02-11-2010, 02:07 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-11-2010, 08:10 PM by PrettyNier.)
oh, i have more to say
Another thing I like about Nocturne is that many times there is an inherent almost ironic contradiction contained within the choice system/morality system of other games - Nocturne doesn't have that. In other games the presence of choice ultimately creates and spotlights the limitations. You only have a small, set number of choices to choose from in most games (despite the implications being that you are a Big Bad Choice Machine, god damnit) and as such you will not necessarily find a choice that mirrors what you would do - this breaks immersion and spotlights the falsity of the choice system. It goes without saying that that's a bad idea.
However, in Nocturne it isn't based on you having absolute power of choice or on the basic "good/evil" morality, it's based solely on how you react to the world around you. You, being a half-demon, are unable to conceive of a Reason (only humans can, of which there are only 3 left). This means that by the mythology of the game itself your limitations are also the limitations of the character and the circumstances you've been thrust in to.
as a result of that, the falsity of the choice system never really comes up and all of the choices and responses feel much more "natural".
Quote:usually I'm opposed to the system, but that's generally because it's execution is pretty terrible
or blatantly obvious. in which case - read above
I prefer when the moral decisions and what they would entail are blurred; not necessarily identifiable as a forced GOOD or BAD choice but rather a natural event that would require choice in some capacity
I find that the Shin Megami Tensei games usually do a great job of these kind of overarching and inherently moral (without actually being "good" or "bad") decisions, like for example the Reason* system in Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne or the more simplistic Law/Neutral/Chaos of the first two titles.
*in Nocturne, the world has ended and is in an almost "cocoon" state, from its previous form to its next form - s state wherein entities and factions begin warring and collecting power to try and shape the next world to their desire. Yosuga (survival of the fittest), Musubi (everyone lives in their "own" world), Shijima (everyone is at "one" with the universe, no emotion; a world of stillness) being the primary ones, though there are three other (neutral, demon and true demon) endings/paths you can take.
Another thing I like about Nocturne is that many times there is an inherent almost ironic contradiction contained within the choice system/morality system of other games - Nocturne doesn't have that. In other games the presence of choice ultimately creates and spotlights the limitations. You only have a small, set number of choices to choose from in most games (despite the implications being that you are a Big Bad Choice Machine, god damnit) and as such you will not necessarily find a choice that mirrors what you would do - this breaks immersion and spotlights the falsity of the choice system. It goes without saying that that's a bad idea.
However, in Nocturne it isn't based on you having absolute power of choice or on the basic "good/evil" morality, it's based solely on how you react to the world around you. You, being a half-demon, are unable to conceive of a Reason (only humans can, of which there are only 3 left). This means that by the mythology of the game itself your limitations are also the limitations of the character and the circumstances you've been thrust in to.
as a result of that, the falsity of the choice system never really comes up and all of the choices and responses feel much more "natural".