Two can be as bad as one (part 2)

You know what sucks? Potentially losing your son to a psychotic serial killer who constantly mocks you and makes you face potentially fatal trials in order to receive titbits of information regarding his whereabouts. Good opportunity to meet women though.

Essentially Heavy Rain presents the human condition under high amounts of pressure, it's a daunting and engaging tale and the conflict of emotion is a central theme in the game's story-telling. Therefore it is not unexpected that the exploration or romantic feeling is available to the player through one of the game's protagonists- Ethan. It is not, however, essential.

Ethan, having faced his share of tragedies in the opening segments of the game finds himself single and alone. In order to cheer himself up a bit he decides to play the worlds most dangerous game of hide and seek with his son, Shaun. That's how I like to remember the game anyway. In reality Shaun is captured by the infamous 'Origami Killer'. A murderer so twisted that he actually folds his victims into the shapes of swans and boats...That doesn't happen either.  

Ethan faces many a peril on his journey to find Shaun and along his path he meets the mysterious journalist Madison Paige. Madison begins to take an interest in Ethan's strange behaviour and impressive facial animation and eventually, through her, Ethan gains moments of solace during his time of anguish. 

From then on an unlikely romance doth bloom. The climax of which revolves around a touching moment far into the game when the player is presented with the opportunity to make your feelings for Madison known. Ethan shares an intimate moment with her, still distraught over not having found your son. You sit together, just the two of you on the floor of a rented apartment. You lean in and press X to shout her name.  The player is then given the choice of whether or not they want to continue romancing Madison.

Once again the player that wants to remain single is catered for, you feel just as emotionally invested in Ethan as a character if he chooses not to engage in romance. The story delivers on whatever choice that the player decides and nothing is lost from the experience if you choose a certain path. Well, except an increasingly awkward cut-scene if you chose to play the game with your parents or significant other in the room. 

Thematically however is there something lost in playing a love-less Heavy rain? In essence the game's opening segment, which depicts Ethan's happy life with his two children and wife, demonstrates to us the wholeness of a character. Through the tragic loss of life that character drains into seemingly a hollow vessel which we as the player must fill with our own new experiences. One of the pieces that's taken from Ethan is that of his love-life, so in choosing not to begin a relationships a-new are we really experiencing the full thematic development of a character?

Well, in a way the player never does lose out, Ethan's life may never be the same again but for the freedom of choice to remain important it must be understood that some things will always permanently be lost. A theme that's revealed early on in the game through the emergence of death in an otherwise idyllic scene.

The single player is still respected. Ethan's journey feels just as complete without romance by the end segments of the game, as does Madison's. For the lone protagonist it's not a case of 'Heavy Pain'.

That was poor.

...pour.

One is the loneliest number (Part 1)

The cold sting of loneliness is a feeling not completely unfamiliar to most gamers. Many games are designed with the lone-wolf in mind. In fact, I bet you're alone reading this right now. Crying.

However, an interesting phenomena has arisen in many current generation games. The protagonist must always, for some reason, require a significant other. Do we not feel our character whole unless they can wrap their virtual arms around a group of pixels and polygons whom they adore? Do we not respect our gritty action hero as much if he doesn't occasionally throw down his chainsaw-photon-lazer cannon in a mad fit of passion? Or is this just the staple of the medium's progression and maturation - and we  have come to expect the same themes present in the best literature or film in Video Games?

Thus I will take you on a journey, a journey of emotional connection and feelings (but not bitterness) as I examine the way relationships are explored in modern games- and also the way in which the single protagonist is put across (but not because I'm bitter).

(Spoilers may follow)

Mass Effect

Long gone are the days where the potential romance of a blue temptress causes controversy. In fact, most gamers now demand it, which has led to some very questionable decisions on the part of the development team behind the upcoming Smurf tie-in movie game.

Mass Effect has been this generation's flagship title in regards to giving the player a variety of options when it comes to seducing. Do you like anthropomorphic bird people? Or perhaps blue tendril-headed women are more you thing? Even Humans (you sicko) are catered for in Bioware's epic sci-fi series.

Relationships are handled in Mass Effect much in the same way they are in real life. You start a conversation with someone you're interested in, say something stupid, re-load your save file and try again. Your companion will eventually show signs of interest; they may wink at you suggestively, awkwardly fidget whenever you come near or even, sweetest of all, implant their alien spawn ready for it to burst forth from your stomach in an explosion of gore. Whomever you choose to court you're guaranteed by the end of the game to have them reveal their feelings for you, you may then proceed to the bedroom. To discuss battle-tactics and particle acceleration. 

However, do the players who choose to have their Shepard remain single gain the full package? Or is a single Shepard a hollow shell of a being?

In the first instalment of the series not a lot will change if your Shepard chooses to stay focused on his or her mission. The choice is there for you to remain single and you're not penalised for choosing it. This is where Mass Effect excels, choice. It appears that in the modern world of gaming a lot of storylines will thrust romance upon you. (what a terrible choice of words) A lone Commander, in this case, appears to be just as well-rounded as the hero who takes to the stars in search of love. I mean, apart from that cut-scene that plays where he or she curls up in the foetal position and gently cries themselves to sleep in their cabin. Other then that it's fine. Okay, maybe that doesn't happen.

