Video game stories

[beddo]

Mmm... video game stories are a touchy subject for me.

On one hand, I prefer that there be some attempt at a story there (unless they go the Bad Dudes route, which is basically a subversion of a story, and then I just pretend it's a joke). On the other hand, I can't think of a single game ever that could hold up a really remarkable story to rival any classic novel or movie.

I mean, really, show me one game with writing to compare to Catch-22, or power to compare to the heartbreaking climax of Sophie's Choice. They just aren't out there.

I suppose we're getting there, and there are certainly games that stand out from the herd, but really, most games don't do the "story" thing. Consider that Overlord (and the upcoming sequel) were written by Rhianna Pratchett (Terry Pratchett's daughter). Now think about how much actual "story" there was in Overlord. See the point? There's something in the medium that really seems to cut down on storytelling potential, sad as that is.

- J

A book's or novel's main purpose is to tell a story. The writing style does matter but it's by no means as important.

The main focus in games is just that; the gameplay. Excellent writers have story telling abilities that enhance the story. It's not often that the crafting of excellent gameplay ads to the story.

However, games do have other benefits over other mediums. To be their interactivity is able to bring more fear than any film or book.

I have never had a book or film instil the same level of feeling in me as Shadow of the Colossus did when you slay one of the creatures. I've never had a book that made me feel a haunting remorse.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

I have never had a book or film instil the same level of feeling in me as Shadow of the Colossus did when you slay one of the creatures. I've never had a book that made me feel a haunting remorse.

Wow.... really?

I just... I don't know what to say to you. Maybe you should read some more books. Good ones. Get that imagination flexing a little harder.

I mean, Shadow of the Colossus was a great game and all but really? Never?

- J

 

[beddo]

I have never had a book or film instil the same level of feeling in me as Shadow of the Colossus did when you slay one of the creatures. I've never had a book that made me feel a haunting remorse.

Wow.... really?

I just... I don't know what to say to you. Maybe you should read some more books. Good ones. Get that imagination flexing a little harder.

I mean, Shadow of the Colossus was a great game and all but really? Never?

- J

I don't really see how a book or film can make you feel guilty or remorse. I suppose maybe if you momentarily agree with a horrible action of a character in a difficult situation. I don't get that in the same way though, mostly because of the interaction.

 

[Slash Dementia]

Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect. Those were two of the best stories in games that I've played (I haven't played a lot of games).

 

[traceur_]

I've said it before, I'll say it again, and I won't stop saying it until Final Fantasy 13 comes out.

Three words:

Final. Fantasy. Ten.

 

[Daedalus1942]

Yahtzee keeps blabbering on about how great the story in Silent Hill 2 is. I haven't played it at all but I had heard some of the major points. I decided to read the plot synopsis on wikipedia. I have to say that even reading a very short description of the story was quite creepy.

This just got me thinking. Which games have really good story lines, ones that rival films or decent movies. The only one I can think of is Bioshock. I'm not really a horror fan though so I'd like to find some more good stories that aren't solely horror based.

Of course old games like Monkey Island are cool but they are more comedies. Still any suggestions welcome.

System shock, Deus Ex, Assassin's Creed series, Metal Gear series, Resistance series, Final fantasy games, Kane and Lynch I thought had a good story, Jericho (i liked it) had a good a story that was written by Clive Barker, and i fucking love Clive Barker's writing. Half-life has a good story, as does Kingdom Hearts (albeit a little childish), Mass Effect... The list goes on and on.

 

[Kodlak]

Knights of the Old Republic (The first one). One of the most awesome twists in gaming ever and a great cast of characters.

Oh, hell yes. I could only stare at the screen with my mouth hung open when the bombshell was dropped.

I totally forgot about that story... best twist ever!

 

[Axeli]

Metal Gear Acid
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Silent Hill 2

I'm am tempted to add more, but I think I keep it at the absolute best (I can think of right now). While I enjoy Biowares games, for example, they rely far too much on self-insertion to be taken that seriously... You are basically playing through a Mary Sue fanfic, your avatar being the quest of honor.

