The Weekly Raid: How Important Is Narrative In MMOs?
In most MMOs I've played narrative takes a backseat to gameplay. Some games do try and incorporate engaging stories such as Final Fantasy XIV and Star Wars: The Old Republic. But oftentimes I struggle to find myself sucked in, clicking 'skip' as soon as the option becomes available.
Oftentimes an MMO suffers from trying to turn the player into the Chosen One in a world with countless other destined heroes. Otherwise narrative takes a backseat and consists of a cliché good vs. evil dynamic, leaving the player to insert their own adventure. It can be okay to hide deeper stories withing a game's world, a la Dark Souls, but it rarely happens in an MMO.
Games can be a powerful medium for telling stories, something rarely appreciated in MMOs. I used to play single-player JRPGs just to continue the story. And a part of me wants to play an MMO that manages to incorporate many heroes in a larger compelling narrative.
How important is narrative in an MMO to you? Let us know in the comments below!
Related:
From Mega Man II to Ape Escape, I've been playing games for as long as I can remember. I've spent months killing porings in Ragnarok Online and more recently lived a second life in Eve Online. I usually play as gUMBY, gUMBLEoni, or gUMBLes in-game.
