Modern games won’t let protagonists shut the fuck up

[_Antediluvian]

One of the most infuriating trends in modern gaming and one that deserves far more contempt than it gets is protagonists who won't shut the fuck up. Every goddamn title now forces the protag to narrate their every trivial action, either talking to themselves or relying on some idiotic inner voice like a schizophrenic. It destroys any semblance of atmosphere.

Take Atomic Heart: instead of a silent stoic protagonist we get endless, cringeworthy reddit tier banter with a talking glove.

The Tomb Raider reboot pushed me to quit outright. not just the dialogue, but nu-Lara's breathy, whiny delivery was pure torture.

Even Resident Evil 2 Remake's Leon: his "What the…!" for every spotted zombie gets very annoying. By the 25th time, he just seems like a moron.

This trend will continue because the studios know the average gamer is low iq and needs hand holding, explanations every ten seconds. And because zoomers and gen alphas have grown up with nonstop content and stimulation; actual quiet moments feel alien or scary to them.

Modern gaymes are too scared to just let you experience the world on your own.

 

[Exhunter45]

One of the most infuriating trends in modern gaming and one that deserves far more contempt than it gets is protagonists who won't shut the fuck up. Every goddamn title now forces the protag to narrate their every trivial action, either talking to themselves or relying on some idiotic inner voice like a schizophrenic. It destroys any semblance of atmosphere.

Take Atomic Heart: instead of a silent stoic protagonist we get endless, cringeworthy reddit tier banter with a talking glove.

The Tomb Raider reboot pushed me to quit outright. not just the dialogue, but nu-Lara's breathy, whiny delivery was pure torture.

Even Resident Evil 2 Remake's Leon: his "What the…!" for every spotted zombie gets very annoying. By the 25th time, he just seems like a moron.

This trend will continue because the studios know the average gamer is low iq and needs hand holding, explanations every ten seconds. And because zoomers and gen alphas have grown up with nonstop content and stimulation; actual quiet moments feel alien or scary to them.

Modern gaymes are too scared to just let you experience the world on your own.

I am sick and tired of sitting and waiting for dialogue to finishe so I can progress or interactive cutscene like hold forward since there are literally created to bloat the games at least with character who won't shut up I can just blast music and mute them

 

[over_department]

I miss silent protagonist games

 

[fukurou]

true. this is the result of japanese localized games.
the gooks have an inferior writing system with 2k characters, so they learn how to read via endless game monologues,
but translated to english you get shitty boring trivial conversations.

 

[BeanChud88]

One of the most infuriating trends in modern gaming and one that deserves far more contempt than it gets is protagonists who won't shut the fuck up. Every goddamn title now forces the protag to narrate their every trivial action, either talking to themselves or relying on some idiotic inner voice like a schizophrenic. It destroys any semblance of atmosphere.

Take Atomic Heart: instead of a silent stoic protagonist we get endless, cringeworthy reddit tier banter with a talking glove.

The Tomb Raider reboot pushed me to quit outright. not just the dialogue, but nu-Lara's breathy, whiny delivery was pure torture.

Even Resident Evil 2 Remake's Leon: his "What the…!" for every spotted zombie gets very annoying. By the 25th time, he just seems like a moron.

This trend will continue because the studios know the average gamer is low iq and needs hand holding, explanations every ten seconds. And because zoomers and gen alphas have grown up with nonstop content and stimulation; actual quiet moments feel alien or scary to them.

Modern gaymes are too scared to just let you experience the world on your own.

It’s not just that the protagonists won’t stfu it’s also the shitty millennial writing that makes the dialogue worse

 

[VλREN]

Just Gordon freeman max bro

 

[Dead End]

Just Gordon freeman max bro

Have you played Half-Life/Half-Life 2?

 

[VλREN]

Have you played Half-Life/Half-Life 2?

Just half life 2 and it’s episodes

Played a little bit of black mesa

 

[Dead End]

Just half life 2 and it’s episodes

Played a little bit of black mesa

Do you have a PC?

 

[VλREN]

Do you have a PC?

