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#Post#: 150--------------------------------------------------
The 30 best video game stories ever [gamesradar]
DIR By: hooky
Date: September 17, 2018, 3:08 am
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source:
HTML https://www.gamesradar.com/the-best-videogame-stories-ever/
30. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Developer: Naughty Dog
Released: 2009
Platform(s): PS3 and PS4.
There’s a reason that Nathan Drake has hung around for quite so
long, and it’s not just because he’s a dab hand with a grappling
hook. Yes, the gameplay has always been an action-packed
spectacular, full of explosions and gun fights and near-misses,
but at its heart, it’s also a fantastic narrative. It’s hard to
pick which one of Nathan’s adventures is the greatest story, but
we put it to a vote and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves came out on
top - narrowly beating the latest adventure Uncharted 4: A
Thief’s End. From its blighter of a train scene opener, to its
complex love triangle, brilliant baddies and undead monsters
thrown in for good measure. It’s full of twists and turns, and
makes you feel more like Indiana Jones than you probably deserve
to.
29. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Developer: Infinity Ward
Released: 2007
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Mac, Wii,
Nintendo DS
No, we haven’t gone totally mad. A Call of Duty game with a
great story does really exist - really - and it’s Call of Duty
4: Modern Warfare. It’s not like Call of Duty games hadn’t tried
to create a story before, it was just that Modern Warfare really
nailed how to make a war game into something akin to a movie. It
bucked the normal game trend of making the Russians the big bad,
and instead made you fight a powerful movement known as the
Ultranationalist Party that’s trying to overthrow the Russian
Federation. The British SAS teams up with the Russians to foil
the Ultranationalists’ plot, there’s a nuclear weapon involved
and a chap named Khaled al-Asad and a tonne of missions that
kept the gameplay constantly changing and feeling fresh. It all
comes together to create one of the most engaging and cinematic
single-player campaigns in an FPS, like, ever. Heck, it’s even
emotional at some point.
28. Hotline Miami
Developer: Dennaton Games
Released: 2012
Platform(s): PS4, PS3, PS Vita, Android, PC and Linux.
Who says ultra-violent video games can't have captivating
stories? Hotline Miami gives purpose to all its gory mobster
killing by taking us down an acid-soaked rabbit hole, all seen
through the hazy eyes of our silent, unnamed protagonist (who
fans have named Jacket, thanks to his trademark varsity duds).
Jacket's day-to-day in 1989 Miami involves waking up, checking
his answering machine to hear cryptic messages, then driving to
shady mob hangouts to murder everyone in sight. Oh yeah, and he
always dons an animal mask before the killing starts. As you do.
Hotline Miami's plot thickens as you start to lose your grip on
reality, eventually reaching a psychedelic viscosity akin to a
cocaine-and-blood-based batter. Jacket is plagued by visions and
nightmares, unsure if the instructions he's receiving are even
real or who might be manipulating him. And even after the
credits roll, the story's not over. Not by a long shot.
27. Final Fantasy 6
Developer: Square Enix
Released: 1994
Platform(s): SNES, PSOne, Game Boy Advance, Android and iOS.
While later Final Fantasy titles improved the graphics, the plot
never got better than in the sixth entry. FF6 tells a sprawling
tale about the death of magic at the hands of unethical
progress, and it has one of the biggest ensemble casts this side
of War & Peace. It allows players to see any of a dozen
characters as a fulfilling lead, and all would work in that
context. Moments like an impromptu opera performance, the
discovery of hidden lineage, or a heroic sacrifice are sprinkled
throughout the game, but it’s the bad guy that really steals the
show. Kefka is one of the most detestable villains we’ve ever
met, and the script does an amazing job of building up the
heartless bastard. If FF6 is actually Kefka’s tale, then it’s a
well told one indeed.
26. Alan Wake
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Released: 2010
Platform(s): Xbox 360 and PC.
You would expect great storytelling from a game that stars a
novelist, and Alan Wake’s tale delivers on that front. Taking
inspiration from the best of Stephen King and David Lynch, Alan
Wake sends a troubled writer and his wife to the Pacific
Northwest, searching for peace, but only finding horror. The
game does a great job of make the naturalistic world feel alien
while Alan searches for his lost wife, running into any number
of damaged people looking to do him harm.
