I don't know, "heavy technical improvements" might not be necessary, but I remember when skyrim first came out and it was sort of an amazing, immersive world.

I understand that maybe pixel graphics games can be really mindful and charming, but sometimes the AAA games have not only tech, but all the rest too.

Not that it's a sure thing. I also recall roger ebert reviewing transformers: revenge of the fallen

"Of course there will be many more CGI-based action epics, but never again one this bloated, excessive, incomprehensible, long (149 minutes) or expensive (more than $200 million)."

https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/the-fall-of-the-reven...

but the funny part is about climax.