No, because gameplay alone provides the narrative in Nintendo games, more so than other systems.

SMG is a perfect example of this, where as you progress across planets things happen that contribute to a narrative of sorts.

I think Freeze frame galaxy really demonstrates a story, a narrative momentum.

@SmokedHostage: so you think Nintendo has a double standard, but they've earned it by right of being old school?

@sc94597: Very true on the catering to an audience point. But for new IPs, let's go to what got this train of thought started for me: Pikmin. From what I know it's an awesome fun game, but barely any story. Reviewers still kinda gave it a pass.

I guess I never stated my personal position... I think there is a double standard for Nintendo games; if it carries the Mario tag gameplay is all that matters. And I think Nintendo rightfully earned this; I still remember the awe I felt the first time I popped in Mario 64 and how much fun I had. Nevermind that Peach was kidnapped, I wanted those stars!

Eh? Explain? As far as I remember, it was Penguins versus the fiery dudes right? I'm not really sure something contained in a single level contributes to a "narrative momentum."

- Wolfenstein and Doom are on par with Tale of Genji.

- Contra has a Kojima worthy storyline.

- Link's Awakening is chock full of Oscar worthy dialogue.

- Final Fantasy VII is as emotionally evocative as the best that Dalton Trumbo ever wrote.

So I ask you, what is this double standard you speak of?

Well mario doesn't need a story, Zelda has a pretty good story, Metroid also has a good story, and Fire Emblem has a great story. Most of Nintendo games focus on gameplay anyways, so if the gameplay is great, they don't need an epic story, and games like Fire Emblem need a great story for you to at least try to beat it.

Maybe it's because the story isn't the point. I mean they are barely trying to put a story (SMG and Pikmin but not Zelda because the story in Zelda is deep and complex as all the games are connected).

In other games, they try to push a stupid story to you. For example, the story in Soul Calibur is so stupid it's no wonder it loses points there.

The narrative objective is the stars chenguo4. Look is it more satisfying in SMG to earn a star through a serious of challenges? Yes, there is a narrative in the game play itself. Im not going to argue this point because you wouldn't play it if there wasn't a progression of events in the level that rewarded you at the end.

Narratives are a sequence of events, whether it be 2 or 3 events it doesn't matter, followed by a conclusion.

A story can be anything, it doesn't need to be what you think a story is. As someone said earlier poems and shit, they are stories, limericks are storys, commercials tell stories.

What is the purpose of a game? What is the job it is made to fulfill? On the most basic level, the job of a game is to provide entertainment in an interactive format. Story is a non-element of this, a side benefit if you will. If a game is not fun to play, then it doesn't matter how good its story is (or its graphics, or its music, or any other feature). A game that is not fun has failed at the job it is meant to do by definition of being a game.

Nintendo games tend to have excellent gameplay, and that "forgives" a lot of their perceived "shortcomings". The situation in reality, however, is that many games are forgiven for having poor gameplay because they have ancillary features like good graphics, excellent audio, and compelling stories to "make up" for their lack of fun. I believe that no game should be forgiven for poor gameplay, however; a game with poor gameplay has failed, and no matter how much you hide this with eye, ear, and mind candy, a game with poor gameplay is still a failure.

This debate of gameplay and its validity as a narrative or story in itself is a valid discussion.

Many games, not just by Nintendo, are said to to have great game play but no story.

Well isn't Sim city a story that you create?

BTW Everyone critisized SMG for not having a story, its just not the familiar narrative that you expect. Who cares, some people hated the Sopranos ending (i didn't), some people don't like Lynch films, there are different stories to tell and some creator's choose a different way to tell them

Even Star Fox has a good story!

No double standards, really. And not all games need a great story line to be, well great.

Even if the story is weak, it's the characters that draw you in playing Nintendo games. Pikmin might have had a weak story, but the characters (Olimar, Pikmin and the enemies) and the gameplay mechanics made up for it.

As for games without story, Nintendo makes too few of them, most have a compelling story. You must have not played any Zelda game, specifically OoT or ALttP if you believe Nintendo games are weak story wise.