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Favorite story in a video game

The masterclass in storytelling.

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It's a little weird and sort of minor, but Zeke's character arc in Infamous 2 is the most human and sympathetic story I've encountered in gaming
 
Xenoblade Chronicles was the most enjoyable for me. I'm really not that much into fantasy settings but the sci-fi elements combined with the fantasy elements were, what really made the game great for me. The finale blew my mind because there were multiple things that i absolutely did not see coming which is always great to experience (at least when it somehow makes sense and imo, that is the case with this game).

Another very enjoyable story for me is Virtue's Last Reward. Mainly because of the mystery surrounding everything and the slow but steady information gathering ultimately leading to a crazy, yet very cool ending. Haven't played Zero Time Dilemma yet but can't wait to start my playthrough next week.

After those, MGS3 and Mass Effect 1 were also fantastic.
 
Demon's Souls had me up at night thinking about some of the shit that went on in that game. Probably the first game i've played that can instill a sense of mystery, dread and facination to that degree
 
If series count then Legacy of Kain.

If I have to pick a single game then Final Fantasy Tactics.

Mass Effect series to round out the trifecta.
 
For me:

Xenoblade Chronicles
- Really resonated with me. Loved the story, had my jaw on the floor multiple time throughout, and the characters were great.

To The Moon
- The only game to ever make me cry, the story, while not the most complex, has so much heart, and it is pretty much weaponized feels in video game form

Spec Ops: The line
- I know, I know, Its very similar to its source material, but hot damn they execute it well.
Edge of your seat, head trip kind of story. Lots of clever stuff to see the second time around.

999/VLR/ Probably ZTD (Havent played yet :( )
- This series, the best kind of video game story, one that uses the medium to great effect, and screws with your head. I love it :D
 
Planescape Torment trumps all others, no contest. But other than that:

The Witcher series (3 especially),
Gone Home
Firewatch
Silent Hill 2
SOMA
Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs

to name a few :)
 
Probably Final Fantasy IV. It's very basic by today's standards, but it had a lot of twists and turns the first time through it, and a couple feel good moments
(dark elf cave, Edward singing - Rydia showing up grown up to save you from Golbez - People from the rest of the game reviving your party at the end against the final boss)
that kept you plugging along. I also loved the way your party composition was tied to story, so you had to work with what you had during some challenging segments of the game.

It gets a little weird on the
moon
, but it was probably the first "epic" story I've ever been through in a video game. I still replay this game every few years.
 
Silent Hill 2

Spec Ops: The Line

For similar reasons, interestingly enough, but disclosing them would be spoilery, but vaguely, they both thematically deal with characters who have different views than that of reality.
 
The Halo Universe, well up until 5.

As for a single game's story, BioShock, Red Dead Redemption, Spec Ops: The Line, The Walking Dead Game (S1), and Wolfenstein: The New Order come to mind.

Edit: forgot MGS3.
 
Xenogears, Xenosaga, Star Ocean, NiER.

I just really wish Xenosaga ep 2 didn't drop the ball like that. It in itself was interesting as a Rubedo/Nigredo/Albedo story piece, but not the world in general.
 
Certainly some of my favourite ones are:

The Talos Principle
The Stanley Parable
Portal 1&2
Bloodborne (a lot of research is needed... but it's all very well thought out. I know some won't agree with the choice. It's a "story" that like Dark/Demon's Souls probably can only be told through this medium...)
The Last of Us
The entire Witcher series
Mass Effect series
Final Fantasy IX
 
Mass Effect, The Witcher (trilogy), Wolf Among Us and Portal are the standouts for me.

Also like putting together all the lore and history of the Elder Scrolls games.
 
The Last of Us

Red Dead Redemption

Bioshock Infinite

I love the story, but if I had to say favorite... I'd go with SWKOTOR 2, though I'm sad it'll be left in its incomplete state, even with the restored content mod.

KOTOR 2 for me too. Even though I consider Revan to be one of the best Star Wars characters, the Exile and everything revolving around him was somehow even more intriguing.

Gonna go with a less known story here.

Prince of Persia '08

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This is a beautiful game and everyone should play through it at least once. Going zone to zone, reclaiming the beauty and color of the environments and learning more about the characters along the way made for a very rewarding experience to me. I became really attached to these characters by the end which made "the choice" at its conclusion carry a ton of weight.

I still replay this game every 1-2 years. My 4 year old daughter is playing through it now. You should too.

The game has one of my favourite endings of all time.
Destroying everything you fought for in order to save Elika was a great moment.
 
MGS2....oh, well.

Hmm. Witcher 3 is a wip for me...

Silent Hill 2 or Persona 4 Golden?

SH2 I saw an LP of but P4G...I loved those characters and the world of Inaba so damn much and when A Corner of Memory started at the end... ipromisedmyselfiwouldnotcry.gif

Deus Ex or Dark Souls 1 maybe.

Deus Ex is corny and cheesy but well done (for the time) X Files esque paranoia, but it all just works together really well. It doesn't take itself seriously.

Dark Souls 1...before I actually beat it I was down on the whole series, thinking its lore was overrated but the story and lore behind DS1 is amazing. Feels much easier to comprehend than Bloodborne, which just confuses me (even though I understand a lot of it).

I'll have a soft spot for FFVII but mainly because I subscribe to some of the Ultimania stuff which makes it more interesting, imo.

But yeah. I'm watching Person of Interest now but it makes me appreciate MGS2's story more, and how weirdly but obviously prophetic Kojima + co were.
 
I'm 100% sure this is an unpopular opinion, but my favorite would go to The World Ends With You. Probably because it feels a bit personal, dealing with modern society, friendship, and how we perceive ourselves and each other.
 
Xenogears: My top game of all time.

Nier, The new game story and the explanations Hurt so much !! (Are you ok Beepy)

FFVII: The Don Corleone Section alone is already all kinds of awesome. Dat HoneyBee Manor Song!!

Plus I actually was surprised that I liked the story of Bravely Default due to the huge twist, it had me like ohh ...damn thats some messed up stuff lol.... (Warning dont click on spoiler unless you've beaten the game or just dont care lol.)

Airy Lies

I know that I'm missing a lot more but off the top of my head those come to mind first.
 
The Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney original trilogy. They're separate games, but very much like episodes of a continuing and masterfully told story. Mystery, comedy and drama in equal measure. Effortlessly shifts between being utterly ridiculous and very serious and poignant. The third game is the best, but of all the individual stories/cases in the games I actually like case 4 from game 2 the most. Absolutely my favorite video game story ever.
 
Portal 2
Love the Carolyn / Cave Johnson story and how it was told.

Final Fantasy VII
First gane story that ever gripped me and it hasn't really been beaten since.

Final Fantasy IX
Replaying as an adult, the theme of memories holding it all together resonated much more. Plus it is a beautiful love story at it's core.

Bioshock
That twist. My jaw dropped.

Kingdom Hearts
Convoluted mess of a series but only if you try and summarise it intelligibly without experiencing the series. Time will tell if 3 wraps up the Xehanort saga well enough but it is incredibly charming.
 
This is a tough one. For years, it was Star Ocean 2. After growing up a bit, I like it less, though. The Last Of Us stuck with me more than most games do, but I think the answer has to be Virtue's Last Reward. I was glued to my Vita for three solid days until I had turned that entire game inside out.
 
My personal list in no particular order:

- Silent Hill 2
- Metal Gear Solid 2
- SOMA
- Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs
- BioShock series
- To The Moon
- Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
- Dear Esther
- Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
 
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