Top Ten Storylines in Video Games

My Top Ten Storylines in Video Games

Many of us play our video games for all kinds of reasons, whether it be for its multi-player aspect, humor, brutality, as an escape, the campaign or just the name alone. I for one, am intrigued by a great storyline.

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I must be a gripped to the edge of my seat, nail biting, hour by hour addict enveloped by a game’s story (at least most of the time). I am a lover of the single player campaigns.

So here is my take on the Top Ten Storylines in Video Games:

10. L.A. Noire

A story that revolves around new detective Cole Phelps with the very corrupt Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), slowly after returning from service in World War 2. He is trying to right some personal demons thanks to his experiences. The cases you solve throughout his rise through various departments of the LAPD bring him some stunning realizations about his time in the military, who he spends time with and how they’re affected. The story is based on how the crimes are investigated and solved by the player. The game is deep in its heavy plots and aesthetics of films from the 1940s and 1950s.

9. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Set during the Cold War-era of the Soviet Union, the story centers around FOX operative Naked Snake as he attempts to rescue a weapons designer, sabotage a superweapon, and assassinate his former defected boss. Throughout the story he learns the reasons behind his boss’ defection and betrayal and begins to understand the decisions made but ultimately still must face his former boss on the battlefield. The game is told through cut scenes and radio conversations. Despite the 1960s feel, it has all the aspects of high tech.

8. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of The White Witch

This is a wonderful magical world with characters you care about. Once you start Ni No Kuni, you just cannot stop. It’s a story about Oliver, a young boy from Motorville. He’s good-natured, kind, pure, broken-hearted and that’s part of its charm. While trying out a new vehicle designed by his friend Philip, Oliver almost drowns but is saved by his mother Allie who consequently dies from saving him. His tears of grief cause his doll, a gift from his mother, to come to life and reveals itself as a fairy named Drippy. Drippy tells Oliver that he’s from another world where an evil wizard named Shadar has taken control. He also explains to Oliver that each person in his world has a “soul mate” – in essence a person with a link to someone in Oliver’s world. It’s with this knowledge that Oliver sets out on his adventure to find the link to his mother to bring her back to his own world. It’s an adventure game of battling creatures called Familiars which you are able to collect. The Familiars can level up and equip weapons and armor. This game takes a bit from Pokémon which is delightful.

7. Alan Wake

A survival horror game that follows bestselling novelist Alan Wake as he tries to uncover the mystery behind his wife’s disappearance during a vacation in the town of Bright Falls, Washington, all the while experiencing events from the plot of his latest book that he cannot remember writing that is coming to life. Alan Wake contains plot twists and cliffhangers as it’s similar to a TV series. Its narrative, pacing, and atmosphere are primarily written by Sam Lake and is brilliant.

6. Halo Reach

This is a story around a squad of superhuman soldiers called Spartans and their defense of the planet Reach from the invasion by the alien race known as The Covenant. It’s based on great struggle and sacrifice against overwhelming odds and it’s the basis of this story that has led to the Halo series. It’s how humanity has been backed into a corner by the ever encroaching forces of The Covenant and how the sacrifice and downfall of Reach was necessary for the survival of humanity.

5. The Walking Dead

A true gut-wrenching story of Lee Everett, a man on his way to prison, who is the unlikely hero who stumbles upon Clementine, a young girl whose parents were vacationing in another city when the zombie apocalypse occurred. Throughout their journey you meet vast characters that you grow to love or hate. The game’s strengths are the dialogue and character development. The execution of each scenario is what makes this a must play.

4. BioShock

What can I say of this amazing story? Andrew Ryan is the perfect man who has built the perfect world, an underwater utopian city called Rapture. Believing he had found The Way, when in actuality Andrew Ryan created a society bent on hedonistic vanity, unchecked ambition and extreme moral enigma. It is exquisite in its depravity and the epic demoralization of the city is revealed through narrative devices called audio-logs found throughout the many levels. It’s an artistic masterpiece thanks to Ayn Rand, Ken Levine, and John Galt.

3. Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2 starts off as a bizarre love story. James Sunderland is searching for his wife after receiving a letter from her on year after her death. It tells a complex story on different levels in which the way you play and interact throughout its sinister world has bearing. The spoken narrative of Silent Hill 2 leaves little doubt on the kind of man James Sunderland is. If you spend the game at half or less health you’ll get a different ending. This is because the game thinks that James is suicidal. Hmm interesting. Every horrific creature in the game is a manifestation of the character James’ twisted psyche and the physical representations are of his sexual hang-ups and guilt. At the end of this game you’ve lost all empathy for its protagonist.

2. Mass Effect Series PERIOD

Can I say this is a story that rivals many sci-fi epics like Star Wars? YES I CAN! This is Akira Kurosawa’s (whom I adore) Seven Samurai except it’s in space. The deep back story of each character and complex decisions made throughout brings an intense bond between the player and its characters. The player not only affects the overall plot but the many sub-plots and stories that occur simultaneously as the main plot unfolds. The fact that the decisions of the player carry on from one game to the next makes it an epic marvel with a huge dedicated fan base.

And My Top Pick….

1. The Last of Us

Yes, it’s no secret that this is my favorite game and no wonder with so many naming this triumph by Naughty Dog as Game of the Year for 2013. This is epic story telling of two characters in a post-apocalyptic world. Joel, a man suffering from his grief, and Ellie, a 14 year old orphan, are the main characters in which every encounter develops the dynamics of their relationship. This is a brutal and human story that is realistic to its very core. Its cut scenes will have you glued to your seat. I fell in love with Joel and Ellie and so will you.

Well there you have it, my list of great storylines.

If you haven’t checked any of these phenomenal games out, I highly recommend that you do.

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Author
Venisia Gonzalez
Venisia is a public relations professional, video game industry contractor, published author, freelance entertainment journalist, copy editor, a co-organizer of the Latinx Games Festival, and a member of the Latinx in Gaming and the Puerto Rico Game Developers (PRGD) community. Her passion is video games. She loves the adrenaline rush from a multiplayer match and understands the frustrations of a brand-new raid. Venisia finds immense value in gaming especially in the realm of mental health.