Immersion and Linear Progression

by kapowaz, Friday, July 26, 2013, 08:51 (3933 days ago) @ Xenos

I don't know if I agree that Final Fantasy 7 couldn't be told as well as a movie (I think it's too hard to know for sure)

The reason I mention that one is because of how it takes advantage of the player's starting position of ignorance - you're told Cloud used to be a member of SOLDIER, and you have no reason to doubt that because you're unaware of his history. It turns out that not only was that not true, but not even Cloud realised it wasn't true, and so when his true identity and history become apparent you're actually very much able to relate to the shock of this discovery. This only works because for a large portion of the game the player effectively 'is' Cloud, so he's the character you most strongly relate to. As a book or a film you'd be a third-party and so it couldn't possibly have the same impact.


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