Did anyone else find Shadow Complex's story to be almost non existent?  I mean sure it explained why your running from point A to point B, but I still would have gotten the same enjoyment out of the game if there was no story at all.

" Did anyone else find Shadow Complex's story to be almost non existent?  I mean sure it explained why your running from point A to point B, but I still would have gotten the same enjoyment out of the game if there was no story at all. "

The idea of the story was to hear it through Jason's perspective, that's why you never really get much depth.
 
Also it wasn't the best.

I haven't heard great things about Empire either. Whatever, Shadow Complex is a fun game with a bad story, so be it. I just skip through the cutscenes now anyway.

I though the story sufficiently kept the game from being pointless. It gave some kind of motivation for running around and killing these people. Also I thought it was silly in a good way. Smarmy dude in a bad situation with decent motivation and awesome gameplay. Win. 
 
*EDIT* I would also say that the way they conveyed the arc of normal guy in over his head becoming a terrorist killing badass was the real fun in the game. You really feel the transition with the character as they empower you over time. I thought so anyhow.

Yeah, I did not find it that engaging. The story was there....sort of. You overheard soldiers talking to one another but there was never that much in terms of plot development. Also, the voice acting was mediocre to say the least and any sense of storytelling was about non-existent. I have never read Empire but I doubt it was as thin as this.
 
Nonetheless, it's still a fun game. Just not the Second Coming of Christ or anything like that.

yeah its nothing amazing....

Yeah, I did not find it that engaging.

" I though the story sufficiently kept the game from being pointless. It gave some kind of motivation for running around and killing these people. Also I thought it was silly in a good way. Smarmy dude in a bad situation with decent motivation and awesome gameplay. Win.  *EDIT* I would also say that the way they conveyed the arc of normal guy in over his head becoming a terrorist killing badass was the real fun in the game. You really feel the transition with the character as they empower you over time. I thought so anyhow. "

It had one of the worst stories I've witnessed in a long time. As if the 'average joe trying to save girlfriend' premise wasn't stale enough, they made it worse by giving it a cringe-worthy ending. It didn't even feel like an excuse to the action; it was just awful on all accounts.  
 
Oh, and the conspiracy subplot was even worse. It was so flat.
 
Clearly it's not a game about story, since the gameplay is tenfold better than the story. Still, it's pretty terrible.

Even though I enjoyed the game, it surprises me how many issues there are with it and yet it still got rave reviews.

" It had one of the worst stories I've witnessed in a long time. As if the 'average joe trying to save girlfriend' premise wasn't stale enough, they made it worse by giving it a cringe-worthy ending. It didn't even feel like an excuse to the action; it was just awful on all accounts.    Oh, and the conspiracy subplot was even worse. It was so flat.  Clearly it's not a game about story, since the gameplay is tenfold better than the story. Still, it's pretty terrible. "

" @RHCPfan24 said:

Yeah, I did not find it that engaging.

They could have added in some more personality instead of the really bad dialogue.  For example when you come up to one of those dudes wearing a mech suit 'You don't know how to use that armor' 'Your right'  Fight "

" Even though I enjoyed the game, it surprises me how many issues there are with it and yet it still got rave reviews. "

I don't think the story was really the point of the game. More as a reason for the gameplay.

" I though the story sufficiently kept the game from being pointless. It gave some kind of motivation for running around and killing these people. Also I thought it was silly in a good way. Smarmy dude in a bad situation with decent motivation and awesome gameplay. Win.  *EDIT* I would also say that the way they conveyed the arc of normal guy in over his head becoming a terrorist killing badass was the real fun in the game. You really feel the transition with the character as they empower you over time. I thought so anyhow. "

Metriodvana + Story = Doesnt work. I dont know why you would expect a good story form a game like this

" Metriodvana + Story = Doesnt work. I dont know why you would expect a good story form a game like this "

" @JacobForrest said:

" It had one of the worst stories I've witnessed in a long time. As if the 'average joe trying to save girlfriend' premise wasn't stale enough, they made it worse by giving it a cringe-worthy ending. It didn't even feel like an excuse to the action; it was just awful on all accounts.    Oh, and the conspiracy subplot was even worse. It was so flat.  Clearly it's not a game about story, since the gameplay is tenfold better than the story. Still, it's pretty terrible. "

Gears of War has a crappy story as well, it just felt dumb like all of the characters in the game.... "

It took a back seat to the action, although I didn't think that was really an issue. The atmosphere more than made up for it.

Metriodvana + Story = Doesnt work. I dont know why you would expect a good story form a game like this

Apparently, Empire isn't that great but it is probably because Card only wrote down what he was allowed to.  Card and writers in general are at there best when they have creative control over what they write instead of having limitations.