Good psychologically compelling (or story driven) video games?
48 replies, posted
Recently I have discovered the Silent Hill series, and having played through a couple of these games I have been engrossed in games in a way which I have never been before. Most specifically, by Silent Hill Shattered Memories. In that game you are psychologically profiled by the game, and the way in which you interact with the world (such as what you observe in the environment) changes the way the game plays. And I was absolutely taken aback by how excellent this game was, and I was immediately engrossed from start to finish. Even Silent Hill 2 had great ways of being compelling, such as the multiple endings based on how you play, and the frightening but not jumping out at you atmosphere.
Are there other games like this? Even if not that psychologically intensive, are there really good story games out there? Most stories in games I feel like are tacked on, and I never really get into them enough to make the overall experience better. Don't get me wrong I still love gameplay, but games with genuinely compelling stories are much better to me. These are my favorite story intensive games
Silent Hill
Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill Shattered Memories
Heavy Rain
Braid
Shadow of the Colossus (minimalist, but so heavy)
Resident Evil 4 (easier to follow than the rest, and the suspense elements aided the story greatly)
Metal Gear Solid 3
Half Life 2
Just games where half the reason you are continuing is to see how the story is going to wrap up. Any and all would be appreciated. I have a PS1, a Wii, and a PC.
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You could wait for L.A. Noire to come out on PC, the game pretty much forces you to see how much impact you made when you fuck up a case
Amnesia the dark descent.
LA Noire was awful. I'm sorry. But the repetitive gameplay elements really did not do it for me, and the story I found to be completely dry, not like an actual noire at all. I've played Amnesia and found it to be pretty entertaining, I might buy it next time it comes on sale.
silent hill 3 and 4 are neat
homecoming can fuck right off
call of dooty
Ehhh, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series? Its a bit of a stretch but the story of cool.
i haven't played 3 or 4, i don't have my ps2 in my dorm but they are for PC, might try and get those. I heard 3 is a lot more linear (and combat driven) than 2, and honestly i'm frightened to play it haha. But I'll try to track them down, those are probably most similar to what I'm looking for. Is origins any good? From what I've heard it's combat driven which is meh to me, but the laternate ending of the game is probably the coolest alternate ending I've ever heard of.
Stalker games always to me were incredible for their lack of story. I never really understood what was happening while I played them, and felt alone in the wasteland. I wouldn't say the story immersed me, but I was pretty immersed by those games. I enjoyed Metro as well, moreso in the story regard, especially towards the very end. Great game.
The Mass Effect series is excellent for this, even if you're not that big on sci-fi. It was the first video game since Fallout that I could really get immersed in story-wise.
Yeah I'm not too big into sci fi so I haven't played those, but would you recommend 1 or 2?
[QUOTE=Trogdon;32707578]Yeah I'm not too big into sci fi so I haven't played those, but would you recommend 1 or 2?[/QUOTE]
Honestly I started playing 2, then ended up buying the first game later on. If you have issues with getting the plot ruined for you I'd start with 1 and work my way to the second game. If it isn't a problem, or you don't really plan on getting both, get 2. You're going to get filled in on the "story so far," you'll know everything you need to by the time you're out of the first mission.
However, if you start with 2, you're going to miss out on a lot of side quests and added details that carry over from the first game.
i'd play both since story elements carry over into two
but yeah i'm going to parrot the "you might like it even if you don't like sci-fi" because i've always found sci-fi dumb but i enjoyed mass effect
i'll look into getting mass effect 2, thanks guys!
And I've done some googling and I found two really old (like 12 years) adventure games that are supposed to have top notch stories
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Longest-Journey-Pc/dp/B000IXC8W2/ref=sr_1_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1318218013&sr=1-2[/url]
and
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Gabriel-Knight-Blood-Sacred-Damned-Pc/dp/B00001LAE2/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1318218165&sr=1-1[/url]
Wow, I remember playing Gabriel Knight, it's great
apparently the sequel to the longest journey is abandonware, i might check that out.
link for anyone interested
[url]http://download.cnet.com/Dreamfall-The-Longest-Journey/3000-2097_4-10621397.html[/url]
System Shock 1 & 2.
Killzone 2 is emotional at times.
Killzone 3 focused more on story, but they fucked the gameplay seriously compared to 1 and 2.
Space Station 3
No game can be more psycological than SS13
Metro 2033
Bioshock 1 and 2
[QUOTE=Trogdon;32707501]Stalker games always to me were incredible for their lack of story. I never really understood what was happening while I played them, and felt alone in the wasteland. I wouldn't say the story immersed me, but I was pretty immersed by those games. I enjoyed Metro as well, moreso in the story regard, especially towards the very end. Great game.[/QUOTE]
Story's great if you pay attention to the small bits and pieces they give you instead of just following whatever they tell you in the main quests like most other games
Or Killing Floor.
An Epic story of several British mens quest for dosh.
Story driven?
Bastion
Bastion
Bastion
GOTY for me for how well they executed the plot and made it truly compelling.
[QUOTE=Rastadogg5;32708349]Or Killing Floor.
An Epic story of several British mens quest for dosh.[/QUOTE]
Super Meat boy. Even says so on the store page. "A story so moving you will cry yourself to sleep for the rest of your life"
It's everything you will ever need in a game
Psychonauts.
[QUOTE=Squeaken;32708358]Story driven?
Bastion
Bastion
Bastion
GOTY for me for how well they executed the plot and made it truly compelling.[/QUOTE]
oh I've heard great things about Bastion, going to check that out too.
for Wii games apparently Cursed Mountain and Fragile Dreams are really great games. I ordered Cursed Mountain because it was $7, saving up to get Fragile Dreams because it sounds amazing (you are the last person on earth and trying to find out what happened to everyone or something)
The Darkness, console only.
The mix of narrative and gameplay is unlike any other.
[QUOTE=mastermaul;32708735]The Darkness, console only.
The mix of narrative and gameplay is unlike any other.[/QUOTE]
ah damn i wanted to play that when it came out. really the only 360 game i am really jealous i can't play. but i will try to borrow a console maybe and play that, completely slipped my mind. and i'd even watch the TKaM movie in it
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