Adventure game fans, on the other hand, have adapted to pretty much every gaming system that has come along. Why is the adventure game so adaptable? In part, because it has to be to survive, but also because it's based on a very simple, yet powerful idea. It's a treasure hunt. It's an irresistible (well, to fans at least) combination of story and puzzle-solving. Of course, the FPS is based on an even simpler concept kill everything in sight. But the FPS depends on great visuals. It's difficult to shoot something you can't see.
In October 2006, the editors of Gamasutra asked its readership of game industry professionals to chime in and vote for which game brought storytelling forward in the biggest way, from any genre (text adventure through action title to RPG or sim and beyond), and from the early days of video gaming right through to the present day. We were looking for any game which in some way moved, astounded, or engrossed the player through its plot and the way the game evolves through it - and has specifically advanced game storytelling in the largest way. Specifically, we asked:
"Which video game has made the biggest 'quantum leap' in terms of storytelling, and why?"
On the following pages, we'll first present the "honorable mentions" - games that, while certainly innovative and important, did not receive enough votes to make it into the top echelon.
Following this, we'll present the top five best storytellers voted for by our readers, in reverse order, ending with the overall recipient of Gamasutra's third Quantum Leap Award, which received the largest amount of votes from game professionals.
Quote:
Honorable Mentions: The Sims System Shock(Series) Marathon Baldur's Gate 2 Jade Empire Gabriel Knight(Series) A Mind Forever Voyaging Zelda II Xenogears Torment Fallout Façade Dreamfall Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy
#5. Grim Fandango #4. Starcraft #3. Final Fantasy VII #2. Half-Life #1. Deux Ex
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