A note on character.

A note on character. 

Every game has character, from the games where the character evolves and shapes itself over he players experience to the games where the character is simply and excuse to give you someone to play as. All games have character but some games are defined, by it, revolve around it. It is these games that I find truly enthralling and will keep me coming back to them every time. So why do, in my opinion, games that revolve around character have such a large advantage over those that don't. 

Well that dates back to my love of books. I know that as a general rule books and games are seen as something of opposites, although much of the time it's television not video games that are placed opposite to books. But the central object of books has always been character, high action sequences are easier to pull off with televisions and games do by necessity the writer must either be really good at writing action sequences or have the story revolve around character. And while I just said that action sequences are easier to pull off on screens why can't I have both? There are movies that have both and there are games that have both. 

Now games that are based solely on action are fun. Call of Duty is fun, Battlefield is fun, ect. But they aren't games that I will play over and over again without some form of multiplayer. I read books over and over again because I enjoy revisiting the rich and vibrant characters that make up the world. I replay most games as well because I enjoy not just playing the games, but because the characters are as rich and alive as any character in a book. For an example of from my recent past. I recently played through a game and have almost finished another. The two games where Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Bulletstorm. Bulletstorm was vivid, brightly colored and full of non stop action. Deus Ex, stealthy, a sepia tone and a less brutal pace. Which of the two do I enjoy more? Well thats easy, Deus Ex. Bulletstorm was great for me to power through at full speed, to feel the power as my enemies all fell before me. Deus Ex, feels more solid, the characters all have opinions, agendas, all have feelings and thoughts that come across in the way they act and speak. Not that Bulletstorm didn't have that but it just feels more pronounced in Deus Ex. The characters inside Deus Ex feel far more real than those in Bulletstorm. Which identifies with the theme In their design, Bulletstorm was designed to be over the top, Deus Ex was designed to be the story of a man struggling to find truth. 

In the end the strength of the character depends on the genre, intention and plot of a games. And there have been many iterations, some successful. Some not. But as a personal choice, I will revisit the games that I believe have the best character. Because I believe that  character makes the best story.