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The Hero's Journey in Video Games
I've been racking my brain, but I'm having trouble thinking of a proper Hero's Journey story shown in a video game.
For those of you unfamiliar with The Hero's Journey, check out This Link and read about it. It's an ancient type of story going back to Greek Mythology.
Here's the short version: Hero lives normal life, something bad happens, he sets off on a grand adventure, meets a mentor, gains the skills needed to overcome challenges, meets those challenges, gets the girl, saves the world.
This happens all the time in movies, especially in A New Hope and The Matrix. But video games are different in that the player is in control. Can anyone think of some really good Hero's Journeys in games? Not even Zelda follows this archetype well since there's no real Prometheus character or Woman as Temptress. Help me out here, Spill.
For those of you unfamiliar with The Hero's Journey, check out This Link and read about it. It's an ancient type of story going back to Greek Mythology.
Here's the short version: Hero lives normal life, something bad happens, he sets off on a grand adventure, meets a mentor, gains the skills needed to overcome challenges, meets those challenges, gets the girl, saves the world.
This happens all the time in movies, especially in A New Hope and The Matrix. But video games are different in that the player is in control. Can anyone think of some really good Hero's Journeys in games? Not even Zelda follows this archetype well since there's no real Prometheus character or Woman as Temptress. Help me out here, Spill.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by PoopaPapaPalpatine on -
KotOR comes to mind...
Depending on how you played the game, (before the big twist is revealed and how you responded to it), you get all the things that adhere to the hero's journey formula. (Before the twist), you're a mere soldier, you need to stop the Sith, meets a mentor in Bastila and Jolee Bindo, depending on how you react to them, you gain skills that help you on your quest, and you get the girl (again, depending on how you play), and you save the galaxy (or send it into eternal darkness).
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Permalink Reply by Farktoid on -
That's a good one, but I'm trying to stay away from RPGs on this question. RPGs are easy because the story is the whole thing in them. I'm trying to think of more action-centric 3rd or 1st person games that follow the mythos.
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Permalink Reply by Official Rob on -
Shenmu? ...even though the game never had a FUCKING ENDING
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