KwonJigglypuff
Well-Known Member
In July 2012, Team Ninja announced that the Story Mode would be in the same style as DOAD. Then they said it would follow the rules of the "hyperlink cinema" (Pulp Fiction, Babel), with many connections in the story timeline. I was curious to see that.
Then DOA5 came. There was some good memorable scenes, but it still felt like a huge letdown compared to what was teased. And of course, some content was cut (a scene between Eliot and Rig for instance). It felt like some pieces were missing too in the development. Anyway :
1. What was the weakest character development ?
2. On the opposite, what was the most climactic scene ?
3. What was the funniest scene ?
4. Which scene was too akward or "wtf" to watch ?
4. Did you like the soundtrack ?
5. How would you rate the story overall ? (out of 10)
6. Do you miss the old type of Story Mode (DOA2-DOA4) ?
7. Kokoro : is she a misunderstood genius or a Slowpoke ?
8. What did Christie mean by "looking for a real man" ?
9. Do you think some scenes were referencing other medias ?
Some people may say the Story Mode doesn't matter in a fighting game, however I really need detailed backgrounds to appreciate a character's personality and identify to them. Sure what truly matters to enjoy a character is his/her gameplay. But first impressions matter : who's gonna like Lisa if he or she has no idea what the hell she's doing in that mess ? Her characterization is sloppy and it didn't help to increase her popularity, despite her amazing moveset. That's still my theory.
Secondly, a good story really helps to build the "soul" of the game. I'm not sure it's the right word, but having a "lore" is important for a game in general. An atmosphere to remember. And honestly, I've never seen a fighting game with a really good story mode, not even MKX. Also, with today's standards in the video game industry, and the way video game gets inspired by the cinema industry, I think it's important to use this potential and work on a clean Story Mode. I mean, the first thing Harada said when announcing Tekken 7 was that he wanted to "finish the story"...
Paradoxically, a story mode will probably never be a selling point for the fighting genre. You will never hear someone saying "I bought this fighter because of the story!". So why would developpers focus on that ? You might say "story doesn't matter, look at Honoka, Marie, Nyo, everybody loves them already!". Well to be honest, I think it's mostly because they are the new flavours of the month, and they are still mysterious so they intrigue us.
My conclusion is that DOA5 wouldn't have been the same in my mind without its (average/good) story. Now imagine if it didn't have it. No opening, no story mode, no CG endings. Wouldn't the game feel soulless ? That's why a lot of people won't remember Smash 4 like they will remember Brawl.
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