Control Mechanics as Art???

Can a games control scheme have artistic value? Can it emotionally reach an audience on a cognitive level? A game controller is the direct physical connection someone has with a video game so surely it should be an important aspect of an artistic vision within a game, but often I believe it is overlooked. Here is a post on destructoid.com by Jason Leray titled Shadow of the Colossus' controls are an exercise in art. Leray makes some very interesting points on how Team Ico's Shadow of the Colossus and how its control scheme contributes to its artistic vision. I believe he makes some valid points, for example the games grabbing mechanic used to grab hold of ledges and scale the colossi (the huge beast that must be defeated to progress through the game) instead of just hitting the r1 button the once to grab hold of a ledge you have hold onto the button allowing you as the player to have a connection with the games protagonist. "There is never a rift between what's happening on-screen and what's happening in your hand."

Also mentioned is the control mechanics of Argo the protagonists trusty stead, later in the game you are reliant on Argo's "AI and ability to take care of himself... as some colossi are impossible to beat without his help." This creates a bond between you as the player and argo and contibutes "To a compelling artistic metaphor (friendship)."