I think what gave this such bad press was possibly serious bugs on release. It was not a polished game at all. But a year on and it has been noticeably improved.
The story is absolutely enthralling. The character depth is very real and engaging, along with an amazing soundtrack which really immerses you into the post apocalyptic world Days Gone has created.
Hordes are terrifying to come across and can bring real panic moments if you don’t plan ahead for these big battles, and leading them into enemy camps is a joy to behold.