I brought it up myself in the post you quoted.
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Where is Gaf at - story or gameplay?
- Thread starter kerotan_eater
- Start date
I brought it up myself in the post you quoted.
It kind of feels like a false dichotomy. If the gameplay is decent, I find myself flocking to story oriented games. If the gameplay is mediocre however, I'm not even going to see that story, because after a few sessions of not really fun, I shelf the game.
So story.
Conversely however, I much prefer trash narrative with excellent gameplay (mario galaxy comes to mind) than trash gameplay, excellent narrative (e.g. Bioshock Infinite).
So gameplay.
But really story.
So story.
Conversely however, I much prefer trash narrative with excellent gameplay (mario galaxy comes to mind) than trash gameplay, excellent narrative (e.g. Bioshock Infinite).
So gameplay.
But really story.
For me it is gameplay>aestethics>>>>story.
There are very few games in which I am not enjoying the gameplay and will still finish due to the story. The only example that comes to mind is the Yakuza series. On the other hand I can think of many games I love yet have zero interest in the story. Metal Gear Rising for example. I have no clue or interest on what is happening story-wise yet I keep replaying it. If the visuals and setting don't appeal to me I am unlikely to play it.
There are very few games in which I am not enjoying the gameplay and will still finish due to the story. The only example that comes to mind is the Yakuza series. On the other hand I can think of many games I love yet have zero interest in the story. Metal Gear Rising for example. I have no clue or interest on what is happening story-wise yet I keep replaying it. If the visuals and setting don't appeal to me I am unlikely to play it.
I like my story when playing games like Heavy rain, or Deadly premonition but stories in games like uncharted, last of us, i could care less cause it's boring to me, the walk and gun gameplay just is meh..i would rather watch a movie version instead.
If only the characters in mass effect were fun/interesting like deadly premonition =/ cause the ME games do blend story and gameplay nicely.
If only the characters in mass effect were fun/interesting like deadly premonition =/ cause the ME games do blend story and gameplay nicely.
Gameplay for me, by a large margin.
It's what I play games for. If I want an engrossing story, I'll read a book or watch a movie, but I will never go for a game that focuses on the story far more than gameplay.
If there's a balance of fantastic gameplay and a fantastic story, then great, but unfortunately that is very, very rare. So many games these days, at least in my view, have a decent narrative but mediocre gameplay. It makes me somewhat sad that so many developers are shooting for the cinematic experience such as this. When games have cutscenes for longer than a few minutes, it just gets on my nerves.
If the gameplay is fun and awesome, however, I'd happily play a game that's just about a man finding his shoes. It's all about the gameplay and how fun it is.
It's what I play games for. If I want an engrossing story, I'll read a book or watch a movie, but I will never go for a game that focuses on the story far more than gameplay.
If there's a balance of fantastic gameplay and a fantastic story, then great, but unfortunately that is very, very rare. So many games these days, at least in my view, have a decent narrative but mediocre gameplay. It makes me somewhat sad that so many developers are shooting for the cinematic experience such as this. When games have cutscenes for longer than a few minutes, it just gets on my nerves.
If the gameplay is fun and awesome, however, I'd happily play a game that's just about a man finding his shoes. It's all about the gameplay and how fun it is.
It all depends on the game for me. Some games I play solely for the mechanics and some I play solely for the story but there are all kinds of in-betweens. I was playing a little bit of the first Mass Effect the other night and was reminded how much I played that game for the story since the gameplay is kinda middling on consoles. It's great when a game nails both story and gameplay but I try to look for the positives and enjoy what is good about the games I end up playing.
CoyoteSpitfire
Member
Gameplay is more important overall. Great gameplay can make me forgive a mediocre story.
The opposite is rarely true.
For example: Bayonetta
The opposite is rarely true.
CharminUltra
Member
Gameplay >>>>>>>>> Story
It doesn't help that video game stories are mostly crap or extremely cliche. It's almost like video games inherit all the refuse the movie industry doesn't want, and that's saying something.
I'm particularly miffed by games that eschew fun game mechanics in order to focus on story or simply to make some point. Of course, it is natural for some games like JRPGs or P&C adventure games to focus a bit more on story than usual and that's ok as long as it's done tastefully. Games in which gameplay plays second fiddle to story (i.e. games that interrupt you every five minutes to show you a cutscene, make you walk slowly to force you to listen to dialog, prevent you from doing certain things because otherwise the story wouldn't make sense, or games that just consist entirely of QTEs, etc.) make me sick.
Games don't need "deep" stories (lol) or social commentary to be art. Games are already art and gameplay is what makes them a special kind of art.
It doesn't help that video game stories are mostly crap or extremely cliche. It's almost like video games inherit all the refuse the movie industry doesn't want, and that's saying something.
I'm particularly miffed by games that eschew fun game mechanics in order to focus on story or simply to make some point. Of course, it is natural for some games like JRPGs or P&C adventure games to focus a bit more on story than usual and that's ok as long as it's done tastefully. Games in which gameplay plays second fiddle to story (i.e. games that interrupt you every five minutes to show you a cutscene, make you walk slowly to force you to listen to dialog, prevent you from doing certain things because otherwise the story wouldn't make sense, or games that just consist entirely of QTEs, etc.) make me sick.
Games don't need "deep" stories (lol) or social commentary to be art. Games are already art and gameplay is what makes them a special kind of art.
CecilRousso
Member
Being a big fan of strategy games, sports games, racing games and puzzle games, I cannot really see how story can be important then gameplay.
I enjoy story even though often times game stories aren't as good as stories in other mediums but I like experience a tale with that sense of player agency. Telltale's Walking Dead for example has rather boring gameplay in my opinion but the story and characters make it something that I consider worth experiencing.
That's one nice thing about gaming though in that there are all kinds of titles for all kinds of tastes.
Hipster Cthulhu
Banned
If I was forced to choose, Story over Gameplay as I live games that play well but my Favourite ones are have amazing Stories.
e.g
e.g
You re right but I consider GOTY threads are the one that should or actually do have the most answers from gaffers.
Either way,this trend of story centric development is more than worrying. It already killed several genres such as arena FPS or old school turn based RPGs.