Plots, what keeps you glued?

[Tom Salter]

Plots. Most games these days have them, and in some genres are even essential. Games such as Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire and Resident Evil would no doubt have been rather soulless without their intriguing plots.

Some plots just don't do it for me though. Metal Gear Solid 2 was a little too complex, and Final Fantasy 9 didn't ever worry me, and the switching of arch nemesis's did little favours to the plot.

However, I really, really can't say no to a post-apocalyptic plot. Panzer Dragoon Saga (I can't really say, only a few hours into the game) is really the kind of plot that will no doubt keep me wanting to play from start until end. It may sound a little cliche'd, as so many films/games use this plot. I guess what grabs me is the desparation apparent, with the lack of hope of the main protagonists, and I find this such a great base to work on. Film related, but 28 Days Later (first half only) would make a fantastic videogame plot, and so would a book such as The Stand.

Final Fantasy X, with it's religious undertones and incredibly deep game world gave the player a whole new world, it seemed like everything from a real-life community was there, and it was fairly believable. The plot just became deeper and deeper, yet without getting too complex, which is a problem with some RPG's. Towards the end, you suddenly come to a rather large cutscene that throws so much information (usually a plot twist) at the player that they are kind of unsure what is happening, and I found FFVII like this a little.

What type of scenario grabs you, and why? Which games successfully pulled off a fantastic plot, and why? And which ones didn't?

[Dache]

Gimme a damn good plot twist every time. This is why I loved MGS2 -- it was complex, twisting and exciting.

In fact, gimme a plot with all of those. The MGS series in general did it well. Resi Evil can do it well, sometimes -- more recently it's been better, with newer gen consoles and better graphics engines (CV). Shenmue has less twists, but it's enjoyable...

I like religious overtones. A lot. Grandia 2 sat well with me there.

As for plots that fell on their face, FFVII's didn't grip me at all despite repeated claims it would. I liked Skies' plot at first, but upon getting to the end I saw it for what it really was. Ditto for Guardian Heroes, although unlike the other two, the game itself is fantastic and I love playing it. Skip the cutscenes though.

That's all I can think of, really...

[JammyD]

Deus Ex had the most engaging plot I've encountered, simply because it all happened in real time and you felt like you had the freedom to influence it in any way. Despite the cliched conspiracy strewn plot, Deus Ex's plot is probably the most sophisticated in terms of delivery. It is the way forward for plots in videogames - all the most dramatic moments happened in real-time, it wasn't like you thought "I wish I was able to do that in the game". That, coupled with all the possibilities, meant that Deus Ex could engage the mind in ways that most other videogames couldn't.

Speaking of engaging the mind, Silent Hill 2's plot messed up my mind on so many levels that I was constantly making assumptions only to completely change my mind later on. The way you were drip fed details throughout the game meant I was dying to finish the game just so I could get my head around it all.

Film related, but 28 Days Later (first half only) would make a fantastic videogame plot, and so would a book such as The Stand.

Reminds me I've still got to watch the last two hours of The Stand, if a videogame could pull off the imagery and atmosphere of this film, it would be pretty special.

The overblown Final Fantasy type scenario doesn't really interest me any more(FF7 excepted), it's just so predictable now. Xenosaga was ...zzzzz<falls asleep>

[Tobal]

Res Evils plot line grabs me the most, it the only reason i brought Remake and Zero knowing i just be playign the same game again in a different skin, but i have know whats goign to happen the characters. Thats why i love the Epilogues at the end of RE3 telling you what happened after RE2/RE3 saga ended.

A recently plot i enjoyed was Phantom Crash's tournament layout with rivals battling each other on and off the fighting arena's

[Dache]

Deus Ex ... Silent Hill 2 ...

These two as well. Forgot them...

[dataDave]

...FFVII's (plot) didn't grip me at all despite repeated claims it would...

That's because you didn't play it past disc 1!

It didn't really grip me either until Cloud finds out his true self (it's so obvious all along really). Then I played it a second time 2 years later and knew exactly what was going on. Def more enjoyable the second time through IMO. I try and play it through once every couple of years.

"Play it again! It will grip you!!"
-claim #3,497

Anyway, the only other games I can think of with cracking stories that had me hooked were Biohazard 2 and LttP. With the original Biohazard I was just playing it for what it was, a cheesy B-Movie plot with good action bits in. But then when the sequel was announced along with scenes of devistation throughout Raccoon City I just had to know what the cause of it all was. That's when I became a RE freak! BH2 - the best Resi to date, by far. Jesus I wish they'd remade that on the GC too.

