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silicon on 04 January 2010
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Gnizmo said:
vlad321 said:

Actually that's false. If you take The Witcher, choices you make early in the game can alter the story later on, depending on who you help, kill, fuck, or fuck over.

Dragon Age recetly does the same.

Even if there is jus an illusion it's still a big difference, since I don't have even that illusion in books. Meanwhile JRPGs offer NOTHING when compared to books when it comes to the story. Also, no video game can compete with books when it comes to storytelling, so that makes linear storylines pretty bad. Cinematic games are the WORST games in existance (MGS4 is a great example of a good game gone to shit).

I have been tempted to try The Witcher, so this might push me over the edge. I never cared for Baulder's Gate though, so I know better than to try Dragon Age. The game won't be as good, and will share a lot of the problems I had.

The illusion of choice is absolutely meaningless though. I don't play these games for the shitty side-quest stories. Hell, I rarely even pay attention to them. Few, if any, are even given enough attention to be considered well written, or worthwhile outside of the in-game rewards. I don't need to feel like I could control a story. This is meaningless to me. I just want some epic battles, some ridiculous challenges, and possibly some nice character development. The linearity of the story line is meaningless in the end because there is no real alternative.

It sounds like you wouldn't enjoy Dragon Age, but it is a well-written story with interesting choices that do add an different element to the game play, on top of epic battles etc.

The following might be a spoiler to anyone who would end up playing the game

For example, let's say you play the linear story and kill an enemy. In another play through you could find out through side quests, different choices and talking to companions that the enemy is actually good and they become an ally. Also, depending on your choices a companion could attack you. Dragon Age does that.