What game do you think has the most well executed story?

[Jacco]

For me, it'd have to be Halo. The plot and gameplay blended seamlessly and the pacing was perfect. It was never too fast or too slow (except maybe for the last 1/3 of the Library). It was compelling and dramatic and I had a real sense of the high stakes the characters were facing.

What about you? Why?

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

Well executed?

I'd say Guitar Hero. After all you progress by playing songs and getting better at it so the story where you press on to become a famous rock star can move along.

It's by no means a well-written, immersive or interesting, but pretty well-executed. (At least by my definition of well executed, don't flame me)

As for a game i think does both things(execution and writing) right i'll pitch Red Dead Redemption. It really felt like a western and the story in itself was just beautiful. (Could've done without the last mission though, i felt that was unnecessary).

 

[Kapol]

I'd have to say Reach had the best game/story tie together that there is at the end of it, during the little 'bonus level' thing.

Other then that, I don't know which has the best executed story... maybe Mass Effect as it's created a large and fairly consistant world.

 

[Asti]

It's hard to say because a well delivered story usually compromises gameplay. I found Dragon Age 2 did well in the story department but sacrificed too much gameplay for it. (It took me some time to get that, I've written about my confusing realtionship to this game [a href="http://dausacker.net/content/dragon-age-2-game-which-was-story"]here[/a]) The Witcher 2 was similar in that regard.

Gothic 3 had a surprisingly good story for a sandbox game and found a nice balance. Other than that: Adventure Games. Book of Unwritten Tales is awesome.

 

[The Abhorrent]

Here's a couple which I think stand out:

Mass Effect 1
ME1 is damned near perfect in its execution of the storyline, even with the huge amount of choice given in it. The primary mystery unfolds as the game goes on, with each of the four primary missions (after Eden Prime) holding a piece of the puzzle: Feros gives you the ability to make sense of the vision, Liara on Therum determines where to go, Noveria is how to get there, and Virmire has the second half of the vision you got at the end of Eden Prime. The whole time the game is also building the setting & mythos, as well as unveiling some other activities Saren is up to besides his primary objective. Everything (you have to do) has purpose in the game, and it's done well.

Final Fantasy IX
I suspect FF9 is frequently underrated, but it's largely because it doesn't stand out from the other games in the series aside from being very nostalgic... and one of the reasons why is because its story is that well-executed. There's nothing too jarring as far as pacing or plot-twists, events naturally flow from one thing to another without missing a beat; the story-telling of the game is flawless. Sometimes the highest praise something can receive is the fact it isn't acknowledged at all (at least while the player/reader/viewer is busy with it), parts which seamlessly blend the whole together; FF9's storytelling is so good that you get immersed in what's happening without even noticing. Still, that doesn't mean it has the best story... just the best-executed one.

 

[Blank Verse]

Lufia 2 on the Super Nintendo.

The game used humor as a bridge for empathy in connecting with your party members, and the dialogue was written as though everyday people, albiet on a quest, were conversing.

Mix an excellent story with memorable music and a tragic ending; it was gold.

 

[Jacco]

Here's a couple which I think stand out:

Mass Effect 1
ME1 is damned near perfect in its execution of the storyline, even with the huge amount of choice given in it. The primary mystery unfolds as the game goes on, with each of the four primary missions (after Eden Prime) holding a piece of the puzzle: Feros gives you the ability to make sense of the vision, Liara on Therum determines where to go, Noveria is how to get there, and Virmire has the second half of the vision you got at the end of Eden Prime. The whole time the game is also building the setting & mythos, as well as unveiling some other activities Saren is up to besides his primary objective. Everything (you have to do) has purpose in the game, and it's done well.

Final Fantasy IX
I suspect FF9 is frequently underrated, but it's largely because it doesn't stand out from the other games in the series aside from being very nostalgic... and one of the reasons why is because its story is that well-executed. There's nothing too jarring as far as pacing or plot-twists, events naturally flow from one thing to another without missing a beat; the story-telling of the game is flawless. Sometimes the highest praise something can receive is the fact it isn't acknowledged at all (at least while the player/reader/viewer is busy with it), parts which seamlessly blend the whole together; FF9's storytelling is so good that you get immersed in what's happening without even noticing. Still, that doesn't mean it has the best story... just the best-executed one.

