Welcome to the kick-off thread of the Gaming Union Discussion Club.(Also known as the GUDC). Today's topic of discussion is: What Games Affected You Emotionally?.

For awhile now, games have been striving to become a new medium in the industry. A time when games would be considered on the same level of things like movies, and not just dismissed as "silly things for kids". A game released early on this year called Heavy Rain has been critically acclaimed by many, for its deep and emotional storyline.

For many of us there have been those games that made us cry, made us laugh, made us feel attached to the events and characters portrayed on the screen. So, with all of those things in-mind, on to today's featured discussion. What games have affected you emotionally? On to mine, and a few of them may surprise you:

• KINGDOM HEARTS:
  

I first played the original KH's as a young child, it was my first ever exposure to the RPG genre. I still remember to this day standing in Best Buy staring at the shelf of games, conflicted on what to buy. Before me, the original Ratchet and Clank, and the other game? Kingdom Hearts. I remember it took me quite awhile to decide on which game to buy. But eventually I decided to spend my hard earned money on KH.

I made that decision because the combination of Disney characters and these strangely dressed-crazy haired characters of a design I'd never seen before, peaked interest in my young mind.

Instantly, I was fascinated by the world of KH's, I felt like I was on Destiny Islands with Sora, Riku, and Kairi. Everything about the storyline pulled me in and I couldn't stop playing. When Sora was whisked away onto a crazy adventure I felt like I was going with him all along the way, meeting new friends and exploring new worlds, it was all just awesome.

Skipping ahead way into the future.....

• ASSASSIN'S CREED:
  

I didn't get around to playing this till late last year, and I'm one of the very, very few people who loved it. Opinions on this game are usually polar opposite, you either loved it, or you completely and entirely hated it. I haven't really encountered any people who felt in between.

Alot of people didn't like Altair all that much, but I thought he was awesome. A total badass who took his missions seriously and without remorse. The whole plot of AC intrigued me, I felt like I was Altair learning the ways of the Assassin. "Nothing is true, everything is permitted".

Under the instruction of my master, Al-Mualim, I proceeded to do what he told me, time after time. But as the game went on, along with Altair, I began to question why I was doing what I was doing.

While the game did get repetitive at times, I was too interested by the plot to really care. And while the "Go here, assassinate this person" mission premise was always the same, the actually little mini-plots to each assassination were pretty varied.

• KINGDOM HEARTS II:
  

I rushed home from gamestop the day this was released, and literally played for about 8-9 hours with around one bathroom break and no food breaks. Being a big KH's fan I was there as soon as the store opened and couldn't wait to play the game.

With the addition of the mysterious Organization XIII, a totally revamped battle system and new worlds and characters, KH2 blew me away at the time with how many improvements had been made.

No longer would I fight against a camera that seemed determined to do the opposite of what I wanted it to do.

I couldn't wait to see the continuation of Sora's journey and his quest to find his long lost friend. By the end of the game I felt fulfilled and like Sora could finally, truly, be himself again.



I'm sure I could think of more but I will spare you guys an even bigger wall of text than the one already here, now lets hear from all of you!

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GamingUnion.net Member Awards 2009 Results

Darryl Wrote:[b]King/Queen of the Chatbox: Caleb (9 Votes)

[/b]