Like any good novelist, Alan takes symbolism seriously, as he
uses light to battle the shadows that literally and figuratively
want to consume him. It gets even more interesting when floating
words become his enemies. The actual prose you find in the game
is proof enough of the quality writing, as is the excellent
episodic pacing of how the plot unfolds. Alan's never sure
what’s real or not, but he knows he loves his wife, and that
might be enough to see him through.
25. Undertale
Developer: Toby Fox
Released: 2015
Platform(s): PS4, PS Vita, PC, Linux and Mac.
Undertale is a weird, weird game. There are monsters and
goat-people and magic. But there’s also a touching exercise in
empathy (or the lack thereof). It’s a challenge to condense the
very strange story into one or two lines, but the most important
thing to know about Undertale is that, beneath its peculiar,
scrappy surface, its heart is made of pure sweetness. One of the
most powerful abilities in video game story-telling is how the
player’s actions can impact the narrative. Some games have used
that amount of self-directed choice to reach for profundity,
only to fall short. Undertale stands out for its many alternate
endings, each of which manages to pack an emotional punch.
24. Chrono Trigger
Developer: Square Enix
Released: 1995
Platform(s): SNES, PSOne, PS3, Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP, Android
and iOS.
Time travel doesn’t have the best track record as a narrative
tool. In Chrono Trigger, though, the device shines as a source
of storytelling finesse. The game starts simply enough at a town
festival, but soon the unassuming Crono and his friends are
thrown into a massive adventure where he makes friends with
cavemen, cursed knights, and robots searching for humanity. And
you find a way to connect to all of them. The ever-shifting
world Chrono travels has much to teach about the human
condition. Technology may change, but people always have the
same capacity for love, greed, devotion, hate, and honor no
matter the era. And the storytellers knew when to create quiet
moments to let the players get close enough to see some
characters in a whole new light. Keeping tracks of timelines
might be complicated, but the characters’ motivations never
were.
23. Soma
Developer: Frictional Games
Released: 2015
Platform(s): Xbox One, PS4 , PC and Mac.
This science fiction tale follows Simon Jarrett trying to figure
out how he wound up in an underwater research facility where
things have gone very, very wrong. Rather than turn to combat,
the game uses stealth and puzzles to tell Simon’s unsettling
story. The less you know about the plot points going into Soma,
the better. But what you should know is what sets this apart
from others that set the same tone. Many horror games create
tension by forcing the player to fight off more powerful
opponents and manage meagre resources. The suspense in Soma is
entirely down to the story and how it is told. Because let’s be
real: staring down the meaning of consciousness and life and
what makes us human can be downright terrifying. No aliens or
monsters needed!
22. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Developer: Rockstar Games
Released: 2004
Platform(s): Xbox, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, iOS, Android, PC and Mac.
GTA's rags-to-riches stories are always compelling, and San
Andreas did it better than any of them. Over the course of the
epic story, our lead goes from a penniless thug to one of San
Andreas' most respected citizens, ultimately becoming a wealthy
mogul with a house in the game's equivalent of the Hollywood
Hills. You might start out beating up thugs in a neglected Los
Santos neighborhood, but by game's end you'll be hijacking VTOL
jets off of aircraft carriers. But what really drives the game's
story are its characters. Carl, for all his gang-banging
thuggery, is the most moral character the series has produced.
Carl's buddies, gang leaders Wu Zi Mu and Cesar, are genuinely
likeable, and James Woods' acerbic Mike Toreno steals every
scene he's in. Meanwhile, Tenpenny, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson,
is so cartoonishly and irredeemably evil, it's impossible not to
want to see him get his comeuppance in a wildly satisfying
high-speed firefight at the very end.
21. Grim Fandango
Developer: LucasArts
Released: 1998
Platform(s): PS4, PS Vita, Android, iOS, PC, Mac and Linux.
Grim Fandango isn’t the new kid on the block any more, but it
still stands the test of time as a brilliant and unique game
creation. It imagines the afterlife as a purgatory not unlike
our own world. Take our debonair protagonist Manny Calavera, for
instance: He's a Grim Reaper who doubles as a travel agent,
arranging the journey that fresh souls will take on their way to
the peaceful Ninth Underworld. Throughout your journey, you'll
encounter a memorable cast of heroes and villains alike, all of
whom will irrevocably impact Manny's passage through the Land of
the Dead. Classic film noir tropes are everywhere: the femme
fatale, the gaudy crime lord, the fact that smoking is the
national pastime. But Grim Fandango also offers an originality
all its own, thanks to its inspirations from Aztec mythology and
Mexican culture.
