How bad is the game play that we're talking about here? A game that's utterly unplayable will be impossible to enjoy in any case - a game that's just MOSTLY unplayable will probably have a chance but still no. But JRPGs have proven pretty well that you can have BORING gameplay with a good story and get it to work.
Poll: Can story save a bad game?
- Thread starter Ryanrulez5
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I think we all can agree that if story can save gameplay, the gameplay (or something else in the game) has to make some sort of effort to be engaging. I mean, otherwise what's stopping you from watching an LP, reading a wiki, or watching cutscenes?
Someone mentioned Psychonauts earlier, and that's one of the best examples I can think of. The platforming is average at best, but it's the storytelling, level design, creativity, Double Fine's blood and sweat etc, that made it so good. I also like the sweeping story of FF7 (I don't care how cliche it is *retreats to corner*) and the gameplay and graphics have aged so terribly.
Though perhaps the best example I can think of is Silent Hill 2. I know a lot of people claim that the shitty gameplay, controls, and camera are supposed to invoke a feeling of helplessness. With me and games like that, it doesn't make me feel helpless. More like angry, maybe even ill with such bad camera work. Not to mention I hate backwards-ass adventure game logic no matter what game it's in. But when I retreat to a Youtube page or wiki, I fawn over the story, symbols, and stuff like that. On the gameplay side, at least the game has some wicked creepy atmosphere.
Drakengard on the other hand, well you have some mildly interesting story told through blocks of text in between about 45 minutes of mashing square to grimey, uninteresting landscapes cutting through stupid cookie-cutter enemies. I keep getting told that the game's story will be worth it in the long run, but then again she loves FF13 lol. I'm sorry, but 6 hours of not having fun isn't worth gawking at the wtf factor of flying demon babies.
Someone mentioned Psychonauts earlier, and that's one of the best examples I can think of. The platforming is average at best, but it's the storytelling, level design, creativity, Double Fine's blood and sweat etc, that made it so good. I also like the sweeping story of FF7 (I don't care how cliche it is *retreats to corner*) and the gameplay and graphics have aged so terribly.
Though perhaps the best example I can think of is Silent Hill 2. I know a lot of people claim that the shitty gameplay, controls, and camera are supposed to invoke a feeling of helplessness. With me and games like that, it doesn't make me feel helpless. More like angry, maybe even ill with such bad camera work. Not to mention I hate backwards-ass adventure game logic no matter what game it's in. But when I retreat to a Youtube page or wiki, I fawn over the story, symbols, and stuff like that. On the gameplay side, at least the game has some wicked creepy atmosphere.
Drakengard on the other hand, well you have some mildly interesting story told through blocks of text in between about 45 minutes of mashing square to grimey, uninteresting landscapes cutting through stupid cookie-cutter enemies. I keep getting told that the game's story will be worth it in the long run, but then again she loves FF13 lol. I'm sorry, but 6 hours of not having fun isn't worth gawking at the wtf factor of flying demon babies.
Yes, but few genres are so heavily vested in clicking as the point and click adventure.lord.jeff said:
Like usual, the OP never goes into detail whats bad about the game. Don't mean to sound rude, but it's true.
I've never seen a great story in a game, just some that are really eventful. So for arguments sake, lets say this made up game has a great story with basic FPS game play where the weapons are very limited and can be really glitchy every now and again. I would say yes, I could definitely endure that.
Now lets say this game with a great story and basic FPS game play lagged a lot, or quit you out of the game often, and it was really bloody difficult because of poor controls, and the sound quality and music is shite. No effing way! I would would rather just read about it or find someone on Youtube that turned it into a movie.
So my answer, depends how bad were talking here.
I've never seen a great story in a game, just some that are really eventful. So for arguments sake, lets say this made up game has a great story with basic FPS game play where the weapons are very limited and can be really glitchy every now and again. I would say yes, I could definitely endure that.
Now lets say this game with a great story and basic FPS game play lagged a lot, or quit you out of the game often, and it was really bloody difficult because of poor controls, and the sound quality and music is shite. No effing way! I would would rather just read about it or find someone on Youtube that turned it into a movie.
So my answer, depends how bad were talking here.
I consider a bad game to have bad gameplay, broken controls and the likes. So no, if a game is that broken not the best story in the world can save it.
BUT a really good story can make up for "not so good" controls/gameplay - as long as they/it work/s properly.
BUT a really good story can make up for "not so good" controls/gameplay - as long as they/it work/s properly.
Max Payne is a good example of excellent writing (plus graphics and voice acting) compensating some rather flawed gameplay.
No way. If it is an amazing story then I might watch it on Youtube but would never consider it a game without at least decent gameplay. Games are about gameplay, stories are nice but they are not the core of it.
Would you read a choose your own adventure book if the story was bad?
Would you read a choose your own adventure book if the story was bad?
You need both for a successful game. There's variations though:
JRPG's generally don't have great gameplay, but it's bearable. And they make up for it with exciting stories.
FPS's, on the other hand, focus a lot on gameplay. Their stories are thus mostly generic. Same goes for RTS, in my opinion.
But having unbearable gameplay just kills a game no matter how good the story is. Same goes the other way around: games without a storyline, goal or anything are boring. This goes for most genre's except open-world sandboxes.. now that I think about it. (MineCraft, GTA)
JRPG's generally don't have great gameplay, but it's bearable. And they make up for it with exciting stories.
FPS's, on the other hand, focus a lot on gameplay. Their stories are thus mostly generic. Same goes for RTS, in my opinion.
But having unbearable gameplay just kills a game no matter how good the story is. Same goes the other way around: games without a storyline, goal or anything are boring. This goes for most genre's except open-world sandboxes.. now that I think about it. (MineCraft, GTA)
I also did PC.... the damned computer hacking bits and the getting shot at while trying to find that one part of the rock you are allowed to jump off....... I almost quit more times than I can count, but I was so engrossed in the story that I kept going.TheKasp said:
Considering that I think story isn't one of the most important factors in making or breaking a game, it'd have to be a pretty fucking amazing one.
As long as the game is playable (you can get from point A to point B without breaking your keyboard or a crash every couple of seconds) and the story is good enough then at this point it is all up to the individual to decide. The better the story the better the chances.
The Vergen sequence *shudders*... Oh God, the Vergen sequence...SmashLovesTitanQuest said:
Combat was challenging, that is, until you got a few points into Quen and realized you could win the game without rolling around for an hour straight, and the fact that the best fight in the game (Letho) was in the first act... Kind of made things less interesting. Yeh there was a dragon, but who fucking cares... It was boring and repetitive and so darn contrived.
I literally only played it through a second time to get the other story, and even that was a waste. Fuck Iorveth, Roche 4 life.
i voted for maybe depends.. i am a sucker for good story in games..
for me a game is playable only if it has a good story (except racers ofcourse).
good gameplay coupled with a good story is what i love about gaming.
but poor gameplay is very frequent in games that have a good story..
personally i can put up with a game that has mediocre gameplay if it has a great story..
but however if a game has really terrible gameplay, or is too hard, or has too many bugs or glitches etc then even a good story is enough to make me play the game.
for me a game is playable only if it has a good story (except racers ofcourse).
good gameplay coupled with a good story is what i love about gaming.
but poor gameplay is very frequent in games that have a good story..
personally i can put up with a game that has mediocre gameplay if it has a great story..
but however if a game has really terrible gameplay, or is too hard, or has too many bugs or glitches etc then even a good story is enough to make me play the game.