You'll have to have the right appetite for this game to fully appreciate it.
While the story is not intricate, there's more to it than one would expect. Faith's story is revealed, and there are a few twists in the game. It's not entirely basic, and it's definitely satisfying. (NOTE: the game is set in a totalitarian world, but don't expect a game heavily based on totalitarian themes. The game portrays life within a totalitarian world, and the smaller scope is what allows for this type of game in the first place.)
The free running is absolutely exhilarating. The controls are responsive and employing maneuvers is never frustrating on a keyboard + mouse. Sliding, running on walls, jumping--all of that can be accomplished in a few keystrokes.
What keeps free running from being repetitive is the variation in environments. One level takes place at nighttime, when police snipers are out and about and skyscrapers shine a blue and orange. In another level you will run through a mall (imagine sliding down escalators, sneaking through vents and shaft). You'll even find yourself down in the sewers, which have waterfalls and can have ceilings much higher than the Sistine Chapel. Motion blur exists, though it is not annoying in the least sense.
This brings me to my next point: the visuals. The color palette includes white and several bright colors. Walls of rooms/buildings are split between white and another bright color, resulting in a stark but very clean contrast of colors. Things are easier to identify and generally easier on the eyes.
Color also plays an important role in helping you determine where to go, what objects to jump off of. Planks, pipes (essentially monkey bars) and other objects that are vital to bringing you to your objective are red, while less important objects may be blue or plain white.
Combat maneuvers are basic and not hard to execute with the keyboard. You can slide and kick, punch, jump and punch, and disarm opponents; this initiates a random takedown animation.