I believe this game will leave you as a better person, if you let it. I got the game since it was all "have fun will realistic guns and malfunctions," and it certainly has not disappointed. There is a definite learning curve to all the mechanics and buttons, but give it an hour and you'll have it down, especially when you keep having a negligent discharge holstering and unholstering. At this point, I haven't unlocked all the firearms yet but I am still very satisfied with what I do have (excluding the Hi-point, just ugh). However, for a firearm-centered game, it has exceeded my expectations in ways I didn't know that games could achieve. (spoilers beyond this point) Beyond the gun play, there's a certain "cultish" feel once you start playing tapes. You usually get the typical cult initiation speech where you "see the signs around you" and the world changing and "gradual dysfunction" surrounds you. "You are ready to become a 'Receiver.'" I almost completely stopped listening to the tapes since I just assumed it was cult slop after that, but I was struck by a certain tape that I picked up. I unknowingly picked up a Threat Echo tape and immediately noticed a different tone from the speaker. Instead of the usual monotone, almost soothing, authoritative voice, there was a low-down, dragging voice that just sounded like the speaker had finally accepted their depressing fate. I don't exactly remember what was said but it amounted to "I have tried my best, yet I'm nothing." Before I could process what was said, the words "The Threat is taking control" was pasted on my screen and my S&W Model 10 was slowly turning back towards me. I pressed every damn key on keyboard but it was like my character knew this was the only way. I looked down the steel barrel on my sidearm and saw a chambered bullet looking cold at me. The hammer dropped and I saw nothing but black. The trance I was stuck in was interrupted by a shiver going down my spine. This brought a whole new level to the game I was not anticipating. Sure, I read about themes of suicide and even checked the box acknowledging it, but actually looking down the barrel of the S&W was almost traumatizing. After that incident, I paid much more attention to the tapes. At the slightest hint of the speaker having a depressive voice, I clear my firearm. I've only gotten The Threat Echo two more times, both conveniently with the Model 10, but both times I cleared the firearm before it's turned back on me. It's still extremely terrifying, especially as a gun owner, to have your own firearm turned against you, and to see the finer details like the barrel rifling while having that depressive event happen. It's funny how one of the tapes specifically talk about trauma, what it is, how it's formed, and what it does to a person. It's one thing to be "lectured" about it, but it's a whole other thing to be forcibly given that trauma, and have the only way to progress in the game to face that trauma by picking up tapes. Whether it's intentional or not, that series of tapes lead me to actually listen and take in the tapes. By dropping the guard that I put up against these tapes due to what I thought was cult teachings, I got to fully experience the game, and still do, while also receiving valuable lessons. From the four rules of firearm safety and clearing malfunctions to the media being The Threat and suicide awareness within yourself and your friends. One of the tapes that has stuck with me speaks about caring for what you put inside your mind: "We are all taught to carefully monitor what we put into our bodies. We need to eat this and avoid that, and have this other thing in moderation. But we are never taught how to curate what we put into our minds. There's no use having a healthy body if your mind is poisoned. The Threat has used this control to remove choice over what you consume. If you uncritically view media, you are directly allowing the Threat to infiltrate your thoughts, and compromise your brain from the inside." Whether or not you believe media is The Threat in real life, it's still good advice that can be applied to other things. Inside the game, there's plenty of stories of people who undergo these depressive episodes and come to believe that suicide is their only choice. However, either by previous Receiver training or intervention by a Receiver, the person is dissuaded or at least fails their attempt to commit suicide, giving them a second chance. However, on Spotify you can find two "songs" that are related to suicide. The first, being one minute long, is a full tape recorded suicide note. It's not an easy listen, even though it's not that gruesome or anything. It's just extremely depressing. "Threat Echo" has a man give his last statement, explaining how he wants his belongings spread amongst people he knows. It ends with him telling the person who finds this tape to throw his body in the garbage, because "that's where he belongs." Finally, you hear a hammer being ♥♥♥♥♥♥. One can assume his fate, but the "song" that follows suggests something different. "Threat Echo Recovery" has somewhat of a success story. It's explained that this person, Mike, previously recognized his depressive situation and removed all the ammo from his household for protection against The Threat. Yet, The Threat tried to kill him by driving his car into a tree, but he fortunately survived. During his recovery, he realizes that he would never call one of his friends garbage, so why would he call himself garbage? Truth is, he wouldn't. He never called himself garbage, it was The Threat who was. The speaker never refers any negative action to be done by Mike himself. In a sound, non-depressive mind, he would never do anything to harm himself or his friends. It was The Threat who took control. And it was because of Mike's Receiver training that he was able to take back control by recognizing the depressive state he was entering. While this may be a work of fiction, what stops you or I from becoming a Receiver? Becoming a Receiver may not even mean becoming proficient with firearms, it may just be knowing what you put into your mind. EDIT: I've read some other reviews about the harsh ranking system, and while I do agree it's very harsh, I think it is fine how it is. I think it's a good metaphor for making stupid mistakes in real life, which can be costly. I'm not sure of the circumstances of others, but pretty much every time I die it's because I was impatient, stupid, didn't know mechanics, and sometimes, all of the above. There are tapes that emphasize being slow and methodical, by slicing the pie and (correctly) rushing through the fatal funnel, as well as fully understanding the features and limitations of your firearm. I think the whole point of this game is to teach you these things by punishing bad habits. For that reason, it may not be your type of game.