Screen Play: "During an appearance on a breakfast radio program earlier this week, Screen Play was asked the obligatory question about whether I play violent games like Grand Theft Auto, and what possible appeal they could offer.
In the short time available, I tried to explain that much of the appeal of games like Grand Theft Auto was not their violence but that they offered a playground in which players were given freedom to make their own choices, which of course (controversially) includes anti-social activities, but also the capacity to make more noble decisions.
Violence is undoubtedly encouraged in the GTA games, but like a Tarantino film, the brutality is made palatable by humour and is certainly not the main drawcard of the game - it is fun-loving anarchic escapism.
If it was violence that was the main appeal, the series would have been a flop - the public is savvy at knowing when a game is using shock tactics as a gimmick, and keeps their wallets shut.
But as Mark "Mr Ak" Johnson thoughtfully explores today, another factor must be that gamers are able to distance themselves from the anti-social actions of their character... "
A famous actor from Starship Troopers has showered praise on Helldivers 2 and said he is open to the idea of playing General Brasch.
GL compiles a list of some of the most mind-blowing video game narrative twists in recent memory, from The Last of Us to Outer Wilds
With articles like these cant you tag the games mentioned so that we can know ahead of time if there’s a spoiler to avoid?
Not clicking on your article otherwise.
Discover our top video game adaptations of popular board games, from Bloodbowl to Wingspan & get your board game friends into video games!
