Personally I found TC is best taken on its own merits instead of the hype, which did a disservice to it, especially since HVS did not have the practice with those kinds of games as Valve, Infinity Ward, Bungie, etc.
Not claiming this makes the game better, just not worse.
A flashy-first game is awesome when it comes out. A great-first game is awesome forever.
Plus, just for the hell of it: Kelly Brook at the 2008 BAFTAs