Would You Still Enjoy RPGs If They Had No Story?

[Nz17]

Okay, I'm sure I'm not the only one that has heard people say, "I play games for the gameplay," or heard people complain, "What these new game makers dont' realize it that the game is about the gameplay."

Then I got thinking that while I enjoy an RPG's storyline, I don't enjoy the battles, or to be more precise, I don't enjoy having a storyline and battles. They feel like two completely disseperate things mooshed together into an incohesive whole.

Take the original Final Fantasy. Now that I like; of course, I prefer the newer versions of them because the leveling up and difficulty and interface is improved. But my point is that the game provides story at a minimum and has the PLAYER rather than the self-narrating characters create the story in his or her head.

Most RPGs provide the storyline as "sugar" to reward the players for sitting through the "tart" battles. In most games where the STORY is the point rather than the gameplay fighting feels arduous, something that must be done simply to progress further into the presented, predetermined story.

So I now come to the whole point of this post, which is to ask "serious" RPG players if they would still play their games if there were no stories in them, just the battles.

So RPG'ers, would you? Personally, I think I would play them more.

[Richter Belmount]

personally if there wasnt a story i wouldnt play em , I didnt like zelda oot at all cause its little bit of story (imo) but I love ff6.

[Cryomancer]

I would. But would I watch/read 50,000 iterations of the standard RPG storyline? Probably not.

[Nez]

It really depends, I loved Grandia and Grandia 2 for the battles and not the storys. While in Kouldelka I play for the story. Just as long as one of em is great I'm usually set.

But I'm much rather have the best of both worlds, ie Shadow Hearts, PDS.

[it290]

Well, with most (not all) strategy RPGs, the story is rather secondary. There are also some older RPGs, like Dungeon Master or even Shining in the Darkness, that have virtually no story at all but still manage to be fun. I enjoy a good dungeon hack once in a while, but an interesting story never hurts, either.

Of course, in some games, the main storyline really isn't that important. Take Fallout, for example. It's probably my favorite RPG ever, but the main storyline isn't all that great, and it's never really fleshed out in all that much detail. It's the characterization of the 'unimportant' people in the world, the little details, and the atmosphere that make it so immersive. The same could be said of games like Morrowind.

[-hellvin-]

dungeon hack

That was the first phrase to came to mind when I saw this topic as it is basically what an rpg without a story is. I love the wizardry series and other such games in that vein so I would have to say yes to the question.

[SoulBlazer]

Not me. The more story, the better.

The main reason I PLAY and love RPG's is because of the rich, detailed stories, the thought out charcters that you can interact with, and the enviroment that the game presents. Sure, I want it to have decent graphics and music and fun gameplay, but I love reading and sometimes I see better stories told in these games then in many books that I've read.

That's one reason I loved Xenosaga and Star Ocean 3 so much, for example, while detesting Dragon Warrior 7.

I've just never been fond of the 'hack and slash' games. Gimme a LITTLE story to go along with it. The original Final Fantasy, for example, has enough of a story (especily with the PS and GBA remakes) to keep me happy as I play through it.

Gimme a massive story driven game any day -- not just a RPG, but a action, a FPS, hell, even sports. :D

[udisi]

It depends .. I'd probably still play them, but I wouldn't enjoy them as much... Prime example....Lucienne's Quest for the 3do....game play is great. used a FF Tactics type grid with elevation and obsticles for battles, but the story was pretty straight forward and predictable. So really I played it for the gameplay. On the other hand take FF7, great story line, but the battles are pretty basic number throwing. Granted they spiced things up with materia, but really the fights are pretty repeative and dull. Both games I enjoyed for different reasons, wether it gameplay or storyline

[Habeeb Hamusta]

I don't think there would even be a point in playing the game if there was no story. What would you do? Just walk around leveling up all day. That's ridiculous. It would be so boring. The story is the key to capturing the player's interest in the game. The gameplay alone wouldn't keep me there for 5 minutes.

[ianoid]

You mean RPGs have a story?

ian
My sense of humor is a sad excuse for armor.

