videogames: story vs gameplay
- Thread starter LuminousAether
- Start date
changso
Neverending dreamer...
Belial said:
Can you recommend me some PSX, PS2 RPG?
I played those:
Xenogears, Xenosaga
Final Fantasy VI, VII, VII, IX, X
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross
Vangrant Story
Valkyrie Profile
Lunar 2 EBC
Astral Poetry
"Eros! Your hand...!"
I'd rather have a emphasis on story, than an emphasis on bland gameplay. (Wild Arms 3, I'm looking your way)
PSX rpgs you should play that aren't in your list:
King's Field 1 and 2
Absolutely amazing first person perspective action rpgs, but the movement is very slow and methodical. This is not a fast paced first person shooter, this is a very slow paced exploratory rpg. The first game (which was actually the second in Japan) has one of the most difficult openings in a video game that I have experienced, but it gets easier as you figure the game out. These games have simplistic graphics, but they also have the most atmosphere of any video game series that I have played.
Vandal Hearts 1 and 2
These are more of the turn based strategy of Shining Force and Final Fantasy Tactics, but they are still great games. The 1st is pretty short, about 16 hours to beat... but it is fun while it lasts. The sequel has a totally revamped system where you and an enemy move simultaneously, which is a fairly good development but I found that it makes the ai easier to exploit. The sequel is also far longer, about 50 hours to beat and even more to get everything.
Alundra (1, NOT 2)
This is the game that Zelda: The Ocarina of Time SHOULD have been. Dreadfully difficult puzzles, an extremely captivating story, and a HUGE quest that will take you many many hours to beat. Ocarina was a great game, but I found it to be too easy and I HATED the graphics. Alundra has a graphic style similar to Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, but more detailed, and it has some of the most insanely difficult puzzles I have seen in an action rpg. Absolutely recommended, at any cost. One of the best games ever made (yes, better than Ocarina).
King's Field 1 and 2
Absolutely amazing first person perspective action rpgs, but the movement is very slow and methodical. This is not a fast paced first person shooter, this is a very slow paced exploratory rpg. The first game (which was actually the second in Japan) has one of the most difficult openings in a video game that I have experienced, but it gets easier as you figure the game out. These games have simplistic graphics, but they also have the most atmosphere of any video game series that I have played.
Vandal Hearts 1 and 2
These are more of the turn based strategy of Shining Force and Final Fantasy Tactics, but they are still great games. The 1st is pretty short, about 16 hours to beat... but it is fun while it lasts. The sequel has a totally revamped system where you and an enemy move simultaneously, which is a fairly good development but I found that it makes the ai easier to exploit. The sequel is also far longer, about 50 hours to beat and even more to get everything.
Alundra (1, NOT 2)
This is the game that Zelda: The Ocarina of Time SHOULD have been. Dreadfully difficult puzzles, an extremely captivating story, and a HUGE quest that will take you many many hours to beat. Ocarina was a great game, but I found it to be too easy and I HATED the graphics. Alundra has a graphic style similar to Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, but more detailed, and it has some of the most insanely difficult puzzles I have seen in an action rpg. Absolutely recommended, at any cost. One of the best games ever made (yes, better than Ocarina).
Speedkill
Holy Handkerchief!
Charubic Murder said:
I think you are missing the point. Wild Arms 3 is just a typical cookie cutter rpg, like the Breath of Fire series used to be. But what I mean by a game being focused on gameplay, the gameplay of course needs to be better than average.
Your comparison is very unfair. I mean, does this statement actually mean anything valid:
I'd rather have an emphasis on gameplay instead of a cliched and contrived story.
???
Of course not. Sure, a focus on story is better than boring gameplay, but that's not the point at all. Awesome gameplay is better than awesome story, at least in my opinion. If I want an awesome story, I'll just read a book, not suffer through endless mundane battles.
Pancakes
whatta guy
Story can make a game a favorite, but gameplay is what gives it replay value. You'll never see me playing an adventure game through twice.
-Desecrated-
Two-Spirited
LuminousAether said:
Neo-Bahamut owns everything in existance. I splooged all over myself when I first saw that summon. There is nothing more 'Final Fantasy' than Bahamut, Odin, and Leviathan. I don't even see those as mere 'summons', I see them as characters. I'm always dissapointed when one or the other isn't in a Final Fantasy game.
As for gameplay versus storyline, I have to agree with Belial. I value storyline a whole lot more than gameplay. I do think that a balance of the two is needed however. But I love a storyline that I can immerse myself in. I love not being able to stop playing so that I can see how the story develops and what happens in the end or to a certain character. In many ways it's like reading a fantasy novel. And I believe, if executed correctly, it can be even more fulfilling than reading a fantasy novel. Music playing a HUGE role in that. I can remember so many videogame tunes it's just frightening. Not only that, but I have 'memories' linked to each one. I mean, just listening to Frog's theme(Chrono Trigger) is enough to almost get me teary-eyed. The same with the Opera theme with Celes(FF6).
