Having experienced the crux of the video game industry, I can say with certainty that good writing (or even a good story, for that matter) rarely has to do with the quality of a game. Go into a Gamestop and look at the walls of video games. Entertainment is not always synonymous with dialogue and story arcs, and that’s perfectly OK. I myself have enjoyed plenty of gaming experiences that are visually stunning, action-packed and perhaps a little bloody.
Even so, the medium does provide another playground for traditional storytellers. Although story/dialogue-driven games rarely become commercialized hot items, there are plenty in the selection. Merge that with the fact that you can control (in other words, become) a character rather than simply watch, and you’ve got yourself a killer combination.
Since I am taking into consideration the writing aspect of a video game, they will be console games rather than MMO’s. No hate intended. Believe me, I’m a fan like any other and understand how immersive the experience can be.
Indigo Prophecy (a.k.a. Fahrenheit)
Released in 2005, this game is a paranormal thriller that follows the journeys of three main characters through a murder investigation. The game functions like a choose-your-own-adventure book. Throughout the game, players have multiple options in both action and conversation that can result in different outcomes. Although the bible of the story remains intact, the game focuses on the characters, their actions and its subsequent fallout. The game is like reading a mystery novel, except players get the visual representation of the story in addition to being in the hotseat of the situation.
The game is flawed, but it’s one of the first of its genre and the writing is organic yet captivating.
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune/Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
By now, the Uncharted series has become a commercially viable franchise. In this instance, the success is truly deserved. A cross-breed between Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, the series has the advantage of using a one-of-a-kind engine that allows the the game to pop on the screen like no other. The characters feel incredibly realistic thanks to the visual dynamism, but the writing also makes this action-adventure game a real experience.
Like in a film production, the voice actors actors are required to do motion-capture while speaking their dialogue. This way, it is not just an actor mouthing the words, but a performance. Couple that with a terrific story, and both the first and second Uncharted games rank amongst my favorite games of all time.
And you thought I was going to forget. Pshaw. No other game company tells a story quite like Square Enix (once upon a time, Square Soft). Each Final Fantasy game lays out a rich mythology and even richer characters. In this case, I can honestly say that writing is the foundation of this franchise’s success. Even in the gaming industry, characters don’t pop without good writing. At least, they can’t be as memorable as the likes of Sephiroth, Rikku, Cloud etc.
Of course, once you add a terrific musical score, amazing animation and a fun battle system, it’s no wonder Final Fantasy receives so much notoriety.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, but I rest my case. Given the state of the industry, a well-written story is not a must-have, but you can see what could happen if the visual technology merged with the written word.
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My only caveat with using the FF games as an example of game storytelling is that they are more like movies that you just happen to play through. That’s certainly viable and fun (I love the games), but it’s not really making the most of letting players make choices and *play*. The Indigo Prophecy route is far more interesting to me from a game design perspective, as it lets players be an active participant in the story.
Thankfully, there’s room for both styles.
FF series do not have the freedom that you prefer, no. FFXII offered some of that, but it ended up feelings more like an MMO for some reason. In order to have the proper ups and downs in a story, they control it pretty tightly. The choose-your-own type games really haven’t been explored all that much, especially one that has a great story. So far, it’s just Indigo Prophecy and the likes.
So, as a writer, which interests you more? Which would you rather create?
I dabble in writing, and would find them both fun, albeit for different reasons. Interestingly, while I’d prefer to *play* a game that allows me more creative control and decisions to make, I’d prefer to *write* more in the FF vein, where I can really knuckle down and make a strong narrative.
As a writer, I would enjoy a story with a beginning, middle and end. So, I would prefer the structure, I think. Trying to compensate for all the possible outcomes in a freestyle game is very difficult, especially storytelling-wise. However, I enjoy playing both equally, and if I were a game creator I would create a story with lots of opportunities to explore the world while still having a solid mission objective.
In the olden FF days, you could fly airships and explore the world? I loved that.
I hope that FFXIII gets back to that old “I live in this world” feel that X-XII have lost. I couldn’t stand XII and I really hope the next installment really does better to make the game *not* feel like a single player MMO. The story wasn’t even intriguing enough to get through the narrative. Maybe I didn’t get far enough to care, but VI-IX were the highlights of the FF series solely because of the way they handled the narrative. Gameplay was phenomenal, yes, but it was the story that kept me playing, and if XIII wants me to actually buy the game after my rental weekend, it will, too.
I thought FFX had a solid story so for me the series ended there rather than at FFIX (another favorite). Agree with you about FFXII, though. I tried really hard to like it, but as you said, the story was too political and straight forward for me.
I’m partway through XII at the moment. It’s very much “play, story, play, story”… and I don’t like the MMO feel of the thing. It’s not bad, just not as good as X or IX. (And I don’t like Viera, but that’s another topic entirely.)
I still think VI is my favorite, though.
Multiple “main” protagonists make me happy.
VI is many people’s favorites. VII is redundant now (I feel). I’d say it’s a tossup between IX and X. Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross aren’t bad either. Ack, nerd overload!
I’m a big Chrono Trigger fan. I love the music for both Chrono games as well. (I’ve purchased not only the OST CDs, but also the sheet music for CC. Nerd++)
HAHA, I have to say that is quite epic!