If your reading reviews wondering if you should but this game, hop it.
I like games like CoD's, Gears of war, Metal gear solid, i hate Halo3, i live Team fortress 2, like Counter strike. And i like this game pretty good. (I am telling you this because i see alot of the "I like CoD will i like this?")
Ok, when you start out this game it has a 45 min tutorial. (The game has alot to explain of course, and PS: the tutorial is all regular gameplay) After you complete the tutorial basically the world is yours, pick any mission, help sides do whatever, so if the first 45 mins seem weird for a "open ended" game thats why.
This game has so much to explain i dont know were to start, first ill start off with the AI. The AI in this game is average, they have some unique things I.E if you drive past a encampment they might hop i a jeep and chase you. They never have the cheap Pop and and your dead feel that games like CoD4 and gears of war have.
Now onto the Map itself. This game advertises as being an "Open world FPS". This is true to an extent. Yes the game lets you go were you want at will, but about 45% of the time there are mountains of each side. All in all the Map is very nice though.
The Story is there, but not there at the same time, yes you are looking for the Jackel, but it seems like the dim background of the game that is mentioned every one and a while.
Now about combat. Generally speaking the only combat you will see is either passing a outpost, doing a mission, or taking over a safe house. Even though the Combat isnt as in your face as many games like CoD is dose feel more real. Combat can be approached in a series of ways, you can go stealthy, rush in, and use distractions, but either way youll most likely youll want to observer and scout it before you take any action.
If your looking for a straight up shooter go get something else, this has more stealth in it.
The Multiplayer is pretty fun, the best way to describe it is a slower paces CoD4. This multiplayer requires more cover to cover, and in some maps stealth is the name of the game. The Multiplayer is class based, but this keeps it balanced and it dosnt cut out the experience at all.
The Map Editor is pretty cool, you can make pretty much whatever you can think up. It takes a while to get all the cont roles down though. The fact that the Map Editor dosnt have enemy's you can place really cuts the experience. But if your into making maps without doing anything in them except maybe play them online, go for it.
All in all, if your a FPS fan who also likes some stealth and thinking involved, it should be picked up.