What Measure Is a Non-Human?/Video Games: Difference between revisions

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* ''[[World Destruction]]'' (or ''[[Sands of Destruction]]''). You have good guys being humans and beastmen having bad guys. There are some beastmen who tags in your party (and are actually part of the bad team), but the problem is that they barely look like beasts at all.
* ''[[World Destruction]]'' (or ''[[Sands of Destruction]]''). You have good guys being humans and beastmen having bad guys. There are some beastmen who tags in your party (and are actually part of the bad team), but the problem is that they barely look like beasts at all.
* ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' has an odd relationship with this trope. Disney villains tend to retain their original fate, which often means that their deaths take place in a [[One-Winged Angel|less-human]] form - though the ones who remain human aren't any less likely to die. Series-exclusive villains, on the other hand, are rarely fully human, even when they look like they should be.
* ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' has an odd relationship with this trope. Disney villains tend to retain their original fate, which often means that their deaths take place in a [[One-Winged Angel|less-human]] form - though the ones who remain human aren't any less likely to die. Series-exclusive villains, on the other hand, are rarely fully human, even when they look like they should be.
** [[Beta Baddie|Nobodies]] are a particularly controversial example, due to the stark juxtaposition of the sympathetic development focused on, Roxas, Namine and Axel throughout the unusually long prologue and Yen Sid's claim that Nobodies feel no emotion and hence aren't really people. The fact that ''[[The Messiah|Sora]]'' believes that claim and acts accordingly practically ensures [[Internet Backdraft]] in any discussion involving the morality of Nobodies. In the end, though, it’s not really a point for discussion in the main storyline, as the methods of Org. 13 leave something to be desired, and they do actively attempt to kill Sora.
** [[Beta Baddie|Nobodies]] are a particularly controversial example, due to the stark juxtaposition of the sympathetic development focused on, Roxas, Namine and Axel throughout the unusually long prologue and Yen Sid's claim that Nobodies feel no emotion and hence aren't really people. The fact that ''[[The Messiah|Sora]]'' believes that claim and acts accordingly practically ensures [[Internet Backdraft]] in any discussion involving the morality of Nobodies. In the end, though, it’s not really a point for discussion in the main storyline, as the methods of Org. 13 leave something to be desired, and they do actively attempt to kill Sora.
** Both Roxas and Namine are stated [[All There in the Manual|elsewhere]] to be exceptions to the rule, and the one who sacrificed them and justified it as them being Nobodies had a bad run-in with the Nobodies and carried a possibly justified hatred for them ever after. {{spoiler|After some Karma, he realizes what an ass he's been and is currently atoning for it}}.
** Both Roxas and Namine are stated [[All There in the Manual|elsewhere]] to be exceptions to the rule, and the one who sacrificed them and justified it as them being Nobodies had a bad run-in with the Nobodies and carried a possibly justified hatred for them ever after. {{spoiler|After some Karma, he realizes what an ass he's been and is currently atoning for it}}.
** The Riku Replica starts questioning his own existence after he realizes that he's not the real Riku. He then goes on to attempt to kill the real Riku so he can become the real one.
** The Riku Replica starts questioning his own existence after he realizes that he's not the real Riku. He then goes on to attempt to kill the real Riku so he can become the real one.
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** {{spoiler|Considering there are only three characters (four if you include the cute talking gunturrets) ''all'' of them are among the game's most popular characters.}}
** {{spoiler|Considering there are only three characters (four if you include the cute talking gunturrets) ''all'' of them are among the game's most popular characters.}}