[Sylentwulf]

For the first time in quite a while, I'm gonna completely agreee with soulblazer (except for the not liking DW7 part, that's just blasphemous)

[Icarus Moonsight]

I'd play more RPG's if they actually HAD a story. Not all are devoid of a tale but, I have found that most of them are. This and all the stupid cliches have to end. I know that Capolla is not gonna make the transition from silver screen to PS3 but, does the plotlines for these games have to be so soapish?

IMO Vice City had huge amounts of story over most RPG's. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

[Beefy Hits]

I play FFXI, and that really doesn't have much of a story, considering how long the game is played.

[slip81]

It depends on the game, if it's a strategy RPG I would play it without a story, cause the main interest there for me is the battles. But for a traditional RPG I wouldn't play it if it was just aimless dungeon crawling without a story and interesting plot/character devices.

This is probably the reason I don't care that much for MMORPG's, they get boring for me fast when there is no advancement other than gaining levels and getting better armour/weapons/abilities.

[Xexyz]

When it comes to RPG's, the type that is gameplay 1st and story 2nd for me are SRPG's. The battles are just so much fun to me. I can't even stand hack n' slash RPG's. Battle fights are too repeditive and lack any interest. Now, if only someone would make a hack n' slash RPG where the battles played more like a fighting game...

[SoulBlazer]

Wow, Sylentwulf actually agrees with me! LOL

But to answer the point and also tie it into the topic -- I loved the eariler Dragon Warrior games because even though they were lacking in story they still had fun game play. Now I've been spoiled by the likes of games such as the Final Fantasys and Suikoden's and Star Oceans and others. DW 7 just played and felt like DW 1 to me.....and not at all like a 'modern' RPG. It felt like it was still stuck in 1988.

We have the ability now with these modern games to persent some wonderfull and masterfull tales, and it's what keeps me coming back to game playing after doing it for some many years.

[maxlords]

RPGs....I only play them for the story. I don't really care for the gameplay as they're really designed as an interactive story or movie anyway. Some focus on the interaction, some focus on the movie part, but that's how they're all designed. I wouldn't play RPGs that had no story. Minimal story I can handle...sometimes. Personally I also detested Ocarina of Time (though I don't consider it an RPG) simply because the story was so minimal and lame. I HATED it cause the story sucked. A lot of RPGs, if the story is bad, I won't bother to play them. I'll just drop em dead right in the middle. Some of my most reviled games include FF7-FF9 because all three had AWFUL stories.

I also despise MMORPGs. I like strategy RPGs, but also prefer them to have a story of some sort. A strategy/RPG with no story is often just a strategy game though (a la X-Com) as I've seen very few strategy/RPGs with NO story. Some have lame or minimalistic ones, but few have NONE. It's a different beast though, so I tolerate it more.

@ Xexyz: Virtua Quest is coming....it combines fighting game style battles with RPG gaming and story elements. I'm waiting to see how good it is :D

[Sylentwulf]

Might want to check on some of the more current MMORPGS. I know AC2 and EQ2 actually have quite a LOT of story in them. EQ2 even has voiceovers which actually DO make more of a difference than I thought it would.

Granted, before those 2 games, stories in MMORPGS were pretty pathetic.

[Aussie2B]

I'd absolutely play RPGs even if they had no story. However, I feel like the only RPG fan in existence who believes the gameplay is far more important than plot (besides people who play PC-style RPGs; I'm talking about fans of Japanese RPGs here). :/ This is probably the main reason why I don't often like the big mainstream RPGs. Their battle systems are so pathetic, dull, and easy that they're not even worth playing. No amount of story can make up for that. Also, having played a ton of RPGs and not looking at them through story-loving rose-colored glasses, I realize that the vast majority of RPG plots are VERY similar. They use the same tired old stereotypes over and over and OVER, the same plot progression, the same plot "twists" (which are usually either seen coming a mile away or just flat out ridiculous). With so many infinitely better sources of fictional stories (movies, books, whatever), why should I waste my time being that concerned with the drivel called a "plot" in 99% of RPGs?

However, I expect my games to be a complete package. Even an action game needs a premise, so I wouldn't want an RPG to be NOTHING but battles. Something has to tie it all together. There needs to be a sense of progression. Ultimately, I find myself much more concerned with character design, atmosphere, and setting. If an RPG can give me characters that I can actually find likable and a setting I find pleasant to explore, that's more than enough to satisfy me on the story side of things.

