alyvain
Savant
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2017
- Messages
- 386
Hello, old friends. Long time no see.
I understand that this may seem far-fetched, but I wanted to compile a simple list of RPGs with coherent stories. By that, I mean themes, characters, above-average writing, and ideas—essentially, an experience that stems from the fiction more than from gameplay. I wanted to say "like a book," but then someone will inevitably respond with something like, "But the book is always better," which would be completely beside the point.
This doesn't mean that it has to be good. "Tyranny" has a lot of problems, but it surely works this way, and I think that Fallout 2 doesn't. Dragon Age 2 kind of does (and makes me question my inclusion of 'above-average writing', although this game do try), but something vastly superior, like Gothic 2 or Baldur's Gate 2, doesn't.
The discussion of what makes a game a story is welcome. I think there are some things that are, as a rule, antithetical to it (surely, there are exceptions). Vast open worlds tend to bring the story out of focus. Character customization doesn't work well with telling personal stories. Etc.
Some titles I'll list below not to clutter this post too much. It has to be expanded.
I understand that this may seem far-fetched, but I wanted to compile a simple list of RPGs with coherent stories. By that, I mean themes, characters, above-average writing, and ideas—essentially, an experience that stems from the fiction more than from gameplay. I wanted to say "like a book," but then someone will inevitably respond with something like, "But the book is always better," which would be completely beside the point.
This doesn't mean that it has to be good. "Tyranny" has a lot of problems, but it surely works this way, and I think that Fallout 2 doesn't. Dragon Age 2 kind of does (and makes me question my inclusion of 'above-average writing', although this game do try), but something vastly superior, like Gothic 2 or Baldur's Gate 2, doesn't.
The discussion of what makes a game a story is welcome. I think there are some things that are, as a rule, antithetical to it (surely, there are exceptions). Vast open worlds tend to bring the story out of focus. Character customization doesn't work well with telling personal stories. Etc.
Some titles I'll list below not to clutter this post too much. It has to be expanded.
Disco Elysium
Dragon Age 2 and Mass Effect 2 (yes, let's put them together)
Planescape: Torment
Star Wars: KOTOR 2
The Last Sovereign (try it)
Tyranny
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Dragon Age 2 and Mass Effect 2 (yes, let's put them together)
Planescape: Torment
Star Wars: KOTOR 2
The Last Sovereign (try it)
Tyranny
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
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