LOL
I accept your point about the traps, though I wouldn't call it 'cack-handed', perhaps just slightly...misguided level design hehe. Actually if you play carefully (which is what this game promotes) you should never get killed by a trap. Well, rarely. I never got killed by either of the ones you mentioned, you *can* avoid them even without having seen them once before.
I know what you're saying about the combat, but I still enjoy it. It's not easy to master, and you improve with practice, so it's not completely throw away. I still find a drawn out melee battle with a huge Berserker in full armour hugely satisfying and tense, and even just wading through goblins with an axe or sword is satifying. The ranged combat *is* really good, and the sound really adds to it too. For instance, playing with headphones on, coming up against Assassins firing 3 or 4 arrows at you at once, hearing them whiz past you and slam into wood or stone is very intense and immersive.
You have to admit that the character and inventory system is very good. Even before completing the Light campaign I'd already been back and played most levels again at least once with different characters and different weapons. Being able to just select any completed level, choose a character, tool up and play it in a totally different way from the last time is very cool. And its cool to be able to do the same while you play through the game, rather than being stuck with an initial choice of character for the whole game you choose who to take on every mission. If you screw up, try another approach with a different character or different combat style.
Personally I think the levels are stunning, but that's just me. I found it really immersive and even awe-inspiring at times, and the art in this game is unreal, from weapons and character skins to texture art to armour design.
I never had any trouble with the bonus levels either really, except the 'hard' level, which you'd expect. That just goes to show what I said about the combat, and good character\weapon choice is very important for those 'survival' levels too.
Well, I guess we'll agree to disagree, hehe. Personally I think a cross between Blade and Enclave, with all the best bits from both and none of the faults, would make almost the perfect game
I wasn't too keen on JSRF myself, fun but boring after a while. It's certainly polished and impressive, I'll give it that, just not my cup of tea. I guess in a way it kind of sums up what I always disliked about consoles, it's just that sort of throw away kids game that can be fun for a bit but has no depth. Nothing wrong with that I suppose.
EDIT: sorry about the long posts, guess you hit on a favourite subject of mine, hehe. I should be in bed...