First opinion:
A solid game with no major bugs or flaws (a good start for an ea game). Enjoyable
Looks: Everything looks as it should with the next gen of games. Bloom is a tad overdone in the occasional place but thats the "norm" for games these days. Textures of a nice high resolution (unlike bioshock) which was a welcome change. A lack of AA in this aswell as bioshock makes me wonder if ue3 will be able to support it?!
Looks score: 8/10
Movement: Basic movement is solid if not a little un-nerving at first (having head bob back after years of games without it). Jumping, crouching and sprinting transitions are fine but the blur doing fast movements and sprint is perhaps overdone.
The way ironsights works is a bit foreign for an RO player. Its click and hold to bring up ironsight. You can then lean whilst in ironsight by using wasd, you can peak over an object, lower yourself and lean left and right. Odd at first but becomes more natural when you get used to it.
Movement: 7/10 (for the moment as it feels awkward atm)
Weapons: The guns feel solid and accurate enough for the ranges in MOH:A. Ironsights is needed for longer range shots. The Kar rifles are perhaps weaker than i would like but accurate enough. Grenades can be cooked and have a smallish blast radius but are good enough for clearing rooms and encamped enemies. A little annoying is the single bullet reloading of the Kar instead of stripper clips but its not a biggy. Don't expect the weapons to deal out RO levels of damage you will have to hit the guy a few times with an smg to drop him but it doesn't take extortionate amounts like cod and the guys don't get back up!!! (god i hate that in cod).
Weapons score: 8/10
General Game Mechanics:
Health on this first mission is available in enough locations so that you don't die but the regen "quarters" of your health can mean you will be hard pushed to die unless your a looney (on medium difficulty). But being the first mission against the least skilled opponents i didn't expect to get hammered.
The parachute drop does as promised and you can choose to land anywhere. The greenzones are a must really as landing on the top of the main obj got me killed in 10 seconds
.
Though there are a few routes to each objective its not exactly "fight anywhere". Once on the ground its much harder to get back up to give you alternative routes.
Die and you respawn in the air but already completed objectives stay that way so you don't loose all your progress.
The map was quite dark making enemy recognition difficult but not impossible and you get a red cross when you hit an enemy.
Mechanics score: 8/10 (did everything they said it would)
AI: The enemy did look for cover and even retreated when i got above or behind them. I did have a few moments of the AI standing right next to me without them attacking but im not sure if this is due to the "low skill" on this first mission or a bug. They will take cover behind walls in windows and mount mgs with ease and there are plenty of gerries to take shots at. All in all solid AI
AI score: 8.5/10 it is actually intelligent and not scripted so gets a better score than other games would
Atmosphere and immersion:
You know its war! Lots of explosions, shouting, tracer, firing and general carnage which can be a bit over wheleming at first. However not so much that you get lost and confused. There is steady stream of enemies and squad mates so you know your heading in the right path (even without the compass). Sounds and music are of good quality and add to the immersion.
Atmosphere score: 9/10
Conclusion: Overall the demo left me with a positive feel and i look forward to the full release and how the MP turns out. I would recommend trying the demo but go into it with an open mind (it isn't RO and doesn't pretend to be, it is arcadey but most importantly fun!)
Final score 81/100 for the demo