In the second Mass Effect there is also acknowledgement given to those who choose to remain loyal to their love interests from the first game, because if there's one thing gamers long for it's fidelity.(For the sake of not spoiling the game I will replace key words in the next few sentences with code words).

Before the final mission where Shepard ventures off to finally confront the DANDELIONS a cutscene will play - if you have chosen to romance one of your crew they will appear in your cabin - ready for the intimate discussion of battle-tactics. If you remain loyal to a previous love-interest instead of gallivanting about your ship like a interstellar Romeo however, your Shepard will be portrayed longingly gazing at a framed picture of said previous interest. Before gearing up to stop the inevitable DANDELION threat of course. So whilst there may be no reward given to the gamer who wants to remain completely single throughout the entirety of the Mass Effect series at least there is an equal sense of emotional attachment given to those who stay single in the series' second instalment.

Well, in most cases this will happen - for some reason my game portrayed my male Shepard who had romanced Liara as staring intently at a picture of his former lieutenant Kaidan. My Shepard was a deeply conflicted fellow.

Therefore, Mass Effect treats the player who chooses to remain alone just as well as the player who wants to sow his wild space-oats across the galaxy. Ultimately no relationship is forced onto the player and you lose nothing significant for choosing this path. Your hero can still be a hero regardless of whether they do it alone or whether they bring a +1 into the picture.  

Next Heavy Rain...

In Defence Of Anders

The flames of controversy started burning after a perturbed 'fan' on Bioware's official forum commented that the creative giant's latest fantasy epic - Dragon Age 2 - ignored the game's core audience 'Straight Male Gamers'.

User 'Bastal' put forward the argument that instead of catering to the game's main audience, straight males, Bioware instead went for an all-inclusive approach in regards to romance options, accessible to all sexual orientations. Lead writer David Gaider responded to the accusations stating that romances were designed to cater for everyone and not just the "Straight Male Gamer". He put forward the ideal that Bioware should deliver an option for all rather then alienating any particular group.

The relationship most criticised by Bastal, and others who may have shared similar views, was that of Anders - an interest for both a Male and a Female protagonist. The main reason for criticism was that Anders would openly make his feelings for a male Hawke (the playable character) known in a way that some deemed uncomfortable.

Without spoiling too much of the game I will briefly describe the way in which Anders makes his feelings known. I will also draw a parallel with another Bioware game in which a heterosexual relationship was presented, which received no complaints.

Part way through the game the player will meet Anders, a rogue mage whom you need to befriend in order to continue your quest. In exchange for his services Anders will ask you to aid him on his own personal quest. Once said quest is complete - the climax of which is very emotional for the mage - Anders will subtly flirt with the playable character, be it male or female. The player can choose to respond in any way they deem fit and can, at this point, shoot down any possibility for a romantic relationship further into the game. If this is chosen no more flirting between the two will occur.

Now this open portrayal of emotion seems to be the main problem amongst critics of Anders' romance - the fact that he will make the first move, regardless of your gender. Thus, critics argued that the game as a whole alienates the straight male and the way romance was approached was done in a way to pander to the tastes of females or homosexual males. However I see several main problems with this argument, and they are as followed:

• It is unreasonable to expect Bioware to deliver a believable and engrossing narrative (which many will agree is the strongest asset of their works) with no character outwardly making their feelings, romantic or otherwise known. Not only does this create a conflict within the portrayal of characters (For example strong and outspoken characters having to be coerced into reveal their feelings) but it also limits the varied quality of the romances encountered throughout the game.
• Anders is NOT the only character to make his feelings known first, he may be the only male character to do so but Isabela (who can be romanced by both a male and female protagonist) does the same. Not only is this the case but Isabela is far more forefront in regard to her flirtation - even uttering the line "And I have a room at the hanged man (a tavern in game) if you're looking for company later" - not the most subtle of proposals you'll agree.
• The open nature of sexuality seems to be something that coincides with the lore of the Dragon Age universe. In a similar fashion to the attitudes held by the ancient Greeks the world of Dragon Age doesn't appear to have the same social-stigma attached to same-sex relationships as the real world. Since Dragon Age: Origins players have been able to commit to such a romantic pursuits without any issues about morality or a need for feelings to be hidden being raised. It seems the same stigmas that may exist in part of the real world don't apply in the fantasy realm.

• Another Bioware RPG 'Mass Effect 2' presents a remarkably similiar potential romantic pursuit, with no complaint (So I don't potentially spoil a second game I'll leave the details as vague as possible) A character by the name of Tali is helped by the protagonist during their adventures. She then develops an infatuation with the player-character that is made particularly obvious - a remarkably similar portrayal to that of Anders. However Tali is only a romance option available to a Male player - strictly heterosexual. This was never criticised.
• A main point of Bastal's argument relied on the implication that straight males would only play as a straight male character. Though it is often the case that players of either gender play as the opposite sex from time to time - even taking advantage of  the romantic pursuits available. Thus the addition of non-heterosexual relationships doesn't necessarily alienate heterosexual gamers.

Thus I put forward the argument that Dragon Age 2 doesn't alienate the Straight Male Gamer, but instead panders to them and all orientations in full - for the sake of believable narrative and characters. Instead I think the problem that critics of this particular issue have is the idea of open homosexual expressions of love - maybe a thought too radical for some.

To read the original post from User Bastal : Visit here