Game storyline's everyone should experience once

[Gemini-Phoenix]

What game storylines should everyone be forced to endure at least once during their life?

Basically, what games should be played all the way through by everybody?


Gaming is as much a part of popular culture as films and music is, but many discard it as being just something people do to pass the time.

How many times do you hear people discussing plots of films, or lyrics of certain songs? Yet very rarely (Except in the pressence of like-minded geeks) do you hear people talking about game storylines?


Ie, you would rarely hear someone publiclu discussing the story of Final Fantasy VII in the same way as they do something like a Bond film, or The Matrix, or something like that...


I would nominate games like: [i] Metal Gear Solid - PSone - Justa great plotline, and a few nice twists. There are also a few great lines of dialogue which stick in your mind!

Final Fantasy VI / VII / VIII / IX - PSone - These four in particular are some of the greatest games of all time due to their lengthy plots, love scenario's, and plot twists. And not forgetting the unforgettable baddies and battles which ensue along the way!

Resident Evil - Saturn / Psone / GameCube - Or any of the Resi series - These games have everything you need for a great story, and everyone should be able to quote that unforgettable lockpick line at the beginning of the first game!

Parasite Eve II - Psone - What a story! A great mix of sexy lead heroine and mean creatures! A must play for everyone! (Plus there's a rather nice shower cut scene in the middle!)

Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time - N64 - A masterpiece, and nothing more! A storyline which every N64 owner should know!

[cowmando6]

You forgot Chrono Trigger. This game has to be one of my favorites and most people I know that have played this have absolutely loved it. The game goes so in depth into every aspect of the main character's lives. I also nominate Earthbound which pretty much speaks for its awesomeness in plot. :)

[Sniderman]

Beyond Good and Evil. The storyline and characters were very compelling to me.

[pacmanhat]

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic immediately comes to mind. The story in that simply blew me away.

[suckerpunch5]

If it's simply due to influence on popular culture, I think Halo is a good choice. Lots of peple talk about it, so it might be moderately important.

For a good story from a game most people didn't bother to play, I recomend Second Sight. It seems like a typical FPS at first, but it really takes off in a cool direction.

[Slimedog]

Star Control 2 for 3DO. Between the best voice acting ever and the most detail and robust universe I've ever seen in a game, this is beyond a doubt a masterpiece that many people overlook. The most compelling story I've ever experienced in a game.

[Ed Oscuro]

Teaching loses its value when forced upon an unwilling pupil. *Gong*

[Atarian75]

I second Beyond Good and Evil. One of the best modern games I have ever played. Too bad we probably won't see a sequel due to poor sales.

[jgenotte]

Mine have already been mentioned so I will second them:

Halo
Halo 2
Star Control 2

I actually played Star Control 2 and 3 on the PC. I thought that 3 was the good one but I must be mistaken.

-james

[smokehouse]

Final Fantasy II (SNES)
Ninja Gaiden I&II (NES)
Final Fantasy X (PS2)
Mario RPG (SNES)
Both Paper Mario games (N64/GC)

Although many of these titles don’t appeal to some. RPG’s often have great storylines but many gamers simply don’t like them…..

[Ed Oscuro]

Halo
Halo 2
Thank god you don't have any physical control over me...that goes for anybody who picked Halo or the sequel. Better than Advent Rising, I guess, but STILL.

Marathon > that

[Damaramu]

I second Beyond Good and Evil. One of the best modern games I have ever played. Too bad we probably won't see a sequel due to poor sales.

Thirded. I love that game and it's wonderful music!

I would also like to add Out of This World to the mix. I remember my reaction to this game when a friend of mine and I rented it back in the day.... :eek 2: 8-) :D

[Jumpman Jr.]

I'm currently playing my way through Windwaker on the Gamecube. So far, its an amazing story. I think people always give the game a bad rap because of its childish-looking graphics. :roll:

[mezrabad]

Teaching loses its value when forced upon an unwilling pupil. *Gong*

Are you quoting from a game?

Anyway . . .

Homeworld.

I really enjoyed the whole setup; the history given in the manual and the plot as it unfolded between sessions. I thought the way the narrator's voice broke during a particularly dramatic moment towards the beginning of the game was an incredibly effective touch. I wish there was a movie of just the plotline (even though I also enjoyed the single player campaign for its gameplay).

Also, I really liked System Shock and the sequel. I don't know if that was more of a "setting and environment" thing but I thought the writing and the way the story unfolded was great. Of course, Shodan being so well voiced helped a lot.

[calthaer]

I will second your System Shock and raise you a Deus Ex. Warren Spector and crew generally do a great job...but I won't vouch for DX2: Invisible War.

I will also throw a Planescape: Torment on the table. That game's story was way better than any Japanese RPG IMO.

[Aussie2B]

"Forced to endure" is exactly how I'd describe my experience with the Final Fantasty 7 plot line, haha.

I'll second Chrono Trigger, but I strongly recommend NOT suffering through the plot of Chrono Cross. God, that plot is convoluted and screwed up... ugh...

I highly recommend Wonder Project J and J2, but being in Japanese, they are lost in obscurity. The characters are exceptionally endearing, and it couldn't possibly be more enjoyable to follow the events of their worlds, ultimately leading up to their emotional conclusions. Wonder Project J2's ending is literally around 45 minutes long, and I loved every second of it.

I also recommend Marvelous. It's kind of random, but that's what makes it so wacky. Plus, it's like you get a full fleshed out story with each chapter, and then it loops around full circle at the end. But again, most gamers will never appreciate it because it's in Japanese.

Tail Concerto has a sweet, touching little plot too. It's almost like a really good anime film. Just ignore all the crazy furry fans obsessed with the game... It may has a nice plot, great character design, and great animation, but it's also a very fun 3D platformer, which is a fact lost on most of the fans who only care about the cute cat and dog people.