*** Pfft: ''nobody'' gives a damn about [[Heroic Mime|Chell]].
*** Pfft: ''nobody'' gives a damn about [[Heroic Mime|Chell]].
** And then comes the sequel, which is so packed through with this trope [[G La DOS]] has forced me to spoiler the rest of this bullet point. {{spoiler|Aperture Science prepared for nonhuman intelligence taking over the world, Wheatly gets crushed on screen, [[G La DOS]] casually destroys ''two'' companion cubes, mentions [[We Have Reserves|she has thousands of them,]] and then clarifies that yes, they're sentient. She just has thousands of them. There's also a moment where she clears out a tube and sends most of its contents falling into lethal acid water, claiming it's just garbage; if you look closely, there's a turret amongst the junk. And that's all ''before'' the twist in the single player campaign... not even mentioning Co-Op.}}
** And then comes the sequel, which is so packed through with this trope [[GLaDOS]] has forced me to spoiler the rest of this bullet point. {{spoiler|Aperture Science prepared for nonhuman intelligence taking over the world, Wheatly gets crushed on screen, [[GLaDOS]] casually destroys ''two'' companion cubes, mentions [[We Have Reserves|she has thousands of them,]] and then clarifies that yes, they're sentient. She just has thousands of them. There's also a moment where she clears out a tube and sends most of its contents falling into lethal acid water, claiming it's just garbage; if you look closely, there's a turret amongst the junk. And that's all ''before'' the twist in the single player campaign... not even mentioning Co-Op.}}
* The early ''[[Contra]]'' games had the main player character and several enemy characters changed into robots when localized for Europe for this reason. Apparently in some countries, Germany supposedly, depiction of violence against humans in games is not suitable for kids. Despite this censorship, some thought the robots of Probotector, the new name of the series, were much better protagonists than the original Rambo/Predator inspired humans.
* The early ''[[Contra]]'' games had the main player character and several enemy characters changed into robots when localized for Europe for this reason. Apparently in some countries, Germany supposedly, depiction of violence against humans in games is not suitable for kids. Despite this censorship, some thought the robots of Probotector, the new name of the series, were much better protagonists than the original Rambo/Predator inspired humans.
* Sergei Vladimir stays one step ahead of the undead, demonic, but humanoid Albert Wesker through most of ''Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles''. But when Sergei [[One-Winged Angel|turns himself into a "thing"]], it's all over.
* Sergei Vladimir stays one step ahead of the undead, demonic, but humanoid Albert Wesker through most of ''Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles''. But when Sergei [[One-Winged Angel|turns himself into a "thing"]], it's all over.
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*** That, and the fact that all attempts to try to set up a peaceful coexistence with the Geth are met with massed fire and/or sending the diplomats back impaled on spikes doesn't help much.
*** That, and the fact that all attempts to try to set up a peaceful coexistence with the Geth are met with massed fire and/or sending the diplomats back impaled on spikes doesn't help much.
*** Then you later find out in ''[[Mass Effect]] 2'', {{spoiler|the geth you encounter were the minority, most geth are in fact peaceful, they never leave their space because they wish to develop free of outside influence, and are keeping the quarian homeworlds in good condition. In fact, they would gladly give them back if they just asked}}. Meanwhile the quarians are planning to wage war on them, even though Legion (your geth squadmate) not only states the above, but adds that the geth would easily beat the crap out of them anyway.
*** Then you later find out in ''[[Mass Effect]] 2'', {{spoiler|the geth you encounter were the minority, most geth are in fact peaceful, they never leave their space because they wish to develop free of outside influence, and are keeping the quarian homeworlds in good condition. In fact, they would gladly give them back if they just asked}}. Meanwhile the quarians are planning to wage war on them, even though Legion (your geth squadmate) not only states the above, but adds that the geth would easily beat the crap out of them anyway.
*** By ''[[Mass Effect 3]]'', {{spoiler|the quarians have seized a recent technological advantage and launched an attack against the geth. Their first action? Destroying a superstructure that the geth were building to serve as a home for ''all'' geth platforms, and Legion states that not all of the geth managed to transfer themselves from the servers to escape destruction. To summarize: the quarians began their 'justified' war by blowing up the geth equivalent of a city. This forces the geth to join forces with the Reapers, and several higher-ups of the quarians clearly don't think that the geth are anything more than rogue VI that need to be destroyed. Admiral Han'Gerral in particular is obsessed with destroying the geth to the point that it's his orders to attack the 'disabled' geth fleet while Legion uploads the code that grants them full sentience that can lead to the near-extinction of the quarian race, should Shepard not convince him to back down.}}
*** By ''[[Mass Effect 3]]'', {{spoiler|the quarians have seized a recent technological advantage and launched an attack against the geth. Their first action? Destroying a superstructure that the geth were building to serve as a home for ''all'' geth platforms, and Legion states that not all of the geth managed to transfer themselves from the servers to escape destruction. To summarize: the quarians began their 'justified' war by blowing up the geth equivalent of a city. This forces the geth to join forces with the Reapers, and several higher-ups of the quarians clearly don't think that the geth are anything more than rogue VI that need to be destroyed. Admiral Han'Gerral in particular is obsessed with destroying the geth to the point that it's his orders to attack the 'disabled' geth fleet while Legion uploads the code that grants them full sentience that can lead to the near-extinction of the quarian race, should Shepard not convince him to back down.}}
* The game ''[[Jet Force Gemini]]'' garnered a Teen rating from the ESRB, in spite of the fact that most enemies (and, er, friends) can be shot, blown up, set on fire, horribly dismembered, electrocuted, etc. etc. and always in a horrifically overdone shower of blood and gore by the player. This is entirely because the antagonists are all hideous insectoid aliens, and therefore acceptable for slaughtering.
