How Important Is A Game's Story To You?

Simple question I guess.

Growing up on the Genesis in the early 90's and games with lack of any on-screen story other than beat the level, destroy the boss, repeat, end - have caused me to skip over cutscenes during the PS2 generation (except for games that I couldn't). Only during this generation have I really started to watch cutscenes, but they still aren't important to me and don't really affect my enjoyment of a game at all.

Also, does a game's story have an effect on buying the game or not. I know most people expect great story lines from Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy games and I'm sure that's a big factor in deciding to buy them.

Just curious.

Very important! It gets me motivated :)Kenbo325

yeah really important for most genres. except in fighting games, platformers, or rpgslinkrulz

Level design > mechanics > replay value > variety >story > graphics > music > sound effects.NBSRDan

Gameplay first then story for me.. :P.. i'll keep playing a game as long as its fun.. :D.

I don't need a good story, I need good characters and good story telling. Star Ocean series has always had lack luster stories but I always found that they displayed the characters well, and told the story relatively well. I always enjoy them

A storyline in a game for me is very important. It doesn't matter if the game looks and plays great, if the story is crap it highlights the thought "what's the point". I like to feel that i've achieved something when i play a game, not just played it for the sake of it.

A story is important to me, because it helps to put all of the action in a proper context and makes it more worthwhile and compelling. I don't get as much enjoyment out of games with very shallow plots.

In terms of priority: Gameplay>Story>Graphics.

Depends on the genre.

In sports and fighting games, I don't give a R@t's @$$ about story.

In action adventure game, good story can improve things greatly, but not essential (Force Unleashed, Ninja Gaiden, etc has horrible story but I can enjoy them)

In RPGs, garbage story = garbage game.

Yup, story is very important. Sad to say i think i have become a graphics whore as well. Hard to even go back to ps2 graphics for me. The only old game i can play without getting bored is counterstrike 1.6.

Level design > mechanics > replay value > variety >story > graphics > music > sound effects.NBSRDan

a good story can make the game more interesting. It also helps to flesh out why you are doing, or need to do, certain actions. In some games, the story is very neccessary.

I consider it one of the most important aspects of a game. I'll play any game with mediocre gameplay if its story/characters are excellent if it piques my interest, however I won't play a game with a bad story unless it has really enjoyable gameplay and high replayability.

A story is important but the cutscenes shouldn't be an hour long, like in metal gear solid 4, its all talking and explaining things so it puts me to sleep.

It's right behind Gameplay for me. A good story is nice, but if the game isn't very fun I most likely will not play through it.

A game that combines excellent story with excellent gameplay is a massive plus, obviously.

In RPG's Very important

Honestly, it all depends on the genre.

In RPGs, adventure, action, strategy, even figthing (only if you are really that interested in the background stories of each character and the world behind it), I would think they are important.

But in things like sports, as in baseball, basketball, etc? No. Not at all. Wrestling games...I don't think that it is important unless you really love that sort of thing. In my case, a wrestling game is there to just have fun and beat up your friends and their favorite wrestlers.

Story is very important in a game to me unless it's fps or something

Simple question I guess.

Growing up on the Genesis in the early 90's and games with lack of any on-screen story other than beat the level, destroy the boss, repeat, end - have caused me to skip over cutscenes during the PS2 generation (except for games that I couldn't). Only during this generation have I really started to watch cutscenes, but they still aren't important to me and don't really affect my enjoyment of a game at all.

Also, does a game's story have an effect on buying the game or not. I know most people expect great story lines from Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy games and I'm sure that's a big factor in deciding to buy them.

Just curious.

Depends on the genre (ex: I expect an rpg to have a better story than a shooter)thisguy51

Story is very important in a game to me unless it's fps or something

Xenogears_Rocks

Level design > mechanics > replay value > variety >story > graphics > music > sound effects.NBSRDan

I especially hate games that force the story on you with long unskippable cutscenes. For example the other week I started to play okami. The intro is just absolutely disgusting to me. The game forces you to read about the story in an unskippable sequence for 17 boring as hell minutes. 17 minutes before I get to play the game part of the actual game? Unacceptable. Some games at least have cool cutscenes to explain the story. This was mostly just pictures making you read it. If I want to read for 17 minutes I'll read a book, not turn on my PS2.

