10 Powerful Video Game Stories Told Without Words
6. Shadow Of The Colossus
Destroy 16 Colossi wreaking havoc on the land to reclaim a loved one. Sounds easy right?
2005’s Shadow of the Colossus is nothing of the sort. Devilishly toying with the players moral compass, the task of slaying the beasts is far more ethically complex. By turning conventional game expectations on their head, the player is constantly questioning their actions, as their deeply ingrained understanding of ‘kill the big thing’ are challenged.
The immense weight that falls upon the player when each of the colossi meets their end may very well be so impactful because there’s no dialogue. Plunging the sword into each enemy’s weak point is met, not with swirling and majestic music or witty dialogue from the game’s hero, but instead an ambient, almost peaceful melody as the massive foe hits the floor.
With each successful kill, the feeling of guilt builds. The devastating music, docile enemies and vast, uninterrupted landscape lead the player to believe they may not be doing the right thing, and so the powerful story leaves a lasting impression on those who’s kill count stands at 16.
Wordy scripts and cheesy dialogue have no place in this tale. Quite the opposite.