Best Narrative of 2014 - Article
by Joseph Trotter , posted on 11 January 2015 / 4,105 Views
'Narrative? That's just stories, aye?' Sam said, leaning back in his chair. 'Why not just call it Best Stories and be done with it?'
Four options appear on screen:
Y) ...
X) 'I can call it what I want!'
B) 'You should probably watch out for that zombie.'
A) 'Gaming has moved on from the genocide of turtles, Sam. Even the best of games previously had relatively simple stories, but developers have wised up to the idea that gamers want strong, coherent narratives to compel them through the game. The rise and popularity of narrative-driven games such as The Walking Dead testifies to this. High-grossing blockbuster games now consider the ways in which the gaming medium can push story-telling and how best to involve the player. Best Story would not emphasise the complete package required for a great narrative. Plus, Narrative sounds better.'
You choose option B)
The Nominees Are:
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
And the Winner is...
'Thanks for the warning' casually remarks Sam as he slowly flips the zombie's head between his hands. 'But why did you keep shouting 'Inquisition is a worthy winner' during the fight?'
'Because it is. It has been a strong year for narrative gaming, and Dragon Age: Inquistion shows what can be done when a choice system is coupled with a clear sense that any decision has a consequence, and not only a foreseen one. This means that every decision has an effect on the narrative and game-world, creating a narrative wholly unique to you. For once, a choice feels like a genuine decision. When this is mixed with a strong, involving narrative that twists in many unexpected directions then you have a fine RPG and even better narrative.'
'Fine, but next time use the shotgun ok?'
