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Characters who don't respond realistically to their situation (early RE7 spoilers)
- Thread starter Teggy
- Start date
Evil Within takes place entirely within someone's mindspace/dreams.
(Not really a spoiler.)
There's a reason the game's continuity is insane and the protagonists aren't TOO plussed about the things they experience.
Ha! So true.
Ehh the entire cast bothered me honestly. P3, and even P4, the characters all took their powers and situations pretty seriously. Even Stupei and Yosuke were smart enough most of the time to keep shit on the DL. Meanwhile it's like the entire Phantom Thieves group is happy to shout about shit non-stop in all sorts of public places when they know they are explicitly doing illegal shit while actively making the public aware of their actions in order to garner support placing even more scrutiny on them. Which leads to several people learning who they really are.
Their cavalier nature about pretty much everything involving the stealing of hearts and what was going on just felt really dumb and was pretty annoying after a while.
Ethan is barely a character at all.
Intentional i guess.
I think it worked with Evil Within to be honest. Sebastian was a pretty broken person to start with, who was already a stone faced lunatic. Couple that with the game taking place inside someone's dream and him not reacting to things seems pretty okay. Plus it added to the games' atmosphere of everything being just slightly uncanny as opposed to flat out horrifying, which I think worked out.
Like nothing scared me in the game as much as
the time when Jonathan tries to kill himself, Sebastian stops him, and neither of them show much emotion about it.
Bronetta
Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
Thanks for the explanations guys. I clearly missed some of this stuff but now I have two more questions.
When did Ethan get
? Was it the dinner at the beginning where they force him to eat?
Secondly, if
?
When did Ethan get
infected
Secondly, if
the infected see the grandma as the little girl, why does Ethan see her as a grandma the whole game until the end
the first point iirc is never explicitly made clear, but as for the second
Ethan's condition worsens throughout the game, which is why he hallucinates more and more about the little girl as the game goes on. It's also possible grandma can project the image of the girl when she wants to, but is still bound to her mortal vessel.
anyway, in regards to Ethan, I thought he was great. you've never been meant to take RE super seriously so his blasé reactions to the events in the game were hilarious to me, I really liked them. him [prologue spoilers]
grabbing the gun and just going 'alright, fine' had me in stitches,
TheRedSnifit
Member
It's never directly stated. Here's some possible moments:
- When he enters a house teeming with fungus spores without any protective equipment.
- When he wades neck-deep through dirty water in a house teeming with fungus
- When he touches a zombified human woman
- When he gets stabbed through the hand with a dirty knife by a zombified woman
RE7 said:
It takes time for it to start affecting his mental processes.
Bronetta
Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
I talked to my RE expert friend and his answer was Ethan's infected as soon as he steps in the house.
Your second answer also makes sense.
Well now I know exactly what was going on in RE7. It was a really fun game, I binged through it in 3 days which is why I missed some of the finer details.
Darkangel
Member
Some of the flavour text in the Silent Hill series can be unintentionally hilarious. Like when Harry's exploring the horrific Otherworld School and says stuff like "A wheelchair!?". Yes Harry, that's the main thing wrong here.
royox
Member
Final Fantasy XV is FILLED with this crap.
Noctis & co. hear on the News and on TV that
...and 5 minutes later Prompto asks "Hey Noct! What kind of pics should I take?" or starts yelling "YEAAAAH!!! LET'S SEE THE CHOCOBOS!!!!!!!" Like he doesn't care. If I was Noctis I would punch his fucking face at the spot.
The whole game is a "happy trip with my friends!" and there's literally no reason for all the happyness after reaching ch.3
Noctis & co. hear on the News and on TV that
their home has been taken by the Empire. Noct's dad is confirmed dead, they say Luna is dead too, Gladio knows no shit about his family.
The whole game is a "happy trip with my friends!" and there's literally no reason for all the happyness after reaching ch.3
Soul of the Beast
Member
Have you played the Silent Hill series?
The characters don't care at all.
The characters don't care at all.
Bronetta
Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
I forget who but it was a dev of one of these open world games who said they implemented parameters in "sad situations" where the characters wouldnt spout jokes and banter but instead be more sombre.
Maybe thats something more devs should look into: limiting quips and jokes during the aftermath of tragic events.
Every other RE is cheesy as fuck and it works, and I would legit make the argument were just cheese tank control spy dramas that had zombies in them. And even then characters like... say shit about whats going on
RE7 is just a scared dude in a house
Though the reason for his silence might be because of the spy drama thing
One game that subverts this brilliantly is Xenogears.
I never thought I'd be so happy to see a character get so miserable. I honestly thought it was going to be one of those "We'll grieve in one cutscene then never bring it up again" moments that plague so many JRPGs.
One of the most infuriating examples is in Final Fantasy IV:
After his hometown is nuked to oblivion along with his best friend and childhood love interest, Fei silently walks to the next forest area not saying anything.