No

But my brother let me use his for a few days

 

[AutistSupremacist]

I miss silent protagonist games

 

[8CbZA-kHFu6pFgE*]

I saw that more than often enough with old games, not a trait exclusive to modern gaming

 

[SmhChan]

It’s not just that the protagonists won’t stfu it’s also the shitty millennial writing that makes the dialogue worse

Exactly! Every fucking character is a snarky smartass. Cyberpunk 2077 is a prime example of it. Fuck this millennial/marvel humor.

 

[DoomThreeKoala]

I miss silent protagonist games

That's why I only play those kinds of games basically.

Only game I have played that doesn't have a silent protagonist is Postal 2

 

[_Antediluvian]

I am sick and tired of sitting and waiting for dialogue to finishe so I can progress or interactive cutscene like hold forward since there are literally created to bloat the games at least with character who won't shut up I can just blast music and mute them

I think it started popping up in the early 2010s. I actually quit RE6 because they forced you to walk slowly at the start of Leon’s campaign and listen to some idiot.

true. this is the result of japanese localized games.
the gooks have an inferior writing system with 2k characters, so they learn how to read via endless game monologues,
but translated to english you get shitty boring trivial conversations.

Yeah, MGS really suffers from this, constantly overexplaining everything.

It’s not just that the protagonists won’t stfu it’s also the shitty millennial writing that makes the dialogue worse

I despise millennial writing, especially the inability to be subtle and sincere.

I saw that more than often enough with old games, not a trait exclusive to modern gaming

Yes, some old games had talking protags, but pretending it’s remotely comparable to the nonstop, annoying background chatter in almost every modern title is pure cope.

Also back then it was a artistic choice. In Max Payne 1 the inner monologues were noir-style narration that added mood and soul. Thief: The Dark Project had Garrett talking to himself occasionally, but it was rare, cynical, and perfectly in character, never constant, never explaining obvious shit.

Now it’s just soulless corporate filler with no substance. Just Endless Reddit tier quips and inner monologue babysitting for players too brain rotted to figure anything out on their own: “Ooh, a crack in the wall… I think I can squeeze through here”

The intent is completely different.

 

[8CbZA-kHFu6pFgE*]

I think it started popping up in the early 2010s. I actually quit RE6 because they forced you to walk slowly at the start of Leon’s campaign and listen to some idiot.


Yeah, MGS really suffers from this, constantly overexplaining everything.


I despise millennial writing, especially the inability to be subtle and sincere.


Yes, some old games had talking protags, but pretending it’s remotely comparable to the nonstop, annoying background chatter in almost every modern title is pure cope.

Also back then it was a artistic choice. In Max Payne 1 the inner monologues were noir-style narration that added mood and soul. Thief: The Dark Project had Garrett talking to himself occasionally, but it was rare, cynical, and perfectly in character, never constant, never explaining obvious shit.

Now it’s just soulless corporate filler with no substance. Just Endless Reddit tier quips and inner monologue babysitting for players too brain rotted to figure anything out on their own: “Ooh, a crack in the wall… I think I can squeeze through here”

The intent is completely different.

I understand why someone doesnt like modern gaming, but it feels like some people are intentionally nitpicking the smallest things just to have an excuse to shit on nowadays games, even if critisized feature was also present in old games. These inner monologues you describe or the protagonist talking to himself was super common back in the day, especially for RPGs e.g In Star Wars Kotor or games like GTA San Andreas too

 

[_Antediluvian]

I understand why someone doesnt like modern gaming, but it feels like some people are intentionally nitpicking the smallest things just to have an excuse to shit on nowadays games, even if critisized feature was also present in old games. These inner monologues you describe or the protagonist talking to himself was super common back in the day, especially for RPGs e.g In Star Wars Kotor or games like GTA San Andreas too

Saying it was anywhere near as common in old games as it is in modern ones is just wrong. And claiming Kotor had inner monologues is wrong too. It has a non voiced protagonist with dialogue choices, nothing more. Never played GTA SA, but that one was made to appeal to niggers and beaners, so maybe that example has some merit.

Honestly your comments just feel like normie gaslighting. “Games were never better, you are just nitpicking, bro.”

