SamOGreat Characters As Art
June 12th 2008 20:20
Solid Snake, Greatest Character Ever
A big portion of interacting with some form of art, such as a book or a film, is a vulnerable protagonist that you can really feel for. Someone that you can relate to, no matter what the environment or back drop for the story. Developing that protagonist’s vulnerability into something the public can feel for, especially to send a message about the character through their experiences, is the very essence of artistic expression.
Some of the greatest examples throughout game history are right up there with the emotional connections you make with characters in films, or your favorite books. Avatar’s that really become people, like Snake in Metal Gear Solid, the strong silent hero whose image changes the more you learn about him during the course of the story. Marcus Fenix, whom you onlyget snippets of background from, during the play through of Gears Of War, who remains the strong character but reveals an amazing amount of deep vulnerability that’s behind his façade.
One of the greatest experiences throughout a game that I know of, is done through a the plot around a character you create, with the first Knights Of The Old Republic game. The path you take your own character on, constantly changes who you’ve created, and makes them into a different person by the end titles. By the end you’ve experienced change with them.
But one of the greatest characters in all of gaming, was first introduced to me, way back when Sega Dreamcast was cool. Soul Reaver was my favorite game on the console, and it was amazing following the path of Raziel, as he set out to take his vengeance on Kain. The first entry in the Legacy Of Kain series to feature Raziel, and still the best in my opinion. Starting out simply as a tale of vengeance, as Raziel was formerly a member of Kain’s vampire army. Raziel wanted revenge because Kain essentially destroyed him by throwing him into the lake of the dead.
From that point on Soul Reaver is an amazing ride, where you shift through the netherworld and the living world on a quest for revenge. As you are reanimated essentially, by a god and become an eater of souls. Eating souls to gain power, very cool concept by the way.
Raziel Looks To The Skies
But what really shines here is the revenge story, as Raziel battles his own feelings on his path to destroy Kain and his vampire army. Through incredibly original gothic environments, and the darkest places of existence as conceived by the developers. The battle mechanic was brilliant for the time, really giving an amazing level of 3-D combat depth for the time. Although the difficulty level can be intimidating at times, the game never fails to amaze.
Raziel Carries A Torch
I always say, to go buy the titles I talk about as being the best representations of a videogame as an art medium. And I’ll say the same thing here, but with more conviction, as Raziel’s journey is on par with any of the best experiences you can have from a game. A haunting tale that follows you long after you’ve laid down the controller. That’s what most people would consider art isn’t it? An experience, with which you ponder the message that had been conveyed for weeks afterwards.
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