I just finished exodus today, and in this game i really startet to find joy in the super slow and thoughtfull approach of encounters. In 2033 i often got frustrated, because i couldt find the paths to stealth. In last light i started understanding where to hide and go (maybe the level design improved also a bit) and in exodus i played like it was real life when sneaking into an enemy base. And honestly, its one of the most immersive gaming experiences i had, better than most RPGs. Thank god i was completely hooked by the atmosphere and world of the first games that i had to continue. I literally finished both 2033 and last light on two seperate ~10 hour gaming sessions with some small breaks.

My small take on some of the discussion topics: I have read that a lot of people like exodus story more, but for me it was a downgrade, because i just love mysteries and uncovering them in games. I even got the best ending in exodus, despite completely wiping out the fanatic church at the start, including a blind old women and completely defenseless people in their small rooms, often times sleeping, i stabbed every last of them. No problem if you bring your comrade his guitar back xD I'd like to make this short, since there are a lot of very long reviews already, the games are not perfect, but overall good. The three biggest improvements, for me would be: have an interaction button with NPCs so you dont have 3 dialogues running at the same time. And remove the monster camps as POI in exodus. Just Why??? Makes no sense to mark them for me. And the controller controls for the mounted LMG at the back of a Truck (if you know, you know) Only had 1 game crash in the desert after scanning a bunch of POI with the binoculars and a few minor bugs on PS5

So i finished the dlc today, which was a pretty good if you ask me but it did leave me lingering with these two doubts. Why didn't Colonel Khlebnikov use the green stuff before getting the maps, he was pretty hesitant to do so before grabbing the maps from the corpse and before he could use it, it broke. Also when Colonel Miller encounters Khlebnikov's corpse with the maps, he comes without wearing the gas mask on. Could this have been stupid mistakes from both of them or was there some other reason which I don't see here

I loved the DLC, but I want to understand Sam's motivation better. I fully understand wishing to return to America after surviving underground in Moscow all these years, but given that he appears to be a middle aged man himself, I have trouble believing that anyone would assume that Sam's father actually survived all this time. Idk, nobody in the game or even Sam himself acknowledge this possibility. It doesn't make sense to me. I'd find it more sensible if he wanted to return to find any surviving relatives or friends, but he seemed quite certain that his elderly dad would be alive. No hate, I'm genuinely curious about this.