Video games have a lot of story in them nowadays. Back then, when it was just squares on a TV screen, all you did was move around and run and shoot… and occasionally jump. Games back then were a lot more simple to follow than today. But that is what makes games of today so awesome. They have tons of plot and story in them, making them more well thought out than games of yesterday. But, no better are a game’s story shown than the plot twist. Those moments when the story is changed in a different direction, surprising the player and keeping them interested. These usually come just to surprise you and yet, they are still incredible. So, I am going to give you all my ten favorite plot twists in video games. Now, first, a few rules. Only plot twists from games that I have played, and only one game per franchise. Also, I am going to be spoiling Metroid, Persona 4, System Shock, Jade Empire, Red Dead Redemption, Braid, Shadow of the Colossus, Silent Hill 2, Bioshock, and Call of Duty: Modern. For those who have seen the plot twists, you probably know what’s on the list now, but, hey, at least I know that I won’t be spoiling any of these for anyone. Now, with that said, let’s start the list.
#10: Samus is a Woman from Metroid
Wait, wait, wait…. How is this a plot twist. We all know that she is a woman by now. True, but I am talking about Metroid way back on the NES. When this game came out, everyone thought Samus was the original Master Chief, this badass guy in space armor battling aliens with an arm cannon. Every boy in the late eighties and early nineties wanted to be Samus. But, then they beat the game, and what we saw was Samus taking off her helmet. And when she did, what we got was unexpected. As it turns out, we were playing as a girl the whole time. Now, seeing women who can wield a gun is very common in video games today, but back then, this was completely different. No one saw this coming, and for good reason. What makes this so great of a plot twist is that this was actually one of the first, if not the first, video game plot twist ever. Also, if you beat the game in record time, you get to see Samus wearing a bikini…. Because that needed to be seen in a Nintendo game.
#9: Adachi is the Killer from Persona 4
Persona is easily one of my favorite JRPG’s. I mean, if you can make a game involving around murder, and still have it be so damn happy and funny, you deserve a medal. But don’t let this game’s joyful looks fool you. This game can be very dark at times. And nowhere is that proven more when you find the murderer. Throughout the game, murders have been occurring around Inaba, including the deaths of TV reporter, Mayumi Yamano, and student, Saki Konishi. When the investigation group find Taro Namatame taking Nanako Dojima, Yu cousin, into the TV world. However, Namatame isn’t the killer, and has only been taking people into the TV world, in hopes that they would be saved. However, he was tricked by the real killer, and after investigating some more, you find out that the killer the whole time was none other than Tohru Adachi. For those who don’t know, Adachi is the same guy who was a bumbling idiot and was very clumsy. However, this was just a fake personality, as he is really cunning, and incredibly sadistic. I mean no one saw this coming, and for good reason. The last person you would expect to be the killer would be the comic relief, and yet, here he is, proven to be the one who committed the murders. Leave it to Atlus to make a plot twist so disturbingly great.
#8: I Am Shodan from System Shock 2
System Shock 2 is a really scary game. However, no one I know has ever played it, so, if you haven’t, then, picture any level in Halo with The Flood, and just make that the entire game. That’s System Shock 2. Throughout the game, you are going through a space station filled with disgusting zombie like creatures infecting humans brains. However, a character named Dr. Janice Polito asks you to meet her on Deck 4, so that she can help you. So, your goal is to go an find her, hoping that she can help you. But, when you reach Deck 4, it is not at all what you expected. Here, you find out that Dr. Polito is dead, and has been this whole time. So, that makes you wonder, who was calling you the whole time? Then it is shown to you that SHODAN, a dangerous computer A.I. that wishes to destroy all human life and is responsible for the creation of the parasites that affect humans. And let me just tell you, her arrival is just…. UGH!
