7 games with a great story but mediocre combat system

With the evolution of the gaming industry, players now expect a great story, along with satisfying and fun gameplay from titles. The standards are why developers now strive to make games that feature an amazing narrative along with an engaging combat system. However, the focus can often shift toward the narrative side more, creating a great story only for the gameplay to take a hit.

Over the years, we have seen many titles like Armoured Core 4 and Final Fantasy XV, that feature amazing narratives to get invested in, but gameplay that doesn't feel enjoyable. This can be because the combat sections are either repetitive or lack the fun element due to the absence of creativity or innovation. This may push players to focus on the story instead.

It should be a balance of both for the users, instead of them sluggishly forcing themselves through the gameplay to reach the cinematics for the story bits. In this article, we will take a look at seven such games with a great story but featuring mediocre combat systems.

Note: This article is subjective, and solely reflects the writer's opinions. The entries are arranged in no particular order.

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These games with a great story feature a mediocre combat system

1) Red Dead Redemption

The Red Dead Redemption franchise has games with a great story (Image via Rockstar Games)

Red Dead Redemption is often regarded as one of the best games with a phenomenal storyline and characters. It takes place in the West, where you play John Marston, an outlaw trying to protect his family by bringing his former allies to justice. From start to finish, you experience a great narrative involving unique characters and missions.

That said, the combat system is not the best here as it is a game from the PlayStation 3 generation, with clunky controls that often make the shooting feel inaccurate but still serviceable. There are also times when you will feel that the combat is getting repetitive, as you play through the missions and use the "cover and shoot" mechanic over and over again.

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2) Alan Wake 2

Alan Wake 2 had a great story but a lousy combat system (Image via Epic Games)

Alan Wake 2 features some of the best storytelling of 2023, being a worthy successor to the original title from the PlayStation 3 era. The narrative focuses on Alan Wake trying to escape a world he is stuck in, as his creations come to life to haunt him. The entire playthrough of Alan Wake 2 is filled with atmospheric horror and plot twists, that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

That said, like the first game, you will have to shine your light at enemies to render them vulnerable to firearm attacks. This gets repetitive as you will be doing that throughout the gameplay. Alan Wake 2 focuses more on the narrative, which is why the combat here takes a back seat with the game's focus being more on the cinematics and story.

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3) The Witcher

The Witcher games are known for their great story and characters (Image via CD Projekt RED)

The Witcher franchise derives its narrative from some of the best novels ever written, making it a great story experience for many players. The first game provides players with a detailed open world and lore. You play as Geralt of Rivia, navigating through a world where you will be experiencing branching storylines and fighting monsters.

While the narrative is brilliantly written, The Witcher struggles with its combat. It requires you to have precise timing, which can be difficult due to its outdated controls. Compared to today's RPGs, the combat here feels clunky and awkward at times, making it hard to return to the game. This is probably why we are getting a remake of the first Witcher game.

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4) Mafia 2

All the Mafia games feature a great story, but Mafia 2 struggles with combat issues (Image via 2K)

The Mafia franchise is known for its emphasis on mature storytelling, where you begin as a nobody trying to climb the ranks to become part of the mafia. In Mafia 2, we step into the shoes of Vito Scaletta, a war veteran who has returned home to his family. After realizing that their living conditions are not the best, he becomes part of the mafia to save his family from ending up on the streets.

While Mafia 2 has a great story, its combat mechanics are not the most refined, as you will find the cover system to be clunky, an issue that will haunt you on higher difficulties. The shooting too feels lackluster as you will constantly fight the camera, trying to aim at your enemies, but by the time you do, Vito will be dead.

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5) Watch Dogs 2

Watch Dogs 2 is set in San Fransisco (Image via Ubisoft)

Watch Dogs 2's great story is the best in the franchise, allowing you to fight against the surveillance laws. This entry improved on its predecessor by having a lighter tone and a fun protagonist in Marcus. Marcus is a young hacker who is trying to stand up against security-related issues in San Francisco. The narrative is fun to be a part of with an impressive plot revolving around hacking.

That said, the combat on the other hand is almost nonexistent because of the shooting mechanics not being up to par, even by the standards of 2016 when the game came out. There are even situations where the game's AI can become unpredictable, offering a difficulty spectrum that might be frustrating to some. These issues can make encounters either too easy or too difficult to deal with.

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6) Assassins Creed 2

Assassin's Creed 2 is a great story in the franchise set in Italy (Image via Ubisoft)

Assassin's Creed 2 is one of the best Ubisoft games of all time in the franchise, loved by players even after all these years. You play as Ezio Auditore, a young Italian who takes on his father's mantel of an assassin, to avenge his family's death. As you progress through the story, you will uncover all the people involved in the conspiracy of your family's death while learning the ropes to be a master assassin.

While the combat in Assassin's Creed 2 was a major improvement over its predecessor and the groundwork for its future entries, it still leaves a lot to be desired. After a while, the game's counter-based combat system can become repetitive, making every encounter feel the same. This lack of challenge becomes even more frustrating when this technique works on every enemy type.

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7) Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is another great story in the franchise (Image via Square Enix)

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth features some of the best storytelling in the franchise, an element that the remake gracefully retains from the original. This title includes a few of the best-written characters with likable personalities who you will get to meet throughout your journey. You will play as Cloud Strife with the quest of taking down Shinra Corporation and Sephiroth, as you fight for friendship and justice.

Even though the game's story is a success, the combat lacks depth and fails to feel dynamic when in action. We see a blend of turn-based and real-time combat, an attempt that feels unorganized and awkward. This also results in the combat being repetitive, which relies on flashy animations to distract the player from noticing the repetitiveness.