I was expecting something a little deeper or more subtle than what I got.

That's the problem when these things gain reputations. The reputation builds it up to be more than the piece of art can deliver.

Now imagine playing it when it was new and you weren't "expecting" anything but a military shooter. It would still be just as blunt, but it landed back then far more effectively than when you go in knowing the reputation the game has built in the many years that followed.