Instead of incrementally increasing the player’s power over time, Actual Sunlight and Depression Quest (if you make certain choices) actively reduce your ability to affect the game world. By the end of Actual Sunlight, you have literally no choice but to take Evan to the roof to commit suicide. That’s how you “win” the game, by becoming totally powerless. If the narrative of almost every game is triumph, the narrative of these two games is, basically, defeat.
What in the fuck? I'm reminded of the bullshit "games" my C64 had which were nothing but animations promoting anti-smoking and drug PSAs. I have games specifically to get away from all the assholes trying to preach to me out in reality.
Games might make us feel empowered, we are being told, but they are also a way of putting our lives at a distance, a way of forgetting that we always have the power to change the real world.
Does anyone here play games to deny your ability to affect the external environment?
Edited By Malcolm on 1439488570