The prime example of how graphics aren't everything. In other words, style over substance.
Here we have yet another attempt to be a movie-video game hybrid, this time from Ready at Dawn. Only about half of the game is actual gameplay, the rest is very long cutscenes or long stretches of the player character suddenly slowing down to a snail's pace walking to a certain place. Adding to this is a forced letterbox view (aka black bars at the top and bottom of the screen) at all times; on top of that, some cutscenes stretch out over entire chapters. Half of the gameplay (which is less than half of the game) is also blatant filler and padding. Even with the cutscenes and shameless padding, the game is barely 7 hours long and has little replay value. Overall, it sells itself on graphics and an interesting concept instead of gameplay! On a technical level, the game is near-flawless; letterboxing aside, it looks great in motion running at a solid frame rate with no loading screens.
The game was originally supposed to be a werewolf hunting game, but after 5 years of development hell, it turned out as a generic cookie-cutter shooter with barely any werewolves. You probably wouldn't even know this was supposed to be about werewolf hunting even after playing it. Often the game forces you to stop to analyze an object. The whole point of doing so is, as I said, apparently to show off the sexy graphics. Speaking of, the absolutely breathtaking graphics and animations with extreme attention to detail can actually be considered one of the best-looking games of the eighth generation of consoles. And the soundtrack fits the time period very well. Even the voice acting is surprisingly passable.
Sir Galahad, the main protagonist, is outright moronic and never tells his allies what's happening or what he discovers. For example, at one point in the story, he burns down a warehouse full of vampires then goes to find evidence of said vampires, evidence he'd already have if he hadn't burnt them down! In fact the plot is disjointed with constant plot holes and little consistency with anything. It feels like the script went through so many changes during development hell that they forgot what the plot is even supposed to be. The game even intentionally left dozens of plot threads unresolved expecting a sequel. The ending literally and insultingly just cuts off with no plot resolution, nothing accomplished, obviously showing it is a sequel bait and a very poorly made one. You don't even face the main villain or do anything to slow down his plans. While the story itself is bad, the game's universe and setting are both interesting and have potential. Unfortunately, a sequel is very unlikely.
This game is a cover-based shooter where the cover blocks your camera's view. The AI of Galahad's allies is really bad, being on the same level as the AI of allies in Call Of Duty games. They miss very often, never bother to protect Galahad even when he is down, and ignore enemies that reach their positions like shotgunners, cheap enemies that kill you near instantly. You are given a shotgun in a game where almost all firefights are ranged battles meaning the shotgun would be of little use. The game's two boss fights are nothing but quick-time events, and both are IDENTICAL. On the subject of QTE's, there is an abundance of them and they do nothing except take further control away from the player.
I don't think I recommend this game to anyone. Then again, don't waste your money and time. Go on and give this one a miss.
