Most important part of an adventure game
 

Hi everyone,

Time for my second poll.

What is the most important aspect of an adventure game to you?

This is a little weird - but please assume you have not played the game before, and you are seeing it for the first time - what are you most interested in?

I realise that a lot of the time it will be a combination of some (or all) of the elements below, but what would be number 1 on your list?

Regards,
Peter

Uhm... Maybe an actual poll will help... Amongst which elements are we supposed to choose?

Anyway, the precise answer to the question "What is the most important aspect of an adventure game to you?" is, for me, the WRITING :)

You're too fast!
The forum adds the question and then gets you to add the poll afterwards.
Feel free to add your answer now :)

I voted The story or Plot (Quality of the writing and Dialog). More precisely, though, the answer is a combination between this one and Genre, mainly because I don't usually like comedic adventures (unless, of course, they have a top-notch writing, hence my answer) :P

Yup, another vote for The story or Plot (Quality of the writing and Dialog).

If you haven't got that in an adventure, regardless of sub-genre, you haven't really got anything, IMHO. Regardless of how pretty-looking, great-sounding, etc. a game might be, if there isn't an actual half-decent plot to not only draw me in but then keep me there, then I'm bound to lose interest. (Should add it doesn't have to be a huge amount of actual writing, per se, visible in the game.)

All of the above doesn't apply to non-adventure-type games at all though - I can spend hours blasting away at abstract shapes in something like Geometry Wars, just admiring the pretty, pretty colours... :P

So yes, in adventures, good writing is key for me, preferably in a strong, original voice. Everything else is icing on the hypothetical game-cake.

Found it hard to pick just one. I chose storyline but graphics is a very close second followed by voice acting.

If I were to account for one factor standing out over another it would most likely be character. Telltale Game's numerous acquired franchises, LucasArts and Sierra classics, Discworld, not really a Myst fan, etc... there's a pattern here.

I have to say its the Characters. A story can be interesting, but without decent characters to tell the story, its nothing more than a text adventure with a narrator.

To be honest, I was mentally grouping characters in with story/dialogue.

No such thing as dialogue without characters to speak it, and dialogue is the most defining aspect of the vast majority of characters. It's how we know what the character's character (heh) really is. :)

The puzzles. But they should fit in to the story, and not be "add-ons" just to extend the game play.

I chose control scheme, because my attention is drawn to 3rd person games but my second choice is genre - cartoon and children-resembling boxes I avoid...

Another one for The story or Plot (Quality of the writing and Dialog). The characters come in second followed by the Voice acting.

Right now i'm currently playing through The Beast Within and although the graphics are dated by todays standards, they really don't affect my enjoyment of the game what-so-ever (and they didn't the first time i played it either). And this is all thanks to the fantastic, immersive story/plot and the quality of the writing. :)

I must admit that I was doing the same thing. I saw the "Characters" category, of course, but - at least to me - the two of them (plot/writing and characters) are closely interwoven, because it's hard that a quality writing doesn't produce memorable characters.

... And, to deepen my previous thoughts, some incredibly vivid characters, once again thanks to the writing.

Adventure games are all about story. That's basically the main difference between this particular genre and other genres and what makes it so unique to the fans.

It's the story for me. If it's not interesting than I'm just going through the motions to get it over with.

I've voted for the story and plot to be most important part of an adventure game; I do think, however, that characters, very well written, are also a must in a good adventure game.

If you don't have a decent plot of decent characters in an adventure game, you simply don't have anything to build your art and visual presentation around. (and by story and plot I also include the world setting) let alone the dialogue in the game.

It's bit of a chicken and egg scenario isn't it? Do good characters make a good story or does a good story bring life to good characters?

The most important thing for me are the puzzles - challenging, and lots of them.
The next would be control, as I only play mouse controlled games.

Come on, this poll is rigged. Where are the puzzles? I love puzzles most of all. And you should also add exploration, many people love games like Riven because they like to explore strange new places.

If Peter agrees, I can edit the poll and add puzzle and/or exploration.

Now if you add exploration, I'd have a tough time, since that is as important as the puzzles.

How could this poll possibly be serious without "well designed puzzles" in it?

There is still the "Other" option. It's not like you are forced to voice your opinion between story and character.

/Agree

I'm with everyone else here by saying the story is the most important part. That's the whole reason I play this genre, and if there was no story, I don't think you could call it an adventure game.

I tend to believe there should be a fair ballance between story and gameplay, and I think there are too many adventure games, such as Syberia and the likes, that skip on one in favour of the other.

Thanks everybody for the great suggestions - AndreaDraco83 - yes, please add two new poll options:
- Puzzles (Well thought out puzzles)
- Exploration (Larger, non-linear world or environment)

Done! ;)

Those of us that voted for other -puzzles won't get counted.. the poll was ruined from the beginning.

darthmaul - As long as you commented in the thread I can still add your results to the right option in my spreadsheet.

Thanks AndreaDraco83!

I'll do it. I'll modify the poll result.

Correct me if I'm wrong: the people who voted puzzles are

Darthmaul (the man with a constructive attitude :P)
Colpet
Lasus
SuperEdy

Am I right? So four total votes for Puzzles?

Edit: I've done it. If some more changes have to be made, I'll get them by tomorrow! :)

Well this was tough, but I voted Story. When looking through games, I tend to look for genre games, like supernatural adventures. But I really look for interesting stories, and good characters, but they usually go hand-in-hand. So I believe story is most important.

Sorry I didn't get back sooner. Much appreciated!

One other edit for the sake of clarity. Can we change these options?
- The story or Plot (Quality of the plot/writing and how the story drives the game)
- The characters (Quality of the dialogue, persona and player/character interaction)

If this changes anybody's vote, please comment :)

For me it is the characters. I could care less for good graphics or great puzzles if the characters (And the plot) are not good.

While I understand that plot is semi important(it certainly doesn't hurt), video game stories pale in comparison to good books or good sci fi tv(bsg, ds9). I don't see how it could be anything but puzzles as number 1 to be honest.

This was a difficult choice. When I go shopping for a game, it's usually the story that attracts me. But it's the character that makes a game memorable for me. So I went with Character.

HEY! I was the first one to mention puzzles at all in this tread. Don't forget me!

For me its a mix between a good story, well designed characters and some exploration but I voted for story.
Never cared much about puzzles and riddles.

Well, this change slightly modifies my vote, in the sense that I can't really divide between story and characters: the two things are so interwoven, for me, that it's impossible to make such a distinction.

Added your vote too! ;)

@ DarthMaul: I strongly disagree with you. A story in a game can be as powerful and well-told as the story in any other medium, if good writers are behind it. Gabriel Knight, Tex Murphy and many other games are here to demonstrate that - with a Jane Jensen, Aaron Conners or Ragnar Tornquist behind it - a game can be an incredible medium to tell a compelling, enthralling and interactive story.

"I strongly disagree with you. A story in a game can be as powerful and well-told as the story in any other medium, if good writers are behind it. Gabriel Knight, Tex Murphy and many other games are here to demonstrate that - with a Jane Jensen, Aaron Conners or Ragnar Tornquist behind it - a game can be an incredible medium to tell a compelling, enthralling and interactive story."

I've played all those games and the stories really just weren't anything special to me compared with a good book or tv show. Oh well. I guess we just look for different things.

I also think a lot of those games have nostalgia more than reality as a driving force. I've played all of them within the last 3 years. Maybe they just haven't aged well. Cept for GK1, which I played when it came out.