#Post#: 151--------------------------------------------------
Re: The 30 best video game stories ever [gamesradar]
DIR By: hooky
Date: September 17, 2018, 3:12 am
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20. Gone Home
Developer: The Fullbright Company
Released: 2013
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC, Linux and Mac
For a game with no other characters in it aside from through the
thing they left behind in the house, it’s quite astonishing just
how good the storyline of Gone Home is. You play as a young girl
who’s returning home after a long semester abroad. She’s
expecting to return to her parents and sister, Sam, but no-one’s
home and everything has changed since she was last home. Through
reading letters, notes and interacting with other objects in
your family home, you’ve got to figure out where everyone’s
gone. It’s an emotional tale, and even a bit terrifying in
places - and that’s not only the part where you arrive at the
creepy, empty house in the thunderstorm at the beginning.
19. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Developer: BioWare and LucasArts
Released: 2003
Platform(s): Xbox, PC, Mac, iOS and Android.
With power hungry Sith Lords, a rag-tag group of heroes, and a
bucket-of-bolts spacecraft, Star Wars: Knights of the Old
Republic has all of the elements to build an immersive Star Wars
experience. But what bumps the game's story to one of the best
in video games is its ability to suck you into the new
environment, allow you to explore rewarding backstories of the
fascinating side characters, and surprise you with twists that
rival the "I am your father" moments of the movie trilogy. As an
average crewman in the Republic Fleet, you're tasked with
finding the captured Jedi VIP, Bastila Shan, on the city-planet
of Taris, which launches you on a quest that spans the galaxy.
You'll visit Luke Skywalker's home planet Tatooine, the Wookie
planet Kashyyyk, the Sith planet Korriban, and other locales
that take you deeper into the Star Wars lore than any movie or
game has ever done before. BioWare's classic definitely deserves
a spot as one of the best video game stories of all time.
18. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Developer: Kojima Productions
Released: 2015
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.
Love it or hate it, Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear series sets the
bar for wackadoodle behavior. The most recent instalment, Metal
Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, takes up the mantle of bizarre
narrative that has made Kojima such an icon of the gaming world.
This time around, while Boss is out for vengeance, he uncovers a
twisted plan to achieve world peace through a combination of
annihilating all English speakers and creating a nuclear
stalemate among the remaining cultures. The most impressive
thing about the story in MSG5 is how much its story is told
through the play experience rather than with interspersed
cut-scenes. It’s the game world’s equivalent of the epic novel,
where systems replace syntax and checkpoints are your chapters.
17. Mass Effect 2
Developer: BioWare
Released: 2011
Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.
Assemble a crew of sidekicks, achieve the impossible, save the
galaxy. It’s hardly ground-breaking material for sci-fi, but
Mass Effect 2 taps into one of the all time classic adventure
stories: uneasy allies versus overwhelming odds. And it all
plays out in space, with the role of overwhelming odds being
played by ancient, titanic machines. It’s still punch-the-air
satisfying when Shepard and friends smash through the games
suicide mission climax. Few other games make you feel so close
to the supporting cast, either. Each crew member has a deep
back-story, and most ask you to make complex decisions to help
them out, potentially souring your friendship with another
character. When/if you lose one of them during the suicide
mission you feel genuine remorse, a great indicator that Mass
Effect 2’s story has left a lasting impression on you.
16. To The Moon
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Developer: Freebird Games
Released: 2011
Platform(s): PC, Linux, iOS and Android.
To the Moon proves that a game doesn't need convincing voice
acting, fancy polygons, and an orchestral score to make the
stoniest players cry. The score did help though, ands the sad
notes are a heartbreaking reminder of the tale about a dying man
with one last wish: to go to the moon. The story follows two
doctors who are trying to fulfil Johnny's wish using technology
that creates artificial permanent memories. In order to do so,
they need to hop through his memories and implant the desire to
go to the moon in his childhood so that he creates a new life in
his mind. Along the way we learn about River, his now deceased
wife, and it's hard not to get teary-eyed when the doctors go
through their happy memories together. Or, if you want to be
sadder sooner, just listen to this.
15. Horizon Zero Dawn
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Released: 2017
Platform(s): PS4 exclusive
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The story of Horizon Zero Dawn is fantastic on a number of
levels. Firstly, its the creation of the team over at Guerrilla
Games, which is famous for the Killzone series, games that have
never been heralded for their storylines. It’s also fantastic
because it has a female protagonist in Aloy, with strong themes
of femininity and matriarchal societies. Thirdly, it actually
creates a vision of an end of the world that isn’t terrible.
