View Poll Results: Does a good story matter to you in games?
Voters: 24. You may not vote on this poll
Does a good story matter to you in games?
#1
Inane Thread Master, 2018 TOTY
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Are any of us really anywhere?
Posts: 49,443
Received 912 Likes
on
772 Posts
Does a good story matter to you in games?
So branching off from RDR2 thread, which should be somewhere else anyway. does story matter to you when playing video games? or just gameplay or both?
for me story and gameplay matter, but i will always invest more if the story is compelling.
for me story and gameplay matter, but i will always invest more if the story is compelling.
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
Not necessarily. It just depends on the game. Some games I like the story for (the Arkham games, most of the GTA games, Red Dead), but sometimes I find the story boring but like the gameplay. Other times there’s not really much of a storyline and just level to level play through but I still enjoy the games (Mario titles for instance).
#4
DVD Talk Reviewer
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
Depends on the game, and the objectives of the game. And, as obnoxious as this might sound, it depends on one's definition of "story".
I don't need a good main plot if the world-building, sidequests, role-playing and/or dialogue are handled well.
For first-person shooters, yeah, I need a decent story to keep me going.
I don't need a good main plot if the world-building, sidequests, role-playing and/or dialogue are handled well.
For first-person shooters, yeah, I need a decent story to keep me going.
#5
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
If you're going to waste my time with dialog and cutscenes, you better be telling a worthwhile story.
If you aren't, then I don't care, but there needs to be a sense of progress through a game one way or another.
If you aren't, then I don't care, but there needs to be a sense of progress through a game one way or another.
#6
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
Depends on the game. For many action/racing/fighting games, gameplay is what it's about. Personally, I prefer games with a good story. But the gameplay has to be good as well. Otherwise, I'd be better off watching a movie/tv show instead of playing this game.
#7
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
As mentioned in the Red Dead thread, yes. Many of the single player games that I play are story focused, and despite opinions and slight insults/jabs otherwise, I find many of them excellent in that regard. There's something great about an interactive medium that puts the player in control that can bring out extra emotion and attachment to a character's journey.
That said, gameplay is often equally important and there are plenty of online shooters or puzzle games that are just about the game mechanics that I play. In those cases, I just like the competition or brain teaser.
That said, gameplay is often equally important and there are plenty of online shooters or puzzle games that are just about the game mechanics that I play. In those cases, I just like the competition or brain teaser.
Last edited by fumanstan; 10-24-18 at 12:56 AM.
#9
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
Typically I don't care about the story and think a lot of them are drawn out and unnecessarily convoluted and just take away from the game play personally. I don't mind transitional cut scenes to get from one level or mission to the next, but some of the games nowadays have full mini-movies between each playable levels and it is just tiresome and annoying. I only have a minute amount of time to play these days and having to suffer through 5 minutes of a cut scene just so I can kill some stuff drives me batty.
#12
Moderator
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
Story matters most. Obviously.
#14
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
I can't play a game if the gameplay is bad, period. I can still play and enjoy a game if the story is bad.
But generally speaking, a game with good gameplay can get me playing. A game with a good story to go along with the good gameplay can have me hooked and playing for hours on end.
But generally speaking, a game with good gameplay can get me playing. A game with a good story to go along with the good gameplay can have me hooked and playing for hours on end.
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
If it's a giant, open-world, game with a boatload of sidequests, I tend to forget the main storyline by the time I get to the endgame. Story matters more to me in games that don't let me deviate from the main plot very much.
#17
Moderator
#18
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
While I picked Just the gameplay, in reality it's both. However gameplay >>>>>> story.
I won't play a shit game, just for the story, but I'll certainly play a game with great gameplay, even if the story sucks.
I won't play a shit game, just for the story, but I'll certainly play a game with great gameplay, even if the story sucks.
#20
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
Not really. Just enough to get by, I guess.
I mean, a game is primarily meant to be fun - so does the story make it more fun, or less fun?
Something like Super Mario has amazing and fun gameplay that doesn't really need much, if any story. Something like Destiny is all about the shooting mechanics and loot, and the story is threadbare and provides a backdrop. IOW, more or less unnecessary.
Games that have ton of story (like Quantic Dream or Telltale games) have virtually no gamepalay, and I hesitate to even call those games - it's obvious that the makers of those "games" would much rather be making movies or TV shows.
And yet, even the best videogame story still pales in comparison to even the average movie or TV show. It's just not a great story-telling medium, and it can't be due to gameplay, and player choice.
I mean, a game is primarily meant to be fun - so does the story make it more fun, or less fun?
Something like Super Mario has amazing and fun gameplay that doesn't really need much, if any story. Something like Destiny is all about the shooting mechanics and loot, and the story is threadbare and provides a backdrop. IOW, more or less unnecessary.
Games that have ton of story (like Quantic Dream or Telltale games) have virtually no gamepalay, and I hesitate to even call those games - it's obvious that the makers of those "games" would much rather be making movies or TV shows.
And yet, even the best videogame story still pales in comparison to even the average movie or TV show. It's just not a great story-telling medium, and it can't be due to gameplay, and player choice.
#21
Re: Does a good story matter to you in games?
I think Mafia 3 is a great example for this conversation. There is no way I would have completed that game and all of the DLC if I wasn't interested in the story since the gameplay and mission variety was so repetitive.