After a tsunami of gamespot user suggestions and expressions of disappointment about the original list, I thought I'd better appease the masses with a new and bonus list to that Top 10 Mainstream Games with Religious Undertones.

That's right, it's the Second Coming!

The following list features the predominant user suggestions, as well as few other lesser known titles. Bear in mind that I list the games in relation to their content of religious material, not in the order of which is the best to play (or worst to play in some cases). Also, I make no comment on religious viewpoints, beliefs or their correspondent controversies... however tempted I may have been!

So then, let's embark on another exodus through the holy-lands of video-gaming.

(As with the original list, I am restricting this list to games that are not designed to promote a particular religion. So titles like "Bible Adventures" and "Exodus" don't qualify. I am interested in listing the games that show hints or references to religious materials or qualities as an aside to the game's primary purpose: entertainment. Games that try to make religious teaching itself the source of entertainment weren't considered for this list.)

#5: Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness (PS)

Any game that contains satanic references is sure to generate interest right? Well this game, usually tagged with such out-of-fashion adjectives as "multimedia" and "FMV (Full Motion Video)", asks players to take on the role of an innocently executed character that has made a deal with the Devil. After some questionable motivations and tissue-thin plot devices, it is the player's job to please Satan himself by setting traps and claiming visitors' souls. Along with this, it is the player's job to exercise any moral judgements they may hold, for it is not always imperative that you trap and kill every character - those you spare will alter the game play somewhat. Take a soul or kill the body? Please Satan or pocket some gold? The choice is yours. The game's tag-line describes it in its own goofy way better than I ever could: You choose who lives ... and who dies!

*Trivia*: The instruction manual states that there are six endings to the game, but it is suspected by some fans that there are more "hidden" endings.

#4: Messiah (PC)

Play as a cherub - (you know, the winged baby-like figure that ranks the highest in the hierarchy of angels?) Yes they're cute, but in Messiah, he's pretty devious and dangerous. With the ability to possess other beings and control them as if they were but mindless puppets, you must traverse the cyberpunk environments in order to fulfil God's will. Satan has done it again, and it's up to "Bob" the Cherub to thwart the Dark One's plans for universal domination, (or something like that). The city of Faktur, a futuristic metropolis full of citizens who really do love to sin, is your battleground. And the sex-workers, dirty cops and some strange, violent underground creatures are all up for grabs. Possess one, drain their life or use them for your own ends (puzzle-solving), and then discard. Unfortunately, the pleasure gained from the game is just as short as Bob himself, for the entire campaign is over before you know it, and it then becomes apparent that much of the game play may have been just filler; the seemingly endless platform areas seem both out-of-place and redundant, and the developers indecision as to whether this game is a shooter or an adventure title is manifested in this imbalance. But nevertheless, the broad religious derivatives are what make this game memorable: a cherub floating about in a dystopian ultramodern city in order to defeat Satan is nothing, if not original.

*Trivia*: At one point, possessing a worker in a radiation suit will get you called "Half Life" by one of the guards.

#3: Okami (PS2)

Rich in culture, colour and imagination, Okami is a true artistic spectacle. With its bold and tasteful minimalist ink-painted vibrantly coloured visuals, Nippon is represented like a true living painting. Set in feudal Japan, the wolf-God Amaterasu is controlled by the player as they systematically banish the evil from the lands. Demons, ghosts and other supernatural spirits inhabit the land, turning a once peaceful and fertile Nippon into a blackened, arid realm. Using brush techniques handed down to him by thirteen deities give Ammy the power and skill to expel these parasitic vermin, (Wii users can control their brush with motion-control). Although the game sets little focus on any religious practices themselves (thankfully), the player brushes up against these demigods, each with their own jurisdiction over Nippon, calligraphy technique and divine powers. This is a reference to the Japanese practice of Shintoism, which believes that everything contains a spiritual essence, or "Kami".

*Trivia*: Okami was intended to be a game with realistic graphics, but due to the Playstation 2's notoriously complex architecture and graphical limitations, the cel-shaded or "sumi-e" presentation was reverted to.

