The greatest stories & why - Games #01

Demon's Souls & Dark Souls 1:
The souls series thrive on interpretation, leaving just enough for the imagination to want more but keeping out some of the bigger details. Another absolutely integral part of this is the environments which tell a story all by themselves. Together with vauge direction they form a very potent narrative. Another driving force is that every part of the game seems to have a heavy connection to a theme, invoking so much more character from the different areas.

Deus Ex 1:
Deus Ex is built around the premise of factions always vying for control. Completing enough objectives for any faction will eventually lead you to the end scenario. The key component they employ to make this fun and engaging is the ability to switch sides often (once per map?). This is supported by a strong personal objective that plays into the bigger picture seamlessly and brilliantly.

The Elderscrolls III - Morrowind:
Morrowinds greatness stem from it's complexity. While it's an easy base to follow: A prisoner is sent to Morrowind for unknown reasons but to do the bidding of the Blades (Agents of the King). But it grows in complexity while you get more familliar with the world. The story slowly unfolds seamlessly integrated with more or less optional guild quests. Before you are done not only will you have struggled through a religious narrative but also a political one. Between the cities, tribes & political parties there's a wide differentce in culture, laws and customs. Spice things up with an alien world with age old legends & an overarching plotline every so slightly coming together with every TESIII game where each game leads Tamriel towards becoming more and more unstable in it's state of existance.

The Legend of Zelda - Ocarina of time:
Through the journey they foreshadow events and make phenomenal use of pacing. This is done through hitting certain checkpoints. Often times these are in themselves incredibly important with their own subplot. Like Saria becoming a Sage or Kakariko burning down prompting you to action. What really makes it tick is the games great use of symbolism and numbers. It really feels like a genuine legend. It has it's own identity with a rich world of unique and wonderful races and colorful characters. But perhaps most important of all is it's potential for taking dark turns. There's no lack of sad stories, dark & terrifying moments that stand as excellent contrast to the adventure.

The Longest Journey:
What makes TLJ special and unique is not only in it's execution and presentation as an adventure game. But it's how the pacing is phenomenal, how the characters are memorable, likable. But also how the world somehow seemingly tells you everything you need to know but still keeps the bigger mysteries intact. It has humour and it has grace. It moves through the narrative in a natural way. This makes it incredibly easy to loose yourself in the world so masterfully crafted. Every detail of the designs have been carefully and meticulously overseered, and this is something you don't just see on the screen. You see it in your mind, you feel it in your heart. You hear it echoing down the crevice of your soul.

End word:
I aim to make this a series of sorts. Analysing what I think made a specific game/movie/other type of medias story/narrative/lore great. Note that this is my opinion and is subject to change and you as I am entitled to my own opinion. On a final note I'd like to know your greatest stories and why. Leave a comment, let's get some talk going!

Signed, Mireneye

Feeling the magic

It was a night of triumphs in three parts. One part was the unfettered joy of being connected to all of you again. Another is the joy of knowing I've reached rock bottom. With nothing to loose, there is only one way forward. The third triumph is not quite so easy to explain. It is equally part of both but neither come close.

The third triumph is one belonging to the thought of a child. If you close your eyes you may feel it linger in the youngest crevice of your soul. It's the imagination of watching magic unfold for the first time, a phenomenon you can't explain. It is the triump belonging to hope that grows from purity of emotion. So pure, perfect and undeniably outside our grasp. If not for our fondest memories, and our greatest archivements.

Some people live entire lives without ever realizing such things. I've been happy to have experienced it many a times, one may call me lucky.

Never the less the last triump never stays for long. It's a flash, a feeling to fair to hold on to. And why would you? It's fragile and may break at the slightest touch, may crash and crumble upon a glance to long. Leaving you with an empty memory; Not more than another event in an otherwise ordinary and boring life. This triump is only great, because others are not.

Everyone who knows me, know that I have always believed that I'm here to do great things. Call it hubris if you want. But I never bothered to explain but to a handful of what great things I meant. Maybe I didn't know? maybe I still don't know.

But I know this.

The light is meant for everyone, It is a resource in abundance.
It's the damdest thing,

Waking up realizing that today is the day I change the world.

So when I say I'm here to do great things. I'm not doing them for me. I love feeling empowered, I love feeling that I can entertain. I love sharing. But that is also where it stops.

Where I stop... YOU begin.

Without you, everything is finite. Ambition without purpose.

But together we create, express and live magically. Infinitely.

Live for the triumphs, dare to challenge yourself. Inspire the mirror and reflection will pay aplenty.

It was a night of triumphs in three parts. As the third fades, its's brethren show me the way to my next stop, on this grand stage.

Signed, Mireneye