"Days Gone" offers a lot of initial excitement with its open-world setting where you can ride bikes and use a variety of weapons to take down hordes of freakers. The thrill of speeding through the wilderness, engaging in intense combat, and exploring the game's post-apocalyptic landscape is genuinely fun, especially in the early stages of the game. The mechanics of riding and combat are well-designed, and the satisfaction of upgrading your bike or finding a new weapon can't be denied.

However, as you progress, the game starts to suffer from a noticeable lack of variety in its missions. Many of the objectives feel repetitive, requiring you to perform similar tasks in slightly different settings. After a while, the sense of discovery fades, and the gameplay loop becomes more of a chore than a joy. The repetitive nature of these missions makes it hard to stay fully engaged for long stretches of time.

When it comes to the story, I would say it's underwhelming. The narrative tries to explore themes of loss, survival, and redemption, but it often falls flat due to a lack of depth in the characters and plot. The protagonist, Deacon St. John, has his moments, but the overall story feels like it’s just there to push you from one mission to the next, without leaving a lasting impact. It's not terrible, but it’s also not particularly memorable—just kind of "meh."

In summary, "Days Gone" is a mixed bag. It has its moments of fun and excitement, especially when you're on your bike or in the heat of battle, but the repetitive missions and mediocre story hold it back from being truly great. It's a game that falls somewhere in the middle—not bad, but not good either. If only Steam had a "meh" option, that would perfectly sum up my feelings about it.

Incredible game. Played nearly 100 hours and was never bored. I thought the story was really well done, and I loved the game progression UI and menu interfaces. The gun play and motorcycle riding was smooth and intuitive. Progressing through the skills and weapons felt rewarding. And those hordes! What a fantastic antagonist. Every time I encountered them early on, I was absolutely terrified. The music ratcheted up the anxiety when you got close to them as well. Just all around a fun game and really well done. Would throw my money at a sequel.

02/10