It also depends heavily on how the fans take it.
If they love everything you throw at them no matter what it is, then you have an easier time compared to not having dedicated fanboys.
The end game product is important, but it's the followers who make it or break it.
You are just being sad at this point.
If people actually like a game, despite whatever rationale you came up in your head as to why they won't, then it must be the fans who will "take anything thrown at them" instead of the game actually being good. You know, this must be hard, but maybe, just maybe....the game is actually good? That they just enjoyed it? God of War: R didn't reinvent anything but it's still a solid game.
Now, of-course, not everyone will like something, even if it there is nothing necessarily wrong with it. That is perfectly fine. Learn to live in the 'gray' instead of focusing on just black and white.
Oh I forgot, you are responding to a comment about a Sony game, so I should throw reason out the window. I mean, we get it, you don't like Sony or their games. You couldn't say it loud enough.