I agree that the levels are small in comparison to the original DE or something like Fallout 3, and it's certainly not a perfect game (especially the boss fights), but what DE:HR had going on was density. With a few exceptions, the game's areas are jam packed with multiple routes and options and interesting stuff to see and do. Virtually every attempt to explore is rewarded with something fun.
I recall one small-ish 3-4 floor apartment building in DE:HR that has interesting stuff on every single floor - not just a "treasure chest" or two to open, but multiple entrances, scripted events, optional NPCs and quests (some of which had multiple goals/endings and could even be permanently "failed"), traps, hidden stuff to find, plot material, enemies that you could ambush or vice-versa, concealed routes to other buildings and more, all of it conditionally accessible based on your skills. You can visit multiple times throughout the game and things will change. Certain actions could have effects on future events. Every unit had a personality and breaking into one felt like walking in on someone else's life (the memorable one for me - breaking into the drug dealer's apartment as part of an optional quest and having him come home while you're there!)
A lot of other games that tout their square mileage are empty by comparison. They give you the joy of running freely across the countryside, but the only reward is the journey and maybe something to shoot at.
As I mentioned, DE:HR/DX3 is a very good game for itself. But as it is the third part of a game series, the game press and players compare it to its predecessors. And all the great stuff that was in DE:HR was already even a notch better in part 1. So it's not an evolution, but a bit bitter sweet comeback.
Unfortunately many players haven't played the first two games or played them later when the graphics already looked dated.
I agree that the levels are small in comparison to the original DE or something like Fallout 3, and it's certainly not a perfect game (especially the boss fights), but what DE:HR had going on was density. With a few exceptions, the game's areas are jam packed with multiple routes and options and interesting stuff to see and do. Virtually every attempt to explore is rewarded with something fun.
I recall one small-ish 3-4 floor apartment building in DE:HR that has interesting stuff on every single floor - not just a "treasure chest" or two to open, but multiple entrances, scripted events, optional NPCs and quests (some of which had multiple goals/endings and could even be permanently "failed"), traps, hidden stuff to find, plot material, enemies that you could ambush or vice-versa, concealed routes to other buildings and more, all of it conditionally accessible based on your skills. You can visit multiple times throughout the game and things will change. Certain actions could have effects on future events. Every unit had a personality and breaking into one felt like walking in on someone else's life (the memorable one for me - breaking into the drug dealer's apartment as part of an optional quest and having him come home while you're there!)
A lot of other games that tout their square mileage are empty by comparison. They give you the joy of running freely across the countryside, but the only reward is the journey and maybe something to shoot at.