That perception is very personal.
Studios are usually very aware of the issue of a journalist getting stuck. A phone call, an email to the studios and journalists are given the solution to move. Sometimes, even, press releases versions come with a kit to help solutions like console command to move past a scene. Sometimes, press release versions include specific commands etc
Second, journalists are also recruited on their capacity to beat a game. At least, were. The press used to monetize walkthroughs and they had to get them done as fast as possible.
Once again, the influence of the press is exaggerated. It is no longer what it is.
The problem of a studio like Larian is they've stuck with a niche concept, and that they want to grow outside that niche. In that way, they need relays and do not find them in the community at large. Getting a popular streamer to build his show around their game will do more good than dozens of journalists. But a popular streamer wont use their game because it wont attract views.
Hence their will to use journalists as a tool to educate players.
It is ? Has the quality declined because of the story in Indy 4 ß Because of the story in Monkey Island ?
No. It is tied to the degeneration of games from an object of gameplay to a medium to deliver stories.
Right now, players demand story over gameplay in a game. Players have made a non essential dimension in gaming an absolute demand.
You see only 1 genre as being everything in gaming : The Action Games as such.
But - Action is not everything.- Like in movies : You don't entirely have action movies, you have drama comedy, everything is possible.
In gaming, you have Action games, and you have storytelling games, like Adventure games.
Many more types in gaming than action (combat) or story telling games.
Yes, a story in Indy Jones games is not essential at all.
Story in a game is a non essential.
But what would be an Indy Action Movie without a story to be told ? What would be the original Monkey Island game without a story ? A mere search-and-click game. Like you have so many games noadays like "Farm Frenzy" or the "Wimmelbild" genre (don't know how this is called in English language).
What is a book without a story ?
Books and movies can exist without story. A mathematical book has no story in it. The big difference between books, movies and video games is that the art of storytelling for books and movies is well known, has been theorized in many ways and can be taught and learned.
Video games, despite probably billions dollars invested in investigating storytelling in video games, have failed to produce a story telling theory. Writers simply do not know how to tell a story in a video game.