* The game ''[[Jet Force Gemini]]'' garnered a Teen rating from the ESRB, in spite of the fact that most enemies (and, er, friends) can be shot, blown up, set on fire, horribly dismembered, electrocuted, etc. etc. and always in a horrifically overdone shower of blood and gore by the player. This is entirely because the antagonists are all hideous insectoid aliens, and therefore acceptable for slaughtering.
** Likely the innate human fear of creepy crawly things is why bugs are # 1 bad guys in games.
** Likely the innate human fear of creepy crawly things is why bugs are # 1 bad guys in games.
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* A bizarre application of this occurs in ''[[Avalon Code]]''. You can use the Judgment Link on mook-level monster enemies to juggle them in the air—if you max out the combo count, or they hit the ground after running out of health, they'll explode like fireworks, granting you some combination of the game's currency, MP restoration, and HP restoration, depending. You ''can't'' do this with mook-level human enemies—apparently, even if they're your enemies, making humans explode isn't okay.
* A bizarre application of this occurs in ''[[Avalon Code]]''. You can use the Judgment Link on mook-level monster enemies to juggle them in the air—if you max out the combo count, or they hit the ground after running out of health, they'll explode like fireworks, granting you some combination of the game's currency, MP restoration, and HP restoration, depending. You ''can't'' do this with mook-level human enemies—apparently, even if they're your enemies, making humans explode isn't okay.
* In the Good ending of ''[[Phantasy Star]]'' Portable, {{spoiler|the only reason Vivienne isn't scrapped is because nobody knows what to label her as.}}
* In the Good ending of ''[[Phantasy Star]]'' Portable, {{spoiler|the only reason Vivienne isn't scrapped is because nobody knows what to label her as.}}
* This is the central theme of the ''[[Mega Man Zero]] series''. However, even it is guilty of using human aesthetics to garner sympathy for the key players. Like the X series before it, every reploid that isn't a mook looks almost indistinguishable from a human, with animal/more machine-like reploids attaining [[Mauve Shirt]] status at most.
* This is the central theme of the ''[[Mega Man Zero]] series''. However, even it is guilty of using human aesthetics to garner sympathy for the key players. Like the X series before it, every reploid that isn't a mook looks almost indistinguishable from a human, with animal/more machine-like reploids attaining [[Mauve Shirt]] status at most.
* Subverted in ''Crusader of Centy''. At the beginning of the game you're told to kill the monsters outside cities because they're dangerous or a pest. Later {{spoiler|when you become (literally) one of the monsters the plot starts revolving about the morality of killing sentient and mostly benign monsters}}.
* Subverted in ''Crusader of Centy''. At the beginning of the game you're told to kill the monsters outside cities because they're dangerous or a pest. Later {{spoiler|when you become (literally) one of the monsters the plot starts revolving about the morality of killing sentient and mostly benign monsters}}.
