Open World - Compares unfavorably to GTA 3 Gameplay - Compares unfavorably to Deus Ex: HR Story/Writing/Roleplaying Elements - Compares unfavorably to the first Witcher Graphics - Compares unfavorably to Minecraft RTX (this is a joke... or not.) Overall, disastrous open world implementation with decent but unremarkable combat/stealth mechanics, driven by what would have been a good story if it weren't cut to bits like a Maelstrom ganger stripped of its chrome. I hardly ever pre-order games anymore, but felt CDPR earned my trust with how they handled the Witcher series and the care they put in to improve them post-release that I preordered thrice (Steam and 2 physical copies, though granted the 2nd physical copy was by mistake). Should have probably realized that if Bioware can fall to depths that they are currently at, then any developer can too... Probably only a No Man's Sky level of commitment would suffice in getting the current game to anywhere near to the game that was pitched to us over the past 7 years. Not holding my breath. P.S. I still clocked 150+ hours on Steam though, but largely because I'm a masochist and have to clear every mission icon on the map to find some semblance of closure towards my financial investment into the game...
I played the game when it was first released. Graphics were pretty good for its time. The gameplay was pretty decent and I felt was pretty innovative at that time. The use of psychic powers beyond that of simple combat was refreshing too, with the puzzles and all. The plot was pretty good and intense in my own opinion. The major plot twist towards the last quarter or so of the game really left an impact on me. Of course, the usual camera issues (as with almost all third-person based games) and gameplay glitches are the stuff that keeps this from being a 5-star title, at least for myself. Still, its definitely a great game to play, even now, 3 years after its release. A definitely must-get if you like an action game that has innovative gameplay combined with a strong plot.