#7: Master Li was Evil from Jade Empire
While I haven’t played much Bioware games, I can say for sure that Jade Empire is an amazing game. The interesting Chinese literature and the fun gameplay is just great, and while fighting enemies can get repetitive, the story never does. And it is mostly shown in the games plot twist. Throughout the game, your character is trying to find his kindhearted master, Li, who had trained him for years and brought him to his dojo to keep him safe since he was nearly killed as an infant. Your character begins going through hundreds of trials, such as giving water back to a village, defeating nearby pirates, saving a forest spirit from cannibals, entering the Lotus Assassin’s base, and breaking into the castle to stop the emperor, who took Li in attempts to gain complete control over the kingdom. So, once you do find your master, what happens? He kills you. As it turns out, Master Li had only trained you so you could kill the emperor, so Master Li could take the throne. He trained you, but left a flaw in your technique on purpose, so only he could defeat you. I’m not kidding when I say this plot twist blew my damn mind. All I can say is “Why is there no Jade Empire 2?! WHY?!”
#6: Ending in the Title from Red Dead Redemption
“Ugh, why does Wind constantly talk about Red Dead Redemption. Just talk about something else”- No, I will not do that. It’s my list and I will do as I please. Anyway, Red Dead Redemption is a great game. Sure, it’s not as evolutionary as Grand Theft Auto V, but I’ll choose RDR over GTA anyday. But, let's be honest, you don’t care about my opinion. You care about the plot twist. So, here it is. Throughout the game, John Marston is hunting down Dutch’s Gang, a gang that he was once a part of before he was fatally wounded and left for dead. However, he survived and left the gang life to start a family. However, the government told John to find and execute the members of Dutch’s Gang, and until then, his family would be held in government custody. So, as you go and kill members of Dutch’s Gang up until Dutch himself, you finally get to see John reunited with his family, and everything seems like it will be okay… And then the U.S. Army comes by to kill John. So, John asks his family to leave, because he knows that if he were to just run away, the army would find him. Once they leave, John goes out to fight the army as best as he can. But no matter what you do, it’s unavoidable. John Marston will die. It’s scripted. It’s unavoidable. What I love about this plot twist is that it actually tells it to you in the title of the game. John was a criminal and kind of a killer throughout his life, but after sacrificing himself for his family, he was able to redeem himself, hence the name Red Dead Redemption. Rockstar, you clever, clever bastards.
#5: You Play as the Monster from Braid
Braid is a really heavy game. So heavy in fact that if you tried to lift it, it would be like a boulder. I mean, if there is an easter egg in the game about nuclear bombs, it’s gotta be pretty heavy. But let’s not talk about nukes just yet (Foreshadowing). For now, let's focus on Braid’s insane plot twist. Throughout the game, you play as Tim, a young man who is trying to find a princess and save her from a monster. You are not told much about them, only that Tim has made a horrible mistake and wishes to fix it. However, you soon meet her in the final world, where she is escaping someone, and she opens doors for you, allowing you to keep her safe. However, you soon realize that this entire scene is played in reverse. Once you move forward, you see that the princess has actually been placing traps for you, in order to stop you, and that the person she was actually running from was a knight who was saving her the whole time. You then realize that, throughout the entire game, you were the monster that had taken the princess. This plot twist comes right out of nowhere and hits you pretty damn hard. I have to say, this is really unique, and I have to give the creators some credit. I mean, you never saw this coming. Don’t lie. You probably just looked it up online, and that doesn’t count!
#4: Dormin Was Evil from Shadow of the Colossus
Oh man, and I thought Braid was heavy. But Shadow of the Colossus is like freaking tank heavy. The entire game, you play as Wander, a young boy, and not much of a fighter, trying to revive a girl named Mano. Throughout the game, you are guided by a voice, who calls himself Dormin. He tells you that in order to revive her, you must slay sixteen giant Colossi, but doing so would come at a price. However, Wander, wanting to revive Mano, does so anyway, climbing, stabbing, and killing all sixteen Colossi. While playing as Wander, this game makes you wonder (Ha, get it), if you are really doing the right thing. Is killing all of these majestic and actually harmless giants really worth it. Well, at the end of the game, when the final Colossus is killed, you head back to the Shrine of Worship, where Wander is now a horned and pale man. Soon, Emon and his men order Wander to be killed, as he is possessed. However, it does no good, as Wander’s body is taken over by Dormin. As it turns out, Dormin is actually a demigod, that had portions of his body sealed away inside the Colossi, and each time one was killed, a piece of Dormin was released. So Dormin was using you the whole time. At least he does keep his end of the deal, as he does revive Mono… so, there’s that. Still, kinda sucks for Wander. But, what do you expect when you release a demigod into the world by killing gentle giants. You aren’t given a parade in your honor if that’s what you think.
