Game as storyteller...
 

Games nowadays are becoming more and more like interactive movies, with seamless transition between gameplay setpieces and plot exposition through cut scenes and dialogue. Characters are becoming more realised and fully-developed, plots are becoming more expansive.

I realised how far storytelling in a game had come when I watched a cutscene in Mafia showing your character in a love scene.

What are the best storytelling experiences people have had through gaming, and which are the best games for telling stories?

I think for me Deus Ex represents the best interactive story I've played through. Unfortunately, I haven't played the game in quite a while so don't actually remember many specifics, lol. Whatever the case, the story really drew me in for Deus Ex, and I"m eagerly looking forward to the sequal, not just for gameplay but to find out what happens next in that reality.

StarCraft as well had a great storyline IMO. The personalities in the game, especially Raynor, are top-notch. The whole twist with Kerrigan blew me away at the start of the Zerg campaign as well. Very well crafted campaign - and I think suitable story is likely harder to pull off in RTS games then other genres.

I pretty much appreciate any game with cut scenes built in to enhance the gameplay through storytelling -- especially the ones of epic proportions, like RPGs, or trademark characters for a specific console (Zelda is a big one for me). I like adventure games especially because the story plays a big part of the gameplay which makes it entertaining.

My favorite game for telling a good story, and telling it well was Mafia. One of my favorite games ever.

SS2 all the way
 

I love System Shock 2, probably one of the best RPGs (& games) for telling a story ever. The atmosphere of the deserted ship, and all the recording from various crew members, and Shodan...damn. Made a good plot.
Baldurs Gate 2 & Neverwinter I also thought told a good story, Bioware does D&D based RPGs like no one else. Those you could alter those stories more than you could in SS2...so System Shock is my favorite full fledged favorite

I still can't get over how well Mafia was pulled off, especially the ending, wow.

I think that Metal Gear Solid pulled off telling a good story with excellent characters really well too. Myst and Riven too were astounding despite you playing as an anonymous character.

Deus Ex and Warcraft III are the two that spring to mind.

I agree with the premise that storytelling is becoming an intergral part of games. I simply wish that the endings weren't as abrupt as they usually are. :(

I prefer games that dont use actual cutscenes, they put it into the gameplay. Like HalfLife. I think sometimes cutscenes take away from the interaction of the game.

Deus Ex had an amazing storyline. System Shock 2..I need to find me a copy of that..borrowed it and beat it but now they have this mod going to update all the models and graphics to a sexier 3d engine..

I think that games and stories are gonna start getting a lil more important in people's decisions to purchase software... That's why I like Baldurs Gate (on Ps2 anyway) and that's why I'm looking forward to the sequel (on Ps2). On teh PC I'd say that any MMOG with a back story that actually has something to do with the game is good enough (Earth and beyond sucked IMO, not enough story, just pure levelling). Face of Mankind is gonna let players control the story (if their forum hype is to be believed).

I also think that ANY (online) game surrounded by good RPers makes the story experience better....

Mmm, I checked this out and it looks good..
but if players decide what the story & plot is like, isn't that putting a lot of faith in players? If they were good storywriters, wouldn't they work as one?

I have no interest in yet another game with mediocre plots, no matter how great the gameplay is supposed to be..

Two of my favorite game stories are Morrowind and Warcraft 3.

Morrowind told an awesome story with the use of only 1 cutscene, maybe 2.

Warcraft 3 was awesome because almost all of the story was told in real time, with the actual characters.

Half-Life is amazing. It doesn't have cut scenes, and it doesn't need them.

I really like Max Payne. It is a little corny, but fun.

Half-Life and Deus Ex are two of the classics of cinematic gaming. You could also throw in some of the better RPGs out there. I contiunually tout the quality of the Fallout series and their amazing storylines. The best part is the fact that you are actually creating the story as it unfolds.

Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Final Fantasy 7
Deus Ex
The Getaway

I am looking for a MMORPG that is storyline driven. Single player games are fun but there is nothing like being online with 1000's of other players and interacting and having a sense of a community.

Three games right now that I am looking into are:

Face of Mankind
Horizons
Dragon Empires for the pc.

Gladius for the PS2.

I think all of these have very interesting looking storylines with much player involvment and whichever one has the best storyline/gameplay will be the one that I stick with for a long time.


Art

:)
 

Halflife was great , also Homeworld was ok with the cartoonish cutscenes. Also Max Payne was great with the dreams and so ... i am looking forward to Halflife2 for great story

Personally, I don't think it really makes a difference whether it's a cutscene or not. Usually, you're just sitting watch a plot development unfold anyway.

In some games with really intense action sequences, the inclusion of a cutscene can be a welcome relief from relentless button bashing.

Shenmue told an awesome story. From the beginning you get into the whole "avenge your father" plot and it just takes off. It was almost like reading a good book and taking part in it.

I don't mind the occasional cut-scene here and there, but some games go way overboard IMO. Games like Xenosaga and Metal Gear Solid really make you feel like your more watching a movie than playing a game.

I'd like a decent story to unfold infront of me. I don't mind if that story is cut scenes, or NPCs giving a little bit of speech. But most often, a game is rushed out by publishers and the story is always the thing that suffers. It doesn't take much to make a story in an Single Player game work, just a few people who understand plot devices (who are most often not programmers). How it's delivered to me I'm easy about.

I recently played through Ratchet And Clank. The story was corny as hell, but it was well done, and with it, entertaining.

I'm still holding out for Face of Mankind, becuase if the forums are to be believed, the story is the most important part of the game, from day one to day 1million... It's the first time I've ever seen a game which doesn't have the SAME story dispensed to each new player who approaches them. My understanding is that senior players will receive a mission and decide on how best to acheive that. Their success or otherwise will change the direction of the story. So having thought a little more about it, Face of Mankind will, I believe, have the best story telling experience....

Don't mind too much whether story is told by cut-scenes, videoes or scripted, as long as it's a good story.

Still playing through Mafia and am really enjoying the story.

Also found some of the Final Fantasy plots to be quite intriguing too.