Poll: Would you play as a truly appalling person in a game?
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And that right there is the reason I had to answer "Nope". Even thinking about it sends shivers up my spine.Auberon said:
Dear lord all I have is the anime adaption to go on, but that character filled me with all kinds of loathing.Scars Unseen said:
Saw it with a group of people who brought it in as a joke. There was almost a standing ovation when everyone started getting stabbed at the end.
Last five minutes almost made it worth watching.
Last five minutes almost made it worth watching.
I've actually looked for Skyrim mods to add all of those at one point. Mainly killing kids... those little fuckers bitching at me during stealth.
The thing is, most villains are seen through the eyes of the protagonist when it comes to videogames. They're the bad guys, the ones whose personalities bounce off of the main character. Not many games let you take the viewpoint of the bad guys because the real spotlight is on the protagonists, else why even bother playing the good guy? Is there a story where you get to play as Bowser, see why he steals the princess, how he does it? That could provide some insight as to how he works as a character. But, for the most part, the main focus is typically on Mario's escapades (it was nice to see him teaming up with Mario in Inside Story and RPG though).
In games that are heavily fueled by narrative investment, having a rounded antagonist is super-necessary. And when it comes to that type of investment the game is putting half the burden on the player to make and commit to choices they believe affect their experience. Having characters that are somewhat identifiable, even in appearance, makes a big difference, but their actions are key. Going to the extremes of what one person is willing to do can be a fascinating story, sure.
The biggest issue lies in how much the player is able to put themselves in the protagonist's shoes. When you play as a hero archetype, you're not only playing the good guy but casting yourself in an idol's position. Link is a hero of time who just wants to help out the people he can (disregarding the superfluous property damage). Lots of people want to relate to that. However, when it comes to downright villains that do the things you listed, it becomes harder and harder to identify with them. I think there'd be a tipping point between dissociation with a character that is irredeemably evil and identification with a sympathetic (or at least understandable) villain.
TL;DR: So, yes, playing as filth can provide a unique standpoint, but it's way more fun if said filth is well-characterized, has a reason or history for doing the things they do (I wasn't sure if that went without saying). And perhaps seeing the bad guy win wouldn't be such a bad thing to experience every now and again.
In games that are heavily fueled by narrative investment, having a rounded antagonist is super-necessary. And when it comes to that type of investment the game is putting half the burden on the player to make and commit to choices they believe affect their experience. Having characters that are somewhat identifiable, even in appearance, makes a big difference, but their actions are key. Going to the extremes of what one person is willing to do can be a fascinating story, sure.
The biggest issue lies in how much the player is able to put themselves in the protagonist's shoes. When you play as a hero archetype, you're not only playing the good guy but casting yourself in an idol's position. Link is a hero of time who just wants to help out the people he can (disregarding the superfluous property damage). Lots of people want to relate to that. However, when it comes to downright villains that do the things you listed, it becomes harder and harder to identify with them. I think there'd be a tipping point between dissociation with a character that is irredeemably evil and identification with a sympathetic (or at least understandable) villain.
TL;DR: So, yes, playing as filth can provide a unique standpoint, but it's way more fun if said filth is well-characterized, has a reason or history for doing the things they do (I wasn't sure if that went without saying). And perhaps seeing the bad guy win wouldn't be such a bad thing to experience every now and again.
You should try the VN. School Days is the only one I've played where I got pissed off when I got a "good" ending.Mikejames said:
Care to bother explaining who on earth that is? Sounds like some weird hentai villain.DarklordKyo said:
I've seen some people talking about clockwork orange already, and that guy did spring to mind at one point as I was browsing other replies. That dude creeps me out.
Seriously, though, I couldn't play a character that was that far out of line (especially since contextualizing it would be super hard; maybe a game spent playing as the joker?). Hell, I can't even play straight renegade in Mass Effect: I tried and had to give up after twenty minutes.
Seriously, though, I couldn't play a character that was that far out of line (especially since contextualizing it would be super hard; maybe a game spent playing as the joker?). Hell, I can't even play straight renegade in Mass Effect: I tried and had to give up after twenty minutes.
If you think about it, many games do have you playing as characters or groups who are that evil. For example, if you played as the Orcs in Warcraft 2, they made it pretty clear that they murdered everyone in the cities they took over, and that means killing children, the elderly, the sick and disabled, etc., but they never actually show them doing those things.
