Story Versus Gameplay

[Jumplion]

Well, if story was the most important thing for developers and such, we wouldn't be playing a game; we'd be reading books.

Sometimes, when a game has a completly outrageous storyline, i just make fun of it and continue with the game. A little crazyness in the story of every 2 or so games are fine by me.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

Neither is more important. Story and game play should support and enrich each other. However, if I had to make a choice or which I prefer, I would say story. I've played through some very mediocre games because of good stories, and I've stopped playing games that had good game play because they had terrible stories.

 

[stevesan]

Here's an interesting question: What game did you play through with the largest story vs. game play quality gap? As in, the story was frikkin magnificant, but the game play really kinda sucked.

For me it has to be Xenogears. Frikkin amazing sci-fi story, with pretty damn repetitive gameplay, but the story pulled me through to the end.

And an anti-example is Dreamfall (I thought the story had potential, but the gameplay was soooo bad I couldn't take it anymore).

 

[Logan Westbrook]

For me, it would probably be Assassin's Creed. I found the stuff with Desmond really compelling and I wanted to know what happened next, but the game play in the last few levels wasn't amazing.

 

[Strafe Mcgee]

Here's an interesting question: What game did you play through with the largest story vs. game play quality gap? As in, the story was frikkin magnificant, but the game play really kinda sucked.

For me it has to be Xenogears. Frikkin amazing sci-fi story, with pretty damn repetitive gameplay, but the story pulled me through to the end.

And an anti-example is Dreamfall (I thought the story had potential, but the gameplay was soooo bad I couldn't take it anymore).

I don't know. Like I said I generally don't play games with uninspiring gameplay. Probably Silent Hill 2, and I didn't think that the story was that much of a revelation anyway.

SPOILER WARNING

I mean come on, it's painfully obvious by the time you get halfway through the game that he killed his wife.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

Here's an interesting question: What game did you play through with the largest story vs. game play quality gap? As in, the story was frikkin magnificant, but the game play really kinda sucked.

For me it has to be Xenogears. Frikkin amazing sci-fi story, with pretty damn repetitive gameplay, but the story pulled me through to the end.

And an anti-example is Dreamfall (I thought the story had potential, but the gameplay was soooo bad I couldn't take it anymore).

I completely agree with Xenogears, that was really awful gameplay. Thankfully 75% of the game was cutscenes xD

However, mine has to be the original 4 .Hack games... soooo repetitive, but the story was really quite fascinating. Thank heavens the gameplay in GU was a lot better. (though still far from fantastic)

 

[Logan Westbrook]

SPOILER WARNING

I mean come on, it's painfully obvious by the time you get halfway through the game that he killed his wife.

Eh? I don't remember that part.

EDIT: Although that might be because I haven't played it in about five years. After checking on line, I discover that it is indeed true.

 

[ayoama]

This is an impossible debate, one done multiple times with no victor.

Some games do not need a storyline whatsoever (ie Tetris, NES), or can get by with minimal story (Doom, PC) and still be bestseller titles. On the other hand, a truly awful to play game can be made epic by a stupendous story (Turok, N64).

Also, a great game with a great, well told story = an excellent game.

 

[thejoblot]

A great story isn't a lot of motivation for someone to play a crappy game. Story isn't as important as gameplay, but a great story would make it all the more better.

 

[inbetweendreams1031]

Hard to say... in a really good game, it shouldn't sacrifice either story or gameplay. But that doesn't always happen.

 

[Zombie Badger]

I prefer good gameplay to a good story, although for a game to be a favourite of mine, it generally needs to have a good story as well, for example my favourite 5 games are Perfect Dark, Bioshock, Portal, Psychonauts and Stalker.

 

[Natural Hazard]

every game has a basic story, even if its something casual like bejewelled or something, without a story there would be no game end of. However in terms of storytelling i would always go storytelling as i am a fan in that department, gameplay always comes second.

 

[TheHaunt]

For me, story is crucial. I can take some mediocre game-play if I'm excited to see where the plot is going.

On the other hand, I hate challenging seiges and overcoming "impossible" obstacles only to find that I've opened the door to.... more of the same crap.

I love a good story...

 

[defcon 1]

I'm more of a gameplay person. Games can have good gameplay without story but not the other way around. Some games would have still been good if it didn't have and epic story, say Gradius or Doom.

One game I feel is significant proof of this is Portal. Gameplay, Story, Graphics, Art, Sound are the main parameters I look at when it comes to games. I'm not going to lie, I didn't like any other aspect. Story wise I had to put the game on mute because GLaDOS got annoying, the sounds are the same as Half-Life with hardly any music, and almost every room has the same white tiled scheme until you near the end. What am I trying to say? Gameplay alone made the game soar high into my personal favorites! It was probably my favorite game of 2007! Gameplay alone can make a game incredibly fun. Portal was fun, innovating, repayable)(beat it 6 times)and a bunch of other nice words.

I also played Indigo Prophecy, which is the most cinematic game. A game generally has to be really bad for me to hate it, and this was on the verge. Some of the control's didn't make any sense, such as playing Simon Says while being interrogated by the police. Something like that makes it harder to pay attention. Story dominance just doesn't seem to work. I do like good story but that's why I watch movie's and read a books.

Don't get me wrong, story does spice up the game, but if story's the spice then gameplay is the actual meal.

also...

Story in a game is like a story in a porn movie. It's expected to be there, but it's not that important

 

[Seldon2639]

It depends on why I'm playing. Gears of War had one of the flimsiest stories I've ever seen, but rocked on gameplay. On the other hand, the gameplay of Psychonauts was lackluster, but I stayed on because of the story.

There's no solid rule, and I have both kinds, and play both under different circumstances. So, both

 

[twisted_ideas]

A good balance between the too is an important aspect in a game. I think God of War is a good example of balance between story and gameplay. God of War gameplay is extremely smooth and satisfying and even though story isn't anything award winning but it is presented well, it keeps you interested wanting more. The story elements are well placed and doesn't feel unnecessary or out of place, unlike a lot of games like FPS's where the story points are placed just for the sake of giving gamers a break after killing hundreds of baddies. Also the plot elements short enough so that your not out of the mix for too long.

 

[bulletproof12]

gameplay hands down. i dont care if i want to finnish the story, if there is a boss i cant kill cause the auto aim is locking onto his hands, the nearest checkpoint is 2 hours walk behind me i dont care if it is the best story on earth after so much time i say screw it.

and i am one of those people who presses the start button if the cutscene lasts more then 2 minutes.

but yeah i good story can do alot for a game, or even a good backstory/setting can make it awesome. like warcraft, shadowrun, elderscroll games they all have a pretty good backdrop to the story.

but yeah story is nice but not needed if the game is like crack to your hands. my examples; super smash all 3 of them, any mario game (rescue the princess isnt a plot), mario cart, wii games and any card game.

 

[scoobyduped]

Im gonna say gameplay. it really has to be a balance, but I put more emphasis on gameplay. If you give me a game with a shitty story, but amazing gameplay, Ill probably be able to get past corny dialog and/or crappy plot, and end up enjoying it. If you give me a game with shitty gameplay, but an amazing story, Ill end up having enjoyed the story, but would probably feel a little cheated that I had to endure the shitty gameplay to watch it play out. And Id take a game with good gameplay and mediocre story over a game with mediocre gameplay and good story.