Fun distraction, just don't expect more.
As a shoot everything in site game this one succeeds in pushing itself towards the forefront with its spooky environment, ability to slow down enemy time, and the AI.
Perhaps I'll appreciate the spooky storyline of this game once I finish it, however currently the side show spook characters seem more a hinderance than a plus. With that being said the creepy sounds and not knowing/but knowing an enemy is just around the corner can put a player on the edge especially under the right playing conditions (sound turned up, playing at night with lights off). The sound in this game makes a real difference in the spook category.
Once you discover how much slowing down the enemy turns the tide of the battle you'll continuously be using that ability and amazingly it will be there to use more often than not as it charges quickly and doesn't have to be fully charged to invoke. This adds little to the fps experience aside from making battles with multiple enemies easier to win. The game without this feature as well as less enemies would have been comparable.
I find the AI to be the most distinguishable feature of this game compared to other shoot em all fps games. The AI talk to one another and this actually impacts the enemies actions and you get to hear this communication. This adds some realism to the combat and some fun options to the game. You can run down one corner of a building attack the enemy and they'll expect you there, but you can then runaround to the other side and see their backs turned. You can shoot an enemy to draw out nearby hidden foes.
I wanted more from this game and from the hype and reviews expected more. Aside from the AI and environment there is little to get excited about. However as Half Life 3 probably isn't due out until the turn of the century, this is a fun distraction just don't expect more.