No, that was 2. That mechanic and plot point doesn't exist in 3. 3 has very little, if any, fanservice, most due to its dark subject matter (infinite war, limited lifespans)

And yes, AAA. It cost multiple millions, hundreds of staff working on it, hundreds of hours of VA including notable UK talent (Jenna Coleman, etc), a fully orchestral soundtrack by Yasunori Mitsuda recorded in multiple countries, and the game itself pushes the switch to breaking point. It absolutely counts and is considered by Nintendo as one.

There's loads of other examples of decent single player experiences without bullshit, this one just came to mind first. And I hope Baldurs Gate's success brings more like these