 

[CRAVE CASE 55]

Play the game Oblivian just to do the Dark Brotherhood. Thank me later.

 

[nart_21086]

Silent Hill 2. (you need to play it, I strongly recommend it)

Agreed. Also KOTOR 1 was a good play through.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Loved Max Payne, loved FFVII,VIII and IX, loved Silent Hill2, Quite liked KOTOR

 

[MercurySteam]

The only one I can think of is Bioshock. I'm not really a horror fan though so I'd like to find some more good stories that aren't solely horror based.

I too agree that Bioshock's story is one of the very few decent ones I've played through, but I resent that some people think it's a horror game. It's very violent, but not violent to be classified as a horror game.

It'd be interesting to see a Bioshock game with acutal horror in it's story.

 

[wizzerd229]

zelda games

 

[Vrex360]

Halo has a very underrated story, due to two things:

(1) People think that it's just another 'shoot the aliens' game with no real plot or backstory
(2) People think the Halo games revolve solely around the Master Chief (a huge criticism of the comics set between Halo 2 and 3 was that the Master Chief hardly appeared in what was considered 'his own comic series', despite the fact that it's been made clear several times that Halo is about more than just the Chief).

The thing is, it actually has a very well thought out backstory shown via (soon to be 4) games, 6 novels, a graphic novel and a comic series, plus the ambiguous Halo: Chronicles with Peter Jackson at the helm. It is about a whole universe of characters and stories and everything is linked, so I would consider it my favourite game story so far.

Another good one would be Assassin's Creed, since the story revolves around what happens in the present day and is larger than the gameplay itself (OK, the gameplay had a few flaws, but it was still a very good game...). It did something few games have done which is to seperate the main story from gameplay (save for the bits where you walk around as Desmond), and it worked, so Assassin's Creed would get my vote too.

Wow, you beat me to it perfectly summarising everything I was going to say. Well played sir, well played.

 

[Sharpeye42]

MGS, great storyline and it could easily be made into a great movie with the right people.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

The Legacy of Kain series has probably the best storyline of all time, in my opinion.

VAE VICTUS!

THANKYOU! I agree, also I've never even met someone else who has played them!

 

[RivFader86]

Warcraft 3....you don't realy get into the story while playing it but the whole Arthas storyline is good nontheless. Mass Effect was too

 

[A.I. Sigma]

The Legacy of Kain series has probably the best storyline of all time, in my opinion.

VAE VICTUS!

THANKYOU! I agree, also I've never even met someone else who has played them!

8D

*high fives*

People don't know what they're missing!

 

[starwarsgeek]

Halo has a very underrated story, due to two things:

(1) People think that it's just another 'shoot the aliens' game with no real plot or backstory
(2) People think the Halo games revolve solely around the Master Chief (a huge criticism of the comics set between Halo 2 and 3 was that the Master Chief hardly appeared in what was considered 'his own comic series', despite the fact that it's been made clear several times that Halo is about more than just the Chief).

The thing is, it actually has a very well thought out backstory shown via (soon to be 4) games, 6 novels, a graphic novel and a comic series, plus the ambiguous Halo: Chronicles with Peter Jackson at the helm. It is about a whole universe of characters and stories and everything is linked, so I would consider it my favourite game story so far.

Fanboy much? I suppose Resident Evil has a great story too because of the thousands of shit films, books, comics, and games, depicting the whole world etc. etc.

Let it be known accross the land: Fanboyism has been redefined as not having the same opionion as SikOseph.

 

[Leodiensian]

Halo's story was okay, as space operas go, but I don't rate it that highly. I'm not a fan of space opera in general, but whatever floats your boat, yeah?

A game story that I think could have been really great if given a little work would be Timeshift. It was an okay game, but with some really spectacular set pieces and an interesting story that could have been made more of.