Games are supposed to be fun, and the hi-score element can be tons of fun still. But you can also have your hi-score and much more with today’s games so it comes down to a “What’s the excuse?” type of ultimatum some gamers give developers.

As for best story, there’s quite a few out there that will be named so I’ll just throw out a game that’s semi recent and goes overlooked. Eternal Darkness. I really had a lot of fun with that game and the way the story was presented was very interesting. Just a whole heritage uncovered by the player and not just told was a blast to play and learn.

For sheer complexity of story, the award would have to go to Xenogears. The execution was awkward, even ham-fisted at times, but in terms of available information to people willing to do the digging, I haven’t played another game that comes close.

And for sheer quality of dialogue, well, nothing comes close to Tim Schaefer.

However cutscenes can be enjoyable to watch if done right. Lengthy cutscenes at the beginning of a game are fine by me. They act almost as a trailer for the main game, showing me enemies or locations that I get to fight in. Likewise, cutscenes at the end of a game are great, I much prefer it to thirty seconds of characters setting up for a nice sequel (see Rainbow Six Vegas, GTA4). What annoys me is cutscenes that pop up at the beginning of a game but after you’ve gained control of the protagonist. I want to explore his abilities and start getting into the game, not listen to lengthy codec conversations about Dead Cell (MGS I’m looking at you).

Anyhow, great article, keep up the good work.

@William - Chrono Trigger was a very good game in terms of the characters. I haven’t played Xenogears though, so I can’t comment on that.

@Jon - Yes Half-Life rocks! I hate cut scenes, I don’t mind an occasional one to advance the plot, but overall I would much rather have a story integrated with gameplay, rather than switch between them. I can’t even begin to imagine sitting through the 90 minute cut scenes in MGS4… I mean, I might as well be watching a movie!

Thanks for the compliment

As usual, great addition to a wonderful series Suz.

But the best part was its freaking epic storyline. So many plots, sub-plots and twists, the game played out like a movie.

It also took like 30 hours to beat which for a GBA game is amazing to me. Can’t wait till the third one comes out!

I don’t remember what made me so mad about Fei, but I remember I couldn’t deal with Shion anymore after the cutscene where she freaks out about the thunder and lightning, and all I could think was, “… you’re a scientist. You’re supposed to be educated and grown up, enough so to have engineered Kosmos. And yet, Rikku from Final Fantasy Ten handles being freaked out by thunderstorms better than you do. I am officially to embarrassed to assume control of you anymore.”

Not even Kosmos’ totally awesome uterus cannon (you know that’s what it looks like) could bring me back.

I agree with Shunal that Shadow of the Colossus has an amazing silent story, and that’s what I meant in the other thread by having enough of a good story that I can tell myself a good one. I feel that game was a work of art in more ways than one. I loved the feeling I got about halfway through the game, when I really started to look at the character and think that perhaps I was in the process of allowing said character to make incredibly poor life choices. Great game.

I think my favorite story I’ve played through is Asellus’ in SaGa Frontier (although I totally understand that Utena fans will be unable to get past the fairly blatant ripoff), and my least favorite would be Super Mario 2. I have a deepseated childhood loathing for anything to which the ending is “It was only a dream!” Cop out on Aisle 2, Cop out on Aisle 2.