parasite eve

BRAIN AGE.



Wait uh... smartest story? I'm not sure I understand yet the difference you mean between "smartest story" and "best writing" from the other thread.

But I think Beyond Good and Evil would work for both. And StarCraft, since it would make you befriend characters in one campaign and then kill them in the next. It was horrible, but genius.

Only 1 Kingdom Hearts mention?

Tut tut.....

The story was the reason I played the second one. And the GBA one. And all the ones to follow.

I literally cried at the end when Sora and Kairi were seperated and Kairi drew the other half of the Papou fruit in the Secret Place.

Kingdom Hearts 2 was good, but it was not as emotional as the first.

In number 3, I want such a huge freaking story I will cry and laugh for months after.

I'm heart broken that no one has even mentioned Planescape: Torment... anyone who loves RPGs or loves great stories and writing should always play this game. No other videogame story comes close to it in terms of story, writing, depth and complexity. It also has THE best character in a videogame: Morte.

Really, Planescape: Torment totally crushes all games.

You didn’t forget Portal, you said no puzzle games.

I would say none. They are either not mentally challenging, or they are puzzle games.

I would say electronic board games would count, so Chess or Go (Go is more mentally challenging then Chess).

I would also say just about any RTS is challenging, or some of the old military simulators. I used to play an air traffic controller game that was mentally challenging.

I personally like to play games for fun. I am challenged mentally at work every day. I play games to unwind. Same with movies, and books :)

EDIT: I consider RTS’s to be somewhat of a puzzle game. So not sure I should include it.

i'm not hardcore enough to notice which of my games were smart, unfortunately. i can't believe it.

Fallout 2 has a mediocre story. The writing itself, dialogue, and choices are great... but the main story is pretty shallow from the moment they send you out to save the world with a spear and set of herbs to the end at the enclave. It's all the interesting side stuff that makes the game engaging and so much fun.

I never finished Planescape Torment sadly and probably never will. It's the only game I can't get running on my PC (it will run for about 30 minutes and blue screen). Also, from what I did see of Morte... I will say even Boo from BG has enough personality to crush him.

You can neglect it for the ending, but the city it's self is a character.

"You never had control! That's the illusion! I was overwhelmed by the power of this place. But I made a mistake, too. I didn't have enough respect for that power and it's out now."

 You said itellegent stories. Not game desgin or play, bioshock is not really about the character and his chocies it's about the city, andrew ryan and everyone else. your just a whitness.

Eternal Darkness was good, and without the lovcraft elements it would suck. Recycling elements doesn't make a story dumb though. The best stories steel many elements.

Anyways to answer the question I agree with the list you have plus what I metnioned but I think the word smart is a bad word to use. 

I mean Isaac Asimov was a smart writer with "smart stories." I just don't know if your asking that or for "great stories" because they are different.

WoW, the "main story" of Fallout is the side-stuff. The main story of Fallout is the path the player chooses to take, and the only pre-defined part of the story is where it begins and where it ends. That's the beauty of Fallout.

It's too bad you only played the first 30min of PS:T (the beginning is the worst part of the game), you won't ever know how deep Morte is.

Morte is a confident, a comedian, someone to stay by your side. He witnessed countless incarnations of the Nameless One, and he's seen him become someone distinct everytime from "mighty wizard to petty thief, a paragon of virtue to a heartless villain", to even a Raging Madman. Because of that he shelters himself and much of what he knows until he believes(if he believes) it is safe with the Namelesss One's incarnation the player is controlling.

More background from wikipedia:

Mortimer "Morte" Rictusgrin

(voiced by Rob Paulsen)

A floating skull with an acerbic attitude. While he lacks a body, he is a capable warrior in many respects, biting with his sharp fangs and throwing foes off guard with taunts, while his smaller size, lack of vital organs, and pseudo-undead nature protect him from many attacks that would normally inflict serious wounds. Many fans wonder where he keeps his inventory. When the party encounters animated skeletons, the Nameless One can ask Morte if he'd like the body for his own, though actually attaching him to one is not an option.

Morte accompanies the Nameless One from the beginning of the game. He is the source of much of the game's humor, not the least being the chaotic conversations that can result between him and the Nameless One, whom he refers to as Chief.

Morte is occasionally referred to, even by himself, as a unique form of Mimir. While a mimir similar to Morte could conceivably be constructed, this is a lie told to disguise his true nature and origins. In truth, Morte's current form originated on the Pillar of Skulls on Avernus, first layer of Baator; a great mass of heads from those whose lies in life lead to the deaths of others. Though the Pillar will truthfully answer questions put to it, the price it demands in return is always high. A previous incarnation of the Nameless One approached the Pillar with questions, and Morte begged the immortal to free him, claiming that the incredible knowledge of the Pillar would then be at his disposal. This turned out to be untrue; Morte was unable to remember anything of the Pillar's knowledge once removed from it, and despite his anger the Nameless One kept Morte around. Though Morte remembers nothing of his life before he died and joined the Pillar, he comes to realize that one of his lies in life lead to one of the Nameless One's deaths, and that death was what condemned Morte to the Pillar in the first place. If the Nameless One convinces Morte to reveal this history and forgives him, Morte becomes significantly stronger, his personal torment lessened.