#3: James Killed his Wife from Silent Hill 2
After the god awful mistake that was the cancellation of Silent Hills, I had to replay a good Silent Hill game. Not those terrible new ones, no, I mean a REAL Silent Hill game. Silent Hill 2, as a matter of fact. And OH BOY, if this game isn’t giving you the worst nightmare imaginable, it’s making you cry like a baby in a crib. You play as James, who heads to Silent Hill after getting a letter from his dead wife, Mary. Throughout the game, you meet this woman named Maria, who is killed by a Pyramid Head, then found again in a room, only to die again. And she is then killed later AGAIN by two Pyramid Heads. By this point, you have no idea what’s going on…. Until you find the video tape. Once James views the tape, he finds out that Mary did not die from illness, but rather, James killed her, and that Maria, who actually looks like Mary, was killed by Pyramid Heads as a way for James to find someone to punish him. It’s actually a really shocking and at the same time depressing plot twist. But hey, it’s Silent Hill. What do you expect?
#2: Would You Kindly from Bioshock
Oh boy, I think we all knew this one was coming. Bioshock takes place in the underwater city of Rapture, where there are dozens of drugged out Splicers ready to kill you for more Adam. You play as Jack, who ends up at Rapture after a plane crash. Throughout the game, you hear Atlus say would you kindly. However, you don’t really notice this, as it is not really that interesting. I mean, it’s only a simple phrase, it can’t really do much. However, once you reach Andrew Ryan’s office, you are then treated like some sort of pet, as Ryan keeps asking you to do something, with the words “Would You Kindly” in them. After this , you then realize that, throughout the entire game, that one simple little phrase has actually been manipulating you this whole time, making you do things against your own will, making you seem like a puppet. This was so unexpected, that the internet blew up with this plot twist, making it one of the most popular plot twists in gaming. And for good reason. This is easily one of the best plot twists, as it makes a simple set of words a way to manipulate Jack into being a puppet. And that is what makes it so great.
#1: Shock and Awe from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
While I am not at all the biggest fan of Call of Duty, I am not one of those haters who says it needs to die. Sure, I may have said that a year ago, but my opinions have changed since then. And why did they change? Because this game had Shock and Awe. This is the tenth mission of the game, where you play as Sgt. Jackson, attempting to Al-Asad. Throughout the mission, you do the usual Call of Duty stuff. Shoot terrorist, and move to the next one. Pretty simple. Then a helicopter crashes, and your goal is to go and save the pilot. After you do save the pilot, you then leave by helicopter, thinking that would do it…. But then…. The nuclear bomb happens. This is something that left everyone, and I mean EVERYONE shocked. No one saw this coming ever. And after the helicopter crashes, you then crawl around, witnesses the last moments of Sgt. Jackson’s life. And what you see is just shocking. You actually see the disaster a nuclear bomb causes in just a few seconds, and before you know it, Sgt. Jackson dies. And this is something that everyone tried to avoid. Everyone thought you could save Sgt. Jackson, but you can’t. Just like John Marston, his death is scripted. It has to happen in order to move the story along. That is what makes this moment so shocking. And if that wasn’t enough, not only does this cause the events of Modern Warfare, but it causes other events in the entire Warfare series. In Modern Warfare 2, the death of those 30,000 soldiers leads to General Shepherd to start the Russo-American War, and in Modern Warfare 3, you see from Yuri’s perspective as the explosion kills thousands. That is what makes this a great plot twist. It doesn’t just affect the game, but it affects the entire series as a whole. I may not like Call of Duty as much as most people do, but I can say for sure that this is, in my opinion, the best plot twist in a video game.
So, there you have it. Did you enjoy the list? Tell me what you thought of it. With that said, I will see you all next time.
