Best Storyline in any game ever?

[EyeReaper]

Honestly, I can't decide. It's mostly a tie between Ghost Trick and the first Ace Attorney game. But that might just be my love of mystery stories (Persona 4 just isn't quite mystery enough to make it up here) Ace Attorney probably edges slightly ahead, if only because Ghost Trick has some really impossible to guess plot twists (I'm looking at you, Ray)

Honorable Mentions go to: Hatoful Boyfriend's Bad Boys Love Route, for making me feel bad for a bunch of pigeons, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, once again, cuz of teh feelz, and Bad Dudes.

Spoiler: BAD

Spoiler: DUDES.

10/10 Shakespeare would be proud.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

Legacy of Kain, followed by Planescape: Torment

Oooh, Legacy of Kain is a good one. The story can be pretty convoluted, but it just sells it so well. Almost certainly my favourite dialogue writing in games.

Yea, those combat encounters were always quite bad. PS:T was, even at launch, considered to have weak gameplay. And the fact that it takes some time before the story really gets interesting might have been a large part of the reason why the game sold so poorly. People tried it (friends place, pirate or whatever) and found it to be boring, so they never bothered getting further.

The story is still the best I've ever seen in a game though. And it's better than that of most books I've read as well.

Yeah, the writing is is pretty interesting from the start (and very frequently hilarious if you pick the right options) but the plot itself doesn't really start picking up until you find Pharod which could take a while if you want to do sidequests/keep throwing your "junk" away.

It's definitely in the upper tier of fantasy stories I've experienced. Like I said, not one of my favourites but way, way above average.

Snip

We have a winner right here. Nothing else comes close.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Planescape probably still takes the crown, although recent offerings like To the Moon, Walking Dead, and Bioshock Infinite at least pressure it.

I also see someone name checked Bad Dudes, which while perhaps not the apex of gaming storytelling as it once was, is still the finest narrative about Dudes that are also Bad in the industry.

 

[Racecarlock]

The Stanley Parable because every single ending is a mindfuck and by the end your mind will be fucked so hard that you'll be thinking funny for the next week.

It also refuses to explore the "Depths of the human soul" using pointlessly shoehorned in symbolism, which means it gets bonus points.

 

[Riff Moonraker]

Been gaming for a loooong time, but way back in the day, stories were not really that.... in depth, for the most part. These days, story takes a whole new level of importance. Anyways, I still would have to go with the Mass Effect series, especially the first one, as the storyline had my emotions all over the place. I am sure it doesnt hurt that you really get to immerse INTO the story line alot, as well, but there you go.... thats my choice.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution had a pretty good storyline, too. I really enjoyed that one, and I am seeing ALOT of parallels in the world today, which I find a bit... disturbing, lol..

 

[carnex]

Well, Planescape Torment already came several times but I have to agree. Although I couldn't call Planescape Torment a story, it's collection of stories all lumped together into one less than cohesive whole but through narative device that allows for that. What makes Planescape Torment such force of storytelling is the underlining message which doesn't push anything onto player but rather asks him to throw ideas within his own head and come with his own conclusions.

But to be really old preaching fool I will say Captain Blood. Although to undersatand it you would have to read a short boot that came with it that explained how you have to hunt 8 of yourself (they are more than clones, they are you) that turned rogue to save yourself. And it's not like you are a good guy. FFS, you could park spaceship in orbit and press "destroy planet" button. Your ship literary has "destroy planet" button! It's not part of the story, just a bit of characterisation, but it's cool as Norway!

 

[Mohamed Medhat]

Probably Red Dead Redemption. The exploration of the corruption of the early federal government and the encroach of technology on the dying west were all really interesting themes and I think Red Dead remains R*'s pinnacle crown of writing.

 

[happyninja42]

Not really sure what your criteria is for "best story" so I'm just going to go with "the one that sucked me in the most and I enjoyed the most".

That's got to go to Homeworld and Homeworld:Cataclysm. From the 60page thick instruction booklet that came with a little novella of backstory on the homeworld, to the intro scene, and the atmosphere of it all, best story I can recall playing in a game. It evoked more emotional responses from me than any game before or after.

 

[laggyteabag]

Probably Telltale's The Walking Dead. I have never cared as much for video game characters, and I never been more excited for episodic content, or dreaded playing it. Such a good series.

 

[XMark]

Nobody mentioned Shadow of the Colossus yet? For shame!