#2: Assassin's Creed (PS3)

They don't get much more main-stream than this game. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, this game promises an awful lot. We're given massive, open worlds with intricate detail populated with twelfth-century peasants, thieves, scholars, assassins, soldiers, guards and royalty. The Holy Land is your Liberty City; an alertness-level meter is your Wanted Level; a compass your radar, and Altaïr is your Niko. But, this clumsy parallel to GTA IV can only be carried so far, for Assassin's Creed is less about destructive sociopathic behaviour, and more about adherence to a (loose? questionable?) moral code - the creed of the title. Altaïr must re-establish himself among the assassin brotherhood by undertaking specific killings - he's the twelfth century's hit man. And for religion, is there much to say there? Well the timeline of the game is smack bang in the middle of The Crusades (you know, those religious-motivated military campaigns?). But the main influence on the game is in its setting: we see real life cities like Damascus and Jerusalem with its historical conflict and tension. The religious/political landscape is as complex and varied as the brilliantly crafted level-design players must navigate.

*Trivia*: The nine targets for assassination in the game are based on true historical figures, many of whom did actually disappear suddenly.

Sadly, this title was never released in PAL regions, but this incredibly unique RPG title references some of the greatest minds in psychology and philosophy: Freud, Jung and Nietzsche are all further immortalised in this game. Add to this mix some combat robots or "Gears" as they are called, and you surely have a remarkable list of ingredients as well as revered PSX landmark. So what religious content does this game contain? Amazingly, Biblical teachings are a major influence on the thematic content: you can't get more obvious than a looming Tower of Babel, a character (Fei) as a descendant of Abel, another character named Cain, and a God called "Deus". But beyond these mere keywords, there is a further jab at established religion - unfortunately this is reserved for those who reach end-game! Still not convinced? Well, the three wise men in Xenogears are Gaspar, Balthasar, and Melchior. These are the exact names of the three mages who visited Jesus in Bethlehem!

*Trivia*: An Information House early in the game features a cameo from another SquareEnix game: Lucca from Chrono Trigger!

Yes, Religion. As an establishment, it is weaved into culture inseparably, and so it is only natural that artists, designers and programmers eventually (if not occasionally) draw upon it's lore for content and flavour in their works. I am restricting this list to games that are not designed to promote a particular religion. So titles like "Bible Adventures" and "Exodus" don't qualify. I am interested in listing the games that show hints or references to religious materials or qualities as an aside to the game's primary purpose: entertainment. Games that try to make religious teaching itself the source of entertainment weren't considered for this list. So with that out of the way, let's unearth some of the gaming relics (as well as some modern treasures) to see just how, why and when the divine have impacted on our favourite past-time. (As an aside, this list is not about promoting religion or discounting it – just some light-hearted fun poking).

#10: Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (DS)

On the surface, this game has most of the old-school RPG elements: The hero, the clan, the world-in-need-of-saving etc. etc. But, on closer inspection, you can see a parallel that others in this genre don't have, for this game makes players save their progress at a Church - its compulsory. That's not so strange in itself, but you are presented with a decidedly weird option menu in here: "Confession", "Divination", "Benediction", "Purification"... The quasi-Catholic references here are pretty obvious. But what sets this religion in Dragon Quest apart is not its terminology, but its weird pagan-like symbol: an inverted devil's tripod!

*Trivia*: The NES Dragon Warrior IV was one of the only games to feature a crescendo during the battle music. Such a technique was virtually unheard of for an NES game.

#9: Doom (PC)

What's more pious than an absolute confirmation of the after-life? Sure, it's Hell (and I don't remember any mention of Heaven in the game) but Doom does takes you to that place where all the bad people go. Admittedly, there are no regular dead people wandering the blood-soaked chambers in id's groundbreaking shooter, but the endless waves of demons and zombies hold your interest in more ways than one. And maybe, for all the press the game got, it's depiction of the fiery depths may have saved a few earthly souls in its own way. How do I figure? Well I'm sure it kept more than one delinquent chained to a computer for weeks on end... Better there than on the street running over old ladies with their skateboards (or something...)

*Trivia*: Doom is banned in Brazil due to its high impact violence.

#8: Deus Ex (PC)

This multi-award winning FPS and RPG hybrid has its share of Religious undertones. Why, even the title of this game is a reference to God. 'Deus Ex [Machina]' is a Latin expression meaning "God made from a machine". As JC Denton, you encounter many power-hungry factions (Illuminati, Hong Kong Triad etc.) that all have their hands dirty from conspiratorial activities. As the game progresses, (and if you can keep up with the plot), you'll come to realise that maybe we aren't here on Earth to worship God, but maybe here to create Him.

*Trivia*: JC Denton never reveals his Christian name(s). Could the "JC" stand for Jesus Christ?

