An avid fan of the first two games, like many others when this came out, I expected something else.
The single-player experience is not a very exciting or gripping experience, simply because the roleplaying is cut back and the story really doesn't help. But the game is built on a solid engine that runs well and opens up a LOT of tactical choices. This is why the multiplayer aspect shines. Noone who's ever strapped timed dynamite to a dog with high sneak-stats and blown dog,friends and allies into gory chunks can not love this game.
tl:dr version: Stealth suicide-dogs with drunken master-perks = unforgettable multiplayer.
Instant classic