The Fast and Furious series may vary in quality, but I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW that five through eight are good popcorn action movies. How DARE you!!!1Well, you know something? I kinda agree and disagree at the same time. When I was a kid, I was blown by the story of Super Metroid, for example. And that game combined great story and GREAT, ENHANCED gameplay coming from the original Metroid and Metroid 2. With the Mario franchise, well, you get the classic story about a damsel in distress, but you get a lot of fun in the way. That's just a clear example of "if it's not broken, don't fix it". Now, think about this: I don't know, the "Fast and Furious" movie franchise. That damn thing is about races, and that's it. But it has spawned, I don't even know anymore, 10 movies? People go and watch every new movie, and the people behind the name make millions of dollars. That's an example of a bad thing.
Now with Nintendo NOWADAYS, yes I agree, the story is kind of blurry, but you get the full experience getting a fun game, with an OK story and a great memory is going to be there forever. I have played so many games, on Xbox, Playstation, PC, you name it, and the vast majority have a long story and lore, but with no love, or at least I feel it that way. You lose interest very soon, and the game becomes a responsibility more than a happy hobbie.
So, I really like the way Nintendo makes games. Some things are bad, some things are good, but all in all, it's the brand that has given me the most cherished gaming moments of my life. Just my two cents.
I agree that Super Metroid is one of the best examples of story with nearly no text. You simply experience the scenario through gameplay, and actual story events only occur at pivotal moments. I thought Metroid Fusion had an intriguing storyline because it introduced a natural enemy for the Metroid's, which I never really thought about. The whole Adam/Federation business was well-handled, despite being a bit formulaic. The gameplay is really what sells those two for me, and they're among my all-time favorites.
I definitely agree with the whole "games as a chore, not a hobby" problem because that was me about 20 years ago. I had turned it into a job, and that might be why I tend to favor gameplay over story. I had to be honest with myself: I don't care to read or listen to logs when there's game to play. I just accept that I won't understand the storyline half as well. That's what makes each of us unique.
Although I do appreciate when a good game can juggle both story and gameplay without one overtaking the other.