[it290]

Now, if only someone would make a hack n' slash RPG where the battles played more like a fighting game...

You mean like Guardian Heroes? Okay, probably not exactly what you had in mind, but still a sweet game.

[kainemaxwell]

Gameplay and the story is what really got me into playing RPGs. First RPGs were Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy Not much of a story, but enough to made you feel that you weren't much of a nameless Joe wandering about.

Really started loving RPG storylines with FF2/4.

[Tritoch]

I agree with Soulblazer 100% as well. Single-player RPGs without a good story are almost always boring to me, even with the best battle system in the world. The only MMORPG I've played extensively is Ultima Online, and I enjoyed it because it offered some excellent RPing (when not around the l33ts) and player-created storylines (as well as GM-run events).

[Crush Crawfish]

Personally, I'd have to say yes I would. The story is never the main reason I play any type of game, even RPG's. A great story is never a bad thing though. However, I don't want the story to take precedence over the gameplay.

[scooterb23]

If I wanted a story, I'd read a book or watch a movie. So gimme a sword, gimme a dungeon, and gimme some baddies!!!

I don't like RPGs at all, but a mindless dungeon hack = :rocker:

[calthaer]

Most console and PC RPGs are only statistical acquisition simulations anyways. Some of them - yeah, I'd probably play.

Some games like Planescape: Torment couldn't do without the story, though. Note that another valid question would be - "would you still play RPGs even if they had no stats / experience points / etc.?" Then you'd almost be playing adventure games.

[Habeeb Hamusta]

I thought Grandia 2 had an awesome story. I also loved Final Fantasy 8 (I am one of the very few who did).

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Most rpg's have the same old "anti-hero has to save world, resuce lover and destory a unknown villian", so I don't really see why it matters. :P

[SoulBlazer]

Two people agreeing with me now. Wow, this is a amazing day. ;)

I'll agree with what Kaine said also. :D

[Psycho Mantis]

for me, i need a story for my rpg's. if it doesn't have a story, i'm not motivated to play through it.

[WiseSalesman]

I probably would not play console RPGs (in the strict sense of the word RPG) without a story. I don't consider games like Zelda RPGs. The correct term for those would be "adventure" or "action-rpg". I'd still play those. But traditional console turn-based RPGs with no story? No way.

[jdc]

Yep, I'd play them. Most rpgs that I've played all have the same central theme to them......something bad is going to end the world and a motley band of assorted types are off to beat the shit out of it.

I play rpgs for the random battles and getting those character's stats to max levels. I like to learn every skill and spell. That's the fun of rpgs for me. Story comes second....because I've seen it all before. That's why dungeon crawlers are great.

[Berserker]

Depends. The first RPG game I ever played, Dragon Warrior, had almost no story to it. "Thou shalt rescueth my daughter and slayeth that one guy." That's about it. And I loved that game. An RPG doesn't nescessarily need to have a story for me, as long as it compensates for that in other areas. Of course, I'm guessing that RPG's without story are in short supply these days. MMORPG's are about the last bastion of relatively storyless RPG's at this point, and even many of those have some kind of loose storyline that can be followed by doing quests.

On the other hand, if you're going to throw the same kind of random encounter turn-based Attack/Magic/Item type thing at me, then you're going to have to have a fresh story there, because we've all done it so many times, without some kind of new element it's just going to seem like a chore.

[kupomogli]

I'd enjoy an RPG if they had no story. I think more often, good gameplay can save a bad storyline, over a good storyline saving bad gameplay. Gameplay is more about just the combat though and if your standard RPG happens to have good combat, but the world design, exploration, and games progression is poor, then it's not really good gameplay. In the past I never skipped storyline in an RPG no matter how many times I've finished it because even though short it was good. Some of the new games have had storyline so boring that it's hard for me to stay interested and I had no problem skipping the story for those.

[Edmond Dantes]

Is it just me or have some posts been disappearing? In this thread I know I posted something about the individual merits of story and gameplay and how one can overcome the deficiencies in the other, but it seems to be gone.

