I agree, if you took out the side quests and mini games you’d get another FF16 which was an absolute slog by the end of it because of how monotonous it was with lack of variety
As respectfully as I can say this, so what? I don’t care about it trying to be a mass appeal GOTY art piece that pushes boundaries. I want an AC game with the stupid silly robots blowing shit up. Anything that tales me out building said robots or blowing said shit up is a negative for me. If anything having more bloat with cutscenes and dialogue and exposition detracts from the experience.
Of course you can, but I prefer judging a game on what it focuses on. Kind of like judging undertale on its graphics, it’s not the main point. AC is all about the combat and customization, and anything that gets in the way of that is what I would judge harshly.
What do you mean by branch out? They set out to do an action game like they did 10 years ago where the story is entirely secondary to the gameplay and mechanics. If anything having a super cutscene heavy character development drama would be branching out from what the series is all about.
Because at this point it is their stylistic choice, same as Ace Combat or like asking Kojima not to make a convoluted vomit of a narrative. You kind of know what you are getting into. And with how much long cutscenes and exposition takes you out if the game (I’m looking at you FFXVI) I like this approach to pure action games.