The Video Game Critic

Let's be honest. Stories in games are 90% of the time are pieces of crap. Here's all the story I need: You are a good guy. Kick the bad guy's teeth in.

 

While not my favorite game of all time, I like the refreshing approach Donkey Kong Jungle Beat took because the mission is understood from the get go: Kick ass.

 

Funkmaster V

Ultimately gameplay will determine the quality of a game, not the storyline.

Thats the problem with better system specs and FMV. Give a game designer that tool, and they think they're Steven Speilberg. Not to be harsh, but if they were truly talented story writers and cutscene directors, they would be writing books or screenplays and directing movies. In the videogame universe, less is nearly always more.

 

Like in the case of Planescape: Torment? That game was utterly filled to the brim with text, which serves to describe the plot. On the other end of the spectrum, we have Diablo, a hack-n-slash game, which barely has any NPC interaction or grand plot-line.

I understand the point, though and so that's not really what I'm knocking Diablo down for. The game features redundant action and that's undeniable.

[QUOTE=Steerforth]

Thats the problem with better system specs and FMV. Give a game designer that tool, and they think they're Steven Speilberg. Not to be harsh, but if they were truly talented story writers and cutscene directors, they would be writing books or screenplays and directing movies. In the videogame universe, less is nearly always more.

 

[/QUOTE]

I don't think that's true anymore. I'm quite positive that many talented people who 20 years ago would have gone into Hollywood are instead going into games. It's the new frontier of entertainment.

 

-Rob

When a game has a great story its always a positive.  A great plot can act as a reward to a gamer.  You want to continue playing just to see what is going to happen next. I agree with everyone here that 90% if stories are worthless, but those rare exceptions make the games that much better. 

 

I think the hardest thing isn't actually the story...its coming up with unique characters that you actually give a rats ass about.  Most games the characters fit into a typical mold...as do the villians.  Its hard to get wrapped up in a story with cookie cutter characters. 

 

When they create interesting unique characters its easier to follow the story...it even makes the story better.  How many games have you played to the end just because the villian was so evil that you actually hated him and couldn't wait to kill that SOB at the end? 

 

Stories make a good game even more satisfying if done right.  I really wish more games had better stories and plots...

I agree with JLH's post there.  I adore games with a great story.

I'll admit, playing Monkey Island or Full Throttle I was on the edge of my seat. Those games were all about the story, and they were done right...if only we could have epics like those again...




Can't Beat A Corley!

Rob's right.  The story is important.  Especially, when instead of just sitting there watching a cut scene you can interact within it.  That's when the story becomes a great experience.  I love walking up to people in Oblivion and they're having their own conversations.  Or if a few morons are yammering away - well, stop listening to them and go do something else.  That's an immersive experience and one that I wish all games from here on out do.  Allow your character to be a part of the story, cut scene, etc.

In Gears most of the cut scenes with talking dialog still allowed me to be in control.  I just walked during the scenes.  Really cool stuff.  Yes, the story wasn't that cool but it was immersive.  And I actually liked the fraternity dialogue, perhaps, because I'm still juvinile myself.

 

To sum it up, games that implement the story in an interactive manner definitely get more positive spins than those that do not. 

[QUOTE=wur]I agree.  I think story is indespensible in a few series (Metal Gear and Half-Life), but these are rare exceptions. [/QUOTE]

I usually alwys skip the cut scenes. The great thing about half-life is that the story takes place in real time.