really enjoying the game despite having to do a bunch of shit to get it running properly since the PC port is dogshit

but as im playing it, a few questions keep coming up in my head.

firstly, i dont really know what type of ruler Emily was, there are little pieces of lore that kind of hint that she was a benevolent ruler who spared people who wronged her but prior to finding any of this out all i hear is her constantly talking about how she should have tortured and killed anyone who questioned her or detracted. granted this is in response to a coup, its giving “i was nice why didnt she give me any pussy” vibes

secondly, she keeps talking about elites and aristocrats with contempt, which is good, but also that’s literally you emily. so it kinda takes me out of the game because she’ll make a comment about the delusions of the rich and ruling class and its impossible not to think “what about you tho”

i guess in general i just hate media where you’re forced to side with royalty. its always some bullshit like this. even when the royalty isnt the main character the story will be about some lowly poor who was noticed by a royal and got swept away into that lifestyle and now they get to be rich. it makes me feel like im consuming propaganda thats meant to pacify me thru escapism

  • Esoteir [he/him]
    ·
    5 days ago

    idk i never finished the first game but wasnt that one even more incoherent lmao, like if i recall wasn't the first game literally about working with loyalists to restore the Just and Benevolent crown, while chastising you for killing people the entire time

    it's also honestly just a problem with the vast majority of steampunk in general, people create these settings in vaguely victorian colonial era settings with monarchies because 1800 had monarchy and then don't critically engage with the fact there's a fuckin colonial monarchy in their setting, instead having the rich fuck mcgee protagonist wearing a copper cog monocle run around blasting the evil guy fawkes analogues flash gordon style for the queen. easily one of the least self aware aesthetics of all time lmao

    • godlessworm [comrade/them]
      hexagon
      ·
      4 days ago

      agreed, i usually avoid steampunk stuff because it's just so cringe. i always get too caught up with looking at shit thinking "there's no way that needs a gear right there"

    • combat_brandonism [they/them]
      ·
      4 days ago

      and then don't critically engage with the fact there's a fuckin colonial monarchy in their setting

      Arcanum stays winning comfy-cool

      (I last played this game when I was 12 so I have no idea if the politics were good but I vaguely remember some anticolonial themes)