I think it has a lot to do with the overall presentation of the game.
Big games these days tend to be (at least at their crucial moments) like a movie.
During Gameplay you often have a lot that is going on. Either Soundeffects or Voice Over (e.g. Partymembers talking with each other to progress the story). It's hard to score a sound that just tries to be in the foreground, to be the star of the whole scene, when it hinders you to understand what is going on.
So these games tend to have a more atmospheric, hollywood-like soundtrack. Which wasn't possible in that quality more than 10 years ago.
Japanese games, due to differences and financial cultural, still tend do create a more melodic, more catchy soundtrack.
There is still a heavy emphasis on Anime (a lot of todays directors grew up watching Anime) in all of their games.
Every Anime has a Soundtrack release, not only the OP and ED, that are using the Anime to promote their songs, but the whole score.
So, you wanna have a Sound that can hold its own, without the context of the show/game.
I think that is the big difference here, and what you (possibly) feel/think OP.
The rest is taste.