Level Up: How the Best PlayStation Characters Evolve
Video game character arcs have come a long way over the years. Whereas once we had voiceless heroes with paper-thin motivations and fewer character traits than they had pixel counts, today’s games have nuanced narratives lead by complex protagonists that can stir a myriad of feelings from the player. When I think of the evolution of video games I don’t think about improved graphic fidelity or better technology, I think about how far the medium has come in regards to storytelling.
As I was playing through God of War Ragnarok, there were so many moments where I could feel the character of Kratos growing, learning, changing. I began to think about how some of my favorite PlayStation games of the last decade starred characters who went through profound moments of growth. These characters transcend the purpose of what gaming protagonists used to be. They’re not just a catalyst for fun and play. They can teach us things about the human condition and provide opportunities for us to see ourselves in a different light through their avatars. With that in mind I present some of my favorite characters who truly leveled up through the course of their games.
While her debut title saw Aloy discover her destiny and go from outcast to hero, the follow up Horizon: Forbidden West introduced us to an Aloy who is grappling with the ramifications of her new stature in her world. Aloy is an established hero in Forbidden West and she struggles with not only shouldering that responsibility but the selfishness and isolation that comes with it. Aloy is cold and off-putting to many of those she comes across in the early hours of the sequel as she seems to intentionally distance herself from those around her.
This way of being is put to the test by the surprising introduction of a new figure in her life who is put directly in her path. Aloy must confront, consider and ultimately care for this person throughout the duration of her journey in the Forbidden West. By the end of this chapter we see a significant softening of the edges and an acknowledgement that no one, not even the hero of Meridian, should have to go through this life alone.
When his homeland is threatened by an invading force, Jin Sakai wastes no time or thought in putting his life on the line to defend it. Through honor and oath, Jin throws himself into an unwinnable battle and is quickly dealt a near fatal blow. Not only is his life put in perilous danger, but the fallout from this battle puts everything he believes in on the blades edge.
His life up to that point had been in servitude to his uncle and the ideaology behind his leadership, but all of that is challenged as Jin begins to see the world through the eyes of the Ghost of Tsushima. He makes new allies and forges new beliefs that fly in the face of everything he was taught up until that moment.
Throughout Ghost of Tsushima we see Jin Sakai slowly shed his old skin and realize that there are some things in this world that are worth sacrificing everything for.
The Uncharted series has always been about high-octane action and Summer Blockbuster Movie-style charm, but something curious happened to the series’ protagonist, Nathan Drake in the game’s final chapter; Drake grew up. Naughty Dog opted to infuse a wonderfully thoughtful character arc that examined life’s truest treasures for Drake to search out in Uncharted 4.
The fourth installment of the Uncharted series sees Drake reflecting on family, responsibility, true love, and the sometimes heartbreaking value of letting go. It is a wonderful story about how just because we change as we grow up, it doesn’t mean we’re losing anything. In fact the things that enter and pass-through our lives along the journey just enrich the experience even more.
There is probably no character in PlayStation’s history that goes through such a rollercoaster of storytelling than Abby Anderson from The Last of Us: Part Two. While I’ll keep the details of this scarce for spoiler reasons, I don’t believe I’ve ever gone on such a journey with a character in a game of intruige, hate, love and true sorrow. The story surrounding Abby, and her transformation (both emotionally and physically) throughout The Last of Us: Part Two is a hallmark of the kind of storytelling that I believe can only be achieved through the interactive medium of video games.
If you haven’t played The Last of Us: Part Two. Stop everything and remedy that as soon as possible.
Finally, the character who brought about the inspiration for this article. Kratos’ story in the recent God of War revival is just a wonderfully complete vision of a character finding redemption in life through love and acceptance. As a father I found so many threads of his story to bond with. While the setting of God of War is a dangerous world of monsters, warriors and gods who all want nothing more than to destroy you, the visionary’s at Sony Santa Monica somehow found a way to tell an Earth-shattering story of how parenthood changes everything.
No matter who you were before you have your first child, you are born again the day that child draws its first breath. We, as parents, must serve many roles: Guardian, Teacher, Guide and Nurturer. There are so many facets to life as a parent, and we all struggle to serve these roles while also trying to stay true to the person we are at our core. God of War shows the push and pull of trying to live up to all of these things and it perfectly illustrates how the journey of parenthood is the most fulfilling and enriching experience a person can have. The Kratos we see at the end of this journey is a wholly different person we start it with, and we see every moment of change along the way, all powered by the love of a father and his son.
