revd-- exactly! i loved that feeling of how to spend your precious nodes... and ill reitterate that the save points were also exhilarating in ds1/2... so many times i had a sliver of life and lo and behold was my save point! 

on the plus side, the graphics and design are still beautiful but im afraid i dont find the same joy in this game

i miss the old save points... it added to the desperation of the other games... always hoping there would be a save point around the next corner

theres another charm that lets you possess white rats longer and another that increases your mana by killing white rats, ive found none if it very useful though

i thought the same thing playing the first part, i was a litle let down, but once the game gains its momentum i find it to be really satisfying. the hide and seek thing is really lame, i agree, and there are some other small aspects that i found odd, like journals and books repeated in different locations... but despite its shortcomings, i find it to be a pretty fun stealth game...

its a bug, exit out using the home button and your checkpoint will be saved

im still unlocking costumes after beating the game, however i think ive unlocked all combos... i have the same question about the happy ending... im guessing you need to save whatevr survivors u have left , then go beat the last level... i know of one survivor ive missed in the school that is in a room with exploding zombies...