Emotionally-involving videogames?
August 12, 2004 4:23 PM Subscribe
Can you think of any emotionally-involving videogames? Games where you develop an emotional bond for the characters, and have an emotional investment in the outcome of the story? Has a game ever made you cry?
Even though I've been playing games for two decades, I can only think of a very small handful. Games like ICO are extremely rare.
Some interactive fiction can be emotionally involving... This guy mentioned that 1983's Planetfall and 1998's Photopia were the only two games to ever make him cry.
I know other people become emotionally attached to RPGs (the Final Fantasy series, for example) or simulations (The Sims, Tamagotchi). I'd love to hear your experiences and some examples. Thanks.
Even though I've been playing games for two decades, I can only think of a very small handful. Games like ICO are extremely rare.
Some interactive fiction can be emotionally involving... This guy mentioned that 1983's Planetfall and 1998's Photopia were the only two games to ever make him cry.
I know other people become emotionally attached to RPGs (the Final Fantasy series, for example) or simulations (The Sims, Tamagotchi). I'd love to hear your experiences and some examples. Thanks.
Pizza Hut. Atari. Space Invaders. 1983. I'm getting all choked up just thinking about it.
posted by lilboo at 4:31 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by lilboo at 4:31 PM on August 12, 2004
The Kings Quest games. I never cried, but being a young lad playing them all day, I felt an emotional bond.
I've also played characters in MUDs that were emotionally involving.
posted by cmonkey at 4:41 PM on August 12, 2004
I've also played characters in MUDs that were emotionally involving.
posted by cmonkey at 4:41 PM on August 12, 2004
This isn't really what you're asking about, but I get all emotional when I come across my old games (RPGs, mostly) in my room. I haven't played any console games in about 6 or 7 years—the middle of high school or something like it—but man do I have a strong attachment to them. Even the ones that, really, weren't that good, like Crono Trigger.
I'm not above admitting that when that one female character died at the end of one of the disks in Final Fantasy 7, I was not so hard-hearted as to be unaffected, at least the first time I played it.
posted by kenko at 4:55 PM on August 12, 2004
I'm not above admitting that when that one female character died at the end of one of the disks in Final Fantasy 7, I was not so hard-hearted as to be unaffected, at least the first time I played it.
posted by kenko at 4:55 PM on August 12, 2004
Thank you, Mario! But our princess is in another castle!
Nooooooooooooooo!
posted by kjh at 5:01 PM on August 12, 2004
Nooooooooooooooo!
posted by kjh at 5:01 PM on August 12, 2004
My former roommate, who's deep into game-design and ludology, had very good things to say (in this respect) about Beyond Good and Evil.
posted by Marquis at 5:02 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by Marquis at 5:02 PM on August 12, 2004
Actually, I cried when I beat Paperboy.
Yeah, seriously.
It was the first achievement of my life.
posted by cmonkey at 5:04 PM on August 12, 2004
Yeah, seriously.
It was the first achievement of my life.
posted by cmonkey at 5:04 PM on August 12, 2004
Definitely Planetfall. I cried when Floyd died. Then I found out a lot of other people did, too.
A Mind Forever Voyaging, too -- another very emotional text adventure game from the unparalleled masters of Infocom. You grow old and watch your son join a cult in the year 2050, while the town you live in goes to hell. But then they have this extremely touching happy ending, too.
posted by inksyndicate at 5:05 PM on August 12, 2004
A Mind Forever Voyaging, too -- another very emotional text adventure game from the unparalleled masters of Infocom. You grow old and watch your son join a cult in the year 2050, while the town you live in goes to hell. But then they have this extremely touching happy ending, too.
posted by inksyndicate at 5:05 PM on August 12, 2004
You mentioned Photopia, so obviously you're familiar with modern interactive fiction. Those tend to be the only games to which I form any strong emotional bonds. Emily Short and Andrew Plotkin have both written games that affected me on a very emotional level.
posted by Acetylene at 5:14 PM on August 12, 2004 [1 favorite]
posted by Acetylene at 5:14 PM on August 12, 2004 [1 favorite]
Yeah, Ico was really engaging for me.
I think, to date, the most immersive game I've played has been Torment.
I got pretty attached to Case in the old Neuromancer game too.
Interplay puts out the best games (we'll just forget about that recent Star Trek mirror universe crappy thing).
posted by Caviar at 5:23 PM on August 12, 2004
I think, to date, the most immersive game I've played has been Torment.
I got pretty attached to Case in the old Neuromancer game too.
Interplay puts out the best games (we'll just forget about that recent Star Trek mirror universe crappy thing).
posted by Caviar at 5:23 PM on August 12, 2004
Oh, yeah, I completely forgot about LucasArts - I've loved the whole Monkey Island series, and I got really into The Dig.
posted by Caviar at 5:24 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by Caviar at 5:24 PM on August 12, 2004
I'll admit it...Final Fantasy X, because the ending was sad. I also felt a surprisingly strong "homecoming" feeling when beginning to play the sequel, X-2, which featured many of the same characters and settings.
Also felt some emotion with Final Fantasy VIII, a game which thanks to various technical problems I took about 4 years to complete. It was mostly because when it ended I realised the characters I had "known" for a hefty chunk of my life weren't going to come back ever again, at least as I originally knew them.
posted by puffin at 5:27 PM on August 12, 2004
Also felt some emotion with Final Fantasy VIII, a game which thanks to various technical problems I took about 4 years to complete. It was mostly because when it ended I realised the characters I had "known" for a hefty chunk of my life weren't going to come back ever again, at least as I originally knew them.
posted by puffin at 5:27 PM on August 12, 2004
The very first Marathon involved me emotionally, but because of the atmosphere, not the characters.
