Story vs. Gameplay

Just doing this again because I wonder if our answers have changed. The poll was pretty close last time and if I remember correctly, gameplay had pulled ahead of story and won after losing everyone's vote at first.

So, I come to you again, curious about which of the two compells you to play through a game to the finish, or to play it over and over again.

Addictive gameplay or immersive story?

Story for me.

Case in point:

Assassin's Creed - Everyone says it's repetitive as hell, and while I agree, it has one of the most intriguing stories this gen as well as the most suspenseful cliffhanger rivaling the likes of the MGS series. Too many people rag on it for its gameplay without praising it for its adult thematics and interesting conflict.

Story for me. Each of my favorite games of all time all have amazing stories. The gameplay has to be solid too but the story is what sets a game apart from other games.

TC, I agree...story is king! I loved AC because of the story. I loved the game play, but after about the third mission it became very repetitive. Another one I am getting through is Bioshock. I am not a big fan of fps. don't get me wrong I play it, but not a huge fan of the first person views. Orange Box is sitting on my shelf in queue to be played. I heard it was an awesome story!

For games I think gameplay is more important. Crappy gameplay will put me off a game far moreso than a crappy story. I think I said the same thing in your last poll.

For games I think gameplay is more important. Crappy gameplay will put me off a game far moreso than a crappy story. I think I said the same thing in your last poll.

Floppy_Jim

It needs to be balanced.I mean if you have a compelling story but the gameplay puts you to sleep its gonna be overall a bad game.or if you have awesome gameplay but the story gives you a headache its gonna be bad game.

I have to go with gameplay. Although a strong story is always nice, I don't replay games for the story. Gameplay is usually what will attract me to a game since that is what I'll be spending a greater deal of my time on. If a game had terrible gameplay, but managed to have a good story, I don't think I could force myself to finish it. On the other hand, a game with good gameplay and a bad story would be doable for me since the gameplay is what I got the game for.

Don't get me wrong though, story is still very important, Games that have both a strong story and great gameplay (MGS, GoW, Fallout 3) are the ones that sell the best and get the highest ratings.

I'll say this time and time again, but having a good story means NOTHING if your game is boring, frustrating or just plain bad. You're playing a game and the main purpose of a game is to have fun. There is no point playing a game just for a good story, otherwise you could just be reading a book or watching a movie instead.

Seriously, do all you people voting story even know what a game is?

story is what keeps me entertained, but i can tolerate a game with only a great gameplay

I'll say this time and time again, but having a good story means NOTHING if your game is boring, frustrating or just plain bad. You're playing a game and the main purpose of a game is to have fun. There is no point playing a game just for a good story, otherwise you could just be reading a book or watching a movie instead. Silent-Hal

Gameplay, I neverd cared about a story in game, if I wanted to I would watch a movie or read a book instead. I just want to play the d*** game, and not be force to watch a cut scene because I can't skip it. This was a big issue with the ps2 games. :(

Gameplay .. easily.

I can't get into a story no matter how intriguing it is, if I have a problem actually playing the game itself ..

Dark Sector is the perfect example of why I prefer gameplay over story.

For games I think gameplay is more important. Crappy gameplay will put me off a game far moreso than a crappy story. I think I said the same thing in your last poll.

Floppy_Jim

Too hard.Good gameplay keeps me playing but good story is what makes me replay a game.Muridi

I agree. If the gameplay is not broken, or horrible, but not that fun, but story is interesting, I don't mind it. But if the gameplay is horrific, along with the sotry....no good.

Now a fun game, with a shallow story isn't bad at all. Makes it worthwhile, if I am having fun. But again, it all depends on the type of game.

Story is what keeps me playing. I can play and beat a game with so-so gameplay as long as the story is good, but I can't do the other way around. I want games to have direction.

Edit: I rarely replay games but if I do, it's because of the story. I want to see it again. Just like movies. Hehehe.

True.

I voted gameplay for this, since even though I float between both, Bioshock is a great example of how I hated the gameplay, and it was one of this gen's most "excellent stories". Didn't matter to me since it was like pulling teeth to play...RotaryRX7

[QUOTE="Floppy_Jim"]

For games I think gameplay is more important. Crappy gameplay will put me off a game far moreso than a crappy story. I think I said the same thing in your last poll.

Nephilim83

You guys are completely right about Red Faction; the story is ass but the destruction physics and other things just make the gameplay so much fun.

Oh, and Bioshock & Prototype are awesome :P

Gameplay. With a lot of games I have I don't even pay too much attention to the story.

Definitely gameplay.

In my opinion one can't be better than the other because i think they need a strong balance of them both. I would like an immersive story which plays well.

i like story more, but if the gameplay is bad then the story wont be as immersive.

In a game, gameplay always comes first for me.

You have to have both to make a great game, but I think I'd give a small edge to the story.

My favorite example : Bioshock.

I say both.

If I want story I would watch a movie or read a book, I have always preferred gameplay over story because I want to have fun playing the game.

Where's the 'Box Art' option? :|

For most of the games that I own, I play them for great gameplay moreso than the story . . . but for most games I consider my favorites, the story greatly surpasses the gameplay in quality, although both are typically enjoyable. Great stories are also much rarer, increasing their value.

In short, I'm torn because of this. Gameplay is why I buy and play most games, but the story is what makes a game memorable for me.

It boils down to this: if I'm guaranteed that both the story and the gamplay of a game will be acceptable, I'll say story is more important, because any wonderful story will memorable to me, so long as the gameplay doesn't make me hate the game.

However, if I have to choose between good story / bad gameplay and good gameplay / bad story, I'd say gameplay is more important. But here's one last point: most developers who the time and effort into crafting a great story will also make a game with acceptable gameplay. I honestly can't think of too many examples wherein a game with a fantastic story had piss-poor gameplay.

Basically, what I'm saying is that devs who have the capacity to make a great story are very likely to put gameplay around that is good enough for me. So, in the end, my choice goes to story.

Gameplay

I played Fallout 3 and I loved it and it basically had no story; It is all about the gameplay and setting.

Nothing beats a compelling story, for me. Just look at Final Fantasy games. The turn-based fighting style can become tedious, but the story always draws me in.

i kind of like both to be completley awesome so therefore i cant pick really

GOOD gameplay is asociated with fun. Story is more a mind stuff...and right now i have a headache so give me gameplay

For games I think gameplay is more important. Crappy gameplay will put me off a game far moreso than a crappy story. I think I said the same thing in your last poll.

Floppy_Jim

Gameplay, although I do love a great story, but a great story can't save a broken game.