[mcv]

Big game companies just make what sells. I don't see why anyone would expect that to change. It shouldn't surprise anyone that many games aren't very good; most of everything is crap, and games are no different. But the logic in the best games has absolutely progressed since the 1980s, and even many (though not all) FPS games put quite a bit of effort into making their game characters move and act in a believable way. Far more than they did 34 years ago.

Though there's undoubtedly still plenty of room for improvement. In terms of how smart computer characters move and act, I think Robin Hood, the Legend of Sherwood (2002) still stands out: there, when a guard spots you, they first become curious and come check you out. When they're sure they've seen you, they raise the alarm and attack you, and other guards that hear them, join them. When a guard finds a dead guard, they look for their boss, who then organises a search party. It's all very logical, and it results in a very exciting isometric stealth game. Especially the fact that the guards cooperate, but need to communicate over credible distances first, makes the whole thing work very well. There may well have been other games that work like this; I don't pretend to know most games, but I've never played anything else quite like it.