Likewise, the original Descent, played as a networked game, but because of the known presence of my coworkers 'inside' the ships.
Finally, I once read a site recording a funeral ceremony conducted online in an MMP game set in WW1 aviation. A member of the community had died in RL, and the entire subscriber base turned out and flew a set path together at the same time as a 'last flight' sort of tribute.
The screen shots included open IRC-like radio chatter, and as you read these people's realtime thoughts on what was happening and their grief... well, it was gripping and I am quite bummed that I don't have a link.
Slightly askew from your thrust but I hope it sheds light. Novelty and real people tend to be more involving in interactives than stories, for some reason.
posted by mwhybark at 5:45 PM on August 12, 2004
Likewise, the original Descent, played as a networked game, but because of the known presence of my coworkers 'inside' the ships.
Finally, I once read a site recording a funeral ceremony conducted online in an MMP game set in WW1 aviation. A member of the community had died in RL, and the entire subscriber base turned out and flew a set path together at the same time as a 'last flight' sort of tribute.
The screen shots included open IRC-like radio chatter, and as you read these people's realtime thoughts on what was happening and their grief... well, it was gripping and I am quite bummed that I don't have a link.
Slightly askew from your thrust but I hope it sheds light. Novelty and real people tend to be more involving in interactives than stories, for some reason.
posted by mwhybark at 5:45 PM on August 12, 2004
Wolfenstein for realistically evoking the period.
posted by inksyndicate at 5:47 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by inksyndicate at 5:47 PM on August 12, 2004
Ditto the ending of Final Fantasy X, which had me bawling like a little baby.
Actually, I've felt emotionally invested in nearly every Final Fantasy game. FF II (or IV) most of all.
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:47 PM on August 12, 2004
Actually, I've felt emotionally invested in nearly every Final Fantasy game. FF II (or IV) most of all.
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:47 PM on August 12, 2004
xenogears. ok, not crying, but a strong emotional connection. one of the most detailed storylines i've ever played.
posted by littlegirlblue at 5:47 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by littlegirlblue at 5:47 PM on August 12, 2004
The Dig was beyond awesome. It was inventive and alien throughout. But I didn't feel attachment to the character.
In Half Life I was stunned when the US Military executed a scientist while I watched from a walkway above. Freaked me right out, that did. Caught me wholly off-guard. There were plenty of other startling moments in that game, particulary during the first 1/3rd.
And there was that adventure on a space station with a crazy computer adversary, I forget the name. That was pretty good.
But emotional attachment to the character? Can't say as I've ever had.
Though NetHack is always good for great wailing and gnashing of teeth when the character dies, if only because it means you're right back at square friggin' one after a month's worth of concerted effort.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:09 PM on August 12, 2004
In Half Life I was stunned when the US Military executed a scientist while I watched from a walkway above. Freaked me right out, that did. Caught me wholly off-guard. There were plenty of other startling moments in that game, particulary during the first 1/3rd.
And there was that adventure on a space station with a crazy computer adversary, I forget the name. That was pretty good.
But emotional attachment to the character? Can't say as I've ever had.
Though NetHack is always good for great wailing and gnashing of teeth when the character dies, if only because it means you're right back at square friggin' one after a month's worth of concerted effort.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:09 PM on August 12, 2004
Earthbound for SNES. for real. the last little plot development during the final battle with giygas had it raining a little bit in my eye area!
posted by mcsweetie at 6:12 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by mcsweetie at 6:12 PM on August 12, 2004
Ocarina of Time swept me away in a romance, at the age of 21. So many things were so beautiful and haunting in that game that you couldn't help but get emotionally involved. Ditto for FF VII (i think) on the SNES.
Beyond Good & Evil was one of the best games last year for having some of the same sensibilites - as well as Kingdom Hearts the year before (disclaimer: i am now 27).
I think i am just a sucker for orphaned adventuring children bringing down The Man, and kawaii NPCs.
It's funny to note that i don't get so attached to/involved in standard d+d RPGs, which turn out to be more of a strategy game with an army of one character/a party, a game of stats rather than a game of personal conquest with emotional rewards. A much more intellectual style of gaming, i guess.
posted by elphTeq at 6:48 PM on August 12, 2004
Beyond Good & Evil was one of the best games last year for having some of the same sensibilites - as well as Kingdom Hearts the year before (disclaimer: i am now 27).
I think i am just a sucker for orphaned adventuring children bringing down The Man, and kawaii NPCs.
It's funny to note that i don't get so attached to/involved in standard d+d RPGs, which turn out to be more of a strategy game with an army of one character/a party, a game of stats rather than a game of personal conquest with emotional rewards. A much more intellectual style of gaming, i guess.
posted by elphTeq at 6:48 PM on August 12, 2004
In Wing Commander II, one of your old wingmates from Wing Commander I perishes in a suicide run on a Kilrathi base station. I played through the scenario several times trying to find a way, any way, to prevent this tragic loss. So sad.
I really enjoyed the characters in Grandia II. The final sequence, in which you walk around and learn what happened to the characters after the climactic battle, was genuinely touching.
Similarly in Suikoden III, I became quite attached to noble Chris and the likeable-if-somewhat-less-than-heroic Thomas.
posted by SPrintF at 6:52 PM on August 12, 2004
I really enjoyed the characters in Grandia II. The final sequence, in which you walk around and learn what happened to the characters after the climactic battle, was genuinely touching.