Quite the mean feat eh? But at its heart, this a story of sci-fi
robot dinosaurs, tribal humanity and a kick-ass heroine.
14. Life is Strange/Life is Strange: Before the Storm
Developer: Dontnod Entertainment/Deck Nine
Released: 2015/2017
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
It seems almost mean to bundle both these brilliant episodic
titles into one entry for the best storylines in games, but
they’re best experienced as one package. The original Life is
Strange tells the story of Max Caulfield and her friend Chloe
Price facing the perils of adolescence, love and an impending
supernatural, town-destroying, storm. Across three episodes you
uncover a terrible secret about what happened to a missing girl,
Rachel Amber, who happened to be incredibly important to Chloe.
It’s very much focused on how you want to tell the story, and
the branching narratives mean that it merits a few playthroughs
just so you can see just how far the ripples of your actions and
words stretch.
And when you’ve done that, go play Before the Storm. The prequel
focuses on the relationship between Chloe and Rachel before the
events of Life is Strange. It’s a powerful narrative on growing
up, loss and emotions. It feels more grounded because of its
lack of the supernatural, helping make the story options connect
and more importantly, resonate. And like the original, every
decision you make changes the flow of the story. Play it over
and over again, you deserve it.
13. Firewatch
Developer: Campo Santo
Released: 2016
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac and Linux.
Walking simulator games that tug at your heartstrings have been
seeing a surge of late, but few have dug into the deeper levels
found in Campo Santo’s Firewatch. The game partially works so
well because of the premise: Henry, your character, is spending
the summer working as a ranger in Wyoming. Although he wanted
the gig to get away from his own thoughts and life, he winds up
building a chatty relationship with his boss through their radio
conversations.
That isolation, tucked away in a natural setting that’s equal
parts pretty and perilous, makes a perfect backdrop for this
suspenseful tale. Each strange discovery Henry makes drives the
story forward until it has the unstoppable momentum of an
avalanche. Once you start playing, it’s damn near impossible to
put down until the final credits roll.
12. Portal 2
Developer: Valve
Released: 2011
Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PS3 and Xbox 360.
After Portal's brilliant, minimalist narrative introduced gamers
to the silent Chell and the decidedly less silent GLaDOS, Valve
faced a tall order. How could a stunning short story be followed
up with a full retail release? Could new characters really stand
toe-to-toe with GLaDOS? The answer, astoundingly, was yes. All
of the new characters added character to the world, from the
curious Wheatley to the amazingly charismatic Cave Johnson. Yes,
there was still plenty more to see and take away from Aperture.
Exploring the depths of the derelict business introduced us to
new bits of lore, fleshing out the most important character in
the series: the facility itself. Learning Aperture's backstory
and finding out about GLaDOS's history was surprisingly
touching. Chell's story, too, ended up concluding well, turning
the relatively quaint story of the original into a saga as epic
as nearly any other.
11. NieR: Automata
Developer: PlatinumGames
Released: 2017
Platform(s): PS4 and PC
It’s not often that you can say any piece of media has 26
different endings - the majority of which can potentially be
unlocked in a single playthrough. But that’s exactly what NieR:
Automata achieves. The first time the credits roll on your
adventures with 2B, it’s just the beginning. No longer is your
death a mere “Game Over” or respawn, it’s subverting the
traditional constructs of video game endings, deaths and rebirth
since the dawn of gaming time. Feed into that all the themes of
automatons, the fourth-wall breaking and the narrative slights
of hands and NieR: Automata becomes one of the greatest gaming
storylines ever.
#Post#: 152--------------------------------------------------
Re: The 30 best video game stories ever [gamesradar]
DIR By: hooky
Date: September 17, 2018, 3:16 am
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10. Half-Life 2
Developer: Valve
Released: 2004
Platform(s): Xbox One and PC
Nearly 14 years later and we’re still waiting for the
conclusion to Half-Life 2’s story, but that doesn’t
stop it from being one of the best sci-fi narratives, like,
ever. Set some years after the vents of the first game,
Half-Life 2 sees Gordon Freeman (and his trusty crowbar) team up
with Eli and Alyx Vance to fight off the Combine; a
technologically superior multidimensional empire that managed to
conquer Earth in just seven hours. Unlike the original game
though, you have no idea what’s been going on or
what’s about to happen, making the story all the more
powerful because you’re in the same situation as Gordon
himself. Throughout the game, the set-pieces, story developments
and action-escalation are all carefully constructed to give you
a sense of empowerment but also weave one of the best narratives
in sci-fi as a whole. It’s your story as much as
Gordon’s, and the fact that there’s not a cutscene
in sight only heightens that.
