Game is a mess, a original, unique mess but still a mess. The troubled development shows, inconsistent acts, combat and mission design that exhausts itself after the first 6 hours and a story that is charming but in truth also not very well written. But it does have its high points and before all of the mysteries resolve (into a disappointing conclusion) it is pretty exciting to follow along all the shifts and twists that spring up.
The combat is original but not very fleshed out, genuine fear of every encounter was replaced with routine and indifference to death, because the game couldnt conjure any new tricks anymore.
Visually the game holds up, while the animations are outdated, it still has a certain charme to it, and the design of the levels and Bright Falls in general is often gorgeous and anything but typical for a video game setting.
I enjoyed my playthrough and while there were many thoughts of missed potential, confusion over some strange mission design choices and a bit of disappointment at the lackluster ending, the game was made with passion to create something that stands in many ways unique, particularly amongst western games.