It truly felt like a next-gen experience at the time and the release was so huge to me that I willingly sat-down and dedicated my full attention and a large amount of patience to the experience, so I didn't mind the fact that it was really a slog at times. Being immersed in the world made all the difference, especially when you're distracted by marveling at all the details and eye candy.
I 100% understand why people don't like it, though. It's also just inexcusable that the original release didn't even let you use the analog stick; it was d-pad only.
Currently playing: Skyrim, Hearthstone
Training log: https://powpowpunishment.blogspot.com