What do you prefer: Story or Gameplay?

[QUOTE="Master_ShakeXXX"]

I prefer a fine balance. Games like Resident Evil 4, Metroid Prime, Batman: Arkham City, Demon's Souls, all struck a perfect balance between storytelling and gameplay.

GreenGoblin2099

You were doing great til Demon's Souls.

Oh Goblin, you so crazy.

[QUOTE="AcidSoldner"][QUOTE="AdobeArtist"]

This is like asking if you prefer gameplay or graphics? It's a misnomer since they're integrally inseperable to the experience. The same goes for gameplay and story.

Gameplay drives the story.
Story enhances the experience of the gameplay.

Why drive a wedge between these two (as with gameplay and graphics) when they each support the other.

15strong

And if those games had a better story, it could have made the gameplay even better. For example, good writing can lead to larger understanding of the world tha you are playing in which can effect he way you play in that world.

why cant I have both:(

Gameplay.

Many of the games I enjoy most either have poor stories or no story at all (racing games). A good story is nice but I couldn't care less how good it is if the game isn't fun to play.

Depends really. When I hear story I think of more than just the plot, I think characters, settings, immersion, etc and when I hear gameplay I also tend to corelate production values with gameplay.

I love all but I can forgo a bad story for good gameplay and vice versa. Still, I would prefer good gameplay before everything else.

Both are first for me, graphics come second !

For those saying things like 'why can't we have both', here are you answers:

Two of the most critally acclaimed 'games' this generation.

Usually I go for gameplay. Unless it's a genre that is know for story like adventures.

An example on how good story makes gameplay better would be the second mission on Deus Ex HR when you have to intercept an enemy signal from a satellite that is located on a part of the city which is governed by a gang. Helicoter drops you within the limits and then you have to start to explore on your own while hiding from the gang members. The deeper you get you end up locating an underground enemy base with robots, machinery and crap and you're like: HOLY SHIIIII (and completely surrounded by enemies BTW). Then you continue the infiltration until you find the satellite and when you start hacking it they detect you and then an all out fire-fight starts. You take 1 or 2 enemies down (this game has limited ammo) and then start running like a mad man to the top of the building for the helicopter to come and get you. Now this is what I call an epic game. And the low health only makes it better, the tension gets crazy because you die after very few shots.

You see, a good premise and plot makes this kind of setting possible. Like: why are you there? what are your limitations? what do you have to do? who are your enemies? why are they your enemies? etc. etc. And the more cemented these interrogatives are the better everything is. Is like when you have 2 of the same games but 1 has better graphics and the other worse and even though they are the same game the one with better graphics will be more enjoyable. Period.

I haven't watched these but I have them on my bookmark for later so I'm just gonna share them here:

bonus round Storytelling in Today's Media

bonus round The Future of Storytelling

Gue1

This niceley illustrates how story makes the gameplay a more engaging experience by providing context to your actions.

But I did overlook how there are exceptions is some genres such as racers, fighters, and puzzle games.

[QUOTE="FrozenLiquid"]If anyone here actually says story, the only genre they should ever be playing then is the adventure genre. The adventure genre is the only genre that has been surviving with stale gameplay but intriguing stories video game wise. [QUOTE="Whiteblade999"]

Story, I'm a firm believer that games can tell a better story then any other medium and don't need to be held back by the limits of books and movies. The RPGs we have now that are well written are already preferable to the other two mediums, for me at least.

Whiteblade999

You assume that I mean 'well written' as just words when it is really more then that. Take Deus Ex: Human Revolution, there are so many things you can interact with in the game and so many cues through the world that convey a story without having to be spoonfed. The writing is in how the world is put together and how it speaks to you in a sense. That is something the other mediums can't do and the main reason for the logic in my previous post.

Obviously its far from perfect, but it works for me until someone comes along and does another Half-Life (obviously not an RPG, but this game moved gaming ahead in so many areas its ridiculous).

