Played the demo, seems to have some cool concepts, building your various safe houses up is cool, voice acting is serviceable but the characters are way too nonchalant about zombies killing people, they don't really seem too concerned about it.
From a technical standpoint it looks good, but its a little rough around the edges. Some of the issues could be patched I'm sure. Combat is just pumping the X button for melee attacks while keeping an eye on your stamina, guns are also available and mapped to the triggers. Movement control is sluggish (along with the camera), strange button layout requires odd combinations to perform simple tasks. Vehicle control takes a little getting used to but you can make it work. Camera can get stuck outside leaving you blind while you're trying to fight in small spaces like tents and cabins where you are frequently ambushed.
On the plus side there are multiple characters you can switch between and a leveling system where your skills progress as you use them, from things like fighting and stamina to leadership abilities and team responsiveness. Heavy focus on scavenging and teamwork with your allies, and a you will need to be smart about managing your supplies and ammo.
I agree with pretty much everything you said, except maybe how the characters were too nonchalant about the outbreak. Marcus and Ed were suitably freaked out (especially Ed) when they first experienced things, maybe not Maya because she's a soldier...and a bad ass. Everyone else had time to flip out and then calm down some before the starting three meet up with them. They kind of respond to the zombies like most characters do in zombie fiction; panic a bit, accept how ****ed things are, then deal with it. I'm not ranting, btw, I just thought that was an interesting observation...
