[quote name='bvharris']Can someone clarify this for me? I would consider myself as part of this group, but this sort of implies the game is a similar experience to San Andreas, which I consider to be the best in the series.
I guess what I'm asking is how this stacks up to other Sandbox games, and what would you guys consider to be its closest comps in terms of both quality and gameplay experience?[/QUOTE]
There's no driving, so if you think that is in here get that out of your mind right now. (well, there's none up to the point I'm at and I don't expect it to be ever given the story). No weapon pickups either. Your powers are your weapons, and your fists.
I wouldn't ever really compare it to GTA except to say that it's got a relatively open world like GTA. Go where you want do what missions you want. GTA is a much much more grandiose series, much more. This game is essentially a third-person shooter, except with the ability to roam wherever you please, climbing anything and everything in the city, eventually grinding across power cables and train rails. You will really feel like you're playing a Super Hero/Villain playing this.
The city is very much alive as well, which is cool; people run up to you asking for help ranging from healing to stopping criminals and the bad guys. I've had to chase down some guy once, wasn't one of the Reapers in the first area which I thought was interesting, just a plain clothes guy. Some lady yelled out for me as I was grinding by on the railroad tracks "Cole please help". Don't know why I stopped but I felt like I had the time
. People gather around to look at your feats (while playing good not sure if they scatter while bad). Little fights bust out between the people and the baddies and police, cars are moving along, seems to be too many squad cars parked though to me. The train goes around (though I haven't seen it stop yet). Seems like the city is trying to get back to normal as best they can for the most part.
The world will really suck you in. I wish the draw distance was better and had less pop-in and blurriness in the close distance. But eh, it's hardly noticeable. Doing the little stunts makes for some self-challenges, trying to see how many you can get done in a mission. I still have the hardest time with Air Shots and Insult to Injury. I've never been good at aiming with analog sticks. But it's just a very very entertaining experience all around. I'd also like to be able to enter buildings. But maybe in a sequel?