Can a good story make up for weak gameplay?

[MikhailGH]

Yes of course, but its usually the combination of both that makes a game the game of the year/decade/century

 

[OceanRunner]

If the story is good and the gamplay crap, you could just wait for somebody to post a playthrough on youtube, or maybe rent it.

 

[Vivace-Vivian]

Silent Hill. Case in point.

Waving a nail board around in the second one was about as smooth as the rusted walls but the story was great so I kept going.

 

[Firefly22]

I recently bought Planescape Torment from GOG. The actual gameplay is pretty poor to be honest but the story and setting are incredible. I think im close to finishing it but i dont want it to end.

 

[Polaris19]

Only if the story is truly redeeming, and that has to be on all fronts. Voice acting, character development, depth, and progression all have to be top notch in order for me to overlook a game that isn't that fun to play.

 

[WorldCritic]

If a story is good enough it can make up for flaws in gameplay and vice versa.
Good Story, Bad Gameplay: Heavy Rain
Bad Story, Good Gameplay: Jet Set Radio Future

 

[Thaius]

Weak gameplay, absolutely. A good story can save an otherwise mediocre game. If the game is unplayable, on the other hand... sometimes, but usually no. The ideal game has a great fusion of all aspects.

 

[Lullabye]

Play The Darkness mate. It's the epitome of insane. Best story I've ever experienced in a game, and the gameplay is pretty shoddy. Didn't stop me replaying it a billion times though.

Ironically, the in-game story development was top notch, even though the gameplay was rather lackluster.(man I love that game so much)

OT: For me, the worse the gameplay, the better the story had be. And vice versa.
i love fighting games, because their gameplay is so solid and fun, but I seriously don't expect much from the story. If it has one, then all the better.
Conversly, Im playing personna 3 right now for psp, and I find the combat boring as fuck. I like the story, and the way you get stronger by interacting with other people is a really cool way to level. SO it all balances out for me.
Disgaea also did this for me. I like grid based tactics games, but after a while it got boring. The only reason I kept playing was to watch the commercials.(yes, the game had commercials......don't ask.....)

 

[Negatempest]

I know there is only so many people that played the PSone version of this game. But this is a PERFECT example of a game with subpar gameplay, but a story that REALLY pulled you in and you wanted to know more.

This is a very rare type of JRPG where a young boy grows up into a great man/warrior. Not Cloud from FF7 kind of man, but John Marshton from RDR kind of man.

 

[blankedboy]

Nah, not in my opinion. Gameplay > Everything IMO.