In case you missed it, there's a new game out from one of the directors of the Just Cause series, Samson. It's a Max Payne-esque gritty thriller, and though the feedback hasn't been the strongest, the main man behind the project is proud of putting it together.
Christopher Sundberg, co-founder of Avalanche Studios and co-director of the Just Cause games, considers Samson a statement against "swallowing all the crap that the industry feeds us," per an interview he conducted with GamesRadar+. Video games as a whole are in a difficult position, with rampant layoffs and a heavier reliance on established IP, and he and his new studio Liquid Swords, wanted to at least attempt to bring something newer to the medium.
"I can't just sit and watch leaders of this business, just flushing it all down in the toilet," he explains. "I'd rather go down screaming, than haven't at least tried to get us back on track."
He's not happy, in case you couldn't tell. To be fair to him and Liquid Swords, you don't see a lot of what Samson's offering right now: it's like a slice of Grand Theft Auto, focused slightly more on being hard as nails, telling a story of crime and revenge.
It reminds me of True Crime: Streets of LA, and that's absolutely a compliment. However, early reactions aren't the strongest. It sits at Mixed on Steam, users citing clunky combat and driving, performance problems, and a prevalence of bugs and other problems. The top positive review calls it, "surprisingly alright," which probably isn't pushing anyone to grab their wallet.
Nonetheless, it exists, and Liquid Swords could improve the game in the weeks and months ahead. Hey, at least it's not MindsEye.
