Even better if there was optional in game scripted cinematic fight scene as an option instead of having to go through the tedious combat. So, escape (back button) to skip entirely or backspace (start?) to skip combat and play scripted movie like cinematic combat sequence. As long as each combat sequence is somewhat short and unique.
While I loved the combat in ME1, I would have loved to have been able to skip the dreary combat in ME2. Although that would exposed the irrelevant character interaction and dialog even more in the ME2. So probably wouldn't have been worth the price of admission for ME2. Then again, ME2 wasn't worth the price I paid for it anyway, so it would have been better than the product I ended up with. Same goes for some 3rd person action games. Bayonetta for instance, I suck at the more complex 3rd person action games, but I would have loved to have experienced the world and potential story of that game.
There's a lot of shooters I'd buy at a discounted price just for the storyline and experience if I could skip the combat. Too many average and mediocre shooters for me to want to bother actually going through the motions with the tedious and repetitive "gameplay" just to experience the world and potential story.
Heck, the story mode for ME3 is the only thing that "might" convince me to buy the game when it eventually hits 10 USD.
Regards,
SB