Who’d be a Hero?
I use games to escape into other worlds, to live other lives I would otherwise never experience. I don’t demand that they are heavenly existences, indeed I relish in the prospect of living through things that in reality I would never want to witness. But at the end of these trials, after the saving the city, the world, the Universe I seem to be becoming more and more cognisant of the fact that my character and I end up getting stiffed.
I know that the self-sacrificing hero is nothing new. Works of literature are littered with examples of the hero who gives everything for a cause. These acts of altruism serve as shining examples to us all to contradict man’s selfish nature, something to aspire to and live our lives by, even if we never do. Participating in these acts through gaming offers a greater sense of accomplishment, a feeling that we are doing right thing. It is certainly more satisfying to be the martyr than to play the protagonists who are out only for themselves. Even though my own acts are driven by a desire to complete a story, unlock a weapon or earn achievement points, I manage in some small part through my character to vicariously live their virtue.
Dead loved ones.
But it’s wearing a bit thin. I have played a significant number of games in recent years, and yet it is rare indeed that at the end of my adventure did I feel I had done my character any favours by putting them through the experience. It seems that unless everybody ends up thoroughly unhappy a game doesn’t feel like it has done its job properly. I know that this is a cheap trick to facilitate a sequel, the ‘happy ending’ being trampled for the good of a franchise but this is getting out of control.
In the past few years I have left my hero: with everyone he loves dead (at least three times), stabbed, about to go to/continue in a war (three times), on the run from the police (at least once), turning into a zombie, turning in to an alien, about to be killed by his alien girlfriend, demented, fleeing from a god, an alcoholic out cast, eaten, raped, and dying or dead (in excess of twice). Set this against the up-lifting endings I remember for my antagonists and I see: a burgeoning romance, defeating a long time adversary before heading home and champion of a tournament.
Fugitive from justice.
It all seems a little disproportionate. I am all for pathos but this is overdoing it somewhat. Overcoming adversity within course of a story is one thing but the current trend to leave the player on a downer is becoming a little too prevalent. In a world where the majority of the news we receive doesn’t do much to lift our spirits it would be nice if my pastime of choice would.
Is it so wrong to want to feel at the end of my game that I left the world a better place, and also the ‘life’ of my avatar? Is it too much to ask that the characters I have poured so much of myself into can at least walk away from the experience without their first act to being to off themselves?
Fleeing a god.
Maybe it is the games I choose to play that is the problem. But should an adult theme and story necessitate that I will be left feeling in someway unsuccessful? I am and adult, I don’t want to play Disney and ‘Imagine’ titles for the rest of my days. I want complex deep narratives but does this desire mean I am doomed to constantly be reminded that the world is an unfair place, where no amount of sacrifice or hard work will ever really make me happy or protect me from harm? I know this already, I’m nearing thirty, I don’t need to have it thrust down my throat every time I play a game.
Tags: Depressing, Endings, Happy, Narrative, Pathos, Sad
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Well there are many recent game endings I can think of that give the lie to your assertion DoFuss. A selection are below.
Returned home happy to wife and child having helped a friend out and defeated a big glowing man who was definitely not just a Dr. Manhatten rip off.
Escaped imminent death by zombie horde through helicopter, plane etc rescue and now has prospect of happy future in human safe zone of some kind.
Got stabbed in the heart a bit but saved best friends life and seemed to be well on the mend.
Lost companion cube but gained freedom to be attacked by head crabs. WIN
Listened to “ode to joy”. A lot.
All much improved situations I think you’ll agree.
Firstly, hey Scott! Good to see you. Second, I don’t think that in truth these out weight the bad endings I have experienced (your 5 plus my 4 or 5 don’t out weigh my my 15 or so). Nor indeed are they good situations, though they could be improved to some compared to some points within the story.
Returned home happy to wife and child having helped a friend out and defeated a big glowing man who was definitely not just a Dr. Manhatten rip off.
Not sure I played this one, take you word for it sounds lovely I should give it a try. Let me know what it is.
Escaped imminent death by zombie horde through helicopter, plane etc rescue and now has prospect of happy future in human safe zone of some kind.
Only to again crash and have to escape in a constant loop of pain and suffering.
Got stabbed in the heart a bit but saved best friends life and seemed to be well on the mend.
But could well die and on the run from innumerable countries who are after my head. Plus not an improvement on my initial situation, but better than a low point I reached within the plot.
Lost companion cube but gained freedom to be attacked by head crabs. WIN
But you may have been dead.
Listened to “ode to joy”. A lot.
Okay you have me here, but doesn’t really fit with the narrative driven games that were the focus. Should have been more clear on that one.
Of course there is the chance I am just a horrible pessimist.
WTF games have you mentalists been playing?!?!?
I demand a list, liek, nao.