Game With the Best Story? (For school assignment)
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i have pretty arguable opinions on this one. My opinions are all based on the style of storytelling rather than the story itself =/
Half life (for silent storytelling without any breaks of immersion)
Bastion (for awesome concept regarding the narrator)
Portal (for including a bit of storytelling and continuity into a puzzle game VERY WELL)
The witcher 2(for making it possible for the player to have substantially different story plots on different playthroughs)
Half life (for silent storytelling without any breaks of immersion)
Bastion (for awesome concept regarding the narrator)
Portal (for including a bit of storytelling and continuity into a puzzle game VERY WELL)
The witcher 2(for making it possible for the player to have substantially different story plots on different playthroughs)
Shadow Of The Colossus, Fatal Frame 4, THE LEGACY OF KAIN GAMES (seriously). And yes, Mass Effect and Bioshock obviously.
In my opinion Hotel Dusk and Last Window stories were great (although it can be far-fetch) although they were detective games so the story got to be good.
I also view the stories to Okami, Infinite Space, Golden Sun 1 and 2 (not Dark Dawn), KOTOR and maybe Xenoblade Chronicles (yes it's a JRPG but it's somewhat different although I don't play that many JRPG) to be great aswell.
I also view the stories to Okami, Infinite Space, Golden Sun 1 and 2 (not Dark Dawn), KOTOR and maybe Xenoblade Chronicles (yes it's a JRPG but it's somewhat different although I don't play that many JRPG) to be great aswell.
Portal & Portal 2 ... not least because the story is revealed through gameplay, in the background, without getting all in your face & cut-sceney about it. Pure Brilliance!
Also: http://avoidingtherapy.blogspot.com/2010/05/are-video-games-art-form.html
~Cheers!
Also: http://avoidingtherapy.blogspot.com/2010/05/are-video-games-art-form.html
~Cheers!
I'd have to say the Wizardry series holds the crown for best story. I, personally, favor Wizardry 7.
How many games out there have multiple beginnings, multiple endings, allow you to actually talk to NPCs instead of just picking between a handful of choices and even do quests or start events in whatever order you want? The Wizardry series was the closest thing I've seen to a sandbox game that actually lets you build your own story as you play. You could even import save games from the previous game to have your starting point based on actions from the previous game. Unlike certain games that let you make conversation choices, the Wizardry games let you make real choices that had real and even sweeping impacts on the overall story. As for the story itself, it's rather crazy. It can be rather cliche at times but so many parts of it are just way out there. For a game, the story was rather amazing even if it had been completely linear. I'd try to summarize it but since it has several variations it's difficult to summarize and I'd probably have to spoil it a lot to even try. If you've never played it, give it a try. Though, I'll warn you that even the most recent (Wizardry 8) is rather dated now. Also, I'm not sure I can call Wizardry 8 a true example of what made the Wizardry series great since a lot of it was simplified and made more linear.
I can't name a single game in the past 10 years that allows anywhere near that much flexibility with the story and I've played pretty much every game in the past 10 years that's worthy of the tag RPG. I'd have to say the only modern games that even come remotely close are the Elder Scrolls games but even those games don't allow any real flexibility with the main plot.
Most sandbox games have really no story at all (I suppose you could argue you're building your own story in those games but you've got no pre-existing story events to really build on). Most (new) games with a decently written story are about as linear as you can get. Some allow a small amount of flexibility and some even create the illusion of being flexible but they're all very obviously on rails. It's very much an all roads lead to Rome situation in nearly every game made in the past decade. No matter which path you take, you're petty much getting the exact same story.
The Wizardry series has remained the bar by which I measure games even today. At least, when it comes to story and freedom of choice within a story. Though, the Wizardry series also had a certain level of detail that most newer games lack.
How many games out there have multiple beginnings, multiple endings, allow you to actually talk to NPCs instead of just picking between a handful of choices and even do quests or start events in whatever order you want? The Wizardry series was the closest thing I've seen to a sandbox game that actually lets you build your own story as you play. You could even import save games from the previous game to have your starting point based on actions from the previous game. Unlike certain games that let you make conversation choices, the Wizardry games let you make real choices that had real and even sweeping impacts on the overall story. As for the story itself, it's rather crazy. It can be rather cliche at times but so many parts of it are just way out there. For a game, the story was rather amazing even if it had been completely linear. I'd try to summarize it but since it has several variations it's difficult to summarize and I'd probably have to spoil it a lot to even try. If you've never played it, give it a try. Though, I'll warn you that even the most recent (Wizardry 8) is rather dated now. Also, I'm not sure I can call Wizardry 8 a true example of what made the Wizardry series great since a lot of it was simplified and made more linear.
I can't name a single game in the past 10 years that allows anywhere near that much flexibility with the story and I've played pretty much every game in the past 10 years that's worthy of the tag RPG. I'd have to say the only modern games that even come remotely close are the Elder Scrolls games but even those games don't allow any real flexibility with the main plot.
Most sandbox games have really no story at all (I suppose you could argue you're building your own story in those games but you've got no pre-existing story events to really build on). Most (new) games with a decently written story are about as linear as you can get. Some allow a small amount of flexibility and some even create the illusion of being flexible but they're all very obviously on rails. It's very much an all roads lead to Rome situation in nearly every game made in the past decade. No matter which path you take, you're petty much getting the exact same story.
