Mostly reviews are just superficial and full of bias more or less like forum posts. If you really want to know if a game is good or bad you have to try it.
The issues whith this game sound a lot like the issues whith DKC: "the control response is not immediate you have to get used to it and I'm lazy", or like the issues whith Dark Souls: "this game is difficult and it doesn't tell me where to go in any moment and I'm lazy."
In the end, you'll get the best score on metacritic by making a good looking presentation and rendering the game as conforming as possible.