Planescape: Torment. There is sadly no equal to it in terms of overall narrative strength. It manages to be both entertaining, and intellectually stimulating. Do some research on it.
Game With the Best Story? (For school assignment)
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"Best Story" is fairly subjective, but looking at RPGs in general is a good place to start. Bioware's writing of stories (including the Mass Effect series) is among the best out there currently. Some of the longer and more linear RPGs (read: JRPG) have stories which are arguably better. However, the recent Final Fantasy titles aren't exactly the best received; VI (the opera scene is a classic in its own right), VII (a bit overrated IMO, but still a great game), IX (woefully underrated), and X (first in the series with voice-acting, and it shows) are all at least decent story-wise.
However, the strength of the medium isn't so much the presence of great stories as it is the opportunity to act them out on your own. This leads to quite a few protagonists being escapist characters [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EscapistCharacter] (Shepard being a very good example of one, most PCs in Bioware's games are), which arguably leads to the medium as whole not having the best storylines (because they aren't too far off from one of the classical signs of bad writing, "Mary Sue" [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MarySue] characters). Some developpers are working around the issue, but no one has really nailed it yet.
The issue with escapist characters would probably make a good topic for your assignment.
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Most of the time when people present evidence for "Games being Art", the examples are Team ICO's games: Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. These games are minimalist in nature, but still manage to evoke emotional responses from the player. Even better, both were recently re-released together for the PS3 (if you haven't played either and own a PS3, they're definitely worth picking up... though the controls do feel somewhat dated).
Look at SotC in particular, the story can be viewed as tragedy of sorts... with the player acting it all out.
However, the strength of the medium isn't so much the presence of great stories as it is the opportunity to act them out on your own. This leads to quite a few protagonists being escapist characters [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EscapistCharacter] (Shepard being a very good example of one, most PCs in Bioware's games are), which arguably leads to the medium as whole not having the best storylines (because they aren't too far off from one of the classical signs of bad writing, "Mary Sue" [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MarySue] characters). Some developpers are working around the issue, but no one has really nailed it yet.
The issue with escapist characters would probably make a good topic for your assignment.
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Most of the time when people present evidence for "Games being Art", the examples are Team ICO's games: Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. These games are minimalist in nature, but still manage to evoke emotional responses from the player. Even better, both were recently re-released together for the PS3 (if you haven't played either and own a PS3, they're definitely worth picking up... though the controls do feel somewhat dated).
Look at SotC in particular, the story can be viewed as tragedy of sorts... with the player acting it all out.
In order to bring a girl (presumably a lover) back to life, you are tasked with slaying sixteen colossi. The whole of the game is seeking them out and killing these towering beasts.
However, things aren't so simple. You become increasingly corrupted with each colossus you fell, and the act of doing so makes one feel both triumph & remorse. Is killing those magnificient & creatures worth it to revive one person?
However, things aren't so simple. You become increasingly corrupted with each colossus you fell, and the act of doing so makes one feel both triumph & remorse. Is killing those magnificient & creatures worth it to revive one person?
How about Metro 2033?
It's reasonably close to the book (well, for a videogame adaption), but it has a good story and an interesting setting.
It's reasonably close to the book (well, for a videogame adaption), but it has a good story and an interesting setting.
Was not talking about every little nuance in the MMO since it's obviously going to become distorted due to the players involved. I'm speaking of the grand story of it all, starting in Orcs vs. Humans and leading into the major events of World of WarCraft. Most the story though gets delivered in Tides of War and WCIII.SecretNegative said:
I would point to other aspects of narrative in modern video games, and compare them to film, stage, and other performing arts.
Shadows of the Damned might as well be a 70's grindhouse exploitation film, while simultaneously challenging the concepts of hell that we as human beings have come to adapt.
Eat Lead: the Return of Matt Hazard was a shamelessly self aware parody of Video games that got far less coverage then it deserved. Seriously Mel Brooks could have written that game.
of course you can point to the Mass Effect series which creates a powerful non silent protagonist, whose narrative while customizable to each player, explores a series very strong emotional stories.
God of War (the first one, make no mention of the others) is a case study in Greek Tragedy.
Bioshocks art deco world as an exploration, admiration of, and condemnation of uninhibited objectivism has been examined to the point of Tripe.
Fallouts 50's sci fi what if and near nihilist overtones provide a stark contrast to the brave new world eyes the player is supposed to have.
Gears of War, the first one, is very much styled in the manner of "the longest day."
Shadows of the Damned might as well be a 70's grindhouse exploitation film, while simultaneously challenging the concepts of hell that we as human beings have come to adapt.
Eat Lead: the Return of Matt Hazard was a shamelessly self aware parody of Video games that got far less coverage then it deserved. Seriously Mel Brooks could have written that game.
of course you can point to the Mass Effect series which creates a powerful non silent protagonist, whose narrative while customizable to each player, explores a series very strong emotional stories.
God of War (the first one, make no mention of the others) is a case study in Greek Tragedy.
Bioshocks art deco world as an exploration, admiration of, and condemnation of uninhibited objectivism has been examined to the point of Tripe.
Fallouts 50's sci fi what if and near nihilist overtones provide a stark contrast to the brave new world eyes the player is supposed to have.
Gears of War, the first one, is very much styled in the manner of "the longest day."
