Its retro and really rough around the edges (and QTE heavy) and is more of a life sim than a traditional adventure game, but Shenmue I & II introduced day/night cycles with NPC schedules, has a fun martial arts combat system, and the story is kind of like an 80s martial arts film with a detective kick. There’s also gambling, drinking, a little bit of working at the docks, darts, retro arcade games, and some sleuthing to progress the story. Your progress from Shenmue I carries over to II

But again its rough around the edges and sometimes referred to as QTE simulator (or Dock Worker Simulator, as I jokingly call it). But somehow, all these elements blend together well to create a unique game. Not going to be for everyone but I really enjoyed it

Final note: I highly recommend using a controller. I ran into issues with KB+M, especially after remapping keys. It broke some of the QTEs.

Absolutely. That section is a response to the monotheistic interpretation of god and the idea of hell. The Greco-Roman gods, for example, would be an entirely different story where power is the core value.

This is an excellent question that I have not been able to reconcile myself

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if the answer is not important but how we respond to the answer (or lack of an answer) is what matters most. Different believers of the same god(s) and religion can either feed and clothe the less fortunate or genocide nations.

If there is one or more god(s) out there and their fundamental core value is love, I would think they would not care if we get the answer right or even care about acknowledgement with prayer and rituals, but they would be more interested in how we treat each other and the world that we live in by keeping love as a core value in our lives.

Me when I look at my hands in my dreams

Im pretty sure I missed a lot in the first playthrough due to a dark screen haha

But agreed that it will be hard to recreate that magic - Riven really was ahead of its time and is still my favorite of the series

Tyler was definitely a product of the times

Riven remake is underway!

Worst Super Mario World level