Storytelling
Ongoing coverage on Storytelling.
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James Gunn hits out at the idea that standalone DCU movies are only "meaningful" if they lead to a big event…
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has pushed back against the notion that standalone movies must lead to a larger event to be considered meaningful. He argues that individual stories, like the recently released "Clayface," should be appreciated on their own merits, drawing a parallel to Star Wars' long history of varied storytelling across different media.
Mass Effect Leaks Reveal Canceled BioWare Game's Story Would Have Accounted for 'All' Choices From Previous Games
New details have emerged regarding a canceled Mass Effect game from BioWare, which reportedly would have incorporated choices from the original Commander Shepard trilogy. The project was allegedly shut down by Electronic Arts.
LOTRO Legendarium: Looking back at the Mordor expansion
This retrospective review of the Lord of the Rings Online Mordor expansion, released in 2017, highlights its divisive reception. While the expansion aimed to continue the narrative after the destruction of the One Ring, players found its gameplay mechanics, including the 'shadow' debuff and dense mob encounters, to be a grindy chore. Despite some visual interest and later tuning, the expansion is ranked low among LOTRO's content.
'I'm forever grateful to BioWare': 16 game developers share the moment a BioWare game inspired them to…
Multiple game developers share how BioWare titles like Dragon Age: Origins, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, and the Mass Effect series inspired them to pursue careers in the gaming industry. These developers highlight specific moments and narrative elements that showcased the emotional depth and storytelling potential of video games.
Recension – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 - Kampanjen
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's campaign offers an engaging narrative, returning to form after previous shaky installments. The story, focusing on Captain Price and a conflict in Korea, is considered one of the strongest in the series. While the game features well-directed set pieces and satisfying core mechanics, the pacing is noted as uneven, particularly with the inclusion of a survival shooter segment that feels distinct from the main campaign.
Final Fantasy Resonance is a fantastic example of how to rewrite battle mechanics to suit a full-fat RPG release, it's just a shame about all the actual writing
Final Fantasy Resonance offers a fantastic rewrite of battle mechanics for a full RPG experience, but is hampered by its weak story and shallow writing. While the combat system, inspired by previous Final Fantasy titles and Octopath Traveler, is compelling and deep, the narrative and character development feel underdeveloped, stemming from its origins as a mobile game. Despite these flaws, the latter half of the game, particularly its boss fights and exploration, provides a satisfying experience for those prioritizing combat puzzles over storytelling.
Star Wars Zero Company might be a little rough around the edges, but it's also the perfect example of smart game dev you can feel in the playing
Star Wars Zero Company is a heartfelt and smart turn-based tactics game that, despite some rough edges indicative of its development, shines through its engaging gameplay and earnest themes. Developed by Bit Reactor, the game offers a fresh take on the genre with a relaxed default difficulty and a compelling narrative set during the Clone Wars era, blending light entertainment with deeper introspection.
I know an obvious way to go for the next mainline Zelda game - Reader’s Feature
A reader suggests that the next mainline The Legend of Zelda game should evolve beyond the Breath of the Wild formula by focusing more on complex storytelling and combat mechanics. While acknowledging the series' strengths, the author proposes incorporating more RPG elements and a deeper narrative, drawing inspiration from titles like The Witcher 3.
CoD: Modern Warfare 4 Goes Back To Basic To Properly Finish Its Story
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 successfully concludes the rebooted series' narrative with a strong, traditional campaign that returns to linear mission design. The story intertwines two plotlines, following Captain Price's revenge quest and a new South Korean soldier's fight for survival, delivering high-quality, Hollywood-style action across various global locations. While the final boss encounters are a letdown, the overall pacing, engaging gameplay, and compelling character arcs make it the best campaign since the 2019 reboot.
Warframe of Mind: Devouring the moon as the Taubound operation commences
The article discusses the recent Warframe event leading to Tau, expressing disappointment with the perceived lack of substantial content and the reliance on alerts for moonflesh collection. While acknowledging the rewards like Tauforged shards and the Legendary core are valuable, the author feels the event under-delivers on player expectations, particularly regarding the narrative's impact on Eris. The piece also offers advice to new players on prioritizing rewards during the event.
