Power Overwhelming (Part 1/3)

I have stopped the Reapers, I am the last of the Dragonborn, I have prevented nuclear war on several occasions, I have both angels and demons, I have solved murders, I have sought out and killed sixteen colossal creatures, I have mastered time and space, I have won championships, I have defeated countless enemies in the ring, I have mastered martial arts, and I have blown up a lot of stuff. I. Am. Awesome. Or rather, video games make me feel that way.

There are a lot of video games out there that are all about making the player feel like a badass. Empowerment is something that we all seek. Video games take us away from our dreary, boring lives, and finally put us in a place where we want to be: in control. Whether it's stress relief, or to escape the daily grind, a lot of people look to video games for a change of pace. Video games give players a freedom that they don't have everyday. Video games make us feel significant.

In video games, you are the hero, and the only one who can stop whatever terrible thing that is about to happen, because you are the only one with the skills, and the know-how to get the job done. You are the only one who is tough enough to face the trials of whatever this crazy adventure is about to throw you on. Fight a dragon, kill a demon, win the race, stop the bomb from exploding, save the city, or destroy it, the choice is yours to make.

So many games put moral choices, or different paths into the game, and they advertise it on the back of the box. Because it's all about having that control over the outcome. Players are in control, and they are the decisive factor in the war. Players are the reason that the day is saved. Players are the reason that anything happens in a video game. That feels awesome. 

There's also a wrong way to do the whole power trip. A good example would be the Crysis games. Notorious for pushing even high end gaming PCs to their limits, Crysis is all about power. I've only played Crysis 2, and done a bit of research on the other games. In Crysis 2, players are given a big suit of power armor that can turn the player completely invincible and invisible on the word "go". Having the ability to completely shift the balance of battles in an instant is kind of a buzz kill. Similar to putting in the "god mode" cheat, albeit for only a limited amount of time, players can do whatever they please with no challenge. The thing with a good power trip is, that there has to be that element of challenge.

Halo is also a series of video games that gives the player a sense of empowerment as well as a big suit of power armor. However, what Halo also offers is a good challenge. Now, Halo may have set the trend for regenerating health, but it did it right. Enemies outnumber the player and their forces exponentially, and are smart enough to take advantage of the player's constant need to take cover and recharge. This presents the player with challenge. If a player can just steamroll right over the opposition, there is no challenge and nothing feels accomplished. Fighting an uphill battle, and coming out on top. Now, that is a power trip. Especially since all of the Master Chief's reinforcements die right at first contact with the enemy. Fighting off an entire alien army, and preventing the destruction of all life is a pretty great accomplishment.

People go through the day to day, feeling rather insignificant and just existing. Video games take them away from that and make them feel powerful. Video games put the player in a position that matters. It is all up to the player to save the day, and beat the badguys. Fight back against the resistance, and overcome! 

I couldn't help you noticing me, noticing you, noticing the Part 1/3 bit up top. Well, this is going to be a series about power trips in video games. How they can make us feel awesome, where they're going, and alternatives to the shoot 'em up style that we commonly see.