Video games and the stories that go with them....

There are numerous aspects, or is elements a better word, into which video games can broken down into. The one that I want to discuss is the story aspect. In all video games there is a story; a beginning and an end, climactic moments and twists and turns. Some are weak and poorly written, but narrowing my focus even further, there are the stories that you never forget. The ones that draw you in, that keep you up well past your time for bed, the ones that you rush home to slip back into.

It has been said by Soothsayer, "That’s why the first Final Fantasy released in the US for the Nintendo system will ALWAYS be better than any FF put out since. There was a story. " With no offense intended I will state that I agree with only one part of that statement. The first Final Fantasy did have a story. My first memorable encounter with the Final Fantasy series started with FF VII for the PS One. It was like no other game that I played. I remember Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, Red XII, Cait Sith, Yuffie and the ultimate bad guy Sephiroth. I remember the MAKO reactors in Midgar, the organization SOLDIER and the Turks. I remember what Sephiroth did to Aerith....

Yeah... I cried. It wasn't that blubbering sobbing cry, but instead the eyes tearing up in total disbelief due to the loss of a friend cry. That game made me feel for the characters. During that game I was happy, angry, sad and shocked. There were not many games that could do that.

Then came FF VIII and IX, followed by X and XII for the PS2. Playing through all of them FF X is my favorite. (Besides right here, I will not mention FF X-2, FF XI or XIII. Won't play X-2, MMORPG for XI and not yet through XIII) I have played through FFX twice and loved it each time. They all have stories and each of them are equally as good as the others.


Stepping aside from the Final Fantasy games, I'd like to bring up a few others which I have played and feel as if their stories rival the best FF game.

Half-Life and Half-life 2 are very well developed. From their characters to the story. The games draw you in from the start. The graphics for the first one, and by now the second one are outdated, but that does not mean that they are not great games. If time allows, I'd play them again in a heartbeat!

Jak and Daxter games, (not including Jak X). Although these games are more casual than hardcore, they were great plays. The stories in them kept the game play fluid. The second game in the series was a little lacking in my opinion but the story was there, well written and kept me wanting more.

Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. These two games have by far, in my eyes the best stories in any video game PERIOD! Saving the galaxy one colony at a time. Having to make decisions in the first game which directly affect the game play in the second. There have been times in ME2 where I had to put the controller down and seriously think about which answer I was going to chose. Some of the after effects of the answers I gave made me feel hollow, guilty and sad. Other things which happened from my decisions made me feel exalted, relieved and downright giddy. I have played through the first game 3 times from start to finish making different choices. I am on my 3rd play through of the second game and I will tell you something. When you play the two games and have the same companions through them both, you will know that there's something there when you play through them again and lose some of the people you've known for a long time. This game makes you at time dread going further for the possibility of causing the death of one of the characters....

Zoot skipped a grove so for now I will end here. If anyone else has any memorable games worth a mention, please do so

Ooh, awesome thread! I'm going to agree with Final Fantasy 7, but can't agree with the others as my FF experience is limited to 7 and 13. I'm also going to have to give a shout out here for the stories in the games Nier, Enslaved, and Valkyria Chronicles, all of which I played on the PS3...all of which evoked serious emotional response at some point or other.

BUT, games that I have replayed and will replay again and again and again (assuming I can still run them all with these newfangled OS's)...oh, and every one of these follows the thread...these stories are so damn good that if I can't live them I will keep replaying them as long as I can...

The Thief series (omg, thief 2 will blow your mind with the depth and character development!!!)

The System Shock series (#2 is the only game I ever played that made me feel like there was something creeping up behind me!!)

Any of the old school Sierra-On-Line games (I still keep DosBox and all the Space Quests around!!)

Ooh ooh! I thought of two more! Unfortunately, I still haven't played the latest in either series, but...

The Witcher--best damned RPG you've never played! Combat and quests got a little repetitive, but the story was so frickin amazing, and changed based on your choices!

F.E.A.R.--Yeah, it's an FPS, but they threw in that paranormal twist, and it is a giant WIN in my book. Some freaky stuff, some nice graphic violence, and a few heart-stopping moments all wrapped up in an awesome story! Still don't know whether to hate/fear the main antagonist, or feel sorry for her! Hoping #3 gives me a little more insight...

I will make a stand and proclaim the [Metal Gear Solid series as having the best storyline within a game. Granted, there was a game that the story did lack a bit (I'm looking at you, MGS2), but that was definitely recovered and improved upon in the last game.

No other game has had a greater impact than this series. Maybe it's because you have the same core characters throughout each game... maybe it's because you've seen these characters grow both literally (Ocelot) and figuratively... character development... each character has strengths and weaknesses which allows them to be recognizable and real.

Maybe it also has to do with the hours of cut scenes and movie clips. Yes, they can get a bit heavy at times, but it is just an other added element, to where you don't just play a character, but you begin to see why that character is.

To play one game in the series is a good experience, and has everything you would want to find in a game. Things just aren't put in these games for the sake of putting them in it. There are no orange keys on level 216 needed to to pen the blue door on level 118, which you then have to flip the levers with the sequence you noted on 312.

You want emotion? MGS1: a sniper taking pot shots at Meryl, while Meryl begs you NOT to save her... Grey Fox and his nervous breakdown... MGS2: Otacon and his sister MGS3: where to even begin here?! MGS4: watch the damn official full length trailer!

I have all the MGS games for Playstation... if anyone ever wants to borrow them, that's fine (except for the 2nd one, it only plays on PS2). Likewise, I also have the MGS games for the PSP for some added interest. BUT, I will hunt you down if they are not returned or damaged.

I'll pass on the offer to borrow the Metal Gear games....

I has them

I figure that I will add these games to the thread.... .. Damnit, camera battery died..

I guess that you will have to wait and see

This series is always a treat to play!!!

I recently purchased the Witcher 2 game. I haven't played it that much but what I did play of it I enjoyed, (mostly). When I turned off the game, it was not because I was bored of it or that I didn't like it. I wasn't in the frame of mind to keep playing. It was getting a touch 'historical'. It felt as if I was watching a documentary on the medieval era. Wasn't quite in the mood for that, but later on I will try again.