If I'm reading this correctly, you're saying that since it's possible to just use cover throughout the game that the game forces you to play it as a cover shooter? You say enemies don't flank you... then you say enemies do try to flank you, but only sometimes, but that you can stay in cover if you actively try to do so, but it's more fun to rush forward using shoot-dodge a lot. Let me know if I'm just reading that wrong.
If that's what you're saying, then how is the game just stop 'n' pop if you don't have to stay in cover? Having the option to do so does not equal "you're forced to play it like in cover 9/10 times."
Except, again: Rockstar wants you play it that way. Enemies will come in and sit in the middle. "Flanking" you only if you get one or two of them and then you can blind-fire at the one coming at you.
Here's how you play it:
*sit in cover at the start of the shoot-out since Max ALWAYS goes into cover*
BAM BAM BAM *dead dude*
BAM BAM BAM *dead dude*
BLAMBLAMBLAMBLBLAMBLAMBLAM *blind-fire dead dude*
Bullet-time start BLAMBLAMBLAM *dead dude after popping out and starting bullet time, as you're returning to cover, bullet-time end*
rinse and repeat.
Unless you reach a hallway stairs, then *snap to edge* BLAMBLAMBLAMBLAM *kill enemies that were there to try to take you by surprise*
I'm not even going to discuss how sitting in cover in a lot of the shootouts only makes things more frustrating for the player.
Except it didn't. You basically get no damage sitting in cover and there's no pressure if you abuse the blind-fire.
I just want to point out that, if I'm reading what you're saying correctly, you admit to the game being more fun to play a certain way, yet you played it a different way because it's an option, albeit an unfun one. Then you say you're forced to do it that way.
Yes, you're forced to do it that way when the game won't let you push into a building to take the sniper out. Won't let you move around the initial cover to push forward/rush the airline stairs for the boss. Won't let you stay out of cover because Max ALWAYS goes into cover before a shootout and the players control is removed.
EXCEPT IN NEW YORK MINUTE: Where the game
forces you to rush. And since you're
rushing the game can't force you into those cover/stop-and-pop mindset-mechanics.
Which is my whole point, the game is having an "identity crisis" as that other posted stated. It wants to try to be a Max Payne, but it keeps putting Max into cover where the best option is to just sit there, bullet-time as you're coming out of cover shoot dudes quickly and pop-into-cover as you're ending bullet-time once in cover to reload.
It's clear you prefer games that eschew physics/dynamism in favor of direct one-to-one control over you character.
Yes, exactly.