Summary
There are a lot of reasons whytheNintendo Switchhas become one of the best-selling video game systems of all time, and one of the prominent ones is its diverse software lineup. Among all the experiences it can offer, the Switch is filled to the brim with incredible games that feature over-the-top narratives.
Gamers often want to experience extravagant stories that keep escalating with every new scene. Fortunately, Nintendo’s hybrid console is home to some of the best ones on the market, created by some of the brilliant storytellers in the industry. The following games feature over-the-top narratives that will leave gamers satisfied.
WhileThe Legend of Zeldagames don’t always have bizarre stories, there have been some glaring exceptions. The series’most recent entry, 2023’sTears of the Kingdom,is one of them. Most of this game’s plot is centered on Link’s quest to defeat the recently unsealed Ganondorf, but the most extravagant part happens in the background.
InTears of the Kingdom, Princess Zelda travels to the past, meets her ancestors, and discovers the true origins of both Hyrule and Ganondorf in a fascinating way that felt very different from anything fans have experienced in other games. And if that wasn’t enough, Zelda turns into a giant dragon and helps Link fight Ganondorf (who also transformed into an even bigger dragon). It’s one of the most surreal and bombastic action sequences ever put in a game.
A world as unique and fascinating asPokemon’s is the perfect place to set wild stories in,andPokemon Scarlet and Violetis one of many examples. The first three quarters of this game’s plot seem straightforward. The player character has to go to school, beat eight Gym Leaders in battle and take down an Evil Team, while making friends in the process. But everything changes the moment the player, Nemona, Arven and Penny decide to explore the Great Crater of Paldea, also known as Area Zero.
There, they discover a bunch of unique Paradox Pokemon that a time machine brought from either the past or the future (depending on the version). Also, Arven’s parent, Professor Sada or Turo, was killed by a legendary Pokemon. The four young trainers now have to defeat an AI copy of the scientist to shut down the machine. The final act ofScarlet and Violetis so unexpectedly bizarre that it has to be experienced to be believed.
As a Musou spin-off in theLegend of Zeldafranchise,Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition’splot is nowhere near as focused or serious as previous entries. However, it didn’t really need one. The main purpose of its story is to explain why all its playable characters can coexist together in the same place, as they all come from different corners of theLegend of Zeldatimeline.
The plot ofHyrule Warriors’starts off normal, but it doesn’t take long before heroes and villains from the previous games start popping up left and right. It also features huge battlefields with hundreds of enemies and incredible battles against massive bosses.Hyrule Warriorsis the perfect game forLegend of Zeldafans who also enjoy bombastic action games likeDevil May Cry,BayonettaorDynasty Warriors.
Players who want to experience an over-the-top story in a video game should always check out PlatinumGames has to offer. This legendary studio often creates absurd stories that favor style over substance. The Nintendo Switch is home to many of its most beloved games,with one of them beingThe Wonderful 101: Remastered.
This game doesn’t have a profound or complex story, and that’s okay, because it doesn’t need one. Players control the titular 100 heroes at the same time, who must stop an alien crime gang known as the Geathjerk Federation from invading Earth. This wacky adventure is filled with incredible action set pieces and some of the most exaggerated boss battles ever put in a hack-and-slash game.
Astral Chainis another Nintendo Switch exclusive made by PlatinumGames, which, features an over-the-top yet engaging and creative narrative. This game introduces players to a weird and unique world, in which police officers wielding chained familiars called Legions have to stop an invasion of interdimensional beings called Chimeras that spawn from mysterious wormholes.
The main premise ofAstral Chainis already noteworthy, but its story keeps getting weirder with each new chapter. It eventually introduces many unexpected twists and developments, like betrayals, government conspiracies, and cheesy villains. It’s quite evident thatAstral Chain’snarrative was designed like a shōnen action anime, and it ended up working very well.
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroesmarked the long-awaited comeback of both theNo More HeroesIP and its beloved protagonist, Travis Touchdown. While these raunchy action games always featured over-the-top stories, this spin-off is on a whole different level. It all starts when Travis and his new enemy-turned-ally, Badman, get transported inside the digital world of a rare video game console known as the Death Drive MK-II.
Travis and Badman have to keep advancing through the console’s different video games. They discover that the device was originally supposed to be a cloning machine for the CIA, but it was later turned into a console by its creator, Dr. Juvenile. But what’s especially fascinating aboutTravis Strikes Againare its wacky levels. They are all parodies of other games and genres, with their own unique mechanics and hordes of extravagant enemies. This title is a reflection of director Suda51’s career as a developer, and fans of the creator’s work should not miss this weirdly unique game.
After many years in development,Bayonetta 3finally came out in 2022.While fans immediately criticized many aspects of its polarizing story, there’s no denying that it’s as exaggerated as the plots of its two predecessors. This game literally starts off the death of its titular main character. At the last minute, she manages to send her daughter, Viola, to another dimension, who later reunites with a different Bayonetta, the one the player gets to control.
The rest of this story doesn’t let players rest. Bayonetta and Viola have to go through other dimensions and meet other versions of Cereza from places like modern-day Japan, Ancient China, Ancient Egypt and more. On top of that, the main antagonists of this wacky adventure, the Homunculi, are massive deadly creatures that star in some of the most unbelievable action set pieces and boss battles PlatinumGames has ever made.
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroeswas already an over-the-top experience, so fans had no idea what to expectwhenNo More Heroes 3was finally released on Nintendo Switch in 2021. The main premise of this game is similar to its predecessor’s: Travis Touchdown has to rise through the ranks of an association by killing many different powerful bosses. The main difference is that this plot is centered on the Galactic Superhero Rankings, which are made up of deadly extraterrestrial warriors.
No More Heroes 3is already quite extravagant from the get-go, which is especially evident from its many animated cutscenes. Yet, it manages to get even weirder with every chapter. This is a story that literally can’t be predicted at all, as it features many bizarre characters, including key figures from previous games who make surprise appearances out of nowhere. And, of course, Travis also takes part in some of the most incredible boss fights in the franchise. Surprisingly enough
, the plot ofNo More Heroes 3served as a solid and satisfying conclusion to Travis’ story and, despite all its over-the-top elements.