* A potential theme in ''[[Star Ocean: Till the End of Time]]'' after [[The Reveal]]. {{spoiler|the entire universe as we know it pre-[[Reveal]] is actually a network of complex [[A Is]] being wiped out by a company who thinks of them as nothing more then computer programs. The main characters, themselves programs under this threat, are tasked with showing this group just how human they are.}}
* A potential theme in ''[[Star Ocean: Till the End of Time]]'' after [[The Reveal]]. {{spoiler|the entire universe as we know it pre-[[Reveal]] is actually a network of complex [[A Is]] being wiped out by a company who thinks of them as nothing more then computer programs. The main characters, themselves programs under this threat, are tasked with showing this group just how human they are.}}
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* In ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2]]'', during the raid on the Orc base camp near Old Owl Well you encounter a band of professional torturers; your paladin henchman rants about them torturing humans, and one of your options for a response is essentially "Oh, so if they were torturing gnomes or goblins it would be okay, would it?" Casavir gets kind of mad if you say that, though, and it prevents you from getting any influence with him out of the conversation.
* In ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2]]'', during the raid on the Orc base camp near Old Owl Well you encounter a band of professional torturers; your paladin henchman rants about them torturing humans, and one of your options for a response is essentially "Oh, so if they were torturing gnomes or goblins it would be okay, would it?" Casavir gets kind of mad if you say that, though, and it prevents you from getting any influence with him out of the conversation.
* ''[[Grandia II]]'': Shortly after you recruit Killer [[FemBot]] With A Heart Of Gold Tio you find a factory full identical models of her. The first response from any of your party members? Roan says that the entire factory has to be razed, because ''the robots are too evil to continue existing.'' Uh, but what about your newest party member, the one that could potentially drop a tornado on your head if someone flips her [[Personality Chip]] to "evil"? Does she get to live because she's cuter or something?
* ''[[Grandia II]]'': Shortly after you recruit Killer [[FemBot]] With A Heart Of Gold Tio you find a factory full identical models of her. The first response from any of your party members? Roan says that the entire factory has to be razed, because ''the robots are too evil to continue existing.'' Uh, but what about your newest party member, the one that could potentially drop a tornado on your head if someone flips her [[Personality Chip]] to "evil"? Does she get to live because she's cuter or something?
* In one online flash game, ''Sonny'', and its sequel, ''Sonny 2'', the entire premise of the game is this: The main character is a zombie
* In one online flash game, ''Sonny'', and its sequel, ''Sonny 2'', the entire premise of the game is this: The main character is a zombie
* ''[[God of War (series)|God of War]] III'': {{spoiler|Pandora was created by Hespheastus as the key to Pandora's Box. However, the [[Applied Phlebotinum|Flames of Olympus]] used to forge the two turned her into a sentient little girl. Hesphaestus sees her as a daughter, while Kratos later takes her as a [[Morality Pet]]. The other gods, however, simply call her "it," lock her in the middle of a [[Death Trap]], and apparently Zeus lays down some physical abuse a few times. Needless to say, all it accomplishes is getting themselves killed faster.}}
* ''[[God of War (series)|God of War]] III'': {{spoiler|Pandora was created by Hespheastus as the key to Pandora's Box. However, the [[Applied Phlebotinum|Flames of Olympus]] used to forge the two turned her into a sentient little girl. Hesphaestus sees her as a daughter, while Kratos later takes her as a [[Morality Pet]]. The other gods, however, simply call her "it," lock her in the middle of a [[Death Trap]], and apparently Zeus lays down some physical abuse a few times. Needless to say, all it accomplishes is getting themselves killed faster.}}
* ''[[Digimon World 2]]'' takes ''[[Digimon Tamers]]''' stance on this issue. The good guys are the people who recognize digimon as sentient beings, our equals and our partners. They knock out other digimon, they don't kill them. The Blood Knights are the bad guys by virtue of massacring digimon, treating them like slaves and tools to be used, and killing them when they've outlived their usefulness. Even the Black Swords, who are more self absorbed and closer to [[Anti-Hero]] territory than the other factions, still find their treatment of digimon disgusting.
* ''[[Digimon World 2]]'' takes ''[[Digimon Tamers]]''' stance on this issue. The good guys are the people who recognize digimon as sentient beings, our equals and our partners. They knock out other digimon, they don't kill them. The Blood Knights are the bad guys by virtue of massacring digimon, treating them like slaves and tools to be used, and killing them when they've outlived their usefulness. Even the Black Swords, who are more self absorbed and closer to [[Anti-Hero]] territory than the other factions, still find their treatment of digimon disgusting.
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