[QUOTE="NBSRDan"]Level design > mechanics > replay value > variety >story > graphics > music > sound effects.burgeg

I especially hate games that force the story on you with long unskippable cutscenes. For example the other week I started to play okami. The intro is just absolutely disgusting to me. The game forces you to read about the story in an unskippable sequence for 17 boring as hell minutes. 17 minutes before I get to play the game part of the actual game? Unacceptable. Some games at least have cool cutscenes to explain the story. This was mostly just pictures making you read it. If I want to read for 17 minutes I'll read a book, not turn on my PS2.

Although i posted in this thread stating that games must have a story, otherwise what point is there to play ie what are you achieving? I have read your post and i kinda do get what your saying. 17 minutes is a bit ridiculous, especially if it's reading and not vocal narrative. Have you seen the opening sequence for onimusha 3? It's quite long but totally awesome. It's strange cause i always enjoyed watching the cut scenes with the enhanced graphics and telling me more about why I'm actually going to sit here for more hours playing the game. I guess i just don't see what there is to achieve if there is no purpose for doing what your doing. By skipping story orientated cut scenes, for me that is what would be happening.

Whenever I make a big game purchase, I'm looking for good characters and story. Minor purchases ) I bu just for the gameplay, but they're usually less memorable experiences. So to answer your question, yes, story and characters are the two most important things in games to me. in game's story we need to have funDrlionheart2003

When it comes to RPGs, FPSs/third person shooters, and adventures, story takes precedence over everything else, including the gameplay aspect. I don't want to just spend my time completing mundane tasks and maiming stuff....I want to be taken on an journey, where I can be taken unawares by the unexpected and to have my emotions fully engaged in a chromatic mosaic of sadness, joy, excitement, and exasperation.

I want something that will leave a lasting impression on me for years to come bladesofathena

I agree with these two.

It depends. For JRPGs it's very important. For Survival Horror games, it can be important ... but it isn't always. I'm able to enjoy a game called Deep Fear for Sega Saturn because the cinematics are fun to watch and the gameplay is fun as well. On the other hand, I have trouble enjoying Final Fantasy XII because of the problems with the storytelling an d I flat out quit playing Tales of Symphonia because it was so bad.

[QUOTE="burgeg"]

[QUOTE="NBSRDan"]Level design > mechanics > replay value > variety >story > graphics > music > sound effects.bobomb64

I especially hate games that force the story on you with long unskippable cutscenes. For example the other week I started to play okami. The intro is just absolutely disgusting to me. The game forces you to read about the story in an unskippable sequence for 17 boring as hell minutes. 17 minutes before I get to play the game part of the actual game? Unacceptable. Some games at least have cool cutscenes to explain the story. This was mostly just pictures making you read it. If I want to read for 17 minutes I'll read a book, not turn on my PS2.

Although i posted in this thread stating that games must have a story, otherwise what point is there to play ie what are you achieving? I have read your post and i kinda do get what your saying. 17 minutes is a bit ridiculous, especially if it's reading and not vocal narrative. Have you seen the opening sequence for onimusha 3? It's quite long but totally awesome. It's strange cause i always enjoyed watching the cut scenes with the enhanced graphics and telling me more about why I'm actually going to sit here for more hours playing the game. I guess i just don't see what there is to achieve if there is no purpose for doing what your doing. By skipping story orientated cut scenes, for me that is what would be happening.

For me I would have to say that the story is very important when playing most video games. There are occasions where story takes a back seat like in doom. But things like Mass Effect need an engaging story otherwise I won't get pulled in to wanting to finish.

Flashback on the mega drive was probably the first game that I played with a decent story line that made me want to play to the end to see what happened

It's notvery important to me. Even if a game's story is good, I don't pay much attention to it and sometimesI evenhave a hard time following it.

The story is not important to me most of the time. To me I care about the gameplay alot more.