Mature Games That You Think Are Actually Mature

[Midnight Crossroads]

The nomination for Modern Warfare 2, however, is just silly. Terrorism is a tactic, not a philosophy, and while it can be implemented for the sake of patriotism it has no relation to it. Also, the idea that a "deranged plan of rejuvenating his country's sense of patriotism" is in any way good is laughable, considering patriotism is the kind of "we are inherently better than you" emotion that leads to such madness in the first. (Granted, I am not familiar with the game so I have no idea what actually happened, so my commentary is probably widely inaccurate.)

Right, because the American public expressed no outrage over the 9/11 attacks, the sinking of the Maine, the sinking of the Lusitania, or the attack on Pearl Harbor. None of these things contributed in any way, shape, or form to the US entering four different wars.

Nationalism is what you're thinking of.

I like the part where you mention events to which I did not even allude and which have no relevance to what I typed. Next time actually try reading the comment before replying to it.

I like the part where you ignored your point being destroyed. I also like the part where you dismiss a game as immature when you admit to not being familiar with the subject matter. Hypocrisy much? The fact that the whole, "Let's attack out own country or allow it to be attacked to provoke our population." is a troupe as old as dirt shows that it's not implausible. I provided real life examples of it. Four, in fact.

Patriotism shot through the roof after all those events. One of which was a definite act of terror, one of which had a high probability of terrorism, and one of which was a war crime. Two of these are rumored to have been committed by the US government. One is rumored to have been known of beforehand.

Oh, and your definition of patriotism is off. Thinking you're country is better than other countries is called nationalism.

 

[CriticalGriffin]

The franchise that first came to my mind was Silent Hill and I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned it yet.

I would if you haven't mentioned it earlier.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

I'm holding out for the Western release of Catherine to see sexuality and sex presented in a deep, meaningful, genuinely mature way. Maybe I should buy a PS2 and pick up Persona 4 but living in the dried up stink-hole of Tasmania, Australia, getting ahold of something as obscure as sexuality-focused PS2 JRPG, without venturing into the hole that is eBay, is a laughably impossible task.

 

[Extraintrovert]

I like the part where you mention events to which I did not even allude and which have no relevance to what I typed. Next time actually try reading the comment before replying to it.

I like the part where you ignored your point being destroyed. I also like the part where you dismiss a game as immature when you admit to not being familiar with the subject matter. Hypocrisy much? The fact that the whole, "Let's attack out own country or allow it to be attacked to provoke our population." is a troupe as old as dirt shows that it's not implausible. I provided real life examples of it. Four, in fact.

Patriotism shot through the roof after all those events. One of which was a definite act of terror, one of which had a high probability of terrorism, and one of which was a war crime. Two of these are rumored to have been committed by the US government. One is rumored to have been known of beforehand.

Oh, and your definition of patriotism is off. Thinking you're country is better than other countries is called nationalism.

Having looked at the definitions, I admit that Nationalism is the term I was considering, and I was using Patriotism incorrectly. Also, while I was merely referring to Modern Warfare 2 as not mature, not as immature, and was really only referring to the Original Poster's analysis of it, I admit that not being familiar enough with it renders anything I have to add to the subject quite moot.

However, I never described such a scenario as implausible, simply as something that shouldn't be defended (as the Original Poster implied by attempting to portray it as morally ambiguous). I also won't go anywhere near that comment about "real life examples", because dealing with conspiracy proponents never fails to hurt my brain.

 

[Sp3ratus]

There was actually a similar thread a couple of weeks ago or so here: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.265174-Mature-Games-that-are-actually-Mature

I also wrote in that thread, and I can see my suggestion hasn't come up already, so here goes:

As I always mention in these kinds of thread, Planescape: Torment. This game isn't about some world-saving quest or rescuing the princess from distress, no, this game is about self-discovery, about who you are as a person, TNO that is. I highly, highly recommend it, it's very, very well written, an excellent story.

 

[Axolotl]

Patriotism shot through the roof after all those events. One of which was a definite act of terror, one of which had a high probability of terrorism, and one of which was a war crime.

Just curious, which of those was a war crime?

 

[nin_ninja]

I'd have to say Knights of the Old Republic 2. Read this [http://lparchive.org/Knights-of-the-Old-Republic-II/] LP for a more detailed explanation, but here's the simple version. A mature look at the Star Wars universe, which does not go the normal route of depicting the jedi as Jesus mixed with superman, but instead shows them as the reactionary, stubborn, dogmatic old men they would have to be. Add to that that they pulled off one of the only truly, 100% successful examples of a completely cryptic, wise old teacher character (with the twist that she lies ALL THE TIME), and you have an amazing game.

4th favourite game, 1rst favourite LP.

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

Patriotism shot through the roof after all those events. One of which was a definite act of terror, one of which had a high probability of terrorism, and one of which was a war crime.

