Is it possible to have a good story AND a good game?

After thinking for a while I'm going to have to say no, in order to have a good flexible game your going to need a flexible story, meaning it will have to be vague and compliment the game, as an excuse one would say to let the player have kick ass scenarios. When you want a good story in a game, however, the game has to compliment the story limiting the amount of control a player has over what he can do in-game and producing a linear experience, linear games aren't necessarily a bad thing, just a different way of playing but in order to have a good story the way the developer wants it to be your going to have to restrict certain things a player can do. So not only are you going forward without looking back, but there isn't much you can do as well, example: you can't kill Alyx in Half Life 2.

Games like Deus Ex have the story and game become a part of each other, letting the player choose the way they want the story to go as how they'd like to play. Unfortunately it could have been executed better, you can usually see the results of your choices a mile away (you usually had restricted choices, attempt to apprehend a criminal or talk to him, clearly the first choice will result in a gun fight) and the game did start getting repetitive after a while.

You really ought to play star wars kotor, it comes probably comes closer to doing what you're talking about than any other game.UT_Wrestler

KOTAR is very very linear compared to the older WRPG's....their are bassiclly 2 paths in the story, and they are polor opposites of each other.

The more choices that a game has story-wise, the less detailed the story normally is. It's hard for game writers to be able to create an epic story, while still allowing the player to have alot of choice on how the story works. There's just too many paths that the player can take, and if the writer were to flesh out that story for each of those paths, it would take them a large amount of time.

Besides, the less the story is told, the more that freedom is shown to the player, as there isn't much told about what is happening, and quite a bit is left up to the player.

Whereas, you'd normally find an epic, richly told story in a game that doesn't have that many options, and would be quite linear, as it's easier for the game designers to fit the game to the story.

The problem is though, that as levels or sections of games are cut (becuase of time constraints) you can be left with fairly large plot holes, which is probably why alot of games don't have a deep story, as those level cuts could become fairly obvious.

Technically, your question is a matter of opinion, but the Metal Gear series is good because of the story and gameplay, imo.JerseyJ2007

I agree. MGS has a great story and never seems to disappoint with the gameplay. Other games have that too, like Summoner and Silent Hill imo.

Just a few that come to mind...

Planescape Torment
Baldur's Gate 2
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Those right there are examples of games that don't stick to a ridgedly linear story, and provide multiple outcomes and choices where each path still makes up an excellent story.

[QUOTE="UT_Wrestler"]You really ought to play star wars kotor, it comes probably comes closer to doing what you're talking about than any other game.cobrax25

KOTAR is very very linear compared to the older WRPG's....their are bassiclly 2 paths in the story, and they are polor opposites of each other.

True, but it has a far more fleshed out story than traditional wrpgs.

Both God of War games has a really great story and game play, Devil May Cry, even Eternal Darkness on the GameCube had a good story, although the game play was great it wasn't all that bad.CADMAN_3

God of War and Devil May Cry have great stories? :lol: . Compared to what? Pong?

You're comparing the choices of RPGs and applying them to all games- a little unfair, don't you think?

You're comparing the choices of RPGs and applying them to all games- a little unfair, don't you think?

Frankly, I'm getting pretty irritated with games that provide almost no story getting astronomical reviews. It's a bit unfair that some games need the total package to get high scores while others get a pass when lacking in something.Vampyronight

mass effect ahs a really good story and its a very good game, same with h3, and cod 4.

Everyone has brought up obvious examples like action-RPGs, RPG-shooters, but I'll throw in one no one has mentioned.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.

Extremely fun platformer gameplay with a story that I really got into. I was genuinely sad for the Prince and his lost love. I don't think I've ever played a "platformer" that had a story that captivated me that much.

I think Splinter Cell (and it's sequels) intergrated a great story into gameplay better than most other games. Although essentially linear, you feel totally in control of how you complete your mission, with the storyline and characters gaining it's greatest depth through earpiece chatter from the 3rd echelon team all while you play rather than cut-scenes. Any constraints feel realistic because of the sensitivity of your work as an 'invisible' agent, and every action you take seems important!

I can list several games which have a great story AND great gameplay:

• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• Half-Life 2, plus subsequent episodes
• Baldurs Gate II, Throne of Baal & Shadow of Amn
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
• Bioshock
• Mass Effect
• Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
• Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (not as good as SoT though)
• Fahrenheit (aka Indigo Prophecy)
• The Longest Journey
• Max Payne
• Max Payne 2

Technically, your question is a matter of opinion, but the Metal Gear series is good because of the story and gameplay, imo.JerseyJ2007

I agree, its all a matter of "opinion", personally I have played plenty of games that have a good story that gameplay to back them up, don't know what type of games you are playing, but your not playing the right games.

Metal Gear Solid

KotOR

Many RPGs

System Shock

Bioshock

Bioshock had an interesting story but brought nothing new in terms of gameplay. I would say Max Payne is a good contender for story AND gameplay.