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Story In Video Games
Is Story Given Too Much Weight?
by Link112
I know this phrase is overused, but back in the day, when video games were just getting started, the stories were never that complex. The main protagonist would have to save a princess from an evil monster, save the world from an ancient evil, get revenge, take down some mad man scientist, or possibly any combination of the aforementioned plots. The games were simple, and correspondingly, the stories were simple and straight forward.
As games have advanced, so have the stories. Soon enough, characters were given voices and gamers weren't forced to read blocks and blocks of text. Characters could be made more relatable, emotional ties to the characters could be made stronger and a characters personality could come through much clearer.
It's gotten to the point now where we expect as much story from our video games as we do our movies, sometimes even more so. In fact, many gamers put story as the most important part of a video game.
Some of the newer Mario games have taken hits by gamers because Mario has to rescue Peach from Bowser for what seems like the millionth time. Link is still rescuing Zelda from Ganon using the Master Sword. Solid Snake is still saving the world from giant, apocalypse-bringing mechs, shady government organizations and quadruple agents.
I'm putting forward an idea that made get me dragged kicking and screaming into the street and shot: should story really matter as much as people seem to think it does?
It's true that a good story can turn a good game into a great one, and there have been some original, and some crazy, ideas that have seen the light of day with more recent consoles.
However, in my humble opinion, a bad or mediocre story can't hurt a game overall, with the one exception to this rule being Metal Gear Solid 4. It seemed as though there were more cutscenes than playtime in that game. Because GAMES are something you PLAY, first and foremost on everyone's list should be the GAMEPLAY. As long as a game is fun to play and the controls are tight and responsive, does it really matter if Mario is yet again saving Princess Peach? Super Mario Galaxy 2 was a fantastically fun game. I would also note that Bayonetta, Devil May Cry (3 and 4), and Ninja Gaiden all have ridiculous stories but are also challenging, competitive and extremely fun.
Going the more "grown-up," serious, adult route isn't always the best answer for certain games. Mario shouldn't get a makeover and become all dark and serious. Mario's never been about serious. Mario's been about fun. Which is something all games should strive for. Emphasis and focus first and foremost should be on making a game fun, with story coming in later on down the list of things that are important.
If you feel you need an adult story in a video game to enjoy it, perhaps you've forgotten what games were about in the first place.
Comments
adding compelling narrative to video games was as important as adding sound to film. the experience is richer, and is one of the driving reasons why i play so many games. it's true that for a shooter or a game like Mario Galaxy, there doesn't need to be much of a story for it to be enjoyable, but when there is a story, and characters you care about, and a narrative that keeps you plugging along hoping to find out what happens next, the game becomes more than just a game. it becomes an experience.
I don't think it has to be a case of either/or. There is plenty of room in the world for games with complex storylines or a presentation that emphasizes narrative over gameplay (Heavy Rain comes to mind). But there's still plenty of interest in a game like Mario, Zelda, or even more simplistic non-story driven titles like Trials HD or Geometry Wars.
I think a question like, "should story really matter as much as people seem to think it does?" is hard to answer, because I think that the answer varies from person to person. One of the best things about the explosive proliferation of new games is that there are plenty of quality titles for those looking for a great story, and for those looking for action.
I remember when Doom 3 first came out thinking to myself "how are they going to ruin one of the classic shooters of all time?". I played the game and later found myself liking it more than the original Doom. Why? The story was so in depth from picking up the PDA's and learning about what had happened to the scientists and what they discovered on Mars to learning who the Cyberdemon was and how to kill him with the Soul Cube. To me that game really sold me on video games not just being a form of entertainment but really an art as well.
I just used Doom 3 as an example. What would the Half Life series be without the story it has? That right there is easily one of if not the best storylines in gaming today. I do agree that this world needs simplistic stories like Mario and Zelda, but when Eli Vance died at the end of Episode 2 after all that just happened and was revealed I almost cried.
spoilers, bro. spoilers.
I totally agree that a good story adds so much to the gaming experience. It's what helped make Mass Effect so compelling for me. My point is only that story isn't needed for a game to be fun.
OH SHIT I FORGOT ABOUT SPOILERS