Story Premises that Just Don't Make Much Sense if You Think About it.

[Fappy]

I never understood in Mass Effect 1 why you needed to go from point A to point A? You go half way across the Galaxy to move maybe 10 feet. I know the reason why, but it's sill dumb.

Ok, I have no idea what you mean here. Are you complaining about the size of the Galaxy Map?

Also the Thorian in ME1 was a complete plot device that makes no sense what so ever. Plants can't move, and they don't have neurons. Also why dose it have green parts? It lives underground. This shit is never explained. And I am just suppose to accept it because it's an alien? Umm, no. There are a few other things that bother me but those two the most.

- The Thorian was stationary, although plants can move (venus flytraps anyone?)
- They never said the Thorian had neurons.
- It's not green. [http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090305020426/masseffect/images/thumb/8/8f/Feros_Thorian_Full_Shot.png/1000px-Feros_Thorian_Full_Shot.png] The clones of Shiala were, and if you let her live, she later turns green herself.

I take it you didn't pay much attention to the game.

The only thing that I found strange was that it made screeching noises when you damaged it. I'm no botanist, but I am pretty sure plants aren't supposed to feel pain XD

Despite that I actually was disappointed they never did anything else with the Thorian lore after ME1.

 

[IrenIvy]

In the book (no, really! I own it!), it was explained it something like this. Scientists opened a reason to some planet, and the "demons" were actually aliens, and using a brain control thing that would make us think they were demons, people got more scared. The aliens figured that humanity would be more scared of Hell. Suddenly, Hell has broken loose. At least, that's what it looks like to us. I may be wrong in some of the details, as I last read the book about 4 years ago.

Well, this makes more sense, especially in a book that had so little of original setting to work with
But-but-but... isn't it Half-Life thing, then? Aside of cosplaying demons?

 

[Nimzabaat]

I never understood in Mass Effect 1 why you needed to go from point A to point A? You go half way across the Galaxy to move maybe 10 feet. I know the reason why, but it's sill dumb.

Ok, I have no idea what you mean here. Are you complaining about the size of the Galaxy Map?

Also the Thorian in ME1 was a complete plot device that makes no sense what so ever. Plants can't move, and they don't have neurons. Also why dose it have green parts? It lives underground. This shit is never explained. And I am just suppose to accept it because it's an alien? Umm, no. There are a few other things that bother me but those two the most.

- The Thorian was stationary, although plants can move (venus flytraps anyone?)
- They never said the Thorian had neurons.
- It's not green. [http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090305020426/masseffect/images/thumb/8/8f/Feros_Thorian_Full_Shot.png/1000px-Feros_Thorian_Full_Shot.png] The clones of Shiala were, and if you let her live, she later turns green herself.

I take it you didn't pay much attention to the game.

The only thing that I found strange was that it made screeching noises when you damaged it. I'm no botanist, but I am pretty sure plants aren't supposed to feel pain XD

Despite that I actually was disappointed they never did anything else with the Thorian lore after ME1.

Actually they did a really cool Mythbusters episode on that. Plants apparently feel pain and they even get distressed by hostile thoughts. I like pulling out that episode when I run into vegetarians. I'm pretty sure they can't make noise without vocal chords though.

OT: In the Surrogates, I don't understand why they built things for the robot bodies. If you want to go to a bar, just walk your Surrogates to the bar and plug in, Matrix style. Why build things for people who can't tell if the things are real? It just seems like wasted effort.

 

[Fappy]

I never understood in Mass Effect 1 why you needed to go from point A to point A? You go half way across the Galaxy to move maybe 10 feet. I know the reason why, but it's sill dumb.

Ok, I have no idea what you mean here. Are you complaining about the size of the Galaxy Map?

Also the Thorian in ME1 was a complete plot device that makes no sense what so ever. Plants can't move, and they don't have neurons. Also why dose it have green parts? It lives underground. This shit is never explained. And I am just suppose to accept it because it's an alien? Umm, no. There are a few other things that bother me but those two the most.

- The Thorian was stationary, although plants can move (venus flytraps anyone?)
- They never said the Thorian had neurons.
- It's not green. [http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090305020426/masseffect/images/thumb/8/8f/Feros_Thorian_Full_Shot.png/1000px-Feros_Thorian_Full_Shot.png] The clones of Shiala were, and if you let her live, she later turns green herself.

I take it you didn't pay much attention to the game.

The only thing that I found strange was that it made screeching noises when you damaged it. I'm no botanist, but I am pretty sure plants aren't supposed to feel pain XD

Despite that I actually was disappointed they never did anything else with the Thorian lore after ME1.

Actually they did a really cool Mythbusters episode on that. Plants apparently feel pain and they even get distressed by hostile thoughts. I like pulling out that episode when I run into vegetarians. I'm pretty sure they can't make noise without vocal chords though.

