Where the Water Tastes Like Wine
Why don't narrative games get the respect they deserve?
Good games can get players invested in a story the same way that films and novels can. The original Red Dead Redemption, for instance, addressed its title theme of redemption, as well as forgiveness, mercy,selflessness and sacrifice in a way that would not have been as compelling from a film. The player makes those decisions that lead to a penultimate climax, one that – if they play like I did – they replayed over and over trying to change before accepting. How they played the game, and whether they stuck to the straight and narrow or bent the law to get there, might have influenced their feelings about whether main character John Marston deserved his fate, but none who have played it can deny the power of that scene.
Red Dead Redemption isn't alone in hitting all those buttons. The BioShock series, especially the first game, also wrestles with tough moral decisions. I've also argued that it has the potential to incite better discussion and considerations of the possible dangers of completely unregulated and market driven research and development – and what entrepreneurs owe to the societies that helped make them – than many graduate level sociology courses.
The Mass Effect sci-fi RPG games from BioWare and their sister series in the fantasy world, Dragon Age, address big issues like prejudice, social stratification and social mobility, and familial responsibilities, all while allowing players to set their own moral compass. They do this while also telling compelling and engaging (not you, Mass Effect Andromeda, sit down) stories that blend seamlessly with stellar gameplay.
And maybe that's where they win out. They all have stellar gameplay. Red Dead has gun fights and horse wrangling and basically feels like you're playing a Clint Eastwood movie. BioShock, Mass Effect and Dragon Age all have deep and customizable combat systems – the second two wit multiple options for multiple characters – that allow players to adapt their combat choices to their preferred play style. Even if you have no interest in the story, you can enjoy the combat.
But what about games with no combat? Or, in the case of some of the TellTale games, quick-time entry for combat that doesn't really effect the outcome of the story? These tend not to do as well, which is sad, because there are some great games in that category. The TellTale games, featuring popular franchises like Batman, The Walking Dead, Jurassic Park, and Game of Thrones, among others, are probably among the most popular narrative driven games. But even that wasn't enough to keep TellTale solvent. In 2018 the studio announced bankruptcy, pending closure, and layoff of all staff except those necessary to meet contractual obligations. Though the company has since been revived, narrative driven games still don't get the kind of respect they deserve.
Though the game had great critical acclaim when it launched in 2018, that acclaim didn't translate to commercial success. Creator Johnnemann Nordhagen said he couldn't discuss exact numbers, but in his postmorten of the release he wrote that the game sales were stagnant.
"(I)n the first few weeks fewer people bought the game than I have Twitter followers, and I don’t have a lot of Twitter followers," Nordhagen wrote. Despite the critical acclaim and attention of the gaming press, and voice performances by the likes of Sting, the game "failed... hard," Nordhagen wrote, adding that he, "(wasn't) sure games like this one can continue to be made in the current market."
Share your thoughts on the game with us, in the comments below, or email me at jeremy@latetothegames.com.
Originally published in the Carter County Times. If you'd like to run Late to the Game(s) in your publication, please email for syndication options.
I'll check this out. I have so many games from the Epic store that I've never even downloaded. I don't think I've purchased one game from them, but have a few dozen.
ReplyDeleteSince the pandemic, acting roles have been few and far between. I recently read an article about famous actors working on a game, and several of them talked of how games were the future of story telling. I don't think games will ever reach the level of usage that movies have, but I certainly agree, if executed well, games can hit you right in the feels, more so than most movies. Not to mention, games have that quality of all of the time one puts into co.pleting them. You have a lot longer to develop an attachment to your character and all the adventures you take them through.
I agree about the time investment. It almost makes it more like a television show you get invested in over time. Except that, like a film, it is meant to have a clear and straightforward storyline and ending (though, like films, you can have sequels or episodes).
DeleteI too have several of the Epic Store games that I've claimed and have yet to download or play.