The Most Engrossing Story You've Ever Experienced From a Game?

I've been seeing a lot of discussion about story, and the like in these threads lately. So i thought why not? There is much debate to what game or series has the best story telling and narrative and things of that sort, so why not bring the discussion here? Just please do tell why you felt so engaged in the story, not just a game title. For me, i thought that Final Fantasy VII had a brilliant story, but then again, i played the game at its release and may just be a fan boy or a victim to nostalgia. At the time the effects really drew me in, and i actually felt driven to stop the games antagonists. And the plot twists and unexpected moments of the game, just all really made it so much fun to play, ive played through this game at least 5 times. Well thats my thought of this.. feel free to share yours.

SMT Persona 3 holds that title for me today,

used to be FFX, but it has since lost some of its value(2nd RPG ever played)

MGS 1 was the best outside of RPGs.

Metal Gear Solid 1

I cried when Sniper Wolf died. ='(

When I was a kid every japanese rpg engrossed me.

Today... ehhhh... Metal Gear!

Suikoden II.

Why? Because it was character driven instead of fetch-quest driven, if you know what I mean. ;)

-KOTOR

-Mass Effect

-Call of Duty 4

any game where the characters not remembering large chunks of their lives as plot devices!AtomicTangerine

Haha.

Grim Fandango: Lucasarts' pinnacle.

Loom: Lucasarts' pinnacle before Grim Fandango.

Planescape Torment: One of the best D&D stories ever told.

Monkey Island II: Strange and wonderful.

ICO: It reduced me to tears.

Death Knights of Krynn: Nerdy, but loveable story.

Final Fantasy VII: Text boxes don't serve this game well, but it delivered.

GTA San Andreas kept me engrossed. The plot twists kept me surprised and interested; I really wanted to stop Big Smoke. All the characters felt really unique (in a sterotypical sort of way) all the voice acting was well done and hilarious.

Final Fantasy 7 and Metal Gear Solid are other great games for the storytelling (but everyone will go on about them so I won't bother)

Bioshock

Freelancer (oldschool, I know)

All the Elder Scrolls games

Assassin's Creed

Even though I really dislike JRPG'ss, they're really the champs when it comes to engrossing you in story-line, it's just too much like reading a book, which is probably why I don't play them much anymore. If I wanted to read a book, I'd read a book damnit! otherwise, give me my freedom of choice!

Which is why I also think that Phoenix Wright is another game that is also a very good at immersing you in the storyline, I always get that feeling that I'm reading a book in that game. You really get involved in the cases and your imagination starts running wild recreating the cases.

even though its been said 1 billionx10^54 times...FF VII, if i said it wasnt my favorite story then i would be lieing to you.

Bioshock. The world they created in that game was incredible. It also had a plot twist that made you rethink everything you did up to that point.MKHavoc

I also thought Bioshock had an amazing story. And the atmosphere and eery effects and the audiobooks that gave you information ranging from lifestyles to dark secrets, the whole thing was just absolutely incredible. Id have to say this is my favorite story after FF VII.

Wow, I'm really surprised no ones's mentioned Uncharted: Drakes Fortune?

It's honestly the only game I can ever remember looking forward to the cutscenes and caring about the plot. Excellent writing and stellar production values. With gameplay as fun, and as varied as Uncharted's it really is underrated as hell.

Engrossing, not best yeah?

Metroid Prime.

Best storytelling I've ever seen in a game. :)

Probably super mario brothersangryfodder

what?!

I'd say GoW,FFX and MGS 2-3.

Edit: And Mafia. Best ending ever!

[QUOTE="angryfodder"]Probably super mario brothersazad_champ

what?!

I'd say GoW,FFX and MGS 2-3.

Edit: And Mafia. Best ending ever!

LOL - I was just mucking about ;)

Mafia is a good choice though - thinking back

Not too sure about GOW though - good game, good characters, fairly run of the mill story - and one that makes little sense

[QUOTE="azad_champ"]

[QUOTE="angryfodder"]Probably super mario brothersangryfodder

what?!

I'd say GoW,FFX and MGS 2-3.

Edit: And Mafia. Best ending ever!

LOL - I was just mucking about ;)

Mafia is a good choice though - thinking back

Not too sure about GOW though - good game, good characters, fairly run of the mill story - and one that makes little sense

I don't know. Whenever you complete a castle and there's a dude telling you that the princess is in another castle, the entire plot changes. Some unexpected twists indeed.

To me good characters and good storyline are in symbiot together. It takes a great game dev to create a great character and usually that character makes the entire storyline so much better. GoW storyline without Kratos is like a hamburger without the actual burger.