What's the biggest ''pageturner'' singleplayer game you've ever played?

[Dapper Ninja]

The ending did exactly what a series like this should do and pushed things towards the very edge of a new level before cutting itself off, much like Lost series finales did in a way. The new game/series then has something new - and frankly quite exciting - to build itself from.

Wait... ending on a cliffhanger that won't be resolved until a sequel or new season that may or may not exist is exactly what a series should do? I was always under the impression that a good ending is something that allows for the work to stand on its own, rather than a blatant and annoying "to be continued..."

If it's part of a planned series then yeah, although AC2 is capable of standing on it's own, just like Alan Wake (for example) does. Threads are left untied, but the story at hand is resolved in both (in AC2's case that's Ezio's).

If something is planned purely as a single experience then obviously there's not much point in leaving threads.

Even though Assassin's Creed II could, at least for the most part, stand on its own, its ending still bugged me because it was basically just saying "Don't forget to buy the sequel and any subsequent sequels we feel like needlessly drawing out this plot for, m'kay?"

Needlessly drawing out? AC2 is around 25 hours of game - they want more money, we want better games with more layered plots. Win/win.

Don't get me wrong, more Assassin's Creed is always a good thing; I just think it's really annoying that the games treat Desmond's story as this huge, epic event that any new development in is important enough to screw the player out of an ending and that the gods themselves feel the need to become involved with, yet only about an hour of each game at the most is spent developing it and that and the waiting time between games make it feel like it's just being drawn out very slowly for an indefinite amount of time.

I would happily accept a third game with a layered plot focusing on both Desmond and Ezio or a new protagonist as long as Ubisoft remembers to actually do something with the Desmond plot and gives us a reason to care about him.

 

[efeat]

Final Fantasy Tactics (Strategy RPG, PS1) - Most complicated plot I've seen in a game, and it's rife with betrayal, manipulation, assassination, and warfare. No room for romance in this game!

Suikoden 1+2 (RPG, PS1) - These two games take the opposite approach that most RPGs take. These games do not pit you against some ridiculously large-scale and overwhelming enemy, and it's very refreshing. While it still maintains some JRPG flair, the main characters and antagonists are all very real and very believable. Superb games.

Deus Ex (FPS, PC) - This game is the quintessential example of "voice acting so bad it's awesome." If you like conspiracy theories and/or dystopian environments, you owe it to yourself to play this game.

 

[kingcom]

The ending did exactly what a series like this should do and pushed things towards the very edge of a new level before cutting itself off, much like Lost series finales did in a way. The new game/series then has something new - and frankly quite exciting - to build itself from.

Wait... ending on a cliffhanger that won't be resolved until a sequel or new season that may or may not exist is exactly what a series should do? I was always under the impression that a good ending is something that allows for the work to stand on its own, rather than a blatant and annoying "to be continued..."

Interesting thing about assassins creed 2, i found the game itself fairly uninteresting but the ending to that game was probably the best twist ive seen in a long time.

If it's part of a planned series then yeah, although AC2 is capable of standing on it's own, just like Alan Wake (for example) does. Threads are left untied, but the story at hand is resolved in both (in AC2's case that's Ezio's).

If something is planned purely as a single experience then obviously there's not much point in leaving threads.

 

[octafish]

The Longest Journey is just edged out by Planescape: Torment which has the best story and story telling in any game I've played. Who is the Nameless One? Who was the Nameless One? Who will the Nameless One be? Why is he immortal? What can change the nature of a man? Questions, questions, questions, and eventually, teased out over the length of the game, answers.

 

[theSovietConnection]

Hmm, Bioshock is my favourite example, and I hope Infinite will be every bit as enjoyable. The most recent ones, however, would be Metro 2033 and Call of Pripyat.
Oh! Cryostasis is another excellent example.

 

[cWg | Konka]

half life, op force and blue shift where the 3 best games ive everplayed

 

[Moontouched-Moogle]

I'd have to say Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. While it doesn't have the most riveting storyline or amazing gameplay, it's so freaking addictive that I found myself playing it late into the night (and the following morning).

Oh, and the Professor Layton games.
"I can quit anytime I want. I can quit anytime I want. I can........"

 

[C-45]

I completely know what you mean about mass effect. I couldn't stop playing after I got off the citadel. One thing I might suggest is at some point going back through and playing them differently. Also there's loads of dlc out if you haven't played that already.

As for different games I really liked the KoTOR series, the Baldur's gate games were also fun. And if your in to strategy game I might recommend Darwinia. I don't really know why, but that game really grabbed me. I just couldn't put it down.

