Give me more games with morally ambiguous characters/factions

[KissofKetchup]

GTA IV anyone??? Yes I know that the game revolves around gunning people down like they're no tomorrow, but peppered into the storyline were some very poignant and tough moral choices that you had to make *SPOILER RELATED*

Spoiler

Especially the one where you have to choose between Darko Brevic, the guy who betrayed you

 

[Steamtech]

I think there's a slight problem with declaring any true RPG as the main character being morally ambiguous. After all, in RPGs (especially ones with anything remotely resembling a moral choice system) the player IS the character, so any gray area morality is the player's choice, not how the character is written. Moral ambiguity can only really be applied to characters whose stories are already written, not ones whose stories you write as you go along.

Before this gets misconstrued, let me first say that I really like characters with depth. Moral ambiguity is just one of the ways to go about it however, and in general, it tends to work a lot better in books than in games. However, we all know that people in general don't fall into the clear cut villain/hero archetypes, and therefore its a lot easier to feel for characters that don't fall into them either. A character appeals to an introspective audience if they are more human, and while the audiences do tend to project on said characters, any truly morally ambiguous character will ever be a subject of debate. If they can truly feel for a character, then people will naturally take opposite sides in defining what the "right" course of action was.

Ultimately, it comes down to what each individual believes and is willing to argue. Right and wrong are such malleable concepts that applying one standard of morality to them just won't cut it. The characters in question are interesting because they inherently make people see another side to any story, and in doing so, subconciously question their convictions on the subject of what is "right".

 

[d3structor]

Some of the shin megami tensei games are pretty ambiguous (like nocturne I think)

The angels side are trying to create a world without any freedoms for the safety of everyone and the devils are trying to create a world of absolute freedom where the strong rule.

sorry I cant go into more detail, still working on trying to finish persona 4

edit: cant believe i forgot about the witcher, that was another good one.

 

[General_Potatoes]

We'll see a lot of these kinds of characters in the future so you might as well get used to it.

 

[Tallim]

Planescape Torment hits the nail on the head there. Especially in how your perception of people including your own character's morals evolves as you dig up more mysteries.

 

[Anarchy In Detroit]

Even in a game where you can take an active role in the story the choices always seem to boil down to "Eat the children? Or give them all oat meal cookies? Your call cowboy."

That is simply good vs. evil, and is boring. Many of you are naming these games. Mass Effect offers ambiguous choices sometimes, but I haven't played any others. As much as I liked the Krogan attitudes/characters for example, I can see why everyone killed them off so I supported keeping the galaxy's collective boot on their throats.

Moral ambiguity requires decent story writing and multiplies the amount of work a developer might do in that there would have to be quests and plots for every little choice. Hence, it rarely progresses beyond good vs. evil.

Also MrHalfAwake you are applying your morals and upbringing to everything. Some ancient civilizations would offer children as sacrifices (I believe worship of Baal, perhaps Moloch not sure, in the middle east sometimes required burning your youngest). This would not be considered murder as it was done out of reverence and fear (perceived necessity). We would consider something like genital mutilation or honor rape wrong, but another society has always done it and your opinion would be weird to them. Don't be sure of yourself, people are pretty fucked up and can wrap their heads around anything if they try.

 

[Sebenko]

Stalker has several ambiguous factions, although only one or two are central to the plot.

In the first game, Freedom are bad and Duty are good, but later on, they're much more equal with their respective ideologies (Though duty are usually more heroic).

 

[ReservoirAngel]

I present you with New Vegas. 4 routes to the endgame, only one of which is obviously distinctly evil. the others are all seen as different shades of grey.

 

[pulse2]

Sephiroth

Renowned as one of if not THE greatest game villains of all time, yet, to this day, despite playing everything 7 releated and watching the movie, I still don't exactly understand why he is so pissed.

.

1. Hah hah no

2. He's just a fucking pussy who can't deal with bad news.

Also fuck moral ambiguity half the people who use it and almost all the people who try tomake their characters that way don't even know what it means.

Villains, it doesn't matter if you have a good reason you're still doing something bad. Knock if off. Shooting a man because you're hungry doesn't make it okay it's still fucking wrong.

Heroes, having a troubled past and emotional trauma doesn't make you somehow deep. It makes you an angsty little teenage shit head. Grow a pair and shut the hell up.

Neither of you are deep, neither of you are well written. Quit using cheap back ground information as a crutch and show some goddamn emotional depth by reacting in ways that are consistent with the personality you have been developed and reacting to situations accordingly.

You have avery...hm...interesting way of putting it, but you do make sense which is what matters.

I agree, there is no 'right' way to do something 'wrong' but it could at least have more meaning / purpose, some game plots don't make much effort

*This guy is your enemy, somehow he has gathered a horde of planks to shoot at you for reasons that they themselves cannot quite understand, but the pay is good and they get pension and free healthcare, so what the hay, you are the hero, for no particular reason other then the fact you want to get in bed with all the sexy ladies after you kill the evil dude (lathough chances are evil dude will still have more sexy ladies than you ever will becaus it is a common fact that bad boys get more ladies) and also you want to be seen as the goodie two shoes who saved the world and want a statue....and a currency with your face on....and a bible in your honour....and a school named after you....anyway, we are sidetracking here, yes, you are the hero, you must take down bad guy A, not without defeating his horde of brainless goons aka bafoons, with the set of weapons we have kindly provided for you scattered throughout the battlefield....whats that? You want health packs too? Asking for a bit much aren't you? Okay, health packs too. We have also provided lots of corners and sand bags for you to use as cover despite the fact this is the future or the past, whichever one you want, and don't worry about about gettng shot, you have a health bar, you can take at least 6 bullets to any part of your body, including your head and as long as you wait for your body to recover or use a health pack, you'll be okay, yup, I think thats about enough for the breifing, go get em tiger!*

.....That actually sounds like more of a plot then most games :O

 

[Kimarous]

Just Cause 2

Undercover agent going around a mostly third-world country, allying with the local mafia, tribal gangsters, and communist rebels against a tyrannical regime, all the while working for the US who just wants the country's oil. Oh, and the mafia, gangsters, and communists? They are supported by Russia, Japan, and China respectfully, all wanting the oil as well. And the way you overthrow this evil regime? Why, by blowing shit up and causing anarchy!

 

[The Wykydtron]

Prototype, both the protaganist and antaganist(s) are both amoral, with both parties running over countless civilians in tanks and shit. It's kinda awesome!

 

[_'.()[]=@^|-]

I would just like more characters with diverse personalities in videogames in general rather than people going for the obvious b movie hero or mr perfect knight in shining armour. more personalised backgrounds with the main characters would be good too including interesting past history.

oh and to the original post a game that hasn't been mentioned "dawn of war 2 chaos rising" this gives you the choice of how corrupt you wish to make you main character as the game progresses.