8 Awesome Twists That Saved Terrible Video Games
1. Who's Zach? - Deadly Premonition
Deadly Premonition revolves around a FBI agent called Francis York Morgan who's investigating a murder in the small town of Greenvale. But as he explores, he discovers shocking revelations, not just about the case, but about himself.
Being the most polarising game ever according to the Guinness World Records, Deadly Premonition truly is the Marmite of the gaming world. Because the survival horror has a Neo-noir style, every aspect is meant to be heightened and unnatural. But the characters, dialogue, and performances are so hammy, it's hard to tell when it's meant to be hilarious or serious.
But one part that we can all agree worked well was the final reveal.
Every now and again, the protagonist speaks to an unseen person called Zach, who many players assume is York's imaginary friend.
But the truth is far more disturbing. Zach isn't imaginary - York is. After finding the Greenvale killer, York relives a memory where he, as Zach, witnessed his father murdering his mother. Zach was left so traumatised, he manifested the persona of York to make sense of the experience. After Zach defeats the killer, York effectively dies since he's no longer needed.
No matter how silly or flat-out stupid you find Deadly Premonition, nobody is ready when this emotional rollercoaster hits you.