Do you care about video game stories?

[Zer]

I used to, but honestly the story is phoned in B movie bullshit in most games. It's just so hard to give a shit while hearing the same cookie cutter narrative over and over. I'd say in the last 5 years the only games I've played with good writing were rpgs on steam. Consoles seem to have given up on any rpgs that aren't SUPER weeb. Lookin at you Tails series and every FF since seven.

Try some Nihon Falcom JRPG's bro (Quite a few of them on Steam). I played the Trails in the Sky games and they ended up giving me the same feeling I had when I first played FF7 all those years ago. Such a rich setting and cast of characters

 

[GtehMVP]

Unless I'm playing some rhythm/sports game, I need a reason to carry on, so story is very important to me. I especially love optional Lore scattered around, on top of a compelling story. Having choices that matter is also important, like in Witcher 3/Fallout New Vegas.

Even if I'm playing a strategy game, I want some purpose in the campaign, I'm not much a multiplayer guy anymore.

 

[Hearse Lightning]

Ya but right now I'm playing Shadow Of War and holy shit I can't bring myself to care about any of the feebs in that story.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Ya but right now I'm playing Shadow Of War and holy shit I can't bring myself to care about any of the feebs in that story.

Yeah, I loved Shadow of Mordor and couldn't care less about the story. Its one of the few games I skipped many cutscenes.

Only character I liked was the blonde chick.

I'll probably pick up the sequel sometime, whenever they release the main game with DLC in a cheap bundle.

 

[MCS]

It kills replayability, especially if it's story-driven and/or can't skip cutscenes.

But some games like MGS 4 (not for everyone) depend on it. It sets the stage for you to get invested in the action that follows.

Some others do it via lore, like the Souls series. Heavy emphasis on gameplay, huge replay value because of it.

Story has to be told well, otherwise you get a Tomb Raider that shines in most areas, but bores you with a weak as hell plot.

 

[Hollywood Jack]

The latest Red Dead Redemption trailer got me thinking. I really don't give a shit about stories in video games. Occasionally I'll get hooked in, The Last of Us, for example. But 9 times out of 10 I skip the cutscenes. I play games to play and I can't stand sitting there watching some B movie bullshit. So why so much emphasis on the story, Rockstar? Its not like this is The Shawshank Redemption part 2. What say you?

I feel like the best publishers, like Rockstar or Naughty Dog, do develop story lines and writing that draws you in as well as the game play. At a certain point, you've already seen the story enough that you just want to skip ahead to the game play, but I want to be drawn in by the story first. Story isn't everything, though. For instance, I thought the story and writing was better for Grand Theft Auto 4 than Grand Theft Auto 5, but GTA 5 was still the superior game.

If Rockstar is known for creating compelling stories in games, and Red Dead Redemption was hailed as a classic in large part for its story and writing, why wouldn't you expect that in the sequel? Just sit back, relax and when RDR2 drops I'm sure they'll have something for everybody, including those that don't give a shit about stories, although to me, skipping cutscenes in the first playthrough of a game like RDR is criminal.

 

[rob mafia]

although to me, skipping cutscenes in the first playthrough of a game like RDR is criminal.

i think that's why fema camps were created.

 

[Woldog]

Far Cry 3 I wanted to see how the story played out
Fallout 4 I cared until I found his son then I stopped caring
Kingdome Come couldn't have given a shit about the story just wanted to belt people with a sword
Skyrim I didn't care about the story see above answer
GTA V story didn't matter
GTA San Andreas story mattered to me
GTA Vice City half cared half didn't
GTA 3 didn't care at all about the story
World of warcraft I half care about the story, but I also don't bother to read any of the quests and why I'm doing them.
Fallout 3 Cared about the story
Fallout new Vegas didn't care

 

[Magooglie]

I like to play RPGs so I like to have a decent story.

 

[ThulsaDooom]

Depends on the genre. An rpg needs at least a decent story but some games with emergent stories you've shaped through gameplay and a campaign are more appealing to me these days like XCOM 2, Total War games, etc.

If Chris Avellone wrote the story then I care.

Man, have you seen the dirt he's been dishing out about Obsidian, specifically the management there? Whoo boy. Tarnishes the company a lot in my eyes and I was looking forward to PoE: Deadfire.

 

[MUSTKILL]

When I was younger, story lines from games like Final Fantasy 7, Chrono Trigger, Shenmue, Star Wars: KOTOR, and a few others pulled me in.
Now a days, I don't give 2 shits about the story lines in games. Even in great games like Zelda: BOW and God Of War don't do it for me. I notice the only games that get me motivated to play are competitive online games.
When I play singleplayer games I quickly realize the meta objectives and grind they try to put on you to extend the gameplay time. It just feels so lifeless to me.

 

[foxnoob]

First cut scene heavy game I remember playing was Ground Zero Texas for Sega CD.

Not for me.

FF7 only exception.

Competitive player vs player games only or I feel nothing.

 

[James Baller]

Great games don't need great stories.

 

[SmilinDesperado]

I need a story to stay interested in a game.
Otherwise, i don't play games for too long--so I don't buy many these days.
The last game i played with a decent story was probably Dragon Age: Inquisition..and that was just decent..not great.
FF XV and Mass Effect Andromeda let me down, big time. I find it pretty crazy how i haven't really found many games with strong stories. Seems like all the creativity gets put into the design than the story.

 

[Michaelangelo]

i used to but nowadays just want to get to the action

the lastest God of War starts off so slow that i was praying for it to get to the damn action already

 

[Makani]

If the gameplay and world are superb, meh. If your gameplay is boring, I'd better have a reason to be doing it. If your gameplay and story are trash, you just might be Diablo 3. I mostly play roguelikes, so story usually means nothing to me. Just give me obstacles and a reasonable chance of overcoming them. But then I'll play the Witcher, and a simplistic combat system is totally overpowered by a world of intriguing stories and characters.

Recently, I pre-ordered Battletech. Story is trash, but I wasn't even considering the story. To be honest, it would almost be better without one. But the combat is fun and the grind is satisfying for a while. Vermintide 2, same diff. The story is just a reason to put me in front of a horde of ratmen and rotbloods. But, if say the new Dragon Quest drops and it's just a typical tropefest, I would be pretty pissed, aside from the casinos and side-missions.

 

[Strange King]

I need a good story or i dont care about the game

 

[deviake]

Story is huge for me and some of the best, most profound, stories I've ever come across - possibly the best - were experienced in video games, not so much because video games have the best stories of any medium, but because a good/great story combined with the way you experience it playing a game can have a big impact. MGS1, FFVII, and KOTOR come to mind.

That said, it depends, and gameplay is probably the overall biggest factor for me, because if a game isn't fun to play, it defeats the purpose of playing. A great story can make me forgive so-so gameplay though. Atmosphere is also underrated in games.

Overall yes, but it depends on the genre and the game.

 

[StabbyMcHatchet]

I don't care in shooters, but in the Witcher III I liked the story, or at least so far I do. Still haven't finished it and it has been shelved lately.

 

[Rygu]

I usually don't, but that was until I started playing the Deus Ex series.