Summary
The end of the worldis never a pleasant thought. That said, it consistently fuels the entertainment industry. Audiences have seen countless stories depicting apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic scenarios. They provide a fascinating look into humanity’s struggle in the face of overwhelming adversity and hopelessness. Video games have also utilized this trend.
Some titles are especially believable in that respect. These games portray the end of the world in a realistic way. That realism usually stems from current scientific understanding, but it could also come from the tale’s authenticity to the human experience. Both of these cases require immense creativity from the writers and designers. However, the result leaves players utterly petrified of the future. In this case, that’s a good thing.
On the surface,The Last of Usis a generic zombie apocalypse. However, the cause of this catastrophe is not supernatural, but scientific. The root of the problem are Cordyceps: a real-life fungus which infects insects. It essentially controls their minds, absorbs bodily nutrients, and releases spores, a process that enables its spread to other bugs.The Last of Ussees it evolve to affect humans, and the downward spiral accelerates from there.
This is exactly the type of radical change that occurs when an ecosystem gets thrown out of balance. Organisms constantly evolve in new and unexpected ways. Fungi are particularly effective in that sense, able to thrive in the worst conditions and even bounce back from mass extinctions.They could conceivably mutate in this manner. In doing so, they might cause an extinction event of their own.
TheHorizongames might seem primitive and prehistoric (because of the robot dinosaurs), but they actually take place in the distant future. In years past, military defense machines ran rampant and ravaged the human race. The surviving scientists createdan alternative network of artificial intelligence named GAIA. This computer’s purpose was restoration. When the time was right, it would eventually terraform the ruined Earth into a habitable environment. Then, it would unleash a new line of machines - this time emulating biological animals - to cultivate the land. Finally, it would use cloning data stored onboard to begin the human race anew. In short, machines have the final say on both destruction and creation.
Horizonis far from the first story to depict the dangers of AI, but that danger is only one part of the experience. The games portray mechanized intelligence as an all-encompassing, godlike force. It controls everything in the natural world. Considering the increasing prevalence of AI, this concept isn’t that outlandish. More and more companies are relying on computer algorithms, even for creative roles like writing and design.Trusting the planet to those same algorithms isn’t much of a leap. At least it’s cheaper than hiring someone.
Nuclear weapons are the catalyst for many apocalyptic tales. Not only do they inflict destruction on an unprecedented scale, but they’re also an excuse for mutated monsters to emerge from the ensuing radiation. TheMetroseries certainly has these elements and uses them effectively. What some audiences might not appreciate, though, are the extra steps toward authenticity.
These games are reminiscent of Chernobyl,and not just because of the Russian setting. Nuclear fallout leaves an area irradiated and uninhabitable to humans. Thus, the survivors here must don protective suits. That includes players, who must always be mindful of their radiation levels and always wear a gas mask outdoors. This condition may be inconvenient, but it shows commendable attention to detail. The world hits closer to home as a result.
Most games with this subject matter opt for post-apocalyptic settings, butTom Clancy’s The Divisiontakes place during society’s downfall. A plague is spreading across the United States due to banknotes transmitting a modified smallpox virus. The titular Division activates sleeper agents to track said virus. Apparently, it’s part of a mad scientist’s radical idea to save the environment from human corruption. Its presence causes various factions to spring up, each with their own agenda regarding the epidemic. Worse, some Division members defect, putting their beliefs ahead of the mission. Suffice it to say,this story has a plethora of pieces in play.
In that sense, the game echoes other political thrillers by Tom Clancy. They derive their spy stories from real global powers and their attempts to one-up each other. Every nation wants to be the first to respond to any unknown elements, wild cards, or potential weapons. The intelligence agents serving as the protagonists usually investigate the problem and formulate a method of suppressing the threat, restoring the world’s equilibrium.The narratives dramatize the covert ops that occur every single day.The Divisiondoes the same, mixing its apocalyptic scenario with real-world espionage.
Readers might wonder how a fantasy title likeThe Witcher 3captures any form of realism. However, this series contains a wealth of social strife between its various races and nations, thereby grounding it in real themes. Perhaps the most haunting look at societal decay comes when Geralt is inadvertently transported to a doomed world. This place previously fell victim to the White Frost, which blanketed the land in endless winter. The visuals here are visceral enough. Snow buries the humble houses, preventing Geralt from even entering the doors. Inside, frozen corpses line extinguished campfires. However, the place only gets more unsettling the further he investigates.
Accompanying the corpses are scribbled letters and journals. They describe how the citizens initially thought the snow would stop. They then explain how supplies slowly ran out. Finally, the folks resigned themselves to their fate and died. The texts paint an intimate picture of normalcy gradually giving way to hopelessness. They’re not unlike the actual accounts of poor souls beset by disaster. Through them,The Witcher 3finds true human suffering amid fiction. It doesn’t get much more real than that.