I will always remember characters like Celes, Frog, Sephiroth, Aeris, Cyan, Kefka, Magus, Rydia, Cecil etc. Like characters from a book or a movie, they touch you and almost become 'real' to you. They live through you, and hold a special place in your heart. Can you say the same for Baldur's Gate characters?
(Not dissin' on Baldur's Gate though, I love that game... just making a point.)
P.S. - Yes I know I play videogames too much, shut up.
Actually, I think Baldur's Gate has some of the most memorable characters ever. Imoen's constant bitching, Minsc and his mouse, Edwin's hilarious lunacy... I will remember them for far longer than many of the FF6 characters like Celes who I don't even remember at all.
Diablo 2 was not ruined by a crappy story, it was one of the best games ever made, far superior to the original. But... it's like all Blizzard pc games, much better multiplayer. I can't even imagine playing Diablo 2 single player... it's way too boring.
changso
Neverending dreamer...
I feel the same too.-Desecrated- said:Neo-Bahamut owns everything in existance. I splooged all over myself when I first saw that summon. There is nothing more 'Final Fantasy' than Bahamut, Odin, and Leviathan. I don't even see those as mere 'summons', I see them as characters. I'm always dissapointed when one or the other isn't in a Final Fantasy game.
As for gameplay versus storyline, I have to agree with Belial. I value storyline a whole lot more than gameplay. I do think that a balance of the two is needed however. But I love a storyline that I can immerse myself in. I love not being able to stop playing so that I can see how the story develops and what happens in the end or to a certain character. In many ways it's like reading a fantasy novel. And I believe, if executed correctly, it can be even more fulfilling than reading a fantasy novel. Music playing a HUGE role in that. I can remember so many videogame tunes it's just frightening. Not only that, but I have 'memories' linked to each one. I mean, just listening to Frog's theme(Chrono Trigger) is enough to almost get me teary-eyed. The same with the Opera theme with Celes(FF6).
I will always remember characters like Celes, Frog, Sephiroth, Aeris, Cyan, Kefka, Magus, Rydia, Cecil etc. Like characters from a book or a movie, they touch you and almost become 'real' to you. They live through you, and hold a special place in your heart. Can you say the same for Baldur's Gate characters?
(Not dissin' on Baldur's Gate though, I love that game... just making a point.)
P.S. - Yes I know I play videogames too much, shut up.
changso
Neverending dreamer...
Aecliptica
NOT FRANCOIS
squarenothing66
lollerskates
A game needs both of these elements equally. Without a storyline, the game isn't interesting, and without gameplay, the story isn't fun. Sometimes both of them work hand in hand to help make a very good game. Someone mentioned Final Fantasy VII before, or the characters... the gameplay and storyline work hand in hand to keep the game extremely playable, even after the first time through.
It's like the first time you make it back to Midgar after you get the key, and go to Aeris' church, and you see her ghost there. That really made me think, and I sat there to listen to the "Aeris music" for 10 minutes. Man, FFVII was one kick ass game. The soundtrack was killer too.
**Frantically searches for the FFVII soundtrack**
It's like the first time you make it back to Midgar after you get the key, and go to Aeris' church, and you see her ghost there. That really made me think, and I sat there to listen to the "Aeris music" for 10 minutes. Man, FFVII was one kick ass game. The soundtrack was killer too.
**Frantically searches for the FFVII soundtrack**
Hamtaro
New Metal Member
Diablo 2 had horrendus gameplay. What are you people talking about.
*OMFG CLICK FASTER, NO RIGHTCLICK SPAM FROST NOVA OMGLOL*
*OMFG CLICK FASTER, NO RIGHTCLICK SPAM FROST NOVA OMGLOL*
FangsFirst
Misplaced Viking
I would have to say I saw the subject of this and knew immediately half life would be mentioned, and as far as I'm concerned it has NEITHER.
but BLAH.
I don't care if there's a story, and see that only as a bonus. I HAVE played boring games, but that's an obsessive "complete it" thing I've got, and sometimes I guess the stories were ok.
I read all the shit and watch everything, but usually could care less about the story. Then again, I play FPS most of the time, which rarely focus on it.
but BLAH.
I don't care if there's a story, and see that only as a bonus. I HAVE played boring games, but that's an obsessive "complete it" thing I've got, and sometimes I guess the stories were ok.
I read all the shit and watch everything, but usually could care less about the story. Then again, I play FPS most of the time, which rarely focus on it.
Diablo 2... I played that game probably a grand total of 500 hours. It is the second most played game I have ever played, the first being Starcraft (I probably played over 4,000 games online, if that's only 20 minutes each (very low estimate) that's still well over 1,000 hours).
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