Story Modes in Fighting Games

[DokemonStudios]

I noticed that a lot of the times story modes in fighting games tend to be... inferior to the rest of the game. I'll be honest, I play any game for single player campaign because I don't have any friends that can come over to my house and play with. While multi-player is a great feature to have, it shouldn't be mandatory to get a friend to enjoy the full experience. There is an arcade mode but it's not that special. One problem I do have with Smash Bros' Classic mode is that it can be repetitive even if you fight or play as different characters. I don't like playing the same mode over and over again just with a different character. However, I do understand developers of fighting games focus strictly on working on the game and characters, and the story mode is an after thought to them. But I do have a good idea for a story mode for a fighting game.

It's sort of like SSB's Event mode. Where it's mission based and it has multiple branches based on a playable character. There are stand alone squares that are based on the characters perspective of the main story, when you complete the character's mission the path increases and sometimes you fight a playable character or team up with him. If you want to know where he is going or where he came from you have to complete some of that guys missions first. If you team up and complete the prior missions you can play as either character. The missions have either a time limit, a set amount of heath, or even a boss. (It sounds better if I show you visuals.)

 

[SomewhatMystia]

I think the amazingly titled fighter MELTY BLOOD had something like this. I've never played a translated version, but I'm pretty sure there were some choices to be made between fights. I don't think there was any pairing up or time limit/health, it was pretty much a straight fight (or a bull**** fight against certain characters) instead of being mission-based (defeat X with Y move, for example).

 

[Minato]

You're definitely right, and I see companies trying to change that and adding more robust modes for people that want to play single player. Some of the ArcSys games like BB and GG have some feature that you mentioned. Only problem is, they can't integrate that into Story Mode itself, since their main concern is to lay out the story they want to tell. But their other single player modes have some really neat features.

 

[Claire Diviner]

Mortal Kombat 9 had a pretty decent story, if a bit campy.

 

[Zink Imp]

YOU WANT A STORY IN A FIGHTING GAME?
GO BACK TO BLAZBLUE YOU FREAKING WEEB.

 

[Claire Diviner]

Do "Dissidia: Final Fantasy" and "Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy" count? They're not traditional fighting games, yet they have pretty decent stories.

 

[DokemonStudios]

Do "Dissidia: Final Fantasy" and "Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy" count? They're not traditional fighting games, yet they have pretty decent stories.

Well Smash Bros isn't a traditional fighting game either, so Dissidia counts.