Gaming

[Callum_M]

From what I’ve gleaned in people’s stories as well as posts made, I know there are gamers here. So for any who might be partaking: happy Ocarina of Time Remaster Day!

If you’re not partaking, what are you currently playing instead?

Oh and to keep it somewhat on theme for AH, what’s your favorite game because of its story?

Other than the OoT remaster, I’ve been playing Big Walk and have delighted in how intricately detailed it all is. It’s so relaxing while also being an excellent puzzle game.

My favorite game because of its story goes to Inside. Another brilliant puzzle game, has zero dialogue, and yet the world unfolds in front of you. Like playing through a horror, wordless, picture book. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve played it and how many new layers I peel back with each play through. Any time I convince someone to try it, they end up loving it.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Expedition 33 is just fucking brutal and beautiful and creative, and I can't remember ever being so wowed by a story in a game, at least, not since Mass Effect.* The E33's OST is also stunning. They found some random 25-year-old on the internet and were like, "Wanna make an 8-hour soundtrack?" and he was like, "Hold my beer." But they had to card him for the beer, because he didn't look old enough. I like listening to it when I edit now, and for sure will sometimes just stop and listen because it's gorgeous.

*Yes, I do always pick getting fucked by the sexy cat-bird dude, why do you ask?

 

[MK_Whimsy]

From what I’ve gleaned in people’s stories as well as posts made, I know there are gamers here. So for any who might be partaking: happy Ocarina of Time Remaster Day!

If you’re not partaking, what are you currently playing instead?

Oh and to keep it somewhat on theme for AH, what’s your favorite game because of its story?

Currently been playing Satisfactory. I spent a good chunk of the day building a factory for a particular mid-late game item and despite its complexity, managed to make the production process incredibly efficient.

For story, some of my favorites are Unreal, Deus Ex, and Outer Wilds.

 

[MK_Whimsy]

Expedition 33 is just fucking brutal and beautiful and creative, and I can't remember ever being so wowed by a story in a game, at least, not since Mass Effect.* The E33's OST is also stunning. They found some random 25-year-old on the internet and were like, "Wanna make an 8-hour soundtrack?" and he was like, "Hold my beer." But they had to card him for the beer, because he didn't look old enough. I like listening to it when I edit now, and for sure will sometimes just stop and listen because it's gorgeous.

*Yes, I do always pick getting fucked by the sexy cat-bird dude, why do you ask?

I played E33 when it came out. It is indeed gorgeous and has some great music, plus the combat mechanism isn't bad. I'm kinda 50/50 on the story though.

 

[anthrodisiac]

E33 is indeed gorgeous and has some great music. I'm kinda 50/50 on the story though.

It's exactly my type of story. The whiplash between weird silly humor and crushing despair is delicious. I really liked the whole premise and worldbuilding. I have almost no complaints with it, never felt bored, loved exploring and learning, and it was just a joy from start to finish.

For story, some of my favorites are Unreal, Deus Ex, and Outer Wilds.

Outer Wilds is also phenomenal. That's easily in my top 20.

 

[TheLobster]

Oh and to keep it somewhat on theme for AH, what’s your favorite game because of its story?

Anthy mentioned Mass Effect and it would definitely be up there for me.

But the one game where I always very much enjoyed the story is Final Fantasy XIV, to the point that the finale of Endwalker’s base storyline I remember as one of the very few (we’re talking single digits) works of fiction across any medium that actually made me bawl my eyes. And before that there was plenty to laugh about as well. It’s really astounding how the story is there, considering it’s an MMO and not one of the “regular” FF games.

…Or, well, at least how good the story was, because I’ve heard some very unflattering things about the most recent expansion

 

[NuclearFairy]

Cat tails. o.o You should all go play it.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Cat tails. o.o You should all go play it.

I like cats and tails. Are they o' nine though? Because that kinda changes things...

 

[NuclearFairy]

I like cats and tails. Are they o' nine though? Because that kinda changes things...

No o' nine involved. Also a space snuck in. It should be Cattails. Or more specifically, Cattails: wild wood story. Haven't ever played the original. The sequel was a fun little story though. Also, I got to be a cat, without the difficult controls involved in the other you get to be a cat games I've tried.

 

[SugarStorm]

I'm a bona fide JRPG player! Give me an emotionally constipated teenager with the haircut of the century, a mysterious crystal, a dead parent, three different kinds of amnesia - preferably all at the same time - and a party that somehow ends up killing God after forty hours of friendship and side quests, and I'm there.

Yes. I know. I'm broken.

I also love puzzle games. Modern ones.

Cue @onehitwanda:

"Have you tried The Incredible Machine?"

Why no, I hadn't.

But now I have, and somehow this game that's so old I'm pretty sure it predates several modern countries has made me feel very stupid.

I've since severed all ties with her.

