The thing here is you're quoting Kotaku, who of course would want to write something like that to back up what they are saying.
I know people, my wife included, that it doesn't matter what surrounds the gags, she finds things like South Park completely unwatchable. I know people who love South Park, but find Family Guy too over the top.
I'm certain that there are some people that will think DNF is over the top. I also believe that there will be some that think that it has formed enough of a case based on the earlier things that have happened in the game to make the jokes work. That spectrum is what it seems like a lot of people are refusing to accept, or even acknowledge with DNF.