Similarly in Suikoden III, I became quite attached to noble Chris and the likeable-if-somewhat-less-than-heroic Thomas.
posted by SPrintF at 6:52 PM on August 12, 2004
Oh crap! I remember the first, and maybe the second, Suikoden! Ah, my unrecoverable youth! Those games held and hold a lot of attraction for me; like elphTeq I never really got into the more explicitly stats-based games.
elphTeq: FFVII was on Playstation. It was also the first Final Fantasy game whose American number corresponded to its Japanese number (the previous release was FFIII on SNES, FFVI on Famicom), and one of the first (I think) really successful RPGs released in America. This was a great vindication to me, as I used to write letters to Nintendo (no joke) asking them why they didn't release more RPGs in America, and they would write back saying that they didn't sell. Then Square left them for Sony and released FFVII. Ha!
Final Fantasy V was supposedly a really good game; one of my friends who was Japanese had it and Secret of Mana II (among many others).
posted by kenko at 7:01 PM on August 12, 2004
elphTeq: FFVII was on Playstation. It was also the first Final Fantasy game whose American number corresponded to its Japanese number (the previous release was FFIII on SNES, FFVI on Famicom), and one of the first (I think) really successful RPGs released in America. This was a great vindication to me, as I used to write letters to Nintendo (no joke) asking them why they didn't release more RPGs in America, and they would write back saying that they didn't sell. Then Square left them for Sony and released FFVII. Ha!
Final Fantasy V was supposedly a really good game; one of my friends who was Japanese had it and Secret of Mana II (among many others).
posted by kenko at 7:01 PM on August 12, 2004
System Shock 2 scares the ever-loving crap out of me, and not in a monster-closet Resident Evil sort of way. The game uses audio logs to retell the last hours of the recently deceased crew and they create an engrossing narrative.
You, as the player, are never really allowed to settle into that comfortable headspace where you can calmy reassure yourself that it's "only a game." Hearing people leave notes for lovers or speculate about what is taking over the ship or, my favorite and probably the creepiest, listen to them praise their new, mutated, alien form while you are crouched in a dark bathroom trying to unjam a shotgun makes for some very emotionally intense gameplay.
There's one twist nearly halfway through the game which is the most effective storytelling I think I've ever seen in a videogame. It makes you feel scared and alone and just generally fucked, but at the same time it motivates you to try to solve the mystery out of a sense of something like personal responsibility. Really great stuff.
posted by mmcg at 7:02 PM on August 12, 2004
You, as the player, are never really allowed to settle into that comfortable headspace where you can calmy reassure yourself that it's "only a game." Hearing people leave notes for lovers or speculate about what is taking over the ship or, my favorite and probably the creepiest, listen to them praise their new, mutated, alien form while you are crouched in a dark bathroom trying to unjam a shotgun makes for some very emotionally intense gameplay.
There's one twist nearly halfway through the game which is the most effective storytelling I think I've ever seen in a videogame. It makes you feel scared and alone and just generally fucked, but at the same time it motivates you to try to solve the mystery out of a sense of something like personal responsibility. Really great stuff.
posted by mmcg at 7:02 PM on August 12, 2004
Chrono Trigger, especailly when you're playing Chrono in the first half of the game.
posted by phyrewerx at 7:10 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by phyrewerx at 7:10 PM on August 12, 2004
I was in my early teens and had been playing Flood (2) for something like 2 years. You played as this cute blobby thing that can climb up walls and change weapons, flick switches, etc. The guy's species had been wiped out and in many ways it reminds me of those Abe's Oddworld games. You had a timelimit as the water level was rising, and level 1 is deep in the sewers. Every level you completed got you a password so you could continue later, and I avoided reading the passwords given in magazines. After many months I had gotten to level 42 -- the final level. It was very easy and I rushed around doing my thing and made it to the end... the end game sequence played as my character emerged from the sewers and was run over by a car.
posted by holloway at 7:13 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by holloway at 7:13 PM on August 12, 2004
Suikoden and Suikoden II. Ah, Gremio! I blubbered during both of them, but the first one especially.
posted by Hypharse at 7:13 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by Hypharse at 7:13 PM on August 12, 2004
Slightly different, but I think MMORPGs offer many more opportunities for real emotional moments, such as memorial gatherings of avatars to remember friends who died IRL.
posted by rushmc at 7:14 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by rushmc at 7:14 PM on August 12, 2004
Ditto on System Shock 2, although I'm not sure if that's exactly what you're asking about.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:14 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:14 PM on August 12, 2004
Damn! I wrote a long response to this question while elsewhere, previewed it, and apparently forgot to post! I'll just recap briefly. I don't really dig on the Japanese-style "RPG" -- they seem closer to adventure games than RPGs, although I did enjoy NES Zelda -- but some of the classic non-Japanese RPGs have been emotionally engrossing for me.
Legacy of the Ancients, first and foremost, but I was at an impressionable age. Wasteland and Fallout, obviously.
Ultima III and IV. "Thou hast lost an eighth!"
I desperately needed to kick Nickademus' butt in Phantasie III.
Non-RPG games have pulled at the heartstrings as well:
The desperation of saving the last survivors of Homeworld's decimated planet, and the frightening prospect of fleeing across a hostile galaxy.
Serious Sam's exasperation. Max Payne's descent into becoming a rage-filled automaton. Going in for the final kill in Master of Orion II. Fearing the last conflict of Freespace.
