How much value do you as a player or developer place on bells and whistles?

How much value do you as a player or developer place on bells and whistles?

How much value do you as a player or developer place on game play, mechanics, and AI?

I have noticed that a lot of recent games (shooters in particular) seem to rely more on particles and other flashy art rather than game play, mechanics, or AI.

I have also noticed that a lot of recent games (shooters in particular) seem to rely more on having a redundant number of enemies and enemy bosses with extremely high HPs rather than enemies that think. Of course the typical shooter is only uni-directional (to me that is huge design limitation) and of course uni-directional means the enemy does not have much it can do and neither does the player.

Half of my player weapons and equipment are sprite based, 1/4 are particle-based and 1/4 are both (for example a sprite-based rocket with a particle-based exhaust system.

I have done my best to simulate a dog fighting experience in 2D. So far I have completed 6 AI, each with different talents and goals and limitations. I have 8 more outlined. I also have an 8 directional movement engine for a top down view and plans to do side scrolling as well. I might do a fake 3D for a behind view room, but I don't know yet.

I also have over 30 enemies for land, see, and air. Three complex bosses with moving parts and a story that will require cut scenes and a text engine.

It's not a matter if I can do these things, I know I can, its a matter of how far I should go with things like game play, mechanics, and AI when the norm seems to be heading in the opposite direction.

Please send me you ideas and comments I am curious what others think about the latest trends in gaming and in particular retro gaming.