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Grand Theft Auto: storytelling in games at its best?

February 17, 2009 in News comments 16

Time Contributor Lev Grossman uses Grand Theft Auto IV to take a look at the evolving landscape of storytelling in video games. The contradiction in great storytelling in video games, he says, is that complete freedom and interactivity need to be balanced with careful guidance through the plot.

It's freedom that gives games their distinctive character as a storytelling form. They grant players the freedom to make choices rather than frog-marching them through the action. But therein arises a contradiction: in order to feel as if they're really interacting, players have to believe they can truly go anywhere and do anything in Liberty City. At the same time, in order for a story to get told, they must be gently but firmly stage-directed through the plot. "You've got this beautiful 3-D world that lives," Houser says, "and it's got all these background characters and its own Internet service and its own TV shows and all these other things that you can go and do and have wash over you. And you've got this story. It's about finding a balance between letting the player wander off and find stuff to do and then sucking them back in."
cornfedgamer via time.com »
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  • 4
    BradSK Feb 17, 09
    For all its shortcomings, this is one of the things that keeps GTA IV near the top of my favourite games list. There was still a fair amount of stuff to do besides missions and you could go away from the story for hours and just *bleep* about, but you never felt detracted from the story. Hopefully the DLC will follow in the same way (I know it's out already, can't get it until March).
    • 0
      Gamesta100 Feb 18, 09
      quote TheBradman1andOnly
      For all its shortcomings, this is one of the things that keeps GTA IV near the top of my favourite games list. There was still a fair amount of stuff to do besides missions and you could go away from the story for hours and just *bleep* about, but you never felt detracted from the story. Hopefully the DLC will follow in the same way (I know it's out already, can't get it until March).
      Meh personally GTAIV was the only GTA where I felt the opposite and the only GTA I have ever got rid of.
  • 4
    Taker4ever Feb 17, 09
    As disappointed as I was in GTA IV, the storytelling is masterful. The only other stand-alone game I've played with such a fantastic storyline is God Of War (it's sequels and prequel are not integral to the resolving of the plot in the first game).
    • 3
      Killosity Feb 18, 09
      quote Taker4ever
      As disappointed as I was in GTA IV, the storytelling is masterful. The only other stand-alone game I've played with such a fantastic storyline is God Of War (it's sequels and prequel are not integral to the resolving of the plot in the first game).
      I agree. I also think the story sticks with the element of simplicity. It polishes up every story detail and injects a plethora of wonderful and engaging characters. I prefer its storytelling compared to Kojimas MGS series, because, although MGS has an awesome story, I't often feels convoluted.

      I would like to see the GTA series attempting to evoke some emotion in the future. At this time, I cannot really say I have ever been remotely emotional towards any event which unfolds.
  • 1
    DystopiaSticker Feb 17, 09
    GTAIV's story was pretty well done, but to be honest, it doesn't come close to games like BioShock, kotor and Mass Effect.
  • 0
    Moonrise Feb 17, 09
    This is a joke, because GTA games aren't exactly good when it comes to the story telling aspect. Sorry guys, but there's only so many times you can carbon copy the same story over and over again with different characters before it gets old.
  • 3
    Red 9 Feb 18, 09
    I'm surprised no one has mentioned MGS4 as a superior. That game is the definition of game storytelling.
    • 0
      Drogo Baggins Feb 18, 09
      MGS4 does a good job telling a story, but it's so complex (and lengthy) that it's hard for the average person to truly be entertained.

      MGS4 is probably my favorite game ever, and I loved all the previous titles, so I enjoyed the storyline of MGS4 a lot.

      However, I think it's difficult for many people to fully appreciate and understand a lot of what goes on in MGS4.

      Because of that, I don't think it does such an amazing job telling a story. Don't get me wrong it does do a great job telling a story, but I think that a truly great story is one that anyone can be interested in while understanding, and appreciating it. MGS is a bit of an acquired taste for most people.

      For the record, though, I do also personally feel that MGS4's story-telling is much superior to GTA, but I'm just trying to say that MGS isn't as perfect as many seem to think(but it's probably as close to perfect as a game will get, IMO).
      • 1
        Gamesta100 Feb 19, 09
        quote Drogo Baggins
        MGS4 does a good job telling a story, but it's so complex (and lengthy) that it's hard for the average person to truly be entertained.


        However, I think it's difficult for many people to fully appreciate and understand a lot of what goes on in MGS4.

        Because of that, I don't think it does such an amazing job telling a story. Don't get me wrong it does do a great job telling a story, but I think that a truly great story is one that anyone can be interested in while understanding, and appreciating it. MGS is a bit of an acquired taste for most people.

        That doesn't make the story any less great than it is.It doesn't matter if a lot of people don't get it or don't have the attention span to enjoy the story.

        If an athlete is the best in the business then a whole load of people hating him doesn't make him an worse than he is.
        • 1
          Red 9 Feb 19, 09
          Just because a plot actually makes you think doesn't make it a bad plot. The fact is, MGS4's plot is as great as it is because it has so many twists and turns. If it had followed the cookie cutter styles of other games like GTAIV and such, it would have probably not been such a legacy.
        • 1
          Drogo Baggins Feb 19, 09
          Red, I definitely am not calling MGS4's plot bad.

          I'm just saying that it's so complicated that it turns quite a few people off, and I'm right.

          Gamesta, I see what you're saying, and you make a good point. MGS is a great story, and isn't bad because of it's complexity. I only meant that, if the story were to be rated, I think it would certainly lose some points for being too complex for many people to fully understand.

          I'm not saying that it should've been dumbed down, but it could've been just as deep without being so long. I mean, look at MGS2...there are so many cutscenes full of dialogue that is neither entertaining or a necessary addition to the story. That's my opinion, anyway.

          MGS2 was still a great game, though. I think it was my favorite MGS until MGS4 came out.
  • 1
    Seeker X Feb 18, 09
    In terms of freedom and a good plot? Well I count Fallout 3 as a damn good contender or even Mass Effect. Games like those that have options which have different outcomes in the game. More so than GTA IV especially.
    • 0
      chautemoc* Feb 18, 09
      Fallout 1 & 2 > Fallout 3, not only storywise..seriously..
      • 1
        Seeker X Feb 18, 09
        I see both sides of the issue here. The "Classics" and the "Newcomer" (Thanks to RE4/5), though I do wish I could play the old games, I *bleep*ing hate playing anything on PC. So I won't really be able to say much other that Fallout 3 is a damn good game.
      • 1
        Zero and X Feb 18, 09
        Well I played Fallout 1 and 3 and I don't think its fair to compare them. I mean you can still prefer one over the other but neither game is objectively better than the other. Fallout 3 still feels like Fallout but does it in its own unique way. Its like comparing Mega Man X to Mega Man Legends. Yeah both are Mega Man but the two are drastically different and shouldn't be compared.
  • 0
    Seproth Feb 18, 09
    GTA doesn't really have that good of a story. It's done really well, but it's not exactly original. There's not a single creative thought in the whole damn game. Watch The Departed, Gangs of New York, Godfather, etc... it's all the same. Great movies but they're very similar in setting. Throw in some betrayal and love, and suddenly everyone's fawning over how great the story is.

    It's just a damn good template.

    Personally Persona, Mass Effect, KOTOR, MGS, Half-Life, and a handful of others, are miles ahead in story.

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