BA6 | Advanced Game Studies #08

“Nintendo's Dark Duality in Video Games” 

fan art by Kendrick Tu

This is a video study of Nintendo games and how they seemingly like to portray darker versions of their stories and characters. This links in with my study topic because I am looking at how games can portray deeper meanings and communicate sub content via play. Nintendo are known for their cuddly fun, child friendly, games, especially when you consider the Mario franchise. However, this video shows you how the games can try to communicate alternative narrative and ideas to the player via play. I took  notes as I watched the video making sure I got useful quotes and reference material for my essay.

   video reference, credit goes to "EmceeProphIt"   

The dark world shows the player what happens if Link fails; or they fail as a player. Player motivation.

Juxtaposition of the dark world and happy game. Shows the player what will happen if they fail and can be seen as a procedural rhetoric in pushing them to succeed.

“Giving the player 2 ways to look at the same thing is a simple concept but it achieves  an incredible affect”

   Consider juxtaposition in characters, gameplay when looking for how the game as a medium can convey deeper meanings. Examples used were Dark Mario and Gary from Pokémon. Gary from Pokémon always made you want to be a better Pokémon trainer.   

 image reference  

Consider how paper Mario is actually about how Luigi never feels as loved as his brother, Mario, so he becomes “Mr M” in an attempt to be everything he wants and wishes he was but couldn't be as Luigi…deep stuff for a child's Nintendo Mario game! 

 image reference

“Duality is an extremely useful tool in game design and it can be used in ways that no other medium can. It can get the player to look at the world in a new way see the dark side of a character or make a powerful commentary on the nature of man.”