Pretty game...Questionable gameplay
posted by JesusToast (ROCKVILLE, MD) Aug 26, 2011
Member since Jul 2007
14
out of
29
gamers (48%) found this review helpful
In every aspect this game has exceeded expectations in one way only to disappoint in another.
Graphics - Environments are very detailed, you could wander around for hours and take in all the little nuisances but at the same time the graphic quality itself isn't anything special compared to today's standards. Call of Duty it is not. The art style is great, especially if you're a Blade Runner fan. But again that kinda gets lost in stiff animations and character models that look and act like they have as many hinges as a toy action figure.
Story - Amazing. Nothing else to say there. This is the best reason to play this game.
Gameplay - And here is where everything crumbles a bit. The selling point of this game is that you can approach any given situation in multiple ways. Sounds great, problem is that whatever way you choose, it's been done better in another game.
Want to shoot your way through? Well controls are a little wonky, using the left trigger for cover (which will put you in 3rd person) can be disorienting when in a fire fight. Guns are not too accurate, and moving while firing can be...difficult. Again, Call of Duty it is not.
Wanna go stealth? Well all your abilities can only be used when your energy cells are full. Only one will recharge (takes about 30 seconds) the others can only be filled by using boosts found in the environment. So stealth usually goes like this: walk into room, watch enemy AI until figured out paths, take out one, drag body out of line of sight, wait 30 seconds, repeat...and repeat...and repeat. This mechanic more than any other has killed this game. It reduces gameplay to a tedious repetitive format that will have you bored by the end of the first level.
None of this is helped by a leveling system that takes a long time to reward you with points to use to upgrade and buy new abilities, or takedowns that feel like activated cut-scenes rather than a satisfying visceral experience.
Rent it for the story not the gameplay.
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