Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3, Witcher 3, and Red Dead Redemption 2 are the ones that Immediately come to mind. I’m sure there’s more but those immediately flash out.
Also, Usually there would be Bethesda titles galore, but I feel like after Skyrim, their games have been just pretty good and not the masterpieces of western RPGS they were before.
So what comes to mind with you guys, what are your favorite games of the 8th console (or video games in general) generation?
It's not that it could have been darker, it's that the one theme the game had been really pushing was "wanting/pursuing this treasure will alienate your loved ones and get you killed". But then, in the end, Nate and Elena only achieve their dreams because Sam insisted on pursuing the treasure to the end (and was therefore able to pocket a few coins). You could argue that it only worked because Sam didn't keep the coins for himself, but it still doesn't really sit right with me. It retroactively makes Elena wrong in all her arguments with Nate throughout the game, and that's super not the point of those.
Yeah by darker I meant either Sam could have died for pursuing the treasure at the end or Nate could have ruined his marriage. It's been a while since I played it so details are fuzzy.
From what I remember, I think Elena's major problem with Nathan was his lying to her and not treating her as a partner by being dishonest. I think it's implied in the end, when Elena joins Nathan in Libertalia, that being in another adventure is part of what helps bring them together and something Elena enjoys as well as Nate. So it's less the treasure hunting being the problem and more the dishonesty in their relationship and Nathan's inability to be open with her about his discontent with a quieter life.
But you are right about the other theme, captured by Libertalia, is greed and toxic desire for treasure. But thinking about it, Sam giving up the treasure is good enough for me to adhere to that theme.
Nathan opens up to Elena about his past and discontent with quiet life, and learns to value his family more than anything, even destroying the treasure to save Sam. Elena learns that she values excitement as much as Nathan. And Sam, opposed to the pirates of Libertalia, gives up the treasure he kept to help his family.
I can see your issue with him only having the treasure anyway because he pursued it, and how it can be antithetical to the themes for them to benefit from that, but I think they work enough for me for each individual's character arc in the game. Nathan and Elena didn't choose the treasure, so them being rewarded doesn't bother me so much
I guess I would have liked the ending more if it was exactly the same, but Sam just hadn't taken any coins. Nate having to specifically choose to sink the treasure is a fine conclusion to his arc in the game (and frankly, him giving up the treasure by just stopping the search partway through doesn't really work narratively- he had to reject it in a more concrete way), and Sam declaring that he only wanted the treasure because family is a bit hokey, but it does also function to close his arc and explain why his obsession isn't enough to kill him. I just feel like having all that, but Sam also kept some coins to give to Nate... like, it works thematically, but I think it would have been stronger to not have that.
Totally valid! Think they were just trying to give the characters as happy a send off as possible, and it's enjoyable enough. I don't mind the cheat so much I guess because I enjoy the happy ending selfishly and don't mind paying for it in this game with a little inconsistency.