Metroid.
Hell, I even got attached to my creature in Black & White, and the crappiness of the AI actively worked to make the player despise the game.
posted by majick at 7:20 PM on August 12, 2004
Legacy of the Ancients, first and foremost, but I was at an impressionable age. Wasteland and Fallout, obviously.
Ultima III and IV. "Thou hast lost an eighth!"
I desperately needed to kick Nickademus' butt in Phantasie III.
Non-RPG games have pulled at the heartstrings as well:
The desperation of saving the last survivors of Homeworld's decimated planet, and the frightening prospect of fleeing across a hostile galaxy.
Serious Sam's exasperation. Max Payne's descent into becoming a rage-filled automaton. Going in for the final kill in Master of Orion II. Fearing the last conflict of Freespace.
Metroid.
Hell, I even got attached to my creature in Black & White, and the crappiness of the AI actively worked to make the player despise the game.
posted by majick at 7:20 PM on August 12, 2004
Oh, and the game Exile because it felt like a barren world, and the physics engine was so realistic. The game had a wonderful feeling of flying and you could zip around doing ducks and dives (so you could head towards a rocky outcrop and roll the joystick around and flip away, with enough time for a timed enough time for a forward roll and push away on your feet -- like swiming and changing direction at the end of a pool).
Because it had such easy and fine controls I cared about the character more than I would have Mario in the slippery slidy ice world. The character always did what I told him and I always felt in control. Even when I was being attacked by birds and thrashing around and being bashed I could see the birds flying in a pattern and zip out throw the hole. The character had unlimited lives -- he was in a spacesuit and the shielding would wear down in a fight, but once depleted you would teleport to an earlier point in the game, where if you weren't being attacked, your shields would replenish. In other words Exile didn't have that that bullshit 3 lives game idea and it was the same guy each time you played.
posted by holloway at 7:27 PM on August 12, 2004
Because it had such easy and fine controls I cared about the character more than I would have Mario in the slippery slidy ice world. The character always did what I told him and I always felt in control. Even when I was being attacked by birds and thrashing around and being bashed I could see the birds flying in a pattern and zip out throw the hole. The character had unlimited lives -- he was in a spacesuit and the shielding would wear down in a fight, but once depleted you would teleport to an earlier point in the game, where if you weren't being attacked, your shields would replenish. In other words Exile didn't have that that bullshit 3 lives game idea and it was the same guy each time you played.
posted by holloway at 7:27 PM on August 12, 2004
Glad to see Ico mentioned. I should add another of my personal favorites to the list: Grim Fandango. Disarmingly charming and never lets you forget that it's "just" a game, but manages to sneak in a surprisingly poignant ending anyway. Bastards.
posted by DaShiv at 7:34 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by DaShiv at 7:34 PM on August 12, 2004
I was inconsolable at the end of FF X. It was SO embarrassing. Sobbing, snuffling, the works. I had an enormous crush on Sir Auron, and when he died, I was so sad, because he was so heroic. And then the ending....ack. It's the kind of thing that's impossible to explain to someone else, but you do form emotional attachments to some of these characters.
I cried at the end of FF7, 8, and 9, too, although I never really thought about it until now. The mood, the music, the romance, all factor in. FF 8 especially, had music that really exploited your emotions.
posted by iconomy at 7:34 PM on August 12, 2004
I cried at the end of FF7, 8, and 9, too, although I never really thought about it until now. The mood, the music, the romance, all factor in. FF 8 especially, had music that really exploited your emotions.
posted by iconomy at 7:34 PM on August 12, 2004
Blade Runner was a wonderful adaptation of the movie. At one point you walk out on the deck of your apartment overlooking the city, and Blade Runner Blues starts playing and it's just a beautiful moment. By the end of the game I felt as moved by the fates of the replicants as I was by Rutger Hauer's soliloquy in the movie. The game's got multiple endings, and it was definitely worth it to play through a couple of times to see all of them.
There was also an obscure adventure/horror game called Harvester that I played a few years back. It was a really bizarre game, set in a small town with an abandoned missile base, a firehouse staffed by gay firefighters, and a secret lodge where a Freemason-like group met. At one point in the game a woman commits suicide, and I remember being incredibly sad when I found her.
I still have Blade Runner, and I would love to play Harvester again if I could find it.
posted by Khalad at 7:40 PM on August 12, 2004
There was also an obscure adventure/horror game called Harvester that I played a few years back. It was a really bizarre game, set in a small town with an abandoned missile base, a firehouse staffed by gay firefighters, and a secret lodge where a Freemason-like group met. At one point in the game a woman commits suicide, and I remember being incredibly sad when I found her.
I still have Blade Runner, and I would love to play Harvester again if I could find it.
posted by Khalad at 7:40 PM on August 12, 2004
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is actually funny, and has an involving ending(s). The Baldur's Gates, I suppose: I drifted away from the second one before I got too far, but you definitely develop attachments and repulsions towards your NPC buddies. (I liked Jaheira, unlike, apparently, the rest of everybody.) Starcraft had a good story. Final Fantasy X got me, but the all-time saddest Final Fantasy moment was in Final Fantasy 2, with the kid mages turning to stone. Aw!
