Favourite Story and Characters in a Game?

Like @carefull said, I enjoyed the plot of KOTOR 2 a lot, particularly with the restored content mod. It was refreshing to see a new take on Star Wars than the typical George Lucas story. I also really enjoyed Dragon Age 2. Hawke's story was a personal one, and no matter what you do, Hawke can't save Kirkwall. I'm also gonna add Morrowind for the way it handled the chosen one trope.

For favorite characters I'm just gonna copy Jade Dreamer and list a bunch
BG: Jan Jansen
Jade Empire: Sagacious Zu
KOTOR 2: Kreia
Mass Effect: Mordin Solus
Pillars of Eternity: Eder

Are we talking BioWare games, or in general?

If only BioWare, then the Agent (light morality) and Smuggler (grey morality) storylines from SWTOR. They have been great so far. And Mass Effect 2 from the Mass Effect series. If in general, then I like space fiction, mysteries, noir themes, war, and smutty romance.

Blade Runner (Westwood 1997)

An adventure point and click game, voice acted. The atmosphere is captured nicely. There are familiar locales.  From the onset, it seems like you're playing a story akin to the movie. You are McCoy, a Blade Runner. You investigate cases. but then your choices / decisions in dialogues, your actions in any event determines the outcome of McCoy's char, his fate. What is he? Who is he? It is an interesting journey to find the answers. There're altogether 13 different outcome varying on three major different themes. I think this is the most number of any decision making games I've played through the years.

They don't make games like this any more




The Longest Journey (Funcom 1999)

Although there are sequels, TLJ is the one gem for me. It's an adventure point and click game, voice acted. You play April Ryan, a young woman aspiring to be an artist. There're different choices in dialogues. April's behaviour towards NPCs can determine / affect certain event outcome. Things began to turn very strange one day. She was given strange messages and odd things happen in the world. Through her journals, you learn that things had been odd for her since she was young. From her words and her thoughts in the journal, you learn what kind of person she is. Her confusion, her hopes and dreams. You journey with her through her strange adventures, and watch her develop. You began to learn the fascinating worlds of Arcadia and Marcuria. April ultimately resolves the crisis but it is by no means, the final solution. There is more to come.

Unfortunately, for me, the sequels flunk it. The protag is changed. Most of the mysteries can be conveniently whooshed away as figments of dreams. That's a downer. Thus, TLJ is the gem in the whole lot. One you look into and wonder what strange new worlds you would find.



Free Space 2 (Volition 1999)

You play a pilot of the Galactic Terran Vasudan Alliance (GTVA). It's FP view and you never get to interact with any chars. There're cutscenes unfolding the story and events. You receive mission briefings and deployed with the squadron. With each succeeding mission, you're promoted. You get new ships and armaments. Although there is no char interaction, you do hear your fellow pilots' input. I sat and listened to their grippings, their opinions and arguments of the events unfolding. In a way, you get to know them. The story is well written and voice acted. The battles jaw locking. There is no sound in space, everyone knows that. But you can't have that in games so the sound effects are cutting.   





Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Trilogy (Bioware)

I don't think I need much said alot about those games.

My answers won't be "other games", but here goes. They are probably the reasons why I am on this forum.

Best story: Mass Effect 1. Almost always I find game stories ranging from acceptable to shit, and the same goes for movie stories, but ME1 was a real eye-opener for me. It showed me that a game story couldn't only be good, it could actually be brilliant. The entire universe with its technology and races--built from scratch--was great, I love the whole Reaper and Prothean thing, and most of all I love how the story unfolds with its massive turning points. Easily beats most science fiction movies, including all Star Trek movies. I haven't played anything else that comes close in terms of main story, sadly including all its sequels.

Best character: Jack (ME2). She touches mental health/trauma issues that concern me, and she does it much better than I'd ever have expected from a game. A lot of depth, handled very well, and I love the "do you shag her or do you care about her" choice unique to her storyline. I don't remember any other instance where I just went to a character again and again, no matter how often they'd tell me to fuck off, just because I wanted to talk with them and really cared about them.