i got my copy for free (preordered 2 copies of the collector's edition, and sold one of them on ebay for $250), and while the game was a let-down per points that you all have already brought up, it still isn't *that bad* of a game. The patches have been slowly making it better, and i have hopes that the new director "gets it" and will continue to make the game better and better. at launch inferno was unplayable, but now with MP options and the new density fixes via 1.08, it is actually fun to progress through. once you get a high enough lvl character, and good MF, you do find decent rares, but not nearly enough or them. and the legendaries still mostly stink, but all of that is supposed to be fixed in 1.09.
it will likely never be the sequel to D2 that i had hoped for, but i do find it to be fun to play, and getting better with each patch. some things can't be "patched out", like the weak cartoony story, lame villans, and lack of mystery. but this game does do a lot of things better than D2. followers and their stories are nicely done, npcs are way better than D2 (covetous shen is an excellent npc), the action is every bit as good as the action in D2 - actually better because the controls/UI are better. the graphics are much better. the music unfortunately suffers due to the loss of Matt Uelmen, but the audio effects are well done. cinematics are exceptional.
all in all, i find it fun to take a character through the game, and level them up into paragon levels. it does need item improvements and end-game work badly, but i believe that these things will come in time. i'm optimistic, and hoping for the best.
- tron -
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"tron is big and tron is full of action... it's a hell of a ride!"
-from the Tron 2.0 box