what makes a good video game plot to you?

Z

Zae

Donkey Kong
Banned User
ive been thinking about this for a loooong time, what makes an enjoyable video game plot to you?

is it quirkiness, deep reasoning, is positivity, negativity, etc.?

For me, idk. I've always been one for rather simplier plots like ff5 or paper mario, none of those plots that really try to run deep in serious motions and epicness, like say metal gear solid, or tales of symphonia.

I guess plot wise im more of one for simple, upbeat, positive plot lines in most cases, there are exceptions like LISA, or Mother 3.

But im not here entirely for me, i know my reasons, but what about you guys, what makes a good video game plot to you?

It's not really like a experiment or anything just curiosity, that and i like to see what other people think, really broadens the horizion.
 
Whatever Virtue's Last Reward did
 
I'm a sucker for drama (which has also come with the caveat that I have picked up on a lot of clichés) but I tend to feel rather numb if it's nothing but drama. Games like EarthBound/Mother 3 and Undertale, which weave in and out of drama and comedy as the situation demands, are probably the gold standard for what I like to look for. Of course, the standard good stuff, like character development, fleshed-out locations, and well-written dialog are always welcome.
 
I should not be the one speaking, since you could write a short story about two rocks and I'll probably enjoy it. However, I find good plots to be ones that really expanding beyond just what the main plot is. Games that delve really into the characters to make them feel more individual and more unique, and those that will tie stories back into the main plot or those that deverge from the plot but still is worthwhile to experience.

I think the biggest thing for me is consistency. Games that try to involve too many gimmicks or references tend to fall flat if they don't really commit to it. Maybe a game's plot isn't very action-filled or always fighting, but it still can be great as a game that more simplistic and not as involved as long as it doesn't try to be funny randomly with no reason to be. Maybe not the best example, but as long as a plot follows through through most/all of their ideas and not half-assing things, then it's a great plot.
 
Lapis Lazuli said:
you could write a short story about two rocks and I'll probably enjoy it.
Click to expand...
is that why you like steven universe
 
If it doesn't hugely interrupt the gameplay, is an emotionally investing story, and isn't too overly sappy, then I'd probably enjoy it.

I'm not much of a plot person in the first place regarding video games so eh.
 
anything that's interesting enough to keep me wanting more, and preferably emotional as well. also characters involved in the plot need to be good in order for me to enjoy it
 
I don't really care for storylines, but I can't stand the stereotypical "X kidnaps Y, Z rescues Y and kills X" by sequel "X kidnaps Z, Y rescues Z and kills X" then second sequel "X tries to kidnap Y and fights Z along the way" plots, which is the majority of games.
 
To be honest, I don't care so much for the plot as more for the stuff around it. Like, the world it takes place in should feel alive, its lore should be internally consistent and interesting, and the characters should be well-written and likable.

Those are the kinds of games I can lose myself in. That's why I like Majora's Mask so much (and also The Wind Waker). That's why I don't really like Twilight Princess, because, while the game is trying to have a plot, everything around it falls apart completely (things like forgetting to give Link a bed, Hyrule Castle Town being 90% NPCs you cannot talk to, the clown guy being forever stuck in Lake Hylia, etc.)

What's also a cardinal sin is empty dialogue. Like, the characters turning into imbeciles and making pointless, unnecessary statements. This is pretty much the main reason why I cannot get into the Persona series despite the concept of it absolutely fascinating me. These characters just talk so much without ever saying anything. Don't even get me started on Golden Sun, which is like Empty Dialogue: The Game.



So yeah, interesting world, fun characters, no drawn-out bullshit.
 
For me, what makes a good plot is generally memorable characters and good humor. Still, I don't care about the quality of the plot is as long as the gameplay is good. For example, I'm in the minority of people who didn't like Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2, because while the story was great, the gameplay was a total bore.