As RPGs have evolved into including companions and relationships, mostly I’m finding for immersion purposes, that most stories short of that now feel shallow to me. This is why the first OW, Red Dead Redemption2, Avatar Frontiers did not stick with me. And by most accounts RDR’s solo narratives, are excellent.
Note, RDR’s online group effort environment had some appeal, but fizzled out rather quickly for me, as in how much hunting animals bounty hunting, and moon shining did I want to do. Side note, I remember it was plagued with hackers. Plus, I’ve always said, I want “my world” pristine, not polluted with tourists, the world shaped by my influence and anctually changes, and no lines for the desired instance experience. Sorry, got a little off track there. 😉
Going back to the first game I played with a relationship, Skyrim, as completely shallow and non interactive as it was, someone saying they liked me (even a relationship commitment, marriage) as completely non-interactive as it was, triggered something I now expect if a story is to feel immersive. When you interact with people, in a role, I expect there to be some kind of relationship building going on. It can’t be socially sterile and make me feel immersed.
I’m currently playing Deliver Us Mars, sophisticated narrative, outstanding game, btw along the lines of an interactive movie, and there are family relationships there that make the game click.
