Quote Originally Posted by Pike View Post
I think games work best when they focus less on an overarching story (as a movie or book would) and more on a world to immerse a player in. i.e., I think that the story and lore of the game's SETTING is more important than a narrative plot. This plays on the strength of the video game, which is exploration and discovery.
I mostly agree with this. The interactivity of games allows you to explore and discover things in a world or universe that you can't quite get in a book or movie since they are guided experiences. Some books and movies obviously are going to have better/more in depth worlds than games, but they will ultimately lack the discovery element that can come with being immersed in a game world and finding little details by talking to everyone in a tavern in an RPG, or exploring the planets out there in Mass Effect 1.

I also think games can write characters in a way that stands out more for me than even books or movies can. Which is somewhat counter-intuitive because over the course of a novel or series of novels you are going to get to know characters a lot more than you are even in most RPGs. But there's something about having 7 or 8 detailed conversations with Thane, Jack, or Garrus on the Normandy and then going to battle with them to stop the Collectors, or exploring Omega with them that adds to the narrative that can't be replicated by books or movies. Same goes for games like the Tales series where seeing the interaction of the characters on a regular basis between towns and plot events just adds an element of personalization that other forms of media can't replicate.

That's why when it comes to a good game storyline, I don't need overarching drama that is manufactured through cliches and tropes (looking at you David Cage). Give me strong, well written, likable characters that are more than two dimensional and a good world with deep lore and I'll have a hell of a time enjoying the ride.