OT: In the Surrogates, I don't understand why they built things for the robot bodies. If you want to go to a bar, just walk your Surrogates to the bar and plug in, Matrix style. Why build things for people who can't tell if the things are real? It just seems like wasted effort.

Well then I am glad I threw in that disclaimer!

 

[Tahaneira]

Revolution.

For those who don't know, Revolution is a show where all electricity on planet Earth has stopped working. Well, nervous systems are still firing, but other than that nothing electrical works. It's your standard post-apocalyptic nightmare, human beings are really selfish and evil, the only thing keeping us from bashing each others' skulls open is modern society, blah blah blah bullshit. Anyways, there are three major unanswered mysteries in this show (keep in mind it starts fifteen years after the Blackout):

1. How did the power go out. Supposedly they talked to a physicist and he gave his seal of approval to whatever it is that did it. But even if they didn't, I'm sure I can suspend my disbelief for something like that, otherwise how could I enjoy sci-fi? Okay.

2. The government collapsed. Immediately. And with no explanation. Because organized government obviously didn't exist before electricity and it would be completely impossible for at least some places to stick together in a major disaster, right? But that pales in comparison to the fact that:

3. The military vanishes into thin air. Just... gone. Poof. According to one flashback, the first thing the collective military did after the Blackout was... sit in their bases. For at least two months. No disaster relief efforts, no national guard duties. No going out and trying to keep order or help the areas they were stationed in. Without access to the President of the United States, the entire military body ground to a shrieking halt, incapable of thinking for themselves. I guess the implication is supposed to be they joined up with the various 'Militias' (read: warlord gangs) that sprang up later, meaning all soldiers are cool with rape, murder, pillage, extortion, kidnapping and brainwashing kids, etc., etc. And if not, then they just sat quietly in their bases until they starved to death. I'm sorry, how does that make sense?

 

[RustlessPotato]

I never understood in Mass Effect 1 why you needed to go from point A to point A? You go half way across the Galaxy to move maybe 10 feet. I know the reason why, but it's sill dumb.

Ok, I have no idea what you mean here. Are you complaining about the size of the Galaxy Map?

Also the Thorian in ME1 was a complete plot device that makes no sense what so ever. Plants can't move, and they don't have neurons. Also why dose it have green parts? It lives underground. This shit is never explained. And I am just suppose to accept it because it's an alien? Umm, no. There are a few other things that bother me but those two the most.

- The Thorian was stationary, although plants can move (venus flytraps anyone?)
- They never said the Thorian had neurons.
- It's not green. [http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090305020426/masseffect/images/thumb/8/8f/Feros_Thorian_Full_Shot.png/1000px-Feros_Thorian_Full_Shot.png] The clones of Shiala were, and if you let her live, she later turns green herself.

I take it you didn't pay much attention to the game.

The only thing that I found strange was that it made screeching noises when you damaged it. I'm no botanist, but I am pretty sure plants aren't supposed to feel pain XD

Despite that I actually was disappointed they never did anything else with the Thorian lore after ME1.

I thought the Thorian was much more than "just" a plant. I mean it is intelligent to communicate with Shephard (via infecting other aliens). It's a very old organism. That happens to look like a plant. The fact that it can feel pain is the least strange . I read a short story about to aliens talking about humans, and one didn't believe that "meat" could communicate (http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/TheyMade.shtml#4). It's kinda the same, but the other way around .

 

[deathbydeath]

The premise of Source Code just makes no sense, and I'm the only one who seems to notice this.

 

[elvor0]

I never understood the setting of the first "Doom"
So science can open portals to Hell? So, metaphorical dimension for some out of many earthly religions is an actual place, like Disneyland?
I believe science can open portals, and that Hell might exist at some level, but mixing those two always baffled me.
Greatly enjoy the game nevertheless

Well, depends if you subscribe to the theory of Hell being only metaphorical. I mean, I thought the bible said that it is an "actual" place. Like God and the Angels hang about in Heaven, where you go when you die etc, and if you believe the bible, that must mean Heaven exists. Similarly Hell must exist as it's the counter place to heaven.

It's a what if? scenario, not /that/ bizarre really.

Portal to another dimension, this dimension happens to be hell.

It's no where near as odd as the Matrix, where as lots of people have pointed out, the machines use us for electricity, despite having access to fusion generators.

 

[newfoundsky]

I never understood the setting of the first "Doom"
So science can open portals to Hell? So, metaphorical dimension for some out of many earthly religions is an actual place, like Disneyland?
I believe science can open portals, and that Hell might exist at some level, but mixing those two always baffled me.
Greatly enjoy the game nevertheless

Well, depends if you subscribe to the theory of Hell being only metaphorical. I mean, I thought the bible said that it is an "actual" place. Like God and the Angels hang about in Heaven, where you go when you die etc, and if you believe the bible, that must mean Heaven exists. Similarly Hell must exist as it's the counter place to heaven.