9. Red Dead Redemption
Developer: Rockstar Games
Released: 2010
Platform(s): PS3 and Xbox 360.
Some of the greatest film Westerns deal with the death of the
Old West, and Red Dead Redemption strikes gold exploring that
subject. Protagonist John Marston is a man out of time. He wants
a steady home life, but is pushed back into the saddle by
government agents who hold his outlaw past over his head.
Marston has to hunt down his old posse of bandits, effectively
killing off the last remnants of the era that defined him. And
it’s not just Marston and his former friends that have
trouble transitioning into the 20th century. Over and over John
meets individuals coming to terms with the end of the West,
whether happily or through gritted teeth. Marston himself wants
to leave his past behind despite being so good with his
revolver, which makes him easier to connect with than every
previous Rockstar hero. The ultimate question is: will the world
allow him the happy ending he deserves?
8. Persona 4
Developer: Atlus
Released: 2008
Platform(s): PS3, PS2 and PS Vita.
Persona 4’s greatest strength comes from pacing. The life
of the protagonist plays out one day at a time for an entire
year in the quiet town of Inaba. You dig deep into a murder
mystery while also attending high school, working part time
jobs, and (most importantly) bonding with your new friends. You
may enter a shadowy world of dungeons and monsters, but you
become so attached to your new companions that a small moment in
the park with one of them has more impact than most intense boss
battle. Persona 4’s tale takes more than 80 hours to
experience, but it never feels drawn out as every day is a new
chance to get closer to your friends. Characters like Teddy,
Kanji, and Chie are well-defined by scenes that shift between
comedy and drama fluidly, and you express your unique feelings
for them through the expansive dialogue choices. When the story
reaches its satisfying climax, you feel like you’ve gone
through a life-changing ordeal with your best friends. When the
game ultimately ends, it’s hard not to shed tears for all
you’re saying goodbye to.
7. Telltale's The Walking Dead
Developer: Telltale Games
Released: 2012
Platform(s): PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS Vita, PSP, PC,
Linux, iOS and Android.
An intense, emotional ride until the very end, The Walking Dead
was our game of the year in 2012 because of its gut-wrenching
story. Lee Everett, a man on his way to prison, plays the
unlikely hero who stumbles upon Clementine, a young girl whose
parents were vacationing in another city when the zombie
apocalypse happened. Their unexpected journey takes them to
Savannah, where her parents should be, and along the way you
meet a cast of characters who you grow to love (or hate with a
burning passion). It's okay though, because there are instances
when your choices affect their chances of staying in your group.
The game's strengths are its dialogue and character development,
and it's impossible not to feel sad, guilty, or angry whenever
Clementine witnesses or experiences anything horrible. It's a
given that when the dead start walking that there will be
gruesome scenes, but the pacing, the execution of each scenario
made The Walking Dead stand out.
6. The Last of Us
Developer: Naughty Dog
Released: 2013
Platform(s): PS3 and PS4.
Where most tales of this type are made of good guys and bad
guys, heroic challenges and redemptive resolutions, The Last of
Us has none of these things. Instead, it has reality.
Protagonist Joel is no hero. Neither are his friends. No one at
the start of the game is even particularly likeable.
They’re just broken people trying to survive a broken
world by any means necessary. The eventual change in Joel is a
gradual one, forged by the subtle evolution of his relationship
with Ellie, as well as the various pockets of humanity and
brutality (both of which are experienced in uncompromising
extremes) discovered along their journey.
Through delicate, fragile interactions with each other, most
often subtly supported by gameplay, both characters change and
evolve almost imperceptibly. Yet by the end of the game, they
and their relationship are completely unrecognisable. Their
story comes with no neatly gift-wrapped solutions. But that is
exactly why you’ll care, and ultimately be more affected
by The Last of Us than any other action game. Epic and
apocalyptic scenario, small and intimate human story.
That’s why it works, and that’s why it will stay
with you.
