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I beat the game on Normal. I beat the game on Hardcore. I am nearly finished with the game on Ranger Mode Easy (I bought the DLC). After all that, I had to read some forums to finally get the story. I also changed my opinion about weapons from my previous post.
The "real" story was nothing like what I thought. I think I missed out on a few clues the first two times through the game. Some forum posters seemed to share my confusion, while others posted explanations, so it appears that I was not alone in misunderstanding the message. Despite the good story-telling, I had to mark the game down a point, although I admit it could be my own dimwitted inability to grasp the subtleties present that should have clued me in.
The coolest new weapon in the DLC is a fully automatic shotgun! Too bad I discovered that the arrow-firing weapon is both more effective and efficient in Ranger Mode. The fully automatic shotgun is great, but since ammo conservation is key in Ranger Mode, the arrows win since they are not consumed when fired (unless you lose one). Plus the arrows are a quiet killing tactic, which is good when sneaking. Speaking of which, Front line and Black Station are much easier with the stealth armor. I found a critical path through Black Station that gets you through the whole level in only a couple of minutes with zero encounters, which is great when going for one related Achievement. One final note about weapons: the pistols are solid! I find this surprising because in my last post I claimed that pistols are worthless.
Overall I feel immersed in the experience, especially given the increased difficulty and ammo scarcity in the DLC. I am ultimately disappointed by the story outcomes and in such a story-centric experience, that unfortunately drags down the entire game, if only a little.
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