The Greatest Story Ever Told?
- Thread starter Kaendris
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I would say either Final Fantasy IX or the combination of the first two Shadow Hearts games. Both have a large cast of interesting and vastly different characters set in a unique world, where the protagonists are pushed through a series of both tragic and comedic events.
Final Fantasy IX - Some of the strongest female characters you'll ever see in any medium - also, they have a "princess" character becoming an actual queen halfway through this game. A story that is a lot darker than some people think it is (simply because the art style is rather lighthearted). Every character (except for Quina) has at least one arc that raises some truly interesting points - food for thought and whatnot. Also, the pacing and plot twist of the main storyline is simply really, really well done. The only thing that kind of sucks, is the ending, because I don't think it works for everyone (most notably Vivi, Freya and Amarant).
Shadow Hearts & Shadow Hearts: Covenant - These games can get pretty damn dark, but at the same time, they know exactly when add some humor so it doesn't turn into a pile of angst. The game takes place in an alternate past (right before - and during - the first World War) where all the occult stuff is true (magic tomes, demons, vampires, you name it). The reason I like this story, is the same as with FF IX: a great cast in an amazing storyline that has perfect pacing and some nice plot twists. Also interesting is that the first game has both a good and a bad ending - and they chose to go with the bad ending as a starting point for the second game. And while you can play the second one without ever playing the first one, it adds so much more gravitas to the main character if you do (in my opinion at least).
That said, concerning more "abstract" presentations of storytelling, I've always liked the story of Rez.
Final Fantasy IX - Some of the strongest female characters you'll ever see in any medium - also, they have a "princess" character becoming an actual queen halfway through this game. A story that is a lot darker than some people think it is (simply because the art style is rather lighthearted). Every character (except for Quina) has at least one arc that raises some truly interesting points - food for thought and whatnot. Also, the pacing and plot twist of the main storyline is simply really, really well done. The only thing that kind of sucks, is the ending, because I don't think it works for everyone (most notably Vivi, Freya and Amarant).
Shadow Hearts & Shadow Hearts: Covenant - These games can get pretty damn dark, but at the same time, they know exactly when add some humor so it doesn't turn into a pile of angst. The game takes place in an alternate past (right before - and during - the first World War) where all the occult stuff is true (magic tomes, demons, vampires, you name it). The reason I like this story, is the same as with FF IX: a great cast in an amazing storyline that has perfect pacing and some nice plot twists. Also interesting is that the first game has both a good and a bad ending - and they chose to go with the bad ending as a starting point for the second game. And while you can play the second one without ever playing the first one, it adds so much more gravitas to the main character if you do (in my opinion at least).
That said, concerning more "abstract" presentations of storytelling, I've always liked the story of Rez.
Yet to find 'the greatest story' but some stand out;
Metal gear solid 3 - The pacing of it was brilliant. All those codec talks, going from forest to swamp to mountains to the tunnel to Grozni Grad. What an epic sense of progression. It felt like I had been through so much by the end of it, it's not often you can share the same progression of time and character development as your protagonist. Even most movies can't pull it off because they have to be over in 2 hours. A few that do include Sam&Frodo hopelessly trudging along in LOTR and Bicentennial man.
The Last of us - Does a similar thing to MGS3 for me, but even more character driven. spolier - Everything that happened made me slaughter fire flies without question at the end. And I'm normally fuming at Ludonarrative Dissonance. I bought into the dog eat dog post apocalyptic world and how my character kills in an otherwise morally messed up way.
Fallout 3- Masterful at conveying lore and current story to the player whatever order they do things. Most rpg's even mass effect 1 (I love btw), have you exhausting dialogue with npc's to get across the story and lore in a way a writer intends you to. Not fallout 3- hear rumours of Supermutants? what's that? nvm- too much too take in. Then you find out properly later whatever direction or side quest you go in. And it all feels so natural. What are they up to? depends what convo you overhear and what you notice. All whilst these stupid enclave bots keep flying around.
Dark souls - you are just as clueless and hopeless as the character you control. Go hollow in real life- go hollow in the game. Decide to observe the lore and surrounding and read descriptions...your character benefits.
Metal gear solid 3 - The pacing of it was brilliant. All those codec talks, going from forest to swamp to mountains to the tunnel to Grozni Grad. What an epic sense of progression. It felt like I had been through so much by the end of it, it's not often you can share the same progression of time and character development as your protagonist. Even most movies can't pull it off because they have to be over in 2 hours. A few that do include Sam&Frodo hopelessly trudging along in LOTR and Bicentennial man.
The Last of us - Does a similar thing to MGS3 for me, but even more character driven. spolier - Everything that happened made me slaughter fire flies without question at the end. And I'm normally fuming at Ludonarrative Dissonance. I bought into the dog eat dog post apocalyptic world and how my character kills in an otherwise morally messed up way.
Fallout 3- Masterful at conveying lore and current story to the player whatever order they do things. Most rpg's even mass effect 1 (I love btw), have you exhausting dialogue with npc's to get across the story and lore in a way a writer intends you to. Not fallout 3- hear rumours of Supermutants? what's that? nvm- too much too take in. Then you find out properly later whatever direction or side quest you go in. And it all feels so natural. What are they up to? depends what convo you overhear and what you notice. All whilst these stupid enclave bots keep flying around.
Dark souls - you are just as clueless and hopeless as the character you control. Go hollow in real life- go hollow in the game. Decide to observe the lore and surrounding and read descriptions...your character benefits.