Here's an idea: Let's talk about games!

[Mike Suszek]

We're so silly. All this journalism talk and all that fun stuff seems to get in the way of just talking about games. I was curious, fellow gamers: what have you been playing lately?

One thing I really wanted to bring up as a discussion was narratives in games. We all know that the medium isn't exactly the strongest in terms of storytelling. But every once in a while, there's a game that has a story/plot that may really resonate with you. Tell me, what games do you feel either a) have an excellent story, or b) you at least like the story enough to share.

I'll start. My whole point in bringing this up is that I started playing Braid again (I beat it previously), and I read a lot about the plot. Wow. It only helps that every bit of the game, from the game mechanics to the beautiful art, all serve a narrative and symbolic purpose. I don't get much of that from games nowadays.

[Sinan Kubba]

As much as Braid has been discussed to death already, I still think there's loads to say about it, and I don't think in my head I've truly decided how I felt about its storytelling. I know that I thought the story was wonderfully deep and surprising, and that I was impressed by how the gameplay was based on the text, but as for the method of telling that story - I'm still undecided on that. Either way, I couldn't stop thinking or reading about that game for a good month after I played it, so I definitely see where you're coming from.

I'm playing Lost Odyssey at the moment, and I can't get over how well writeen the 1000 Year Dreams are, but again I'm undecided, I remember Shane Bettenhausen on 1UP Yours describing it as a "failure of the medium", and it does seem strange to be reading what's a glorified PowerPoint presentation in a 2008 video game.

As for great stories, I think the way Half-Life's story has evolved - especially in Episode 1 and 2 - makes it one of my favourites. I really like the world and characters Valve have created, I like how all the details are subtly ironed out, and I'm just impressed they were able to make something out of Half-Life 1's ending ;)

[Stew Shearer]

A lot of Killzone 2, mainly because I'm trying to pump out a not too late review for Ve3tro.com, but then I got the game for free and it's been a blast, so I can't really complain.

Besides that I'm in a bit of a retro mood lately. I'm working my way through Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles, and I just picked up a Fear Effect 1 and 2 as well as a new copy of FFVIII that I intend to play through.

[AJ Hurst]

Stupid amounts of Team Fortress 2 and Rock Band 2 as usual, but also reviewing MadWorld.

Also started playing a few "oldies" for the first time: Wind Waker, Resident Evil 4 (yeah, I know - couldn't find a copy of RE5 at Hollywood Video so I was SOL), and The World Ends With You (not "oldie" technically, but I became a DS owner a few weeks ago and am just now starting to catch up on 2008).

[Jeff "Switch" Sorensen]

I've been playing Destroy All Humans 2 on my PS2.

Every time you "Body Snatch" somebody in the game without anybody noticing you, the worlds "CLEAN SNATCH!" run across the screen in bold letters. I don't know why I didn't play it sooner!

[Pat 'iTZKooPA' Mulhern]

I am just trying to stay up with the game I am supposed to be reviewing. Being an MMO player doesn't make it any easier.

Got the new Fire Emblem (and the old GBA one, Sacred Stones, to fill in a hole), RE5, Dawn of War 2 & MadWorld all on my plate...

[Brian Rowe]

Warhammer Online, and way too much of it. Like half the population seemed to do, I started a Choppa and can't get enough of it. Sometimes you need to deal out the damage and take a break from being the one who repairs it.

I also picked up The World Ends With You, and don't understand why it was so highly praised across the board.

[Sean Hollister]

Just finished Flower, which was fantastic. I did my best to isolate myself from the greater game journo discussion about it, and am glad I did. I don't think I would have had nearly the thrills I did if I were told beforehand which emotions I would find myself experiencing during play.

(If you nurture the slightest yearning for nature's beauty, I recommend you do the same -- buy Flower without reading any reviews.)

Now, I'm rocking Street Fighter IV almost every evening. I've built up a modest level of proficiency graduated from n00b to novice with Chun-Li, and am looking for more people to spar and voice-chat-socialize with.

GamerTag = StarFire2258

[Sinan Kubba]

Chun-Li's my chosen character too, she's pretty kickbutt in this version. I'm loving SF IV but I'm getting a bit sick of playing Ryus and Kens online - and awful Ryus and Kens to boot.

[Jared Newman]

Aren't we supposed to be talking about narrative in games? Directions, people!

SPOILER AHEAD

No More Heroes had one of the best video game narratives, in my opinion, because the gamer's personal plot was part of it. Why did you do all those meaningless chores? Because you thirsted for the next assassination mission. Why did you care about the assassination mission to begin with? Because you have the gamer obsession with "being number one." And what happens when you get there? Well, nothing really. Turns out the whole contest was fake, the design of some bemused director. Beautiful.

[Mike Suszek]

This is actually my favorite game narrative ever. No More Heroes is in my top five just because of the massive symbolism used regarding "the gamer." Like Santa Destroy. Everything looks basically the same, except for the places Travis actually cares about. Very Western-gamer/otaku like.

[James Bishop]

As much as it's been beaten to death, I'm still in love with BioShock. My friends and I often quote Andrew Ryan around the apartment. "A man chooses!"

Thinking about the sequel makes me squee a little bit.

[Celeste O'Neill]

Definitely agree on the BioShock front. In fact, I think it was perhaps because its narrative was part of a game rather than a movie or book that made it work so well - It may have come across as a little clichéd in a movie (a clockwork orange, etc) but your participation in the events makes it really hit the spot.

I am still playing Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, believe it or not. Really milking the last drops out of the cow now - I am completely ruining my meticulously developed and upheld honest reputation among the good people of Cyrodiil; having completed all the "good" missions, I am now having to really give it some in the Thieves and Assassins guilds in order to extend the gameplay. But it really stings when a NPC says to me, "I used to think you were a good man, I don't anymore." Man, what games can do to you nowadays...