The Wizardry series has remained the bar by which I measure games even today. At least, when it comes to story and freedom of choice within a story. Though, the Wizardry series also had a certain level of detail that most newer games lack.
Silent Hill 2 is great
Guy recieves letter from his wife, who's been dead for two years, and tells him to meet her in their special place, a resort in wich they spent vacations. The guy knowing it can't be real can't help the urge to find out what's going on.
How the story unwraps might not be very shocking now but it can be easy for an outsider to understand and like. You also get a couple of worthy side stories. You cant use its soundtrack too.
Metal Gear Solid 3 is also good though it would appeal a more narrow range of people and Metal Gear Solid 2 is good too if you want' to be complicated.
Guy recieves letter from his wife, who's been dead for two years, and tells him to meet her in their special place, a resort in wich they spent vacations. The guy knowing it can't be real can't help the urge to find out what's going on.
How the story unwraps might not be very shocking now but it can be easy for an outsider to understand and like. You also get a couple of worthy side stories. You cant use its soundtrack too.
Metal Gear Solid 3 is also good though it would appeal a more narrow range of people and Metal Gear Solid 2 is good too if you want' to be complicated.
I've heard lots of good stuff about Wizardry and it's importance over its 20 year cycle. I want to get into it so do you have any advice where should I start? I've read 6, 7 and 8 follow the same story so should I go from there? I thought it was pretty awesome to have five different beginning areas in 8 depending on your wiz7 save file when I read about it.LordZ said:
Yeah but the problem with telling a story without words is that he's writing an essay...words. Which would make describing the game kind of hard.Daystar Clarion said:
OT: Bioshock could work, if you put a fair amount of emphasis on how it deconstructs player roles. You could even note how it has a shitty sequel like so many great stories these days.
Good ones:
Half Life 2 (and episodes)
Mass Effect series
Shadow of the Colossus
Uncharted (more cinematic)
Metal Gear Solid 3 & 4
Final Fantasy 12
Dragon Age series (both, too)
Bastion (newcomer)
Fallout series
The trick is that there are two kinds of stories. There are stories with engaging plot, and then stories that evoke certain emotional reactions. If you have one or the other, you have a decent game. If you have both...well, then you get a legacy.
Half Life 2 (and episodes)
Mass Effect series
Shadow of the Colossus
Uncharted (more cinematic)
Metal Gear Solid 3 & 4
Final Fantasy 12
Dragon Age series (both, too)
Bastion (newcomer)
Fallout series
The trick is that there are two kinds of stories. There are stories with engaging plot, and then stories that evoke certain emotional reactions. If you have one or the other, you have a decent game. If you have both...well, then you get a legacy.
Myst series - making worlds with words.
The longest journey/dreamfall series. Magic and Technology sent to parrellel words
The freespace series Survivng the shivans
The wing commander series
the half life series
the witcher series the choices are very good. Its not a bad/good choice.
The longest journey/dreamfall series. Magic and Technology sent to parrellel words
The freespace series Survivng the shivans
The wing commander series
the half life series
the witcher series the choices are very good. Its not a bad/good choice.
I am not sure that I am following you. This game had pretty good story I agree but the ending was just crazy. If this is on the list then Indigo Prophecy should be on it too.Shinobi720 said:
Human Revolution had a great premise, it could be so much more than a shitty action flick but the ending was horrendous.Still it was fucking brilliant.Shinobi720 said:
EDIT:
Completely forgot mine.
I suggest morrowind.
Starts off fairly generically, the guy is supposed to be a chosen one and must save the world yata yata yata. The real deal is that when you learn that you are not the chosen one at all but just another pawn in the big game. Also, the ending boss is fucking genius. More RPGs should do shit like that.
Either Boishock or Shadow of the Colossus. You can't go wrong with those for reasons that have been mentioned already.
You could say the same thing about Bioshock.AnarchistFish said:
It's basically: What if Ayn Rand got a sex change then made an underwater city, found some mutating slugs, and became a big asshole?
It's the setting (the dilapidated and decaying underwater city) that makes it, as well as the audio logs (I just love those. XP)
Don't get me wrong, I like both games, but both still have silly stories.
Red Dead Redemption. The storyline does a damn good job of having a plotline that intrigues the player initially before getting into the main meat of the story. And then of course, having the end winding down before one last major spike of action. I'd say it does a nice job with a very compelling story that (for me at least) got me to have feeling for a main character by the end. And that is quite rare for me.
Actually, now that I think of it... it's probably the game I'd go to for storyline everytime.
Actually, now that I think of it... it's probably the game I'd go to for storyline everytime.
While I have played many great games, I am seeing a lot of Bioshock going on and I would have to agree with it.
Part of the reason is that it does something unique to the gaming genre that should be included in your paper, t covers part of the story through the gameplay and the environment. Heck, if you could include screenshots, that might help.
Best of luck with that paper.
Part of the reason is that it does something unique to the gaming genre that should be included in your paper, t covers part of the story through the gameplay and the environment. Heck, if you could include screenshots, that might help.
Best of luck with that paper.