I definitely agree that there needs to be a certain blend of storytelling and gameplay to a place where it feels just right- and that varies depending on the genre and style of the game. I like the fact that you mentioned the Mass Effect series; I think that those games are very effective at gluing a player to the screen in the same way that a good book might coax a reader into the next few pages because you just
have to know what happens next. The plot, character development, and gameplay are all very enjoyable. Another game that is very adept at mixing gameplay and plot is Dragon Age, which is another Bioware game... coincidence? I could list some other Bioware titles that are good examples but I'll leave it there.
Another game with a great balance in plot / gameplay is Psychonauts. I think I remember seeing that Alec or Derek is a Tim Schafer fan in the Aquaria credits; if you haven't experienced Psychonauts I highly recommend it.
GoG.com has it on the cheap, if you're so inclined. Oh, and don't forget about Grim Fandango.
I know the author of that article gave Bioshock a hard time, but I really enjoyed it. The gameplay and story were both engaging. Bioshock 2 tuned up the gameplay mechanics but the storyline lacked the weight that the first one had; This made the second installment much less memorable for me.
The first two Fallout games (the Black Isle/Chris Avellone ones) were fantastic non-linear games with good story and an open world. The hex grid gameplay is a little steep for some people to enjoy, but the gameplay was good there too.
It's been said many times on these forums, but Aquaria did a pretty fantastic job of blending gameplay and story in a complimentary way too. After the first couple of areas, you are given freedom to roam wherever you want. This allows you to explore and discover at your own pace, letting you piece together the puzzle as you like.
It was certainly an interesting article, but I think that there are some games with good stories AND good gameplay.
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