magerette
Hedgewitch
- Joined
- October 18, 2006
- Messages
- 7,834
But that's part of the issue!! WHY wasn't the Rev made a more sympathetic character? Why was he made SO odious??
My take is because it was clearly meant to be a "lesser of two evils" choice. That's what gives the game depth. Instead of the Reverend at least having right on his side, or Abby proved beyond doubt to be a helpless pawn defending herself, you the player are forced to think about your decision differently. It's not like a NWN type choice, where line 1 = "good," line 2 = neutral and line 3= "evil" every single dialogue.
I think you may feel strongly manipulated because you would prefer that a more traditional and clear cut option was available or at least included as a possibility in these situations, and Corwin there were times when I also felt that way. I was occasionally bewildered in The Witcher that all my attempts at neutrality still lead to consequences I didn't foresee or intend. But to me this isn't just a superficial yanking around by the devs, it's an attempt to force you to think outside the same patterns as every other RPG and for you to see that there is more to a choice than a good or bad intention, because your choice involves more characters and forces than just yourself, and there are things you just have no control over. To me it makes fighting evil, or even facing it, more meaningful, because it is always using you and other characters and forces in ways you don't expect, and has some very good disguises.
But really, if the options were as obvious and clear cut as the NWN example, is that any less manipulative? Only then, it's the world that's been manipulated, distorted and simplified into a more railroaded trio of possible decisions. You pretty much know where everything you do will take you, and the manipulation lies in the devs trying to hide this as much as possible with minor distractions in sidequests and story line to make it seem like your choices are affecting the game world or your character, when really everything is leading to a predetermined conclusion built on your choice of option 1, 2 or 3.
That's how I see it anyway.
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2006
- Messages
- 7,834