I agree on ME1. It was superbly done. Especially with the fact that it was an RPG. They managed to keep the pace moving without getting bogged down in side stuff like happened in Fallout 3. I've never played any FF game so I can't really comment on that.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Honestly? Morrowind trumps all. I've never seen a game integrate side quests so well into the main plot. The random bullshit you do on the side of the main quest all comes together in the end to make sense with the rest of the game.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Nobody has mentioned Bastion yet? Really? Just finished that absolute GEM yesterday. Incredibly well told story. Loved the whole thing.

Lufia 2 on the Super Nintendo.

The game used humor as a bridge for empathy in connecting with your party members, and the dialogue was written as though everyday people, albiet on a quest, were conversing.

Mix an excellent story with memorable music and a tragic ending; it was gold.

Yeah, I enjoyed Lufia 2 as well.

 

[Kryzantine]

First of all, I'd like to point out that I do not correlate story with plot. A story is more than a plot, it is atmosphere, plot, character, and almost every background detail put together. A great plot should not mean a great story - it usually does, but a phenomenal story may be told even with a weak plot.

So I have 2 games I usually mention in these threads that are overlooked.

The first is Metro 2033. Holy shit, the atmosphere is phenomenal. I understand quite a bit of Russian, and I honestly feel the default language settings should have been Russian voice / English subtitles. It makes an already phenomenally atmospheric game even more atmospheric. Look, anyone who's played through Metro 2033 can attest to how good the story was in that game - the plot certainly wasn't the greatest, but it handled everything else amazingly.

The second is The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay for much the same reason, the atmosphere was phenomenal, and Vin Diesel actually did an amazing job at voicing the main character. Again, anyone who's played through the game knows what I'm talking about.

But those aren't my top choices. How the fuck has Planescape: Torment not been mentioned yet? That game was the definition of story.

 

[Pipotchi]

I agree with the above Planescape Torment was awesome, if it was a book it would be mandatory reading in school, it just had the bad fortune to be a game with low res graphics

Also System Shock 2, no game has been as scary purely through storyline rather than jump out scares.

Also Halo wouldnt even make my top 100 for well executed storyline, too each their own, but I always considered it very cliched and predictable

 

[OdyCay]

the witcher 2 it was so stream line and not linear. the story would change because of your actions and experiences

 

[voltman000]

Red Dead Redemption was pretty good cos i actually wanted to f up Bill Williamson and Xavier Esquila plus i wanted get to his wife
The story felt a little slow though but thats my opinion

 

[Conn1496]

Anyone who said "Halo", shame on you, shame, shame, shame. There are much better storylines out there, and while they aren't all masterpieces, there are shining gems out there, and if the best you know is Halo, shame.

I have to say my favourite is the left 4 dead side stories that are scattered around the left 4 dead universe, the online comic was especially good at telling the story behind the "The Sacrifice" campaign, and the green flu thing really makes the game immersive in my opinion, since, in most other games they don't have a name for the zombie disease. The whole green flu "carrier" thing is a pretty crafty idea too, it makes the survivors seem like they're the bad guys in a way. If you have no idea what I'm talking about...
GO LOOK ON THE L4D WIKI. NOW. THAT'S AN ORDER YOU WHELP! GO! GO! GO!... *Ahem* Sorry. I just think it's immersive enough to push you guys to go explore. Any story can be well executed with enough immersion, and I think it's not about the story, but personal interest. So if you disagree with my L4D being immersive thing, that's only my view... don't get mental.

 

[rvbnut]

Mass Effect trilogy. Hands down.
The amount of depth in that series is outstanding

 

[TheTim]

Halo games are good ones,

so are the Assassin's creed games.

 

[Zhadramekel]

Okami on the Wii. I mean come on, even some of the standard enemies, standard not bosses, plus all the at least significant characters in the game are based off of mythology but it's still an awesome gaming experience.

 

[aba1]

Everybody here is a idiot because they didn't say metal gear solid