CD Projekt Red hints that the live-action Cyberpunk movie will be an original story: "We definitely don't want…
CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski has stated that the upcoming Cyberpunk movie will tell an original story within the game's universe, rather than adapting the game's plot directly. This approach is seen as beneficial, drawing parallels to the success of the original story in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. A release date is not expected for several years.
Obsession star Inde Navarrette watched anime like Jujutsu Kaisen to learn about storytelling in TV and film and…
Actress Inde Navarrette discusses how watching anime like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer influenced her understanding of storytelling in film and television. She also touches on the unexpected success of her movie Obsession and her casting as Rogue in an upcoming X-Men film.
Grand Theft Auto 6's launch trailer is here, giving fans a deeper look at Jason and Lucia's crime-fueled story
Rockstar Games has released the launch trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6, offering a detailed look at the crime-fueled story of protagonists Jason and Lucia. The trailer showcases in-game footage captured on PlayStation 5, highlighting cinematic moments, gameplay systems like bank robberies, and hints at the characters' past and present criminal activities in Leonida. The game is set to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
Ace Combat 8’s Best Fights Begin in the Clouds
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve offers spectacular aerial combat where weather elements like clouds and icing significantly impact gameplay. While the game excels in its urgent, action-packed sorties and tactical preparation, its uneven storytelling, pacing issues, and occasional mission design flaws hold it back from perfection.
FF7 Revelation’s Opening Invites Deeply Intriguing Questions About The Trilogy’s Conclusion
The opening 25 minutes of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: Revelation, the final installment in the trilogy, leaves players with more questions than answers. The demo introduces new party members Cid Highwind and Vincent Valentine, showcasing their unique combat abilities, and hints at deeper narrative mysteries surrounding Sephiroth and Jenova.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve boasts some of the giddiest highs you're likely to experience in a video game this year (but it would have benefitted from being a little bit shorter)
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve offers exhilarating highs and intense flight combat, though its story and mission length could be improved. The game successfully captures the feeling of being a seasoned fighter pilot, drawing comparisons to Top Gun: Maverick, with impressive visuals and engaging multiplayer modes. Despite some narrative and pacing issues, its best moments deliver a powerful sense of mastery and audiovisual splendor.
Valor Mortis Is A First-Person Soulslike That Tries Too Much
Valor Mortis is a first-person Soulslike that offers snappy and satisfying combat, but is hampered by a weak story and a sluggish opening. While its unique perspective and rewarding parries are highlights, the game suffers from a limited enemy pool, underutilized mechanics, and an uneven pace. The narrative, set in a novel historical period with a dark twist, is only salvaged by smaller, emotionally charged vignettes, ultimately resulting in an uneven experience.
Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] Review – I See a Lightness
The Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] offers the Dark Seeker Saga in its most updated form, benefiting from modern hardware with smoother performance and faster loading times, especially on Nintendo Switch. While it provides a convenient way to experience the series, it offers little new for existing fans and can be confusing for newcomers due to its convoluted story and lack of guidance on essential entries. Despite dated mechanics in early titles and narrative complexity, the series' core themes of friendship and identity remain relevant and shine through.
Resident Evil Requiem’s Expansion Will Focus on Oswell Spencer, Says Screenwriter
Screenwriter Haris Orkin confirmed that the upcoming expansion for Resident Evil Requiem will focus on Umbrella Corporation co-founder Oswell E. Spencer, further exploring his decisions and motivations. Orkin also revealed that Grace Ashcroft, one of the game's protagonists, was intentionally written as a neurodivergent character. While Capcom has confirmed work on the expansion, a release date has not yet been set, with reports suggesting it may follow the Resident Evil Veronica remake.
The Witcher 3 Remastered: Still the Open-World Game to Beat?
This article compares The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered to other top open-world games like Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While The Witcher 3 excels in storytelling and characters, it falls short in combat compared to some titles but remains a must-play experience.
