@Atheosis First off the visual style and graphics are sub-par even for a console game, but IMO the story and voice acting aren't very good either. I personally hate combo-based combat systems so take what you will from that. As for the controller, why should I as a primarily PC gamer (I do have an XBox 360) spend $60 on a PC game when the controls are not even close to optimized for it? What you're saying is they were to lazy/cheap to do anything other than port the controls to KB/M, but I should just suck it up and treat it like a console game? Pass, there are better games I can spend my time/money on.
To tell you the truth after playing the demo I am not at all impressed by this game. It just feels like they took WoW made it single-player and added a DMC style combat system (combo-based systems annoy the crap out of me). Personally I am not a fan of the visual style or the story, the voice acting was also sub-par IMO. Not on my play list, I'll stick with Skyrim.
I pretty much agree with everything said here. I still love the franchise, IMO it is one of the best of this generation, but the last two installments have not been improvements IMO. They need to refine and add to the basics that make the game what it is, not add more mechanics that end up not being fun. Other than the multiplayer in Brotherhood and the assassin training, I really can't say much for any of the other mechanics added since AC2. The multiplayer in Rev was a step in the wrong direction IMO. It doesn't have the same flow and pacing that made it so enjoyable in Brotherhood. I am really hoping for a huge spectacle in AC3, but... lets just say I'm tempering my expectations now.
Thank goodness for no regenerating health. Looks like painkillers are still in. IT makes combat more strategic IMO, you have to assess before going in guns blazing less you get rolled.
Oh and as a side note. I definitely agree with them on one point. Noir does not necessitate the kind of setting the original games had. It is often associated with New York, rainy, night, but all you have to do is watch a movie like Man on Fire (definitely a noir style movie) to see they can pull it off in this type of setting. Whether or not they do pull it off will have to wait to be seen.
Alright, this Q&A has restored my hope. Because after seeing the trailer I was pretty much convinced it was going to suck and not be truly Max Payne. Now after reading this I am once again cautiously optimistic. I'll say it again, I am trusting R* to get this right, please don't f*** up one of my favorite games of all time.
I think this article is very helpful for people to understand exactly what the reviewers go through. I'll admit, when reviews are a week or so behind I tend to get annoyed, but I also realize that the reviewers likely are waiting for a major day one patch or haven't gotten their copies pre-launch. Now with that said, I think these are valid excuses. BUT some of the recent delays in PC reviews and cut/pasting as well as failure to review high-profile indi games within a few weeks is somewhat disappointing and I think that needs to be addressed. Things are getting better, but it still leaves something to be desired.
I would really like to hear something about the future of the Homeworld. license. It has been bought up after Relic went under and supposedly someone is working on a new installment. You really can't talk about strategy without including that IMO.
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