Speaking of Bioware, Mass Effect did that. A number of important characters could die in ME1, and you could get your whole team killed in ME2. In ME3, the dead characters who had a role to play were replaced with generic NPCs who executed the necessary plot beats. I'm not sure if this is the solution, however, because the replacement NPCs, for the most part, were rather bland. Unsurprising, but imo it does a disservice to the original characters if some random mooks whose names you won't even bother remembering can accomplish almost everything on their own. Not to mention, if you kill a character, and then the same thing happens regardless, just with a placeholder replacement character, it's almost like you hadn't done anything at all.
It all depends on how wild writers will go ...
Yes, if character gets simply replaced and everything else stays the same ... then i agree, its a little dull. :-/
As far as i know, in ME-3, if certain characters were dead you were unable to get certain endings ...
For example ... if Tali (or Legion?) didnt survive, you are unable to make peace between Quarians and Geth ... you allways have to choose one side ...
I know it have zero inpact on gameplay, but at least "some" consequences.
But there is even worse options ...
For example that mentioned Leliana. -_-
She can die in first game ... litteraly ... and then she reappear in third game, completely healthy and she even TELLS YOU that she was dead for a while. -_-
THIS is how you make player feel that he didnt done anything at all.
