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One of the most highly criticized aspects of video games over the years has, above all else, been violence. Video games like Grand Theft Auto, Manhunt, and Postal 2 are some of the most infamous cases of violent video games criticized in the media, but countless other games have been guilty of having the same level of gratuitous violence. While the argument has revolved around whether or not violent video games promote real-world violence, we’ll be using our platform to discuss whether gratuitous violence can break the the immersion in a historical video game.
What Makes a Game Immersive?
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First and foremost, we have to answer: what makes a video game immersive? Well, it’s a multi-faceted answer. A game’s visuals (both graphics and art style), sound design, storytelling, and characters all factor into making a game immersive. However, all of these elements add up to the player’s level of believability in the game’s world. If even just one of these elements feels off, the player may end up losing his or her immersion.
How Too Much Violence Can Break Immersion
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Different video games will often handle violence very differently. Some video games, like those geared towards a younger audience, will be tamed down when it comes to violence. Family-friendly games like Super Mario and Crash Bandicoot don’t feature any realistic violence (like blood and gore) and offer a more cartoonish art style. As a result, they’re are not particularly “realistic.” But of course, these games were never intended to be realistic or immersive. On the other end of the spectrum, the more recent Mortal Kombat titles feature incredibly over-the-top gratuitous violence, with characters ripping out opponent’s hearts and slicing their bodies in half. These games are also not immersive, as their exceptionally high level of violence is absolutely absurd and doesn’t capture the natural world.
Shifting the discussion to historical video games, some games directly based on historical time periods strike a great balance when it comes to violence, with the Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty franchises (save Call of Duty’s Nazi zombies mode) feeling very realistic in how they portray violence.
Other historical games, such as A Plague Tale: Innocence, feel realistic in many respects but falter a bit when it comes to the game’s violence. The game features characters getting eaten alive by giant swarms of rats in a very brutal fashion. This itself is enough to pull the player out of what is an otherwise incredibly immersive game set during the Bubonic Plague. Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is another historical game that feels just a tad bit over-the-top regarding its violence. While medieval warfare is undoubtedly a violent subject, slicing through enemies feels gratuitous. The ease of cutting players down feels as easy as slicing through butter, and as a result, can break player immersion.
Does It Matter?
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But at the end of the day, does over-the-top violence in video games really matter all that much? Well, that depends on the player and their personal preferences. Historical video games or not, immersion isn’t always the most important trait for games to feature. If a game is fun and gives you enjoyment, that should ultimately be the only thing that truly matters. Realism and historical accuracy are great traits for historical games to have but don’t dictate whether or not a historical game is worth playing.
So if you’re someone who loves gratuitous violence in video games, then you should play those titles. If you prefer more grounded experiences, then there are plenty of games that fall into that category as well. Regardless, games are meant to be fun and enjoyable experiences, and you should pick the games that offer the most enjoyment to you.
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At Epoch Xperience, we specialize in creating compelling narratives and provide research to give your game the kind of details that engage your players and create a resonant world they want to spend time in. If you are interested in learning more about our gaming research services, you can browse Epoch Xperience’s service on our parent site, SJR Research.
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(This article is credited to Ben Price. For as long as he can remember, Ben has always loved playing, discussing, and writing about video games. Since receiving his B.A. in English, he now writes about them for a living.)