 

[shadyh8er]

Uncharted 2.

This game gave me the confidence to give the previous Indiana Jones movies a try, having suffered through The Crystal Skull.

 

[srm79]

Lots down the years.

I've done every CoD single player campaign within 24 hours of getting the game right since the very first one way back in 2003(?). And I do mean every: 1+2 on PC; Finest Hour, Big Red One and CoD3 on PS2 and the rest on PS3. That said, after the adrenaline had worn off from MW2, I realised it was actually a bit shit. I'm not going to be going out of my way to pick up Black Ops on release day, if at all...

When I got FF7 I played nothing else for weeks. I never got like that with any of the successive FF titles though.

GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas all got me hooked as well.

Most recently completed was Mafia 2 - I did all but the last chapter on the day I got it, got up 8 hours later and completed it.

There have been loads of others (I get slightly OCD with some games, although less so these days) but those are the ones I can remember while as tired as I am right now!

Anyway, I'm off to grab a few hours kip and get back to rattling through Red Dead Redemption in the morning. Oh, shit - I'm doing it again

 

[DYin01]

I know I couldn't stop playing DA:O, just to see what the next challenge was going to be.
And Alistair's and Morrigan's fight made me laugh.

I tried that game but I wasn´t very good at it apparently. I died a LOT of times. I knew the game was tough, but it gets old if you die at nearly every mildly challenging encounter.

 

[Deathkingo]

Heavy Rain. Man, that game was fun to play once...and not again...

 

[Dr. Paine]

Actually, same situation as the OP xD Picked up the copy of Mass Effect we had lying around the house, and I was about halfway through when I decided to buy the second so I wouldn't have to wait to continue the story, and I played both games until the headaches became too much.

I guess Half Life 2 is the next one, made it past Ravenholm in my first sitting, had to stop because I have enough issues with sleeping. Beat it and episodes in about two/three days.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

Played it almost non-stop over an entire weekend; whereas other people's intepretation of the series' overall story rests at, "LOL WTF MUST BE A DUMB ENDING BECAUSE I CAN'T PAY ATTENTION TO A 2 MINUTE MONOLOGUE THAT EXPLAINS A HELL OF A LOT BUT ALSO REQUIRES SOME MILD BRAIN ACTIVITY ON MY BEHALF", I found it intriguing and I love how layered it all is.

Hey, Woodsey, I have not played the game in question, but I'd rather you didn't unfairly misrepresent the people who had their issues with the ending of the game.

It's a bit uncalled for.

OT: The answer is Modern Warfare 2 because it's always the answer. MW 1 also falls into that category.

 

[aLivingPheonix]

I can't honestly remember anything besides Assassin's Creed 2, which I beat in a day and a half. I absoloutely loved that game. I'm hoping Brotherhood will be as good as AC2.

And I was feeling that way with Shadow of the Colossus, but then I got to the... 4th colossi I think... The first one with 4 legs, that looks kinda like a dragon. That's killed the game temporarily for me.

 

[Chamale]

But as far as plot goes, try Heavy Rain for the PS3. It's a completely plot-centric movie that has the most adaptive and, imo, one of the most immersive plots to date.

I spent 2 hours playing Heavy Rain at PAX. PAX, nerd mecca, where there is a new amazing bit of videogame news every 5 square metres. Out of everything at PAX, I spent the second-most time playing Heavy Rain at the freeplay area (Pax Pokémon League won).

I didn't get close to the end, but this holiday season I plan to rent a PS3 and Heavy Rain so I can play through it 2 or 3 times.

 

[RoyalSorceress]

It wasn't exactly long, but the most recent one for me was Muramasa: The Demon Blade for the Wii.

Has any one else played that game? It's really beautiful.

 

[xxcloud417xx]

Mass Effect 2 was the first game that did that to me in a long long time. So I definitely agree with the OP.

I guess other titles that did that are Kotor 1 and 2 (though once you reach the end of 2 you're in for some disapointment)

Dragon Age was pretty awesome for me too, it was hard to put it down.

Bioshock once you reach the last few levels just goes by so damn fast and crazy. The sudden twists in the plot happening all at once in the last few minutes of the game are adhesive!

Deus Ex as one other poster said.

Freelancer was pretty damn good too.

Civilization 5 is actually doing that also. lol I find myself saying "Ok just 1 more turn" and about 30 turns later I curse because it's past 2am!

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

God of War for me.
I just had to see what face of Greek Mythology that Kratos was going to tear apart.

 

[Iandiaeufaieubfeuihfi]

Kingdom hearts 2.it gets me