 

[Cuckoja]

I remember in 90s and earl800s people not liking the silent protagonists. But now i agree, its not that bad.

 

[Nicusor_delaBraila]

One of the most infuriating trends in modern gaming and one that deserves far more contempt than it gets is protagonists who won't shut the fuck up. Every goddamn title now forces the protag to narrate their every trivial action, either talking to themselves or relying on some idiotic inner voice like a schizophrenic. It destroys any semblance of atmosphere.

Take Atomic Heart: instead of a silent stoic protagonist we get endless, cringeworthy reddit tier banter with a talking glove.

The Tomb Raider reboot pushed me to quit outright. not just the dialogue, but nu-Lara's breathy, whiny delivery was pure torture.

Even Resident Evil 2 Remake's Leon: his "What the…!" for every spotted zombie gets very annoying. By the 25th time, he just seems like a moron.

This trend will continue because the studios know the average gamer is low iq and needs hand holding, explanations every ten seconds. And because zoomers and gen alphas have grown up with nonstop content and stimulation; actual quiet moments feel alien or scary to them.

Modern gaymes are too scared to just let you experience the world on your own.

remembered playing ac and ezio being stoic chad preetyboy and his dialogue actually making a difference compared to modern slop

 

[8CbZA-kHFu6pFgE*]

Saying it was anywhere near as common in old games as it is in modern ones is just wrong. And claiming Kotor had inner monologues is wrong too. It has a non voiced protagonist with dialogue choices, nothing more. Never played GTA SA, but that one was made to appeal to niggers and beaners, so maybe that example has some merit.

Honestly your comments just feel like normie gaslighting. “Games were never better, you are just nitpicking, bro.”

GTA SA is the most sold PS2 game of all, of you believe every person who bought this game is a nigger or a beaner then you are coping.

And yes i do believe things arent as black and white as many gaming boomers like to think. There were plenty of low quality, low effort games for old consoles and there are decent modern day games.

 

[ToBurble&Pine]

I miss silent protagonist games

 

[BricABrac]

I've thought it's caused by increasing social isolation and acceptance of parasociality (like streamers), so the youngin's like to engage, or at least write and design games, to be full of this ersatz kind of socializing.

But yes it's fucking annoying. You can have a protagonist that talks without it being insufferable. Just shut up now and again eh? That's a problem with movies too, especially comedies, everyone has to be le snarky witty guy and it's just noise.

 

[_Antediluvian]

I remember in 90s and earl800s people not liking the silent protagonists. But now i agree, its not that bad.

Only normies disliked them. Hardcore gamers preferred silent protagonists.

GTA SA is the most sold PS2 game of all, of you believe every person who bought this game is a nigger or a beaner then you are coping.

I’m not claiming only niggers or beaners bought it, just that it was designed with them in mind.

And yes i do believe things arent as black and white as many gaming boomers like to think. There were plenty of low quality, low effort games for old consoles

Sure, there were plenty of shitty old games, I’m not denying that.

and there are decent modern day games.

cope

My main point still stands: nonstop inner monologues and hand holding like in modern games weren’t common in older titles, and context and intent matter.

I've thought it's caused by increasing social isolation and acceptance of parasociality (like streamers), so the youngin's like to engage, or at least write and design games, to be full of this ersatz kind of socializing.

Good point. Loneliness is probably another reason modern games have headmate characters, talking gloves, talking guns, and all that filler chatter.

 

[8CbZA-kHFu6pFgE*]

cope

My main point still stands: nonstop inner monologues and hand holding like in modern games weren’t common in older titles, and context and intent matter.

from what year on do you consider games as modern games ?

 

[_Antediluvian]

from what year on do you consider games as modern games ?

Broadly speaking, I consider modern games to be everything after 2014. But if we’re talking about when the modern gayme design trends actually started forming, that goes back to the 7th gen. That’s when handholding and protagonists muttering hints (Tomb Raider Underworld), endless radio chatter during combat (Bioshock 2), and the whole press forward to feel emotions design started creeping in. It just didn’t dominate yet.