Collapse — Nostalgia Through Bugs

I bought this game about 3–4 years ago because of nostalgia. I played “Rage” as a kid, so I wanted to finally go through the original Collapse. But over the years I tried to start it three times and dropped it every time right at the beginning.

Recently I decided to give it one last chance — and ended up finishing it in just two evenings.

Let’s be honest: this is not a masterpiece. The biggest issue is the technical state. Crashes happen regularly — during loading screens or just randomly. Sometimes fixes help, sometimes they don’t. I even had a bug where I fell through the map. The game is playable, but at times it feels like you’re fighting the game itself instead of the enemies.

That said, there are things that genuinely surprised me.

The graphics, considering it came out in 2008, still hold up pretty well. The swamp areas and sunset scenes especially stood out — there’s real atmosphere there.

The story is confusing at first. The beginning feels like a mess with no context, but if you read the notes and listen to the calls, it slowly comes together. And when it does, it’s actually quite interesting. Also, the setting being Kyiv gives it a unique touch.

Gameplay is probably the strongest part. Combat feels dynamic, especially when fighting monsters. Enemy AI can be dumb at times, but it’s not a dealbreaker. Bosses can be a bit frustrating, but nothing too difficult (I played on easy, so that might be why).

Overall, the experience is mixed. On one hand — lots of technical issues that can get really annoying. On the other — an interesting world, solid gameplay, and a story worth paying attention to.

Final thoughts: I’d recommend it, but only if you’re ready to deal with bugs and crashes. Still, finishing it after so many years hits differently.

My favorite moment