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Games where you're not the 'hero/chosen one/savior' etc.

cj_iwakura

Member
I tried the Dragon's Dogma demo, and I realized the 'you are the chosen one' thing is getting more than a little old.

So are there any games where you're not the driving force behind everything? Like a bystander or more of a supporting role?

It might sound like a silly premise, but I think it'd be a nice change of pace.
 
FF12, heh. I can't think of a game where you're more of an observer/along for the ride, in terms of who the main character actually is.
 
Final Fantasy XII
The 'main character' is just the hero's side kick

AND THE GAME IS BETTER THANKS TO THAT!
#BalthierIsBetterThanLighting
 
I really enjoy games where you're not the chosen one, from a story and character development standpoint, it's great to be a cog in the machine and let the writers really build other characters up to near mythic status. Oblivion is one good example that's been covered. FFX being another (Yuna is the chosen one, the rest are her escort) and FFXII with Ashe.
 
Dragon Age 2. And it's a pile of shit, because the game makes it clear from the get go that you're destined to be THE MOST AWESOME DUDE EVER, although you are purely reactionary the whole time.
 
I tried the Dragon's Dogma demo, and I realized the 'you are the chosen one' thing is getting more than a little old.

I can sympathize with your sentiment here. Even outside of gaming, this obsession in popular films and stories to give the protagonist some kind of prophetic or ordained role in the cosmos is so damn tiring. I prefer films that take the commonplace and manage to present it in a surprising, insightful, or meaningful way, not those which rely on the spectacular or supernatural in order to create interest.

But I can't think of appropriate examples in gaming off the top of my head.
 
Well, you aren't. You're a sidekick, somebody who happened to be in the right place in the right time. The real star of the game is Martin, you're his constable Reggie.

I can understand his comment though since you are sort of a chosen one, the person the king saw in gis dreams and shit
 
I can sympathize with your sentiment here. Even outside of gaming, this obsession in popular films and stories to give the protagonist some kind of prophetic or ordained role in the cosmos is so damn tiring. I prefer films that take the commonplace and manage to present it in a surprising, insightful, or meaningful way, not those which rely on the spectacular or supernatural in order to create interest.

But I can't think of appropriate examples in gaming off the top of my head.

I'm starting to think it's one of those situations where someone might need to actually step up and create one.

A Harry Potter game where you play as Luna, for instance.
 
Well, you aren't. You're a sidekick, somebody who happened to be in the right place in the right time. The real star of the game is Martin, you're his constable Reggie.

Except for the part where your character was chosen by the Gods as the man to deliver the amulet, help restore the Dragon Fire and become famous by doing all the work.

In fact, they heavily imply the Gods put you in that cell because you were Chosen.
 
Except for the part where your character was chosen by the Gods as the man to deliver the amulet, help restore the Dragon Fire and become famous by doing all the work.

In fact, they heavily imply the Gods put you in that cell because you were Chosen.

The story focuses heavily on Martin growing into his role as Emperor of Tamriel.
 
I'd put in an argument for Demon's Souls, since you're one of the many adventurers who venture into Boletaria for reasons unknown. The player character is simply the only one who succeeds. Dark Souls, on the other hand, has the propechy of the Chosen Undead, so that's an automatic DQ.
 
The stuff with the legendary Pokemon in Black and White is kind of "hero/chosen one" ish.
Not really. You just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Nobody ever says anything about you in particular being destined to end up with Reshiram/Zekrom, they're simply a means to an end.
 
inFamous 1 has some great material in the first few hours where people view you as a terrorist, which was pretty interesting. You can even pursue that path and keep pushing the "bad guy" angle.
 
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