History Main / EnjoyTheStorySkipTheGame

* Most of the fans of ''[[VideoGame/DinosaurPlanetRare Dinosaur Planet]]'' are content to watch the story and cutscenes on Website/YouTube rather than play the game itself as the game is a [[ObviousBeta leaked development prototype]] filled with glitches and it doesn't work well with most emulators.

** ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsMX'' received praise for representing a significant ArtEvolution, [[DemotedtoExtra demoting]] the entirety of the {{Spotlight Stealing|Crossover}} Universal Century ''Gundam'' series to supporting characters to make way for ''Anime/MetalArmorDragonar'', having a strong showing of several 1970s mecha series, and featuring ''Anime/RahXephon'' alongside ''both'' of its spiritual predecessors in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' and ''Anime/{{Raideen}}''. It also has a trivial level of difficulty even by ''Super Robot Wars'' standards. The UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable port tries to increase the difficulty by inflating everything's health, which just serves to make the endgame a boring war of attrition.

* ''VideoGame/IHaveNoMouthAndIMustScream'' has what is wildly considered a great plot (adapted and expanded upon from [[Literature/IHaveNoMouthAndIMustScream the original story]] with direct involvement and chilling voice-acting from the author Creator/HarlanEllison), but it also possesses lackluster point-and-click gameplay, and also relies on the classical MoonLogicPuzzle just one too many times.

* The Franchise/FinalFantasy games have often been praised for both the gameplay and story for each games. However, some games are more noteworthy for this for different reasons:

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' made the controversial decision to abandon the turn-based combat system of the previous games, while also introducing a ScrappyMechanic known as the Gambit System (which can essentially run the game on auto pilot). Playing the game is just tiresome to a lot of diehard ''Final Fantasy'' fans. The story however continues to be held in higher regard, especially [[VindicatedByHistory as the years go on]] - often compared to ''Series/GameOfThrones'' meets ''Franchise/StarWars'' - as well as the superb quality of the dubbing and translation.

** The gameplay of ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'' is seen as very weak, feeling like an extremely stripped-down version of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII with a lot of repetition due to the mission structure. The game's strength comes from its writing, with the focus on Roxas's life and relationships being its main draw. In the HD [=ReMix=] collections, this is taken to its logical conclusion by removing the gameplay entirely. However, some critics will argue that the cutscene collection is still missing a lot, and that the gameplay at least helps put the player in the same headspace as Roxas.

* Many of the 3D games (Such as The Sonic Adventure duology) tend to fall here compared to the rest of the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise. A lot of the gameplay of both games tends to be very divisive due to the GameplayRoulette making them feel like 3-5 games tacked into one, with even Sonic's gameplay considered somewhat clunky compared to other games. The stories however are some of the most beloved entries in the entire franchise thanks to having significant CharacterDevelopment, their DarkerAndEdgier direction that feels like their [[GrowingWithTheAudience grew with its older fans]], and featuring the debut of several fan-favorite character. In fact, once the series started to focus less on its plot and characters with ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' (itself being this trope's [[PlayTheGameSkipTheStory inverse]]), is part of what contributed to the series' BrokenBase as some fans feel like the plot and characters should prioritized while others feel the gameplay should be prioritized.

** Its SpiritualSuccessor ''VideoGame/TormentTidesOfNumenera'' suffers from the same issue: the story, worldbuilding, art and atmosphere were very well praised (although agreeded that is not as strong as its predecessor). But the combat is still... questionable, noted for begin dull and boring, and just as ''Planescape Torment'' you can skip most of it with some good dialogue checks. This was actually a disappointment as some fans expected that with more freedom and less time constrains coming from being self-published by a Kickstarter and coming after 15 years of game design evolution would have developed better combat.