#10: Samus is a Woman from Metroid
Wait, wait, wait…. How is this a plot twist. We all know that she is a woman by now. True, but I am talking about Metroid way back on the NES. When this game came out, everyone thought Samus was the original Master Chief, this badass guy in space armor battling aliens with an arm cannon. Every boy in the late eighties and early nineties wanted to be Samus. But, then they beat the game, and what we saw was Samus taking off her helmet. And when she did, what we got was unexpected. As it turns out, we were playing as a girl the whole time. Now, seeing women who can wield a gun is very common in video games today, but back then, this was completely different. No one saw this coming, and for good reason. What makes this so great of a plot twist is that this was actually one of the first, if not the first, video game plot twist ever. Also, if you beat the game in record time, you get to see Samus wearing a bikini…. Because that needed to be seen in a Nintendo game.
#9: Adachi is the Killer from Persona 4
Persona is easily one of my favorite JRPG’s. I mean, if you can make a game involving around murder, and still have it be so damn happy and funny, you deserve a medal. But don’t let this game’s joyful looks fool you. This game can be very dark at times. And nowhere is that proven more when you find the murderer. Throughout the game, murders have been occurring around Inaba, including the deaths of TV reporter, Mayumi Yamano, and student, Saki Konishi. When the investigation group find Taro Namatame taking Nanako Dojima, Yu cousin, into the TV world. However, Namatame isn’t the killer, and has only been taking people into the TV world, in hopes that they would be saved. However, he was tricked by the real killer, and after investigating some more, you find out that the killer the whole time was none other than Tohru Adachi. For those who don’t know, Adachi is the same guy who was a bumbling idiot and was very clumsy. However, this was just a fake personality, as he is really cunning, and incredibly sadistic. I mean no one saw this coming, and for good reason. The last person you would expect to be the killer would be the comic relief, and yet, here he is, proven to be the one who committed the murders. Leave it to Atlus to make a plot twist so disturbingly great.
#8: I Am Shodan from System Shock 2
System Shock 2 is a really scary game. However, no one I know has ever played it, so, if you haven’t, then, picture any level in Halo with The Flood, and just make that the entire game. That’s System Shock 2. Throughout the game, you are going through a space station filled with disgusting zombie like creatures infecting humans brains. However, a character named Dr. Janice Polito asks you to meet her on Deck 4, so that she can help you. So, your goal is to go an find her, hoping that she can help you. But, when you reach Deck 4, it is not at all what you expected. Here, you find out that Dr. Polito is dead, and has been this whole time. So, that makes you wonder, who was calling you the whole time? Then it is shown to you that SHODAN, a dangerous computer A.I. that wishes to destroy all human life and is responsible for the creation of the parasites that affect humans. And let me just tell you, her arrival is just…. UGH!
#7: Master Li was Evil from Jade Empire
While I haven’t played much Bioware games, I can say for sure that Jade Empire is an amazing game. The interesting Chinese literature and the fun gameplay is just great, and while fighting enemies can get repetitive, the story never does. And it is mostly shown in the games plot twist. Throughout the game, your character is trying to find his kindhearted master, Li, who had trained him for years and brought him to his dojo to keep him safe since he was nearly killed as an infant. Your character begins going through hundreds of trials, such as giving water back to a village, defeating nearby pirates, saving a forest spirit from cannibals, entering the Lotus Assassin’s base, and breaking into the castle to stop the emperor, who took Li in attempts to gain complete control over the kingdom. So, once you do find your master, what happens? He kills you. As it turns out, Master Li had only trained you so you could kill the emperor, so Master Li could take the throne. He trained you, but left a flaw in your technique on purpose, so only he could defeat you. I’m not kidding when I say this plot twist blew my damn mind. All I can say is “Why is there no Jade Empire 2?! WHY?!”
#6: Ending in the Title from Red Dead Redemption
“Ugh, why does Wind constantly talk about Red Dead Redemption. Just talk about something else”- No, I will not do that. It’s my list and I will do as I please. Anyway, Red Dead Redemption is a great game. Sure, it’s not as evolutionary as Grand Theft Auto V, but I’ll choose RDR over GTA anyday. But, let's be honest, you don’t care about my opinion. You care about the plot twist. So, here it is. Throughout the game, John Marston is hunting down Dutch’s Gang, a gang that he was once a part of before he was fatally wounded and left for dead. However, he survived and left the gang life to start a family. However, the government told John to find and execute the members of Dutch’s Gang, and until then, his family would be held in government custody. So, as you go and kill members of Dutch’s Gang up until Dutch himself, you finally get to see John reunited with his family, and everything seems like it will be okay… And then the U.S. Army comes by to kill John. So, John asks his family to leave, because he knows that if he were to just run away, the army would find him. Once they leave, John goes out to fight the army as best as he can. But no matter what you do, it’s unavoidable. John Marston will die. It’s scripted. It’s unavoidable. What I love about this plot twist is that it actually tells it to you in the title of the game. John was a criminal and kind of a killer throughout his life, but after sacrificing himself for his family, he was able to redeem himself, hence the name Red Dead Redemption. Rockstar, you clever, clever bastards.
