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Jan 20th, 2018 at 20:15:16 - Shadow of Mordor (XBONE) |
The next three log entries will be about Shadow of Mordor. I previously played this game soon a after release, and did not think much about the experience at the time. The only thing that I previously noted was how much I enjoyed the mechanics of the Nemesis System. I did, however, notice quite a few ethical issues on this most recent play through. Today, I would like to discuss one specific topic: The way the game encourages the use of fear to obtain goals. Most people call this tactic terrorism.
The Merriam-Webster definition of terrorism is "the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion". In the case of Mordor, I find this definition is accurate. My character has quite a few unlocks due to previous play. One specific ability allows the player to kill an enemy and immediately viciously stab and hack the defeated NPC in order to send nearby enemy Orcs into a panic. This is the Tolkienesque equivalent of a car bomb going off at a military checkpoint. The only thing that kept me from seeing this earlier was the wrapper. These actions are used repeatedly to get information from enemies so that you can track down bigger baddies in order to get revenge for the loss of your family.
I enjoyed a number of Tolkien's works, in a funny coincidence, while deployed. Does this mean that I think the game is immoral and a promotion of extremist tactics? No, I do not. I do however think it is important to recognize themes at work in fiction. I do not like taking away choice in games, and I think there is a line. I just do not think this is that line. It feels more like a choice that you have to think about and possibly justify. How far are you willing to go? Where is the line that you are not willing to cross? Also, I have to admit that If this were a game that involved performing similar actions in a modern military setting, I would probably find it completely unplayable.
All this and I still have not discussed the Nemesis System. More on that tomorrow.
This entry has been edited 1 time. It was last edited on Jan 20th, 2018 at 20:16:04.
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Jan 18th, 2018 at 10:51:15 - Witcher 3 (XBONE) |
I woke up early to finish this quest line off. Replaying this section of the game gave me a good chance to reexamine some of the things that the developers did with this story.
First, I believe that this subject matter could have been handled VERY poorly, but was instead treated in a respectful manner. None of the characters were treated as one dimensional cartoons, instead even allowing the characters who were not seen to be developed in a realistic manner. Second, and I find this really impressive, the game handles a sadly common issue in a manner that does not belittle anyone. The fantasy setting may actually serve to help make the subject matter more bearable while at the same time not oversimplifying the issue. Finally dragging the truth out of the Baron is almost stomach churning. Here you have an all too human character that has committed a reprehensible act (domestic violence, killing of his own unborn child) that MUST continue to be engaged in an escort mission. The idea of this man's past literally and figuratively coming back to haunt him seems fitting.
Overall, the story can be dealt with in a couple of different ways. The first way is kill the unborn baby demon. The second is to give it peace and allow it to become a gentler version of the spirit. I chose the latter, and maybe that is the point of the quest line. While choosing the peaceful resolution (though there is plenty of fighting along the way), it did not absolve the Baron of his sins. I believe allowing for the different approaches is wholly ethical in relation to this story. It would be wrong to take away an individual's agency in how they would wish to deal with a similar situation in real life. Maybe that was the point.
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Jan 18th, 2018 at 00:57:54 - Witcher 3 (XBONE) |
Day two of Witcher 3 is a fun bit of quid pro quo with the "Bloody Baron", and includes what amounts to a chance to play detective. Bits of info about your sort of daughter are teased, and the player eventually ends up on (what I consider) an awful fetch it quest for a goat. To be more accurate, it is a fetch it quest to reunite a crazy old farm warlock with his goat. The goat section of this quest really drives home one of the things I dislike about the game: Playing errand-boy. You cannot turn around without tripping over a new honey-do-list. Still, the results are almost always worth the task.
The first section of todays play through led to great flashback storytelling by the Baron. The Baron promises more help if the player finds his missing family. The clue hunting section (similar to recent Batman games) provides the first clue that the Baron may be hiding something through excellent voice acting. The acting makes every common gameplay section completely worth the slog. That said, when it comes to overused missions, Witcher does interesting things that makes them just a bit better than the rest. Even washed out Xbox One visuals do not detract from the game (much).
The mission chain continued with a hunt for the previously mentioned warlock. As luck would have it, our elderly friend had angered some locals who then formed a small mob around his hut. This provides another opportunity to chose your own fate, so to speak. I chose a peaceful resolution and moved on. Of course, more exchange of services for information was in my future. I retrieved the gentleman's goat and then received further information on the Baron. As it turns out, the Baron may be more involved in his family's disappearance than he originally let on. In fact, themes of domestic violence, alcoholism, and abortion take center stage. The real ethical debates facing the player are showing their faces.
But more on that tomorrow....
This entry has been edited 1 time. It was last edited on Jan 18th, 2018 at 01:00:19.
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Jan 16th, 2018 at 21:18:31 - Witcher 3 (XBONE) |
I chose to pay The Witcher 3 for my game log. As luck would have it, I happened to have kept a previous save near one of my favorite quest lines: The Bloody Baron.
I began the game completely lost, with a vague recollection of the game’s mechanics. I wandered near an area close to the inn where players encounter the titular Baron’s men. On first glance the encounter appears to be pretty standard RPG fare. A chance encounter with a hostile group that can be tackled a few different ways, including violence or a more diplomatic approach. However, the encounter does not play out as a pure renegade/paragon moment in which many are used to taking part. No meter is present to show me just how "bad" or "good" my character becomes. Instead the potential tussle can have a significant impact on later portions of the game, such as the reactions of the townsfolk and the other men when the player arrives at the Baron's keep. Also of note, the dialogue has a certain roughness to it that lends towards the believability of the conversations. For my part, I decided on the diplomatic approach by purchasing a round of drinks for the soldiers, thus sparing myself the need for a battle in the bar.
With the encounter out of the way, I proceeded to familiarize myself with the menus and systems. I immediately remembered the difficulty of prepping for battle. Mixing potions, coating blades, and meditation were all necessary to achieve victory. The prep actions are avoidable if a lower difficulty level is chosen, but I personally enjoy making the effort. Each hard won battle takes on a greater sense of accomplishment. Still, the game has plenty to offer for those who prize story over tinkering. Unfortunately, the exploration of the story would need to be pushed along on another day. The simple act of searching for provisions had led my play session easily past the hour mark.
It was a nice welcome back to a world that I never completely explored, and I will absolutely need more than the originally allotted thirty minutes per session to make my way through what I consider to be the most emotionally and ethically ambiguous quest-line I have ever played in a game.
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| JChambers's GameLogs |
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JChambers has been with GameLog for 6 years, 10 months, and 8 days |
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