It's a masterpiece of minimal storytelling, which leaves a lot of room for you to question the morality of the main character's actions and the consequences of killing the Colossi.

 

[Evonisia]

Nobody mentioned Shadow of the Colossus yet? For shame!

It's a masterpiece of minimal storytelling, which leaves a lot of room for you to question the morality of the main character's actions and the consequences of killing the Colossi.

Speaking of minimal storytelling, I think Limbo could count here. It's just you, a big headed child venturing through a dark scary world filled with horrific imagery and insects. I'd say it blended gameplay and storytelling quite nicely (and not having a soundtrack but having good sound design was a nice touch because this world is miserable as fuck).

Of course, Limbo isn't my favourite video game story really, but it is a good example.

OT: I'll admit that I found Mafia II's story interesting, even if I didn't like the game all that much.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Silent Hill 2 fits the bill I think, but "best storyline ever" is a pretty broad statement.

 

[Pyrian]

No love for VtM:Bloodlines?

Spoiler

BOOM! HA HA!

 

[clinicalPsychologist]

I jump aboard the Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective train.
So many likeable characters and mindbending plot twists. I liked the Ace Attorney series before but in terms of story line I can't think of any other game I played in the last few years; even though Bioshock Infinites twists were very good too, it lacked the emotional investment I had with the characters in Ghost Trick. Everyone should try it.

 

[Ihateregistering1]

It's already been mentioned 1000x times, but Planescape: Torment. The story was just so incredibly unique and interesting, the setting was utterly bizarre, the characters were amazing, great dialogue and writing, and it was an RPG where the storyline wasn't "only you can save the world from _____________!", it was really just a personal journey. Story still sticks with me to this day.

Legacy of Kain is good too, but it got so confusing and convoluted after a while.

Also Homeworld and HW: Cataclysm were awesome. Great story as well as phenomenal atmosphere that really captured the feel of "space is big and scary". Cataclysm's story was a little too similar to "Event Horizon", but it threw in enough twists and turns to make it interesting.

 

[Godhead]

Pong taught me to love. Everything else is inferior.

 

[JonnyHG]

The game with the best story to me is 999. Who knew that playing Sudoku could make me cry so much?

 

[Wolf In A Bear Suit]

Nah, those stories are totally overrated.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was several times better than both of those put together. An emotional roller coaster ride that explores the deepest depths of the human condition, effortlessly interwoven with top notch gameplay to tell a story as only a game can. Truly a new narrative for a new generation.

If I were a cat, I would purr and rub myself against this post. Sadly however, I am an iguana and have no way of showing affection.

Ehem, OT, I've never been drawn into a story like with Alan Wake. I love the premise, simple as that. The only disappointing thing is that American Nightmare really didn't really do anything to resolve Alan's storyline. Oh well I guess. Magic of the cliffhanger and all.

 

[Azahul]

No love for VtM:Bloodlines?

Spoiler

BOOM! HA HA!

Spoiler

Heh. I love that game. The way half the endings just end in you getting summarily destroyed is just great.

Man, it's a tough one to choose. I adore Baldur's Gate, I've been playing it since I was about 12 years old and I keep coming back to it. Bioshock Infinite was excellent. The Walking Dead pretty much destroyed me. Planescape: Torment was pretty amazing, and I've been thinking about it more and more lately as my gaming group dives into Mummy: The Curse.

And then there's Kentucky Route Zero. The first three acts have been fantastic. I'd be tempted to name it, except it's not finished yet.

If I were a cat, I would purr and rub myself against this post. Sadly however, I am an iguana and have no way of showing affection.

Ehem, OT, I've never been drawn into a story like with Alan Wake. I love the premise, simple as that. The only disappointing thing is that American Nightmare really didn't really do anything to resolve Alan's storyline. Oh well I guess. Magic of the cliffhanger and all.

Alan Wake was a beautiful game, yeah. I don't think I've ever enjoyed the premise for a horror monster quite so much as that.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Nah man, Mafia and Deus Ex are just garbage. Not to mention extremely girly.

Halo 1. Now THAT was an awesome story. Kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

The best part of Halo's plot is how it was in OTHER media! Sure, any rube can play the game but if you wanted that plot you had to work for it...well, spend for it...on the tie-in books.

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Seriously though, my favorite story is probably from a Final Fantasy. Specifically, Final Fantasy IV but, VI and, IX are close runners-up.