>>723762586
I'm not reading all that. All games are memorization. There is an optimal way to beat SM64, and Minecraft played open-endedly is a simulator, not a game. All games are played to be won. Even competitive games, at the highest level of play, is studying your opponent, devising a strategy, and executing it accordingly. The key to victory is always minimizing improvisation so mental stack is minimal when risk inevitably presents itself.
Additionally, static design is not a negative. The more predictable a game is, the fairer it is. A well designed game is a consistent one with many layers of complexity to unravel. And that's what a good shmup is. A really well designed game that can be unraveled for many years. Games like Chess, Go, and Shogi have been played for over a thousand years and are incredibly consistent and simple games, but have many layers of complexity, and when two players face each other in those games they are working together to unravel its secrets when they test each other's strength. This is the essence of aesthetics in gameplay. Hope that helps!