#7: Age of Empires (PC)

The historical role of Religion (and more notably conversion) has never been made clearer than in this video game. Building villages, towns, armies and economies is one thing, but what is it worth if a few powered-up clergy effortlessly convert the whole lot of it, instantly turning your empire into the enemy?! The impact of cultural influence, missionaries, and theological establishment may only be touched upon in AoE, but to see the mightiest of civilizations come crumbling down due to a handful of chanting, defenceless "Priests" is awe-inspiring!

*Trivia*: The demo edition of AoE is notably different from retail versions. Two maps and a tutorial featuring the Hittites are included in this demo exclusively.

#6: Black & White (PC)

While not strictly tied to any religion, this title sees the player take control as God Him/Herself. So, it's not so much about any one religious practice, but more about theology, and the human/God relationship. This game raises issues such as free will, God's influence, God's relevance and God's perfection. Sure, your influence is only over and island (not the cosmos!) but you can see that this is a microcosm, and that your decisions really make a direct impact on your subjects. And the subjects are touchy little guys; it's all up to you to keep them dedicated and faithful to your virtual-omnipotence.

*Trivia*: Registering your copy of the game at the official site meant that the in-game weather would match your local weather.

#5: Age of Mythology (PC)

This game heavily relies on the deities of a long gone era for its real-time strategy action. Sure, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who seriously worships Thor, Amun-Ra or Loki these days, but there's another aspect here that puts this game on the list. While these legendary Gods may now be little more than the stuff of myths or comic books, the amount of dedication and worship they demand in this game is enough for even the most jealous or megalomaniacal God! You see, in order to gain power and superiority, you must send your subjects to pray - non-stop. The sight of the peons praying and bowing in their subservience gives the player a lust for power that would surely corrupt the mind of the more suggestible gamer.

*Trivia*: This game has over three million lines of programmed code.

#4: Constantine (PS2)

Based on the movie which is based on the comic series, you play as John Constantine, (with Father Hennessy as your support) as you literally fight your way through hell. This game is third-person action-horror (or so the blurb tells me), and players must get through both the Earth Los Angeles and the Hell Los Angeles - although cynics may argue that these two locations are mostly inter-changeable. The game play, while decent, is not anything near special, but you do get see legions of Hell's worst characters. Interestingly, this game's box-art has the image of crucifix too, (but I must note that it is upside-down).

*Trivia*: Keanu Reeves didn't supply voice-acting for the game, instead he was impersonated by *two* separate sound-alikes.

#3: The Da Vinci Code (PS2)

It's probably the first time this game has made a Top 10 list, (although the novel made the New York Times Bestseller list for who knows how long...), but I am bound to include it. Why? Well this game, although fairly unremarkable in terms of game play, is as ripe with Christian content as a Kirk Cameron interview. This slow action title, with its generic portrayal of Prof. Robert Langdon (and no, Tom Hanks didn't make it in) asks players to locate the Holy Grail. Of course, you'd have to be fairly disconnected from popular culture to be unaware of what this story's about, but just in case, I will say that the terms Catholicism, Jesus, Mary, angels, demons are all key plot items!

*Trivia*: Believe it or not, but this game is not associated with the film. That is why characters have no resemblance to the movie actors!

#2: Afterlife (PC)

Want to be the curator of Heaven and Hell? Well Afterlife is the game for you. Like other simulation games, you are a semi-omnipotent being (a demigod?), and it is up to you to both manage a strange planet inhabited by strange gremlin-like creatures. In the game, monitoring your subjects and applying punishments and rewards is necessary, as is processing souls from temporary into permanent residents. Sure, it's pretty much SimCity with a different theme, but this game takes itself lightly, and adds plenty of humour to boot. It has its share of game play problems (as well as a very vague and disturbingly brief instruction manual), but this game makes the list because of its curious settings and its funny take on the established religious dogmas: "Four Surfers of the Apocalypse", anyone? *

Trivia*: Cheating too much in the game will cause the Star Wars Death Star to appear and destroy your buildings!

#1: Populous (ST)

Truly the game that "created" the "play as a God" genre, everything other title has just been steady "evolution". With a massive forwards-catalogue full of spin-offs, sequels, re-makes and mods, this game is like a Religion in itself. Players ARE a Deity in this game, and you directly influence your population, even though you simply begin with a single human. Divine intervention is the name of the game here, and it is up to you to guide your subjects and allow them to flourish. Of course, once their basic needs are taken care of, it's time to wage war and conquer the surrounding populations, (the historical parallels are staggering!) The series' popularity has since seen a small revival with a Populous DS, but sadly this game has lost it's impact in the twenty years since conception.

*Trivia*: During the game's development, LEGO pieces were used to model the game's terrain.

