I just got finished playing Remedy's Max Payne 2 a couple days ago, and I would have to say it's got the best writing and plot of any game I have every played. I've never before finished a game and wanted to play through it again immediately just to enjoy the story some more. Sam Lake threw so many references and foreshadowings in the first chapters that you don't realise until you play again. Just like a good movie, you catch more of the things you missed the next time around. No other computer game I've ever seen until now has done that to me.
Which is confusing to me, because MP2 got slightly lower reviews than the first one, in most publications I've read, as well as Rotten Tomatoes. Which got me to thinking how seriously the gaming culture -- at least at this point in time -- takes the plots of games. I seek out games based on plot all the time -- but obviously, I'm far from the norm (I still play interactive fiction, for cryin' out loud 8P). Games with zero to no plot are top-list sellers all the time; while games with superb stories are most times passed by the wayside. How many times have you heard a game recommendation that includes, "the best story in any video game EVER"? No.
Obviously, we're talking about gaming, so gameplay should be the most important thing. But, is story a number two? Number three? Why are graphics considered more important than a coherent plot? Is this just a phase we're going through, or will we be seeing AAA story-based titles every once and a while, like we do with Hollywood?
Please post your personal opinions, and any comments you have about the industry or culture.
I do like a good story within games, but i don't think it entirely necessary. For example, I tend to stick to, say, the Sonic and Halo series because I want to know what's going on with them, even if Halo can get repetative (mmm Library) and recent Sonic games haven't been up to standard (IMO?). If a game sets out to have plot, then I like to see it follow through.
However, I don't need plot to play a game - for example, We Love Katamari has very little in the way of plot (well, how can it?) but because the gameplay makes up for it, I don't care. 'Nother example is Time Crisis 3 - basically the exact same plot as its predecessors, with the top layer took off and repainted to make new locations and enemies for you not to care about, and yet I still think it a fun game. That said, I guess as an arcade game it's not expected to have a great deal of plot to it, but I'll use it as an example nonetheless.
In summary: Plot = good if done well; No/weak plot = acceptable if there's no continuity to be working from/forming and/or the gameplay makes up for it.
I think genre of computer game plays a big part as to how far plot is important. For example, abstract puzzle games (e.g. Tetris) need little or no plot, since they are there far more for the puzzling element, and general gameplay. Adventure games, on the other hand, rely a lot on plot to go along with the gameplay - for example, the Final Fantasy series are hardly the height of gameplay originality, but a lot of their strength is through the story element in each of the games (at least, the more recent ones).
Personally, I'll play a FPS or puzzle game more for the gameplay than the plot, although a well done plot can be a nice addition. However, I'll forgive RPGs and similar adventure games for poor gameplay if the story is good, but be less inclined to play if the story is bad, even if the gameplay is good. JMO
You want a good story in a game? Go and play Planescape: Torment.
