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AndrewGaspar

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Story Starved

By AndrewGaspar 6 Comments

Survive Summer Drought: Completed

Thanks for helping me survive, Burnout.
Thanks for helping me survive, Burnout.
In my opinion, the most under-emphasized aspects of modern games is the story aspect. Critics spend a lot of time focusing on the gameplay and graphics. They both deserve the attention, but the relative attention the story gets is unfortunate, in my opinion. While waiting for the big blockbuster games this fall, which promise deep, interesting stories, I've been stuck playing Burnout Paradise.

The story of Metal Gear Solid is considered to be the most complex in video game history.
The story of Metal Gear Solid is considered to be the most complex in video game history.
Don't get me wrong, Burnout Paradise is one of the best games I've played so far this year. The problem is, after playing this extremely fun, yet story-less game, my hunger for new stories has grown. Having also played the first two Metal Gear Solid games as well as Metal Gear Solid 4 early this summer, I've been spoiled and can't help but feel that Burnout Paradise isn't as deep as I'd like it to be. I'm ready to get back into some exciting, heart-pounding stories.

Although many gamers were unimpressed with Call of Duty 3, I believe its story is where it shined.
Although many gamers were unimpressed with Call of Duty 3, I believe its story is where it shined.
There are few games I've played where the story completely uninterested me. I enjoy the cartoony storytelling of Ratchet and Clank, but I also enjoyed the historic storytelling of Call of Duty 3, as well as other games based on historic events. I also loved the action-movie feel of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and the narrated story of Resistance: Fall of Man. I also enjoyed the minimalist story of some of Nintendo's games, like Paper Mario and Donkey Kong 64. Even open-world games like the Elder Scrolls IV have some great storytelling.

Final Fantasy X's story is still my favorite story to this day.
Final Fantasy X's story is still my favorite story to this day.
My all-time favorite story of all time would have to be Final Fantasy X's. In all fairness, I never finished the game (got to the final boss), but the way that everything is presented, how the characters are built up, the plot twists, the voice acting, and just all of the other things that make a story great just made the story great. There were a heart tugging moments in the game, and seeing the way all of the character's stories are built up is just a very satisfying experience. Although I found Final Fantasy XII to be unplayable, Final Fantasy XIII seems to be a return to formula, and the budget of the game ensures another extremely well written story which will span multiple planned games.

That being said, there are tons of games coming this fall whose stories I can't wait to witness. Resistance 2 is ditching the narrator from the original game and going to a first person story, with the main character telling the player what's going on. Bioshock, a game I've never played because of my lack of Xbox 360, is a game many gamers have raved about for the past. What list would be complete without Fallout 3? Bethesda, who did a great job with the Elder Scrolls IV, are promising even more character involvement with the story of Fallout 3.

Unfortunately, all of these games aren't coming out until late October - early November. While I hold out until then, I'll keep playing Burnout Paradise. At least bikes are coming!
6 Comments

6 Comments

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AndrewGaspar

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Edited By AndrewGaspar

Survive Summer Drought: Completed

Thanks for helping me survive, Burnout.
Thanks for helping me survive, Burnout.
In my opinion, the most under-emphasized aspects of modern games is the story aspect. Critics spend a lot of time focusing on the gameplay and graphics. They both deserve the attention, but the relative attention the story gets is unfortunate, in my opinion. While waiting for the big blockbuster games this fall, which promise deep, interesting stories, I've been stuck playing Burnout Paradise.

The story of Metal Gear Solid is considered to be the most complex in video game history.
The story of Metal Gear Solid is considered to be the most complex in video game history.
Don't get me wrong, Burnout Paradise is one of the best games I've played so far this year. The problem is, after playing this extremely fun, yet story-less game, my hunger for new stories has grown. Having also played the first two Metal Gear Solid games as well as Metal Gear Solid 4 early this summer, I've been spoiled and can't help but feel that Burnout Paradise isn't as deep as I'd like it to be. I'm ready to get back into some exciting, heart-pounding stories.

Although many gamers were unimpressed with Call of Duty 3, I believe its story is where it shined.
Although many gamers were unimpressed with Call of Duty 3, I believe its story is where it shined.
There are few games I've played where the story completely uninterested me. I enjoy the cartoony storytelling of Ratchet and Clank, but I also enjoyed the historic storytelling of Call of Duty 3, as well as other games based on historic events. I also loved the action-movie feel of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and the narrated story of Resistance: Fall of Man. I also enjoyed the minimalist story of some of Nintendo's games, like Paper Mario and Donkey Kong 64. Even open-world games like the Elder Scrolls IV have some great storytelling.

Final Fantasy X's story is still my favorite story to this day.
Final Fantasy X's story is still my favorite story to this day.
My all-time favorite story of all time would have to be Final Fantasy X's. In all fairness, I never finished the game (got to the final boss), but the way that everything is presented, how the characters are built up, the plot twists, the voice acting, and just all of the other things that make a story great just made the story great. There were a heart tugging moments in the game, and seeing the way all of the character's stories are built up is just a very satisfying experience. Although I found Final Fantasy XII to be unplayable, Final Fantasy XIII seems to be a return to formula, and the budget of the game ensures another extremely well written story which will span multiple planned games.

That being said, there are tons of games coming this fall whose stories I can't wait to witness. Resistance 2 is ditching the narrator from the original game and going to a first person story, with the main character telling the player what's going on. Bioshock, a game I've never played because of my lack of Xbox 360, is a game many gamers have raved about for the past. What list would be complete without Fallout 3? Bethesda, who did a great job with the Elder Scrolls IV, are promising even more character involvement with the story of Fallout 3.

Unfortunately, all of these games aren't coming out until late October - early November. While I hold out until then, I'll keep playing Burnout Paradise. At least bikes are coming!
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Jayge_

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Edited By Jayge_

The Elder Scrolls universe is a great one. The stories for their games, however, have mostly been mediocre.

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Verdugo

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mattbodega

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Edited By mattbodega

Have you done a good job avoiding spoilers for Bioshock? I mean, that stuff is everywhere, and watching the game reveal its secrets is the principal joy of that game.

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PureRok

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Edited By PureRok

I found Final Fantasy X's story convoluted and confusing. For some reason when Square(Enix) entered into the 3D realm they felt the need to make their stories complex to the point of making no sense. Their only truly good story they've done in 3D is Final Fantasy IX (I only got to the third disk on that so I'm not sure how it ended, so the end could have destroyed the story.). I haven't played enough Final Fantasy XII to give a verdict on the story.

I also agree that the story for The Elder Scrolls IV was mediocre. The game was fun, the way the story was told was good, but the story itself was pretty shallow and straight forward.

@Verdugo: If Final Fantasy X is the greatest game you've ever played I feel sorry for you. Final Fantasy VI, Earthbound, Super Mario RPG, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past easily beat it. Oddly enough, I find most of the best games ever made to be all 2D and they came out in the 90's. That's not to say there aren't great games that have come out in the last 8-9 years, I'm just saying that, for the most part, not that many can really attempt to contend for the title of "greatest game ever".

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DualReaver

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Edited By DualReaver

I have a special place in my heart for FFX. <3