Second MGS4 review in -score 92 "story too complex"

[Profcrab]

shio said:

Profcrab said:

Ajax said:
ok rocketpig.. please say you haven't played Xenogears, cause if you have and don't think the story is truly great.. then that would make me sad.. somehow.. :(

I have played Xenogears and I know RP. I doubt it would change his opinion. I loved Xenogears, but like most anime, its story is a bit overdone. Still a great game (except for the point where you can tell the team had their budget cut), but it is just a good story in a sea of mediocre JRPG stories (yes, JRPG stories are just like anime stories, 95% mediocre to poor with overzealous fans that try to polish brass into gold). MGS stories go from being decent to mediocre with a healthy group of fanboys that standby with polishing rags.

Some of the best efforts by a Japanese dev to make games that really use the medium of games to have the player feel emotion and have you feel characters without obnoxious lengthy dialog come from Team ICO. ICO and Shadow of the Colosus are much better works of art than most games. It does stand to reason though that many times the games that have the best story or go for the more artistic approach may not sell that well. Movies are that way and books can be also. Its great that people try to make those games, but they are not for everyone.

The reason people may get more emotional about video game storylines is that they are already involved in the game by interacting with it. People can be drawn into mediocre stories if the gameplay is decent. This doesn't mean the story is great, but it's doing it's part in the game to make you feel immersed. Take the story out of the game and you may see how laughable it really is. This doesn't make the game bad either, unless the story is so obnoxious that you sigh whenever a character speaks, but just remember to put it in proper perspective.

I agree with most of what you say, most JRPG developers do not know how to incorporate the story into the gameplay; they keep almost all of it in the cutscenes. That's why WRPGs are usually superior to JRPGs in storytelling. Comparing the Xenogears to Planescape: Torment:

In Xenogears, side-content is pretty banal, vulgar, undistinguishable. Square used(and still does) the standard linear story, all-on-cutscenes galore approach. Leaving the side-quests giving a mere.... non-related feeling. The main story I already talked about it, it's good for an JRPG, but average at best against the best WRPG stories.

In Planescape: Torment, to let the player experience directly the Nameless One's Immortality strongly adheres to the atmosphere and cohesion of the Story; The recollection of his memories, and try to pick up those few pieces often leaving the player wondering about his origins (how old is he?.... what is his name?...) strengthens the bond between them; Giving the player first-hand seat on the evidences and clues his the Nameless One's past lifes as he encounters those who knew his past identities; Everyone's sins, thoughts, emotions, Morte's search for redemption, only being able to decrease his own torment if Nameless One (the player) forgives him. I could go on pointing more. .. most of it is optional, but all of it makes Planescape: Torment a surreal experience.

 Planescape is one of those games that I bought when it was on sale but just never gave it a fair chance.  I keep pushing off playing it.  I still have it though and every once in a while I still look at the box.  Shame on me.