the way you and paps (and others) are recounting the encounters makes it seem like the overall arc of combat, i.e. spotting the enemy, coming up with a plan of attack, executing, improvising, etc. is very engaging even if the individual components of the combat (controls, movement, shooting, a.i., customization) aren't particularly noteworthy or groundbreaking

i do want to play this game, if only for the spectacle. just not now