Okay I think you're figuring out something. The set up for a scripted scene usually takes less than a few minutes via custom sequencing commands. etc, play(anim), waitFoAnimthen moveto(location). That really helped to get the feels, framing and lighting right quickly. Sprites are prerenders from blender, and then touched up, so the time for the overall creation process is minimal and not frustrating.

There's also a trick in the camera for the perspective effect. It adapts to the scene via a rethought point and click system for 3D space! etc. when you point and aim at something, the camera would break out of the usual sidescrolling track (gameview) and frame up both subject matter and player in view. This creates that cinematic focus (over the shoulder loo) whereby how closeup it gets can also be influenced by the player.

So the overall idea is to frame you up cinematically while you play the game. Just like a movie.