she has to: brief commentary on connecting emotions in video games

If you are planning on ever playing Final Fantasy and do not know the big spoiler, please do not read this post. Thank you.

Video game nostalgia is a funny thing, and you either get it or you don’t. Connecting with a game’s narrative or even presentation can be a very interesting feeling. For instance, if Aeris dies in Final Fantasy VII when your parents are knocking at your door asking you if you want to order Papa John’s pizza, your experience with that moment in the game is going to be tainted for ever, and you won’t be able to share the same feelings as those who were playing the game, alone, in a dark room with no disturbances.

Video games are able to connect on a deeper level than books or movies, or even music, if done correctly. It’s the immersion that does it, and the feeling that you’re in control, or at least you think you’re in control that has a lot to do with it as well. As Cloud in Final Fantasy VII, you make decisions and choices and you fight monsters and you talk to various people and you don’t have to talk to various people and you can run from monsters.

However, regardless of what you do up until the time of her death, you can’t stop it, you can’t do anything. Well, you can stop playing the game and she’ll perpetually be alive for ever to you, but you can’t finish the game without letting her die. She has to. She has to die.

Something sadistic in that, right? You’re playing a narrative, a story, that someone has written, but they give you a certain amount of freedom and in some ways, that’s kind of cruel, and regardless you’re going to connect with the character, and that’s the way it’ll be ever time you replay the game.

The second time you play the game, it’s different, you know that Aeris is going to die, and you’ve already been on this adventure with her. However, if you’ll notice, you appreciate her more, and you pay attention to every word she says, and you begin to stall in more places that she gets to be in your party, because eventually, inevitably, and however untimely you may find it to be, she’s going to die, and her character will cease to exist in the game.

- Kyle