The original Metal Gear had me glued for about 7 hours until I completed it. Then I took it back to EB on the same day it was released for a good trade-in. You just can't beat staying up all night after a special midnight launch opening!!

Absolutely hated MGS2. It has you confused and then when you work it out you go - "aaaarrrrhhhhh, no way man!", just like I did. Training simulation nonsense.

MGS3 looks like it may well be the daddy though. 60's story-line, bog-standard gadgets, the original Solid Snake, no more training sim rubbish and I quote "infinite ammo" cheese, just good old jungle dirt and grit, and beards too. I can't wait for this - I will buy another PS2 just for this game alone.

[broder]

I wouldn?t really want to say that FFX is an especially deep game, sure they take some dives into religious themes but very shallow dives in my opinion. The Final Fantasy series has become to much disney for me to accept them plotwise these days. A game wich in my opinion really stands out plotwise is Xenogears, and also Xenosaga. Without some insight to gnosticism the deeper levels of the plot will pass by without notice. The story is deep, the elements behind the story is even deeper. Salvation ny knowledge. Those of you who have played xenosaga/xenogears will recognize a great deal of words and thoughtpatterns from this mysterious religion called gnosticism. Elhaym Sophia Gnosis, also about the fallen angels and a lot more. The reading can be hard sometimes but very interesting. To fully enjoy the Xenogears/saga universe this insight is a must. I?ve only skimmed the surface but have become alot more familiar with the storys behind the two games. Recommendable indeed. So deep it hurts my brain.

[Dache]

...FFVII's (plot) didn't grip me at all despite repeated claims it would...

That's because you didn't play it past disc 1!

If the plot is so weak that it has to be over 5 or more hours in for it to grip me, then that's either ****ty writing or ****ty pacing. Besides, before this you said it'd grip me after that piece of Midgar fell down and killed all those people (or something -- I can't remember, it's been ages since I gave up on it).
And if it means having to actually play the ****ing thing, I'll pass, thanks. Part of the enjoyment of storylines is finding the game itself fun and wanting to actually get to the next bit.

[Vaipon]

Deus Ex for me too. Enjoyed it immensly. I would go as far to say that I enjoyed the plot of Deus Ex more than 95% of films I have watched.

I also loved the first MGS game. The plot was superb and made total sense, unlike the ending of the second game which seemed more about ambiguity and metaphors. Having a game open to interpretation with many unexplained elements is one thing (ICO for example), but suddenly veering off on a tangent in the latter part just makes the storyline feel out of place. I think (for me) the plot style has to be consistent for the duration as well as interesting enough to hold the attention.

[Dache]

I NOW HAVE FULL ACCESS TO ALL OF YOUR SYSTEMS

[Tom Salter]

Yeah, Metal Gear Solid 1 had a fantastic plotline, although again, it did tend to throw too much at the player at the end. I didn't mind, because after finishing it for the 3/4th time, everything managed to sink in.

Xenogears in particular, I loved the warring factions in this. I never managed to finish it (or even get really far...) but so far it's fantastic.

[stroppa]

Yeah, Metal Gear Solid 1 had a fantastic plotline, although again, it did tend to throw too much at the player at the end. I didn't mind, because after finishing it for the 3/4th time, everything managed to sink in.

Xenogears in particular, I loved the warring factions in this. I never managed to finish it (or even get really far...) but so far it's fantastic.

Xenogears has a great story, but unfortunately it's also it's greatest fault. The story tends to take over from the game, especially in the second disc. I don't think this was the developers intentions originally, I think maybe they ran out of budget to do the game fully.

[toy_brain]

I found both Metal Gear games, as well as ZOE had plots that were just way too overdone.
The scripts were full of pointless waffle and they tended to wander off-topic which made me loose interest very quickly.
So, my general opinion: Hideo Kojima = rubbish scriptwriter.

I like game plots that are fairly straightforward, just enough to drive the action forward, with mabye a couple neat twists here and there. Both Silent Hill and Resi are like this.
The plot is deleivered in short, well produced chunks. It says what it has to and lets you back into the action ASAP.

Come to think of it, I'm probably more interested in how well the story is presented, rather than the actual content (Yea, I'm real shallow). Gungrave springs instantly to mind - It's a verry simple story of revenge, but those cut-scenes looked simply gorgeous and wonderfully styalised.
I just hope the upcoming Gungrave cartoon comes close to that quality.

[Tom Salter]

Come to think of it, I'm probably more interested in how well the story is presented, rather than the actual content (Yea, I'm real shallow).

