Game Storylines Suck: I Don't Want to Save the World

Gamers Nexus: "Not only am I desensitized to the world-threatening drama found in many games by the plethora of films that tackle the subject, but the world surrounding my in-game character simply isn't my world. I haven't assimilated it yet, and without any collateral to save this world I've never learned about, I can't really be bothered to feel attached. Better games will try to establish an emotional connection between the player and the game world before threatening to take it away; most games fail to create any sense of attachment whatsoever."

[jony_dols]

Mass Effect.

[5yN4MWQU]

I'm having trouble figuring out what you mean: Are you saying Mass Effect is one of the few that actually builds a bond between the player and the world, or are you saying that it's one of many that fails to do this?

[jony_dols]

The ME series does a better job at portraying character driven stories than most films do. The player doesn't feel forced down a boring linear path into going through the motions of saving the world, they damn well do it because you want to save the universe and all it's intriguing characters.

That's the hallmark of a great game.

[Surfaced]

Please, elaborate.

[OhMyGandhi]

@ jony_dols

you are a riddle wrapped in an enigma.

[Velox]

I dun need a storyline, just gimme a gun lol

[Surfaced]

ok.

http://desmond.imageshack.u...

Have fun.

[5yN4MWQU]

I believe the word we're all looking for here is ... "owned."

Nicely done, good sir.

[Velox]

Lol will do it's better then stupid dragon games

[dedicatedtogamers]

I like videogame storylines, but I'm hella sick of games thinking "storyline" means "explosion-filled Michael Bay movie". If we had storylines like the ones in Planescape Torment, Half Life, or the old Final Fantasy games, no one would complain, but instead we just watch a bunch of cutscenes while being told "THIS IS YOUR EPIC STORYLINE! ENJOY IT!"

[Snookies12]

I never got to play Planescape... Heard it was awesome though... I agree, I WANT storylines, it just seems like games these days don't care about that sort of thing. Either that, or like you said, they think a story is about how many action sequences and explosions they can fit in the screen.

[dedicatedtogamers]

All four Baldur's Gate games, Planescape Torment, both Icewind Dale games, and Temple of Elemental Evil are all available for ~$20 on a collection. I bought it at Target recently.

Yup, the gameplay is archaic, but the storylines are timeless.

[5yN4MWQU]

This is a great point! Yeah, storylines have shifted toward the movie/cinematic approach, as opposed to a more longevity-influenced approach. Movies are short. In general, games tend to be a bit (even if not by much) longer and have the room to build a *real* storyline without excessive use of explosives, as you say.

I'd also like to point out that Baldur's Gate II, Neverwinter Nights, and Icewind Dale do an amazing job at building back-story.

[OhMyGandhi]

I understand what you are getting at.
but many story driven games use explosions quite regularly.
Mass Effect and Half Life being exhibits 1 and 2.

I think it's not so much the action heavy nature of a game that offsets any atmosphere or emotional connection, but rather a lack of character development or story.

You can have a great story with great action.
It doesn't have to be a "Take Shelter" to be an amazing game.

Call of Duty Single player experiences are invigorating,tension heavy, and simply well executed.
I'm sick of people knocking call of duty. trust me, I got sick of the multiplayer rather quickly and barely played MW2's online, but I say that if the game's intent is on crazy action-y set pieces, and the campaign of said game accomplishes what it set out to do, then how the hell can they be reprimanded?

it simply sounds like so many people don't want Call Of Duty to be Call of Duty....

Anyways, the topic entails the concept of saving the world. JRPGs use this game trope quite often, makes things feel quite epic, and grand. You, a small boy with not a name (yet) to embark on a grand adventure to save the villagers around you from certain doom.

While the author has a point, what is sorely lacking from most games nowadays is the sense of adventure. And without the ploy of saving the world, it's quite hard to travel around the globe if the threat isn't universal in nature.

[5yN4MWQU]

I thought I'd mention this: I think it's hilarious when MMOs say that you're the "chosen one" or the "only hope," and then instantly surround you with 500,000 other players that are equally chosen.

It completely kills the mood.

[Alos88]

I'd like to see a game where being the "chosen one" is a total lie, and you eventually find a cave full of the bodies of previous "chosen ones"- better yet, it should have the villain turn out to be a "chosen one" the discovered the truth, became cynical and disillusioned with the idea of heroism and betrayed his village.

[5yN4MWQU]

And then you turn out to be the villain, and every enemy you've ever slain was one of the "chosen ones." Shortly after encountering the hero-turned-bad guy in the cave, you reveal that, in fact, the entire thing was a dream and your character wakes up with his head resting on his keyboard. He sits up and realizes that he'd been playing a game, and in the game he was playing, his character has woken up and is playing a game.

Directed by M. Night Shamlayamgmaghram

[OhMyGandhi]

Alan Wake did that to a certain extent, as well as Fable, and Heavy Rain.

but as much as I like that twist, it's one that most anticipate nowadays.

[Redempteur]

if you dont want to save the world,then persona, atelier games are just what they need

[tarbis]

Minecraft would be a perfect game for this guy or even tetris. =D

[Conzul]

Very true.....to make me care about losing something, you have to make me love it first.

In most games, very little time is spent making you "love" your world before you have to save it. That DOES need to change. Since this is gaming we're talking about, there are many ways to do this.

[J86blum]

I like the Mass Effect story, and all the ps2 boulders gate titles as well. I agree with the main artical to a point, during skyrim there would be moments I made jokes about, "of course im the dragon born." it has to be "me" in story years its over 100 years since the war and blah blah and I come in and within 40 hours smack all this mytho, and back plot and long drawn out war.

Borderlands had a good story, and it wasnt about saving the world, it was you and some friends being treasure hunters/mercs and getting your search on. The PLOT wasnt AAA but it was original in a sense. Fallout 3 and Vegas as well had great stories that didnt involve saving the world. I guess thats why these Post Apocalyptic titles are my fad at the moment, the planet is already dicked your just trying to survive it. now..off to play RAGE, and I am Alive when that comes out.

[Donnywho]

All I can say is you should buy a T-shirt that says Luigi forever.

[gypsygib]

I can agree with the article, game stories are mostly bad. They never develop the villains, allies or world. The player needs to grow with them throughout the story to feel attachment betrayal, etc.