To be blunt, I don't think any developer would ever take the risk of making a game in which the character who you play as commits rape, and they certainly would never show it taking place. Think about how ape-shit bananas people went when they thought there was a scene of sexual assault in the new Tomb Raider reboot, when it turned out it wasn't really a sexual assault scene at all. People lost their mind just thinking that their MIGHT be rape shown in a game, could you imagine the collective shitstorm of having your protagonist actually commit the act?
To be blunt, I don't think any developer would ever take the risk of making a game in which the character who you play as commits rape, and they certainly would never show it taking place. Think about how ape-shit bananas people went when they thought there was a scene of sexual assault in the new Tomb Raider reboot, when it turned out it wasn't really a sexual assault scene at all. People lost their mind just thinking that their MIGHT be rape shown in a game, could you imagine the collective shitstorm of having your protagonist actually commit the act?
Speaking as a bad guy - Looks to me a lot of these things are a stupid waste of time for someone who actually wants to get caught
Hurt people takes time, so does rape. You are also leaving evidence behind.
Why would I even bother stealing from the poor. Its not worth it.
Killing kids - if it gets what I want
If there was someone who was hurt I wouldn't be interested to even talking to them. So yeah, Id leave them
Manipulation is my gig so I'm totally into that.
All in all stop wasting doing useless things.
Hurt people takes time, so does rape. You are also leaving evidence behind.
Why would I even bother stealing from the poor. Its not worth it.
Killing kids - if it gets what I want
If there was someone who was hurt I wouldn't be interested to even talking to them. So yeah, Id leave them
Manipulation is my gig so I'm totally into that.
All in all stop wasting doing useless things.
Afraid I'll have to pass. As far as I'm concerned, the ending I saw was the good ending, in a rather cathartic sense.Scars Unseen said:
I know, I just have a hard time picturing a satisfying experience in trying to influence a character that blatantly sick in the head.King Whurdler said:
Of course, I couldn't stand Kratos, so maybe I'm not the one to ask.
Voted yes simply because the option should be open to storytellers regardless of the medium.
If it's a good game and the story is solid, it's worth playing, even if it's dark, grim and unpleasant - although games trying to be dark, grim and unpleasant often come out worse as some people are still stuck in the 90's-00's delusion that "dark = realistic = better".
If it's a good game and the story is solid, it's worth playing, even if it's dark, grim and unpleasant - although games trying to be dark, grim and unpleasant often come out worse as some people are still stuck in the 90's-00's delusion that "dark = realistic = better".
Eh, yeah. Been there. I played as Kratos in God of War. He's extremely appalling, but the games were at least fun and their art direction interesting.
I wouldn't play a character who embraces all of those traits but I would like a game where I have the OPTION to do those things.
I would also like a game where I would have to face the consequences of doing those things.
I would also like a game where I would have to face the consequences of doing those things.
That isn't really that evil compared to murder.verdant monkai said:
[quote/]
5.Would prefer to leave an enemy to die broken and mutilated rather than finish them off.
6.Is manipulative and willing to exploit the earnest and unaware.
[/quote]
These are both highly common traits.
But to answer your question, absolutely.
Spec Ops: The Line has already completely proven that the relationship between player and character does not have to be positive in the slightest.
In fact, I think games need to have something like this in order to truly evolve. It's such a fascinating medium that has enormous amounts of untapped potential and it would be a shame to squander that in the name of squeamishness.
Considering how the majority of played characters in games tend to either be implicitly or explicitly mass-murdering psychopaths I don't think I'd have problems playing a character who is an absolute asshole. As long as he's a well written asshole.
I play video games to fantasize and enjoy a story. I have no interest in fantasizing about raping people or killing children or even being a true sadist. I have very little, to virtually no interest in stories that involve those elements. Personally.verdant monkai said:
As for the other bits - stealing from the very poor, well there are circumstances that can justify that sufficiently (being even poorer yourself, being in an extreme survival situation) and might make interesting story elements or require a deep background that might interest me. Leaving an enemy broken and/or mutilated doesn't fuss me if they are actually evil themselves and y'know, deserve it in some way. Manipulative is fine. Exploiting the earnest and unaware is fine. Not for real life, obviously, but for a game to have that - again with some need would be my requirement to enjoy - isn't out of bounds for me.