Both said before, but worth repeating: Planescape: Torment, naturally. Dragon Age: origins was also great, the way it presents what looks like a set of standard fantasy stories, but every single one of them has a twist that turns them completely around in consistently interesting ways.
The Greatest Story told by a Videogame
- Thread starter Firia
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I would take a less-than-ambitious story told well (ie, in a way unique to gaming as a medium) than a great story told via cut-scenes (FF, MGS, etc) or unrelated to what you're doing.
That's probably why I didn't care for Bioshock--there was just a huge disconnect between what was going on (thro fireballs et dem zombehs) and what was supposed to be going on, in terms of the story. The first ten minutes were great...and then you get firehands and a pistol and zombies start attacking, and it just felt like a ridiculous bait-and-switch.
That having been said...I might have to say either Shadow of the Colossus, or Portal in a close second.
That's probably why I didn't care for Bioshock--there was just a huge disconnect between what was going on (thro fireballs et dem zombehs) and what was supposed to be going on, in terms of the story. The first ten minutes were great...and then you get firehands and a pistol and zombies start attacking, and it just felt like a ridiculous bait-and-switch.
That having been said...I might have to say either Shadow of the Colossus, or Portal in a close second.
Bullocks! Mafia was fantastic, I don't question that, but Planescape is superior!Woodsey said:
Same guy who wrote Torment also wrote Mask of the Betrayer (and KOTOR 2). Kind of blows your mind doesn't it?jez29 said:
Though now that PS:T has been mentioned, I'll throw in some honorable mentions for:
KOTOR series
Longest Journey/Dreamfall
Deus Ex
Majora's Mask
Except for when you promoted yours as fact to his post based on personal taste. Especially considering that STORY and SETTING aren't the same thing.Jaranja said:
It has been said before, but it was said by someone being a mild Troll, so I basically disreguarded him. However a few others and yourself have said it was story telling gold, but I haven't yet seen anyone explain why.Tjebbe said:
I'm hoping you'll step up to the plate on that one.
You should quickly edit in something to your post, adding content to it. The mods of the escapists eat "this /thread" posts for lunch.Humble85 said:This. /threadAxolotl said:What can change the nature of a man?
I'd like to hear why it ends threads too. Someone tell me what the story angle is on this game.
The Mass Effect trilogy, sure it took some taking off, but the (illusion of) freedom to choose what will happen. I know a lot of people thought that the choices in the first game were too narrow, or that the side quests didn't matter all that much but (here be the spoilers)
My assumption is that the story arcs would lead to different endings: council lives, you get there support in the final battle; you die, too bad; all team mates loyalties assured, mordin will cure the genophage, grunt will lead the united krogan, the flotilla will fight in the final battle, the Geth will fight in the final battle, Cerberus will fight in the final battle, the drell will be cured of Keplar's syndrome, and the Quarians will be able to live with the geth on their Dyson Sphere around Haestrom.
It is the choice that make me love this game, and the story it lives through.
My assumption is that the story arcs would lead to different endings: council lives, you get there support in the final battle; you die, too bad; all team mates loyalties assured, mordin will cure the genophage, grunt will lead the united krogan, the flotilla will fight in the final battle, the Geth will fight in the final battle, Cerberus will fight in the final battle, the drell will be cured of Keplar's syndrome, and the Quarians will be able to live with the geth on their Dyson Sphere around Haestrom.
It is the choice that make me love this game, and the story it lives through.
Second this. Well, the Warcraft story in general.ciortas1 said:
Epic story with some of the most memorable characters ever created like Thrall and Illidan? That's why.Firia said:Now scream why.
On a side note, if someone says Fable I think we should have a witch burn.
Hmm.. it's very tough to describe exactly why Planescape is amazing without giving it away, but I'll give it a shot.Firia said:It has been said before, but it was said by someone being a mild Troll, so I basically disreguarded him. However a few others and yourself have said it was story telling gold, but I haven't yet seen anyone explain why.Tjebbe said:
You start the game off dead, on a slab in a mausoleum-type thing. You wake up, and have no idea who you are or even what your name is (hence why you are always referred to as The Nameless One). Your only clues starting off is that you are covered in scars, and some of these scars are actually words you or someone else has carved into you, telling you to get your journal, and that will explain everything. The only other help you have is your new friend Mort, the floating skull (Yes, you read that right), who reads to you what is written in the scars on your back (I wonder if he read everything to you that there was?), who explains that while he doesn't know who you are, he's happy to help out. Then your quest begins to find out who it was that killed you, why dying didn't stick and why it refuses to do so, and the how's and why's of all this came about.
Plus the game has some of the most expertly written and interesting characters in all of gaming, all of whom in my opinion are fascinating additions to the world the game inhabits. Or worlds, I should say. Did I mention the game takes place in a dimensional nexus of sorts, with doors to very strange universes popping up all the time out of nowhere? Yeah, it's pretty nuts.
I could go on for a while, but then I'd spoil the greatness of the title and I wouldn't do something so terrible to the unfortunate soul who decided to read this. The end-game especially and discovering how exactly these circumstances came about for the nameless one is really quit something. There are a handful of games that have made me examine myself as a person, and Planescape: Torment is one of them, the first one and the best.
Hope this helps explain things
edit: One of the other few games that have made me examine my humanity is in the post right below me, and I'm moderately ashamed I forgot to mention it in my earlier post.
I have never seen a story better crafted than Persona 3's. The main plot is interesting but the use of symbolism and how each character relates to their Personas is truly amazing. The bad guy's motivations are interesting and believable and the final sacrifice is a very emotional moment.
Then I hope my post tastes good!Firia said:You should quickly edit in something to your post, adding content to it. The mods of the escapists eat "this /thread" posts for lunch.
Well, it ends the thread, because it answers the threads initial question. It is the greatest story ever told by a videogame. That is a ballsy claim, I know, but it is very much true, at least in my opinion. Hence, you can close the threadFiria said:I'd like to hear why it ends threads too. Someone tell me what the story angle is on t
his game.
As for the angle of Torment:
You play the Nameless One, who wakes up in a mortuary, where he is approached by a floating skull. You cannont remember who you are, where you are, why you are there and, most importantly why you cannot die . You have got a tattoo on your back, that tells you to go find a man named pharod. The game revolves around you finding out who you are, why you are immortal and to answer the question "what can change the nature of a man?".
There's a difference between was IS and was you THINK. Same with what people do and what you THINK people do. That implies conscious thought on your part, not what is and isn't, i.e. an opinion.Jaranja said:
And while I concede that the setting is similar (despite that LOTR is based on pre-existing mythology in European culture, and would be the same as saying that any movie with a New York setting is ripping off any other movie that's set in New York), beyond having a group of monsters fighting against the good guys, I fail to see your point. Especially considering this thread is called The Greatest STORY told by a Videogame.