As it not exactly ripe with religious content, the gaming-world still seems to be fairly "Godless", typically displaying only distant references and hints of religious zeal to colour their digital landscapes. More often than not, programmers seem to be displaying a tongue-in-cheek playfulness to the religious world, including only occasional characters and devices in their otherwise no-holds-barred virtual worlds. In fact, this is the way I like it. Politics and religion aren't synonymous with good-gaming, and great games rarely need these stuffy and conservative influences. You could even argue that religious and political ideologies are restraining gaming's progress, and maybe this is why developers are reluctant to draw on these areas for inspiration! Anyway, that's enough of my sermon. Amen. :twisted:

Postscript: Due to the overwhelming respones to include such games as Oblivion, Assassins Ceed and Xenogears, I feel as if I have bitten off more than I can chew with this list. Shortly, I will revise the list (or possibly add a second List) with the above and more included. I have also revised the title of this list from The Top 10 Religion-themed Games to the Top 10 Mainstream Games with Religious Undertones.

Had a dream about this character last night.

The Wii has certainly turned Nintendo's standing around this generation in Australia .The Gamecube, in what seems like only a couple of years ago (actually it's now seven years since it's launch), was in the end, a laughing-stock. My friend and I were 'Cube owners, and were literally laughed at when visiting Electronics Boutique, JB Hifi and other stores when we asked for certain games. "I don't play kid's games", was just one of the degrading jabs at our choice in gaming by a seventeen-year-old Halo convert. Now, seven years later, these stores are depending on their Nintendo customers, and are now putting efforts into in-store displays, catalogues and TV promotion. Instead of squeezing past cardboard cut-out images of Master Chief flanking the aisles, we now duck under Wii Fit promotions, carefully brushing by stacks of Guitar Hero and Balance-board merchandise.

So what has changed in that relatively short time? Almost a complete reversal of market share in any industry is a phenomenal achievement, yet Nintendo have almost done this with a kind of effortless grace. This has had far-reaching implications at all levels of video-gaming. No longer does the Sony product dominate so ruthlessly, and no longer do Nintendo owners feel like the underdog. But maybe this is only a head-start for the under-powered white box, and maybe the other V8s, slow to get going, but so full of horsepower (or kilowatts) that their top-speeds, if given enough time, will surpass the affordable, fuel-efficient smart-car.

Well, if you project the current figures, this seems unlikely. At the time of this writing, the Wii represents approximately half of the world-wide gaming market. The other alternatives represent a 30% and 20% share:

For significant catch-up to occur, the Wii will have to slow down considerably, all while one of the remaining competitors catches-up simultaneously (I don't see that both could possibly make significant ground). These two conditions are not necessarily dependent, so it is crucial that this dual-action occur at once.

So what could make this happen? Well that is the question that seems to be very hard to answer. And as I indicated above, I believe it has taken a lot of people by surprise, (including I suspect, Nintendo themselves). Can Microsoft really turn a potential Wii buyer into a decided XBOX 360 buyer? Well, they didn't turn me into one, but I must admit that I have considered it. Not too seriously, but I have all the same.

I believe that the Wii's dominance is chiefly to do with it's RRP. It's almost generous launch price, and focus away from spec. details and high-end components have both encouraged and swayed new console buyers toward it. The user-friendly persona that they promote, coupled with those appalling-drawn Mii avatars create a kind of inoffensiveness that appeals to new "casual" gamers, while seasoned Nintendo fans simply tolerate it.

More soon.

At a charity book sale, I picked up this novel today:

I wonder how rare this thing is?

Went to this exhibition in Brisbane today that was supposed to chronicle the history of video games. For A$18, you could gain entry to two big rooms full of consoles running games, arcade machines, and a few wall-projected games.

One thing for sure is that gaming has surely come to the forefront of popular culture, as there were defintely more families inside than there were in the damn musem! I like arcade machines and retro gaimg, but lining-up for 20mins to have a quick go of Donkey Kong really seemed a bit excessive...

Discs of Tron was fun, as was 4-player Bomberman on the SEGA Saturn. But apart from that, there was not a lot on the history of video-gaming itself, and the cabinet full of obscure and failed hand-held consoles was pushed off to the side and was in half dark! Ridiculous. Also, where were the door-prizes? And why was the memorabilia such a secondary component to the exhibit? A cabinet full of Pokemon stuff, and a pre-production board/notes from GTA3 (not even GTA4!) was about all there was on offer. It seemed like a bit of a half-hearted attempt...