Stories have been an integral part of gaming since it’s inception. Spark up a discussion about the golden age of gaming, the NES, and you will hear about Zelda, Metal Gear, and Final Fantasy , etc. Before video games became graphical powerhouses, success hinged on the narrative to keep the player’s attention. Final Fantasy stories have remained unchanged since Final Fantasy 1 in 1986. The stories include a group of teenagers, equipped with magic, departing on a journey to save the world. Teenage angst and love affairs are commonly intertwined in the main narrative. Fans still return in droves for the next installment of each Final Fantasy, although the main change is the gameplay and setting. The Metal Gear series follows this same principal. The plot focuses around a advanced Nuclear warhead transportation device, Metal Gear. Kojima San adds his artistry throughout the series in the story telling. These games are often filed with moral decisions. After many of the boss fights, the enemy talks about their pasts and their regrets. This method of storytelling allows the player to connect with the enemy on a human level, and causes some regret in taking down an enemy. War is one main over-arching theme in this series also. Metal Gear exposes some of the harsh realities and decisions that soldiers face. These are just two examples of some of the best story based series today. The current generation has forgotten the art of story telling. The current focus is graphics and multiplayer. Now, games are created for the masses and not for the fans of a specific game. Gears of War has been touted as a graphical masterpiece. The story was completely left out of the game. Reviewers scored this game with some of the greatest games ever. There was more story in the previews of the game than in the game itself. Narrative in gaming has become a lost art. It pains me to see this happen, and I hope gamers speak with their wallets by supporting narrative based great games. The excitement around Metal Gear Solid 4 has been amazing. The excitement continues after people actually play the game. This generation has been marred by marketing hype, but MGS4 is starting a new trend. Gamers are witnessing the true power of an excellent narrative. Let’s fight to resurrect a dying trend!