Also, Dogmeat in Fallout.
posted by furiousthought at 7:46 PM on August 12, 2004
Also, Dogmeat in Fallout.
posted by furiousthought at 7:46 PM on August 12, 2004
ff2 and ff3 were ones I had big attachments to the characters in (not enough to weep or anything, but yeah). Anything else FF since has been too cheesy for me. (lol)
posted by angry modem at 7:57 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by angry modem at 7:57 PM on August 12, 2004
Chrono Trigger rocked, too.
posted by angry modem at 7:58 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by angry modem at 7:58 PM on August 12, 2004
I'm not above admitting that when that one female character died at the end of one of the disks in Final Fantasy 7, I was not so hard-hearted as to be unaffected, at least the first time I played it.
I seem to remember being far more upset when Sector 7 collapses, towards the start, and most of the characters who've helped you up to that point get killed.
Metal Gear Solid, perhaps? That had quite a few moments that I found quite sad.
I'd second Grim Fandango for being the most affecting, though. I love that game, it's the best thing LucasArts ever did.
posted by reklaw at 7:59 PM on August 12, 2004
I seem to remember being far more upset when Sector 7 collapses, towards the start, and most of the characters who've helped you up to that point get killed.
Metal Gear Solid, perhaps? That had quite a few moments that I found quite sad.
I'd second Grim Fandango for being the most affecting, though. I love that game, it's the best thing LucasArts ever did.
posted by reklaw at 7:59 PM on August 12, 2004
I also was drawn deeply into the first Marathon game. Not only did I think about it during my classes, I had dreams about the Pfhor coming after me. I haven't played the game in years, but I relived it recently at the terminal archive at bungie.org. Gave me goosebumps!
posted by brism at 8:04 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by brism at 8:04 PM on August 12, 2004
This is a great question as it really does seem to highlight how few games have actual characters people care about, let alone emotionally engaging situations.
Bizarrely, the first games that come to mind are from the Wing Commander series. I actually cared about my wingmates, and despite the cliche nature was always pretty involved in the storylines. This was in stark contrast to the faceless masses of people who piloted ships with you in the X-Wing games, and most other space combat games. And I actually think the first two -- before they added Mark Hamill and full motion video -- were more engaging.
System Shock 2 was pretty involving, but since your interaction with the characters is almost entirely indirect (hearing and reading their logs) it is a little different.
Ocarina of Time made me cry. (Seriously.)
I really liked the characters in Interstate '76.
I'm a bit too young to have really played Infocom and the other text adventure games, but certainly they focused more on engaging the players emotionally and intellectually in ways most games don't attempt to today.
Some of the graphical adventure games attempted to do this as well, although to varying degrees of success. Half of Sierra's classic games were more comedy than tragedy -- Leisure Suit Larry has certainly effected my life in more ways than I'd like to admit, but I wouldn't say I'm emotionally bonded to him. Even the serious ones often failed to engage, but I suppose King's Quest and Quest for Glory had their moments. The first Gabriel Knight game was also very well written and emotionally engaging. I remember the Lucasarts games being particularly bad at creating any sort of real emotional connection, despite their general fun.
The adventure game genre has pretty much died, and I think with it most of the attempts to present games as interactive stories with real ideas and worthwhile characters. The last one I really played was the Longest Journey, which certinaly tried to be emotionally engaging but mostly just put me to sleep with its verbosity.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem at times made me think I was crazy, and scared the hell out of me. Despite the limited story, I felt attached to many of the characters, and was so happy when one of them actually survived.
Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time is another recent game that did a moderately good job of develping its characters into people you could care about.
Of the first person shooters I've played, the only ones I ever cared about the characters in were the Dark Forces / Jedi Knight games. Ah, Kyle Katarn and Jan Ors.
Finally, Animal Crossing. But you have to play it to understand. It's just too weird to explain why people love those animals and send them letters. And give them clothes. And deliver their lost gameboys back to them.
posted by adam at 8:14 PM on August 12, 2004
Bizarrely, the first games that come to mind are from the Wing Commander series. I actually cared about my wingmates, and despite the cliche nature was always pretty involved in the storylines. This was in stark contrast to the faceless masses of people who piloted ships with you in the X-Wing games, and most other space combat games. And I actually think the first two -- before they added Mark Hamill and full motion video -- were more engaging.
System Shock 2 was pretty involving, but since your interaction with the characters is almost entirely indirect (hearing and reading their logs) it is a little different.
Ocarina of Time made me cry. (Seriously.)
I really liked the characters in Interstate '76.
I'm a bit too young to have really played Infocom and the other text adventure games, but certainly they focused more on engaging the players emotionally and intellectually in ways most games don't attempt to today.
Some of the graphical adventure games attempted to do this as well, although to varying degrees of success. Half of Sierra's classic games were more comedy than tragedy -- Leisure Suit Larry has certainly effected my life in more ways than I'd like to admit, but I wouldn't say I'm emotionally bonded to him. Even the serious ones often failed to engage, but I suppose King's Quest and Quest for Glory had their moments. The first Gabriel Knight game was also very well written and emotionally engaging. I remember the Lucasarts games being particularly bad at creating any sort of real emotional connection, despite their general fun.
The adventure game genre has pretty much died, and I think with it most of the attempts to present games as interactive stories with real ideas and worthwhile characters. The last one I really played was the Longest Journey, which certinaly tried to be emotionally engaging but mostly just put me to sleep with its verbosity.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem at times made me think I was crazy, and scared the hell out of me. Despite the limited story, I felt attached to many of the characters, and was so happy when one of them actually survived.
Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time is another recent game that did a moderately good job of develping its characters into people you could care about.
Of the first person shooters I've played, the only ones I ever cared about the characters in were the Dark Forces / Jedi Knight games. Ah, Kyle Katarn and Jan Ors.