5. What Remains of Edith Finch
Developer: Giant Sparrow
Released: 2017
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC and Mac
It’s hard to tell you exactly why What Remains of Edith
Finch’s story is so utterly amazing without ruining it
entirely, but that’s part of its charm. The less you know
about What Remains of Edith Finch the better. Set aside a Sunday
afternoon and play it through in one sitting, and, trust us, you
won’t regret it. What we can tell you is that it’s a
collection of strange stories about what happened to members of
one family. Each one is told using a different gameplay style
and the way they play out is as inventive as the stories
themselves. This is interactive storytelling at its finest.
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Released: 2015
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One and PC.
Look out, Nilfgaardians: Geralt is back in town. The Witcher 3:
Wild Hunt takes our gravel-voiced hero on a search for Ciri, his
young ward who has attracted the malevolent interest of the
Hunt. This whole game world draws its inspirations from Eastern
Europe, giving it a different flavor than the average fantasy
RPG. But The Witcher 3 transcends expectations for the genre
left and right. The characters are fully-realized and relatable,
and their interactions have nuance. The writing is head and
shoulders above the average script. The game systems are
impeccably executed and help to further the story. And where
most games only have binary good-or-bad ethical rules, this
series has always been most comfortable exploring the morally
murky areas. The core game of Wild Hunt was a masterclass of
storytelling, but the addition of the Blood & Wine DLC took the
game’s narrative to the next level.
3. BioShock
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Developer: 2K Boston (later Irrational Games)
Released: 2009
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC and Mac.
Would you kindly... recognize the continued legacy of Irrational
Games' BioShock? Ha, that's a trick question. You've actually
had your free will stripped by Andrew Ryan, mastermind of the
utopian-cum-dystopian underwater city Rapture, so yes, you
certainly will recognize the greatness of BioShock. This is a
very exciting day, for you. Released in 2007, BioShock
reoriented the conversation of whether games could achieve a
higher purpose beyond headshots, warlocks, and Italian plumbers.
The game did so through its repurposing of Ayn Rand's
objectivist allegory, Atlas Shrugged. However, whereas Rand's
diatribe against socialism leads to a perfect world built by the
perfect man, game director Ken Levine unspooled a tale that lays
bare the hubris of Man. Andrew Ryan, in believing that he had
found The Way, in actuality created a society fuelled by
hedonistic vanity, unchecked ambition, and extreme moral
ambiguity. It was delicious in its depravity, and the utter
corruption of the city was revealed beautifully through
innovative narrative devices, such as the audio-logs strewn
about levels. Yes, BioShock's ending felt too predictable, but
the game's ultimate contribution to game stories cannot be
denied.
2. Her Story
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Developer: Sam Barlow
Released: 2015
Platform(s): Android, iOS, PC, Mac and Linux.
It’s clear from the very beginning that Her Story is about
finding a killer. But as you watch more clips of testimony from
the prime suspect, you realize that there’s more afoot
than just murder most foul. Her Story was an indie game darling
of 2015, and quite frankly, the praise and accolades are totally
deserved. It’s another game that tells its tale through
player choice, but those decisions are more than just selections
on a dialogue wheel. Each person who plays Her Story will
experience the plot differently, because it’s entirely
told in short videos that you find by searching keywords in a
database of police evidence. Depending on what queries you make,
you might be able to tease out different holes in the alibi
given by the suspect. That guides your next search, and so every
player charts their own path to finding out the truth. The
narrative is plenty compelling when you watch the clips in order
(thanks, YouTube!), but the circuitous path Her Story sets you
on makes it one of the best examples of how a game can tell a
story.
1. Silent Hill 2
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7550300f665ceddcd6875d65c45d5d7f-650-80.jpg
Developer: Team Silent
Released: 2001
Platform(s): PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360 and PC.
There’s a sinister genius to the storytelling in Silent
Hill 2. It starts off as a mysterious love story: James
Sunderland is searching for his wife after receiving a letter
from her one year after her death. It ends up as something far
darker and more complex. Silent Hill 2 tells its intricate story
on multiple levels. While the spoken narrative leaves you in
little doubt about what kind of man James Sunderland is, the way
you play and interact with the world also has a impact. Spend
the game at half health (or lower) for example, and you’ll
get a different ending because your lack of regard for his
health tells the game that you think James is suicidal.
Symbolism also plays a big role. Every disgusting creature in
the game is a manifestation of James’ twisted psyche;
physical representations of his sexual hang-ups and guilt. By
the end, you’ll have lost every shred of empathy you had
with the game’s protagonist. How often do you get to play
an entire horror game before discovering you’re the real
monster?
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