The first game with a "branching storyline"?

Does anyone what game was the first to implement or use "branching storylines", multiple endings or just choices in general that could change and/or affect the ending? Talking about games with a focus on the story.

Thank you!

Comments

  • edited May 2017

    These games, suposely.

    I've heard Until Dawn has choices that matter, thought. I haven't played it yet.

  • Probably old text adventure games like Zork.

    If you're talking about more recently then probably the early Fallout games or Quantic Dream games like Omikron and Indigo Prophecy which were all made in the 90's.

  • InFamous games. You can either be a hero or an anti-hero.

  • Not sure the Infamous series are the best example of that. For the most part they have very little impact on the storyline, sans the ending, and different objectives in a few missions.

    AronDracula posted: »

    InFamous games. You can either be a hero or an anti-hero.

  • Well, Pong had two different endings, depending on who won. :)

    I think choice-based stories started with the "Choose Your Own Adventure" book series. That got popular, and it wasn't too hard to realize they could be easily ported to computer, so you'd "Press 1" instead of "Turn to page 47."

    I remember some really old text games but not the names of them anymore. One was as an old time ship's captain. One of the crew did something wrong, and you had to decide whether to pardon him, hang him, or let him run off. If you let him run off, you could choose to shoot him as he escaped, or deliberately miss. The story changed based on what you decided to do.

  • It really does. It's possible to have everyone survive, everyone can get killed or any combination of characters can live or die. It's really impressive.

    These games, suposely. I've heard Until Dawn has choices that matter, thought. I haven't played it yet.

  • Heavy Rain; even though it's not the first release date wise, it's the first that I had heard of.

  • Wow, really? I have to play it.

    It really does. It's possible to have everyone survive, everyone can get killed or any combination of characters can live or die. It's really impressive.

  • It would be text adventure games. Good ole DOS.

  • A-IBRAHIM0702A-IBRAHIM0702 Banned
    edited May 2017

    Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy.

    Or

    Jade Empire. Its a mix of action rpg and choice based adventure. Though choices to not matter THAT much but so is the case for telltale games.

  • Would definitely recommend Life Is Strange. Really good game,close to Telltale quality !!

  • From Software has made games with multiple endings. Although they're usually at the end, their implications are the most massive I've seen, but vague enough to keep you thinking for weeks.

  • Most of the recent Bioware RPG games from Xbox on have had some level of choice based branching story lines. Mass Effect series, Dragon Age series, KOTOR, and Jade Empire to name some. The Fable games had that as well.

  • I played this game years ago on the PS2 called "Raw Danger". It's the first game (that I've played) where you could make choices that impacted the story and dialogue. It's about escaping from a flooded city and playing as five characters and their stories (or six depending on what you do). It was originally made in Japan and most of the western voice actors will either make you cringe or laugh your ass off (and all of the characters have blonde hair for some reason), but I thought it was surprisingly good.

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