What do we actually mean, when we call a game rewarding? I reckon typically it's one of two things. First you have games that reward you for playing them well: rewards are given in return for achievement or superlative skill – a new outfit, a Legendary Cuirass, a skill point or two. Then you have the ones where you're awarded simply for playing the game at all, that kind of external stimulus for engagement. The Skinner box method, basically, where you get daily bonuses for everything from simply logging in to maxing out your battle pass. What Sword of the Sea reminded me, as I lanced my way through desert dunes, 720'd my way across cliff edges, nosedived off a mountain face, or just awkwardly bunny hopped my way along a ledge I wasn't sure I was actually meant to climb, is that there's a third way. A game that rewards you neither for just playing nor for playing well, but for playing it right.
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Verdict: 9 / 10✔ Highlights
- Immersive gameplay
- Next-gen visuals
- Great replay value
✘ Drawbacks
- Minor bugs
- Some repetitive quests
Full Review: Sword of the Sea reviewSource: https://www.eurogamer.net/sword-of-the-sea-review
Reviewer: Chris Tapsell
Published: {published}
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