%%* Downplayed with the ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' series. While the gameplay is by no means bad, the beat-em-up combat has a bit of an awkward learning curve to them, and unrefined in the earlier entries. The third game is generally considered one of the weakest entries for its stiff combat, the first two games would've had it worse if they weren't remade. The series' well-written drama story line and the loads of wacky substories and mini-games does a better job at drawing more people into the series, but the gameplay pulls its own weight with its dramatic, and sometimes equally comedic, action. - This entry is clumsily written, so I'm commenting it out until it's been revised.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' was where the series [[GrowingTheBeard began to truly find its footing]], with CharacterDevelopment and a plot that's praised for being expectional at the time. A more {{Downplayed|Trope}} example, though, in which the gameplay is also acknowledged for its improvements there, with a [[SequelDifficultyDrop decrease in difficulty]] compared to the previous games, unique powers given to each of the characters, a more streamlined battle system, bosses with multiple quirks, and the introduction to the Active Time Battle system, which requires players to keep a good eye in the gameplay.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' is considered by many to be [[SacredCow among the best games in the series]], due to the unique and complex characterizations of the main cast, and the CharacterDevelopment that comes along with it. However, the gameplay is considered to be [[ItsEasySoItSucks way too easy]] [[GameBreaker and broken]] for it to be fully engaging.

* ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'': The story is often stated to be the strongest point of the game, with some even believing it to be better than ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'''s story, due to the intricate lore, the incredibly [[TrueCompanions close bond]] between the protagonists, and Ninten's [[ItsPersonal personal stakes]] against Giygas. The gameplay, on the other hand, is [[BrokenBase incredibly divisive]], with many finding it to be [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny archaic]] and [[NintendoHard unforgivingly hard]].

[[folder:Card Game]]
* While the card-based gameplay itself is contested, the actual story of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' is rather interesting with its growing mystery, Sora's AllLovingHero status being seriously tested at points and introducing several members of Organization XIII that would go on to become highly popular characters. This, combined with the fact that players who dive straight into ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' will be [[ContinuityLockout very confused]] as to why Sora isn't immediately playable, makes many argue that ''Chain of Memories''' story is at least worth sitting through.
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** While this doesn't apply to ''VideoGame/Persona5'''s base game, many fans seem to feel this way about the added Third Semester content in ''[[UpdatedRerelease Royal]]''. From a story perspective, [[spoiler:Maruki]] is lauded as one of the game's best villains, Yoshizawa makes for a great narrative addition, and Akechi ends up getting the CharacterDevelopment many felt as though he lacked in the vanilla game. From a gameplay perspective, on the other hand, most of the Third Semester's content is crammed into a one-and-a-half month timeframe, which is significantly short by the game's standards, allowing for little to no breathing room to collectively finish Yoshizawa's Confidant and complete [[spoiler:Maruki]]'s Palace. The fact that Akechi and Yoshizawa's Tier-Three Personas are relegated to being [[EleventhHourSuperpower 11th Hour Superpowers]] that can only be used against the FinalBoss further adds to the fan perception that the Third Semester wasn't well-thought out in terms of proper gameplay integration.

* ''VideoGame/Persona3'' has one of the most praised storylines in the series, and fans [[NewbieBoom brought in]] by later entries are often encouraged to experience it. With the major gameplay improvements of ''VideoGame/Persona4'' and ''especially'' ''VideoGame/Persona5'', 3's gameplay has not aged well, especially its ManualLeaderAIParty approach in a game with NintendoHard difficulty.
** ''VideoGame/Persona2'' has it even worse. The game's story is frequently called one of the best - if not THE best - plot in the ''Persona'' series, and even ''Shin Megami Tensei'' as a whole. However, many people are extremely put off by the aged gameplay, to they point they confess of being incapable of getting into it and expressing regret that they won't experience the plot for themselves.

