I'm going to sound like I'm beating a dead horse here. I'll try to keep the synopses spoiler-free, but some small ones may sneak through. Be warned, there may be SMALL SPOILERS ahead.
Let's start with the best writing. That has to go to Amy Hennig and her cohorts at Naughty Dog for the Uncharted series. These tales of daring-do and pulp action are some of the most tightly written stories in the gaming sphere. Nathan Drake is fully realized as a charismatic every-man that is not only lucky, adventurous and witty, but also believable and lovable. The interactions between the characters needs to be called out as nearly every game features a scene or three where the line between movie and game blurs. The banter between friends and the challenges yelled at adversaries all come across as natural. It never seems forced, even when it repeats. There is just something about the insults hurled or the distraught exclamations that make the world come alive. Hennig also throws in plenty of touching moments. Sometimes love interests feel forced, but never in the Uncharted games. Sure, you see them coming a mile away, but that doesn't make the first held gaze or the companion-like shoulder brush any less meaningful. Truly, these games have some of the best writing in the industry, and give most comparable Hollywood movies a run for their money.
The amazing writing of Uncharted creates an unforgettable cast
Writing is the heart of stories, but sometimes that story can take on a life of it's own. Great lore means that the world has depth and breadth, almost a life of it's own. In a game I've played, I have to give it to Deus Ex. This series has all of the history and plans thrown together and presented to the player who looks for it. Instead of beating the player over the head with it, the history and little nuggets of story are hidden just as they are in our world. Looking over emails, at newspapers and at books allows players to explore deeper. This means that entire swaths of the history are missed by players, but that's just like real life. The idea that things are happening outside of your little story is great and creates a world that seems bigger than it actually may be.
The world goes on around you, no matter what you do
As well as Deus Ex does this, Bethesda's Elder Scrolls does it better. I've not played Skyrim (yet), but it appears that this world has much more to offer than meets the eye. I noticed in my dabbling with Oblivion that the books tell a rich tale of the world. Past events and the rise/fall of nations are chronicled in the many tomes scattered throughout the houses and lands of Tamriel. The stories and quests don't seem to be much more than the usual fantasy tropes. What I love is that the world happens without you there. While you are off on the other side of the country fighting wolves, people go about their lives and things happen that you'll never witness or know about. This drives me nuts as I love to see everything possible, but just like in real life, you have to be content with what happens around you and not everywhere else. Bethesda's writers have created a world that feels real because of everything that happens outside of the main character's quests and adventures. Where this gets interesting is that they hint at previous games, and possibly at things to come. I came across this Reddit thread this morning. An entire apocalypse scenario is being laid out, and it all came about because someone started translating runes on bug jars. Seriously. So, hats off to Bethesda for making a world so deep and rich in lore that even crazy theories can take a life of their own.
There are stories out just waiting to be told
As awesome as all these are, I still love the story of Final Fantasy: Tactics and feel that it is the best. Ramza's story is cheesy and is filled with plenty of fantasy cliches. The translation isn't stellar (though the PSP re-release does clean it up considerably) and some characters feel forced. Where game shines is in how intrigue works. Ramza is caught up a war much larger and more sinister than it appears at first. What seems a simple succession fight hides a deeper and much darker thread. I love that the politics take center stage in this game. I am thrilled at the double/triple dealings and the villains who are in turn played for fools. No one outside the party is fully trustworthy and many characters harbor motives beyond their stated goals. I also like the family/class dynamic that fuels much of the game. Should you be loyal to your family and your bloodline? Or was your birth just happenstance and you shouldn't be punished for being born poor. I feel that the story is deep, gripping and wonderful. It is my main draw to play Tactics over and over again, though we'll see soon that the gameplay certainly helps.
Who can you trust when everyone has a hidden motive?
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