The games that will always hold a place in my memory, tend to be the games with the most engaging plot. Sure, most plot lines only serve to spur the action forward and insert random NPC's. But do you really remember those games?

I played Super Mario Galaxy for the Nintendo Wii, and anyone who has ever played a Mario game knows that it never focuses on the plot. However, in Super Mario Galaxy there was the option to dive deeper into the storyline by reading..well..virtual books.

I personally dismissed the idea and didn't bother. But apparently Douglas Wilson did not and chose to read those tales. The result inspired him to write a column on what Mario taught him about storytelling. Overall, his thesis seems to be that gameplay and story could come together to make a great experience.

"Super Mario Galaxy serves as a reminder that – with little more than proper timing, placement, and aesthetic synergy – gameplay and story can be used to amplify each another, thereby transcending the sum of their parts."

Wilson also touches on the thought that stories do not need to be integrated directly into gameplay. After all, the storybook in Galaxy could be completely ignored and not effect the game.

"Rosalina’s storybook may not formally alter the game system, but it certainly affects our perception of the game world, imbuing it with an additional aura of motivation and meaning. Much more than mere “bonus content,” Rosalina’s storybook anchors an emotional heart of the game world."

Other games have used storybook narratives, such as the recent RPG Lost Odyssey. But what do you think comment land? Should certain games use story in a separate medium? More importantly, has a story actually made the game for you?

It has for me.

What Super Mario Galaxy's Rosalina taught us about storytelling[GamesetWatch]