Just curious, which of those was a war crime?

The Lusitania was seen as a war crime. The Germans never warned the Lusitania before attacking to give the crew and passengers time to escape.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Oh that's simple, Pokemon wins this one hands down.

 

[Gigano]

Yume Miru Kusuri.

While certainly mature in that other sense as well - AO so - it delves into the social problem of bullying with such relentlessly brutal honesty that this alone unexpectedly put it among the best deconstructions of it I've ever seen. Not to mention its grappling with wanting to break triviality, no future attitudes, or shedding your identity completely.

Bioshock was an interesting take on objectivism and utopian ideals in general, and Call of Duty 4 is probably the most mature take a game in its genre will ever get.

 

[bugsbob605]

I nominate Shadow of the colossus. I rarely see a game that makes me think, "Is this girl really worth doing this for?" from the protagonists point of view.

 

[Blue Musician]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the Silent Hill series. For me they are the most mature games ever.
Also behind them is Pathologic and the Void, games made by Ice Pick Lodge.

 

[Sneeze]

Have not played, but I heard that Heavy Rain is pretty intense and plays out like a fantastic movie. I played their earlier one, Indigo Prophecy. That one was pretty intense.

Heavy Rain definitely, that handles it very maturely. Indigo Prophecy is good too but the story goes to hell after maybe two thirds of the way in. D: Heavy Rain is brilliant though.

Also, I'd argue that the GTA game are mature when player right. Sure you can beat an elderly woman to death with a dildo if you feel like it but story wise (IV in particular) then can be quite mature I'd say, friends, enemies, betrayal; plus they are just a social satire of gang culture. Maybe not the most mature games ever but I'd say they're somewhere up there.

 

[Juventus]

9 hours 9 doors 9 persons.

 

[northeast rower]

Red Dead Redemption. John Marston's character arch is really charting the life of every adult male- from "the ultimate shit" (New Austin), to weary man caught in the middle (Nuevo Paradiso, think "Death of a Salesman"), to man who only wants to rest with his family (West Elizabeth)- and it addresses the idea of aging, family, redemption (duh), and change in a way that I haven't seen many games do. The conversation with Dutch chilled me to the bone. LA Noire will apparently continue this tradition- no shooting civies, no dick jokes, and you don't even have to drive (you can't drive well in a Rockstar game, let's just accept that)- you can have your partner drive for you.

Bioshock deals with the collapse of what is essentially a utopia, and it examines one of the most beloved ideologies of the last century, and one that I personally hold most of my values to, so it was doubly interesting to me.

Fallout 3 might not seem like the most mature game out there, but when you see it from the perspective of someone like me, it gets pretty damn disturbing, especially when you see the rampancy of the most un-American ideals: towns held under dictators, slavery, bigotry against ghouls. The most powerful nation in the world wiped off the face of the Earth, replaced by gangs of killers. Then you get to Penn. Ave. The White House isn't there anymore- just a crater.

Mass Effect 1 and 2 have their silly moments, but the actual idea of determining the fate of many characters in an expanding, living, breathing universe is pretty crazy. It heaps responsibility on the player, leading to many difficult decisions, and it shows so many different aspects of today's society- xenophobia, needless hate of others' ideals, religious extremism, etc. I actually like the silliness, too- the games don't get too caught up in themselves, and there will always be some humor in life.

 

[entrapped]

Max Payne 1 and 2, very mature themes, although 2 starts to feel like a mindless shooting galore at the end.. Also there is The Longest Journey and Dreamfall, but let's not forget Silent Hill and the Project Zero/Fatal Frame series. All of these games point at you and ask you a question.. A question of life. Like in the series Serial Experiments Lain, where I sat there, eyes and mouth wide open, just thinking about life. The essence is the same.. Quite a lot of games have these moments, but all hope is gone in the writing department since Crysis announced the era of Graphics. To me, the old ones are still the way to go =D

 

[Scarim Coral]

I think the game Little King Story (Wii) which had a kiddie appearances (in a good way) had some mature elements to it.
One of the Kings you have to defeat is a emo King living inside an egg. You have to go through this maze and you find notes which about a guy going through difficulty in life (it quite insightful if you read all of them). Also another possible element is that the King (you as little boy) is a Polygamy, you saved each princess from the different Kings which she will live in a dormitory next to your castle (the King is a stud!). However you do have to choose between them near the ending to the game.
Also the last level is defiantly mature

Spoiler

The last level is in a giant kid bedroom and you find the kid notes that reveal that the game could all be that kid fantasy. All of characters in the game are all references that the kid meet/ encounter in real life which it hint he is depress/ withdraw from the world (you companion an old kinght is the boy grandfather who had passed away who he liked.

 

[pspman45]

everything made by bioware