The same also happened in the "good games for less than $5 (physical media only)" thread. I know myself and another poster mentioned Outrun 2, but both posts are missing now. And in general both these topics seem a lot shorter all the sudden.

What's up with that?

[kupomogli]

^The last post prior to mine shows 2004. Maybe you posted here, but I dunno.

[Tanooki]

I can't remember now which topic it was but I know I had something vanish in the last few days too. I distinctly remember writing something and hitting post and it showing up. Also in a related thing perhaps, I've noticed it largely stalling out when wanting to post, taking minutes, then it goes through. It did that yesterday, but so far not today.

[Daria]

I don't play RPGs for the stories, but I also lose interest very quickly in traditional RPGs if they lack humor and likable characters - two byproducts of the story telling. Without the dialogue I may as well be playing imports. So no for the most part I don't think I would.

That said there are some RPG type games that I enjoy that do focus entirely on gameplay: Tactical RPGs, dungeon crawlers, rogue-likes, zelda clones. These I could still play. But like Lunar or Chrono Trigger without any of the character that makes it memorable? No thanks.

Edit: Weeeee! Necrobump. :P

[lendelin]

We wouldn't even play videogames of any kind if there were no stories or better: at least a situation we can identify with. Storytelling and -listening is one of the basic drives of human beings, if there is no story, we make one up. This sounds exaggerated, but it is not.

Why is this simple game with two paddles and one pixel going back and forth called Pong and Tennis? Because we imagine it is a tennis game or table tennis game. But they are just abstract pixels which could be anything. I remember a video which shows Ralph Baer playing with his Brown Box moving a pixel, and he says "whee - I'm the Red Baron" and shoots with fun. Even with the first games and later on the Magnavox Odysee and Atari the developers made up a story or situation AFTER the game was developed. Needless or laughable? No, there is a deep need for stories as a first step to identify with game content when we play.

Great games live from distinctive atmospheres, and one of the most important parts is a great story or Situation. The gameplay mechanics can be fantastic, the graphics great, if the story or the situational atmosphere falls flat, you'll never have a good game. This goes for racing games like Gran Turismo, and even more so for RPGs. A RPG without a great story and atmosphere (music, sound, graphics, situations, dialogue and character development) is not good and offers no incentive to be played.

Stories and situations are so basic and perceived often unconsciously that very often we forget how important they are. You always need stories in games, even if they are standardized and stereotypical as hell.

[Gentlegamer]

If the forum index crashes, it's all your faults.

And now mine too.

[Jehusephat]

That was the first phrase to came to mind when I saw this topic as it is basically what an rpg without a story is. I love the wizardry series and other such games in that vein so I would have to say yes to the question.

My favorite RPG sub-genre is the first-person dungeon crawler, and those games, along with roguelikes and tactics-style games, are probably the only RPGs I would enjoy with or without a story. I do enjoy things like short paragraphs describing the purpose of a quest, character/item/location descriptions or brief discussions with dungeon NPCs, but I see them as flavor text more than actual contributions to the plot. For example, something like "this room is cold, and has a peculiar odor" is preferable to "H3," and "thank you for returning my amulet!" is preferable to "quest completed."

I don't know how descriptive a game's plot needs to be before it is thought of as having a story for the purposes of this discussion, but I've been playing a lot of Heroes of a Broken Land and have not been bothered by the general absence of a plot beyond the intro sequence. Running around the map clearing out dungeons seems to be holding my interest at the moment.

Also, while I don't tend to think of them as "real" RPGs, I could probably tolerate a loot-based action RPG such as Diablo with little or no story to keep me interested. The original Diablo would likely be very much the same game without any real story, given that its strengths lie in its (at the time) innovative item generation mechanic and art/sound/music design.

[The 1 2 P]

While I typically don't play rpg's the two I have played to completion(Star Wars: KOTOR 1 and 2) both had fantastic stories and would have been way less enjoyable without them. Actually I probably wouldn't have even finished them if they didn't have a good narrative.

[retro junkie]

For me, it has got to have that involving story element. Or I would not play them at all. It is the main reason I got into RPGs. Although I have been known to play some that were very shallow of story. Still I couldn't play a Japanese version of one where I couldn't understand what is being said. I do enjoy building the character up plus the armour and stuff.