** While the main story of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'' falls under PlayTheGameSkipTheStory due to its relatively simple plot, the exact opposite is in effect when it comes to the Fell Xenologue. Many people have praised the Fell Xenologue for its fascinating story within the Alternate Elyos, but bash its immensely hard difficulty, especially on Maddening mode.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'' is often criticized for its bizarre design choices and grindiness that results in being either outright broken, or almost unplayable if you make a mistake, and said grinding is ''worse'' in its original NES version, with things such as ''decreased stats if you don't grind one stat enough.'' On the other hand, the story is very complex, especially for an NES/Famicom game, where the characters, aside from the protagonists who are criticized for being [[FlatCharacter rather flat]], were praised for being interesting and sympathetic, and the Emperor is considered to be [[LoveToHate the best villain of the three NES titles for the series, due to his vile nature]].
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' was where the series [[GrowingTheBeard began to truly find its footing]],

** While the main story of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'' falls under PlayTheGameSkipTheStory due to its relatively simple plot, the exact opposite is in effect when it comes to the Fell Xenologue. Many people have praised the Fell Xenologue for its fascinating story within the Alternate Elyos, but bash the Fell Xenologue for its immensely hard difficulty, especially on Maddening difficulty.

* ''VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls'' has been praised for it's character development but criticized for it's janky gameplay.

* ''Videogame/GothamKnights2022'' has received a fair bit of praise for the story campaign. A well-done story about the various members of the Bat-Family coming together to protect Gotham after Bruce's death; it features four playable characters that all feel distinct from one another not just in gameplay but also in terms of writing, and a host of iconic Batman villains. However, this is countered by gameplay nowhere as fun as the ''Videogame/BatmanArkhamSeries'', criticized for repetiteveness, padded open-world elements, and poorly optimized performance.

* By far the most praised aspect of the ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' is its insanely thorough WorldBuilding. The plot begins as a ClicheStorm of familiar tropes, only to ground them and its characters into a setting so realized with politics, a meticulous history, the effects of a stock fantasy world getting swept up in the social, technological, and governmental upheaval, and the day-to-day lives of hundreds of {{Non Player Character}}s that the continent of Zemuria is rich with detail. Every NPC has their own subplots running throughout the games with new dialogue added between story events, it's this detail that has players replay the games for hundreds of hours to explore the world and the hundreds of characters that live there. The gameplay isn't bad, it's actually pretty fun at times, but the sheer volume of text ensures it's little more than some battles and several sidequests between story and NPC dialogue. ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky Trails in the Sky]] FC'' seems to have realized this, as the Cloak Quartz can be found just before TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon which skips all encounters, and can be carried on to a NewGamePlus. The ''Cold Steel'' games offer an alternative -- both Very Easy and Easy modes, as well as encounters that are triggered by encountering enemies on the field, which means that almost all non-boss fights can be skipped if the player chooses.

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'' was released in 1996, and to this ''day'' it's regarded as one of the, if not ''the'', best ''Fire Emblem'' in terms of narrative power. This is due to how the [[DarkerAndEdgier uncharacteristically]] [[CrapsackWorld dark]] tone of the game, the DeconReconSwitch that ties the first-generation and second-generation together, some excellent GameplayAndStoryIntegration as well as the shocking twist of [[spoiler:Sigurd, the main protagonist, being executed at the end of the first-gen]] make it a very warmly-received narrative as a whole. The cost to this was that the game, from a gameplay-perspective, having not aged well and is seen by some as having too poor gameplay to offset the story, with even fans of the game admitting the gameplay is weak. This is due to a sheer amount of {{Scrappy Mechanic}}s more than anything: doubling being locked behind weapons and skills, absolutely colossal and unintuitive maps that bias the game heavily in favor of mount-users ([[Administrivia/TropesAreTools which can be seen as a point in favor of the game]]), a [[GuideDangIt poorly-explained marriage system that can potentially gimp your second-gen playthrough if you don't know what to do]], as well as no trading feature in case a character who can't use axes ends up getting an axe from killing an enemy who uses it. Combine that with the game being hideously unbalanced, heavily dependent on the Arena for optimization and plenty of GameBreaker characters that wholly invalidate any use to use any others, and you have a game that is very lucky to have such a well-written story, for it alone is what brings people to play the game even in the present.