KH II wasn't quite the introduction of Organization XIII... No, that would be

KINGDOM HEARTS: CHAIN OF MEMORIES

To this day it's still my favorite game. Mostly because I don't have a PS3 or 360.
On my 10th birthday I was so excited to buy this game. All I had played of KH was Destiny Islands through Traverse Town at a friend's house, and being that age I was obsessed. I didn't have a PS2, but I had a GBA, so I went for CoM as soon as it came out.
Couldn't wait to get home to play it, I instantly slid it into my GBA SP in the car.
Watched the FMV intro movie, and couldn't move until I got home.
Once home, I ran up to my room and started a fantastic and dark adventure.
Chain of Memories doesn't even start off mildly, you're instantly asking questions. The questions never stop, either.
It's the most dramatic game I've ever played. Dramatic especially when they threw the puppet Riku into the game, and dramatic when his intense anger for Sora shows. Dramatic when Sora has no idea why or what has happened to his best friend. Dramatic Irony when the player knows Sora has forgotten all about Kairi and replaced those memories of her with the unfamiliar Namine.
The script is so much better than KH1 and especially better than KH2, the gameplay is fun once you get used to it, and the graphics were great for the handheld. Castle Oblivion is so artistic and creepy.
The combination of the story and music moved me to tears at times. I cried. Especially on the FMV ending of Sora's story.
I've never felt that from any other game. There's something special about the GBA version of Chain of Memories, I swear.

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Well....A game that affected me emotionally, well there is one that comes to mind straight away...

The legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

When i was a kid, I did play a lot of games on the NES, SNES and Genesis, but they were just there to pass time and have a good laugh with friends when we played multi-player. It wasn't till 1998 when Ocarina of time came out that I felt emotionally attached to a game.

Coming out of the 2D world of the and making a jump into the 3D realm was done so perfectly, even to this day, people are still captivated by the game.
Not to say that emotions weren't provoked in previous games, but the whole environment of the game, just added a sense of presence, purpose and emotional attachment to all the NPC's which would either give you hints, aid you along the way or have entire plots based of them (Princess Zelda, saria, Princess Ruto, King Daurina and Epona just to name a few)

Just to avoid spoilers, i wont go into too much detail but when the alternate world of this game is presented before you, you really do feel a sense of sadness, knowing that something bad has happened to Hyrule and it just adds that much determination to complete the game.

The inclusion of the ocarina itself in the game is also very revolutionary as it allows you to change the environment around you, ability to access special areas or even just to play a tune that makes you feel happy afterwards (Saria's theme).

If I was to name a game which made me decide that I wanted to be a gamer. This would have to be it!!

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Here are some games that affected me emotionally. Without spoiling them too much:

Sonic & Knuckles

It was one first games I ever played. So I just liked the feeling satisfication of beating and prequels before it.

Crisis Core

The ending was so beautiful and so sad at the same time. I think I got teary eyed.

Kingdom Hearts Series

I loved the first KH from beginning to end. I liked how the Disney characters where incorpated into an epic battle between the light and darkness. I kind of feel in real life ,that you can't always follow the path of either side to accomplish everything you want. So I loved it when Riku found a path in between light and darkness, that would help him move on.

Metal Gear Solid 1 to 4

The twists, conspiracies, and all the unique enemies in those games , really got me thinking a lot about our purpose in the world. Are some of us we really part of some system, that is controlling or manipulating our all our thoughts and actions? Probably not. But I can’t help ponder that sometimes. Especially at looking some events going on today. I also felt sorry Raiden, and how messed up he got. I would hate being used a tool as well.


The World Ends With You

I felt could I relate to Neku, with his negative feelings about people in the world. I had some bad experience with people especially at school when I was kid and I got too afraid to socialize with anyone. I basically felt a lot that the world was against me. I was glad that it changed for him at the end though, as it has for me.

Uncharted 2

The first scene that game, had huge emotional impact alone. I was just amazed that I start all bloody and wounded, and trying to get out of a train car that was hanging off a cliff! Eveytime I fell or slipped, I jumped in fear. Then there was thrilling experience with being attacked by choppers and and tanks. Wow! I also hated Flynn for being such a dick to Drake. I wanted to beat up him so badly. I hated that he had the last laugh too.

Final Fantasy 13

There are parts of the plot here that were a little confusing. But I felt really sorry for Sazh and what happened to his son. I thought the scene with him and Vanille about this was just downright sad.

I also felt for Fang before her eidilon came out. Although I understood that saving Cocoon was important. But who the hell wants to become a monster? It's just not a simple decision to for anyone to make. I also loved music they played for that scene. It was just choreographed so well, with what was going on.

