10 Times Video Game Button Prompts Got WEIRD
3. Pay Respects - Call of Duty : Advanced Warfare / Arkham City / Spider-Man
The button press that launched a thousand memes.
The theory behind this button press is understandable. Noble, even. But still very weird.
In essence, you're asked to pay your respects to someone who has passed on.
In Advanced Warfare, you pay tribute to a fallen comrade-in-arms (which is parodied to great effect in Battlefront Hardline). In 2018's Spider-Man, you visit the grave of Uncle Ben, who started you down the road to being a superhero with his 'Great Responsibility' speech. And in Arkham City, you visit Crime Alley, the site of the greatest tragedy of Bruce's life - the night his parents were killed and he started down the path to being a vigilante of the night.
In at least two of the games, it breaks up the story flow. In AW, you are basically replicating what another character does during a cutscene, which seems designed to create artificial pathos. In Spider-Man, your trip to see Uncle Ben is more of an easter egg, including an achievement to go with it.
Only in Arkham City does the act really has any resonance, as it explores not only Batman's creation, but Bruce Wayne's reflections on himself as a crime fighter and about the death of the Joker.