Indiana Jones might kill one guy per movie; Nathan Drake has shot thousands. He’s one of the most prolific mass killers in human history. And yet the cinematic parts of the game don’t seem to notice.
Having no idea about either of these games, I guess this is because, again, they combine a story-heavy narrative with a plain old shooter. I sometimes wish that these games which have interesting setting and/or narratives would actually try to innovate on the gaming part and avoid the "just kill them all" genre.
There should be something more between a "walking simulator" and a "kill them all" that allows you to enjoy the setting while still having some type of actual game inside.
Tomb Raider had some sections that probably fit the walking simulator genre, but also areas of action and puzzle games.
Walking simulator is defined by moving and exploration. Interactions usually involve reading, or changing your environment (not in ways to unlock new areas, but perhaps to see new things). Playing one, you clearly note the vibe. There isn't much to do except move forward and see/experience new things, building out a plot and understanding of a narrative as you do so. You don't generally drive the plot through your actions, but instead learn about it.
- There's a lot of combat.
- The world is 3D rather than being 2D backgrounds.
But most of your time is spent wandering around solving puzzles and trying to figure out where to go next. It would be a better game, in my eyes, if they took the combat out entirely. Compare Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.