Good or Evil?

A lot of games are giving us the choice between playing as either a good or an evil character. What do you guys usually choose? Personally, I usually play through the campaign on the ethically good side, then if I liked the game enough I'll go back and do it again as an evil character.

I usually do both. Generally Good first, so I can used to the game and then Evil so I can just let loose.

For example, in inFamous, I played good then restarted on Hard as Evil. Being Evil is a lot easier than being Good (which involves hard work and sacrifice, not unlike the real world) whereas being Evil limits the amount of compromising you must endure because you are rewarded for being a selfish ***ck.

Using my example, as a Good guy in inFamous you have to carefully pick off your enemies, avoiding civilian casualties, the power upgrades are generally less appealing, and you actually have to give up some Blast Shards (items that increase your energy meter) to maintain a Good reputation.

I wish the game weren't so blunt though. So black and white. When games have a neutral aspect too it makes the descisions all the more powerful to you.

I usually do both. Generally Good first, so I can used to the game and then Evil so I can just let loose.

For example, in inFamous, I played good then restarted on Hard as Evil. Being Evil is a lot easier than being Good (which involves hard work and sacrifice, not unlike the real world) whereas being Evil limits the amount of compromising you must endure because you are rewarded for being a selfish ***ck.

Using my example, as a Good guy in inFamous you have to carefully pick off your enemies, avoiding civilian casualties, the power upgrades are generally less appealing, and you actually have to give up some Blast Shards (items that increase your energy meter) to maintain a Good reputation.

I wish the game weren't so blunt though. So black and white. When games have a neutral aspect too it makes the descisions all the more powerful to you.

Cow-Juice

Like you, I usually play good the first time. Then if I want to play the game again I will go as an evil character.

About your last point, this is something I've seen people ask for, for years. Developers seem to love to give us the choice do behave either in a good or evil maner, but haven't quite developed this concept as fully as I think they could. It would be cool to see some morally complex decisions that have deeper and more specific consequences than the usual 'if you choose the good path X will happen, if you choose the evil path Y will happen", cause and effect realations we have now.allnamestaken

Totally agree. I didn't play much of Knights of the Old Republic (one of the first games to have the good/evil story paths that I can think of) but I remember all of the dialogue choices you were given and at the time I assumed that each choice would have a deeper effect on the branching story than it actually did. I'm not sure if Mass Effect has nailed the neutral aspect either (don't have a 360 or good PC), but definitely look forward to a truly choice driven RPG-esque game in the future.

[QUOTE="allnamestaken"] About your last point, this is something I've seen people ask for, for years. Developers seem to love to give us the choice do behave either in a good or evil maner, but haven't quite developed this concept as fully as I think they could. It would be cool to see some morally complex decisions that have deeper and more specific consequences than the usual 'if you choose the good path X will happen, if you choose the evil path Y will happen", cause and effect realations we have now.Cow-Juice

Totally agree. I didn't play much of Knights of the Old Republic (one of the first games to have the good/evil story paths that I can think of) but I remember all of the dialogue choices you were given and at the time I assumed that each choice would have a deeper effect on the branching story than it actually did. I'm not sure if Mass Effect has nailed the neutral aspect either (don't have a 360 or good PC), but definitely look forward to a truly choice driven RPG-esque game in the future.

I always start out good, but usually find stealing everything makes so much more cash that I try to be a "scoundrel", stealing stuff but still following the good path. Then someone see's me stealing & I slaughter my way out.

[QUOTE="allnamestaken"] About your last point, this is something I've seen people ask for, for years. Developers seem to love to give us the choice do behave either in a good or evil maner, but haven't quite developed this concept as fully as I think they could. It would be cool to see some morally complex decisions that have deeper and more specific consequences than the usual 'if you choose the good path X will happen, if you choose the evil path Y will happen", cause and effect realations we have now.Cow-Juice

Totally agree. I didn't play much of Knights of the Old Republic (one of the first games to have the good/evil story paths that I can think of) but I remember all of the dialogue choices you were given and at the time I assumed that each choice would have a deeper effect on the branching story than it actually did. I'm not sure if Mass Effect has nailed the neutral aspect either (don't have a 360 or good PC), but definitely look forward to a truly choice driven RPG-esque game in the future.

KOTOR was far from the first - RPGs have been doing them for at least a decade, if not two - and it basically only had good/evil options, with no incentive to pick anything other than good every time or evil every time (you lost light/dark side mastery if you tried to make neutral decisions).

As for Mass Effect...eh, it didn't penalise you for making moral decisions, but there were never any consequences for your actions (not yet, anyway - maybe in the sequel), so your choices almost never made a difference.

As for morally grey games, if you haven't played The Witcher yet, do so. I haven't played or heard of a game with better options.

Usually float back and forth between being good and being bad. Mostly depends how lame the 'good' options are and how twisted the 'evil' choices are.

Good is what I usually go for. I know that villains are supposed to have all the fun but I just..prefer being good. Even if I'm on my second playthrough. I don't know - perhaps being given the choice speaks to my inner Captain America :)