Finally, Animal Crossing. But you have to play it to understand. It's just too weird to explain why people love those animals and send them letters. And give them clothes. And deliver their lost gameboys back to them.
posted by adam at 8:14 PM on August 12, 2004
I had to talk a friend down after FFVIII. Sure, it was after a whole lotta whisky, but really, we had a Man Hug Moment (tm) from the "a whole lotta people died and I couldn't save them!!!" encounter. He cried for pixels that died, people! No laughing here!
Beyond that, it's mainly been nigh-psychotic breaks from Bond 64. But I expect any male of my generation has the same tales.
Unless, of course, he's a puss with a HEART OF STONE!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:23 PM on August 12, 2004
Beyond that, it's mainly been nigh-psychotic breaks from Bond 64. But I expect any male of my generation has the same tales.
Unless, of course, he's a puss with a HEART OF STONE!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:23 PM on August 12, 2004
How about in Final Fantasty 7, at the end of the final movie, when you see Aeris looking down on all on the rest of the characters? *sniff*
posted by iconomy at 8:35 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by iconomy at 8:35 PM on August 12, 2004
Ditto on Nethack.
I would also like to add The Neverhood. Unfortunately the abandonware copy linked to looks like it doesn't include the cutscenes that make the game so emotionally involved.
There's this heart wrenching scene where the evil king has taken away the giant robot's teddy bear and has it suspended above the robot's cage. The robot looks so forlorn it just breaks your heart.
good thread.
posted by clockwork at 8:46 PM on August 12, 2004
I would also like to add The Neverhood. Unfortunately the abandonware copy linked to looks like it doesn't include the cutscenes that make the game so emotionally involved.
There's this heart wrenching scene where the evil king has taken away the giant robot's teddy bear and has it suspended above the robot's cage. The robot looks so forlorn it just breaks your heart.
good thread.
posted by clockwork at 8:46 PM on August 12, 2004
Thanks for the Wing Commander II reminder. You're right, that was a tragic death.
On the other hand, Wing Commander III left me feeling deeply empty and annoyed after (spoilers) your loyal buddy Hobbes leaves for no good reason, gets killed off, and then you blow up his home world...with no acknowledgement in the story that you're committing massive genocide against the Cat-rathi people.
posted by inksyndicate at 8:46 PM on August 12, 2004
On the other hand, Wing Commander III left me feeling deeply empty and annoyed after (spoilers) your loyal buddy Hobbes leaves for no good reason, gets killed off, and then you blow up his home world...with no acknowledgement in the story that you're committing massive genocide against the Cat-rathi people.
posted by inksyndicate at 8:46 PM on August 12, 2004
Put me down for Grim Fandango too, although I wasn't overly keen on Glottis. The ending is quite touching.
posted by tracicle at 9:19 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by tracicle at 9:19 PM on August 12, 2004
How about in Final Fantasty 7, at the end of the final movie, when you see Aeris looking down on all on the rest of the characters?
I've never felt closer to iconomy than this moment.
I also felt an emotional attachment to the characters in Skies of Arcadia (dreamcast, gamecube) but I couldn't tell you why.
posted by eyeballkid at 9:57 PM on August 12, 2004
I've never felt closer to iconomy than this moment.
I also felt an emotional attachment to the characters in Skies of Arcadia (dreamcast, gamecube) but I couldn't tell you why.
posted by eyeballkid at 9:57 PM on August 12, 2004
fff: the name of the game you can't recall is Marathon, which brism and I cite.
brism: I occasionally hear the Pfhor chittering as I drop off to sleep, years later, and will start awake when I hear it.
clockwork: oh yeah, the Neverhood was fantastic. Man I LOVE that Fat Man score. The primary game designer, Doug TenNapel, does comics these days.
posted by mwhybark at 10:08 PM on August 12, 2004
brism: I occasionally hear the Pfhor chittering as I drop off to sleep, years later, and will start awake when I hear it.
clockwork: oh yeah, the Neverhood was fantastic. Man I LOVE that Fat Man score. The primary game designer, Doug TenNapel, does comics these days.
posted by mwhybark at 10:08 PM on August 12, 2004
mwhybark: Thanks for the heads up on Doug. I'm definately going to take a look his current work.
posted by clockwork at 10:50 PM on August 12, 2004
posted by clockwork at 10:50 PM on August 12, 2004
Harvest Moon 64 got to me. You take over your dead grandfather's farm, fix it up, buy and take care of the livestock, make friends with the people of the village (and trade recipes!), woo and marry one of the local girls. And after a few years your father comes to visit, and you sit outside and talk.
posted by Guy Smiley at 10:50 PM on August 12, 2004 [1 favorite]
posted by Guy Smiley at 10:50 PM on August 12, 2004 [1 favorite]
not crying, but there are definitely some adventure games that left me with a pretty strong "woah, wish it wasn't over" kind of feeling: grim fandango, longest journey, gabriel knight 3.
maybe it's just me, but I wasn't really affected by ff7 since the whole time I was just pissed off that they didnt use a phoenix (fenix?) down on her.
posted by juv3nal at 10:57 PM on August 12, 2004
maybe it's just me, but I wasn't really affected by ff7 since the whole time I was just pissed off that they didnt use a phoenix (fenix?) down on her.
posted by juv3nal at 10:57 PM on August 12, 2004
Definetly Max Payne - I just felt so damn sorry for the guy.
posted by Orange Goblin at 12:53 AM on August 13, 2004
posted by Orange Goblin at 12:53 AM on August 13, 2004
Five words: The Secret of Monkey Island.
