Recore Definitively updated but too little too late

I heard bad things about this game from when it released beforehand. Lots of videos detailing all the annoying and poor quality of life features.
The devs promised to fix it post release with patches but I never heard anything about this game once the hate faded. Unsure what to rent next after Shadow of the Tomb Raider and thought I'd give Recore a try. Popped it into the Xbone, downloaded the big ol' definitive patch and strapped in. 
First thing to note is despite being an Xbone game it looks like an early 360 game. I know, graphics aren't everything but it's pretty surprising considering the pedigree of developers.

At first the gameplay is pretty fun, it's simple with the lock on and you're restricted to one weapon and so you have to use Mack your dog buddy to deal blue damage against blue foes. But it's pleasantly enjoyable.
Further in the gameplay doesn't evolve beyond the colour switching mechanic and caps at four, even though enemies come in additional colours.
You're stuck with Mack for a long time and by the time I had a new robot buddy, Mack was so OP'ed that the spider robot thing was getting wasted very quickly in any battle and did pathetic damage.

I don't like the levels in this game, it's an arbitrary grind and I quit right about the time enemies came in levels 16 and above, so many would near one shot me and Joule (who you play as) takes one hit and gets staggered for ages. Coupled with the bullet hell like mechanics that emerge it's just one frustrating slog after the next. And I was level 14! And levelling is a grind and for Joule it appeared you only level up her gun (for damage) as you have to collect items to boost her HP. Unlike the robot assistants who can be ridiculously pimped by farming drops.

Platforming was fine with Mack, throw in the spider creature and suddenly things get more convoluted. No fault of the spider, the camera is unhelpful at times and collision detection is hit and miss. They get very enthusiastic very quickly and the sudden shift was more than a little trying in a few places.

Boss fights are naff as well, wave after wave of enemies come at you whilst you whittle the boss's HP down. And in order to kill them you have to complete a little quick time event that leaves you open to attack, and yeah everything beelines to you when you do it and enemies respawn fairly fast. So yeah, frustrating.

That's this game in a nut shell really, frustrating. Long treks through barren uninteresting locales, fiddly platforming and aggravating bullet hell. All doses of frustration. At least when I played it they had some fast travel options, how did anyone bare this game without fast travel! Must have doubled the playtime all the back and forth.

I hate to hate on a game but Recore deserves it's frosty reception. It has some interesting ideas but plateaus mechanics super early and relies on cheap mechanics to enhance difficulty. Grind does not equal fun.

Personal score 3/10
Paul, do not try this game again. It's not worth it.