Originally posted by: JF060392
The theme of a game has a major impact on both the game play, and on which players will ultimately be interested in purchasing that game.
In the case of Fallout 3, and Mass Effect, the overall theme of the game immerses the player in the story much like the theme of a novel would immerse a reader into the plot. In Mass Effect, the player is forced into creating an entirely new character. This presents the player with the opportunity of playing as a character who he can easily relate to, or as an entirely different character, who the player creates.
When creating a character in Mass Effect, the player is first asked to select a name for that character. To complement the name which the player selects, the player is asked to create an appearance for themselves, based on an endless combination of facial features, physical structure, facial hair, race, and eye color. After this, the player is immediately briefed on the setting of the story.
A prologue states that an artifact was found on Mars which boosted technology ahead 200 years. This theme presents itself in various ways throughout the game. The player easily notices the vivid and futuristic society in which humanity resides, and to complement this, the player hears a soundtrack of techno type music.
Clearly, the player who would want to purchase Mass Effect is one who loves a futuristic science fiction theme. In contrast, Fallout 3 has a completely opposite theme.
Although it begins with character creation, much like Mass Effect, the player soon notices the world is different. The setting of Fallout 3 is an urban, nuclear wasteland, featuring outdated technology. Although the game takes place in Washington D.C., the world is almost completely unrecognizable. The character is born in a fallout shelter, called a vault.
There are many vaults in the D.C. metropolitan area, but the vault the character is born into was designed never to be opened. The character?s father, voiced by Liam Neeson, mysteriously leaves the vault. The character immediately panics, and is forced to follow.
Upon leaving the vault, the player notices a vast wasteland, with few surviving buildings. Most of the area has turned into a radioactive desert, with few trees, and little grass in sight. As the player explores the D.C. wasteland, he or she notices that most of the technology lying around (such as cars, TV?s, radios, etc.) is made up of mostly technology invented in the 1950?s. The game soundtrack is made of 50?s music, and patriotic music, such as the Star Spangled Banner, and God Bless America.
The theme of Fallout 3 appeals to the player who enjoys an adventure game, but with a bleak, dismal atmosphere. Overall, the themes of both games are vastly different, yet both impact on the game play itself, and on which players will buy the game.
In Fallout 3, the character feels more vulnerable because of the hostile environment. In Mass Effect, the player feels less threatened because the society is civilized. These feelings ultimately determine which of the two games a player will buy.
In both Mass Effect, and Fallout 3, plot has a significant impact on the player?s experience. Mass Effect has a well developed plotline, which increases the player?s enjoyment of the game.
The plotline of Mass Effect reflects on modern events, even though the setting takes place in 2180. The foundation of the political system found in the game is much like a parliamentary system which could be found in Europe today.
In the game, the character is put through a series of trials and tribulations, in order to gain an honorary position on the council in government. The character is then put through an extensive and rather mundane knighting type procedure, with overly detailed dialogue which explains the position, known as being a spectre, and its job description.
It is explained to the player that his or her character is the first and last line of defense against evil in the galaxy. From this point the player?s character, travels from planet to planet, stopping evil, and assisting people in need. This plotline leaves the player with a heroic feeling. The player feels like a paragon of virtue.
In Fallout 3, the character is forced to traverse the D.C. wasteland, encountering small pockets of people that survived the nuclear holocaust, or bands of poorly animated mutants whom the character is forced to fight.
In the game, the character goes from one place to the next trying to find his lost father. This quest goes on for most of the game, until the character finds out that his father is part of a government conspiracy to reforest the wastelands of D.C.
The character?s father is killed off in a tidal wave of radioactive water during a desperate attempt to destroy the project that he is working on. He attempts to escape the Enclave, the last remnants of the original United States government. The character is then presented with a difficult choice, to go on a vendetta against the Enclave, or join them and inherit their cruel ways.
Fallout 3 is overrun with difficult ethical and moral decisions which will impact the character throughout the plot.
Through my experience, the most difficult choice that has to be made is in the beginning of the game.
The player is asked whether or not he or she wants to destroy one of the last remaining civilized cities in the area. If the player decides to destroy the city, the character is rewarded with a residency in one of the only surviving hotels in the region. If the character decides to save the city, he is given an overabundance of money to spend.
The plotline of this game has the player constantly choosing between good and evil. The influence of the plotline in a video game goes beyond the story, and directly impacts on the player?s emotions and experiences during the game play.
With the crumbling of our economy, one can still enjoy the fun of gaming, although we may have to choose carefully which game to purchase. Mass Effect clearly has better value for the price, taking into consideration, theme and plot. With today?s game boasting a $60 price tag, people should be cautious with the games which they purchase.
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