RPGs are the one genre, more than anything else, that you can't trust game reviews with. Mostly because game reviewers don't have the time/care to play through the entire thing. So it always boils down to "Bioware/Bethesda/Square_Enix/Atlus? = 9/10! Best game ever!!", "Everything else = 7? Maybe?"
On topic, I have no clue if this game is decent or not. Doesn't seem too special overall. Though I do find it funny that its managing to steal the thunder from the long waited Sands of Destruction 
These games look like c-games. Like Wild Arms games.
That said, I do agree with your overall point, but this goes beyond rpgs.
I remember in one review for a srpg, they knocked points for being a "Final Fantasy Tactics clone". Games like God Hand and Ultimate Ghouls and Ghosts were slammed in some parts of the review part of the industry for even more lame reasons.
It's the writers themselves. They're asked to review and review games and genres they are not knowledgeable about. Ask drinky, maf, or lyte edge about how they feel towards game "journo" treatment of Dynasty Warriors games when they give games like Madden 9's across the board on an annual basis.
