How important is a storyline to a videogame?

The story is the most important part of a game , in a good game like metal gear all other game elements such as gameplay , character desin or graphic are connected to the story

for i story is right behind gameplay. i cant play a game if it is too hard to handle or doesnt feel right

According to Denis Dyack, it's very important.

Just look at the godly Too Human.

Miyamoto should take a leaf out of him. Then maybe, just maybe, he can make some really memorable Mario games.

It depends of the game. Mass Effect for example is one of my favourite games this gen just because its story. Its graphics and gameplay have too much flaws still the game is awesome. On the other hand some other genres dont need it to be great (Gears, CoD, etc)

A good storyline is not important for everygame to have, but a good storyline is extremely important to a game's legacy.

hakanakumono

Like Super Mario? :P

I actually feel that no video game inherently needs a storyline to be good or memorable at all. It just so happens that people can and do appreciate a story for what it's worth.

The only games that seem to live or die by story are in the adventure genre. But even then, it's an issue with the stale nature of the 'adventure' as opposed to be being an inherent problem in the genre's design.

A lot. A big, if not the biggest, freaking lot.

A great story line is basically essentilal to a great games, like you said, there are exceptions, but not to many....

for rpg, it's very important

it's a nice thing to have a decent storyline in a video game, but it's not important. some of the games i liked have a mediocre storyline, like crysis and fallout 3.

Storyline is only second to gameplay for me. I hold storyline very highly and really it helps to get engrossed in a game and identify with the characters.

I'm one of those crazy people who will take storylines over gameplay almost half the time. For me, without an interesting storyline, I tend to lose interest in the game over time. Of course, there are always exceptions, but not too many.

waffle57

For us gamers who still find the most satisfaction out of turning the lights out late at night and playing through a single player campaign, I would say it is very important. For gamers who are more multiplayer junkies, not so much, lol.

A storyline is nice to have, but solid gameplay mechanics and graphics mean much more to me.

i dont really care about storyline

I get bored of most games these days if they don't offer a good storyline. It's practically a requirement for most games to have one for me. Or it just ends up being a very shallow experience. A good soundtrack really helps aswell. Sure I might play the odd multiplayer title or shooter title once in a while but it's just mindless fun that doesn't last long.

I think it depends, if its a multiplayer focused game, no story is really necessary (especially since for most FPSs you're talking about a 5 hour long campaign)

I wouldn't play many rpgs if they didn't have amazing plots

I liked Advent Rising because of the story, but the gameplay was iffy.

Story is wat makes me love a game (Zone of the Enders) Good Gameplay, I'll have fun but forget about the game fast (Gears of War)

Mass Effect, love that game cause of the story

It depends what kind of game it is. I only expect good stories in RPG's. All other games not so much. But I atleast expect some type of story. One of my main beefs with GeOW1 is that it had 0 story. The stpry came in a book. I mean come-on even Mario has a story to go off of.

I find a good storyline very important, but gameplay is always the thing I care most about.

Mutt523

A game with mediocre graphics and story but excellent gameplay will always score better than a game with mediocre gameplay and excellent story and graphics.

That's FACT!!!!!!!!:P

Depends on the genre.OreoMilkshake

It depends on the genre. Platformers don't have to have a good story to be great the only thing platformers need are great gameplay and Fantastic/Imaginative Level Design. The story is just the bonus.

Racing or Sports games don't need story even though they sometimes try to put a story in some of the games.

Fighters have story but I don't think the story matters most of the time it is the gameplay that matters.

Story isn't really Important in SHMUPs.

FPS can get away with a bad story but it could use a good story.

Every other genre needs a story.

A great storyline is the key to a great game. If it has great gameplay and a god-awfull story than you'll get bored fast.

rangegear

Quite important.

Depends on a game obviously but many factors make a great game. I lean little more towards gameplay and fun factor but story definitely plays a big role.

Like some have said before,

Gameplay>Story>>>>>>>>>>>Graphics

If the story is really, REALLY good, I'll overlook some gameplay shortcomings. It varies from genre to genre though. For example, I prefer JRPGs over WRPGs because of the imaginative storylines. Shooters and fighters don't ever have good storylines, but really good gameplay will keep me playing for a long time (Guilty Gear).

a great story can make an average game great like heavenly sword. but a game with great gameplay doesnt need a story, like killzone 2 or ninja gaiden. and a great game with a great story is just amazing like Infamous.

i think MGS games have a really good story for a video game (mgs2 story sucked) if it didnt i dont think i would be a fan of the game

Story is usually really important, but not always. Really only some genres can have games without good story's and get away with it. Good gameplay in a TPS or FPS can compensate for little or no story. Timeshift, PDZ, old school brute force all fun games to play with nonexsistent story's.

Depends on the genre really. RPGs live on story while most racing don't have or need one as much. I find them pretty important because I love a good story as it enhances the experiance for me.

I'm one of those crazy people who will take storylines over gameplay almost half the time. For me, without an interesting storyline, I tend to lose interest in the game over time. Of course, there are always exceptions, but not too many.

waffle57

Couldn't care less if the gameplay is great.

Depends on the genre.OreoMilkshake

Story and gameplay make up the entire game. If the graphics suck and the story is gripping enough, I'll still play it.

Depends on the genre. For narrative game story in important.

But, no matter what type of game it is, no story >>>>>> bad story.

Depends on the genre. For narrative game story in important.

But, no matter what type of game it is, no story >>>>>> bad story.

goblaa

I don't think thats true. Survival Horror games are better with a bad story rather than none at all.