Games that have outstanding writing

[War Penguin]

KOTOR II: AKA the greatest thing to happen to the Star Wars universe. Ok, part of this is due to how utterly sick of Star Wars I am, and how brilliantly KOTOR II rips into the mythos and setting of the universe. But is also has some of the best NPCs ever, and has the best writing for a main character in a non-linear RPG that I've ever seen. Seriously, it allows you to play however you want, but still feel like your character has history and relevance in the universe. More than that, it lets your character have introspection and real emotions, despite being completely under the player's control. The Exile isn't just a puppet avatar for the player to role-play through, they're as legitimate a character as any NPC in the game.

I whole heartedly agree with that. It was also the first game that made me put down the controller and have me think about how my actions, no matter what the intention, can affect others.

However...

Mass Effect (more specifically, 1-2 and 99% of 3).

Disagree strongly on that. The first was a decent attempt at a good ol' Space Opera, but everything from 2 onwards was a plunge straight into Herp Derp territory.

I disagree with you on that... sorta... While I think the story in Mass Effect 2 was extremely laughable, I still think the dialogue and emphasis on characterization saved it. The Collectors were a crappy enemy, and the twist behind them just seemed way too forced. Not to mention their presence was just nonexistent. I swear, if I didn't know anything about the game and was placed randomly in a level, I'd have told you that the enemy were just the three merc bands. As for Cerberus and the Illusive Man [small](which I always rolled my eyes at because of the name. Seriously, why not just name him "the guy who's gonna help you for now but gonna betray you later and is all mysterious about it")[/small], I was always asking for a "Fuck Off" dialogue option. Seriously, I'm a fucking marine who's being asked to join a terrorist organization. Why the hell do you think I'd join them, Bioware?!

But I was able to ignore all of that because of all of the cool characters that I got to meet along the way. Characters who I thought I'd absolutely hate were ones that I absolutely loved instead. Grunt was a tank-bred Krogan who was trying to find his place in Krogan society. Mordin was a scientist who had lied to himself that he was trying to do the right thing in only sterilizing the Krogan, while he was actually doing just as much damage. Miranda was... still a *****, but you get what I'm saying, right?

As for Mass Effect 3... I haven't played it yet, but I've seen what the content included. Based on what I saw, I agree with you again.

 

[chimeracreator]

Bastion was brilliant and replaying it is like rereading a great book.

Pyschonauts is the same way despite some issues with the controls.

Assassins Creed 2 + Sequels have an interesting and deep story. It's a shame that they bring it down by talking about the end of the world instead of the far more interesting human conflict involved at the end of each game.

Monkey Island (all of them) because those were just amazingly classic funny games. I didn't like 4 as much as the others, but it still had its moments.

Deus Ex and Human Revolution because they were just plain brilliant.

 

[Mikeyfell]

I'm tempted to say: Bioware! /thread

but I'm above that. Not entirely though they probably are the best writers in the whole damn industry (Even with Dragon Age 2's contrivance fest and ME 3's disturbing amount of gaping plot-holes.)

The undisputed best instance of writing in a game is in Record of Agarest War It's possibly the most challenging thing to balance campy goofiness and still hold some emotional weight over the intense moments of the story. It's truly flawless scripting.


Dead Rising 2 also deserves special mention

and Portal it has sparse writing but it's not the best game ever for nothing.

 

[Mikeyfell]

Kai-Leng

actually, Kai Leng is from the books, not the game =P
although maybe you already knew and I'm just making an ass of myself

Whether or not he originated in the books, he's in the game itself, and his presence serves only to shit on the story.

Seriously, what were Bioware thinking?

probably to have a character that felt good to kill?
because god damn was Kai-Leng's death satisfying as fuck

Sorry to jump into the middle of this but I didn't even think killing Kai Leng was satisfying.
Out of the entire Mass Effect series Shepard's scenes with Kai Leng are the only times he comes down with "Cut scene stupidity"

I could have killed him before he killed Thane.
I could have killed him on Thesia, if I had like 30 more seconds before the cut scene make me fall down a hole.
and when you beat him at Cerberus HQ Shepard just turns his back on him and sits down in a chair. You're lucky Leng tried to stab you in the back, what if he just got up and limped away?

Every thing he did was so disconnected from the point and tone of the game that I couldn't even feel glad he was dead.

I didn't read the books so the only introduction I got for Leng was when Anderson told me he was supposed to be more dangerous than the Reapers. And the Illusive Man says he's supposed to be Shepard's replacement. Which in it's self is a plot hole. If he was Shepard's replacement that would imply he's only been in Cerberus for 6 months, and Anderson said he's been on Earth that whole time. So how was he able to shoot Leng in both legs?

Unless the books have copious amounts of time travel in them Leng's character doesn't make sense.

 

[rob_simple]

I've always loved the writing in the Ratchet & Clank series. The characters are always well fleshed out for the style of game and the writing is genuinely funny without using any of the usual self-referencing crap that most video games throw in for cheap laughs.

 

[GamerAddict7796]

Fallout 3, for me, had the best writing I've ever seen. When I hear the Super Mutant coversation in the Germantown Police HQ I almost feel bad about killing them.

It's more the enviromental storytelling, something Skyrim did well aswell. When I walk into an abandoned building and find decades of backstory, it really helps immerse me.

EDIT - I almost forgot too mention GTA: San Andreas and GTA IV. Brilliant games, fun gameplay and the right mix of silly and serious too work (serious in IV and silly in San Andreas). The characters are all great as well.

