2012: Should fighters have a good story?

[harper]

Do you guys like how Namco is taking story a little bit more seriously this time?

I honestly think that other companies need to step up their game in this regard after MK came out with a flashed out and well done story campaign that many noticed as a positive to the overall package.

Honestly what difference does it make? You're just fighting the whole time, there's no goal to work towards other than defeating each opponent. Yeah it might make it more interesting when the characters have some backstory but it doesn't really do anything for the game. This makes me think of Killer Instinct where the "story" and character info felt like a big fat afterthought.

It does make a difference! It's actually one of the major reasons why I look forwards to installments of the Tekken Series and KOF franchise (Dream Matches need not apply).
These games follow a sort of story that gets fleshed out with every future installment which i think is neat and makes you look forward to sequels. Additionally, A story and motives to their actions give the character roster to a fighters some much appeal and perhaps further give you a reason to main a character

Story: Every character has a personal problem and somehow winning a fighting tournament will solve it.

Borrring. haha

[EVOLghost]

I like stories....but that's just me. But should they? No...not really. If I'm playing a fighter, it definitely isn't for the story.

[Runefaust]

Yes, they definitely should. Having a strong foundation will only benefit the cast and the game in its entirety. It gives the fighters substance, establishes the setting of the game world and enhances the single player experience (story mode; granted fighters are meant to be played with others, the single player experience is still a necessity for people without access to live competition).

Programmers work in tandem with the designers to develop the desired mechanics of the fighting system, writers and artists make sure the game world is immersive and interesting enough to please the eyes and satisfy lore lovers. Both aspects of the game are important and each has its own appeal to individual gamers.

Aside from designing a comprehensive lobby and online experience and dishing out necessary patches, the competitive aspect of the game is our responsibility.

[CD AGES]

^
Well said!

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I think a fighting game should have a solid foundation that provides a jumping-off point for the mechanics if one is needed. Bloody Roar does a good job of this. It would also be great to have a story that's more original than "Fighting tournament" or "Everyone wants to kill the powerful guy."

I really like BlazBlue Continuum Shift but I jumped into the story and it made absolutely no sense. I love anime, but man. BlazBlue is thick. The sentences are often more fantasy terms than English words that I can understand. I still have no idea what is going on in that game.

That said, a solid backdrop and focused atmosphere doesn't mean "super cinematic modern storytelling gaming movie experience!" When I play a fighter I just want to fight, so dialogue should be during the matches and I certainly should have to watch 5-minute cutscenes. Most of my time spent with fighting games is with friends and i think the competitiveness inherent in fighters needs to be emphasized. New battle modes, interesting arenas, etc can really make a fighter special along with its mechanics. Most offer the standard Vs mode and that's it.

So...Story? If there is one, it should be good but simple and unobtrusive.

[harper]

Yes, they definitely should. Having a strong foundation will only benefit the cast and the game in its entirety. It gives the fighters substance, establishes the setting of the game world and enhances the single player experience (story mode; granted fighters are meant to be played with others, the single player experience is still a necessity for people without access to live competition).

But fighting games are perfectly playable without a story. It is not necessary. You're fighting one on one and you either win or lose. That's about all you need to know.

[Redfield_Lynch]

For me it's important and it adds a replay value to the game, especially to try and complete it with every single fighter...

Fighters who don't have any kind of story aren't good for me, even if they have great gameplay, but that's my take on it...

For me developers should work a little more the story in fighting games, kinda like Soulblade and Soul Calibur, the Tekken series, etc...

[AmishSamurai]

One thing I liked about Soul Calibur V was the feeling of progression in story. A good chunk of the old guard has been changed out, but their impact is felt in the story still. Now their successors are fighting in the neverending war of two asshole swords (Natsu replaces Taki, Patroklos and Pyrrha replace their mother, Yoshimitsu replaces Yoshimitsu).

I also like BlazBlue's story mode, though it can be a bit thick at times. Some times I feel like I need to start drawing things out to make sense. One thing that bugs me about it though is how you have characters who are supposedly near-gods in story like Hakumen and Rachel being whomped by Bang, who according to Ishiwatari is the weakest person in the cast (not counting his Nox Nyctores).

[Runefaust]

Yes, they definitely should. Having a strong foundation will only benefit the cast and the game in its entirety. It gives the fighters substance, establishes the setting of the game world and enhances the single player experience (story mode; granted fighters are meant to be played with others, the single player experience is still a necessity for people without access to live competition).

But fighting games are perfectly playable without a story. It is not necessary. You're fighting one on one and you either win or lose. That's about all you need to know.

With that type of logic why have any variety in characters to begin with? Strip the experience down to mesh frame dummies and just implement several different move sets the players can choose from. Forget stages, there's no need to come up with a setting so toss in a generic grid-based training stage they can fight on. No characters, no story, no setting to worry about, you have your bare bone basics for a fighter... but it's the most boring pos anyone's ever played. Why would you do that?

While your statement is very true the question was should fighters have a good story. And the answer is yes, they should.

[Sonicx360]

Totally. Of all the fighting games I know of, Rival Schools is one of the very few fighting game series that have a deep, engaging story. Most fighting games should have story as engaging as the Rival Schools series .