Do Fighting Games Even Need a Story?

What's the point of including a story within a game from a genre that has no chance of offering a deep narrative? If anything, it really makes that part of the game look bad, hurting the rest of the overall quality of the game. Sure, most gamers could care less here or there, but I still would say that keeping it as short and simple as what sports or racing titles do (minus ones like Crash Team Racing, etc.) is better. Plus, it's wasted effort to have a writer only put down a few lines of dialogue or story elements. Do you really want to pay somebody good money for what otherwise will be little-to-no work at all?

Maybe if games tried to minimize or eliminate those elements which made them look worse, we would see more respect from critics like Roger Ebert.

No, they don't.

I prefer it but it's not absolutely necessary, just helps having some knowledge of the characters and a cutscene or two. Actually the reason I enjoyed Tekken a lot is because of the arcade ending videos for each character, same with DOA. Gameplay aside of course.

Not really, but i would be lying if i said that i haven't enjoyed some of the lores like in Blazblue (very Anime) or KOF (Only the Orochi Saga), but overall figthing games don't really need any sort of story.

MK9's was great and got me to buy a $70 fighting game and play it for some 50+ hours. So yes.foxhound_fox

Agreed. Not to sound like a hater though, but Story mode was really the only thing I liked in that game.

No, they don't but the fleshed out story mode in Mortal Kombat 9 was a very welcome addition.

Hope more fighting games follow suit.

If a fighting can't be called good for the gameplay alone, then it is a bad game.

Having a story won't magically save it.

They don't need one. Few genres NEED one, but there are plenty of genres which are better with a half decent story.

Having said that, Mortal Kombat's recent story mode made the game brilliant. I loved it. It forced you to rely on characters you wouldn't usually bother with.

No, but they can be useful like MK9 for example, not many fighters have something like that.

No, but they can be useful like MK9 for example, not many fighters have something like that.

mitu123

They are there just to make sense of everything.

games like MK2 back in the day did fine without one, but i prefer when they add it in.starwarsjunky

games like MK2 back in the day did fine without one, but i prefer when they add it in.starwarsjunky

[QUOTE="starwarsjunky"]games like MK2 back in the day did fine without one, but i prefer when they add it in.AzatiS

They should but after seeing the stories that have came from the Japanese fighters they are probably better off not trying.

[QUOTE="AzatiS"][QUOTE="starwarsjunky"]games like MK2 back in the day did fine without one, but i prefer when they add it in.starwarsjunky

They don't need one, no. But a few of them do benefit the game (Mortal Kombat, Guilty Gear, Blazblue, etc).

[QUOTE="starwarsjunky"][QUOTE="AzatiS"] Sorry but almost all MKs had story.... Some more some less, but all MKs had.nintendoboy16

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"]

[QUOTE="starwarsjunky"] just a piece of text you read. its not really a story mode...starwarsjunky

Mortal Kombat II's story intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AWrLYpXAcE

Yes.

That is what seperates them from being nostalgic to being current. If you really want to see them make a return then a story is essential. People seem to forget that fighting games always had a story, they just couldn't devote much memory to it... and the best fighting games are remembered for their stories.

Who doesn't know Ryu's story?

The King of Fighters story is the reason why I played EVERY single one(also the reason why I hated XII).

The merging of the Art of Fighting and Fatal Fury series to make one universal game; incredible.

Watching Kensou lose his powers in the NESTS saga, Iori and Kyo teaming up to stop Orochi, and Ash becoming the new main villain... yeah story is VERY important in my fighting games.

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Street Fighter has a TERRIBLE storyline but the gameplay and colorful cast of characters makes up for it.

Most fighters don't need a story(like the cross overs) but it helps to have one.

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Mortal Kombat 9 is a prime example of story done very well in a fighter.

Other examples: Guilty Gear, King of Fighters, and Street Fighter Alpha series.

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yes, I wont play most games unless they have atleast some story.

Nope.

It can be nice to have one but some stories make no sense. Characters die and some how are brought back to fight in the tournament(Tekken). Why not have them die in the story but still have them available in the game just without a story mode.

It can be nice to have one but some stories make no sense. Characters die and some how are brought back to fight in the tournament(Tekken). Why not have them die in the story but still have them available in the game just without a story mode.

farslip

King of Fighters doesn't let dead characters be a part of a roster unless they are revived through story means. They have Dream Matches, remakes of some games but with more characters. These characters have nothing to do with story, so they can be dead even if they died in a previous game.

Guilty Gear got by without a story. Best fighter ever.

"You look strong. Let's fight."

Duel One, LET'S ROCK!

No, they don't. I honestly hate how many freaking fighting games include some half-baked story. Instead of doing that, gimme more levels or characters or something. I don't need a reason to punch people in the face. Assault is my middle name damn it!

Guilty Gear got by without a story. Best fighter ever.

"You look strong. Let's fight."

Duel One, LET'S ROCK!

mmmwksil

Guilty Gear has a huge story, it's just not all piled in one game.

Look at the novels, comics, and drama CD's.

It's a pretty deep story too.

The last Mortal Kombat had a pretty awesome story mode. I actually played through it cause I wanted to know what was going to happen. If more fighters put that much effort into it then sure, story would be good. Otherwise if they're more like well...a ny Capcom's fighting games then no, no story needed.

[QUOTE="mmmwksil"]

Guilty Gear got by without a story. Best fighter ever.

"You look strong. Let's fight."

Duel One, LET'S ROCK!

OneSanitarium

Guilty Gear has a huge story, it's just not all piled in one game.

Look at the novels, comics, and drama CD's.

It's a pretty deep story too.

I'll take your word for it, OS. But honestly what snippets I took in during XXAC+ (I got into the series REAL late :P) were laughable IMO.

Still, it's the gameplay that matters most, anyway. ;)

[QUOTE="mmmwksil"]

Guilty Gear got by without a story. Best fighter ever.

"You look strong. Let's fight."

Duel One, LET'S ROCK!

OneSanitarium

Guilty Gear has a huge story, it's just not all piled in one game.

Look at the novels, comics, and drama CD's.

It's a pretty deep story too.

[QUOTE="OneSanitarium"]

[QUOTE="mmmwksil"]

Guilty Gear got by without a story. Best fighter ever.

"You look strong. Let's fight."

Duel One, LET'S ROCK!

mmmwksil

Guilty Gear has a huge story, it's just not all piled in one game.

Look at the novels, comics, and drama CD's.

It's a pretty deep story too.

I'll take your word for it, OS. But honestly what snippets I took in during XXAC+ (I got into the series REAL late :P) were laughable IMO.

Still, it's the gameplay that matters most, anyway. ;)

Dude, I-no actually said, in game (something along the lines of) "Well this is a pain in my ass, and not the kind I like."

The dialogue in GGXXAC+ is awesome.

Dude, I-no actually said, in game (something along the lines of) "Well this is a pain in my ass, and not the kind I like."

The dialogue in GGXXAC+ is awesome.

OneSanitarium

Zat so? Been so long I honestly can't recall :P

And to be honest, after a point I just mashed on the buttons during cutscenes to finish the story mode. I just didn't care anymore.