It's a what if? scenario, not /that/ bizarre really.

Portal to another dimension, this dimension happens to be hell.

It's no where near as odd as the Matrix, where as lots of people have pointed out, the machines use us for electricity, despite having access to fusion generators.

If I remember correctly, the machines broke us down into a liquid, and then used us for the fusion. The matrix was used just until they needed to use that particular person. At least, thats what the scene of the liquid moving over the floor meant to me.

 

[Woodsey]

The premise of Source Code just makes no sense, and I'm the only one who seems to notice this.

The only problem is when the film shits on its own internal logic in the last 5 minutes. The rest is just a pseudo-science sci-fi set up, which is fine.

 

[TwiZtah]

Why does everyone turn into a ************ in all post-apocalyptic games/movies/series?

They know how it used to work, why not try to get into that system again?

 

[IrenIvy]

Well, depends if you subscribe to the theory of Hell being only metaphorical. I mean, I thought the bible said that it is an "actual" place. Like God and the Angels hang about in Heaven, where you go when you die etc, and if you believe the bible, that must mean Heaven exists. Similarly Hell must exist as it's the counter place to heaven.

Well, I might subscribe that Hell maybe another dimension but in that case I'd object that the only alternative dimension has roots in Christian religion. There should be dimensions for any hell or heaven, but they never appeared in "Doom" games, as I know, not even in slightest. All same pseudo-Christian 'hell' with fire, pentagrams and brimstone.

Portal to another dimension, this dimension happens to be hell.

I think I still like Half-Life explanation more . Just aliens that want to eat your brains is ok

 

[Scow2]

I never understood the setting of the first "Doom"
So science can open portals to Hell? So, metaphorical dimension for some out of many earthly religions is an actual place, like Disneyland?
I believe science can open portals, and that Hell might exist at some level, but mixing those two always baffled me.
Greatly enjoy the game nevertheless

The scientists were just as confused and surprised as everyone else. They accidentally open a portal to Hell, and then panic because "THIS PLACE ISN'T SUPPOSED TO EXIST!" But the demons are like, "Actually, we do. We're in your base killing your dudes. Deal with it."

And scientifically speaking, in the DOOM Universe, Hell does exist as an actual place as much as Lima or Paris are, as they went there. Apparently, the Christian Mythology was right on some level about the metaphysical universe in the DOOMverse. If merely being inspired by a mythology is enough to make a game's story premise "not make sense", then you need a new sense-maker, because that would discredit a LOT of games. Deal with it.

Skyrim, I love the game, but once you are out of the starting cave, why should my character feel the need to do anything? He was almost killed by a dragon and he is persuaded to fight one early in the story, I think your character would be all too happy to gtfo if he got news that a dragon was nearby.

The start is plausible, you go with your newfound friend to Riverwood and you are asked by the worried citizens to get word to Balgruuf, makes sense, but after that, why would your character has ANY reason to look for the dragon stone for the court wizard? I know it is up to the player to know how their character acts, but it always bugged me.

The answer is "Because you were asked, you might get paid, and it'll probably be fun." Pick any three of those answers.

Why does everyone turn into a ************ in all post-apocalyptic games/movies/series?

They know how it used to work, why not try to get into that system again?

Because they don't WANT to confine/restrict their lives to boring routine again, and enjoy the anarchic chaos of the wasteland. Or at least that's my interpretation. They decide the world's busted, so they might as well have some sociopathic fun.

I think any alien invasion stories set in modern times have been ruined for me. A species advanced enough to travel the stars is also going to be smart enough to know everything they need to know to wipe us out quickly and efficiently with barely (if any) damage taken to themselves.

That makes two assumptions:

1: they want to risk the collateral damage caused by wiping out humans quickly (It's easy to slag a planet, but it wastes the entire thing). If they have an interest in Earth, it's probably for reasons that would be ruined by mass-destruction of the planet's surface.

2: They don't want to wipe humans out - just suppress the population enough to not interfere with their business on the planet.

3: They don't know the full extent of human defenses and weapons. Depending on the distance from which they first saw Earth, their intel could be millenia behind the current age.

 

[deathbydeath]

The premise of Source Code just makes no sense, and I'm the only one who seems to notice this.

The only problem is when the film shits on its own internal logic in the last 5 minutes. The rest is just a pseudo-science sci-fi set up, which is fine.

I had a problem with the whole damn thing, although I do agree with you that the ending was what got me (literally) shouting and cursing.

 

[Eddie the head]

I never understood in Mass Effect 1 why you needed to go from point A to point A? You go half way across the Galaxy to move maybe 10 feet. I know the reason why, but it's sill dumb.

Ok, I have no idea what you mean here. Are you complaining about the size of the Galaxy Map?

