[Games as Art] What is the best writing in all of video games?

1. Spec Ops The Line
2. Planescape Torment
3. Soma
4. Fallout 1
5. Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice
6. The Swapper
7. Inside
8. Disco Elysium
9. The Cat Lady
10. Shadowrun Dragonfall
11. Dark Souls 1
12. Amnesia A Machine For Pigs
13. Silent Hill 2
14. Nier Automata
15. Far Cry 2
16. Bioshock
17. Bloodborne
18. Fallout New Vegas
19. Prototype
 
I don't know about Homeworld. I enjoyed that game but I wish some of the planned content had not been cut like the T-Mat.
Also controls were a lot improved in Homeworld Cataclysm.

Some people felt that Homeworld 1 was like a space opera story while Cataclysm was like a Star Trek episode.
 
I used to think SPEC OPS: THE LINE was an awesome analysis of the kind of gung-ho military overconfidance that had dogged not just American media but American depictions of itself in war. Basically, I thought it was an anti-war shooter the same way Apocalypse Now was an anti-war movie. Then I read Walt William's biography SIGNIFICANT ZERO and he explained he had nothing against war in real life but just wanted to critique the entire idea of escapism in video games as well as the idea of being a hero via a shooter.

I'm like... "I cannot think of more of a waste of time to make a game about."

I kind of felt stupid for even thinking it was brilliant as I'd clearly completely misjudged the game.

Later, I had a similar feeling with BIOSHOCK: INFINITE that Ken Levine was apparently annoyed with everyone's focus on Americna exceptionalism, racism, and so on in the game as he was most interested in quantum physics as a discussion of video game storytelling.

I'm like, "Both of you are more interested in naval gazing about the medium of entertainment than anything...real?"
 
The interpretation is whatever you make it. Don’t throw it away because the art outgrew the artist.

- advice from drunken Arthur
 
CT Phipps said:
I kind of felt stupid for even thinking it was brilliant as I'd clearly completely misjudged the game.
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I don't think the original author's intent should not change the way one views a product.

Besides, the author, at least for Spec Ops: The Line, admitted that other interpretations are valid and encouraged Death of the Author for the game. If not, all the other interpretations and analysis for SOTL are left subservient to the idea that the whole game is a Purgatory for Walker and nothing else.

I don't think the book actually discredits the accidental aesops but merely shares Walt's perspective and original intent.

Though admittedly, I find it difficult to apply the same for Ken and Bioshock Infinite.
 
Assassin's Creed Was a game that took stealth in a different direction. Instead of hiding in the shadows you hide in plain sight. As an assassin you are one with the crowd and only emerge to claim your kill. But when you were forced out then you can Taking place during the crusades in the Holy land you're apart of an order of Assassins who battle with an order known as the Templars. Mix in the sci-fi elements with the modern day and you have a story that in the beginning seems to be the standard good vs. evil but as the game goes on it becomes more of a battle of diametrically opposed philosophies. The gameplay while not as fluid as it's sequels is still great and coupled with the atmosphere manages to immerse you in this world. The common complaints of repetition I feel is exaggerated though certainly a flaw against it but I feel it is a game that delivers a unique experience that is never replicated by any other game sequels included. A great blending of stealth and the action/adventure genres.

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Excuse me what the fuck:

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Cliche a this point, but for me it might be Witcher 3.

I remember playing it for the first time and coming across the bloody barron, and just thinking what a piece of shit this guy was. Then you come to the end of his quest and you get the option of "tell me your side of the story", and at the time I thought there was no way to make this guy redeemable, but then after actually hearing his side of things I actually felt a bit sorry for him. It's not that you condone his actions, but you see where he's coming from. And there's so many instances like that throughout the game where you meet these people that you just think are terrible, but they're so well fleshed out they're never just generic "bad guys."

For most of my life my favorite game was fallout 2, maybe arcanum, maybe some snes rpgs -- but it hadn't changed in years. But now at the age of 35 I might have a new favorite game and it might be Witcher 3. When I finished that game I legit put down my controller and just sighed like I had finished a really great book. It's incredible imo.
 
Gnarle said:
Cliche a this point, but for me it might be Witcher 3.

I remember playing it for the first time and coming across the bloody barron, and just thinking what a piece of shit this guy was. Then you come to the end of his quest and you get the option of "tell me your side of the story", and at the time I thought there was no way to make this guy redeemable, but then after actually hearing his side of things I actually felt a bit sorry for him. It's not that you condone his actions, but you see where he's coming from. And there's so many instances like that throughout the game where you meet these people that you just think are terrible, but they're so well fleshed out they're never just generic "bad guys."

For most of my life my favorite game was fallout 2, maybe arcanum, maybe some snes rpgs -- but it hadn't changed in years. But now at the age of 35 I might have a new favorite game and it might be Witcher 3. When I finished that game I legit put down my controller and just sighed like I had finished a really great book. It's incredible imo.
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Yeah, he's still a piece of shit but he's an understandable piece of shit.

But MAN did his wife make a terrible decision with the Witches.

Supernatural Evil is not a way out of your abusive marriage.

That's what knives are for.
 
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Finished SOMA less than a year ago and it had some of the best writing I've seen in video game history.

Go in without ANY prior knowledge. Just jump in and enjoy the ride.
 
Disco Elysium is more than a game.

It is a theoretical psycho-philosophical complex designed to arbitrate understandings of self into the player character.

It is transcendent art.

I haven't seen these advanced concepts distilled and expressed like this before.

Well, not this well.


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Ancient!

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Modern!




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Profound.



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"Voice"

 

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The Witcher 3 (Haven't played the first 2), Fallout 1 and New Vegas, Portal 1 and 2 for well written comedy, THe Trails series altho they have some ANimu shit you might not enjoy if you have no tolerance for that, Bloodborne, Deadly Premonition 1 is crazy genius even tho it's also intcredibly stupid, Persona 4 and 5, probably more but can only think of those.
 
I will sit down and read some of what has been written in this thread... just not now.

My two notable mentions will be Disco Elysium and Tyranny. Both incredibly refreshing in their own way.
 
I wouldn't say bloody awful. I'd say it with you but to the general public I'd say it's solid mechanically and "accessible".
 
The Dopamine Cleric said:
I wouldn't say bloody awful. I'd say it with you but to the general public I'd say it's solid mechanically and "accessible".
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Yeah, ok, like this: I enjoyed the combat in it, for what it was, but I hated the writing in it. Such an interesting concept and setting and butchered by sub-par writing. "This game is so morally grey!!! Will you kill the baby or not??!?!". To be honest I enjoyed Alpha Protocol far more than Tyranny.
 
in no particular order, they all have their strengths/weaknesses:

Darkwood (sparse writing that underscores the atmosphere perfectly)
Caves of Qud (unique style without feeling stilted, terse in a good way)
Fallout 1 and 2 (lovely worldbuilding and interesting characters)
Disco Elysium (great dialogue; accurate portrayals of drug abuse, mental illness)
Kingdom of Loathing (funny as hell at times)

Honorable Mention:
Sunless Sea when it was consistent in theme. Felt like some of those islands could've been left out completely and it would've made the game better. Looking at you Pigmote. Personally love Redwall, just not mixed in with my Lovecraft lol
 
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