 

[ArkhamJester]

Broken Sword Shadow of the Templars

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (f**k the sequels!)

Hey! Disgaea 4 was decent, had its own identity at least. Otherwise I would say SMT Devil survivor, Persona 3 and 4, tactics ogre let us cling together, Mother 3 whom I nominate as the lord emperor of RPGs on the grounds of having one of the best damn executed plots in gaming ( long story short EVERYTHING from your actions to environments to the state of the enemies you fight tie into the narrative) ALso I would say Dragon age Origins had decent character interactions, if nothing else.

 

[EHKOS]

The Jak series worked out well. Everything else I thought of was already mentioned. But Daxter was always great.

 

[Arqus_Zed]

Final Fantasy IX

High fantasy that doesn't feel like a Tolkien rip-off? What madness is this?! The madness of a JRPG, that kind of madness. Seriously, WRPGs, start taking notes. Snappy dialogue, great plot, characters you can genuinely get interested in and some surprisingly deep (and sometimes dark) elements that you wouldn't expect from a game looking so colorful cartoony.

Shadow Hearts

A game situated right before the start of World War I, with an occult twist. Need I say more? Combining horror and comedy, the original Shadow Hearts has a great setting with an interesting story that isn't afraid to take some really dark turns. The graphics are kind of horrendous and the gameplay is far from innovating, but the audio and story do such a good job of carrying the game, that I would still recommend it.

 

[LegoDudeGuy]

Here is a game thats breath taking when it comes to writing:

No trolling either, seriously.

My god, someone thinks that a Pokemon game has GOOD WRITING?

Have my children, you sir had made my day.

I LOVE the writing of that game!

 

[Atlas13]

I can't believe everyone in here has forgotten the greatest game story ever. I mean, it even has the perfect voice to match it.

Spoiler

 

[CityofTreez]

Bioshock.

Sander Cohen's and Dr. Steinman's audio logs are just incredible.

 

[KingHodor]

Since everybody's already mentioned Planescape: Torment, I'd like to throw in Arcanum. Yeah, you'll see me constantly poo-poo'ing it in RPG threads for its horrible (read: non-existent) game balance, but the game world itself, which is masterfully crafted and full of conspiracies, not to mention the twists and turns the main story takes you through, are worth a playthrough.
I remember one extensive quest delivering a particularly unsatisfying solution that will very likely leave an unpleasant feeling in your stomach should you bother to follow it all the way to the ugly truth.

Also, let's just say that there's a reason that the religious figure your player character is supposed to be the re-incarnation of is named "Nasrudin" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasrudin], which in our world was a legendary trickster figure in Islamic folklore.

Edit: Obligatory GOG.com spam:
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/arcanum_of_steamworks_and_magick_obscura
If you're a diehard RPG buff, have a tolerance to bugs (I think there's a fanpatch that fixes some, though) and shitty balancing, and worship Anderson and Boyarsky (the guys who brought you the original Fallout) you might as well drop 6 bucks on this sucker.

 

[Cry Wolf]

While I am tempted to say Red Dead Redemption, I will say Super Paper Mario has some excellent story and brilliant dialogue.

...Super Paper Mario had a story?

Ahem...

Deus Ex
Deus Ex: Human Revoloution
Mass Effect
KotOR I
Red Dead Redemption
Portal
Portal 2
Dragon Age: Origins

Honourable Mentions:

KotOR II - The writing and it's pacing was really to ecletic to let me say it had outstanding writing, but it was certainly pretty good.

The Witcher II - This would have made it on the other list if it wasn't for the lack of colsure and the fact the sequal isn't for another couple of years.

L.A. Noire - I really, really like noir and in my first write of this post it was up in the other list. However, I felt my bias probably influnced the decision too much.

Mass Effect 2 - Unfortunately fell apart in too many places and complete missed the tone of original to make it here, but it had it's moments.

Not-So-Honourable Mention:

Mass Effect 3 - I really shouldn't be giving this an honourable mention (EDIT! So I wont). Almost everything is wrong with this game before you take a look at the ending. However, it did have Mordin Solas' redemption story which was truly touching. Too bad the rest of it sucked.

 

[370999]

Kai-Leng

actually, Kai Leng is from the books, not the game =P
although maybe you already knew and I'm just making an ass of myself

Whether or not he originated in the books, he's in the game itself, and his presence serves only to shit on the story.

Seriously, what were Bioware thinking?

I imagine they thought he would be a Bob Fett/Sephiroth like figure who we would all find to be so cool and eagerly buy the DLC that let us play using him!

They completely and utterly failed instead ending up with Wesley Crusher as a ninja.

 

[TheOneBearded]

While I am tempted to say Red Dead Redemption, I will say Super Paper Mario has some excellent story and brilliant dialogue.

Tempted? Just out right say it. RDR had one of the best stories I had ever experienced. Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for a good western, but playing through the game didn't feel like a game - I was playing a movie. It had its happy ups and its sad downs and an awesome ending. What more can you ask from a story?

 

[TheOneBearded]

Bioshock.

Sander Cohen's and Dr. Steinman's audio logs are just incredible.

All of the audio tapes were incredible. Listening to all of them and patching them together to get the real story was great. However, I feel that the tapes in Bioshock 2 were a little better. Hearing the burned out and depressed Andrew Ryan and the sane Gil Alexander as the insane Alexander the Great ear rapes you with his crazy voice was very cool.

 

[5ilver]

I liked the writing and story in Advent Rising.
Alpha Protocol was decent as well, I suppose. If we only count writing/story.