I also recommend Maniac Mansion because, like Marvelous, it's totally wacky and fun.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

If it's simply due to influence on popular culture, I think Halo is a good choice. Lots of peple talk about it, so it might be moderately important.

I instantly remembered Halo as soon as I had posted, but couldn't be bothered to go back and edit...


I think the Broken Sword games are also a must (Well, except the far fetched third game) - The original two are classics, and have a great story to them, and a bit of humour added for safe measure!


Another that springs to mind is the N64 version of Conker's Bad Fyr Day - A classic in every sense, and you really get a grip for the story after playing for a while. Shame about the ending... -{Whoops, i've said too much...}-


I also really got into Breath Of Fire IV a lot. Any of the first three are just as good, but number four was the first one I played, and it got me instantly hooked on the series! Five is a bit of a duffer though - Best to stick with the first four!


Grandia II on teh DC is also another RPG I really got into and couldn't put down. I used to spend about 12 solid hours a day playing that - And eventually managed to complete it within a few days. A true classic, and definitely a game that every one should play through at least once...

[Classicgamesdepot]

Earthbound.. yea I know.. your a kid trying to save the planet from aliens.. but there is just so much more to it than that... maybe Im just biased, It was so awesome playing this game in like 8th grade all the way through.. everyone needs to experience this game/plot at least once

and another shout out to chrono

[Haoie]

Lunar 1, but better yet Lunar 2. I'm a real fan of love stories, and romance within games. And they don't get more lovey dovey [in a good way] than Lunar.

[classicb]

I'll add another vote for Beyond Good and Evil.

Also two of my favorite games in the current generation are Fatal Frame I and II. Anyone who likes scary games should give these two a try.

[Dahne]

Lunar 1, but better yet Lunar 2. I'm a real fan of love stories, and romance within games. And they don't get more lovey dovey [in a good way] than Lunar.

Funny you mention that. I really liked Lunar 1 (haven't managed to track down a copy of 2 yet), though I usually despise your standard boy/girl romances in games. Alex and Luna didn't annoy me in the least. That's really saying something.

Much as I love the entire series, the definitive must-see story belongs to Metal Gear Solid 3. It's just....man. Incredible.

[felix]

Resident Evil anybody?
I loved Nemisis!

[WanganRunner]

Xenogears

[smokehouse]

I liked the Resident Evil titles; most of them had really decent plotlines. As for Halo, I’m not trying to be a dick but I simply don’t get it. There’s not much of a plot there. It’s ok but not really worth comparing to some of the other down right amazing titles mentioned in this thread.

Oh well, I guess it’s all just personal opinions.

[njiska]

I'll see your:

Metal Gear Series
Resident Evil Series
Deus Ex series

and raise you:

D2
Killer 7
Silent Hill Series
Myst series (Just the level of detail in the world's back stories)
The Getaway Series (Strap yourself down and brace for glitchy-ness)
Eternal Darkness

That's it for now.

P.S. Oh if you want to see a really good short story, watch the opening cinematic for DOA Ultimate.

[SamuraiSmurfette]

Breakdown XB
(what is real? What is just in your mind?)

There. I've done my good deed for the day and recommended it to somone else.

[tylerwillis]

I play RPGs for the storylines, and RPGs are mostly what I play.

My pick would be FFX. It remains the only video game that has ever managed to yank a tear from me.

[digdug]

I agree with

Halo (Not Halo 2 too rushed)
Any FF games
Resident Evil Games
Metal Gear Games

Ones I didn't see on the list

Half-Life Series
Warcraft Series
Diablo Series
Grand Theft Auto 3 thru San Andreas
Any Castlevania games
Medal of Honor games except rising sun
God of War


The last two are personal fav's.

Dig Dug

[Dahne]

Ah, forgot to mention Planescape: Torment.

[Haoie]

Terranigma is a must play, especially if you've got any interest in philosophy, history, humanities in general.

[unbroken]

XENOGEARS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD

[ubersaurus]

I'll second the Halo games. Those, and the extraneous material related to the story, make for one hell of a compelling universe.

I also will promote Starflight for having one of the most interesting universes out of any game I've ever played.

[Ed Oscuro]

Breakdown XB
(what is real? What is just in your mind?)

There. I've done my good deed for the day and recommended it to somone else.
There's a title I've been on the lookout for. Want to play it, by a lot.

[Crush Crawfish]

Chrono Trigger
Breath of fire series
Suikoden series
Disgaea
Shadow Hearts series
Earthbound

Those are my personal faves.

[CartCollector]

I second KotOR. If you like Star Wars, especially the Expanded Universe, you'll love this game. There's just so much to the character's backstory.

[Red Hedgehog]

I'll do it system by system:

NES:
Ninja Gaiden 1 & 2
Deja Vu
Dragon Warrior 4
Maniac Mansion

SNES:
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy 3

PSX:
Dragon Warrior VII
Metal Gear Solid
Parappa the Rapper

PS2:
Beyond Good and Evil
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

GB:
Final Fantasy Adventure

[El Commodore]

Any Final Fantasy or Zelda never really dissapoints as far as story goes.

[Leroy]

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile.

Why are you looking at me like that? I'm so serious. This is the only game I've played in years where the story grabbed me by the throat and captivated me. Even if it was for the super excellent platform greatness of Klonoa, the story just makes you want to keep playing.. and the ending.. oh the ending.

[Leroy]

Any Final Fantasy or Zelda never really dissapoints as far as story goes.
Personally I thought the only Zelda game that really had any substance to its story was Wind Waker. Actually, Majora's Mask was pretty damn good too, the only Zelda game that was truly "dark" in its themes no matter how many fanboys want to claim Ocarina of Time was.