Deepest Game You've Played (no pun intended)

[CenturionRyan]

Flower.

It had one of the most impressive stories in a video game ever. And yet it had no dialogue and only a handful of cutscenes.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

Braid's Story: I like how it's open for interpretation and doesn't explain everything. This way, you think about it even after playing it and don't just accept it.

I was never sure if Braid had a good story or not. Does the fact that most people didn't understand what the game was about and what the princess represented mean that the game was deep or that the storytelling was poor?

- J

EDIT: That said, the game was really fun, if a bit short.

I'd say the cryptic storytelling was done on purpose, but even if it wasn't, it still made me think about many things and that counts, i guess.
Braids story is also not about the obvious written part, it's about how you interpret the gameplay mechanics and especially the last level.
And in the end, every story is just as deep as the people who try to interpret it.

Hmm.... maybe. I'll admit that I had to think about the plot a bit before I really put together what the game I'd been playing was actually about (seeing the real ending helps), but for the record, Braid's story *is* about the written part. It's just that there are always two written parts for every book. I'm still not sure if that's really deep or not.

When I think deep, I think of something that challenges my perceptions of reality. I think of something that will cause me not just to think, but to come to some new realization about myself or the world. Braid did not do these things. My train of thought went like this, basically:

1) What in the hell is going on?
2) Think think think
3) Discover the secret text in each book and see the real ending
4) Oh... hm... well, that's an interesting setting to put that kind of story in

And that was really it. Again, the game was really fun, but when the mission is to find the story, it may be because the story isn't really told all that well.

- J

I have to admit I prefer a story that is not placed right in front of you on a silver dish, maybe it's just me, but a story that fully explains everything tends to feel boring, in my opinion.
In Braid, i especially liked how the mechanics reflected the story. For example the book near the beginning that talks about undoing mistakes as an obvious choice. But a more complex example would be to compare the last level to the first book at the epilogue(including the hidden text).
Even though it fails to deliver a clear story, it makes the game unique and worth thinking about it.

Tell me, other than the thinking which must be done to determine what is supposed to be going on, what about the story is worth thinking about?

It's like breaking a coded message that says, "See Spot Run." The code can be complex, but once you've broken it, the underlying message doesn't really change anything about who you are. How is that deep?

- J

 

[Soxafloppin]

i dont get the pun

 

[BoxCutter]

Im a sucker for great stories so i'm going to have to go with KOTOR here. One of the best stories in all of gaming imo.

 

[robinkom]

Phantasy Star IV (1993-94, Sega Genesis.)

Phantasy Star, to me, was always the underdog in the Console RPG arena back in the early-90s. I always love the underdog... and I love Phantasy Star. If anything, it can be credited as an innovator of the Sci-Fi/Fastasy hybrid genre for showing that it can indeed be done right.

The fourth game was truly an epic finale to the original series. If you're a fan (or "phan") and you have prior experience with the first three titles, this one just blows you away with it's narrative and linking of past occurrences in the series. Some criticized it as being too easy, in fact the easiest in the series. I criticize the first 3 for being too hard. With this one, you can minimize your level grinding some of the time to be able to partake in the great story.

For anyone new to the classic series and is interested in learning more, check out this site. It's the mecca of "phan sites" for the franchise and contains all the info you'd ever need on it.
http://www.phantasy-star.net/

 

[bodyklok]

Resistance 2. Let me explain, firstly, I have a crap memory for games that I played more than three or four years ago. Secondly, the sheer number of intel collectables create heaps of backstory, lots of unanswered questions about the Chimera and Cloven, and the weapon intel documents have almost enough detail to actually let you build said weapons.

 

[Lordmarkus]

I got so deep into BioShock that I probably won't get out in the nearby future.

 

[Captain Bobbossa]

Would have to be the halo series. It ust gave me goosebumps when i saw the first trailers for halo 3.


And for the unintended pun... gears of war (1&2) although the story was good to.

 

[Piorn]

Braid's Story: I like how it's open for interpretation and doesn't explain everything. This way, you think about it even after playing it and don't just accept it.

I was never sure if Braid had a good story or not. Does the fact that most people didn't understand what the game was about and what the princess represented mean that the game was deep or that the storytelling was poor?

- J

EDIT: That said, the game was really fun, if a bit short.

I'd say the cryptic storytelling was done on purpose, but even if it wasn't, it still made me think about many things and that counts, i guess.
Braids story is also not about the obvious written part, it's about how you interpret the gameplay mechanics and especially the last level.
And in the end, every story is just as deep as the people who try to interpret it.

Hmm.... maybe. I'll admit that I had to think about the plot a bit before I really put together what the game I'd been playing was actually about (seeing the real ending helps), but for the record, Braid's story *is* about the written part. It's just that there are always two written parts for every book. I'm still not sure if that's really deep or not.

