The Hero. The Protagonist. The Chosen One(s) that get to save almost everything and everyone in the world in which they find themselves. An archetype woven into the very fibre of the human race, and not just a gaming troupe. From galaxies, ancient myths to fantasy worlds, humanity has always had a thing for heroes and their journeys. Our cave ancestors most likely told stories of heroism, likely of someone hunting or gathering food for the people to ward off starvation. Somewhere imbibed in our DNA, is an innate hunger to be heroes! To be the one who changes things. However, is the concept of a hero today?
According to Google, a Hero is defined as: “a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities.” Indeed these are things worth striving for as a person. These are traits, deeply rooted in mythology and many traditions across the globe, and although they may seem rare in our modern sphere, maybe they are not. Maybe we just do not know the songs of unsung heroes? In parts of the world others dare not go. Or should we simply look to the Guinness Book of World Records for those? (Seriously, No…don’t do it).
Many of us have had such dreams from childhood. Of being a hero of some sort and saving either the things or the people we love from some imaginary evil. The swing of an imaginary wood sword, defeating imaginary monsters in the home and under the bed. Our imaginations helped us slay countless creatures and save “many-a-damsel” (typically our mothers, siblings, cousins and sometimes the family pets).
Along Came Heroes in Videogames…
As we grew, the hero scape changed for us. For some, including myself, the first semblance of being a hero beyond the house and backyard was Pokémon Yellow. Not exactly the most ideal case but that is where I started with my silent ‘Yes-No-Cyndaquil’ choosen Hero named by me. I saw the good old arcades but never went in because of the smokers and drinkers as the machines were located in a pub. But yeah, the portable consoles definitely helped things!
Pokémon allowed me to ‘meet’ many people, see many places and creatures beyond my world. Help people that needed help and feel good about it. Other games that certainly tested my mettle and resolve were Golden Sun (*whispers* remake Golden Suuuuun!!!) Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Advance Wars, just to mention a few.
In videogames, the Hero, be that Isaac from Golden Sun, Samus Aran from Metroid, Link from The Legend of Zelda, Bayonetta or your custom-made protagonist, these are more than just characters. Their backstories and origins or the lack of either aside, these are the vessels through which most of us have had to make decisions and over time, become mirrors of them our favourites.
Games as Teachers, Not Just Time Killers
Many studies have shown a correlation between video games and the positive effects on various areas of human cognition. Some of these include studies by Isabella Garnic “The Benefits of Playing Videogames”, Niklas Johannes, Matti Vuorre and Adrew Przyblski’s “Vidhttps://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.202049eo game play is positively correlated with well-being” and “Video gaming may be associated with better cognitive performance in children” by the National Institutes of Health, United States.
I, for example, built a lot of great vocabulary and contextual socialization from games like Fire Emblem, Golden Sun, Shin Megami Tensei and Final Fantasy. Games like Pokemon REEEAAAALLY tested my patience! Sonic Advance 2 had me learning to pay attention to details. The story and suffering in Golden Sun had me relating to people on a much different level. Fire Emblem had me wanting to protect things and people I love at almost any cost (namely restarting battles the moment a character I like died!).
I have been privileged to travel galaxies, fight ancient gods, save people and towns and still manage to grab snacks in between that. I’ve been shown and taught the many ways evil could come about and the many ways that good can triumph. Video games may not give us the superpowers we yearn for(unfortunately), but they do give us something much more valuable: perspective. We usually forget that heroism is not always loud or about saving the world. Sometimes, it’s choosing kindness both in reality and in the games. It’s helping a friend defeat a tough level, by standing by someone going through a hard time.
Be someone’s hero. And let them be yours.
wasticSON
Great piece brother.. Video game is what we all live by, it shapes us and we learn great a number of morals from. I look forward to reading the next article 🙏🏽
Micheal Taylor
Thanks a million! Gaming saved me and millions of others, making us wish for and aspire to great things virtually and in real life! Let all the Heroes STAND UP!!!