SJ Longthorne

I think I need to divorce myself from my pre-held beliefs that good narrative design always = aligning the player with their character. Because this was intentional, and I'm glad I felt the things I did, had the experience I had. I can learn a LOT from this game.

I'm gonna be thinking about this game for years. Not for the story itself, but for the approach to influencing my emotions. It's not perfect, but like I've said previously, it's provided a bold set of shoulders to stand on. And I admire that.

i think as the game progresses and the divide between the player and ellie grows, i become more invested? i think a good comparison to make is spec ops, which constantly wanted the player to feel at one with the character so the twist hit (and, as a result, also missed)

like, spec ops is "oh you didnt put the controller down you're the REAL monster" (simplified) but then in comparison to ellie, the player starts with a strong connection and then it kinda swaps to clearly making the distinction: ellie isn't you, she's mad, she's flawed, etc.

and what's more is the game CONSTANTLY wants you to feel close to ellie and has all those little moments in the world like hats on dinosaurs but then she puts a knife thru a dog or w/e and it hurts to see how she's evolving as a character

it's more than just Misery Porn, and i think it's even inspired by traditional survival horror if you think about the importance of controllable helplessness in raising tension and bonding player/character, controllable helplessness as you watch ellie grow into her own person

and the anxiety it brings, while still being forced to work together to achieve goals and finish the game and just *hoping* things are better, and the hope plus pre-established character attachment makes her increasingly violent acts easier to swallow and to progress with

i wouldn't have put up with this nonsense or been nearly as hurt by it if i was only playing as abby through similar circumstances, for example. anyway sorry to write a novel in your replies i'm just very excited