tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post6105643432110509181..comments2024-03-28T02:36:05.166-07:00Comments on Experience Points: Questioning Our Moral BoundariesJorge Alborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857765716032886965noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-31871499961280365662012-02-21T16:31:53.436-08:002012-02-21T16:31:53.436-08:00As I mentioned above, the juxtaposition between vi...As I mentioned above, the juxtaposition between violence and darkness and the color and brilliance of moments with Jenny make some of the emotional moments of the game quite compelling, but I'm not entirely sure there is enough to make up for the rest. I genuinely hope you like the game more than I. My review should be up sometime soon.Jorge Alborhttp://twitter.com/JAlbornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-85601027926660320512012-02-21T16:30:33.525-08:002012-02-21T16:30:33.525-08:00I generally agree. Something like The Darkness II ...I generally agree. Something like The Darkness II is hard to peg as an adult game, although portions of is certainly are. As Christian mentions below, the violence does juxtapose quite well with the story elements, and makes some emotional moments more compelling. Yet the game revels a bit too much in its "clever" gore. I can't take violence seriously if the designers themselves have trouble doing the same.Jorge Alborhttp://twitter.com/JAlbornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-73910773820660153972012-02-21T01:13:40.923-08:002012-02-21T01:13:40.923-08:00So the interesting thing in The Darkness (at least...So the interesting thing in The Darkness (at least in the first one) was that all of the violence was always juxtaposed by super quite, almost tender moments, like the Jenny scenes or the orphanage. Which kinda let both of them have a stronger impact. <br /><br />Man, I really have high hopes for the seque, The Darkness might be one of my favorite shooters of all time.Christianhttp://www.invincibilityframe.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-65480781550759586532012-02-17T11:32:08.857-08:002012-02-17T11:32:08.857-08:00My problem with a lot of video game violence is th...My problem with a lot of video game violence is that it is obviously supposed to be entertaining on the surface. We can brush it off by saying that it's "over the top" and "absurd" or whatever, but that just raises the question: so what's the point? Why am I playing this? Why did you make it? We often use the word "adult" or "mature" to describe such content, but I don't think I'd call The Darkness II a very adult game.<br /><br />I recently started playing Metal Gear Solid 4, a series which is also quite violent, but offers a much smarter and more sophisticated take on violence. The game opens with a violent sequence where tons of faceless mercenaries are gunned down in the street, and the whole scene was presented with a sort of compassion. Much of the game's violence is optional (sneaking is preferred to shooting), and the game really hammers home the point that years of warfare has a detrimental, almost poisonous affect on Snake. He literally ages faster than normal because of his status as an engineered soldier. Even if the player is still supposed to 'enjoy' violence - in the sense that it is engaging gameplay - I don't think players are supposed to revel in it.<br /><br />*That* is a game that treats violence as a serious subject. For many other video games, I am slowly coming around to the idea that lots of developers are simply profiting from the glamorization of violence.Beeps & Boopshttp://twitter.com/beepsandboopsnoreply@blogger.com