Anyone coming new to this game should be aware that the game world is relentlessly grim, with strong adult themes. Pros: setting and graphics are great, as is much of the character animation. Cons: * combat in the prologue was intriguing, very fluid and agile. But then you get into the main game and it slowly dies: as you level up, the game gives you more powers that require you to stand still and just click-time your way through preset attack animations. Which is way less interesting than the more mobile and fluid style that the prologue presents. Plenty of games do better than this. * fetch quests, running backwards and forwards between NPCs, often requiring going through multiple loading screens and transition cutscenes repeatedly. * that frustrating fade up from black after every cutscene leading into combat, where the enemies get five seconds to wail on you and the fragile NPC that you're meant to protect before you can do anything. So frustrating. Something went badly wrong with the playtesting of this game. The morality & choices are at times laid on rather thick, forcing the player to feel responsible for big events when you really feel that the game forced you to make choices that weren't necessary. But those are more than balanced by some amazing moments where legitimate choices come home, and the game in places transcends the relentless darkness of its story with some great moments of hope amid despair.
The pacing is particularly good, giving enough pauses and puzzles to break up the horror elements so that those, like me, that are not so into the horror side can definitely enjoy this. It reminded me, in a good way, of the original System Shock.
