After one sitdown with the game, here are some of my thoughts:
After seeing a common consensus that this game is a blatant cash grab, I find myself reluctant to concede. It isn't that it isn't a shallow game with poor mechanics and outdated visuals, but rather that I noticed an actual effort in making a unique game. If you look at this as more of a survival game than an FPS, the picture becomes clearer, but that does little to redeem it. Here are some things they done right (sort-of):
-Setting: to expand on the Dixons' story with a prequel is a great idea. Even if the actual story is weak, the concept itself is good.
-Incentive to scavenge: I'm noticing a trend here; great concept, poor execution. Yes, at first glimpse, the game gives you a reason to look around for items. If you're moderately good at the game, you'll quickly find that looting every nook and cranny is more of a time-wasting endeavor.
-Fight or flight: this, if done right, could have made this game worlds better. I am a fan of classic survival horror games such as RE and Silent Hill, and this game almost gave me the impression that it might try to force the player to make wise decisions as to when to fight and when to flee. In reality, stealth is the only truly viable option, and fleeing is often easier than it should be. I didn't exactly want this to be more of a Rambo sort of experience, but I wasn't the least bit bothered by the lack of ammo in the game, as I rarely wanted to use the firearms anyway. The fact that there is somewhat of a fight or flight factor to this game is something I credit it for, even if it could have been much better.
-Branching paths: this is another good-yet-bad thing for me; it gives the game replay value, which is good, but the problem is that I'd rather not replay this mediocre game, although I know I will for achievements.
And here are some of the bad, emphasis on some:
-Control: to be brief, it just feels sluggish. It's not the absolute worst, but it is fairly bad, and when everything else is either bad or very bad, poor controls are exacerbated.
-Visuals: Again, it's not the worst in this respect, and it would be passable if the rest of the game had merit. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. I even experienced minor framerate dips, but I can attribute that to there being a lot of on-screen enemies at times.
-Amount of content: a short game with no multiplayer or extras; even though the original retail price was $50, I still think this is too shallow of a package to have that kind of price tag. Bioshock Infinite might have also been relatively short with no multiplayer or extras, but it redeemed that by opting for quality over quantity. This game has neither.
-Story: I don't mind a simple premise, but when there's nothing much to care about than a few familiar faces, it makes discerning gamers feel detached.
-Gameplay: the stealth aspects are actually done with some degree of quality. That is, until you find that you can weasel your way out of screw-ups all too easily, and no other aspects of the gameplay are even worth mentioning.
