Do you ever feel like you are the character?

[J T]

Most games have you controlling a game character like a puppet. Some make an extra effort to make it so you can role-play your character and feel like they are an extension of yourself. I don't really feel this way though. I always feel like I'm controlling some character that is separate from me, though I may relate to them in some way. With a few exceptions, I don't get the actual sense that I am playing the role of the hero. This is true even in games that give you lots of choices like a BioWare game, or a game that strips away the voice of your character so that you can insert your personality in place of theirs like Gordon Freeman in Half Life.

I'm wondering if others ever feel like they embody the character, or if you are always aware that you are the puppet master. What games do you find easiest to put yourself into the character's shoes and why do you think that is the case?

[Anayo]

Yes. I feel like I am the character, but only in games where everyone else is dead. Metroid Prime and Fallout 3 were like this for me.

[CRTGAMER]

Play Shenmue all day and see if you don't "Tank Control" walk that way. Seriously someone help me.

I hate to see the Grand Theft Auto crowd on the freeway, oh wait come to southern CA.

[saturnfan]

I have never felt that I was the character. I only ever feel as if I am experiencing their story.

[slowslow325]

I've always felt that I'm just controlling a character. That is one of the big reasons why graphics aren't the biggest factor for me; the only reason I would want better graphics is to feel like it's more like real life, but it doesn't feel real if I'm not in it.

[J T]

lol @ Grand Theft SoCal.

One night after playing a lot of Midnight Club II, then going to the store, I had to keep reminding myself that traffic laws apply in the real world. I'd become a little too accustomed to going super fast and driving wherever I want.

I guess the games where I do get into the skin of my character are the ones where the in game is having me control something. The Zone of the Enders games are all about the skill of an "orbital frame runner". I always felt like I was the one with the skill because I was controlling the giant robot. I couldn't relate to the obnoxious character I was supposed to be though. Leo was so whiney, and I never really cared much for Dingo either. Robot Alchemic Drive is pretty cool because your character is remote controlling a giant robot, essentially with a PS2 controller, so it was easy to feel like I was the character. I also get into racing games easy, particularly if I'm using my driving wheel instead of my controller.

[CRTGAMER]

When you mentioned the remote control aspect of R.A.D. followed by a mention of driving controllers, it reminded me of two things.

1. The N64 and PSX Ultra Racer "RC" game controller.

2. RC Coptor for PS1, playing football with a "yes it feels like a real" RC Coptor.
Why didn't this get re-made andnot just in Ape Escape RC cars?

Coptor Training Wheels, its that hard.
.

[Gamerforlife]

Viva Pinata-Every animal in the game reacts to you, humans all talk to you while you view everything in first person. You have no onscreen avatar, and nobody refers to you by some made up name like Gordon Freeman. You are the garden keeper, the garden keeper is you

Pikmin 2-Your protaganist has little in the way of personality and he never talks. His role in the game is simply to be the instrument of your will as you lead your Pikmin

I usually dislike silent protaganists, but with games like Pikmin 2 and Viva Pinata having no real story to them, it just works.

Ico-I felt a real protective urge towards Yorda, as if I, not Ico, was protecting her. It really sunk in the first time I lost her to the shadow creatures

Dynasty Warriors-There are so many ways a battle can play out based on your choices and it is fun to see a stage change based on what you chose to do, like going out of your way to kill 1000 enemies in Dynasty Warriors 3 and thus seeing your army's morale skyrocket as they all give you your props. It wasn't Guan Yu who killed 1000 troops, it was ME who chose to do that.

Batman Arkham Asylum:The game does such a good job simulating what it's like to be Batman that by the time the credits role you will be saying, "I'm Batman"

You mentioned Bioware, it's been a long time since I played the game, but Jade Empire I think, gave you more of a blank slate type of character than their other games did. So you could more easily assimilate into the character

You know, a thought came to me regarding older games. Back in the 8-bit and 16-bit days, games were not full of cutscenes and lots of story elements. Therefore, your character was for all intentions a blank slate. Much easier to feel like that character onscreen is you when he has no personality of his own. Megaman is a perfect example

[Kid Dracula]

The only game that ever gave me that whole "I feel like the character" feeling was Pukemon.

[CRTGAMER]

Ico-I felt a real protective urge towards Yorda, as if I, not Ico, was protecting her. It really sunk in the first time I lost her to the shadow creatures

Same here, but other times well hadda link.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2001/9/28/

FPS and Flight Sims would prove their worth when closing eyes and still seeing the images flying towards you. This is hours later while trying to sleep.