Yeah, Early Access was much more interesting in how it handled the powers, the dream visitor, the 'dark urges' IMO. More ambiguity, not knowing how far was too far for pushing your powers. But it felt dangerous, like there was consequences for your actions, that you might lose your self to the absolute, or transform into a mindlflayer, or succumb to whatever was causing you to feel violent urges.
One of the biggest complaints I remember from EA was that that there was a lack of urgency that contradicted the story-that you needed to get the parasites out *now*. But somehow there's even less consequence to tadpole abuse, less 'speed is of the essence'.
Bit of a letdown, tbh. Why even use mindflayers, mind control and ceremorphosis as your main theme of the game if the unique threats they present are shoved so far to the back they are barely there anymore for thematic flavor?
