Storylines aren't properly reviewed

Gamer Limit writes "When it comes to discussing the storyline in a review, critics tend to divulge as few facts as possible - some even seem to flat out avoid stating ANY hard facts whatsoever."

[syvergy]

Interesting perspective, I think a bit of balance works better in reviews, too much on on side gets old.

[Vintrus]

If you are looking for quality storylines read a book.

[Fullish]

Or play a JRPG

[Statix]

That's because game journalists aren't qualified to review them.

[Fullish]

And how would one become qualified? I don't think there is a bachelor of game story reviewing.

[Clance]

Just not sure how many games out there would get anything above a 7/10 if we focused as much on storyline as gameplay and how important story really is to us gamers just yet… Should a game be scored lower than one that plays worse but has a terrific story? And how can we justify reviewing Burn Zombie Burn (no story) and then putting lots of emphasis and/or pressure on an action/adventure’s storyline just because it has one?

[chrisjc]

Enh, I prefer game reviews to leave out a ton of story; that way we're surprised when we actually play it.

[Dimly]

Games aren't really capable of having great storylines, anyway.

[GameGambits]

Then you didn't play the Metal Gear Solid series huh?

As far as deep, long, and connected stories go that series is the best. I'd go so far as to say that MGS4's story alone is better than most big name movies on how well it is done.

I could discuss that game for hours on hours end on how much is done well and things people miss to take notice of in that game. Most story lines the "bad guy" always has some dumb plan or even a good one, but they never get away with it. It's like they don't think ahead to making sure it all goes through. In MGS4---the bad guy gets what he wanted in the end(Liquid), but the player doesn't have the feeling of it was all for nothing or being used, because so many other factors are thrown into it.

You let me know of stories where you technically didn't win at the end let you come away still feeling a winner and proud to have taken part of the epic journey it encompassed.

MGS4 is as good as story telling in any medium will ever get, ever.

[BlackPrince 42]

There is also Bioshock, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, Half Life, and Mass Effect.

[Johandevries]

I have been a reviewer for a long period and I can tell you why storylines aren't properly reviewed. I do not want to spoil the reader's experience of a game by going to deep in it. Myself, I just tell the standard information or the beginning of a story. Of course I try to be original, but I am not going to spoil anything.

[SkankinGarbage]

That kind of mindset that game stories will never be good will just help perpetuate them staying in the realm of mediocrity forever.

[DARK WITNESS]

thank you.. bubble to you man.

I have to say, the games with the weakest stories are usually the first to go back to the shop in my collection.

They may not be quite up there with books yet... but are they really that much worse then the crap that hollywood throws out sometimes. I think genre has to be taken into account too. Just like films, action films tend to have less story content then thrillers etc. shooting games tend to have less story content then adventure or rpg etc.

anyway, i don't need a long review of a story because as someone said above, it could spoil it. all i need is a simple, yes the game has a story worth paying attention too, No the games story is crap and not worth thinking about.

as far as last year goes, Dead Space was my favorite story. Those little comics that came out before the game really drew me in so by the time the game was out i could not wait to be part of that story myself. I really loved it.

Mgs4 had a great story overall, but some aspects of it i didn't like. it was still a great game and still my best game on the ps3 so far.

I do wish more dev's would take their time with the stories, but at the same time i can understand why they don't. lets face it, most gamers really are not interested in the story that much. they just want to blow stuff up.

[Tony P]

Seriously, what's with the apathy over game stories? Where are all those gamers that were up in arms when critics said games have crap stories compared to films? None of them care anymore?

[vTuro24]

meh, i never really care that much about the story line when playing a game anyway
if i wanted a good story id watch a movie or sumtin

[Gun_Senshi]

i hate games with crap story

[SkankinGarbage]

I've discussed that in depth in my editorial. I think that the specific points of a story are not what really matters, but how well they are executed. And, speaking as someone who has had some pretty major stuff spoiled for me, I can say this much: If it was done well, then even if you already knew...even if you saw it coming a mile away, it will still be powerful.

On the other hand, plot points and twists that carry no more weight than their initial shock value, I would call that poor writing. If the biggest thing you're looking for in a story is a plot twist, then I submit that the particular story in question is probably very superficial, sophomoric, and not that interesting.

[JQ]

The comments in this thread help highlight something which I think is largely overlooked in our community.

Games appeal to wide audiances for vastly differant reasons.

Some gamers focus on gameplay.
Some on story.
Some on multiplayer.
Some on innovation.
etc etc.

We're all bonded in our affiliation and respect for gaming as a medium - why is it then that we can't respect each other's reasoning for that affiliation?