Had several bugs, or what I"m hoping were bugs and not just game mechanics (considering the number of good reviews for this game), but plenty bad game mechanics as well. Minor problems with movement (character would "stutter" frequently). Combat was very awkward, seems a third person action game shoehorned into a party based rpg system?, very limited movement options while in combat. Strange animations that would proceed slowly for up to 10 seconds with only slow camera movement occurring (I thought the game had locked up several times..nope..still going, v e r y s l o w l y). same thing (quasi-lock up) after the frequent animations when transitioning between areas. the courser as character gave the game a point and click adventure feel that i didn't like, and seemed corny (like the rest of the game) but it did work fine...so may not be an issue for most.
The user created content linked in some of the other reviews is very nice, if you get this game, do get the mods, they're very nice. This is will be a five star game for you if you like very challenging flight models. If you enjoy "middle of the road" flight sims, somewhere between simulation and arcade....look elsewhere. I got my 6 bucks worth just getting the hang of flying in free flight...with a great deal of frustration, and some reward when I finally got the hang of it. As other reviewers have mentioned, there is no tutorial, so if you not prepared to read the manual, and crash and burn repeated while you learn the ropes, this game isn't for you. Flying in combat is extremely challenging. I just couldn't keep the thing in the air while dodging sams and AAA...usually I crashed trying to get low and out of sight, my usual tactic when I played the dcs blackshark (I played that in game mode, but with some options turned on). Want a hardcore heli sim? This game is for you. Like more moderate simulation? I can't say this is your cup of tea. Like more arcade game you can just jump in and play? Stay away.
ran smoothly, no technical problems. not much gameplay here really, linear maps where scripted bad guys drop in, there is a right way to run and a wrong way to run. trial and error until you get it. the standard insane asylum gone wrong... piles of body parts an blood everywhere. you get acclimated to it quickly and it looses its unsettling effect, just becomes silly. not so much horror as "startle"...things will jump out every now and then and make you jump. my cat jumped out from behind the couch and made me jump yesterday...I suppose he is a "horror" by that definition. if you really enjoyed amnesia this is worth a go when on sale. if you like games like the old thief and saw the "stealth" and were attracted (like I was), this will probably disappoint. there is nothing here that inspires the horror of the mechanist. if you have to scream "see how scary this is?! see all this blood! look at all these severed heads!"....you just not that scary to me.
