As much as I love the kain series the game play can be somewhat glitchy and few of them could have really used some more development time before release. Still when it comes to concept, storytelling, voice acting and music the Legacy of Kain series is certainly a gem of a franchise.
As for the topic, I think both sides of the gaming world are guilty of producing "bland, and shallow" products but I don't think your being totally fair to the western developers I mean japan is just as guilty of milking popular genres and art styles as the west is.
That's just it. Not many gamers care about story, plot , or development. Not matter how groundbreaking the story/plot is, if the gameplay doesn't life up to the efforts, no one would want to play it.
It's not really the dark, mature, gritty titles, as Grand Theft Auto, a once Scottish video game , has gotten a name , even in Nippon. Of course, Many wannabes might have drove it down, now, most people might not enjoy a game thet has no true drive(Well, there are missions, but..).
Mascot Characters like Conker, Sly Cooper, Ty, and others from the West only lasts so long. And those that last longer tend to change often. Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon has gotten a complete overhaul, to the point where veterans no longer recgonize them. There are Jak & Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, who, as long as they have last, seem a bit low. where one coule rely on arms all the time seem a bit been there, done that. Maybe they need to be a bit childish and do illogical stuff to gain attraction. To many, they don't seem to read awesome compared to those like...(shudders) Klonoa(I don't like Klonoa, Okay?).
Then there are mature concepts. Somtehing like Assassins Creed nor Prince of Persia isn't considering know as Devil May Cry nor Silent Hill.Should Splinter Cell Be a bit more out there like Metal Gear Solid.
I always found Earthworm Jim a bit more original than most, even Mega Man(Face it. The Blue Bomber the video game equilvilent of Astro Boy). I mean, a normal earthworm in a super powered space suit? Too bad it was short lived. Same for BattleToads( even if they were a parody of the TMNT). I wish Viva pinata gotten a second chance. RareWare is dead, Midway is dead. It just doesn't look good for Western fiction.
I care for Western fiction. I want to do everhing to support it. Japamse Fiction just tends to be a bit overrated.
Also That Blue Sky in Games Campaign sucks.
They tend to forget that Driver did have blue skies and the color of red and blue, and games like Double Dragon and Final Fight had crap versions of American Slums with the works. Tekken, too. There are some gamers that want some believible challenges. I would rather punch someone and use a bomb launcher than paralyzed by jumping on them. And there were no magic bananas in Castlevania. Really, I don't care how I heal myself, as long as I can heal myself. And there were once syringes in the Pokemon World.Not all dark, gritty games have music of the latter. Driver has a good soundtrack. and again must I point out Beat-Em-Ups for criminals? Even the enemy levels that should be evil lookig. There are situations where blue skys just don't fit. Mario doesn't were red shoes. nor Link. Castlevania and Ghost 'n' Globins must function at NIGHT! Who would want to drive a pink convertible? And why only 15mph? Well, don't have a problem with that, really. Females have gotten better roles and there have been white drug dealers.
Really, it's like they want to give it the 4Kids treatment.