At the end of Undertale, there’s a mirror you can interact with, and the response is “Despite everything, it’s still you.” I don’t know why that’s stuck with me, but it has.
Everything after the Mettaton fight until the end of the Asgore fight is extremely good. The New Home walk is one of my favorite moments in gaming.
“Wow, we sure crossed the Spec Ops: The Line.”
I didn’t like how this game delivered its message.
“Gee, you sure are in a pickle. Maybe use some of that white phosphorus over there!”
Nah I’m good.
“Hmm sure are lots of enemies though. Should probably use some of that white phosphorus!”
Are the enemies just going to keep spawning until I do?
“…yes”
Alright, fine. I’ll use the white phosphorus.
“USING WHITE PHOSPHORUS IS A WAR CRIME! YOURE A WAR CRIMINAL! DO YOU FEEL LIKE A HERO??”
Bruh…
At that point in the game you do have a choice: to do the unthinkable and survive or just to just be shot and die. I’m pretty sure the actual message is that to just die is the choice you wouldn’t consider, just like quitting the game afterwards and uninstalling. It’s kind of ridiculous, and I think that’s the point.
That’s kind of the point. Most other war games don’t give you a choice either, but we find that acceptable because they reward us. Of course, this isn’t how war actually is, but we tend not to criticize that despite how a lot of these games are blatant propaganda. Spec Ops turns that around and actually makes you face the consequences of your actions. It even points out the excuse of the lack of choice.
It’s essentially a reflection of how Walker feels in that situation. You’re pretty much supposed to feel like you didn’t have a choice because at the same time that’s how Walker felt.
Even though Walker did have a choice at the very beginning. He was supposed to scout the area out and return with his findings, he was never supposed to go deeper into Dubai like he did. But at every step he convinced himself that he had no choice but to do so. Culminating in the white phosphorus event.
“Had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong.” -Mordin Solus, Mass Effect
“War is where the young and stupid are tricked by the old and bitter into killing each other”
- Niko Bellic
The original save screen from Nintendo: “Everything not saved will be lost.”
Pretty sure this image is from Life Is Strange if anyone is curious btw.
“I’m going to the last place that hasn’t been corrupted by capitalism… SPACE!”
Capitalism. Tim Curry was the Communist in this scenario.
I still need to play this game if only for this line/scene.
That whole game is an absolute rollercoaster ride of insanity. Westwood Studios leaned into camp the way 60s Batman did.
“Press F to pay respects”
Fuck took me ages to beat that part
There sure must be a lot of better candidates, but this one comes to my mind:
We can forget happy things. We can probably forget sad things too. People have the power to forget.
“The servers will shut down for good in X days.”
I was thinking about that the other day, I can still show my kids games that I played when I was a child in the 90s but not stuff from my late teens and 20s.
“I have a home!” - Tali’Zorah vas Normandy, Mass Effect 3
Doomguy dropped quite the gem at the end of his story.
“No.”
For me, it was definitely when Kratos is speaking to Mimir to warn Mimir about seeking vengeance. Mimir snaps at him, saying of all people, you’re one to talk! And Kratos replies:
“I am an authority on the subject. You would do well to listen."
Honestly, this interaction impacted my perception of people and when they have insight that is counter to their behavior.
I also found the “Do Not Mistake My Silence For Lack Of Grief.” Quote very fitting. Just because you are not showing it doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect you.
“Hhrng„
—Bob Villager, Minecraft, 2011“Anything not saved will be lost.”
