If someone here is critizing this game after not playing it, and don't respect the opinion of someone that it did, he/she just need to go somewhere else. It's Selnor's opinion and he liked it, that's all. Ryse is becoming the type of game that is funny to bullshit, by a lot of people that not even try to play it. I hate that kind of habit. Ryse seems to be a polarizing game, some will love it for what it is, and other will hate for what is not.
I felt the same with a game like FF XIII. Both were technically and visually spectacular, with a focus on its gameplay mechanics, but both suffered or repetetiveness and lack of content. For me FF XIII was a great experience, somewhere between 8'5-9, for others was an abomination. If Selnor is in the same situation i can understand him very well.
I watch a video of the first 30 min, so my opinion is just an opinion and very incomplete, and for me it looked spectacular and it felt repetitive after 15 mins, but that's all. I don't know if i will like the complete game, but i'm sure i will glady try it.