What's the Worst Story in a Game IYO?

[DeguelloNWR]

Jeez this forum is horrible for quotes.

"I think that your problem is that you don't accept that in RPGs (and in most games in general) there are two different levels (the story level and the gameplay level) that are not interchangeble."

Why should I accept it? Because you say so? Like Khuutra said, lots of games don't do this, and even some you list AS doing this, don't. They handle it much better.

"Thus, what anyone can do in the gameplay level does not correlate to what that guy can do in the story level. You can criticize that distinction all you want, but if you don't accept it you're gonna suffer quite a bit of disappointments while playing."

No I've actually found a lot of great storylines in games. Final Fantasy Tactics just is not one of them. I have suffered no disappointment at the hand of Zelda or Pokemon or Mario or Dragon Quest or Castlevania. And amazingly, none of them have this distinction that is required.

"To give some examples of the distinction between those levels, it's like saying why don't they use a Phoenix Down in Aerith after Sephiroth slaughters her? I have tons of them!" in Final Fantasy VII or "How did they shoot me? Dante can evade all the bullets in the cutscenes!!" in Devil May Cry.""

What makes you think I DIDN'T say that stuff. That part in FFVII felt forced and ridiculous. It shatters the suspension of disbelief like a sledgehammer with a big rock taped to it.

"I'd rather take a game that, even using that "level distinction technique", can deliver a deep, complex and captivating story like FFT, Suikoden, Persona 3/4, FF VII/VIII/X, Chrono Cross, etc. a thousand times over a game that they can't even put together a story like Dragon Quest VIII"

Did you seriously just put Chrono Cross on this list? I mean, I can see where your standards come from now and that further argument will be pointless. But... Chrono Cross? That abortion? Well... OK.. whatever, you have your tastes. And Persona 3 and 4 don't have this "distinction" thing, because it's pretty clear the characters only have these powers during the Dark Hour/TV World and not anywhere else. That is handling great powers effectively in a believable way that does not shatter the suspension of disbelief.

"Please don't tell me you're comparing books and movies to games. You simply don't do that, they are different mediums, with their strenghts and weaknesses, and should not be compared. A story that works well in a game may not work well as a book, and vice-versa."

I can and WILL do that. Do I have to think like you to see things your way? Just because it's a game doesn't excuse it from having a shit story and using boring, tired plot devices. For example, Earthbound has an outstanding story and concept, with ironclad story elements. And it's better than a few novels I've read recently. And subsequently, better than Final Fantasy Tactics.

I think it's that I found depth where you didn't and value nuance more than directed, leading storylines that rely more on ham-handed hand-holding and no short-term memory.

At this point we'll just have to agree to disagree.