NOwt wrong with that lad, I personally loved MGS2 beause it's cutscenes were so fantastically realised, even if the plot was guff.

One thing I really hate, is Ye Olde Middle Earthen plots. Goblins, Elves and Orcs don't grab me in the slightest, especially not in a videogame. Games like Neverwinter Nights, Morrowind etc may have a massive, detailed game world, but it all amounts to nothing if I hate the place. It's like taking a holiday in Bognor Regis, it might have some attractions, but it's still a ****hole :P (apologies to anyone from there)

[Concept]

I think narrative serves a useful function in that it forms many a time the spine which connects and gives purpose to the gameplay. A storyline in a single player game can ultimately be used not only as a device of compulsion to ensnare a player, but also as a chain through which the rest of a game's progression can be formed. Personally, although I thought MGS's story was guff, the way in which it was presented and paced in relation to the context of the gameplay, was very impressive. As you moved through the game, the narrative helped define and give a definition to various amounts of specific set pieces, such as the Hind battle, roping down a building, changing the shape of a heat sensitive key etc. Not only was there a sense of building momentum in MGS with regards to its narrative, but also the parts which strung or made A to B fit together so well.

Panzer Dragoon Saga is another game which benefits from an engrossing story, in that careful attention has been paid to the complex nature of characterisation and the events which influence the action or inaction of certain people. In that sense, the narrative not only helps provide a game with a backbone, but could even be said to be intertwined within the very fabric of the gameplay itself. For example, assuming the role of your character affords you a very direct connection through your ability to make them interact with their surroundings. In that sense, a tension builds when that interaction is taken away, and consequently your desire of control of your character in the non-interactive scenes is built up. You continue to play because you want a certain level of semblance or illusion in thinking you have the ability to change a situation around. Cutscenes can help improve or define atmosphere, tone and mood. Are these elements not part of gameplay also?

Shenmue is a common example of this. For me, it's the first 'true' first person game. I don't mean this in a sense of perspective or viewpoint. No. I mean in the way in which you experience events in totality. Whereas games such as MGS, FFVII or Silent Hill play about with the time scale or positioning throughout the plotting structure, in Shenmue you experience events at the same time your character does. You move forward hour by hour, day by day... And so, the cutscenes themselves almost become as ritualistic as every other action you become accustomed to inside a day. They just become another part of the formation of the routine.

Other areas of interactive narrative which interest me are storylines which are delivered through less conventional and predictable means. Games such as ICO, whereby the animation, AI and puzzle format combine to help form a strong sense of characterisation, and in turn that same characterisation ends up playing the primary role in delivering narrartive to the player. Another game that forms an interesting format in a slightly more abstract manner is Metroid Prime, whereby the story is essentially told through backlogs which the player can choose to discover and read at their own will. In that sense, you have a certain control of information when choosing which parts of the narrative you want to pay attention (or not) to. So although the outcome remains unchanged, how you get to that point is entirely up to your own choice. Retro Studios could have taken this a lot deeper though. For example, just imagine if the player could read logs detailing the Space Pirates in a morally ambigious manner, whereas others detailed them through perspectives outside of their discussions and notes... Then imagine two players who read these different logs, oblivious to the tone in the others... You might get two entirely varied perceptions of the same events contained within the same framework. With regards to this, I think storytelling in videogames can be presented in a more imaginative manner, and consequently offer something other mediums do not.

Choice, And namely the resulting effects of said choice in narrative on your opinion of the game itself.

Another thrilling game which amazed me, and still does, is Vagrant Story. The storyline is horribly written in cliche language, but the way in which it's presented helps give the player incentive to see what happens next. In particular, the music tells a story itself and gives the action a much more dramatic dimension than perhaps the narrative would ordinarily allow. Of course, use of music to enhance atmosphere is nothing new. But the constant fluctuation and continuity of music in videogames can be utilised to a very smooth degree, especially if you can shift different styles in and out of each other over a large period of time.

Rez for example is a telling of the various ages of man, as we push through a cutting edge aesthetic pulling us through history. But because the music and graphics are distinctly synced to each other and the player's resulting interaction between the two... Well this three-pronged approach gives the motives and thematic focus of the game a very direct connection with the player.

That feeling of progressing on a journey, not only with your character but with the entire aesthetic, rips open the scope on the narrative and almost gives it an extra dimension, in that our perception is tied to that of Rez's own sense of progression.

Videogames have a lot to offer in this area. There are things which this medium can deliver here that are simply just not possible with other media.