Story can help turn a bad game into a mediocre game, but it cannot turn a bad game into a good game.
Can a good story make up for weak gameplay?
- Thread starter wgreer25
- Start date
Recommended Videos
Depends on how bad. "meh" gameplay and a stellar story? Yes.
Bad gameplay and anything short of a stellar story? No.
There are limits to how far I will go, but I will give leeway to a good story.
Bad gameplay and anything short of a stellar story? No.
There are limits to how far I will go, but I will give leeway to a good story.
Yes, but the story must be as good or better than the gameplay is bad. That didn't make a lot of sense, let me try again.
If the gameplay is terrible and the story is decent but not amazing, then it doesn't compensate for the bad gameplay. However, if the gameplay is terrible but the story is mindblowing then it is worth it. Hopefully thought, it shouldn't come to that point. If the gameplay is the worst thing ever crapped into existence, then no amount of story can make up for it. However, gameplay alone can carry a game without story.
I can't think of any good examples, but I guess a lot of Bioware games fill the spot.
I actually don't hate their gameplay, but I know a lot of people do. But whatever you think of the gameplay, it's still their story and characters that carry the game.
Opposite deal with the first halo. IMO it had a stupid story and an even more stupid main character, but a lot of people loved the gameplay.
I don't really understand that... but okay.
If the gameplay is terrible and the story is decent but not amazing, then it doesn't compensate for the bad gameplay. However, if the gameplay is terrible but the story is mindblowing then it is worth it. Hopefully thought, it shouldn't come to that point. If the gameplay is the worst thing ever crapped into existence, then no amount of story can make up for it. However, gameplay alone can carry a game without story.
I can't think of any good examples, but I guess a lot of Bioware games fill the spot.
I actually don't hate their gameplay, but I know a lot of people do. But whatever you think of the gameplay, it's still their story and characters that carry the game.
Opposite deal with the first halo. IMO it had a stupid story and an even more stupid main character, but a lot of people loved the gameplay.
I don't really understand that... but okay.
Dragon Age: Origins was a little bit like this for me. I wasn't really enjoying the combat and the levelling, but the story, the characters and the in-game universe kept me going.
I actually loved the combat in Enslaved. It becomes pretty challenging on Hard.
Gotta go with Dragon Age as my choice for this. I loved the story but the combat was pretty boring to me. I know it utilizes a very similar style as Knights of the Old Republic, but I just wasn't feeling it. Nevertheless, I've still gone through the game three times.
Gotta go with Dragon Age as my choice for this. I loved the story but the combat was pretty boring to me. I know it utilizes a very similar style as Knights of the Old Republic, but I just wasn't feeling it. Nevertheless, I've still gone through the game three times.
if a game is trying to be entertainment (like, 99% of them are), then great gameplay excuses poor story; its pretty just there to drive to gameplay anyway.
if a game is trying to be art (like not nearly enough of them are), then compelling narrative can certainly excuse bad gameplay; its just there to drive the plot anyway.
i happen to favor the latter category, if only because its sheer rarity demands that it actually succeed in having a good narrative. examples for me are conkers bad fur day( i said compelling 'narrative', not serious, or indeed making any sense; this game is just too damn brilliantly immature and uniquely whimsical to not mention), psychonauts, POP:SoT, Indigo prophecy, FFVII (and VIII), mass effect (NOT 2), KOTOR... i guess ill just stop now before i get carried away.
if a game is trying to be art (like not nearly enough of them are), then compelling narrative can certainly excuse bad gameplay; its just there to drive the plot anyway.
i happen to favor the latter category, if only because its sheer rarity demands that it actually succeed in having a good narrative. examples for me are conkers bad fur day( i said compelling 'narrative', not serious, or indeed making any sense; this game is just too damn brilliantly immature and uniquely whimsical to not mention), psychonauts, POP:SoT, Indigo prophecy, FFVII (and VIII), mass effect (NOT 2), KOTOR... i guess ill just stop now before i get carried away.
It can go both ways but it depends how bad one aspect is and how good the other.
I can forgive a bad story/narrative a little better than I can bad gameplay though.
I can forgive a bad story/narrative a little better than I can bad gameplay though.
I don't know about your first two games you mentioned, but, TF2 has a characterization/"story," there are those videos of "Meet the insert name here," they have emotes, they have customizable options, they have voices, and so on, TF2 doesn't have a story (story: you are Red/Blue, you must kill Blue/Red) as much as it has a sense of humor, and that is why people enjoy the game.Chal said:
But, I will agree with you, TF2 is just down right fun.
I definitely agree. I love a good story in a game, so I'll put up with quite a lot of crappy gameplay if the story delivers.
In fact, there's a distinction I feel I should make. If a game has an awesome story, but mediocre, boring, or tedious gameplay, then fine, I'll probably still enjoy it pretty well for the story (like I probably will with Enslaved). I get angry when a game has an awesome story but really difficult gameplay (whether through flaw or design), not because it makes for bad gameplay but because it prevents me from seeing more of the story (like Dragon Age).
In fact, there's a distinction I feel I should make. If a game has an awesome story, but mediocre, boring, or tedious gameplay, then fine, I'll probably still enjoy it pretty well for the story (like I probably will with Enslaved). I get angry when a game has an awesome story but really difficult gameplay (whether through flaw or design), not because it makes for bad gameplay but because it prevents me from seeing more of the story (like Dragon Age).