Also the Thorian in ME1 was a complete plot device that makes no sense what so ever. Plants can't move, and they don't have neurons. Also why dose it have green parts? It lives underground. This shit is never explained. And I am just suppose to accept it because it's an alien? Umm, no. There are a few other things that bother me but those two the most.

- The Thorian was stationary, although plants can move (venus flytraps anyone?)
- They never said the Thorian had neurons.
- It's not green. [http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090305020426/masseffect/images/thumb/8/8f/Feros_Thorian_Full_Shot.png/1000px-Feros_Thorian_Full_Shot.png] The clones of Shiala were, and if you let her live, she later turns green herself.

I take it you didn't pay much attention to the game.

1. I was consistently moving in a small area but it was. Also a Venus fly trap doesn't move with muscle witch is how the Thorian would have to. A Venus fly trap moves in the same way a bear trap dose. Look up Cell Wall.

2. They clam it's senescent that would imply intelligence, witch would imply a brain. A brain is made out of neurons. They never explain how it can think if it doesn't have those. It would be more confusing if it didn't have neurons. And if it doesn't have neurons how dose it think?

3. The parts that you shoot are green. Plus there is a slight green tint on most of it. I also know the answer to that one. It's so people will associate it with a plaint. It doesn't mean if you think about it, it doesn't make sense.

Your explanation for 1 and 2 would add more questions then they would answer. That is what I would consider a bad answer. For 3 fine we are not looking at the same parts, I am just going to drop it.

 

[Lt._nefarious]

Not sure if it counts as a "premise" but Miles Kilo being the good guy in Syndicate (great game, and I stand by that) on account of him feeling perfectly comfortable to brutally murder the "good rebel guys", let lose with a mini gun in hallways with more innocent civilians than enemy soldiers and cripple the rebellion and start a huge fucking massive scale war... The premise that you are good and kind and a loving flower child is ridiculous as you shoot through a single mother into the head of a low paid security worker with nothing to defend himself besides a pistol...

 

[IrenIvy]

The scientists were just as confused and surprised as everyone else. They accidentally open a portal to Hell, and then panic because "THIS PLACE ISN'T SUPPOSED TO EXIST!" But the demons are like, "Actually, we do. We're in your base killing your dudes. Deal with it."

I don't think there were any live scientists in the first "Doom" -_-
And from that little explanation I was given in "Doom" the setting was still not making much sense to me.
Maybe in books they explained everything but I never read those.

And scientifically speaking, in the DOOM Universe, Hell does exist as an actual place as much as Lima or Paris are, as they went there. Apparently, the Christian Mythology was right on some level about the metaphysical universe in the DOOMverse. If merely being inspired by a mythology is enough to make a game's story premise "not make sense", then you need a new sense-maker, because that would discredit a LOT of games. Deal with it.

Inspired by mythology is not an issue by itself but a flimsy (in-game) connection of science and mythology is often still not making any sense.

 

[Scow2]

The scientists were just as confused and surprised as everyone else. They accidentally open a portal to Hell, and then panic because "THIS PLACE ISN'T SUPPOSED TO EXIST!" But the demons are like, "Actually, we do. We're in your base killing your dudes. Deal with it."

I don't think there were any live scientists in the first "Doom" -_-
And from that little explanation I was given in "Doom" the setting was still not making much sense to me.
Maybe in books they explained everything but I never read those.

That's because all the demons killed all the scientists.

And scientifically speaking, in the DOOM Universe, Hell does exist as an actual place as much as Lima or Paris are, as they went there. Apparently, the Christian Mythology was right on some level about the metaphysical universe in the DOOMverse. If merely being inspired by a mythology is enough to make a game's story premise "not make sense", then you need a new sense-maker, because that would discredit a LOT of games. Deal with it.

Inspired by mythology is not an issue by itself but a flimsy (in-game) connection of science and mythology is often still not making any sense.

Why not? "Science was wrong, an experiment was wrong, and now hell's broken loose."


... I do believe that Half-Life was at least an accidental-if-not-deliberate Send-up to Doom's plot, playing it a lot more seriously than "Oh no! Aliens and Monsters everywhere! Now shoot stuff!"

 

[IrenIvy]

That's because all the demons killed all the scientists.

And the text 'cutscene' in "Doom" never mentioned their fear or panic.

Inspired by mythology is not an issue by itself but a flimsy (in-game) connection of science and mythology is often still not making any sense.

Why not? "Science was wrong, an experiment was wrong, and now hell's broken loose."

Matter of personal perception and preference, I suppose.

... I do believe that Half-Life was at least an accidental-if-not-deliberate Send-up to Doom's plot, playing it a lot more seriously than "Oh no! Aliens and Monsters everywhere! Now shoot stuff!"

Intentionally or not, "Half-Life" setting makes more sense to me than "Doom"