I have had the game in my backlog for years, and I finally got to it now with the only regret being that I should've played it sooner. I was also scared of the amount of collectibles the game required for the plat, but it was actually a really great time exploring the map and collecting things (thanks to the mediation skill, no guides were needed)

The absolute highlight is simply existing in this world. Exploring the vaporwave island is a treat, every corner feels intentionally designed, drenched in neon pinks, purples, and retro-futuristic architecture. The music is perfectly suited to the vibe, blending city pop and vaporwave into something I could listen to for hours. The writing is great and the story is genuinely fun to unravel. I loved piecing together the underlying narrative by exploring freely, talking to bizarre characters, and slowly figuring out who the culprit(s) might be. There's also some okay platforming during the collectible hunting, which adds a little variety. It's just an amazing vaporwave vibe from start to finish.

That said, the variety in gameplay is low. You're mostly walking, talking, and reading which is fine, but it does start to feel samey after a while. Speaking of reading, there's too much text sometimes, and it can be overwhelming to dig through endless dialogue trees. The fast travel system requiring currency is genuinely annoying and discourages using it altogether. Also, some of the main movement abilities like double jump, dash, and meditations are hidden away instead of being given early on, which feels like an odd design choice for an exploration heavy game.

All in all, Paradise Killer is a slightly flawed but memorable experience that nails its atmosphere and mystery. I'd give it a solid 8/10 meaning it was great. The Platinum took me around 9 hours.

ps. play the game if you have ps plus extra before it leaves the catalogue in mars. Also please give me recommendations on more vaporwave inspired games if you have any.

[Paradise Killer] #178 the best vaporwave inspired game I have played