In defence of video games: an overlooked art of storytelling - Kilkenny Live

I’ve met a few people in my time who think video games are a complete waste of time. Because of this, when I tell people that one of my favourite hobbies is gaming, part of me still anticipates a response of silent derision.

Unless I’m talking to another gamer; then it’s almost a sense of long-lost camaraderie. If the purpose of a hobby is to provide a person with enjoyment in their free time, then what makes gaming different from any other hobby in the world?

My introduction to the gaming world was in 2002, when my mother bought me a PlayStation 2 for Christmas. That PS2 is still alive to this day by some miracle. Over the years, this PS2 was joined by a Game Boy Advance, a Nintendo DS, and a PSP. Video games were a big part of my childhood.

When I hit secondary school age, my interest in gaming began to wane considerably. I realized this a few years ago when I replayed an old PS2 game and saw that my last save file was from 2013. My 15-year-old self had put away the PS2 controller that day, not knowing that she wouldn’t pick it up again for over half a decade.

It was during the first Covid-19 lockdown that I jumped back on the gaming bandwagon with the purchase of an Xbox One S. The swap from PlayStation to Xbox was driven by the option of playing online with friends. I have since upgraded to a Series X model, with a PS5 having been added to my collection. A Nintendo Switch remains in the pipeline.

For me, there are three components of a game that determine my enjoyment of it: the mechanics, the graphics, and the storytelling.

I wouldn’t say I’m overly fussed about the mechanics of gameplay. After an hour or so it becomes muscle memory. You especially notice it when you jump from one game back to another, and you’re baffled at how easily you’ve come to forget the controls of the other game. But after a little while you grow accustomed to it again; it’s a never-ending cycle.

There is one mechanic I do struggle with, and that’s first-person shooter. It’s the main reason why I’ve never ventured into the Call of Duty franchise. However, I have yet to play Cyberpunk 2077 and I am determined to see it through, so I’m sure a time will come where I adjust to this mechanic for the sake of playing a good game.

I’m ashamed to admit that graphics can be a deciding factor in whether or not I enjoy a game. I know some of my fellow gamers might find this a bit pretentious of me, as some of the best games of all time have been released well before motion capture and state-of-the-art graphics were a possibility. The best example I could provide would be the difference between Red Dead Redemption 1, released in 2010, and its prequel Red Dead Redemption 2, released in 2018.

I played the second game before the first. Technically, I wasn’t doing anything wrong, as this allowed me to play out the story in chronological order. However, the reduction in graphics quality between the two games greatly interfered with that feeling of immersion so vital to gameplay.

I found myself abandoning my playthrough before the halfway mark. But I’ve since figured out my own way of combating this. By taking an extended break in between playing the two games, the gulf in quality doesn’t feel so vast. Once I’ve finished my current playthrough of Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, I fully intend to return to the Wild West to finish out the tale of the Van der Linde gang.

The storytelling in a game is by far the most important aspect to me. This includes the main storyline, the characters and the world-building. You’d be surprised at how attached you become to the characters. In the second-last chapter of Red Dead Redemption 2, an incident in-game had me sobbing uncontrollably. Those who have played the game should know exactly what incident I’m talking about. I was incredibly taken aback at my own reaction.

If you would allow me to wax poetic for a moment, I'd call gaming an experience. It’s a form of storytelling not unlike reading a book or watching a movie. It’s a television show where you play a part in the story as it unfolds; sometimes the ultimate outcome is in your hands.

It feeds a sense of achievement, even if that achievement is of a virtual nature. It’s a social club where you can team up or compete with your friends — dare I call gaming a sport of sorts? It’s a haven where failure isn’t the end of the world, merely a learning curve.