#5: You Play as the Monster from Braid
Braid is a really heavy game. So heavy in fact that if you tried to lift it, it would be like a boulder. I mean, if there is an easter egg in the game about nuclear bombs, it’s gotta be pretty heavy. But let’s not talk about nukes just yet (Foreshadowing). For now, let's focus on Braid’s insane plot twist. Throughout the game, you play as Tim, a young man who is trying to find a princess and save her from a monster. You are not told much about them, only that Tim has made a horrible mistake and wishes to fix it. However, you soon meet her in the final world, where she is escaping someone, and she opens doors for you, allowing you to keep her safe. However, you soon realize that this entire scene is played in reverse. Once you move forward, you see that the princess has actually been placing traps for you, in order to stop you, and that the person she was actually running from was a knight who was saving her the whole time. You then realize that, throughout the entire game, you were the monster that had taken the princess. This plot twist comes right out of nowhere and hits you pretty damn hard. I have to say, this is really unique, and I have to give the creators some credit. I mean, you never saw this coming. Don’t lie. You probably just looked it up online, and that doesn’t count!
#4: Dormin Was Evil from Shadow of the Colossus
Oh man, and I thought Braid was heavy. But Shadow of the Colossus is like freaking tank heavy. The entire game, you play as Wander, a young boy, and not much of a fighter, trying to revive a girl named Mano. Throughout the game, you are guided by a voice, who calls himself Dormin. He tells you that in order to revive her, you must slay sixteen giant Colossi, but doing so would come at a price. However, Wander, wanting to revive Mano, does so anyway, climbing, stabbing, and killing all sixteen Colossi. While playing as Wander, this game makes you wonder (Ha, get it), if you are really doing the right thing. Is killing all of these majestic and actually harmless giants really worth it. Well, at the end of the game, when the final Colossus is killed, you head back to the Shrine of Worship, where Wander is now a horned and pale man. Soon, Emon and his men order Wander to be killed, as he is possessed. However, it does no good, as Wander’s body is taken over by Dormin. As it turns out, Dormin is actually a demigod, that had portions of his body sealed away inside the Colossi, and each time one was killed, a piece of Dormin was released. So Dormin was using you the whole time. At least he does keep his end of the deal, as he does revive Mono… so, there’s that. Still, kinda sucks for Wander. But, what do you expect when you release a demigod into the world by killing gentle giants. You aren’t given a parade in your honor if that’s what you think.
#3: James Killed his Wife from Silent Hill 2
After the god awful mistake that was the cancellation of Silent Hills, I had to replay a good Silent Hill game. Not those terrible new ones, no, I mean a REAL Silent Hill game. Silent Hill 2, as a matter of fact. And OH BOY, if this game isn’t giving you the worst nightmare imaginable, it’s making you cry like a baby in a crib. You play as James, who heads to Silent Hill after getting a letter from his dead wife, Mary. Throughout the game, you meet this woman named Maria, who is killed by a Pyramid Head, then found again in a room, only to die again. And she is then killed later AGAIN by two Pyramid Heads. By this point, you have no idea what’s going on…. Until you find the video tape. Once James views the tape, he finds out that Mary did not die from illness, but rather, James killed her, and that Maria, who actually looks like Mary, was killed by Pyramid Heads as a way for James to find someone to punish him. It’s actually a really shocking and at the same time depressing plot twist. But hey, it’s Silent Hill. What do you expect?
