Keyboard and mouse really is no alternative to playing with controller in this game. Not only because the controller has an essential function for the narrative, but also because there are spots in the game (like turning a crank) that are almost impossible to do with kb/m (and I mean literally, the controls are broken and near game-breaking). "Controller" is also a very inaccurate description, as it seems to require an XInput controller.

I say this because I bought the game before I had an Xbox360 controller, and it nearly ruined the game for me when I frustratedly gave up on it, after trying to play it with a PS2 controller, then with a PS2 controller and tools/fixes to make it work like an Xbox controller, and then with mouse and keyboard - all in vain, the game was unplayable for me. I bought an Xbox360 controller more or less because of this game and I hated it for that, it took some time to get over that grudge and when I did, I finally enjoyed it despite the bad start, and I also came to love the controller, but that's a different story.

TL:DR
Don't buy it if you can only play with mouse and keyboard or old DInput controllers - trust me! It's only safe to play with an Xbox controller (others might work, but the controller support doesn't seem to be all that great in this game).

(Then again, I payed the full price back then, with the current price the risk is a lot easier to take. :) )

There was giveaways of Sniper Elite V2,Red orchestra 2,Fractured Space and at some point I think they were giving away the first Portal game.

I got Portal for free. I don't remember the ocasion but it might have been the launch of Portal 2.

I remember that give away. I found out 2 minutes after it finished lol.

Sniper Elite 2 was for free for 24hours when SE3 was released.

66% might be not impressive but The Talos Principle is a great First Person Puzzler.

Wholeheartedly agree, most excellent First Person Puzzler that I highly recommend!

It can be played in Third Person as well, I really appreciate the option and most games should have it IMO. :)

I took advantage of this discount to grab the soundtrack.
:-)

(It seems the rest of the DLC can be skipped)

So I got this game a while back, put a couple hours into it, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting and I've been a bit underwhelmed with it so far. I bought it mostly because the narrative and philosophical undertones seemed very unique as per the trailer and the reviews, but thus far I've been mostly bogged down by the structure of the game. Primarily, it just feels like puzzle after puzzle without much narrative focus, and I haven't found the puzzles to be particularly engaging as opposed to just frustrating (and I am a pretty big fan of puzzle and logic games).

Is it the kind of game that grows on you as you play more of it?

There is a narrative conformed through the pieces of text you find, but with minor exceptions the puzzles don't seem affected by it, or immersed in it, that is true. (Up to middle of the C-levels, where I currently am).
So yes, the puzzles could be different for all I know but I keep thinking of the story revealed so far while I solve yet another puzzle.

For what is worth, I did not found the puzzles frustrating at all (with minor exceptions)

I'd say the game goes deeper as you learn more but if you're not enjoying the mechanics of it, I can't say it will get better.

Thanks for the reply! I guess I'll give it another whack soon, and maybe keep it as a kind of slow-burner companion. The only problem with playing it that way is maybe I might lose all sense of the story and game world if play sessions get too far between.

I use F310 dinput and it works just fine using x360ce emulator. I also can switch to xinput mode, though, but I prefer Dinput most of the times.

+Rep. So many good First Person games could have been great, if only third person was an option.