My Taste: With video games, my taste is most similar to what historians may call a Romanticist's taste. Romanticists embraced the breaking of conventions, or what is expected, in their art forms; and especially valued the special experience one has with an art piece due to its creator seeming to tell the individual's own personal journey with the piece using the individual's emotions.
The problem I think the video game world has is that so far their culture has yet to enter a Romantic era for their art form, which has always happened like this:
Craftsman breaks conventions to make witnesses wonder "why?" > wondering leads to interpretations > interpretations lead to consideration of how said craft could go beyond "entertainment" > emphasis on emotion: imagination over reason > audience experiences craft individually; drive of craft seems to tell each audience member's own personal experience > craft seen then as "expression"; and the craftsman is now an "artist".
Because this kind of cultural movement has not yet happened for video games, the opinions of gamers who hold this same sort of palette are usually left ignored and coldly neglected. That said, this is why I critique each of the following games listed as a "DIA" (Digital Interactive Artwork) rather than a video game; so players who share this palette with me will be recommended to a game for that personal experience and not the commonplace "fun" typically celebrated and advertised as if video games' only place in the world are as incredibly flashy TV-toys; mere tools for amusement.
In brief, I think on the contrary with the majority understanding of what video games are for: I do not think that a game-world exists for the player to manipulate with; I think that a game-world exists to manipulate the player. Much like any other art form -- I approach it expecting to be freed of my responsibilities and guided down a gratifying experience with my minimal correspondence, or just enough correspondence for me to stay engaged. Following this, I rate my DIAs according to how well my expectations were satisfied.
Franchises are usually grouped in with the first installment.