Regarding point 1: Graphics:
While it's not the immaculately detailed worlds of some purpose built rail games can be, the graphics compared to (The game what's name shall not be mentioned) and Champions, STO, Valiance, HaV, etc, are on a par. Maybe not the exact level, but not too far behind. And they were working on that, as best they could, with a 10 year old engine, y'know.
Games are not about the graphics anyway. It's about playability, fun, and story in this case. But tell that to Candy Crush or Farmville. *rolleyes*
What I sort of would like to have seen, but didn't bother me either, is separated finger animations, and maybe some facial animations. When they did those cutscenes, it wouldn't have sucked to have lips move, eyes emote, that sort of thing.
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Regarding point 2: Beating the game and being bored, repitition...:
I never got the 'I beat it' and 'I'm bored' bit. Honest.
There were so many archetypes to play. I never got a Tank or SoA or Widow or Mastermind or Stalker or Corruptor or Defender... well, you get the idea. I had more archetypes to play with, and never got that opportunity. Heck I only got a 50+Alpha Water/Ice Blaster done the day before shutdown! (That was pretty awesome, many thanks to the denziens of Pinnacle for helping Chillsea get there!) It took me that long to get a Blaster figured out and working for me. Blasters were usually too squishy for my style, but that combo seemed to be a hardy one. And FUN. But of course, it was added later to the game, which was also why it took longer for me and a Blaster to 'click'... couldn't make it yet.
Even when a character was 'shelved' for a bit while I worked on some other one, I would regularly bring them back out. Ruby Dawn, Cerise Dawn, my mains for the longest, would be taken out because I wanted to play healer, or I wanted to play complete mind controller. I would get out Brawling Humiliator to show off and beat down a 2-3 combined mobs of +4s, bosses and all, to nothing in the presence of someone who was in disbelief that any Brute could do that using only Brawl. (And yes, he did. Alla time. He was awesome, my favorite.)
Then I'd want to try a Tank... no that isn't good... Maybe a Warshade... and altits is a thing y'all.
Further, there's so much story that I still hadn't done. Most of the Villain side was done in teams where I didn't get to read the crap, because it was GO GO GO and not about taking the time to comprehend and learn the lore. Everyone is in such a RUSH... And Praetorian storyline is sill unknown to me. The overall I get, but still.
The point I'm rambling about is that there was so much LEFT TO GO for me, I had years and years of playtime left, with the little bits of time that I could gather to play it.
But seems like everyone's in such a rush... so they miss some of this. They don't stop to smell the roses, break open a rock or two and have a look inside, and just rush a character through without regard to why that character is, what the City's going through... all that stuff.
Shame, that. But that's some people for ya. Rush rush rush... and they miss the 'thing' about CoH. (I think. I really don't know, just postulation.)
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Regarding point 3: Grinding:
Yeah, that's kind of the suck. But it's part of it. If the game stopped at 30, people would be saying "It's too easy" and "Shouldn't there be more to this?" and such like that.
And then there's (The game what's name shall not be mentioned) Champions, STO... They get grind too. Unless it's just that much easier... yeah. Grind in games happens, so why is CoH any different?
I didn't mind the grind, especially if I had support. Solo grind? On the wrong character... yeah it would blow chunks.
Then again, I am the guy who made Brawling Humiliator, and the mission set was to not make any XP unless on the street, solo, no missions, no contacts, no help. You want to talk Grind? Do that from levels 45-50.
He made 50+Alpha Slot and was in fact working on certain Incarnate stuff when the thing closed. I miss that Brute. He taught me so much about CoH.
So knowing that, you might get that Grind on other characters wasn't a thing to me. Just part of the deal.
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Having said my personal thoughts on those reasons, I would like to postulate on the 'rest' of those who boo-hooed CoH's 'shortcomings' (whatevs.)
Individuals may have their reasons to not play a game. I don't care for Candy Crush or Farmville, for example, because they don't intrigue me. Some don't want to play a game over and over, they are a "go beat it and move on" kind of player. Play it through and then when's the next one? Halo might be a good example... or maybe Resident Evil... Or maybe Zork. There's a beginning, middle, end and you beat the game. Sure it was a story too. It's like a big movie and you're the star.
Some are just into the simple things. Angry Birds. Sure there's strategy and ballistics and such, but really... flinging birds at pigs. Go figure. Or Flappy Bird. Or QWOP.
And there's my point: There's all kinds for all people is the key. So some don't want to play Chess. Some don't want to play Poker. Some don't want to play Call of Duty (raises hand). So there'll be a bunch for whom CoH is not a thing they're into. And that's ok.
CoH wasn't for everyone. But it was for us.
And hopefully will be again, and that right soon!