From lack luster final levels, to stories which fail to provide closure, a good ending can be hard to come by. Fortunately though, over the years, gaming has provided us with some spectacular closing acts which have not only withstood the test of time, but also demonstrate the medium’s capability of delivering truly great story telling.
It’s rare when I see something be thoroughly misinterpreted by just about everyone. Maybe it’s because games don’t cover easily misinterpreted themes that often, or maybe it’s because the way games tackle certain subjects lends to one interpretation, even if the polar opposite was supposed to be read into it.
sto-ry noun A narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse. Designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader. Along with ‘why are we here’, the age-old questions of whethere videogames are art or a true storytelling medium have been thrown back and forth for over three decades. And as always with …
Red Dead Redemption is often considered one of the best video games of the previous generation, a reputation it hardly deserves. The game routinely takes control away from the player when agency is needed, and gives too much freedom when it’s superfluous. Red Dead is totalitarian in its gameplay and narrative presentation, but provides a hollow, laissez faire open world in an attempt to compensate. These problems culminate to create a game that misunderstands, and straight up ignores, the interactive nature of the medium it’s in. Despite its dazzling production values, Red Dead Redemption fails as a video game because of its unengaging, scarce, and meaningless interactivity.
I’ve got to be honest, I’m a sucker for westerns. The lone cowboy and his trusty horse roaming the open and untamed land is admittedly romantic, but I also find it incredibly thrilling. A time filled with endless possibilities and complex stories that go beyond the good guy/bad guy dynamic. After all, the good guys don’t always have to wear white.