After a couple of hours later, he breaks the fuck down, letting all the sorrow and despair kick in. Even gets suicidal at one point
After a couple of hours later, he breaks the fuck down, letting all the sorrow and despair kick in. Even gets suicidal at one point
I never thought I'd be so happy to see a character get so miserable. I honestly thought it was going to be one of those "We'll grieve in one cutscene then never bring it up again" moments that plague so many JRPGs.
One of the most infuriating examples is in Final Fantasy IV:
"Hey, so the little girl you vowed to protect and loved like a daughter? I saw her get eaten by a massive sea serpent."
"....Oh."
(sad head bow)
"Anyway! Back to the adventure!"
Doubly annoying that Rosa doesn't react to this at all.
"....Oh."
(sad head bow)
"Anyway! Back to the adventure!"
Doubly annoying that Rosa doesn't react to this at all.
Gigageiger
Neo Member
Does BJ Blazkowicz count? I know he's supposed to be this total badass and can survive almost anything, but I don't really buy him just being able to straight up go back to full soldier mode immediately after spending 14 years as a vegetable in a wheelchair.
I guess the game sorta justified it by implying Blazkowicz got his willpower back after holding a gun, but it's still a little farfetched.
I guess the game sorta justified it by implying Blazkowicz got his willpower back after holding a gun, but it's still a little farfetched.
Bronetta
Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
We still havent played the game. They could have discovered some experimental new drug to get him back on track. It would totally fit within the worls MachineGames created.
Edit: wait do you mean The New Order? My memorys a little fuzzy on how he gets back to speed so fast but I guess that would count.
Basically, he sees nazis attacking. Then go full soldier. That was all that was needed.
There is no scene stupider in that whole game then what happens after you survive the impalment.
She slowly hobbles around the island until she runs into Sam, who is all "Hey Lara, how's it going! Heck of a crash we survived, huh? I'm just sitting here having a chat with my new cult leader buddy!"
mugurumakensei
Member
You can get your leg chopped off and jack will show you something special about yourself early on.
Ordinaryundone
Member
I always attributed Ethan's nonchalance to the fact that he lives in the RE universe. Like, bioterrorism and mutants are not an unknown factor in this world; its a fairly common and public occurrence and at least 3 cities have been completely wiped off the map thanks to uncontrolled outbreaks. Sure it's scary but after a point it goes from being freaky to just something you have to plan for in life.
Or maybe it's just because
Ditto with The Evil Within. Seb has no prior experience with the supernatural but he IS a homicide detective whose apparently seen some really grisly shit. To the point where even walking into the mess in the hospital lobby at the start doesn't even really faze him. At some point you've just got diminishing returns on scares, you know? And
Or maybe it's just because
it's heavily implied he worked for, or still works for, Umbrella or a related company.
Ditto with The Evil Within. Seb has no prior experience with the supernatural but he IS a homicide detective whose apparently seen some really grisly shit. To the point where even walking into the mess in the hospital lobby at the start doesn't even really faze him. At some point you've just got diminishing returns on scares, you know? And
it's not like the guy has much to live for anyway,
death isn't something that scares him anymore.
death isn't something that scares him anymore.
It didn't really bother me. It wasn't any less awkward than a horror movie set-up. I chalked it up to Ethan being in shock, mostly.
Honestly, that was the best part of the game for me. Wolfenstein: TNO is full on power/revenge fantasy, and that part feels damn good.
Honestly, that was the best part of the game for me. Wolfenstein: TNO is full on power/revenge fantasy, and that part feels damn good.
Oathbreaker
Banned
It was exactly the same for me. He acts like it's just a surprise party!
The game is pretty cool, but these small details are important for me.
Yeah. I'm honestly surprised this is the breaking point for some people and not Cyborg Hitler or the fact the nazi's have robo dogs in 1945.
family_guy
Member
JRPGs have 12-16 yr old kids leave home to go adventures, fight monsters, and possibly save the world. Not only are they well adjusted to the situation when most kids would be crapping their pants, but their parents also don't really seem to care what they do.
It really does. Haru is completely bungled from a main narrative perspective, imo.
(EG spoilers)
Compounding it is how little people seem to care that Akechi murdered her dad and (possibly--and the fact that it is uncertain is also off-key) Wakaba. Instead all we get is an anime pity party for the dark, young, tortured, lonely, "rival" character and his daddy issues. The lives he took suddenly don't even register.
The entire starting part of RE7 is totally insane. I think my feelings were enhanced by the VR.
The part where you have to go through neck deep water. I was screaming "JUST LEAVE, JUST LEAVE, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING JUST GO BACK TO YOUR CAR AND LEAVE WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU STAY HERE, COME GET SOME PEEPS AND COME BACK ROLLING STRONG WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK!>!>!
This is fine. Its just not how modern pussified society rolls. But 150 years ago no one would bat an eye at a 14 year old going on some kind of "adult adventure"
The part where you have to go through neck deep water. I was screaming "JUST LEAVE, JUST LEAVE, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING JUST GO BACK TO YOUR CAR AND LEAVE WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU STAY HERE, COME GET SOME PEEPS AND COME BACK ROLLING STRONG WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK!>!>!
