Poll: Least original game plot

[Snatch1414]

"Rescuing someone who has been kidnapped" is basically the plot used for games that don't need a plot. I feel kinda bad chastising games that use it for being 'unoriginal' 'cause I doubt they ever intended their plots to be 'original' in the first place.

Pretty much. Just need a reason for the hero to run from here to there. Although I suppose that could be said about almost any plot ever lol.

[nullPointer]

The plot has been kidnapped by ninjas. Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the plot?

[J T]

How about the main character wakes up with amnesia.

THIS.

Another little part of my soul dies every single time I play a game where the protagonist has amnesia.

The amnesia plot is useful helping the character role play a person they know nothing about, but who is currently in the middle of the action for the rest of the plot. Nevertheless, it is overdone and is unrealistic.

Amnesia is usually a sign of some serious brain injury, and it is common for other areas of the brain to be affected, which could lead to detriments in your character's speech, memory, and motor movements as well. They are usually doing just fine though, despite being unable to remember what happened before the player started controlling them.

At least Gordon Freeman also had Broca's aphasia.

[AppleQueso]

Amnesia is usually a sign of some serious brain injury, and it is common for other areas of the brain to be affected, which could lead to detriments in your character's speech, memory, and motor movements as well. They are usually doing just fine though, despite being unable to remember what happened before the player started controlling them.)

idk not being able to talk and walking around erratically like you're being controlled by a goofball with a controller sound like speech and motor impairments to me

[Tanooki]

^^That and walking into random peoples homes without knocking, bugging them with stupid questions, and then stealing anything that isn't a tied down background object (chest treasure, items in pots, drawers, etc.)

[J T]

You guys are making a lot of sense. It explains so many things.

[Exhuminator]

The amnesia plot is useful helping the character role play a person they know nothing about, but who is currently in the middle of the action for the rest of the plot. Nevertheless, it is overdone and is unrealistic.

Yes I understand why many video game creators use it, but it's still just an amateur hour crutch. Too many good game designers are under the delusion they are also good writers.

[Hobie-wan]

How about the main character wakes up with amnesia.

THIS.

Another little part of my soul dies every single time I play a game where the protagonist has amnesia.

The amnesia plot is useful helping the character role play a person they know nothing about, but who is currently in the middle of the action for the rest of the plot. Nevertheless, it is overdone and is unrealistic.

Well, the amnesia to get the game started is a plot device, not the plot. It is so that the game can 'remind' you what's going on as the story unfolds and then you tend to find out you have some huge role in what's been going on. The only think that comes to mind where I'd call amnesia an actual part of the real plot would be something like Memento as far as movies go.

[AppleQueso]

I feel like Final Fantasy X handled the whole "use the protagonist as a player-perspective character to introduce the world to" thing rather elegantly and they didn't use an amnesia plot at all.

....not that the story in that game doesn't have other problems...

[Exhuminator]

Countless books and movies tell stories about interesting people and wily situations without the need for the amnesia angle. There's no reason many 30-70+ hour JRPGs couldn't do the same.

Shame this wasn't a voting choice.