Choice Based Games are pretty fun, but I would think it works best when Replay Value is high. I mean, if your player has the thought, "Hmm...What if I actually chose the Crossbow instead of the Sword?" or something, you know you kind of got it under control. 8-)
But that doesn't mean Linear Stories are bad...Really, I'm more on a fence here and I personally feel neither one outshines the other. ~_~
Add the interesting features? o: While it's true mini-games are nice and all, but they're simply bells and jingles; gimmicks. Your core gameplay is more important. Get that done, make it fun and appealing, and yeah...That's what makes the game more enthralling (Along with story execution, this that, yadda yadda yadda)
Let's see what else you'll bring to the table, eh Tazero?