I see where you're coming from. For me though it really does depend on what type of game I'm in the mood for.. the priority tends to greatly shift from one genre to another. I do agree that no story is worth struggling through unacceptably bad gameplay that was a bit too much of an afterthought during development, but on the flipside, while I feel games certainly are meant to be 'played' there's only so many times I can have interest in doing the same repeated actions without a bit more motivation and appeal than a minimalistic (or in some cases completely blank) narrative. There's only so many times I can play through a game to save the princess or shoot an army of masked enemies because the arrow pointed me that way or simply "just because". Sometimes a nice story really is just a plus, other times it's desperately needed to break up the monotony.

Coming from someone who loves a good story but has become quite bored with modern books and movies, I have always felt that there are certain types of story that only could be told through the unique scope of it's intended medium, even mediums that still aren't considered conventional. Yes there are some stories that are better experienced in book form or movie form, but there are still those that are best enjoyed in game form.. which is why despite me still certainly having times where I placed the highest value on gameplay, there are many other points where I desire the highest priority being placed on a story that is enhanced by the immersion of actually playing it.

Yeah, I gotta agree with you on that. There's a differnce between the story simply being the main focus and the story being the focus to the point that other parts of the game are way too underdeveloped. Kind of like the discussion in the thread about health systems and HUD, chronic deaths can destroy the story and immersion trying to be established.

Yeah but that's not a fair comparison, you can't really compare it to stuff like Gran Turismo or Tiger Woods. The comparison you are looking for might actually be Bayonetta or Ninja Gaiden though, great games but really almost non-existant story, what's there barely justifies your actions.

Especially when you consider the original's social commentary! It's one of the original bad endings, the game only concludes when you realize resistance is futile and allow the Soviet blocks to break you.