highly rated, providing a more authentic and deeper feel compared to the characters in Season 1.

Those are the commendable points of the game, but there is no shortage of conflicting views from players regarding this installment. The first—and perhaps the most frequent complaint—is that players feel there are too many stealth segments forcing you to hide behind crates and wait for monsters to pass, which dilutes the game's pacing and causes impatience.

The game also gives players the feeling that it has lost its "cinematic quality" compared to Season 1 (The Dark Pictures Anthology: Season 1), as players feel the shift to a free third-person perspective makes the game look more like a standard indie horror title rather than an interactive movie. Finally, despite the beautiful graphics, there are still instances of lip-sync issues and facial expressions that sometimes look a bit "stiff" during intense segments, creating a sense of frustration for players.

Directive 8020 has only been out for two days, but it has already garnered a lot of feedback from the gaming community. The game is fundamentally rated quite highly; however, there are still some lingering issues that the publisher is in the process of resolving. If you are curious, don't hesitate to add Directive 8020 to your cart! Remember to use our comparison tool to purchase Directive 8020 at the best price!

OctaneE

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I’m all about motorcycles, retro gaming, and the golden handheld era of the PSP and PS Vita. I love the thrill of the ride just as much as the nostalgia of classic games. I believe games can bring people together, spark creativity, and make the world a little brighter—one adventure at a time.