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Metal Gear Solid
There are very few games that effect me on an emotional level, but the Metal Gear Solid series would have to be one of them. Between the character design, and the fact that the game series spans such a massive amount of time, Kojima provided me with the space and depth I needed to really get attached to his characters (even if some plot elements were disagreeable).

Heavy Rain

Perhaps it's because I'm a sucker for some very streamlined storytelling elements, or because when a game actually have intriguing narrative I can't help but take part in it. Heavy Rain was a game that managed to actually make me care about Ethan, and his plight. I found myself playing, and replaying the game just to see what other outcomes I could have upon his life, which is pretty unusual for me because most single player experiences I only go through once (even for games I love). It was cliche, somewhat predictable, and a little over-the-top, but by the time the experience was through I felt that Heavy Rain had delivered to me an experience that was most certainly unforgettable and for that I felt genuinely pleased at the games conclusion.

Otherwise it's hard for me to say I actually cared about any games character to the point of losing some sort of bodily fluid over it. I love some characters, some places, some game sequences, but to say that I actually have been touched emotionally by a game is a pretty huge statement. It means that a game, or a gaming franchise, has established a connection with me that I will never ever forget and to be able to discern that from simply 'having fun' or 'watching a plotline'. I suppose it means a game has become less of a 'game' and more of an 'experience'.

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twitter.com/34thGingerbread

It is interesting to see how many of those games that hit us emotionally were developed by Asian countries. The games that hit me emotionally that are obvious include:

Final Fantasy X
When I beat this game, my brother had gone to college. I could relate so much that I actually cried, not just teary eyed; when this game was beaten I was in tears. My parents were dumbfounded until I explained it 30 minutes later. It is plain and simple, missing something you cherished and something you wanted to stay with, but they make it so dramatic and so sad that I couldn't hold back. This game was just one of those games that forever will hit everybody, because everybody loses something they cherish.

World of Warcraft
To date there have been countless "studies" on how this game affects us emotionally, mentally, physically et cetera. World of Warcraft was by far one of the most powering games because you felt like you could accomplish anything. When my guild downed Ragnaros for the first time, we thought we were the best players in the entire world. It wasn't until mid-way through BWL did Elitist Jerks / Goon Squad start up their theory crafting fame. This was a game that not only was very satisfying when doing something like a raid, but even when farming materials to sell or use, you were like "Yeah, I would devote my time to this." I still regret not continuing to play, but then I look at how much fun I am having now without the game. While it was a fun game, it was to much of a time dump that was too much fun. I cant replace the friends I have now with in-game friends, how could I ever depend on them for real situations?

Call of Duty
The original was probably the most touching war game I have played in a long time. How many times does a game actually feel like it is tailored to honor those veterans that have fallen for its citizens? Not many, most of the games put out are your generic run-and-gun that have little meaning to what they actually do. This dislinkage nowadays can be seen all over gaming blogs and getting flames from the readers and praises from the mothers.

Call of Duty 1 was different, this game hit on what it meant to be a soldier. You had to put up with the crap, do things that tested you limits all the time. If you ever watched Band of Brothers, probably one of the best HBO series, you could follow it and get even more out of the game. The scene where Lt. Spears mows down the PoW's, was just a scene in between say Carentan and Brecourt. This game could go side by side with that film, this game was ahead of its time, if it had come out now with graphics games have nowadays, it could be the next Saving Private Ryan of video games.

Now to the less Obvious
F.E.A.R.
This game was the first and foremost game to really scare the #%$* out of me. Doom 3 before had taken the dark image with the "jumpy" scaring mechanics. F.E.A.R. fell into those traps very little and they really created a game that was truly scary because of how they managed the paranormal scenes. When the hallway all of a sudden closes and a girl is walking at you with the blood running up the walls and you have to run to the door to open it and FOOM, it was just a physche out. As simple as that sounds, and from a Stephen King novel, they did a good job of making it different; making this game into a movie that was actually being played. F.E.A.R. also had the most terrifying ending sequence, that was not jumpy. I remember running down the halls escaping from the science room, my brother is behind me laughing his butt off, I'm sweating balls and saying "Oh &*#^" in a squeeky high voice, and I am blowing away these paranormal bastards.

