Can a good story make up for weak gameplay?

[Eumersian]

I think it depends on exactly how weak the gameplay is. Average, workable gameplay is easily made up by a good story, but even if the story is the Illiad and the game plays like?something?that sucks to play, there's no excuse.

 

[Aeriath]

Good gameplay can make me forgive an awful story, but awful gameplay gets no such pardon.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

Yes it can to ab extent. The Darkness has a fantastic story and compelling characters, but there are a lot of gameplay faults (fun parts too). I loved that game.

 

[Defense]

It depends on how strong the story is and how weak the gameplay is. I'd definitely give Nier a pass because the gameplay actually works fairly well, but I don't think I could stand finishing another game like Final Fantasy II again.

Alright, Final Fantasy II had an incredibly dull story as well but still. Even if Dante Alighieri himself made the story I wouldn't play it.

 

[UnmotivatedSlacker]

Like most people have said, it depends on how weak the gameplay is. Take Yakuza for example, it had an iffy combat system that would have you fighting the air a fair bit of the time, but the story was amazing and pushed me into finishing it.

 

[War Pony]

I believe a good story can make up for weak gameplay because I am as entertained by the story aspects of the game as others just may be totally psyched on the gameplay and can forgive terrible story.

The example I can think of is Psychonauts. There may have been some hitches in the gameplay, but I barely found them to be distractions from everything else the game is storywise and all out (crazy-fun) ridiculousness.

I do not care for the opposite, however. I cannot think of any game I might have enjoyed slogging through for gameplay that had a weak story to it. I would tend to just finish it for the sake of... finishing. This is why I don't care too much for the two Halo games I've played through. Watching Emile's death play out just like Jazz' in the first Transformers movie might have more of an effect on me if I cared for who any of Noble Team is. I would've like to know why Jorge suddenly got mopey in space.

Then again, this might just be barking up the wrong genre. Then again, I can think of RPGs that lacked engaging story, so I'm thinking there could be FPSs out there with good stories to them.

Edit: I think there can be exceptions in an interesting story being unable to make up for borderline broken gameplay, however. The example I thought of is Rule of Rose, but this might be another matter altogether.

 

[Deguasser]

for me yes, my two favorite games are Heavy Rain and Kane and Lynch: Dead Men.

Both were said to have horrible controls and I love the story lines.

 

[Woodsey]

Yes.

Average gameplay though, not bad. If Two Worlds had been the gaming equivalent of The Hobbit I still wouldn't have fucking played it anymore than I did.

 

[Nieroshai]

In the case of JRPGs? Sometimes. In anything else? Never.

 

[BENZOOKA]

Gameplay is the most important thing. No way a story could make up for that. An awesome gameplay is what gets me to actually get interested in the story.

 

[Raziel_Likes_Souls]

Thread = Deadly Premonition in a nutshell

F....K.... In. The Coffee.

It depends how bad the gameplay is, if it's Baroque levels of bad, then the story doesn't mean shit. If it's Heavy Rain levels of mediocre gameplay, then the story'll give it a pass.

 

[Stoic raptor]

Go ask the people in Extra Credits.

Their answer is my answer

 

[Treefingers]

I don't think so, no.

I play games for the GAMEplay. It's what separates games from any other medium. If i just want a good story i'll read a book or watch a film.

 

[Cat Cloud]

As long as the controls aren't broken or get in the way of the story. If I can't complete the game without throwing it down in frustration caused by gameplay issues it isn't worth it.

 

[TheRobotandtheBeast]

Alpha protocol. So my answer is no.

 

[Pete Oddly]

I think yes, an excellent story can save a game with mediocre gameplay, but it cannot save a game that's total shitstink.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

Any point and click game ever made (well, Full Throttle at least).

 

[Brikson]

Yes, but I love games that have stories. I like to have reason for taking on the faceless evil, get the doodad of power, or have to walk through the enemy invested stronghold to meet allies. I need a reason to fight wave after wave of generic enemies, and I need a good reason if the fights are dull.