I thought it was overall very good, and didn't mind it being linear too much as (like COD4 SP for example) it remains the best way to keep a game truly cinematic and ensure you experience a channelled experience. However I agree with most of your other negatives. For me what I'd like to see in next one is:
a) better mix of adventure and shooting - a few more puzzles and action setpieces for examples
b) better use of vehicles (particularly the Jetski sequence where I wanted speed but seemed to be stopping dead every two seconds to shot someone or something (where do all the barrels in games like this and Half Life come from anway?)
c) better mix of elements - it was a little too much now for a lot of climbing, okay now for a lot of shooting. How about short gunbattle, followed by some shooting, followed by a setpiece, followed by a puzzle, etc.
d) get rid of the quick key responses - this is awful even when it works! I want to always watch what's happening, not suddenly hunt for the signal in the bottom left corner of the screen to see which button I suddenly need to press. I like the idea but just let me jerk the controller in a certain direction.
However the story, voice acting and 'feel' was the best for me of any game in 2007 - I particularly liked many of the action/humour cinematics such as the jailbreak.
I also very much liked the lack of loading apart from between major jumps of location (which was always covered by a cinematic anyway) - going from the jungle to an underground temple to the jungle to a U-Boat without a break was fantastic for keeping you in the game.
Try to be reasonable... its easier than you think...
