Lack of Cultural Diversity in Final Fantasy Games

Lack of Cultural Diversity in Final Fantasy Games

Being quite the fan of several Final Fantasy games, having played VIII, IX, X, X-2, XII and XIII it has come to my attention that in the soon to be released installment of the franchise the cast of protagonists is somewhat less diverse than what fans are used to. The protagonists are all seemingly Caucasian males. I'm not saying that there's an issue with this, it's merely a design choice (perhaps the climate of said protagonists home has caused fairer skin to be more prominent). surely SquareEnix wouldn't go out of their way to alienate non Caucasian players? It's strange that after previous casts featuring one or more characters of non European descent to change this almost iconic feature.

Accessibility in Games and Bodily Awareness

Accessibility in Games and Bodily Awareness

Zelda Skyward Sword has some of the best motion controls I have used in a game, though I'm sure many would disagree (I have not delved very deeply into the world of motion controlled gaming). The player is only able to control the protagonist's arm as if it were their own, but every swing of Link's sword feels truly as if it was your own. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to carve through trees and defeat enemies by utilising the accuracy of the motion control, slicing beneath a shield or stabbing through a gap in their armour.

Analysis of Ludonarrative Dissonance in Depression Quest

Analysis of Ludonarrative Dissonance in Depression Quest

Depression Quest, aptly named, is a minimal text based game about living with depression. As can be seen below the player is unable to make certain choices depending on the protagonists mental state. This adds immersion to a game almost devoid of any visual aid. Being unable to access sections of gameplay due to the protagonist's depression causes the player to become deeply invested in helping the protagonist. The player can at certain points in the game seek help with the help of friends and family. The decisions made by the player are the only thing pushing the story forward, thus there is little ludonarrative dissonance caused.