What was a profound moment that a video game caused you to experience, and why?
The moment that inspired this question:
A long time ago I was playing an MMO called Voyage of the Century Online. A major part of the game was sailing around on a galleon ship and having naval battles in the 1600s.
The game basically allowed you to sail around all of the oceans of the 1600s world and explore. The game was populated with a lot of NPC ships that you could raid and pick up its cargo for loot.
One time, I was sailing around the western coast of Africa and I came across some slavers. This was shocking to me at the time, and I was like “oh, I’m gonna fuck these racist slavers up!”
I proceed to engage the slave ship in battle and win. As I approach the wreckage, I’m bummed out because there wasn’t any loot. Like every ship up until this point had at least some spare cannon balls or treasure, but this one had nothing.
… then it hit me. A slave ship’s cargo would be… people. I sunk this ship and the reason there wasn’t any loot was because I killed the cargo. I felt so bad.
I just sat there for a little while and felt guilty, but I always appreciated that the developers included that detail so I could be humbled in my own self-righteousness. Not all issues can be solved with force.
::: spoiler spoilers for Dark Souls 2
Meeting King Vendrick at the end of the catacombs.
Since you first reached the hub town (Majula), you've been told that Vendrick has the means to cure the undead curse and all you need to do is find him. And so the entire game up 'till this point has been about reaching his castle and then when you discover he isn't there, tracking him down to the very bottom of the catacombs.
At the end of a long corridor full of enemies, past a recurring boss fight against one of Drangliec's many dragon riders, you pass through the fog wall and face Vendrick's bodyguard, Velstadt. It's an okay fight, not particularly flashy or difficult but at least it's not Prowling Magus.
Velstadt falls, and the only way forward is a short, narrow corridor that opened up behind him. The corridor leads down into an unlit room and in the dark you can faintly make out some large shape moving about the farthest side of the room to you.
As you get closer you hear Majula's familiar theme begin to play as the creature in the room takes shape before your eyes.
It's Vendrick, succumbed to the undead curse.
So hollowed by now that he doesn't even acknowledge your presence, instead slowly walking the same circle in a loop. His withered arms barely able to raise the sword he once used to slay the king of the giants.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
As I sat there trying to figure out what my next steps were supposed to be, I couldn't help but contemplate Vendrick's fate.
Time and time again this game presents you with the inescapable nature of death. Of how no matter how good a life you lived it will come to an end. No matter what legacy you try to secure it will crumble and be forgotten. The iron king in all his tyranny is naught but ichorous earth now, even Vendrick is dead (though his body hasn't caught up on that yet).
"If life is short, and my deeds are inevitably forgotten," I thought to myself, "Why the fuck am I living as a man when doing so makes me miserable?"
:::
Long story short, the next day I finally worked up the courage to talk to my GP about a gender service referral.
Glad to see another person of culture who likes Dark Souls 2. Meeting Vendrick is an amazing moment.
It has its flaws, but imho Dark Souls 2 has some of the best moments in the series.
I'll never forget riding the lift to Dragon's Aerie for the first time.