For the first question:
Current state of game does not encourage me to begin the story-line (which is widely considered as rewarding and I don't doubt it). I am afraid of spoiling it with non-immersive environment.
What should be fixed? (Reasonable expectations)
- Behavior of NPCs - it is cloned and unauthentic despite 1.2 patch. Reactions for V's actions are either absurd or non-existent. NPCs response should be diverse, from panic, through shock, to aggression. Not crouching while covering their heads.
- Assigning the few basic characteristics/personalities to NPCs, such as:
- Aggressive/Brave - reacts to V's action with immediate violence in severe cases or with verbal disapproval in case of less severe actions.
- Neutral/Normal - evading V's violent actions, expressing disapproval to less severe actions. Threatening to call the Police, offending.
- Coward/Weak - evading V's actions in panic, freezing, being intimidated by V's presence.
NPCs leaving their cars in reaction for street shooting is idiotic. They should act like in case of GTA-series, running away by car, or running away on foot in certain situations (traffic jam etc). Attacking V by their car in case of agressive/brave characteristic.
- Hardcoded car traffic. There is nothing wrong with the idea itself, yet NPCs in cars should be able to react on V's action by diverting their coded paths.
Bypassing obstacles (V's car, other stopped cars)
Diverse reactions for collisions (currently cars just stop in the very place they were hit). What would be nice?
- Ignoring the minor collisions, escaping the scene in some cases, pulling over on the edge of the road, leaving the car in the anger, chasing the V in retaliation in car).
More Interactive Environment:
More vendors, stores, beggars, clubs.
Police, Criminal Rating System:
Police should arrive on the scene in their cars, spawned from larger distance (over 100meters, out of sight of V). Police should be able to chase V in their cars.
Police on foot should not spam in such short distance from V, last patch did not solve the problem.
Technical:
Spawning/Removing the NPCs & Cars in extremely short distance to V. It is not immersive at all the see the car/npc appearing out of nowhere or disappearing immediately after V turns their head. Radius of 100m should be locked from disappearing/spawning.
This would solve vast majority of immersion breaking actions.