Also, Mario Kart. It's the one time I can slap my kids around legally, hurr hurr

 

[Nynah]

Hades and Hades II have made my workday commutes so much easier and I've played through each of them multiple times. Fantastic stories, addictive gameplay, ridiculously attractive characters and two of the best ever soundtracks in video games. Can't sing Supergiant's praises loud enough.

I grew up playing Mass Effect as well, and those games still hold a dear place in my heart, especially after hearing of Bioware's folding recently. Such a compelling narrative with excellent voice acting and likeable (for the most part) characters.

I dust off Cyberpunk 2077 every so often to play through it again; some of it feels a little too close to reality at times for my liking but I'm still able to enjoy it (for now). V as a protagonist is entirely too relatable in some areas and really makes you think about what it means to be remembered.

Currently playing through Slay the Spire II and having it kick my ass five ways to Sunday. My winning percentage is bad but I can't stop playing because the few times I've managed to win felt absolutely satisfying beyond belief.

 

[Lord_Libido]

The Witcher
Stellaris
Cyberpunk
God of War
Jedi games

Those are the ones I'm playing now. Other miscellaneous things are possible as well.

The story of the Witcher in particular is funny.
Imagine if a musician starts writing songs about the local exterminator. These songs become so popular that said exterminator becomes one of the most famous exterminators in the land. He then ends up becoming involved in high stakes political power plays.
Eventually he adopts the president's daughter who also happens to be the Chosen One and raises her to also be an exterminator.

Add a fantasy setting and that's basically the Witcher.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Dishonored II was also pretty damn good (Dishonored DLC was also pretty damn good; whole series is solid). Bioshock is up there. Portal 2, because just wacky fun nonsense is my jam, man.

Oh yeah, Dead Space 2.

 

[MK_Whimsy]

Dishonored II was also pretty damn good. Bioshock is up there. Portal 2, because just wacky fun nonsense is my jam, man.

Oh yeah, how could I have forgotten Bioshock and Portal. I love the kind of humor in the latter especially.

 

[MK_Whimsy]

I also played Planet Crafter recently. Very nice, chill game that doesn't require a lot of sustained attention -- though thin on story, admittedly.

 

[PennyThompson]

Currently playing through Slay the Spire II and having it kick my ass five ways to Sunday.

Yessss nynah the difficulty of sta2 scales kind of strangely, it becomes a lot more beatable after you've unlocked most of a character's cards and relics.

Also there are some really interesting third-party playable characters in the mods community, once you've unlocked all of the core game, or at least as much of it as is finished!

Right now I'm playing and enjoying Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader, the aesthetic is fun and the world is ridiculous, though as an RPG it kind of over-softens the grimdarkness.

I'm also waiting for Star Trek: Voyager, Across The Unknown to go on a good Steam sale, I played the demo and "Star Trek roguelike/basebuilder/narrative rpg" just hits too many of the circles in my venn diagram

 

[anthrodisiac]

What Remains of Edith Finch? was fucking heartbreaking (and so beautiful). The brother's story was soul-crushing.

Soma was such a great story, though I might just think that because I had a question about one of the mechanics of the game and then that turned out to be the twist ending I kinda saw coming and was so damn proud of myself

Oh! Inscryption is fucking awesome. I love that game so much.

 

[Callum_M]

Deku Tree cleared! I love the colors in this game already and the music cues are delightful.

Oh…hello way more responses than I was expecting!

Expedition 33 is just fucking brutal and beautiful and creative, and I can't remember ever being so wowed by a story in a game, at least, not since Mass Effect.*

I keep thinking I should get this game. Seems the type of immersive world I enjoy getting lost in.

For story, some of my favorites are Unreal, Deus Ex, and Outer Wilds.

I own Outer Wilds, but have yet to play it, so this is good the hear! It was gifted to me over the summer and will likely be my next nightly wind down game on the Steam Deck.

I'm a bona fide JRPG player! Give me an emotionally constipated teenager with the haircut of the century, a mysterious crystal, a dead parent, three different kinds of amnesia - preferably all at the same time - and a party that somehow ends up killing God after forty hours of friendship and side quests, and I'm there.

Yes. I know. I'm broken.

My first JRPG was EarthBound and life was forever changed so I get it! They too pretty much kill God!

The Witcher
Stellaris
Cyberpunk
God of War
Jedi games

Those are the ones I'm playing now. Other miscellaneous things are possible as well.

The story in Jedi Fallen Order might be my favorite story in all of Star Wars. I never thought any Star Wars game could surpass KotOR for me.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Deku Tree cleared! I love the colors in this game already and the music cues are delightful.

Oh…hello way more responses than I was expecting!

I keep thinking I should get this game. Seems the type of immersive world I enjoy getting lost in.


I own Outer Wilds, but have yet to play it, so this is good the hear! It was gifted to me over the summer and will likely be my next nightly wind down game on the Steam Deck.


My first JRPG was EarthBound and life was forever changed so I get it! They too pretty much kill God!


The story in Jedi Fallen Order might be my favorite story in all of Star Wars. I never thought any Star Wars game could surpass KotOR for me.

