Ahh, I got a thanks ... I wasn't expecting that.
@ahoodedfigure: I completely agree with all of your points about the animals. It touched me too it that same slight way. The idea of messing around with what the player becomes familiar with like Bastion did by the Ura messing up the Bastion should be used in more games, though there are definitely a number that have used it in part now. It's one of the most effective ways for my money of making the world feel alive and getting an emotional response from the player.
Carrying Zulf was one of those special gaming moments for me. The atmosphere and music of the game, the desperation in first thinking I was going to die while carrying out this noble act and then the sombre and so very slow making my way to the exit ... really beautiful.
I thought about particularly the second choice for many minutes, just sat at that screen mulling it over. I partially felt I should continue my refusal of Rucks' plan and world view but in the end the cost of so much life that there had been in the genocide meant that I felt it was worth believing in the slim chance that it could all be changed when doing it again, despite knowing the prospect of a repeating history was almost implied as being a likely outcome.
Going through the last level or so knowing what had happened to the Ura and hearing the narration from Rucks diverging from my actual actions and thoughts for the first time created a really strong effect also.
Did you pick up on the fact that you're basically Zia, as in that's who Rucks is addressing with his story? And that the whole story is being told by Rucks to Zia while the Kid is away during the last battle against the Ura (I think that interpretation is correct). I somehow glossed over the significance of the line that revealed that in my first playthrough but that was quite the revelation and it makes the game an interesting exploration in terms of what perspective you're playing the game from. Are you witnessing history or making it by the act of playing, given it all taking place in the structure of a story.
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