The 3 Best and 3 Worst Influence Systems

A recent release that may have flown under your radar is Soul Sacrifice, an action RPG for the PS Vita. One of the main combat mechanics is the decision between sacrificing or saving downed enemies and allies. Saving an ally brings them back at the cost your health, while sacrificing them grants you an extra special attack. Sacrificing enemies restores charges for casting magic, while saving them restores a portion of your own health. Players even have the option of sacrificing parts of their own body. While this idea makes combat interesting, it would be nice to see the choices you make at the end of each level have an effect on the story and the outcome of the game. Essentially, does your choice really influence the direction the game takes? Many games have toyed with the idea of influencing the world around you, as well as the citizens who reside in it. But which games did it well, and which failed to influence the player to continue playing?
From HalfBeard's HUD.

[jamz4]

Completely disagree with the inclusion of New Vegas, I'd say it's one of the best. Forget about karma, it's not part of the game (and nor should it be - who the hell knows you've been stealing?) it's about how you treat people and how their factions react to that. Also they never forget the bad you've done to them with the wild child status etc. they still react negatively, despite improving ur rep to good.
It's also wrong to say rep has no effect on companions as some will refuse to work with you if you are on good terms with the legion or kill NCR soldiers

[Hydralysk]

He doesn't seem to know what he's talking about since I know at least 4 of the companions won't travel with you if you're allied with the legion.

I also loved this line:

"You could ideally do everything for the NCR, to a degree that they worship the ground you walk on, and then pretty close to the end just fuck over everyone except yourself."

He's complaining that they don't restrict your options to choose how you want to play the game instead or railroading you into a choice based on your current reputation...

Apparently he's never heard of a chaotic neutral playthrough.

[Jovanian]

I think games where you don't know you're being evaluated are the best influence systems

Games like spec ops the line or metro 2033 and last light where how you influence the game is not 100 percent apparent until the consequences come and hit you in the face

Also I really enjoy games that have ambiguous choices and consequences with no clear moral highground, like The Witcher 2. I felt like everyone in the witcher, for example, was a lying, cheating, murderous scumbag, and no choice was 'good' or 'bad'

[mgszelda1]

As far as what I have played the 3 best he picked all suck. Guess what you end up at relatively the same ending no matter what. Those r fun games... well except walking dead(overated to no end, and yes i played and beat it)

I say Heavy Rain had the best "influence" system we've seen so far.

[coolbeans]

"While the second KOTOR lacks when it comes to storytelling. . ."

Couldn't disagree with you more.

[SeraphimBlade]

The funny part is I'm 99% positive he used a KOTOR 2 screenshot for that entry. You'd think you'd remember what color HK-47 was...

[coolbeans]

You're right. The green text is also a dead giveaway (KOTOR 1's was blue).