Poll: Does a game NEED a complex story to make it a good game?

[Blazing Steel]

If your favourit games dropped the complex story and made the gameplay better; do you think it would make them better?

Insted of these over complicated plot lines, that drag on and on making loads of plot holes on the way, couldn't we go back to the time when games were like: He's/She's evil kill him; Kidnaped (Insert name here) go get he/she back ect. In my opinion I think games are spending too much time on the plot/cinimatics and not enough on the game play. I just want to get your opinions.

 

[Lios]

No, but it does at least have to make sense and actually start some where (TAKE NOTES LAST REMNANT DEVELOPERS).

 

[Abedeus]

Depends on the kind of game.

Diablo 1/2, while having a great plot, could've had this:

You be good, monsters there, kill and repeat.

Serious Sam or Painkiller, while having almost no plot, are great. And plot would probably make them worse...

 

[pigeon_of_doom]

I'd say definitely with some kinds of games. A compelling plot makes it much easier to go through an 80hr epic. Gives you a something to work towards, as the in game actions repeated over that amount of time will not stay entertaining. The plot gives the player added impetus to carry on.

In most cases no though.

 

[TheGreenManalishi]

If a game is story driven, it obviously needs a good story, but a level based game or racing/sports/fighting game doesn't.

That's why I never finished FFXII

 

[Spektre41]

Depends, RPGs and the ilk are rather dependant on it, while games like platformers don't need anything other than "Get the MacGuffin".

 

[LadyZephyr]

No, it just needs a good story.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

A good plot can make me enjoy a game that I otherwise would avoid, but I don't think there needs to be anything complicated in some games. The Final Fantasy series tends to have some labyrinthine storylines that I could take or leave. FFX was good once I made it through and talked a little bit about it all with friends who'd played too, but while I was playing it I couldn't have cared less about the major plot points. I was just enjoying the game because it was solid. Shadow Hearts: From the New World is an example of the opposite type of game while still being a deep RPG. The plot is haphazard and nonsensical/nonexistent beyond this, "You're the good guy. A weird lady and her henchmen are going to cause great evil to be released upon the world. Go stop them." There's more stuff beyond that, but it's all relegated to sidequests and such, so you don't really need more info. In spite of the silly story, Shadow Hearts is one of my favorite RPGs ever.

Most games don't need a plot to make them interesting. For example, I don't give a rat's hindquarters about the story in Halo and can play (and enjoy) any of the games without following the plot in the slightest. All you need is to check your mission objectives from time to time. Timesplitters and its sequel are examples of games where the plot is utterly nonexistent beyond the whole, "You're time traveling to stop bad aliens" framework and there's no between level cutscenes until the third game. And yet the Timesplitters franchise is my favorite shooter of all time. Nothing like knocking a zombie monkey's head off with a brick.

 

[SmilingKitsune]

No. Mario's storys can hardly be described as Homeric epics, but the games are joyus rolics none the less. That's not to say I don't think story is important in game, I see games as amongst other things, interactive stories and many games would lose almost all meaning without their narrative threads.

 

[Samman]

Voted for 'depends'.

Some genres (RPG's mostly) rely on a good story line & presentation to deliver the gameplay. The game's going to suck if the story isn't worth paying attention to.

Referring to single player only: for genres that don't RELY on a solid & deep story, having one is usually what takes a great game and turns it into an excellent and unforgettable game.

 

[Gamer137]

Depends on the genre. RPGs, yes. Shooters, not really.

 

[Darkmark44]

RPGs need a good storyline.

fighting games? meh...

 

[Blind0bserver]

The story doesn't need to be overly complicated, it needs to be good. The two unfortunately do not go hand in hand.

 

[Quadtrix]

EarthBound. 'Nuff said.

 

[Ridergurl10]

Definitely depends on the type of game. I really only enjoy sitting and playing games with good stories, because that's what keeps me hooked. However sometimes I'm in the mood to just shoot/beat up something and then I don't really care if there is a story or not . . . as long as it's fun to play!

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Man, remember those wicked story twists in Tetris!!

M Night Sharamaralyawyaman would be jealous.

 

[NeutralDrow]

No, a complex (here defined as "well-thought and well-executed") story isn't absolutely required. But it certainly helps a ton, making an otherwise unremarkable game interesting or bearable, or making a good game spectacular.

I answered "no" instead of "depends," mainly because I think a good story could help any game of any given genre. Granted, story tends to be a more noticeable factor in RPGs and the like, but that doesn't necessarily mean a fighting game (I'm here thinking of Melty Blood...understandable, given its origins) or shooter couldn't benefit a lot from one.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Nope. Even RPGs can still have bad stories and be a good game.

And now for a shout-out to the best case of gameplay>story>graphics:
Earth Defense Force 2017

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

A good storyline helps, but if a game is fun by itself (Tetris anyone?), then sometimes adding more just ruins it.