Topic: Wii/Gamecube Game with great interactive storytelling

[MoRZ]

Hi guys, I really need your help on this one. I am writing a paper on interactive narratives and storytelling. I wanted to write it in a more theoretical and broad way but my prof thinks otherwise. She wants me to pick apart one single game.
The easy choice would be something like Heavy Rain, but for the next month or so I will only have access to my Wii and I am determined to use a Wii or Gamecube game in the discussion.


So which game would you guys pick, I don't care if it is Wii, Gamecube or WiiWare (haha). Shoot away, please.

[ejamer]

Hi guys, I really need your help on this one. I am writing a paper on interactive narratives and storytelling. I wanted to write it in a more theoretical and broad way but my prof thinks otherwise. She wants me to pick apart one single game.
The easy choice would be something like Heavy Rain, but for the next month or so I will only have access to my Wii and I am determined to use a Wii or Gamecube game in the discussion.


So which game would you guys pick, I don't care if it is Wii, Gamecube or WiiWare (haha). Shoot away, please.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories or Xenoblade would probably be my picks for Wii. The Godfather: Blackhand Edition, Sakura Wars: So Long My Love, or the TellTale games (ie: Back to the Future, Sam & Max) also came to mind.


If you want to do WiiWare, then either the Tales of Monkey Island series or the Phoenix Wright games would be a good choice. World of Goo is another good option, but you'd need to be a bit more creative when discussing how the narrative and gameplay are tied together (and in interpreting the narrative).

[NWR_insanolord]

I never played it, but based on what I know about it ejamer's suggestion of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories seems like a really good candidate for what you're going for. Not just a good story, but one that changes based on how you do things.

[MegaByte]

Eternal Darkness

[ejamer]

Eternal Darkness

I forgot about GameCube options. Eternal Darkness is a great suggestion, and you might also consider Fire Emblem or Killer 7.

[rlse9]

I vote for Eternal Darkness, too.  That game had a great story.

Had you not said specifically Wii/Gamecube I'd have said 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors or Hotel Dusk for the DS, in my opinion both had better stories than anything I've played for Wii/Gamecube.  But Eternal Darkness has a great story and was in general an excellent game.

[Mop it up]

It got pretty mixed reviews, but I felt that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers had a good story. I also liked the gameplay despite its flaws, but that can be pretty hit or miss.

[UncleBob]

Hotel Dusk for the DS,

Seconded.  And Another Window, if you feel like importing (assuming you have a DS at your disposal).  Both are great games.

[MoRZ]

Thanks guys, I'mma make a decision this week. Only Wii/Gamecube at my disposal still.

[Fatty The Hutt]

you can't go wrong with Zelda. Windwaker, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword. Take your pick.
Metroid Prime or even Metroid Other M have interesting stories (in my opinion) and great gameplay.
Zack and Wiki has a cartoony story mixed with puzzle gameplay.
Okami for Wii is story heavy.
Bully: Scholarship Edition for Wii has storu mixed with open world gameplay.
The Strong Bad games on WiiWare are all story, aimed at being humourous. These are "point-and-click" adventures. They are very good.

[Lithium]

The only ones I can think of that would give you a lot to work with (that i played, heard good things about eternal darkness but never played it) is Killer 7 on the gamecube and No more heroes on the Wii. The latter not really for the story but your prof wants you to pick apart a game and that article i linked to might give you a good platform to work off of.

[Wintermute]

While it doesn't really have an epic narrative, Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life is a pretty good choice too. The way it tells the story of your character over the long period of in-game years makes you really invested in the story. The interactive elements are your choices concerning the relationships you built with your wife, child, neighbors.

 Also, the first Phoenix Wright is on WiiWare isn't it? you may want to try that out if the DS game is out of reach. Unfortunately I can't really think of any other games that fit the bill on Wii or GameCube, I'm sure they're out there but I've not played them.     

[Wintermute]

I agree with those saying Eternal Darkness. I recently wrote a paper on it for a class I'm taking on Gothic horror and was surprised at how well the interactive element is used to heighten and, in some cases, subvert the genre's conventions. ED is good essay material as it does handle narrative in a classically Gothic Horror way with it's "narratives within a narrative" (like Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde). That style is rare outside the Gothic and mystery genres so it may be an interesting topic to delve into on your paper. 

[Morari]

Lovecraftian overtones never hurt, either. Nintendo needs more games like Eternal Darkness.

[Spak-Spang]

I have to say Eternal Darkness's overall story didn't impress me.  I felt disconnected from the characters, because I played them for such a short time and didn't care if they lived or died.  Even the holy crap moment when I played a character that just walks around and is eventually killed with nothing you can do about it.  Shocked me...but then did nothing for the story.

However, the atmosphere and sound design of that game was so great, I had to stop playing because I didn't feel right playing the game.  In that sense, the game is an amazing and incredible success.  The game just worked at making you feel some dread. 

In the end, Eternal Darkness to me is a strange game...it is not as good as the hype and has several problems with the story and game design, but what it does right, is pretty dang great...if not bordering special.