What game deserves story of the year so far?

However prequels are not always the best place to start, I would not start with Before the Storm over the original LIS for example.

No it doesn't. Its got the fatal flaw of having story elements that go against its themes.

I don't think Yakuza does either lol. But yeah, P5 is a beautiful game :)

Persona 5

@aigis:

Because it is player driven. You wake up. You are in a tomb. You have no idea what is going on. The story is tied to how the player approaches the game. Whereas an encounter with a giant might be a cutscene segment on one of those rail games, in breath of the wild these encounters are very open, unique to each player often times. These events craft the "action" and suspense of the story. The reactions the player makes in the game have an effect on the experience and story,as a whole.

It's a non intrusive way to tell a story on an interactive platform. It was done in Mario 64, but not on the scale of Breath of the Wild.

and the story it does have is found by the player, Ultima Underworld or System Shock style, relying more on player interaction than on cutscenes. Really, the rails segments of BOTW are the games weakest moments.

hahaha!

Hellblade: Setunas story or whatever its called had a great story:)

@texasgoldrush: Persona 5 rocked my world.

Thats not a story though, those are moments in the game. While I joke that botw doesnt have a story, there is an overarching narrative to it. Its just a very simple story with no real characterization to it. The moments you find for yourself help you create a unique experience, but not a story for the game, thats something that should be overarching for all players

There is characterization in it. Do you realize the story is really about Zelda?

I played Horizon Zero Dawn, Prey, Strafe, 10 hours of Nioh (not a fan, sold it, Dark Souls/Bloodborne did it better), and Persona 5 from this year. Zelda soon once my Switch comes next week, but from what I've seen and heard is that the story isn't as good as past Zeldas.

Persona 5 wins for the best story this year I would say. I also enjoyed the stealth mechanic approach to turn-based battles as I am too impatient now for turn-based games than I was when I was younger but I decided to give P5 a chance and wow! what a game. I also am not too into anime and it was pretty cool regardless. The seven deadly sins theme and turning the villains' hearts so they repent was a great idea. Different than just killing final bosses in most other games. I loved the style too.

I don't understand why some people say the plot/story fell on its face by the end. I thought it carried through all the way. What exactly did these people expect? If I remember correctly, everything gets wrapped up at the end and there's even a cool plot twist involving a false death that had me going "wtf?" which I thought was pretty neat as well.

I do and characterization is more than bitching, hating link for no reason, and feeling sorry for yourself.

Notice how Zelda develops not do to that?

@REVOLUTIONfreak: Horizon's story was embarrassingly awful. Insanely cool concept. Horrendous narrative execution.

@texasgoldrush: not really, she just kinda changes cause link saves her and then goes to the climax / coma. If anything the sheer lack of content on the memories is the problem

No, Zelda went about things the wrong way and her relationship with Link showed her that.

Hellblade.

I'm casting my vote for horizon zero dawn. Loved the story in that game.

Easily one of the best scenes of the year.

For me Tekken 7 deserves the "Most Disappointing Story of the year."

... you were expecting a good story for your fighting game?

Lot of anime fans here. I looked at Tales of Besderia and I was like ewww.

Persona 5 really brought it home for me. I thought it was like reading a very good book, but as a video game for format. It goes through many different arks but by the end every theme ties together for an overall picture and by the end I felt like I went on a real journey with the characters. Persona 5 is one of those games that have a strong likeliness of building emotional involvement with the characters because you end up caring for them.

@texasgoldrush: link barely does anything worthy of a quick turnaround though, again lack of content

Persona 5

No it doesn't. Thematic material contradicts eachother. One major example is early in the game where right after defeating Kumoshida, who sexually harasses and assaults the kids, you gain a party member that harasses Anne and never gets called out for it. The game story thinks its being progressive but has many regressive elements in it. And when its time to take subject matter seriously, it goes otaku instead. Nevermind the story falls apart at the end.

Because it is a niche game, Persona 5 is not being scrutinized like a AAA title. Well it should. Its no masterpiece and at many points, its not even good.

Link saves Zelda from the Yiga clan, that's enough.

@texasgoldrush: my hero, what a moment, such development

@SolidGame_basic: Page Avenue

But then Zelda saves Link and unlocks her powers.

The story is about how Zelda deals with the burden of the legend.

@texasgoldrush: "saves link"

ya, she deals with it by bitching

Zero Escape The Nonary Games

Zero Escape No Time Dilemma

Persona 5

Danganronpa 1&2 Reload

At first yes, but that's part of her development.

@texasgoldrush: I had no idea that was out, I'm getting that right now

It is shockingly matching the level of the first game so far, SquareEnix and Deck Nine can now breath easy. It exceeded expectations.

@texasgoldrush: there is barely development. She hates him, he saves her, and then shes ok with him for just that. Its a complete 180 for next to nothing and then she just bitches about something else. There wasnt enough time for the story they wanted to tell, it was rushed

Why does she "hate" him though? Because she is dealing with the emotional weight of the Legend. The entire story is about how she deals with the Legend that leads to her stopping Ganon. You are simply ignoring the reasons why she does what she does.

@texasgoldrush: that's great

It was my favorite game of 2015 and my favorite game in its genre

@texasgoldrush: "the entire story", all 30 min.

The point is there is no depth to the story, its too short and a lot of it isnt even spent on zelda herself. Zelda feels pressured and hates link for it, link saves her, she doesnt hate him and saves link. Thats the story, its way to simple with not enough actual character development

Persona 5 is my pick for best story I played this year.

Although these are great picks, not sure if remasters or re-releases count.

@Jag85: if they do not count then it is Persona 5. I'm waiting for Danganronpa V3 and South Park Fractured But Whole.

doesn't mean its good. Objectively it has story problems.

Im just going to say not Life is strange before the storm just out of principle

Yakuza 0. I can't get into tales of beseria. I don't know what people see in it.