Edit: You have good taste in games, I love me some Longest Journey + Dreamfall. Hopefully Rangar Tornquist gets back to making good old singleplayer games and finishes Dreamfall.

Both.

If I have to choose one and sacrifice the other, it'd depend on the genre and game.

Gameplay. Story isn't something I need in most cases, but it's certainly a nice addition bearing in mind that it's done well enough.

The title should say do you prefer PS3 or gameplay cause you can't have both.JohnnyCageMK

The title should say do you prefer PS3 or gameplay cause you can't have both.JohnnyCageMK

Games should have a decent story. Or at least, a decent focus on story. Even if the story is sub-par, I'll still enjoy it if the developers put effort into telling it. Like in Tales of Graces f. The plot sucks, but the cutscenes are still entertaining to watch, and because it has a story, it keeps me motivated to play more.

The reason I don't like games like Half Life and Resistance is because the developers didn't care about the story too much in those games.

The longest cutscene in Resistance 1 is maybe a minute long, and the protagonist has about 4 lines total throughout the whole game.

I like how Metal Gear Solid has a decent balance. Good gameplay combined with top-notch cutscenes is a win in my books. I feel ike MGS4 may have gone a little overboard, but I still enjoyed every cutscene. But I think MGS2 got it right, enough story-telling to keep me interested, but not too much to make me forget I'm playing a game.

Both are critical. There are very few genres that I'd even be willing to play if it my choices were bad story but great gameplay or great story but bad gameplay. When it's all said and done, a game in either category is likely to be dropped On top of that, different genres can thrive and be great with different levels of both.

Gameplay comes first. A good story is nice, but not necessary at all.

The title should say do you prefer PS3 or gameplay cause you can't have both.JohnnyCageMK

Depends on the game. Usually most games need a good balance of story and gameplay.

Not all games do though. Most HnS games should focus on gameplay first and games like Doom, Vanquish, etc usually don't need a good story to be a lot of fun considering the story isn't the point of the game.

I feel like this thread topic reappears at least once a week, and my answer is always the same.

It depends on the game and what it's trying to achieve.

Want story? go buy a book bro :lol:

Why should I choose when I can have both.

You can't just divide them like that and expect them to survive on their own.

Gameplay. A game can still be good even if it has a crap story, but I've yet to play a game that had a good story and crappy gameplay that didn't turn out to be s***.

I can't believe there are actually ******* who voted for story.

We're talking about interactive videogames for Christ's sake!

Why not **** off and go read a book or watch a movie!

I can't believe there are actually ******* who voted for story.

We're talking about interactive videogames for Christ's sake!

Why not **** off and go read a book or watch a movie!

amaneuvering

If you prefer story, watch a movie

Gameplay. A game can still be good even if it has a crap story, but I've yet to play a game that had a good story and crappy gameplay that didn't turn out to be s***.

Vari3ty

If you prefer story, watch a movie

SpiralSmile

Why else would I play a game?

The reason I don't like games like Half Life and Resistance is because the developers didn't care about the story too much in those gamesGeoffZak

Gameplay. The vast majority of the video game stories is bad anyway.

You can have a great game with a poor story, but you can't have a great game with poor gameplay. Most games have trouble developing a competent story, let alone a "good" one.drinkerofjuice

Then why did you give Mass Effect 2 a 9, Mass Effect 2's gameplay is worse than poor.

Gameplay by a long shot. Story isn't important, but it can be a nice bonus as long as it doesn't get in the way of the all important gameplay.

[QUOTE="drinkerofjuice"]You can have a great game with a poor story, but you can't have a great game with poor gameplay. Most games have trouble developing a competent story, let alone a "good" one.RageQuitter69

Then why did you give Mass Effect 2 a 9, Mass Effect 2's gameplay is worse than poor.

Unlike the original game, Mass Effect 2 had a focus in its gameplay, which allowed it to shine as a rather exceptional action game as opposed to be being both a lackluster TPS and RPG. The game posesses a clear-cut intention on what it's trying to be, and it greatly succeeds as a result.