As an aside, I think we’re at a point where unless the game is broken, it’s hard to really objectively say that a particular game is a “bad” game. Again, not in retaliation to anything you’ve mentioned above, but with respect to reviews and critiques we’re at a point where taste is really a major factor. So to wrap it up, I see where you’re coming from, but I respectfully disagree .

It really makes my heart go out to developers that are challenged with making sequels to pretty well-crafted, self-contained experiences – chances are, it’s never going to live up to the first go around.

Of course, there’s counter-examples to this, like God of War 2. Kratos’ story could have definitely ended after he killed Ares, yet we were treated to a pretty stellar sequel. So there’s hope.

But overall, I agree with you. One of the panels I viewed at GDC was entitled “Environmental story-telling”, a key component of which is leaving story “gaps” for the player to fill in for themselves. Allowing our imaginations to run wild a little bit just enhances our sense of wonder and accomplishment when we form our own theories without strict guidance.

Here’s hoping to continue to get more of that, and little less “Return to Oz.”