How do you play games with good and bad choices?

[Intangir]

Whatever way beckons me the most, usually. That is to say I never go in intentionally playing one way or another. If the game wants me to save or kill off a character and I find them god-awful annoying then I'm sorry, you're gone.

Most of the time I'm pretty merciful, though, and when you average it all out I probably play the good side more often than the bad. But it's starting to sway these days I think. I'm getting to the point if I'm playing an RPG and some NPC wants me to FedEx their stupid ring just a few streets down because they're too lazy, I'm of a mind to kill them on the spot for even suggesting it. I just killed a dragon FFS, do it yourself. Heck, you should be running up to me and enlisting yourself to do all my menial RPG tasks for me for that one, pal.

I've been on the evil side on the last two games I've played that had choices like this: BioShock and Overlord. Overlord because, well, you're supposed to be evil and even despite that I cannot stand high fantasy. If I can doom the elven race and turn about the end of their species, good riddance. Killing halflings while they sleep and stealing their food? My pleasure.

BioShock, on the other hand, was more of an, uh, residual evilness from Overlord I guess. I wasn't even going for evil so much as looking out for number one. You couldn't tell that from the wonky ending though.

[Gamerforlife]

On a related note, I used to obsess over keeping every single Pikmin alive in Pikmin 2, and I always went out of my way to feed the animals in Okami, so I guess I am kind of a boyscout gamer. Although, I do enjoy playing games where the main character is a bad guy, but if a game gives me a choice, I seem to always go good guy

[kinn]

I'm getting to the point if I'm playing an RPG and some NPC wants me to FedEx their stupid ring just a few streets down because they're too lazy, I'm of a mind to kill them on the spot for even suggesting it.

Oh man! Which game was this in? Oblivion?

Kind of reminds me of some missions in Black and White (like them guys who wanted you to help build them a ship - Throw them in the ocean).

[Intangir]

Oh man! Which game was this in? Oblivion?

Eh, take your pick. There's just so many RPGs that have you do crap like this... it's really unfortunate that you can't kill such NPCs in every game. Not even kill, just--I don't know--"lightly" maim them until they acknowledge the situation. More RPGs need to spread this concept to even playable characters. Then again, if you were allowed to permanently kill off annoying/stupid/worthless playable characters, how would anyone ever be able to beat Chrono Cross?

PS: I never played Oblivion (yet), but I have played my fair share of Morrowind. And to be plainly honest, I've killed NPCs in that game just for getting in my way all the time or saying some scripted gibberish that didn't sound enough like praise. But that's ok because I've also served my share of jail time in Morrowind for it and so I have been successfully rehabilitated*.

* until someone speaks out of turn again.

[philipofmacedon]

I always try and take the good side. It just seems like the right thing to do. I guess I picture my game experiences as a virtual chance to do good things that don't exist in reality. So I'm all about games that let me fly dragons and save the world and not so much about Grand Theft Auto stuff.

[Intangir]

Speaking of Black & White, I really didn't like that game. But I did enjoy that opening intro island. It has one of my favorite evil acts in a game: A woman calls you down to help her out. Her husband is extremely sick and has wandered into the forest and will most assuredly die if you do not intervene. At which point you can grab her, throw her against a rock and/or toss her back and forth with your pet until the life is wrenched from her body and then drop it in front of her sick husband where he dies from the shock.

Trying to think of intricate ways to be evil was actually pretty fun in that game. Maybe I should give it another try.

[Pullmyfinger]

Mostly good, I'm still bitter for the time the DragonLord offered to rule the world together in the original Dragon Warrior and then killed me

Never ever trust evil guys

[arion]

Wasnt the dark ending so much better though? I was surprised. The light ending just seemed...well light...in terms of content.

well i havent gone through kotor again but if i do i guess i´ll try the light side..but the dark side ending was good no question. And some of the key quests in kotor are way easyer as dark side...make peace with the sand people no way just kill em

[arion]

I'm getting to the point if I'm playing an RPG and some NPC wants me to FedEx their stupid ring just a few streets down because they're too lazy, I'm of a mind to kill them on the spot for even suggesting it.

Oh man! Which game was this in? Oblivion?

Kind of reminds me of some missions in Black and White (like them guys who wanted you to help build them a ship - Throw them in the ocean).

and that horrible singing really made you wanna throw the to the sea

[kinn]

and that horrible singing really made you wanna throw the to the sea

LOL. Forgot about that!

Thinking about it now Black and White was a pretty good game. Which kind of puzzles me why I always dont remember it that way (and I liked it when I played it too).

I dont think I've seen the bad ending to KOTOR yet! (next visit = youtube). I do recall one moment where (If you have played the game and dont want it spoilt a bit then dont read on!)....you could choose to side with evil and then take out your own characters. Was an OMG moment for me and amazed that I didnt carry on with the game (I had to reload and choose the good choice).