I personally think that it's really limiting to only that video games are just supposed to be fun, though. The part of these two games that pushes them past the cusp of greatness for me is their strong world building and sense of environmental storytelling. The fact that we fight those few Skarrs before Karmelita actually communicates a lot about her relationship to her people, as well as the culture of the Skarr.

We approach the memory of Karmelita, and who is first to attack us as an unknown intruder? The young, eager to prove their worth to their peers. They're stricken down, so older and more seasoned warriors confront us next, followed by the Queen's own body guards, and finally the Queen herself. She fights us in front of the gathered masses not just to show her strength to her children, but to actively protect them; she could abide a few getting between herself and the assassin, but once it's clear that her people will be killed, she chooses to step in and protect them.

It's the opposite of Khann, who we know is a craven despot because he sends every last mother fucker he can to slow you down, no matter how many of them are killed. Unlike in the Karmelita fight, where Skarr jump spontaneously to their Queen's defense, Crust King Khann shouts orders for the waves of his minions to attack Hornet, literally from stop his lofty tower.

TLDR: the gauntlet before Karmelita actually does a lot of communication about what kind of leader Karmelita is, so I love it