Once again, thank you /u/dillonfbecker for gifting this game to me.

This will include spoilers, both minor and major, and I don't know how to use the spoiler tags on this sub, so read at your own discretion.

So, let's start with 12 minutes in. I finally got it working after several different attempts to stop "call stack" errors and junk. (Turning off Raptr, deleting a file, verifying, turning off steam sync, entering in offline mode, restarting the computer. The one that I did last was turning off the steam overlay.)

I felt the game starts off strong. I must've missed a tutorial or something, since it drops you right in with no instruction on how to play, it is up to you to clean up the mess and/or escape. Certain actions will change your mental health for better or worse.

2 hours in, and I'm beginning to get intimidated from continuing the game. Jumpscares are one thing, but this game has a soundtrack that will keep one tense at nearly all moments. Some areas will sound like they're time-limited (typically enforced by a particular story event). That being said, some things are quite time-based, so differentiating between both types of scenes is pretty darn hard.

5 hours in, and now I'm invested. Ooo baby, this is getting interesting, let's see how this turns out. 7 hours in, and now I'm concerned. This has become a rather cheesy action movie/ the Matrix.

MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH

Continuing on to the final ending...I felt it was very uncomfortable and anti-climatic. For my playthrough, I had lost Jade (rather, the game defaulted to giving her when prompted over refusing.) You encounter the Purple Clan, and the A.I. How you deal with them...is incredibly simple. Press some buttons, and it...explodes? Seriously, very simple. You begin to pick up the child, and suddenly the creepo of the Orange Clan has shown up with the female main, Carla at gunpoint (note at this time you are playing as Lucas, the original protagonist). Here you can give the child, or refuse. Refuse, press a few buttons, and Carla breaks out and shoots him. This psychotic, telekinetic nutto who just went head to head in a Matrix fight with Lucas and can kill with a wave of his hand was just taken out with a single shot. The ending is also quite plain, so it's a shame to see a good buildup for a rather weak ending.

MAJOR SPOILER END

Overall, I enjoyed the game (though tensed after a short while.) The soundtrack was amazing, a brilliant composition for the mood. The character are enjoyable (though some confusing towards the second half). It is disappointing how the mental health does not affect the gameplay in much more then a game over. I personally would have preferred a situation closer to Heavy Rain where all actions continued the story, for better or worse. Some continuations are also skeptical, as one can go into a conversation knowing nothing, and in the end have answers to different unasked questions, such as names or factions.

SPOILER WARNING

I am also disappointed with Tyler's (work partner of Carla) ending, where it leaves on a choice to stay and help the people of New York in the snow storm, or leave with his girlfriend for Florida. No matter the choice, he is not involved in the story afterwards.

SPOILER END

All in all, a very interesting game, and I would recommend, but a fairly hesitant one. Especially so if a fan of Heavy Rain or Beyond: Two Souls.