Archive: 7 posts

---

I know I'm not the only one that has noticed this one. It seems like in general, platforming games and general storyline just don't seem to go together....like ever. I know that the two seem pretty far apart from each other right now mostly because companies probably don't think platforming games really need a storyline since you'll be too busy playing through the levels to notice, but the truth of the matter is that to some of us it does matter. I'm not asking for RPG-esque plots here, I don't need something along the same line as Final Fantasy IX or Xenosaga, but I still expect something that looks like it can be proud of itself. Granted, there are a few platformers out there that break out the mold casing and bloom like flowers out of a sea of mud, but those games are far and few between. I suppose I'd at least give that "award" of absolute performance to the games in the series of Jak and Daxter, and Klonoa, and maybe Rachet and Clank to a lesser degree (at least they are trying to go somewhere with it). Unfortunately, there aren't enough Jak's and Rachet's and Klonoa's to go around, so many platformers usually require a storyline and simply choose to ignore it for the most part, but I think that game creators may be forgetting the essential balance that platformers need between gameplay and storytelling, and the same can be said about a lot of games. I can forgive the game creators on rare occasions since sometimes having a storyline is entirely optional (look at Left4Dead), but for the most part you should just assume that every game needs a little bit of both. Eating a Peanut Butter sandwich is sticky and mucky, but adding Grape Jam makes it taste all the better and that's because of balance, and that's where so many games are suffering these days. Soul Calibur IV severely suffers from thinking it can get away with completely telling the story to **** off and replaces it with "OOOH LOOK AT THE SHINY DARTH VADER!!!", all in a meager attempt to sell the game using more or less a publicity stunt. Even LittleBigPlanet lacks a truly defined storyline, but I'll forgive them on that account because it actually looks like MediaMolecule tried and got so close to really succeeding. Part of why I liked Klonoa and Jak so much in terms of storylines was for the following reasons: Klonoa used it's gameplay and charm to weave together brilliant looking levels for you everywhere you go, and all the levels made sense when traveling through. With perfectly placed cutscenes that didn't harshly break the game's flow you always felt like you were given just the perfect amount of information and motivation to pursue forward into the world that was the Phantomile. Jak had the ability to tell an amazing story with dramatically amazing characters, and a lot of the time you just couldn't help but pay attention to it because one way or another you found yourself waiting, just waiting, for the next set of lines to come out of Daxter's mouth. The sheer hilarity of Daxter blended in perfectly with the game type that was the Jak games, especially the later games where everything is horribly dystopian and having Daxter crack funnies despite all the grit is part of what made the games so amazing. Plot in my eye is a grand motivator for playing games, and ignoring or neglecting the plot can very easily make a good game bad very quickly, so it's best to make the game with some high degree of plot in mind. Plot has the potential to literally "be" the only reasons to play the game. Valkyria Chronicles and the Xenosaga series have always been favorites of mine because they are so amazingly driven by their stories, and not once have they disappointed me to the degree of never wanting to play it again (although there was a point where Xenosaga II got close). I know that platforming games look like games that wouldn't especially thrive on plotlines and decent stories, but I believe that the story line or at the very least the general goal set by the story line is basically the only thing that really motivates one to play and hopefully finish a platforming game. Why do you play Mario? To save the Princess from the evil king koopa. Why do you run through the Sonic levels? To reach the menacing Dr. Robotnik and stop him from terrorizing the land. There always needs to be a "Why?" to every platformer that makes it worth playing, and if you look back on all the platformers you've played it's a fairly safe bet that some of your favorites are generally the ones that made you feel like you had a positive effect on what was happening. Remember, a great story can captivate you in ways that gameplay cannot, do not rely solely on functions and actually be willing to look at a tale that has the ability to unfold in marvelous ways.

2009-02-11 04:35:00 Author: Shining Aquas Posts: 353

---

An amazing review, and I must agree. Most of my favorite games generally have a plot that keeps you motivated, and the reason behind actually trying to finish the game. I loved Mario, for that reason itself. Although I don't play much platforming games, I must agree wholeheartedly.