I cannot recommend E33 enough. Same with Outer Wilds. Both of phenomenal, intriguing, lovable games in such different ways. Outer Wilds is one of the most charming games I've ever played. E33 is just, ugh, I can't even describe how beautiful every aspect of that game is. I went in fairly skeptical, because I'm not big on turn-based on console (handheld is fine, I think having a Game Boy and Fire Emblem and FF and Golden Sun and the like just made console turn-based games feel weird to me because it's huge on a TV), but, man, did that thing win me over so hard. I still tear up hearing some of the music, it's such such an emotional game that resonated with me so much on so many levels.

 

[AlinaX]

I started playing Genshin Impact during Covid. I like the graphics and the world, and the story is really well thought out, blending fantasy with elements of sci-fi.

 

[Callum_M]

Also, Mario Kart. It's the one time I can slap my kids around legally, hurr hurr

This comic strip based on you?
Wallace The Brave

 

[RejectReality]

Struggling with Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. LOL I am too old, slowing down, and slightly arthritic to keep up with the aerial parkour demands of the platforming in this game. The first crease in my right thumb ( Jump button standard position ) has been stinging since this weekend. I feel like it nicely melds some of the difficulty of the old-school games ( minus the unfairness of the stiff controls in those old games ) with the exploration of Metroidvanias, but every other room is a parkour puzzle where you can't sit still for more than a second or so and any mistake sends you back to a checkpoint that's often the beginning of the room.

Right button, activate lever which gives you about 30 seconds to make it through the puzzle, which is mostly lined with death spikes.
Move right, aim up, right trigger to latch onto painting.
Wait for it to move to the left. Hit the attack button to shoot you straight up.
At the apex, aim right and right trigger to catch an anchor to pull to the wall, which you can only hang onto for about a second.
Jump off the wall, aim up, right trigger to latch onto another painting.
Hold the left trigger to pass through the chaos shards above you, hit the attack button to shoot you straight up. Let go of the left trigger once you pass through the chaos shards so you can land on them.
Jump forward while hitting the left trigger to pass through the chaos shards in front of you. Quickly let go of left trigger to land on the chaos shards on the other side.
Jump up right onto the chaos shards, and then left in a wall jump which just barely clears the death spikes on the left wall. Wall jump to the top of the corridor.
At the top, jump off right while holding the left trigger to pass through the chaos shard wall. Land on a collapsing platform that you can only stand on for about a second.
Aim up, right trigger to latch onto a painting which moves back and forth above you.
Attack button to shoot you straight up when the painting is at the far left. At the apex, aim right, right trigger to latch onto an anchor and pull you over to a safe platform.

Congratulations, you're halfway through the frikkin' puzzle! ( and the timer is still ticking ) *groan*

I was up to the postgame of Octopath Traveler right before Castlevania and Final Fantasy Resonance went live, so I still have that and Octopath 2 in the queue. Once I finish Belmont's Curse, it's off to FF:Resonance. Then Dragon Quest Monsters: Withered World comes out in December. Then Bloodstained 2 sometime next year, but considering they haven't put a date on it yet, I'm betting at least spring.

Fortunately, I only work 2 days Thanksgiving week, 4 days the following 3 weeks, 3 days Christmas week, and then I'll schedule my first week of vacation early in January, like usual. May only be 4 days the week after Christmas as well. I've got the time, basically nobody else in the department has any PTO left to schedule it before I do, and I'll still end up carrying over 70 hours of sick time + about a half day of remaining vacation time.

Favorite story is a tie between Dragon Quest 11 and Dragon Quest 8.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Oh, how the fuck did I forget Alan Wake, Alan Wake 2, and Control? Duh.
Honorable mention to Quantum Break.

 

[TheLobster]

If we're talking about games in general that may not be so heavily or overtly story-based, then my favorite genre are definitely metroidvanias. I love the aspect of exploration of a sprawling world combined with challenging encounters, and this kind of games usually does their worldbuilding in subtle ways through item descriptions and environmental doodads.

My favorites are both installments of Hollow Knight and Blasphemous. Recently I got my hands on Well Dweller, which is a cute little game of this type set in a dark fairy tale world that a certain stunned cat might appreciate

 

[onehitwanda]

I've since severed all ties with her.

The Eagles wrote a song about this... just saying. Don't worry. I'm close enough that I can hear your breathing.

Oh boy, story-driven gaming. I'm going to have to put my big girl pants on, it seems.

In no particular order:

Baldur's Gate 3 (Karlach, Shadowheart, Astarion and Lae'zel all have tragic arcs worthy of a book each)
Baldur's Gate
Knights of the Old Republic
Expedition 33 (Sophie. Gustav. Verso. If you know, you know.)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Still one of the greatest game introductions ever)
Skyrim - Dawnguard - should honestly have been a separate Elder Scrolls game in and of itself.
and
Bioshock Infinite - I loved Elizabeth.

Of these, though, only Expedition 33 has made me ugly cry, though Bioshock and BG3 came close sometimes.