A New Type of Narrative
Game narratives have always been a sticking point for many gamers. The emotional connection gamers achieve with titles is important with the overall success. Though for some genres, the story has not been as important as the gameplay. While I enjoy playing as the main character or the amnesiac or squad member, is it time for gamers to live the life of the not-so-important secondary character?
Co-op games have the best opportunity for this type of narrative, working as a team with another gamer to achieve some goal. But there has never been a title where the gamer is not the center of all attention, or the hero. Granted, this narrative could prove difficult, since in some ways, the character the gamer plays will always become the main character for themselves, would that create new gameplay possibilities?
The role-playing genre has always been about main characters and secondary and even third-class characters. Gamers played the lost hero, the amnesiac, and the destined hero; but what if you played the best friend to them or even one of the characters you met on the way? What would their story be?
For example, you meet the hero of the title and he asks you to join him. There is the first choice, do you join him and complete their mission or do you decline and continue to live your life, but notice the changes in the game due to their actions. I think that would create a greater overall narrative to the story.
Take the Final Fantasy Compliation, I think this is the perfect opportunity to explore more of the other characters without making titles like Dirge of Cerberus. Developers can use the existing assets and worlds, but develop the stories of those smaller characters to make them more dimensional, rather than just the typical class characters.
While some gamers may see this as recycling the same title, and it is true, it could be a quick business revenue stream (like the Madden series), if done properly, game universes could become more than just the one title or quick expansion. I want to play as the best friend, who knows he’s not the destined hero, but tries to assist in any way he can. Going on missions for them, finding out information in areas the hero wouldn’t normally go, and even making more difficult decisions so the hero is not blasphemed.
What About Corporal Shawn Natko?
It’s just an idea, and one that will probably not happen. In the end, I want to see the non-focused characters become more than sacrificial characters. RPG’s do the best they can with all the characters because they have the time, but the FPS genre could use it in mass quantity.
Tags: Final Fantasy, Killzone 2, Narrative
Interesting thoughts, although there are a few obvious obstacles to that type of game. First, playing as the hero’s crony doesn’t sound as dramatically compelling as, well, not playing as the hero’s crony. The hero wins the final battle, kisses the girl and lives happily ever after. The crony gets a pat on the shoulder (if he doesn’t die tragically in the final battle).
My second point is pretty simple: remember MGS2?
But seriously, some games have come close to pulling off what you describe. The elaboration of Zack Fair’s story in Crisis Core was done pretty well (much better than Dirge). Sometimes telling side stories through other character’s eyes works well, Blue Shift is another good example. More often than not though, they turn out to be hasty cash-ins designed to make a quick buck *cough* ODST *cough*.
I think dying in combat would just as great as winning the final battle. Imagine the final cutscene from the eyes of the fallen crony, only to wake up in a bed recovering.
MGS2 still had a great story, even though it involved a gimped Raiden. Though in that game, Raiden was the main character and Snake took the second seat. It was just a slap in the face of gamers.
Crisis Core, I will agree even though I still haven’t beaten in yet.