Why is emotional impact more prevelant in Japanese games?

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gillri

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#1 gillri
Member since 2004 • 5926 Posts

Im a huge Western game fan. in fact the majority of the games Ive played in the few years are western games and Deus Ex and ME2 are in my top games of all time and I have massively enjoyed Heavy Rain, GOW3, UC2 and look forward to Alan Wake but why do the Japanese games have the special feel about them

I mean games like :

Okami

Shadow of the Colossus

Shenmue

ICO

these games feel so different and much more emotional, they tend to have serene beauty about them, what cultural influences can attritube to this?

I ve cant think of a western game were I have welled up about to cry but all of the above have moved me to tears, why is this?

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GunnerShip

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#2 GunnerShip
Member since 2010 • 25 Posts
I believe games from all over the World come with a different "emotional content". Asian games have always carried that bit extra where emotion is concerned becuase they want the game to feel more authentic. Anyone can create a game where the objective is to blow up a thousand tanks, but the Japanese will always add that extra element to the character so players become more personally involved. It's certainly something the West should look into, rather than just focussing on the action and game play. Make us feeeeeeel!!!
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#3 thattotally
Member since 2008 • 3842 Posts

Hmm, I don't know exactly what you're talking about, is it just those games?

Since most of the time, at least when it's localized for NA audiences, the scenes that are supposed to be dramatic and emotional (at least in RPGs) are very cringe worthy and disappointing seeing as it's 2010.

Which of course can be blamed on localization alone perhaps...

And in turn, it makes sense that some of the more silent games like Ico And Shadow of the big guys have a more emotional impact on most gamers.