Bioshock had a wonderful twist and fabulous Mise-en-scène, but I wouldn't say it's a standout in terms of story overall. It would certainly be a fine candidate if you were making a list of various reasons why games are a valid art form, but this guy seems to be specifically focused on story.TsunamiWombat said:
Kay, and thanks. I might use Mass Effect just for personal reasons & simplicity (I know it well, while with Shadow of the Colossus is a game I haven't played since I was 11), and possibly bring up Ultima IV as a sort of rebuttal to my own point.jacobythehedgehog said:
I quit paying attention to the in-game story and just read the books, the books are so ridiculously fucking good.SecretNegative said:
I also vote for Warcraft, specifically Warcraft 1-3 (Before WoW). The lore is deep as hell, the story is genuinely engaging and I can ashamedly accept I know more Warcraft History than what I know about the History of my country, and I don't even regret it.
Not a massive fan of the Mass Effect story. The second kinda mucked it up I feel. And the sentence you need filling in makes it sound like the one you decide has the best story is still crap.
Anyway, I'd say Half Life 2 has excellent writing, as do Portal and Portal 2, though the actual "story" is quite simple, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Also, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but more specifically the Justine DLC. And not just for the atmosphere, the game actually handled the whole Amnesia thing really well, slowly revealing things, until right at the very end when everything made sense. Justine more so.
Edit: Half Life 2 is also an exceptional example of how videogames can tell their story in their own way, without slabs of text or cutscene, but rather telling the story through gameplay. And thinking about it the ending of Braid did that as well, though I don't recommend that game since the rest of the story was those pre-mentioned slabs of text.
Anyway, I'd say Half Life 2 has excellent writing, as do Portal and Portal 2, though the actual "story" is quite simple, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Also, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but more specifically the Justine DLC. And not just for the atmosphere, the game actually handled the whole Amnesia thing really well, slowly revealing things, until right at the very end when everything made sense. Justine more so.
Edit: Half Life 2 is also an exceptional example of how videogames can tell their story in their own way, without slabs of text or cutscene, but rather telling the story through gameplay. And thinking about it the ending of Braid did that as well, though I don't recommend that game since the rest of the story was those pre-mentioned slabs of text.
This. This this this this this.jacobythehedgehog said:
'Best story' is an incredibly subjective idea, highly dependent on player tastes and surprisingly independent from the actual execution of the story-telling.
Take Portal, for example. The story isn't actually all that special, or even unique (see: everything Asimov's ever written about robots). But the story-telling (or narrative) is done well enough that you completely forget that. You get it from wall graffiti, half-glimpsed offices, sardonic quips from GLaDOS - there's very little explicit exposition.
Bastion is also a good example of how to do narrative right. So's Shadow of the Colossus, apparently, but I haven't managed to play it [/shame]
Mass Effect, whatever you may think of the story, is actually a very poor example where narrative is concerned. The story is largely told as if the game were a film. Which it isn't. If you wish to make the case that games can be art, you need to show what they can do differently from other media.
Hopefully unnecessary post-script: All of the above is my opinion.
Alright, although if you've never played one of these titles before, you owe it to yourself to do so. They're more interesting, more developed and have more depth than Mass Effect could ever hope to get.zHellas said:
First, you've got my number one for story. Planescape. The whole question that marks the game is the question "What can change the nature of a man?". Even small choices have unexpected consequences, the background is rich (as you would expect from a game in the Planescape universe), the characters are detailed. The Nameless One himself is hugely different from any of the typical RPG games since he's selfish, egocentric, heavily scarred/tattooed. It's unorthodox, it's bizarre, it's challenging for the mind.
Mask of the Betrayer (NWN2) is, again, under a theme. NWN 2 has always had the underlying idea of heroes...or at least, potential heroes with many flaws. Mask of the Betrayer sort of continues that and more. It's also about the difference of what's real, gods, after-life, about self discovery and love, but not necessarily romantical love.
I could spoil the stories for you but I'd be doing you a huge disfavour. Play them or at least read more about them and decide.
You can use Planscape Torment as an example, or the games of The Longest Journey series, for games that had well made stories, with great characters.
I don't recommend using Mass Effect as an example, since it's just a poorly glued together mishmash of Anachronox and Battlestar Galactica.
I don't recommend using Mass Effect as an example, since it's just a poorly glued together mishmash of Anachronox and Battlestar Galactica.
Silent hill 2. Not only is it full of symbolism, it has a story that anyone can relate to and I can talk forever about psychological impact. Anything, ANYTHING there has a point and a hidden meaning and anyone can interpret it differently. That is art.
Planescape: Torment, bro. If you think anything else comes close, you are wrong. So wrong. Best story, best narrative and best characters. By far.
Mass Effect is decent, but it's mediocre in the narrative department and overall it can be summed up with just two words: KOTOR lite.
Ultima IV deserves a mention as well because it was the first non-cliche RPG story.
You should check out Spoony's retrospective [http://spoonyexperiment.com/2010/08/20/ultima-4-quest-of-the-avatar/] on that game.
Deus Ex is also one of my favorites. Great story and even better writing. You're in for a treat if you haven't played it.
But anyway, Planescape: Torment > every other game.
Mass Effect is decent, but it's mediocre in the narrative department and overall it can be summed up with just two words: KOTOR lite.
Ultima IV deserves a mention as well because it was the first non-cliche RPG story.
You should check out Spoony's retrospective [http://spoonyexperiment.com/2010/08/20/ultima-4-quest-of-the-avatar/] on that game.
Deus Ex is also one of my favorites. Great story and even better writing. You're in for a treat if you haven't played it.
But anyway, Planescape: Torment > every other game.