Hmm, I was not dissapointed, but I also did not expect much. I haven't played the free-roam games since I don't own a PC (or anything past a Nintendo 3DS). So I can only comment on story and visuals. I did like the story, it was simple, but I felt like it did good work with what it had, it being more of it's own chapter, rather than connective tissue between lore helps it, Arnold is a good outsider point of view character, and you can't really go wrong with a classic Frankenstein/Pinocchio plot.
As for the visuals, I feel, conflicted. Hmm, maybe it's because I am a design major and design history is one of my specialties, but it doesn't feel, truly vintage, it is an imitation of the past. Now, that has always been the case with the franchise to be fair, but I guess I find it more glaring in 3D. Same with Poppy Playtime and it's posters and setting. Everything in the settings feels weirdly like it was manufactured in the 2000s as an imitation of the past.
Still, I did like the character designs and the attempt to distance themselves from Security Breach to try something new. To be honest, i almost wish they would separate themselves more from the OG games, it feels like at the same time they are constrained by their legacy while they fail to recapture their feeling in the new titles.
I'm, also afraid that they may have to choose a target audience between teenagers and adults. And that that target demographic, will not be us. But that is simply what happens when franchises catered to that demographic grow old. Although I would hope they don't get scared to explore death , tragedy and grief because of that. Teenagers still need that and shouldn't be shielded.
