I recently just got it myself and I'm in the think of the story now and genuinely like it. It has its problems and is slow to get into because most of the early missions (like the first 5-10hrs) are basically tutorials.
My feelings with the game are much in line with Zero Punctuation's review (which i suggest rewatching after playing the game). Yes its too grey, yes they took out a lot of its quirkiness in favor of "gritty realism," and yes the control scheme makes the learning curve as steep as Everest, but still, the game just has soo much to do and see that it really does make up for it. I'm planning on making some Machinima using Liberty City as my backdrop soon...
Just at least play until a little past the second safehouse--the one in Brooklyn Bohan--and try out a couple of missions with Playboy X. If you aren't satisfied after the Construction site mission (which i think is the first official one from Playboy X), then i guess the new style just isnt for you.
