Games against the System

        In this exclusive review we are going to expose the top 5 games from OUR library which deal with protagonists who clash against huge corporations or government like entities which gives an
epic video game experience. Enjoy!

5) FINAL FANTASY 7

Protagonist: Cloud Strife

Corporation: SHINRA

              FINAL FANTASY has been a well recognized franchise ever since the late 80s. With their latest installment of FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 and two MMOs, these series are far from over. (Even though the Title contains the word “FINAL”)

                    

                    "These days, all it takes for your dreams to come true is money and power."
                                                           - President Shinra

          

In the beginning, Cloud is part of a anti (eco) terrorist group called AVALANCH. Cloud seems to suffer from an identity crises which later on unfolds as he fights against his enemies and his personal demons.    SHINRA had to make the list because of its intentions. This corporation sucked the Life stream of the planet in order to make a weapon of mass destruction, meanwhile destroying the planet it claims to protect. Causing a chain reaction of events and a more powerful and remarkable antagonist…SEPHIROTH.   Utter ignorance. 

4) Assasins Creed

Protagonist: Desmond Miles

Corporation/ Government: Abstergo, Templars

"Men must be free to do what they believe. It is not our right to punish one for thinking what they do, no matter how much we disagree!"

                                                                              

―Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.

               

Assassins Creed has the story of history and action. Desmond, the protagonist, has a long lineage of assassins who protect society with their own methods and beliefs.  The mega corporation ABSERTERGO, which is a religious government/society known as the Templers, has kidnapped our protagonist and strapped him to a Hi-Tech machine known as Animus. This machine allows Desmond to control his ancestors who were actually in constant battle with the Templers. Involving control of religious artifacts known as “Pieces of Eden” which have the power to control the course of human destiny.  Imagine, religious fanatics who want the power of god to rule the world and change the way you live?  Sounds familiar……

 

3) FALLOUT3

Protagonist: Vault 101 survivor

Government: The Enclave

                                                
""War. War never changes. Since the dawn of human kind, when our ancestors first discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilled in the name of everything, from God to justice to simple, psychotic rage."   
                    -Ron Perlman
      

   This post apocalyptic survival game stars as you being raised in a survival shelter called “Vault 101”. These vaults are created to house a mere 1,000 to protect them from nuclear fallout which happened years ago. Your world, life, and beliefs start to form its destiny when you father embarks on a personal mission and disappears in the capital wasteland. (By the way, the voice of your father is done  by Liam Neeson ) You encounter many dangers from super mutants, feral ghouls, raiders, slavers, mercenaries, robots, and finally the Enclave. 

          The Enclave is powerful military group which are leftovers from the pre-government war. The leader of this organization is President John Henry Eden. You encounter this group numerous times while clashing with the Brotherhood of steel, while they try to take over the waste land by controlling its last form of water supply.  The thing I love about the Enclave and why it made this list is because they seem like a very tough enemy with supreme firepower and tactical means of war. President John even has his own radio channel which he yells his beliefs and patriotism throughout the waste land. (Voice is done by Malcolm Mcdowell. Alex from Clockwork Orange) You really want to meet this Power monger strategist, but when you do, you get this…

                      an old 1980 Macintosh with a monochrome monitor.

And what I really was expecting was this.

LINDERMAN!

                                  
You gotta love the irony!

2) Half Life2

Protagonist: Gordan Freeman

Government: The Combine

Give me a Crowbar!

 

"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world"

                       -The G-MAN

       Gordon Freeman is a Geek turned Rambo due to some catastrophic events which started in the Black mesa incident. A scientific researched gone wrong has unleashed an alien multi-dimensional race known as the Combine.

                            

           This oppressive race is harvesting the humans this time around and Gordon comes in contact with a human resistance group to undo the mistake he made in the past. City 17 is where the citadel was established after the so called “7 hour war” was taken place and humanity was enslaved. Also the head director of Black mesa, Dr. Wallace Breen, has surrendered to become an administrator within the ranks of the Combine. 

                 In the story, everybody praises Gordon as a profit or a savior of the people to goes up against impossible odds of the combine. I loved how the alien life forms called him “The Freeman”, kind of symbolic in a way.  This game has its own action and interaction with its well known “Gravity Gun”. The Combine makes this list because the environment the game gives you.  A futuristic oppression with a greater race. It really gives you a feeling that you are running for your life and for the life of the human race.

1) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Protagonist: Jack aka Naked Snake, Big Boss

Government: United States of America.

Definition of PATRIOT

Patriot pa·tri·ot

\ˈpā-trē-ət, -ˌät, chiefly British ˈpa-trē-ət\  (one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests)

“The foibles of politics and the march of time can turn friends into enemies, just as easily as the wind changes. Ridiculous isn’t it. Yesterdays ally becomes today’s opposition. Enemies change along with the time, the flow of the ages. And we soldiers are forced to play along”.

                                                                                                -The Boss (Lori Alan)

               

                 Metal Gear Solid 3. Takes place during the events of the Cold war in 1964.   In this epic chapter you get to meet Snake’s grand mentor, The Boss (Lori Alan, who is a legendary US  war hero),  who was on a secret covert mission gone awry. Soon after she defects to  her new  benefactor  Colonel Volgin (aka Thunderbolt). A Stalin like character who is trying to overthrow Russia by plotting a conspiracy which involves a nuclear mobile tank (METAL GEAR/SHAGAHOD) . Now its up to Naked Snake(aka Jack, who is played by David Hayder) to face his fears, emotions, and the burden to carry out orders that were assigned to him. His orders are to take out any nuclear threats and to eliminate his former mentor and mother, The Boss.

Hayders gonna hate....

           Why this has made my list? Why the US and not Russia? Throughout the game you feel that you are the Hero, the nations soldier, a true patriot until the end.   The plot sets to unfold after you kill each of the Cobra units and you reach closer to your Mentor “The Boss”. She was known to be patriot to the end for her country. That’s what made the story so interesting on why the hell she would backstab her nation, but she actually didn’t. The defect was a ruse set up by the US government. The Boss was on a covert mission to seek out this Russian extremist (Volgin) as an undercover ally. By showing her (false) loyalty she gave Volgin 2 nuclear weapons, the Davey Crocket. (Rocket launchers equipped with mini nuclear warheads)  Unpredictably, Volgin fired the US weapon on Russian soil.  Russia wanted proof that the US was not involved. To prove its innocence, they had to get rid of The Boss. What better soldier to take her out but her pupil and son, Jack (Naked Snake). She was not allowed to come back home and she had too much pride and honor to take her own life. So she gave her life fighting, labeled as a terrorist, sacrificing herself to the hands of her favorite pupil.

                  Snake was a pawn in the game of war. Manipulated, discouraged by means of power by his own country while his mother-like mentor is spat on like a common terrorist. The whole game was a trick/Ruse from the beginning. This is why Metal Gear 3 Snake Eater has made the top of my list.

I hope you enjoyed this list. I bet there are other games out there with better twists, plots, and deceptions. But remember, this is from our small library. GAME ON!

                                              -Charlie Munguia