I toughed it out for a few hours, having convinced myself it was at least a passable "brain off" game à la Borderlands but ultimately bailed.

Brainless rather than "brain off"; just completely vapid and devoid of any semblance of strategy or substance.

Redfall (the town) was amazing to scamper about in, though - beautifully realised King-ian small-coastal-town. I love rummaging through people's homes.