A game where the “Good Guy” faction is the real problem

Faction often plays an important role in games that fulfill player choices and provide role-playing opportunities. Being on the side of the “good guys” faction is intended to provide a way for players to roleplay as being on the side of good, doing positive things, helping people, etc. Choosing the bad side allows players to roleplay as evil characters, bringing destruction and chaos wherever they go.

But it's not always black and white. Playing with nuance and subtlety, the game ensures that the good forces aren't all sunshine and roses, while the bad forces make compelling arguments that justify their actions. In some cases, good forces become the cause of conflict, because often their good intentions begin to pave the way to hell.

Far Cry 4

golden road

The Golden Path presents itself as a “good” force. Far Cry 4A rebel alliance that assists players in liberating the Kyrat region from the oppression of Pagan Min. However, by the end of the game, it becomes clear that while the regular members of the Golden Path may be good people, faction leaders Sabal and Amita are equally terrible people to Kyrat. Far Cry 4Although the methods are different.

Sabal is too clingy to the ways of the past and is hell-bent on reviving traditions, even if it means doing more harm than good. Amita wants to modernize Kyrat, but the worst possible way is through opium, child soldiers, and ruthlessness with a thin veneer of practicality. If the player assists Sabal as leader, he kills all those who oppose his vision on the Golden Path, “washing away their sins with blood.” Once Amita becomes leader, she can be seen forcibly recruiting children at gunpoint to become part of an army that is no better than Pagan Min.

Stormcloaks

It's easy to see the Stormcloaks as the good guys. The Elder Scrolls 5: SkyrimBecause on the surface, they are an army of freedom fighters with the goal of liberating their homeland from imperial oppression. Led by Ulfric Stormcloak, their goals seem heroic and noble, but the truth is much more complex.

Putting aside the fact that the Stormcloaks are racist towards everyone who isn't a Nord and are overtly hostile towards elves, the mere fact that they are inadvertently helping the Thalmor by weakening their empire is enough to prove that their actions are short-sighted at best. Ulfric Stormcloak seems to only care about his own ascension to the throne, without worrying about what might happen later. It could be said that Skyrim would be able to defend the Aldmeri Dominion without the Legion's help, just as the Redguard did at Hammerfell, but Ulfric doesn't seem to have any long-term plans to do so. In fact, the dossier on Ulfric found in the Thalmor embassy shows that the Aldmeri Dominion considers him an “asset,” and the longer Skyrim's civil war lasts, the better for the Thalmor.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

chantry

The Chantry was the dominant religion in Thedas at the time. Dragon Age: Inquisition Aside from perhaps the Gray Wardens, this is the closest thing to a “good guys” faction in the game. But since the Gray Wardens don't really play a big role. dieIt is difficult to regard it as a force in its own right.

On the surface, the Chantry's goal of spreading the Chant of Light and Andraste's message is a good one. But to understand that the Chantry is actually the source of many of the problems plaguing Thedas, we need only look at the superficial aspects of holiness. This is not because the Chantry is evil, but because they always think their world view is the most correct and have no hesitation in imposing their will on everything and everyone. Perhaps the clearest example of the Chantry's good intentions being twisted into something terrible is the Society of Wizards. This is an organization that gives the Chantry unilateral power to control mages as they wish, often with tragic results.

mass effect

The Citadel

As the threat of the Reapers looms overhead, mass effectOne would think that the Citadel Council, the leaders of all sentient races in the galaxy, would help Shepard and his crew deal with the threat in any way possible, or at least not interfere so that the heroes could carry out their mission without hindrance.

But in reality, the Citadel thwarts Shepard at every turn, setting up bureaucratic roadblocks for no other reason than willful ignorance and an inability to accept that his worldview is not the most accurate. in mass effect 1They dragged their feet at every opportunity until they finally accepted that Saren was mind-controlled by the Reapers. Fast forward mass effect 2 The Council becomes overtly hostile to Shepard, refusing to accept that the Reapers are indeed closing in to eradicate them all, severely damaging the war effort. If the Citadel Council had been more accepting of Shepard's version of events and had taken his warnings more seriously, they would have been better prepared when the Reapers finally arrived. mass effect 3It would have saved millions, if not more, lives.

Fallout: New Vegas

New California Republic

at fallout In space, the New California Republic stands for democracy, the rule of law, and equal rights for all. In reality, the NCR proves itself to be an expansionist force bent on acquiring territory and resources, imposing taxes, and forcibly bringing people into its brand of imperialist rule. And if they wipe out a few colonies that don't really listen to what to do, that's just the price they pay for civilization.

in Fallout: New VegasThe final decision in the Courier's hands is whose side he wants to be on in his bid to dominate the Mojave. three forces of new vegas There's the House, which only wants to focus on its own business, the Legion, which is set to collapse as soon as Caesar is gone, or the Republic of New California, which wants the Mojave's resources for its own purposes. Overall, there is an argument to be made that siding with the House is the better option. Although he only cares about himself, he is a businessman at heart and just wants to make the Las Vegas Strip a successful venture. He's not interested in expanding into other areas, and he certainly doesn't care about the people in those areas, but he'll at least put local needs first.

horizon zero dawn

Gaia

AI GAIA was the culmination of Dr. Elisabet Sobeck's efforts. horizon zero dawnIt's to protect humanity on Earth in the aftermath of the Faro Plague, an extinction-level event where countless robots go rogue and begin devouring everything around them.

Although GAIA succeeded in neutralizing the rogue robot, an unknown virus turned sub-functions like HADES and HEPHAESTUS against her, forcing her to self-destruct. Without her to oversee and organize the terraforming efforts for Earth, the lower functions went rogue. until the end horizon zero dawnIn , players learn that the hostile machines that endanger the world are actually created to protect them. They were to become humanity's greatest helpers, helping them regain the heights of the Old Ones. But when Gaia is attacked by a virus, these good people become humanity's worst nightmare.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

divine order

at theology In space, the Divine Order was initially formed to combat the Black Ring cult, which practiced dark arts and evil magic that sought to resurrect the Lords of Chaos. Whenever the inhabitants of Ribellon are threatened by Voidwalkens, demons, undead, or other existential threats, the Magisters, Seekers, and Paladins of the Holy Order rise to meet the threat.

in Divinity: Original Sin 2However, most Magisters of the Holy Orders blamed the emergence of the Void Awakening on the Sourcers, saying that all Sourcers should be rounded up, imprisoned, and muted from the Source, as using Source magic summons these beasts. As leader of the Divine Order, Alexander was also responsible for releasing the fog of death into the elven lands to eliminate the Black Ring, a cataclysm that wiped out all life in the region, including innocent people.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

northern kingdom

The main conflict taking place in the background The Witcher 3 It is a war between the Nilfgaardians and the Northern Kingdoms (Kaedwen, Temeria, Redania and Aedirn). At first glance, it seems easy to classify the Nilfgaardians as villains, as they are simply invaders from the south seeking to conquer the northern kingdom for the sake of conquest. But like everything else witcher The universe is not so bleak and dry.

The people of the Northern Kingdoms are extremely racist towards anyone who is not part of their society. Elves, witchers, and all other sentient races not recognized by the Northmen are fair game. That's not to say the Nilfgaardians are better, but from an outsider's perspective their flaws are no worse than those of the Northern Kingdoms. One could even argue that the commoners of the Northern Kingdoms might benefit from the iron fist and rule of law that defined the Nilfgaardian Emperor's rule.