Ludo-narrative resonance

Ludo-narrative resonance;

A game I recently finished that present’s game mechanics as an enhancement to its overall story arch is Helldivers. This may come as an odd choice as the game doesn’t put an emphasis on story but on gameplay. However Helldivers uses this to its advantage, the idea behind the game is that you are part of the ‘Helldivers’ division for Super Earth a “…satirical dystopian future where mankind is ruled by a managed democracy.” You are tasked with keeping the peace and fighting for Super Earth against the perpetual threat delivered by the three alien species in the game. You take your ‘Gears of War’ inspired character on mission’s to eradicate the aliens, set up coms links and retrieve technology.  

              The Ludo-narrative resonance comes in to play with the brutal games mechanics that are usually reserved for hard-core settings in the average game. This includes always on friendly fire, personal turrets that’ll mow you down if caught in the line of fire; drop pods that’ll crush you if on the landing mark. These mechanics reflect the story of the bitter and desolate planets you land on with only the aliens for company.

               This game is best enjoyed online due to the fact that when in orbit of the planet you’ve been tasked with you can see other players who are also playing on this planet within a different instance, reinforcing this idea of Super Earth’s army is slowly conquering the galaxy. Also when playing the campaign online, or as ArrowHead Studio’s like to call it “…the Galactic Campaign” your contributions are sent in and added to an in-game meter showing the progression of the entire globe, in that particular galaxy. Really adding into the campaigns idea of you fighting for the “…safety of Super Earth.” Finally Arrowhead studios really focuses on making each mission feel like an uphill battle that once accomplished make you feel like you’ve spent the last hour on that planet as the marine fighting for the cause. All the brutal mechanics incorporated into this game add to the overall story plot although not the most complex story arch, the studio has accomplished Ludo-narrative resonance with this game.

References;

Arrowhead Studios. (2015) Helldivers. PlayStation. Sony Computer Entertainment.

Arrowhead Studios, (2008) Helldivers [Internet] Available from: <http://arrowheadgamestudios.com/games/helldivers/>[Accessed April 2016].