Metroid Preview - Downloadable only on the Wii!

[super_etecoon]

tarheel91 said:

super_etecoon said:
Legacy of Kain series has a great story...great voice acting, excellent gameplay...But who plays games for stories...Stories give the game engine relevance...

For instance...way back when, there was a game called Donkey Kong. You had to climb up a series of platforms while "barrels" rolled down at you. Why? Why did the chicken cross the road? Does there need to be a reason? It's a game; it's a challenge. But if we put a princess in the picture then we move from a game involving pixels to a "hero" saving a "damsel in distress". Our futile, pointless journey up the scaffold is actually a chivalric priveledge and duty.

Stories in games do nothing more than give realism and purpose to the otherwise arbitrary events and challenges that happen in a game, and, for the most part, they are irrelevant. I don't know about you, but in a cut scene I'm just waiting for them to give me my next mission.

So I couldn't care less about the story in a game. My only concern is that it doesn't get in the way of the gameplay. True, the new videos look to be story heavy and a little action oriented, but I think something else is at work there.

I believe that the reason we are seeing so much story is that we are seeing the beginning of the game. Gmae beginnings are always story driven, even when they're giving you a tutorial. It's all about exposition and purpose. Why are you here? What is your mission? What is at stake? As far as why the second video appears to be just mindless action? This is a demo for Metroid. Would you rather they show a video of someone getting lost? Or trying to figure out a puzzle?

At least that's what I'm hoping they're doing.

Gonna have to disagree with you there. Sure, a story isn't essential to a game, but it's by no means of such meager use. While a story's effects upon a game are less tangible than gameplay's, they are by no means nonexistant. Despite just describing stories' effects as less tangible and more abstract, I will attempt to explain them in a tangible manner:

Stories lead to a more immersive game. They allow you to better connect with the characters and makes it feel more like you're in the game and are the main character than watching the game and controlling the main character. Like you said, it also justifies what would otherwise be random and useless, albeit extremely fun, actions. For me, watching the story unfold (or making it myself) is just as fun as actually playing the game. It's a rare sight for me to skip cutscenes (unless I'm replaying a game, and even then, only the uneventful ones). I know you probably won't believe me, but I'll gladly overlook and/or put up with shortcomings in gameplay if the story is excellent, and vice versa.

I do think, though, that story is much more important in certain genres than others. In my opinion, much more emphasis is necessary in adventure games and RPGs on story than in, say, a platformer or racing game. Regardless, stories are not as narrowly useful as you make them out to be.

 

Edit: @DoesWhatNintenDont: The actual download took about three minutes and I only had to buffer for about 2 seconds before watching each trailer in its entirety. 

Note: This is on a DSL UltraFast (aka regular broadband -_-;) connection. 

 

 

Tarheel....I accept your disagreement graciously.  First off, I don't skip cutscenes.  I sit back and enjoy them.  I'm a sucker for cinematic effect.  And while a good story can make up for a bad game, I find that oftentimes I wish they would just leave the story out and let me play the game.  As Bodhesatva says, these stories are done.  They are trite.  Or just plain bad.  Take for instance, Elebeits.  The gameplay in this game is great.  I don't need to know why I'm uncovering all the little Elebits.  But they felt the urge to make up some cheesy story and wrap it up with some horrible (horible repeated again for emphasis) voice acting.

My original point is that I don't care what the story will be in Metroid Prime 3.  I play the game for its atmosphere and its exploration, not its intriguing metaphors or abstract parallels to real world politics. 

I'm excited to play Super Mario Galaxy, and I hope the story is kept to a minimum. 

Nintendo: "Save the princess." 

Me:   "Okidokey" 

 So I think I agree with both Tarheel and Bodhesatva.  Games with great stories are amazing.  Unfortunately they don't make good stories very often.  Err on the side of good judgment and give me solid gameplay, please.  Ifg the controls feel good, the story will tell itself.