When I think deep, I think of something that challenges my perceptions of reality. I think of something that will cause me not just to think, but to come to some new realization about myself or the world. Braid did not do these things. My train of thought went like this, basically:

1) What in the hell is going on?
2) Think think think
3) Discover the secret text in each book and see the real ending
4) Oh... hm... well, that's an interesting setting to put that kind of story in

And that was really it. Again, the game was really fun, but when the mission is to find the story, it may be because the story isn't really told all that well.

- J

I have to admit I prefer a story that is not placed right in front of you on a silver dish, maybe it's just me, but a story that fully explains everything tends to feel boring, in my opinion.
In Braid, i especially liked how the mechanics reflected the story. For example the book near the beginning that talks about undoing mistakes as an obvious choice. But a more complex example would be to compare the last level to the first book at the epilogue(including the hidden text).
Even though it fails to deliver a clear story, it makes the game unique and worth thinking about it.

Tell me, other than the thinking which must be done to determine what is supposed to be going on, what about the story is worth thinking about?

It's like breaking a coded message that says, "See Spot Run." The code can be complex, but once you've broken it, the underlying message doesn't really change anything about who you are. How is that deep?

- J

Spoiler

Losing someone you love because you try to protect this person too much. Realizing that you are not the savior but instead the threat. That's what the last level is about.

What happened to Tim? Who is the princess? Who is the greeter? We don't need the answers, the answer would make us stop thinking, and it's all about thinking, to philosophize about existence, relationships, mistakes, and the universe. If you don't like to think about existence, no problem, but I do it alot.
And no, I can't define what is deep and what not, you have to judge on your own, but I regard stories as deep if they make me philosophize.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

Spoiler

Losing someone you love because you try to protect this person too much. Realizing that you are not the savior but instead the threat. That's what the last level is about.

What happened to Tim? Who is the princess? Who is the greeter? We don't need the answers, the answer would make us stop thinking, and it's all about thinking, to philosophize about existence, relationships, mistakes, and the universe. If you don't like to think about existence, no problem, but I do it alot.
And no, I can't define what is deep and what not, you have to judge on your own, but I regard stories as deep if they make me philosophize.

Spoiler

No, no that's not what the game is about at ALL. The game is about the Manhattan Project and the development of the atomic bomb. Everyone always thinks the princess is a person. Think harder, grasshoppah. Did you not get the real ending where you actually get up to the top level and touch her?

- J

 

[Cowabungaa]

Story wise? Braid, definatly. It seems like such a simple story, but if you start thinking about it...o boy. Gameplay wise...hmm, not so sure, can't think of anything better than TF2 but I know that there are better examples.

 

[Gotham Soul]

Strangely enough, the deepest plot I've ever read into comes from an anime game: Ever 17: The Out of Infinity. It deals with things like the 4th dimension and time travel, which would probably have made it myriad and twisted but it all connected together in a satisfying way in the end.

 

[icyfresh]

i think assasins creed is deep also mirrors edge and the deepest com. game i played is inquistive dave because the way you beat the last boss is by not fighting him, thus implying the idea of free will

 

[Harold Donchee]

GTA 4. Long story and every character has a different personality mostly. You learn more about everyone in it and why Niko wanted to come to America. There isnt a huge amout of decisions but each one has a large effect on how the game plays out.

 

[Kollega]

Deepest game i've ever played is Braid,both story- and gameplay-wise. On one hand,there's complex time-manipulation mechanics and very,very clever puzzles. On the other,there is intriguing story,and crapload of symbolism.

 

[Jennacide]

Planescape: Torment. Books could be written about it's vast and provocative subject matter.

 

[Tears of Blood]

Metal Gear Solid 4, I think.

 

[Gyrefalcon]

Jade Cocoon-the situation changed in the village every time you went out to battle monsters. The fact that it had a husband/wife team up and huge (a little too much so sometimes) amount of back story. The unexpected level of self-sacrifice you uncover in the game is emotionally moving. But it is a game that allows you to get as deeply or as shallowly involved as you like.

Avoid the second one. It was utter dreck. No relation to the first outside of name and filled with so many cliches I could have cried.

 

[SnakeF]

Also: Bioshock was not deep, go back to playing with Lego and reading Ayn Rand, you plebs.

Don't you dare insult the Legos. I've spent bast parts of 2nd half of my first decade of life crafting elaborate universes full of twisting plots betrayals and heroism, all thanks to a few Lego sets i got for birthday and New Year (they give presents for New Year in Russia, not for Christmas).

On Topic: Deus Ex, System Shock, Elder Scroll, and almost everything by BioWare save for NWN2.

EDIT: Oh and Half-Life of course, and before you say anything just answer this: Who (or what) is the "G-Man"?.

NWN2 wasn't made by Bioware, it was made by Obsidian, which is probably why it wasn't as good as the original NWN

and the G-Man is Me!!

on the OT i think that most of Bioware's earlier game were probably the deepest games I've played

 

[NeutralDrow]