Top 5 Video Game Stories

From Mortal Kombat to Darksiders and more, the 411 staff counts down their top 5 video game stories of all time!

[TheLyonKing]

10 beats 6,7,8,9 um I don't think so.

Also where is kingdom hearts? A bit confusing but once you get it it is a brilliant story.

I found 10 to be a great story but just not as good as the others.

[Kur0]

10 had a better story than 8 at least. Best would be 6.

[TheLyonKing]

i disgaree i find 8 to have the best story in the series:

I felt for every character even Edea, and the places made the stories come alive.

Non PC's had more emotion if found from the mayor of Fishermans horizon to the Zell's mother.

The twist at the end of 8 was brilliant as well, overall fantastic story writing. out of ten i would give ff 10 an 8 the rest I would give a 9 out my list and 8 a 9.5.

My opinions and I understand why people would rate them in an other order. I think I rate 8 most highly as it was my first proper playthrough of a final fantasy.

[Nerdmaster]

@TheLyonKing

At first I thought you were crazy. Then you said "The twist at the end of 8 was brilliant" and I was 100% sure that you were crazy. Then you said "it was my first proper playthrough of a final fantasy" and I understood why you think those things. Nostalgia blinds us. If you had played and finished 4, 6 or heck, even 7 (I really dislike 7), you'd see how bad 8 was. Bad characters, bad plot, worst plot twist ever, bad magic system...

[LightofDarkness]

It's hard to list them based solely on the merits of their story-telling, because each one brought something new and more advanced but also tended to lose something along the way.

The only FF games with what I would call "good" stories (generally considered great for videogames at the time) are IV, VI, VII and IX. IV really pushed the envelope for story-telling at the time, with actual characters and a strong plot to keep you moving. VI continued this trend and even introduced a love story, with arguably the strongest plot of the series. VII continued to add emotional depth along with unprecedented presentation (even if it did have some small plot issues). IX was a welcome return to form, re-introducing the classic FF feel while upping the presentation ante again, and is (IMO) probably the strongest of the PSX games, even if it did little to advance the series really.

However, after VII, things began to sink quite a bit. VIII, while obviously boasting the strongest and most eye-catching looks for an FF game to-date, had one of the worst plots in the series. The pacing was terrible, the plot was more hole-y than the pope and the characters were either unfathomably stupid, cardboard cutouts or utterly unlikable. While IX was a return to form, it didn't actually advance the series in any sincere fashion, it just sort of steadied the course after VIII went off it too much.

X had many similar problems to VIII with regards characters, plot-holes and pacing, including the first instance of "the lead character that shouldn't have been the lead character". It has probably the best battle system of the series, but it contends with VIII for one of the worst stories of all (and also bears the blame for introducing terrible linearity). XII would've had a great story, were it not for the obvious lead character change to generic blonde teenager (a la X). XIII seemed to be trying to give the fans what they said they wanted: more emotional and focused stories, more fast-paced battles and better looks. In other words: like X, but faster and prettier.

Be careful what you wish for, I guess.

That said, no one can say that the storytelling in VI was better than that of even games like VIII or XIII. Character moods switch from manic to maudlin within two sentences in VI, and the presentation is obviously leagues beneath the modern games. However, the strength of the plot makes it feel like a better story. That's the big difference between the real classics and the pretenders.

Nostalgia counts for a lot; IV is my first FF and it holds a very dear place in my heart. But I've grown to objectively admit that VI and VII have better stories, and almost every one since tells it better (despite some denial for a long time). I would hope those whose first FF games were X or VIII would be able to objectively evaluate them, but that's usually not the case, unfortunately.

[Nerdmaster]

@LightofDarkness

[SPOILER]
Completely disagree about Tidus being "the lead character that shouldn't have been the lead character" like Squall and Vaan. Tidus was sent from the Faith to stop Jecht. Not growing up in Spira made him question things the other character never dared to question because they grew up under the teachings of Yevon (like "why are machinas considered so bad?"). And he provided one of the best plost twists ever (him being a summon - dream of the faith brought to life by a summoner, in this case Yu Yevon himself). So, as Tidus says, it's his story.
[/SPOILERS]

Different from Vaan, who decided to go along because he didn't have anything else to do besides blaming Basch for his brother's death. Or Squall, who... I really don't know why he was made the protagonist. To be part of the game's romantic couple, I guess (and it was the worst one in any FF). Quistis should've been the protagonist.

[Pozzle]

It really isn't Tidus' story though. It's Yuna's story. Tidus' beef with Jecht is really just a side-plot to Yuna's pilgrimage and the choices she must make. Her journey would have happened even if Tidus never showed up in Spira, though of course it would have been a little different.

[Wintersun616]

The lack of MGS3 on this list makes it an instant fail.

[gillri]

Forget MGS3, MGS1 had a better story but Mass Effect 1 beats them both

[kma2k]

This gen stories not in order for me
Bioshock, Alan Wake, The Walking Dead, Spec Ops:The Line, Red Dead Redemption.

Honerable Mentions:
Darksiders, Heavy Rain

[BanBrother]

Great list. Agree with them.

I'd also add The Darkness, Metro 2033, and Prey. Oh and Assassin's Creed 2.

[kma2k]

Holy crap its early i completely forgot about The Darkness & Assassins Creed 2 (kinda sad since its my avatar) lol Good call!

[Son_Lee]

FF fans are too divisive to have a sophisticated debate most of the time. FFVII is my fave and I think it had the best story, but FFX is a close-second, so I have no beef.

[Godmars290]

Chrono Trigger
FF4

[RPG1201]

Why don't people respect another person's taste!? No one opinion is crazy or wrong... I'm not going to try and shove what I like into everyone else; hell i like being different, even if my top game is a cliche...

I personally like Final Fantasy VII, then X and the Tactics, the rest are awesome too. XIII's combat was ok, but the story what just lacking. BTW, FF8's twist ending was a great change of pace from the same old same old.

[Nerdmaster]

Unfortunately, the change was for the worse. Unless not making any sense is good.

[broken_back-man]

half life series in my opinion! !!