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Game Narratives: Are They Losing the Plot?

March 28, 2010 in Blog comments 18

Game storylines can be a mixed bag, and sometimes they really make the difference to how some experience a game. but are they losing to the fast paced, action filled shoot-em-ups with no plot or story?

Come see what one OXCGN writer working in the business thinks about the issue.

I like a good story. Something with characters I can relate to, genuine people with their own hopes, dreams and fear.

Something with a plot that twists and turns, surprising at every turn but always making sense. Something personal, as if it was constructed only for me and my unique journey through the game.

Something I will never see.
It's a simple fact: the perfect narrative does not exist.

I can't be anymore blunt than that. Try as I might, I have yet to find a game that can connect with me on all the levels.

A great story may fulfill one or two of the criteria, but it can never provide all due to the simple thing that separates games from passive media such film and novels. Games are interactive.
XboxOZ360 via oxcgn.com »
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  • 0
    ShadowGuard Mar 28, 10
    Yes they are, and it is the gamers faults as well. Very few gamers care about stories anymore... They play mindless violence games with no plot at all (left 4 dead). I really want RPGs to make a huge comeback. A game without a story gets old after the first 10 minutes of gameplay...
    • 0
      Seproth Mar 29, 10
      quote ShadowGuard
      Yes they are, and it is the gamers faults as well. Very few gamers care about stories anymore...
      As opposed to what? Mario, Pong, maybe Joust? Even Castlevania and Zelda were nothing more than a singular goal explained at the start of the game. Story has never been stronger in games. Over 9000 games release a year, all with some sort of story, and there's always around a half dozen truly great stories each year. Which is more or less on par with film. As for Left 4 Dead, it comes from one Valve who are typically plot heavy. They incorporate narrative and stories into the game, without shoving into your face with cutscenes.

      It's called variety, there's room for all types of games.
  • 0
    Red 9 Mar 28, 10
    This is why I applaud people like Fumito Ueda, who insist that their games be a narrative experience rather than virtual gratuity.
    • 0
      Tenken Mar 28, 10
      It's really sad when you think about it. Ueda's games have very little dialogue, yet still contain more narrative.
      • 0
        Red 9 Mar 28, 10
        Well you know what I mean. Ueda practically relies on good storytelling and emotion to make his games, whereas the unfortunate majority seem to use bloody and violent setpieces to literally shcok their audiences into submission. Unfortunately that's what today's population finds entertaining.
  • 1
    HisServant77 Mar 28, 10
    I've always been a sucker for plots in games. That's my main driving force with buying games . . . making sure the story is good.

    Normally I say that those games are dwindling. However, there seems to be a few more than usual surfacing lately. So maybe we'll start seeing some good games!
  • 1
    Miss Razz Mar 28, 10
    No.

    ...unless they're written by Kojima
    • 1
      Hideo1 Mar 28, 10


      He is kind of like someone with OCD who has a skittle fetish and has knocked his collection onto the floor, so he spends an entire week cleaning and singing to them until they're sunshine-bright once more.

      That is to say he screwed himself over with too many loose ends and just had to tie each of them perfectly, resulting in chaos. Too much is better than none at all though
      • 0
        Red 9 Mar 28, 10
        On the contrary, I find stories like that much more amusing because it actually makes me have to think about how it all fits together, unlike other games today where it's just "Protagonist feels betrayed. Protagonist goes to kill antagonist and kills a couple hundred people along the way."
        • 1
          Hideo1 Mar 28, 10
          Having a lot going on is good but come MGS4 my beloved did take it too far; there's a limit when it becomes kind of mental and having what felt like more cutscenes than gameplay, imo, is it xD
        • 0
          Xeros the Slayer Mar 28, 10
          Felt like? It was more cut scenes than gameplay, you can cut out a good two or three hours from the first chapter alone by skipping the scenes.
  • 0
    Dragoshi1 Mar 28, 10
    Mass Effect is great for a narrative story. Its long as hell, and so MANY different side missions and side stories.
    • 0
      RaidenXS Mar 28, 10
      YEA! and dragon Age. but what i think is going on is a lack of ads for these types of games. all i ever see is FPS/TPS being pushed
      • 0
        Seproth Mar 29, 10
        Well it's nearly impossible to convey what needs to be said in a 30-60 second TV spot with an RPG. Where Shooters are action action action title done.

        Really though I think the most advertised game I've ever seen is Darksiders.
        • 0
          Hideo1 Mar 29, 10
          Gotta be Dante's Inferno tbh. EA went all out shoving that piece of crap in our faces
        • 0
          Seproth Mar 29, 10
          Considering it was on during the Superbowl.

          I can't tell you how many times I saw that Darksiders commercial. First time I saw it was the first I had heard of the game.
        • 0
          Hideo1 Mar 29, 10
          I didn't see it that many times; probably a continental thing. To be fair though they're pretty much the exact same thing. xD

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