although Metro Awakening Preparing for the fourth installment in the post-apocalyptic underground series, the virtual reality format presents unique challenges in terms of storytelling and character development, as well as the usual game design hurdles that developers have had to overcome in the VR space.
Rant game sit down Subway The author of the series Dmitry Glukhovsky, who is actively involved in Metro AwakeningHis development, and he talks about his approach to storytelling and character writing in virtual reality games versus traditional flat-screen games. Glukhovsky reveals what he feels is most important when trying to immerse players in a narrative, including that people have a “special power of empathy” that allows them to identify well with the characters playing in the story.
How do players become the protagonist of Metro Awakening?
Since players will be taking on the role of a character in a virtual world, the question of how to make the experience believable was something Glukovsky considered early on. According to Glukovsky, it's important not to overemphasize the character's backstory, and not to overload the player with too much information and history. Having the player face the character's problems head-on is the best way to let the player “become” that character. Half lifeGordon Freeman is a prime example of this: players quickly become Gordon Freeman with little to no story content and dialogue, and his desperate struggle to escape Black Mesa becomes their own.
I thought about it and came to the conclusion that the best thing you can do is to make a character very dramatic and immediate, so now you become that character. The only way you become that character is without telling the character's backstory. The magic of drama and dramatic storytelling is that when you feel like you're a part of that character and you realize that the problem he or she is facing is a serious challenge and you want to help him or her solve it, whether it's a personal problem or a collective problem, your identity melts away into his or her.
10 minutes into a 2-hour movie, and you are the character. Especially in the moments when the character starts to make moral choices, you completely forget yourself. You are the character. When his or her life gets difficult, your heart races. When things get awkward, you feel ashamed. When he or she falls in love, you feel the sexual arousal too.
Glukhovsky also points out that people tend to be particularly drawn to when characters are faced with moral decisions. In this case, it's important that the character makes a moral decision, and the player often makes one too, as failing to do so can leave the character feeling alienated and out of the experience. This immersive effect of moral decision-making may explain why many gamers enjoy games with morality systems and dialogue trees.
Metro Awakening doesn't have a silent protagonist
action Subway Most series have silent protagonists after that. Metro 2033but Metro Awakening It would be a return to form, which in this case makes sense: the protagonist of Metro Awakening Khan is a character the player has encountered in the past, and is played by the same actor.
We have a special power of empathy for others and can easily imagine ourselves in another person’s shoes and relate to his or her needs and perspectives.
So I think the main challenge in the storytelling was not to alienate this dictator as a gamer, our protagonist.
Metro Awakening
Speaking of which, this is the first time that DLC from previous games is not included.
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Games and first games in
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Series where the main character has a real voice
Going back to what Glukhovsky said about immersion, using a protagonist with a voice in Metro Awakening It should help players connect more emotionally with the game. It is another Half life example, Half-Life: AlyxThe game’s voiced protagonist is a prime example of this quality, thanks to the legendary writing talents of Dmitry Glukhovsky and Vertigo Games’ excellent track record in VR. Metro Awakening It's going to be a terrifying, heart-wrenching, and immersive experience.
Metro Awakening Releases November 7 on PC, PlayStation VR2 and Meta Quest.
