Games that you don't play for gameplay

It's come to my attention that non-gameplay-focused games like Asura's Wrath and The Last of Us have been getting tons of acclaim. Is story starting to superimpose gameplay, or at least stand equal with it, as a reason to play a game, now?

The latter, methinks. One hasn't over-taken the other, yet.

edited 12th May '14 9:14:24 AM by mrsunshinesprinkles

People have always liked movies. Some just like the story over the gameplay.

Fact of the matter is, some games are basically movies with a few playable sections, and they have fans. It's not too odd. Of course, the reason they still generally go well is because the gameplay is still really damn good to most people, so the multitude of story/cutscenes don't take away from the overall game itself.

Telltale Games, pick any of them.

The Stanley Parable, of course.

@Irene: That feels a little dismissive of the part of the story in some types of game, as though story can't be an integral part of the game, merely something that one gets alongside the game. I'm a big fan of adventure games, and I've found that the experience of playing through a story can be very different to that of watching a movie; indeed, I feel that there are stories that work better as games than as non-interactive media such as books or movies.

For example (albeit a non-adventure one), I feel that that Planescape:Torment benefits significantly from being implemented in an interactive medium, since choice is so great a part of what it's trying to convey. If someone were to make a movie adaptation of the game, I don't think that I'd be terribly excited about it, but I do think that there's a good chance of my playing it again at some stage (and I've already played it twice thus far, as I recall).

I never said that at all.

So no, I'm not dismissing it. I love both story and gameplay in the first place. What I said holds true. Some are like that, that doesn't mean it's bad(since I never said that).

Metal Gear Solid 4 is more or less a movie with far less gameplay. Is it bad? Absolutely not. People like it, so it worked. I'd prefer more gameplay, but that's just me.

Hmm... Then perhaps I'm misreading what you're saying (and I'll confess that I'm perhaps not at my best tonight, and do apologise if I am misreading you), but it still seems as though you're describing story and gameplay as two separate pieces, such that one goes through a story bit, then a gameplay bit, then another story bit, etc.

For one thing, the comparison that you made to movies seems to imply that the consumption of the story elements of a game is similar to the consumption of the story elements of a movie ("movies with a few playable sections"); while I do think that there are story-heavy games to which that applies, I don't think that it applies to all.

Of course, you didn't state that the sorts of game that you described are the only types of story-heavy game, but the wording seems to me to imply it, especially as it seems to be framed as a reply to Waxing Name's question, which, as I read it, applies to all types of story-heavy game, not just the types that you seem to be describing.

As to whether any of these types of game is bad, I didn't take you to be saying so.

Put another way, you say that you'd prefer more gameplay; I'm saying that, in some games, one doesn't give up one for the other, as the gameplay and story go hand-in-hand.

edited 12th May '14 3:48:02 PM by ArsThaumaturgis

Oh, I wasn't saying that.

To note, I can't think of any(besides optional) cutscenes that don't go well together with a game. Some games could arguably have too many cutscenes or whatever, but eh.

I don't mind either. I actually prefer more gameplay than cutscenes. Some prefer more cutscenes than gameplay. To each their own. Also, to clarify, story is given through some kind of cutscene(I view a cutscene as a moment where the player cannot actually control their character. Metal Gear Solid 4 is slightly odd in that regard, as you could control something during it, but that was a movie you could walk around in, essentially. Think of that as the exception to the rule).

I don't think I can explain it well enough.

Anyway, wasn't trying to make some debate. I think there's great games that don't necessarily have to be all about gameplay anyway. Sonic 06 is quite literally the epitome of this for me. The gameplay was mediocre to me, but I loved the cutscenes and story itself. Only one part of the gameplay was awful(mach speed section), but that was it. Rest worked fine(hence mediocre and not amazing). I'm sure there's others, and I wasn't trying to make it sound like story and gameplay don't go together. They of course do. They have to. Otherwise why have the story?

I might not understand your position. I got no complaints about the story, as I haven't seen a game where the gameplay didn't transition into the story pieces fairly well. Glitches aside.

Ah, fair enough—I think that I understand your position a little better now, especially because your definition of a cutscene is a little more inclusive than mine might be.

For example, in an adventure game, I might click on a character, get a two-second greeting from them, and then be presented with a set of dialogue options. I select an option, the characters speak their lines (or I read a bunch of text), and I get another set of options. As I perceive things, the gameplay doesn't stop during that time: lines said by the characters feel to me like part of the gameplay. By your definition, the periods during which the characters are talking (or I'm reading) are cutscenes, in which case the game falls under your description.

In other words, I think that we were simply arguing at cross purposes. ^^;

(Although why we should want to dispute with angry cetaceans I'm not sure! :P)

edited 12th May '14 4:30:05 PM by ArsThaumaturgis

I mean more like moments where you can't do anything but "press A to continue the dialogue" at best. If you can choose Yes/No, you still have control of the dialogue and your character overall.

Sorry for the confusion.

Let's say in Ocarina of Time, you see Ruto for the first time. Now it's just dialogue, and you press nothing but A at best. You have zero options or choices in any regard, which is what I consider "control of the character". I hope that explains it better.

But yeah, glad we get each other better now.

I have the tendency to mess around in the "My Music" part of Super Smash Bros. Brawl from time to time. Usually when I end up getting a new song.

Non-Atlus RP Gs

I never really cared for the gameplay too much, and more on just how entertained I am, by the plot, character, comedy, atmosphere, perhaps the actual gameplay, or otherwise. So I guess most games would apply.

Excluding fighting games, that I enjoy playing the game.

edited 14th May '14 4:56:20 AM by danna45

It's come to my attention that non-gameplay-focused games like Asura's Wrath and The Last of Us have been getting tons of acclaim. Is story starting to superimpose gameplay, or at least stand equal with it, as a reason to play a game, now?

No, that's just an example of the state of videogame journalism.

edited 14th May '14 9:55:03 AM by VeryMelon

That state being... in the process of maturing as a mode of artistic criticism?

No.

edited 14th May '14 9:55:12 AM by VeryMelon

Please elaborate. Guessing at random isn't working for me.

Seriously, though. You need to actually explain it if you want us to take your word seriously. "No" doesn't tell us why. A lot more information would be most appreciated.

While I also enjoyed the gameplay, I'd have to say that the reason Tales of Symphonia is my favorite game is its story. And the music was awesome.

Also, Ico.

@ Very Melon: Wow, someone's acting like an elitist today.

Pokémon. I hate the gameplay. I really hate the gameplay. But I'm a fan anyway because of the mons themselves. I'unno'.

The Mario RPG(s)...

The story is the only reason I can go back to them more than Once. I'm alright with the game-play, I really like the battle systems of the games, but I would not go back to play any of those games if it wasn't for the hilarious writing and great story no matter how much I like the game-play.

But that would be a thing I hold true towards any RPG I play...