Underappreciated, with flaws but high potential at the same time
Positives:
+ Graphics
+ Handling of mechs is brilliant. If you don't know how to turn on the night vision, than download the keyboard layout pdf from the official MWO page.
+ Customization options. While you don't have the total freedom to put anything into your mech, you still have a lot of options. Further, you best choose your mech by specification and not by it's look only, which is great imo.
Neutral:
~ Matchmaking gets a lot of stick, but i've played plenty matches and most of them have been balances pretty well
~ The speed with which i acquire C-Bills is fine for me. I don't expect to be able to buy the biggest and heaviest badass after just a few hours of playing. I'm playing a scout mech, and still get my fair share of fun out of this game. Becoming lvl 80 in GW2 or 60 in Diablo III didn't work over night either.
Negatives:
- Little content, but i am faithful this will change over time. Content can be added, but if the game-play sucks you won't enjoy it anyway, and the game-play itself works brilliantly for me.
- The UI is a little complicated. Configuring a mech is easier here http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab then in the game.
- If you buy MC (real money credits) you have to be careful on what to spend it, if you want the best value for your money.
So all in all, this game might not have the content yet to be 8.5 but it sure as hell has the potential to be brilliant. But in all fairness i have been waiting for this game for about 15 years and i might be a little biased.