It is really interesting to me that you say there was a lack of identification with the protagonist because for me the best FPS games are ones where I am the protagonist. BJ Blakoqitz (however it was spelled. too lazy to look it up) wasn't a charater. He was a set of eyes for me to look through and I wasn't playing as BJ, BJ was me. I was the one in that situation.
With traditional narrative films I might say, "Wouldn't it be cool to be ____" or "What would I do if I were the main character?" but in a good FPS it is more like "What would I do if I were there?" Which really makes identification a really different thing. I'm not even sure if I would call it identification at that point.
So it is interesting to see that someone doesn't feel like that.
This reminds me of a cool narrative trick used in Half Life. Gordon Freeman, the protagonist, does not speak a word in the whole series! Whatever emotions or thoughts you experience is supposed to mimic how Gordon would feel. Gordon speaking would break the illusion.
It eventually turned into a joke in HL2 where Alyx, your sidekick, jokes about your silence.
Also, you never get any cutscenes that cuts to third person or locks your movement (except when your character is physically trapped). Everything is done to give the feeling that you truly are Gordon Freeman.
With traditional narrative films I might say, "Wouldn't it be cool to be ____" or "What would I do if I were the main character?" but in a good FPS it is more like "What would I do if I were there?" Which really makes identification a really different thing. I'm not even sure if I would call it identification at that point.
So it is interesting to see that someone doesn't feel like that.