Good to see that there is an increasing amount that enjoys the new gameplay part! Also to see some who have gotten around and liking it a bit more.
What I gathered so far.
After reading here on these forums a bit, I was afraid of missing even a gram of content, so I restarted with the full experience.
After I got over my initial frustration and confusion what to do, I found that the text-based missions weren't so bad. I think I've warmed up to it a little.
However, I think tweaking the experience a little would make it less frustrating.
I have a few suggestions to make it a little less jarring to the player:
1)I think having a little more explanation to the player at the beginning would go a long way to reduce the frustration of the player failing missions over and over due to low stats. I think the first mission, "Sticky Fingers" is little too complex, with several different parts and paths for it to be the very first mission. Usually with games, the first mission is a thinly disguised training opportunity just to get the player used to the mechanics. Sticky fingers is actually the most complicated mission in the game other than the final mission. There are two paths, a character that appears only after high stats, a fight, two sets of houses, both with differing requirements. This should be on the second or third mission, to make it more clear to the player. Perhaps the first mission could be something where there aren't many choices, and the chance of success is high, just to get the player used to how to play.
2) Without reading the forums here, I would not have had any idea that progressing the story with the girls would improve my stats. It looks like from the beginning that it is just a random chance, so the player should just keep trying and trying, and after repeatedly failing, the player gets frustrated because he doesn't know what do do next. Some way to communicate this to the player would help a lot. I am not sure the best way to do this, since Wilfred is "supposed" to not be aware of your plans with the girls. Perhaps change this mechanic so you get points up from completing simpler missions, rather than playing the storyline with the characters.
3) Also, I think the mission point system is redundant and adds to the frustration. Perhaps get rid of mission points, and just let the player do one mission a day. Or have the player lose hitpoints when he falls off a structure. Having hit points and mission points, makes it more confusing than necessary.
4) Finally, the stats are not clear how they work in the story. Is it random with the stats giving a bonus, or are the stats absolute? Without comments here, I wouldn't have known that I should remove my spiked cloves to get my threat score down, for instance, one one of the missions.
I think you have to assume that the player isn't reading the forums here, and has no idea what is going on, so more specific explanations at the beginning, and again after the player fails a few times, would help reduce the frustration level.