This is fine. Its just not how modern pussified society rolls. But 150 years ago no one would bat an eye at a 14 year old going on some kind of "adult adventure"
Iriscomeback
Member
FFXV:
'Noctis your father is dead and Insomnia has been taken by the enemy'
'Ok that sucks I guess. I'm a bit annoyed but that's it. Let's eat noodles!'
'Ok I'm kinda bummed out now and cranky but let's just carry on it's cool'
:-\
'Noctis your father is dead and Insomnia has been taken by the enemy'
'Ok that sucks I guess. I'm a bit annoyed but that's it. Let's eat noodles!'
'Noctis your wife to be is dead'
'Ok I'm kinda bummed out now and cranky but let's just carry on it's cool'
:-\
Bronetta
Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
Wouldnt be a horror game/movie if the first thing the main character does is the last thing you would ever do.
Jangowuzhere
Banned
Ethan not reacting much it his
gave me the impression that he was a shitty dude.
When you're given the choice between saving
, but that choice seemed to me the most realistic for Ethan. He didn't really seem to care at all about his wife.
wife dying or actually being alive
When you're given the choice between saving
Zoe or Mia, I picked Zoe. It's not that I wanted to pick Zoe
TBH she was really annoying.
Northeastmonk
Gold Member
Did everyone want to take 5-7 minutes and have him crawl into a corner contemplating everything? Do you always want to have the character break?
I loved how it would move on to the next part. I enjoy walking around with that feeling and dialogue in the background. Like Rise of the Tomb Raider, she can talk to herself, but I want to be moving and progressing while she does it.
I loved how it would move on to the next part. I enjoy walking around with that feeling and dialogue in the background. Like Rise of the Tomb Raider, she can talk to herself, but I want to be moving and progressing while she does it.
He's probably out for himself. He drives all the way out to see her and then she goes crazy on him.
Hellsing321
Member
He can barely be called a character. Definitely one of the weakest parts In what was otherwise a pretty good game.
BackwardCap
Member
RE7 was unrealistic the moment he didn't nope the heck outta there after watching the tape.
"Haunting Ground" actually has that, not for minutes, but how freaked out the character, Fiona, is kept tracked of and if she gets completely freaked out you lose control of all but the general direction she runs/stumbles in for like half a minute to a minute.
Bronetta
Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
I went with
Zoe
Lord knows what else she was keeping from Ethan.
Conciliator
Banned
i thought this was going to be about the
. I really feel like he was not following protocol.
cop that gets rekt in the early part of RE7
Cloud does this at one point in FFVII. He's so afraid of Sephoroth that he contemplates running away and hiding, only to realize that there's no place in the world safe for him.
It's an existential breakdown that only lasts a few minutes, but really that's all that's needed for these kinds of game narratives.
SixMachine
Member
Seb had one scene in Evil Within which was definitely in tune with the players. After narrowly surviving a fight with a giant zombie dog, Joseph drops his glasses, and he won't leave without them. So the player has to go back to grab them before being mauled by the huge ass zombie dog. He hands them back and Joseph says, "Without these I can't be myself."
Cue the player and Seb going, "What the fuck Joseph," since those dogs were basically bosses and take a lot of ammo to kill.
Cue the player and Seb going, "What the fuck Joseph," since those dogs were basically bosses and take a lot of ammo to kill.
This is similar to one of my biggest grips with the ending as well. MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW:
Why the fuck does everyone just forget hell-Tokyo, blood raining from the skies and a literal fuckin' god? Even characters like Sojiro, Mishima and Sae who are shown explicitly to see it don't give a shit about what just happened. It really made me feel that the final boss was there just because it's a JRPG and of course you have to fight a god in some twisted hellscape. The game is full of weird responses from people.
My ass would get the fuck out of there as soon as I saw random body parts and dead horses lining my path. I wouldn't want to take my chances on the people who live in the house just being very avid Texas Chainsaw cosplayers.
Jawmuncher
Member
One of my biggest complaints for RE7. For going "average joe in a shitty situation", ethan doesn't even give a fuck about what's going on outside a few instances. Go in or give me an excuse that he was an ex cop or something to justify his nonchalantness.
That isn't to say he'd need to be a big baby. But he needed more reactions than he gave. When later in the game he's fighting bosses like "I real tired of this", any sort of average joe angle was gone.
Despite what people think. He was an RE Hero character just without the Melee moves. Which is especially odd since he's nothing but a software engineer.
That isn't to say he'd need to be a big baby. But he needed more reactions than he gave. When later in the game he's fighting bosses like "I real tired of this", any sort of average joe angle was gone.
Despite what people think. He was an RE Hero character just without the Melee moves. Which is especially odd since he's nothing but a software engineer.
malboroking
Banned
I know right? Kids today are such SJW snowflakes lol. I also compare them to female genitalia, because females are weak too!