This thing that's happening
I don't really understand much of where this conflict is heading but, (sigh) it's fine to compare a game. BUT, compare the game to its OLD version to the NEW version and NOT to another game.
There are a lot of games with same motif, same gameplay (it's not only open world games Im'mtalking about) but people who same games of same motif hardly argue or compare it to other games (think like those candycrush or farmville like games, I've seen many of the same mechanic).
Besides, Kuro's other game, Punishing Gray Raven, didn't have a good start too. It took like 8 main chapters for things to cook and by chapter 12/13 that's when it finally took off.
My point is, compare the game to how it was BEFORE and AFTER. Don't compare it to another game, no ones in the masses is gonna be happy