Loom is a close second.
posted by Keyser Soze at 1:23 AM on August 13, 2004
Loom is a close second.
posted by Keyser Soze at 1:23 AM on August 13, 2004
Not sure if this counts, but playing the original Aliens vs. Predator as the marine scared me shitless.
posted by cell at 2:45 AM on August 13, 2004
posted by cell at 2:45 AM on August 13, 2004
I know some players have cried playing City of Heroes over having to kill some zombified civilians.
But I am gonna have to go with System Shock 2 for sheer power to scare me. It's the M. Night Shyamalan of video games. And I mean that in a good way, not in a recent "The Village" way. Those guys hanging from their necks groaning at you about how you're going to die too. ACK.
Maybe for me, its just all about zombies.
posted by jopreacher at 3:32 AM on August 13, 2004
But I am gonna have to go with System Shock 2 for sheer power to scare me. It's the M. Night Shyamalan of video games. And I mean that in a good way, not in a recent "The Village" way. Those guys hanging from their necks groaning at you about how you're going to die too. ACK.
Maybe for me, its just all about zombies.
posted by jopreacher at 3:32 AM on August 13, 2004
I feel really really sorry for the poor little lemmings when they hold their heads, go "cheep cheep cheep" and blow up.
posted by jfuller at 3:34 AM on August 13, 2004
posted by jfuller at 3:34 AM on August 13, 2004
One game (Ultima 7 Part II) immediately comes to mind whenever anyone asks me this question.. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't played it, but the game designers had an advantage compared to most games. Since Ultima 4, the games (including some 4 offshoots) took place in primarily the same setting, with many recurring characters, so there's a huge stock of existing world to work with and manipulate.
It's hard to think of another. There have been lots of games where I'm up late at night and definitely have a strong interest in how things are going, very much wrapped up in the story, but I don't know if that's the same thing as emotional investment. As lame a thing as it is to admit, Titanic pulled all my strings way better than any video game ever has. Even Armageddon hit all the right notes in the right sequence in a way more effective than any video game.
I have to chime in my support for Planescape: Torment, the game probably has the best NPCs ever, and Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem messed with my head in a most pleasant manner.
And I definitely agree with Loom. It was probably the first video game I played that felt more important than just a game.
posted by cCranium at 4:45 AM on August 13, 2004
It's hard to think of another. There have been lots of games where I'm up late at night and definitely have a strong interest in how things are going, very much wrapped up in the story, but I don't know if that's the same thing as emotional investment. As lame a thing as it is to admit, Titanic pulled all my strings way better than any video game ever has. Even Armageddon hit all the right notes in the right sequence in a way more effective than any video game.
I have to chime in my support for Planescape: Torment, the game probably has the best NPCs ever, and Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem messed with my head in a most pleasant manner.
And I definitely agree with Loom. It was probably the first video game I played that felt more important than just a game.
posted by cCranium at 4:45 AM on August 13, 2004
*sniff* That poor little flute boy in Zelda: Link to the Past.
Can't say that a game made me cry outright, but I did have an attachment to FFIV and FFVI characters -- got all sympathetic when Leo died, when Shadow died (my first play through), and, well, yeah. FFX too, despite the cheesiness. Ico.
posted by mkn at 7:04 AM on August 13, 2004
Can't say that a game made me cry outright, but I did have an attachment to FFIV and FFVI characters -- got all sympathetic when Leo died, when Shadow died (my first play through), and, well, yeah. FFX too, despite the cheesiness. Ico.
posted by mkn at 7:04 AM on August 13, 2004
i'll second/third eternal darkness. i wouldn't say i was *emotionally* involved--i found it all less affecting than even a bad movie--but i did get taken in by the game's insanity effects more than once. scared myself silly playing it alone in a dark house. (okay, so maybe it was about as affecting as a bad movie.) i didn't become attached to any of the characters, and the endgame suffered the same flaw as all endgames, but definitely good at sucking you into the "world" of the game.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:30 AM on August 13, 2004
posted by crush-onastick at 7:30 AM on August 13, 2004
Anachronox. I played it once, about three quarters the way through, but was obstructed by bugs and crashes. A year or two later I got the unofficial patches, and was able to start playing the game again.
It was long (it took months of solid playing) involved, and immersive (with fantastic music) and it has quite something of an end. After I'd finished it I was left with a feeling that I can only describe as bereavement.
I feel like a complete dick saying it, of course, but there we are. I wasn't going to be with these non-existent, pretend pixels-representing-people, ever again. I was a little choked.
True story.
posted by Blue Stone at 7:32 AM on August 13, 2004
It was long (it took months of solid playing) involved, and immersive (with fantastic music) and it has quite something of an end. After I'd finished it I was left with a feeling that I can only describe as bereavement.
I feel like a complete dick saying it, of course, but there we are. I wasn't going to be with these non-existent, pretend pixels-representing-people, ever again. I was a little choked.
True story.
posted by Blue Stone at 7:32 AM on August 13, 2004
I'm really surprised that Myst and its sequels have yet to be mentioned. I never played the original, but was absolutely taken with Riven in college - I'd turn out the lights and play with headphones on. While I didn't have an emotional attachment to the characters, per se, I felt very connected to the world I was in. There was something inherently peaceful and idyllic about it.
