Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 Hours or Less

The Bottom Line:

"Innovative"

I was bored recently and popped this game in after not having played it in a while and I was pleasantly surprised at how great of an experience it still is. This game was hugely underrated when it was released and it would be an absolute shame if EA doesn't develop a sequel to this. If you are open to trying new things and want a change from the usual trigger-happy FPS that saturates the market these days then this game is for you. If you're reading this then you most likely already know the story and concept so I won't rehash these points. Below I will outline the game's strengths, weaknesses, and conclusion.

Strengths:

1) "Fresh, exciting, and innovative"

I think it's pretty safe to say you have never experienced a first-person game like this. You have to strictly rely on quick instincts and reflexes without the use of guns. This can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. The innovative use of first-person perspective is a breath of fresh air in a market that's saturated with trigger-happy titles like Call of Duty. This game rewards you for using intellect over brawn.

2) "Graphics / Art Direction"

This is one of the most visually stunning games I've played. The art direction is breathtaking in the way the city's architecture is constructed. The high contrasting visual effects are done perfectly. These effects result in impressive uses of shadowing as well. If there was a minor gripe I had it's that the character models could have been more detailed. My hats go off to the developers for really thinking out of the box and taking some big risks with this aspect of the game.

3) "Soundtrack / Music"

I can't speak highly enough of the music in this game. Again, my hats go off to the developers for putting a lot of effort into this aspect of the game as you can tell the amount of thought that went into it. I really cannot recall the last time a game's soundtrack has captivated me this much since Final Fantasy X. Very well done.

Weaknesses:

1) "Some glitches not ironed out"

I encountered a few instances where I got stuck between invisible walls or kept falling past the ground. It's possible there was not enough time to iron out these problems. Perhaps development time was limited but these issues were concerning.

2) "Hand to hand combat didn't feel fluid enough"

This was frustrating as you are not encouraged to use guns in the game so this is the main option to defend yourself. However, the system was lacking as it was not very fluid and at times frustrating to use. Hopefully they clean it up for the sequel.

Conclusion:

If you're open to trying new things, or maybe you are just tired of the usual FPS experience, check this one out. Overall, this was one of the most memorable games I've played and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.