What is the best written videogame ever?

[LazerStallion]

As far as Bioshock goes, I'm not sure if you could say it's the best written, just because it's so much about the atmosphere. That really came from sound, graphics, and gameplay design, although the story was definitely great for a video game. And I want to include Half-Life 2, but I'm just not sure if you would qualify that as well written.

Chrono Trigger is great for what it did with the limited story telling ability of older systems, I think that deserves a mention here. And Red Dead Redemption was great, too; the side quests even were interesting as stories.

 

[Extra-Ordinary]

Either "Assassin's Creed" or "Professor Layton".

 

[TheMadDoctorsCat]

System shock 2, the complex web of motivations and depth of backstories really makes it an interesting experience.
Then again portal is a god damned masterpiece.

As the resident System Shock fanboy I'd agree with SS2, but I think it depends on what you're looking for. The Polito "arc" is still the best single character arc I've come across in videogaming, I think. Bioshock had some terrific writing in the first six or so levels (unfortunately that all changed once the Asian Stereotype Doctor and Most Pointless Villain Ever took the stage.)

If I had to choose a game I'd played that comprised the absolute antithesis of good writing, it would be "F.E.A.R". Apart from the misogynistic characters, inpenetrable faction motivations (I don't mean there's any mystery made of it; I mean that I finished the game still not knowing which group of army guys was supposed to be doing what), the game constantly forces the player to do things that are downright idiotic, and has several moments of "forced failure".

 

[Yeager942]

Planescape: Torment without a doubt. Jesus Christ, those kind of games just don't get made anymore.

 

[MikailCaboose]

I'll put my hat in for Diablo and the series' backstory. That, or Metroid Prime. Mostly for the backstory, but especially Metroid Prime's. It really makes you feel the essence of the Chozo and the Space Pirates. At least the SP's weren't depicted as mindless, like could have easily been done.

 

[Ultra_Caboose]

I'm going for the Legacy of Kain series. Its the only game series where I keep playing it, even after about 10 years, just for the plot. (And I love Kain's voice. God bless you Simon Templeman)

This. Sometimes I look up the cutscenes for Soul Reaver 2 just because I love the writing and acting.

I'd also have to go with Final Fantasy VI, Silent Hill 2 and Chrono Trigger.

 

[TheMadDoctorsCat]

As far as Bioshock goes, I'm not sure if you could say it's the best written, just because it's so much about the atmosphere. That really came from sound, graphics, and gameplay design, although the story was definitely great for a video game. And I want to include Half-Life 2, but I'm just not sure if you would qualify that as well written.

I think the whole Half-Life series is well written. I just made the point above that in "F.E.A.R" you can finish the entire game (if you force yourself to do so, as I did) without knowing what faction was trying to do what. That's never a problem in HL or HL2. It's clear who everyone is and why they're acting as they are.

 

[thenamelessloser]

As far as Bioshock goes, I'm not sure if you could say it's the best written, just because it's so much about the atmosphere. That really came from sound, graphics, and gameplay design, although the story was definitely great for a video game. And I want to include Half-Life 2, but I'm just not sure if you would qualify that as well written.

Chrono Trigger is great for what it did with the limited story telling ability of older systems, I think that deserves a mention here. And Red Dead Redemption was great, too; the side quests even were interesting as stories.

I'm not sure if Chrono Trigger actually had that good of writing. Everything else about the game was done so much better than most JRPGs it may be hard to notice.

Also to tie this post to earlier posts in this topic, I think there was an escapist article talking about previous Square Enix franchices, Obsidian would be intersted in perhaps working on. I think Chris Avellone said the main sequel he would have been interested in working on was one to Chrono Trigger. Or maybe I just had a dream about that.

Addendum I liked audio tapes over cutscenes, takes the player out of the game less and feels more immersive. I think the plot twist was an interesting as a way to critique video game story telling in general. (even though from what I read System Shock 2 did similar things). I also love when a video game tries to have more intellectual topics. After the plot twist the quality of the story may have gone down though.

 

[Harb]

Dude, she is a CELIBRATE Succubi who runs a Brothel for intellectual lusts. In other words, talking not actual sex. That would be awesome, a place to talk to pretty women about intellectual topics.

And she still doesn't let you read her diary . Thinking about the Brothel, I would certainly visit one if there was the same somewhere.

 

[MikailCaboose]

Deus Ex is a good contender, but I'd say Mass Effect, if only for the metric ton of codex entries
Codex entries that are surprisingly scientifically accurate, especially considering it's a space opera.

I have plenty of positive things to say about Mass Effect, but scientific accuracy certainly isn't one of them.

For a space opera that is.
I for one like that they manage to stay clear from the "space is cold" myth and actually point out that heat is the main issue in space combaat.

I've heard that in open space without any form of protection, you can be snap-frozen, boiled instantly and beaten to death by micro-particles all at the same time, thanks to the combination of sub-zero temperatures, solar radiation and micro-particles flying as fast as the Earth does, if not faster. If that's wrong I blame...I think it was Smithsonian. Anyways it was some book on the general basics of space.

 

[thenamelessloser]

Dude, she is a CELIBRATE Succubi who runs a Brothel for intellectual lusts. In other words, talking not actual sex. That would be awesome, a place to talk to pretty women about intellectual topics.

And she still doesn't let you read her diary . Thinking about the Brothel, I would certainly visit one if there was the same somewhere.

There might be something online similar. I mean, there is a site for people who want to play video games with women. I wonder if there is some site for people who want intellectual conversations with pretty women.

Addendum- Or one could go to college, and take classes that have female professors who have hot chilly peppers next to their name on ratemyprofessor.com. (I don't even know if that site is still around, lol)

 

[sayingmahalo]

Totally agree that Planescape: Torment is incredibly well written; to be honest I've been quite impressed with most DnD - based games (Baldur's Gate etc).

My favourite ever games for writing would have to be Fallout and Fallout 2.



So, in other words...I love all those old-school RPGs with the isometric, top-down view.

 

[ZelosRaine]

Well, for an incredibly subjective question, I will give a very subjective answer: 1) Persona 4, 2) Shadow of the Colossus, and 3) Half-Life 2.

 

[Raziel_Likes_Souls]

Assassin's Creed 2, just for the thriller factor. Not too much backstory, but it was interesting and suspenseful, at least.

 

[dibblywibbles]

oooh tough call. for the genesis/snes era is FFVI. I fucking loved that game. Suikoden 2 for Playstation(don't judge me, that story was all sorts of awesome) and I would say for the latest console Generation I would say.... mass effect 2.( I would say fallout new vegas is right up there with it but I haven't committed the 100+ hours of exploration yet).I've been consoles for most of my life so for me to include Pc games isn't going to happen because I don't really know much about them. Except commander Keen. Go 386/40!

 

[ThatFanBoyGuy]

Silent Hill 2 and Bioshock 1

 

[latenightapplepie]

Someone's already said it, but Red Dead Redemption gets my vote.