This game truly deserves the "Skid Marks in my Pants" award, this game hit on "What truly scares people."

Persona 3/4
I'm amazed to have not seen this yet; this is a game based on decisions, planning, and learning the backstories of every character and how they weave their story into the plot. Atlus has always done a fantastic job of making the characters in these games somewhat plausible and relate-able. While the plots make the heroes seem like the unsung heroes that save the world in the background, the game is based around emotional decisions of these characters.

I remember during Persona 4, when one of the characters I really liked (hint: Heaven Level), I verbally said "Oh #*&% you!" at my TV. The last time I remember saying that to my TV, I was mad at my brother for unplugging my N64 controller while playing GoldenEye (yeah I screen peaked). These games are one of those unsung games, shame more people don't play it, when you get over the anime graphics, these games are just through the room amazing.

Ar Tonelico
First game I ever felt creeped out, laughed, and cried, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. This game was really crappy, really funny (if you get japanese humour), and made me sad. This game was about singing maidens and it was awesome, nuff said, this game is about music and how it relates to a fantasy world. How more awesome and random can that get? The game was easy, you laughed along the way, and got too hear some of the best battle music in a long time.


Edit: @Gamerdude: I found Crisis Core to be just a beautiful game, the plot wasn't overly complex and it just well... fit. Everything they did in that game was correct, music, tone, voice acting, they did a stupendous job. Although I didn't get teary eyed, it was probably one of the best games. What made it emotional wasn;t how it was made, its because it was nostalgic in my opinion.

@KingdomHeartsLovers: I've never played this game because I was never a fan of mixing to many random series (Disney + FF + Original Characters), that is just to broad of a spectrum to choose from, how do these characters play into a much larger role? I just don't see an emotional impact, did something happen to Sora? I feel very left out, and I'm assuming the franchise characters help him through it?

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Final Fantasy X

I was a freshman in high school when Final Fantasy X was released in the US. This was my introduction to the series and the rpg genre in general. I had never played a game that had characters and story that were so in depth.

I felt a wide range of emotions playing through this game. For the most part I felt like Tidus. Whatever he was feeling (sad, happy, mad), I felt as well. I had never felt this way playing a game.

The way it ended was incredible. The whole sequence of Sin dying,Tidus fading away and Tidus and Jecht hi-fiving at the end, Auron being sent, and Yuna's 'Never forget them' speech to Spira made the whole sequence just work.

Lost Odyssey

What got to me in this game was the 'Thousand Years of Dreams' collection of short stories that tell of Kaim's past experiences. The dreams unlock when Kaim encounters something that triggers his memories. Some were very funny and others were heartbreaking.

With Kaim being 'immortal' he had experienced many deaths of those that he had made friendships with. Could you imagine living hundred of years and losing everyone close to you knowing that you could never be with them ever again?

Xenosaga Episode III

Xenosaga Episode III wraps up my favorite vg series of all time. Getting to watch the characters though out the three games grow really felt good. During the second half of Episode III many of the characters which I had grew fond of said their farewells.

For me the ending was like... GODLY... the greatest thing ever, yet at the same time it crushed my soul because it meant it was all over. It was so beautiful that I can't help but feel happy and sad at how tragic it all was. The feeling of sadness is further amplified by Yuki Kajiura's great music and all the farewells beforehand.

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*taking a break from studying... don't tell!*

Silent Hill

This game just made me look at parents in a whole different way. You have Harry, a loving father, who literally went through hell to find his missing daughter, Cheryl. Then there's Dahlia, a religious fanatic who would do anything in order to birth her cult's God, even if it meant putting her daughter's life on the risk.

