What Simon Does Foundation?
Description:
What is politics? Is it a bunch of old folks in stiff clothing? Deliberating endlessly about how they can make everyone's lives more miserable?
Is it you, the people that put them there, expressing your societal concerns?
Is it business people following their own agenda - regardless of company and work-related goals?
And is it something that many video game companies claim they don't include in their games?
In short: absolutely.
PS: This is not a game review or a recap. It's an analogy.
Knowing the game is not crucial, but might help.
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Terraria (Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll)
Someone once said, some Billyboy or other, that defeating the Wall of Flesh, and thereby ending what is called 'Pre-Hardmode' symbolizes a cut. It's an action that can't be undone.
Which is rare in a game that pretty much let's you do and undo anything that's part of the in-game world.
At the very beginning of the game you have the clean world (above and under ground), various biomes, ocean on either side and one part of corruption (at least).
It's all rather harmonic and doesn't sound political at all. Or does it?
It does not...
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But I here to make a case - not to state the obvious.
First, however, we need to go back a bit:
Politics, if you ask me, is like religion, a deeply personal matter. A sum of what you hold dear in life - and an expression of the same.
It's extremely unlike yours will overlap 100% with anyone else's. Which is why I find the whole system contradictory at best.
Now, what does the world of Terraria represent? In one sentence?
The loss of innocence is not the end of the world!
You start of with very basic abilities. Crude tools to get you through your very crude routine. Your awkward means and capability of moving around more often than not
result in pain and minor suffering. And minor success and joy. Finding someone or something special can really brighten up your day.
5 minutes later it's a given.
The new excitement replaced by mundane acceptance.
The new normal.
You grow bigger and stronger as you move about. Overcome challenges, small and large. Slay foes and make friends. Slay friends and make new foes.
In words of Krieg: It's a bloody business, Bates.
You could go on forever. Never grow up. Never grow beyond. How boring is that? How unnatural is that? To no want more?
That's when you decide to take a bigger risk, take on a bigger challenge. Possibly the biggest of your whole life thus far.
You put cards and chips on the table and say screw it.
It being the Wall of Flesh. Rule 34 certifies this could be construed as having sex.
From day 1 on, in-game, you can consume potions, aka drugs. And there's music boxes and a varied soundtrack, too.
You could argue the music isn't exactly Rock'n'Roll - but we're using that term loosely here. And I'd counterargue it's lifestyle choice as much as acoustics.
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Now, what changed, in your little world?
Corruption is still there. Worse, it's now spreading. With your innocence already lost your more succeptible to it.
There's something else, too.
Something, the Dryad calls it Good - as opposed to Evil - something hallowed. Both eating away at purity.
The end of Pre-Hardmode is also a new beginning. History is repeating itself. Except worse. Everything gets harder. Fitting it's now called Hardmode.
It's also where things get serious.
You're now matured. You're now grown up. You get to play with the bigboy tools and equipment.
Your experience and skills prepared you well, but somehow it doesn't get easier. Nothing is simple. That train has left the station.
You hi-jacked it earlier on and attempted to run it into the sunset.
Except you'd arrived in hell instead.
In the trailer they called the start of the road to Michael or Steven as 'ancient evil'.
I could go on to say this means coming to terms with history, but that's conjecture.
There, I said it anyways...
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In summary, the game shows that while you may be born pure and innocent, there's evil in you. It's part of our nature.
But if managed properly you can keep it a bay.
You may have to sacrifice your innocence in order to reach a higher state. To outgrow your old, more primitive self.
And it's only the end of the world if you stop playing the game.
That's a choice you make... Free will and all that...
PS: You are well within your rights to say, that game is not political at all.
It's my belief there's a lot more personal ideals and jokes in this game than many others.
You could say it's more philosophical than political...
Is there really a difference at the end of the day?