I played through the demo of Myst IV the other day and found myself feeling nostalgic for the overall feel of the game. It's a game that can be enjoyed without actively doing anything, you know?
posted by aladfar at 8:13 AM on August 13, 2004
I played through the demo of Myst IV the other day and found myself feeling nostalgic for the overall feel of the game. It's a game that can be enjoyed without actively doing anything, you know?
posted by aladfar at 8:13 AM on August 13, 2004
I don't think any game has ever made me cry, and there wasn't much in the way of character development back when I used to play games. But I did get really attached to the world of "Myst", and I would sometimes go back and wander through parts of it just for the feeling of being in another world. I really liked the idea of Channelwood and wanted it to exist, somewhere.
posted by Mars Saxman at 8:15 AM on August 13, 2004
posted by Mars Saxman at 8:15 AM on August 13, 2004
System Shock and especially System Shock II. Creee-py.
Also, I loved loved loved the world of Thief. Garrett is kind of a tool, but the steampunk feel of the world really did it for me.
posted by bshort at 8:26 AM on August 13, 2004
Also, I loved loved loved the world of Thief. Garrett is kind of a tool, but the steampunk feel of the world really did it for me.
posted by bshort at 8:26 AM on August 13, 2004
I get emotionally excited playing some racing games if the racing is competitive and fair, regardless if I win or not. The first Quake and the first Unreal definitely stirred more than excitement. Never been emotionally attached to any of the characters in a game.
posted by juiceCake at 8:50 AM on August 13, 2004
posted by juiceCake at 8:50 AM on August 13, 2004
I'm ashamed to admit that I cheated through System Shock 2. I wasn't man enough to attempt to tackle it without a lot of help. That is one scary scary piece of work.
posted by graventy at 9:06 AM on August 13, 2004
posted by graventy at 9:06 AM on August 13, 2004
For me: Chrono Trigger, and (am I the only one? I can't believe no one else said this, though maybe I'm just a bad reader) Trinity.
posted by evinrude at 9:45 AM on August 13, 2004
posted by evinrude at 9:45 AM on August 13, 2004
Response by poster: I almost forgot about Loom, Grim Fandango, and Neverhood. This is a great list that should keep me busy for a while... Thanks for these wonderful recommendations. (Keep them coming!)
posted by waxpancake at 9:59 AM on August 13, 2004
posted by waxpancake at 9:59 AM on August 13, 2004
mwhybark: nope, turns out the name of the game I was thinking of is "System Shock."
I never got Grim Fandago to work on my computer. MSWin had changed too much to support it.
posted by five fresh fish at 11:47 AM on August 13, 2004
I never got Grim Fandago to work on my computer. MSWin had changed too much to support it.
posted by five fresh fish at 11:47 AM on August 13, 2004
Woot! System Shock II is in the public domain!
Or it's been openly pirated by what appears to be a very well-known games site...
posted by five fresh fish at 11:53 AM on August 13, 2004
Or it's been openly pirated by what appears to be a very well-known games site...
posted by five fresh fish at 11:53 AM on August 13, 2004
A very well-known games site wouldn't pirate a game. Which very well-known games site, fff?
posted by Blue Stone at 1:13 PM on August 13, 2004
posted by Blue Stone at 1:13 PM on August 13, 2004
Enquiring minds want to know! Please email me with the url ;)
posted by iconomy at 1:18 PM on August 13, 2004
posted by iconomy at 1:18 PM on August 13, 2004
It was one of the ones in this thread. Lemme look...
MMCG's link. Goes to "the underdogs" website.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:29 PM on August 13, 2004
MMCG's link. Goes to "the underdogs" website.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:29 PM on August 13, 2004
Baldur's Gate. Baldur's Gate II. I'm sure if I was into Final Fantasy, I'd grow emotionally attached to its characters too.
Loom and many others were interesting but the visuals and audio were too basic for me to bond with the characters.
posted by azazello at 1:45 PM on August 13, 2004
Loom and many others were interesting but the visuals and audio were too basic for me to bond with the characters.
posted by azazello at 1:45 PM on August 13, 2004
The ending of Fallout did it for me.
any chance I could get that url as well?
posted by arha at 3:01 PM on August 13, 2004
any chance I could get that url as well?
posted by arha at 3:01 PM on August 13, 2004
Well, that game didn't hold my interest for long. Like, perhaps an hour.
I'm afraid I basically computer-gamed myself to boredom a few years ago. I just loathe spending my time playing games now.
What I really need to do is replace my browser habit with a code-programming habit. It'd be far more productive.
posted by five fresh fish at 3:20 PM on August 13, 2004
I'm afraid I basically computer-gamed myself to boredom a few years ago. I just loathe spending my time playing games now.
What I really need to do is replace my browser habit with a code-programming habit. It'd be far more productive.
posted by five fresh fish at 3:20 PM on August 13, 2004
Holy spoilers.. oh well, I don't need to play these games now :)
And seing that the ninja and the little girl in FF3 were father and daughter was pretty heartwarming.
posted by Space Coyote at 5:57 PM on August 13, 2004
And seing that the ninja and the little girl in FF3 were father and daughter was pretty heartwarming.
posted by Space Coyote at 5:57 PM on August 13, 2004
Well, I guess Ststem Shock 2 has emotionally effected me, now. After a few hours of downloading, installing and loading it - it completely failed to do anything beyond the options screen.
That left me feeling ... "frustrated" and a little "disappointed".
posted by Blue Stone at 5:26 AM on August 15, 2004
That left me feeling ... "frustrated" and a little "disappointed".
posted by Blue Stone at 5:26 AM on August 15, 2004
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ferociouskitty at 4:30 PM on August 12, 2004