Harry isn't very smart; he's just a normal guy who got tangled up in a chain of events. He's not very strong, but he's brave. I mean, the dude is brave. He loved his daughter so much that he didn't care if he had to go through monsters or friggin' Silent Hill. He put his life on the line to save the person most important to him, and I think that's really awesome. He's one of my favourite protagonists because he's just so admirable. At least that's what I think. Sometimes I wonder if either of my parents would've risked their lives to save me if anything like this ever happened. (Really far fetched, I know, but It does make you think.)

I cried like a baby whenHarry diedin SH3. I couldn't hold back the tears that spilled from my eyes. It was just so strong and it literally made my heart ache. I couldn't believe it. It may not have impacted other people, but I had such a strong view of Harry that I just felt so depressed. Then I though, "What if my own parents were to...?" It was very strong for me.

Now that I've talked my mouth off about Harry, let's go on with...Dahlia.

She's crazy. Doesn't love her daughter, Alessa. She could careless what happens to her. She doesn't care if Alessa dies as long as "God" is birthed. Two very, very, very different types of parents. I just feel lucky, yanno? I'm so lucky I have loving parents. I just look back and think, wow. I'm really lucky that I don't have Dahlia as a mother, haha.

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I've had to have a good long think about this, but it comes down to...

Final Fantasy VII
Typical you may think, but this is the first RPG game I ever played. Now when I was younger after school and on weekends I'd go to my best friends house. One weekend, me, Becky and her cousin Mat were there, and one of them had got this game (Not sure which one it was, they both had older brothers, which i think got them playing ffvii) So we spent the day taking it in turns running around in the game. I remember it was Mat's save game and he was trying to get the book from the skeleton ship enemy found in Junon's underwater reactor.

So sometime after this day, I must have bought my own copy or borrowed it, and as a shock as this seems i cant actually remember playing it through and my reaction/emotions. There's a lot of things I don't remember from when i was younger, being a kid was one of the reasons, but there are other reasons too, so i'm not going to go into how i remember feeling about the game and such, cause i'd be telling porkies.

I couldn't tell you how many play throughs of this game i've completed, and how many times i've gotten the team to lvl 100 and such, but this game is without a doubt my top favourite. It has an amazing story, with which you see such a development in the characters. How Cloud's relationship with the team changes from 'I'm only here for the money attitude' to the ending where you can tell he cares. Also the depth of characters like Cid, Vincent and Yuffie. They have these tough exteriors on the outside but their pasts and motives behind their actions add so much more character and depth to them.

I can't think of any other games that have effected me emotionally in such a way i can remember, but i tend to enjoy (and therefore get emotional about) most game i've played.
Crisis core could be mentioned, but as Squirrel king said in his post, its probably nostalgia reasons with ffvii, and of course attachment to the main character of the game. If anyone played that game before playing ffvii, i bet they were in for one hell of a shock!

Nice topic Caleb, really good choice there!

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squirrelking101 Wrote:World of Warcraft
To date there have been countless "studies" on how this game affects us emotionally, mentally, physically et cetera. World of Warcraft was by far one of the most powering games because you felt like you could accomplish anything. When my guild downed Ragnaros for the first time, we thought we were the best players in the entire world. It wasn't until mid-way through BWL did Elitist Jerks / Goon Squad start up their theory crafting fame. This was a game that not only was very satisfying when doing something like a raid, but even when farming materials to sell or use, you were like "Yeah, I would devote my time to this." I still regret not continuing to play, but then I look at how much fun I am having now without the game. While it was a fun game, it was to much of a time dump that was too much fun. I cant replace the friends I have now with in-game friends, how could I ever depend on them for real situations?

I was really, really tempted to say this as where I am today wouldn't be the same without that game. Old school WoW does ring a bell with me, and I do pay attention to how things are currently going (I'd love to play Cataclysm with Kioran if it's good, since leveling is fun). I'm glad to see others shared the same old-school experience.

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