You may have never heard of Blogs of the Round Table. It’s a cross-blog event that encourages blog authors to write about specific topics each month. BoRT has undergone a format change recently, but I’ve been examining many of the older entries, and in playing catch-up, have decided to begin by writing on the April 2008 topic: Variations on a Theme, in which authors discussed their favorite (or least favorite) videogames, and what theme(s) tied them together.
In examining my favorite games, I found that much of what made me enjoy various games was gameplay related: very atmospheric or innovative games, games with a lot of variety, or just games that are excellent examples of their genre.
The one element I was able to identify that seemed more thematic was conspiracy. Perhaps that’s not the right word. Let me explain. The two games I pinpointed here are Beyond Good and Evil and Half-Life 2. In Beyond Good and Evil, you’re a photographer working to destabilize the obviously evil government by obtaining photographic evidence of their wrongdoings. In Half-Life 2, you play Gordon Freeman, a human freedom fighter battling an occupying extraterrestrial army. Without gushing, I absolutely love both games.
While the government conspiracy in Beyond Good and Evil is clear, classifying The Combine in Half-Life 2 as a government may be a stretch, as may be label of conspiracy. Nonetheless, there are definite thematic similarities.
I suppose there’s something about taking on an enemy that’s so obviously more powerful that calls to me. Head-to head, the DomZ and the Alpha Sections would destroy Jade. That’s why it’s largely a stealth game. Head to head, Combine armies would overpower even the mighty Gordon Freeman. That’s why he so often has NPC companions and never fights more than one helicopter, airship, or strider at a time.
Perhaps it’s all about freeing oppressed people. In a totalitarian envoronment, a member of the populace arises to become the classic unlikely hero. Maybe that’s the lure for me.
Resisting a powerful government or occupational force is a theme we’ve seen in movies like Red Dawn and V for Vendetta, but not nearly as often in video games. I suppose the same could be said of Red Faction: Guerilla, but I haven’t yet played that game. Perhaps I should.