2009-02-11 05:22:00 Author: Whalio Cappuccino Posts: 5250

---

Reading about Klonoa just made me realize they really need to release 'Door to Phantomile' on PSN. Like right now.

2009-02-11 05:26:00 Author: adrock2099 Posts: 17

---

Reading about Klonoa just made me realize they really need to release 'Door to Phantomile' on PSN. Like right now. While I wholeheartedly support this line, I don't see it happening anytime soon. Although, the remake is coming out in Spring for the Wii, if you happen to own one.

2009-02-11 06:41:00 Author: Shining Aquas Posts: 353

---

Hah, agreed on this one, although the term story might be a bit of a large word for the "save the princess" plot of mario. The "story" of platform games/LBP levels are for me more a small plot and/or a setting. I guess it's just a game of words. I do wholeheartedly agree that a level needs some sort of motivation other than: I always go from left to right, it adds a bit of purpose. This does NOT mean that it needs entire novels in levels, that is cool, when well written and balanced but not many people have that gift. Do what you do best, but at least try to make a bit of a plot in the levels .

2009-02-11 10:29:00 Author: Wyth Posts: 263

---

Abe's Oddysee and Exoddus is the cure for what ails ya... and Heart of Darkness. However, these are more puzzle-based logic/timing platformers than the traditional run and jump ones. They're also old news. There really hasn't been too many, if any platformers that rest their laurels on storytelling. I feel that if the gameplay is polished to perfection and the visual package is there (for it's time) I can overlook it, but it's the games with a clear identity - a memorable protagonist, antagonist, supporting cast, setting, motivation, beginning/middle/end etc - that stick out forever. As far back as Ninja Gaiden, I can remember being enthralled by the short dialogue sequences and basic cut scenes... they made that game unforgettable, along with it's graphics, design, and gameplay for the time. Without this layer of character, it really would have been nothing more than a faster Castlevania. There are many layers to storytelling, most notably in the look of the characters and the environment as a realization of a clear vision that go largely overlooked as subtle innuendo and "plot" - this is a unique medium in that your interactive details and overall design directly influence the immersion level of the storytelling. You can tell a story without words, not just with silent cut scenes, but with the world around you and the players actions... ala Shadow of the Colossus. Like you stated - that's part of knowing Mario and Sonic are the good guys, and being motivated to continue... it doesn't even need to be wordy or highbrow, just give me a classic villain and reason to press on with my memorable, personality filled avatar. I'm surprised we still get games like Ratchet and Clank... but I think Naughty Dog has abandoned Jak's universe for Uncharted. Klonoa is being kept alive, and perhaps the Wii-make will see enough success for us to see an official 3rd entry in the series. I know we'll never see another Oddworld, sadly. Platformers in general, outside of the cuddly mascot world are a rarity, let alone quality and thoughtful, but maybe LBP has put a crack in the dry, parched earth of it's gravesite. I'm definitely in total agreement with this editorial. ALSO: I haven't played it, but apparently Braid is supposed to be the be all end all of subliminal storytelling in platformers.

2009-02-11 12:48:00 Author: Unknown User

---

Has anyone played Banjo Kazooie for the N64? Now THERE was an awesome platforming game. It was like Spyro with a bit of story to boot. I know it wasn't very deep but I think it drew a nice line as to how far a story-line should go in a true platforming game.

2009-02-11 17:14:00 Author: Neverynnal Posts: 374

Posts: 1077139    Threads: 69970    Members: 9661    Archive-Date: 2019-01-19

Aus dem Archiv wurden alle persönlichen Daten wie Name, Anschrift, Email etc. - aber auch sämtliche Inhalte wie z.B. persönliche Nachrichten - entfernt.
Die Nutzung dieser Webseite erfolgt ohne Speicherung personenbezogener Daten. Es werden keinerlei Cookies, Logs, 3rd-Party-Plugins etc. verwendet.