TricksterLoki
Member
Pretty good actually. Add nice back story to the games and fills in some little holes.
Edit: Ahh I didnt wait for the OP pics to load and didnt see them, sorry bout that.
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Books based on video games
- Thread starter Card Boy
- Start date
Pretty good actually. Add nice back story to the games and fills in some little holes.
Edit: Ahh I didnt wait for the OP pics to load and didnt see them, sorry bout that.
Lavalamp1138
Member
God of War
I'm not a book person but I found it a nice little read, covers a bit more on the god's side of things, a couple of things here and there are different to the game but nothing breaking, same basic plot as the first game but more condensed, less happens and of course more descriptive because you don't have the visuals. Made me want to crack out the game again.
This is an actual quote from the MGS novel:
“Merry Christmas,” Snake said as he delivered two power-house punches, left and then right, into the guards’ faces. The soldiers plopped to the floor. “I forgot to tell you – Christmas is early this year.”
“Merry Christmas,” Snake said as he delivered two power-house punches, left and then right, into the guards’ faces. The soldiers plopped to the floor. “I forgot to tell you – Christmas is early this year.”
So, I have a few questions...
What is the exact mentality when reading game novels? Is it solely to expand the game's lore, or is it approached as sound literature on it's own. If I said I felt as though these books -- in general -- were lower-tier literature written by lesser-tier authors, would that be terribly offensive and wrong? Honest question. No sarcasm here.
What is the exact mentality when reading game novels? Is it solely to expand the game's lore, or is it approached as sound literature on it's own. If I said I felt as though these books -- in general -- were lower-tier literature written by lesser-tier authors, would that be terribly offensive and wrong? Honest question. No sarcasm here.
For me yes. I like the Mass Effect universe, the books have alot of back story on that Universe.
The Mass Effect and Dragon Age books, have the writers from the games writing the books. Also Brandon Sanderson is famous and has writen video game books before.
Lavalamp1138
Member
It's probably a case-by-case thing, and I think these books can serve different purposes depending on the reader. The books can be gushy and full of fanservice, a deeper exploration of a game's universe, a means of fleshing out the behind-the-scenes stuff in games, or just a straight-up adaption of the game's events. Like, with Republic Commando, I got into the novels because I was interested in the game's narrative and concept, but there wasn't a sequel to play. The novels really let the writer, Karen Traviss, have fun with her creative freedom and she crafted a rich culture and cast of characters within the existing Star Wars universe that I could experience.
i just searched for this on amazon. gg wp
There's a thread on the book; I don't have the link handy but can be googled. I recall impressions being positive overall. It's on my to-read list.
I've read all the Warcraft books except maybe 1, the 3 Dragon Age novels, and the first 3 Halo books (First Strike, The Flood, Fall of Reach) and enjoyed them all. My brother read a Fable novel he said he liked. I really, really loved the Mass Effect universe but didn't really feel interested in the Mass Effect novels. Didn't seem like very interesting book material given what there was to work with, except maybe whichever book was about the Illusive Man's past.
Great thread!
I've been finding myself picking up lost of game-related books, because I'm one of those fans who likes to get into the lore and histories of the games' worlds, but the quality can really be up and down.
Assassin's Creed - Have the novelizations of all four games but have only finished the first one, and it really seemed geared to teenagers or younger readers. Started on the Secret Crusade and it was a little better. What I'm more interested in is one of the inspirations for AC:
I have the compilation of the Myst books, and it's excellent. If only it were illustrated!
F-Zero fans (and Japanese-reading fans), how about this piece of obscurity?
Also in Japanese: Ico and Parasite Eve. (Paid 10 yen for that last one; it's the inspiration for the game but has a different story.)
I also have Bioshock: Rapture and Metro 2033 (sold this for a ton on Amazon since it hadn't been released in the US). Haven't played Metro 2033 but really liked the book.
I also bought Isaac Asimov's End of Eternity, just last week, purely because of the game that took its title from it (aka Resonance of Fate). Haven't started reading it yet, but it's Asimov, so it's probably pretty good!
I've been finding myself picking up lost of game-related books, because I'm one of those fans who likes to get into the lore and histories of the games' worlds, but the quality can really be up and down.
Assassin's Creed - Have the novelizations of all four games but have only finished the first one, and it really seemed geared to teenagers or younger readers. Started on the Secret Crusade and it was a little better. What I'm more interested in is one of the inspirations for AC:
I have the compilation of the Myst books, and it's excellent. If only it were illustrated!
F-Zero fans (and Japanese-reading fans), how about this piece of obscurity?
Also in Japanese: Ico and Parasite Eve. (Paid 10 yen for that last one; it's the inspiration for the game but has a different story.)
I also have Bioshock: Rapture and Metro 2033 (sold this for a ton on Amazon since it hadn't been released in the US). Haven't played Metro 2033 but really liked the book.
I also bought Isaac Asimov's End of Eternity, just last week, purely because of the game that took its title from it (aka Resonance of Fate). Haven't started reading it yet, but it's Asimov, so it's probably pretty good!
The stalker game is based loosely on the novel roadside picnic. There are however at least 80 books set in the game universe now. (aside from anomalies and the zone stalker and roadside picnic have little in common). Metro 2033 the game was adapted from the novel Metro 2033
mcz117chief
Member
edit: darn, didn't check the dates
It does seem to have pretty good reviews so I can imagine it being worth it.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28503989-deus-ex
Is this any good?
It does seem to have pretty good reviews so I can imagine it being worth it.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28503989-deus-ex
CosmicRomancer
Member
Real talk.
Yeah if I was gonna read any book related to a video game, it would be these.
ambientsound
Neo Member
Have the last two in hardcover, would love to get the first as well. Fantastic series. enhanced my love of the games immensely.
CosmicRomancer
Member
That's what I hope they would do. Glad you've enjoyed them.
Fahzgoolin
Banned
Always wanted to read the MYST books, but they aren't available anywhere. I think I can buy them used on Amazon though.