#2: Would You Kindly from Bioshock
Oh boy, I think we all knew this one was coming. Bioshock takes place in the underwater city of Rapture, where there are dozens of drugged out Splicers ready to kill you for more Adam. You play as Jack, who ends up at Rapture after a plane crash. Throughout the game, you hear Atlus say would you kindly. However, you don’t really notice this, as it is not really that interesting. I mean, it’s only a simple phrase, it can’t really do much. However, once you reach Andrew Ryan’s office, you are then treated like some sort of pet, as Ryan keeps asking you to do something, with the words “Would You Kindly” in them. After this , you then realize that, throughout the entire game, that one simple little phrase has actually been manipulating you this whole time, making you do things against your own will, making you seem like a puppet. This was so unexpected, that the internet blew up with this plot twist, making it one of the most popular plot twists in gaming. And for good reason. This is easily one of the best plot twists, as it makes a simple set of words a way to manipulate Jack into being a puppet. And that is what makes it so great.
#1: Shock and Awe from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
While I am not at all the biggest fan of Call of Duty, I am not one of those haters who says it needs to die. Sure, I may have said that a year ago, but my opinions have changed since then. And why did they change? Because this game had Shock and Awe. This is the tenth mission of the game, where you play as Sgt. Jackson, attempting to Al-Asad. Throughout the mission, you do the usual Call of Duty stuff. Shoot terrorist, and move to the next one. Pretty simple. Then a helicopter crashes, and your goal is to go and save the pilot. After you do save the pilot, you then leave by helicopter, thinking that would do it…. But then…. The nuclear bomb happens. This is something that left everyone, and I mean EVERYONE shocked. No one saw this coming ever. And after the helicopter crashes, you then crawl around, witnesses the last moments of Sgt. Jackson’s life. And what you see is just shocking. You actually see the disaster a nuclear bomb causes in just a few seconds, and before you know it, Sgt. Jackson dies. And this is something that everyone tried to avoid. Everyone thought you could save Sgt. Jackson, but you can’t. Just like John Marston, his death is scripted. It has to happen in order to move the story along. That is what makes this moment so shocking. And if that wasn’t enough, not only does this cause the events of Modern Warfare, but it causes other events in the entire Warfare series. In Modern Warfare 2, the death of those 30,000 soldiers leads to General Shepherd to start the Russo-American War, and in Modern Warfare 3, you see from Yuri’s perspective as the explosion kills thousands. That is what makes this a great plot twist. It doesn’t just affect the game, but it affects the entire series as a whole. I may not like Call of Duty as much as most people do, but I can say for sure that this is, in my opinion, the best plot twist in a video game.
So, there you have it. Did you enjoy the list? Tell me what you thought of it. With that said, I will see you all next time.
#1: THE RING:
If you seen the trailer.. Your think it's just stupid movie.. But appearently it's actually a very smart movie.. I never seen it, so not certain.
#2: INSIDIOUS:
Jump scares done "right".
#3: THE GIFT:
I can't explain anything without spoiling it.
But basically Jason Bateman are dealing with an old friend, that's basically the standard creepy neighbour, being way too nice.. But the end you would not see coming..
#4: PLAY MISTY FOR ME:
A 1971 film where a guy gets stalked by a emotionally disturbed young woman, who gets way too close than he likes..
#5: ONE HOUR PHOTO:
Everyday we meet helpful strangers at the grocery store, the gas station, and the bank. Most of them are just employees doing a job with a smile on their face, moving from one customer to the next, but sometimes they can take an unhealthy obsession with our personal lives..
If you seen the trailer.. Your think it's just stupid movie.. But appearently it's actually a very smart movie.. I never seen it, so not certain.
#2: INSIDIOUS:
Jump scares done "right".
#3: THE GIFT:
I can't explain anything without spoiling it.
But basically Jason Bateman are dealing with an old friend, that's basically the standard creepy neighbour, being way too nice.. But the end you would not see coming..
#4: PLAY MISTY FOR ME:
A 1971 film where a guy gets stalked by a emotionally disturbed young woman, who gets way too close than he likes..
#5: ONE HOUR PHOTO:
Everyday we meet helpful strangers at the grocery store, the gas station, and the bank. Most of them are just employees doing a job with a smile on their face, moving from one customer to the next, but sometimes they can take an unhealthy obsession with our personal lives..