Well, you do have a point(Just read your TL DR)
Its more of companies playing safe.So far, few games have been really either innovative or done something groundbreaking in a estabilished genre or game structure.And this generation so far, there have been few examples:The Witcher 3, Bloodborne, and some others.In that sense, yeah, its became dull.But on the other hand, we have excellent games that have mastered their respective genre, so we dont lack great games.
I personally miss games having epic music.Most western games just have that generic, hollywood Michael Bay style music(for when you are in a fight or battle).A nice exception was the Witcher 3.That game had a good soundtrack.
My (locked) thread about how difficulty should be a decision for the developers, not the gamers.
https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=241866&page=1
