I am not usually one for starting topics. I mean, yeah - I lurk and pester and do all those other untoward things in the topics of other people a forumite is generally obligated to do, but I am not really a starting person. Still, there is something I cannot stop thinking of since the Trespasser (going by the state of this section, I am not alone in that, hah). What follows is a partial re-posting of something I posted somewhere else. Anyways.
So the Inquisitor loses the arm. Fair enough. I do not want to talk about why it was done; I want to talk about how it was done. Because here is the thing - Trespasser gave us this:
where another venture into the field of audiovisual entertainment tackled a similar issue like this:
Now, first off, before I elaborate any further, let me just say - I get it. I can see why this was done. You're trying to keep the action going. You're trying to make it feel like everything that happens is all build-up to the biggest, most crucial and central decision of them all - what will become of the Inquisition? What will be the fate and legacy of this immensely powerful organization you've painstakingly built over the course of this entire 100-hour RPG? You want to keep the audience engaged and have them on the edge of their seats. The action must flow.
Buuut...
Is maintaining the momentum here really necessary? What comes immediately prior to that scene? Let's see - (i) the Inquisitor realizes the Anchor is about to kill them, no matter what they do, (ii) despite that fact, they dive straight back into the heat of battle, whereupon (iii) they cut their way through waves upon waves of enemies, (iv) with the only interruption being gut-wrenching Anchor meltdowns that smash them mercilessly against various features of Thedosian geography like they were nothing more than a ragdoll, (v) followed by a battle featuring a High Effing Dragon, which then leads into (vi) an exhausting, two-parter damage sponge of a boss fight, followed by (vii) a conversation that drops so many lore bombs the script can be legally declared a warzone, (viii) the declaration of a major NPC character to, for all intents and purposes, destroy the world, thus cementing his transformation from a trusted ally into the story's central antagonist for the forseeable future, (ix) the Inquisitor's counter-declaration as to their intention on foiling the newly-emerged antagonist's plans to bring about an apocalypse, after which (x) the Anchor goes into its final meltdown, and (xi) the new antagonist does something to the Anchor, but we don't know what, aside from the fact that it seems to be sort of falling apart. And then, as though that was not enough, you have to make a decision regarding the Inquisition's future - disband, not disband, go home, bake cookies.
Here's the thing - losing a limb fundamentally changes everything about the way you continue to function thereonout. It is something that affects the person in question in a very profound way; it's almost like having someone close to you die. There's a very powerful sense of loss, realization of your vulnerability, the sense that your body either betrayed you in a way, or that it had been violated, or both. And that is where How To Train Your Dragon comes into play - the reveal of Hiccup's mechanical leg is not a very long scene, it only takes a few seconds, a minute at most, but it packs so much impact. The way this scene conveys what has been done to the protagonist and the ramifications thereof, all without a single word and only with the use of body language, facial expressions and music is nothing short of genius. Just look at that clip, at the emotions Hiccup goes through as he learns what has happened to him - surprise, that deep sinking feeling when you realize something's gone irrevocably wrong, being shaken by the knowledge, then fighting off despair and tears, which are then replaced by determination and the first shaky steps on the long and difficult road towards recovery. That right there is some mighty powerful, powerful stuff, and it comes from something that is generally labeled to be a fun animated film for kids. The big difference between the revelation of the missing limb in Trespasser and How to Train Your Dragon is that while the former decided to show impact through shock, the latter went with emotional resonance. Where the former careens ahead like a runaway freight train, the latter is careful and measured. Where the former seeks to astonish, the latter seeks to allow the audience to fully realize the gravity of the situation and all its ramifications all on their own by letting the scene slowly sink in and let you, the viewer, put the pieces together.
No pun intended. Maybe.
I feel like I should re-emphasize that I actually liked this DLC. Because this is the internet, where all things need to be expressly stated at all times (yay, written communication!). Hell, I loved it. I loved Inquisition, I loved Trespasser, they were both some of my favorite gaming experiences, period. It's just that I think that this one scene, the choice of a more measured approach to this utterly paramount narrative beat, could have made it so much more.
But that's just my opinion, which, albeit honest, is also highly subjective. I am only an idiot on the internet, after all. And I am bracing for all the rotten tomatoes and eggs I can already hear sailing majestically through the air right at my face. Hopefully this comically tiny umbrella helps. Feel free to rip me to shreds.
Edit: HOW HAVE YOU EVEN MANAGED TO READ IT SO QUICKLY. You know who you are.
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