Embracing the Cyclical: How Video Games Redefine Failure and Rewrite the Narrative

In the ever-evolving landscape of video games, the notion of "time wasted" has been challenged and redefined. The interactive nature of the medium has transformed the traditional relationship between storyteller and audience, blurring the lines between success and failure. This article delves into the complex interplay between repetition, narrative, and the player's experience, exploring how games are rewriting the rules of artistic expression and challenging the stigma surrounding the medium.

Redefining the Narrative: How Video Games Embrace Failure and Cyclical Storytelling

The Paradox of Failure and Narrative

Traditionally, the concept of "time wasted" has been a point of contention in the world of video games. The interactive nature of the medium shifts the responsibility for moving the plot forward from the storyteller to the audience, creating a unique tension. Unlike linear narratives, games often present a scenario where the player's failure leads to the story's reset, without a definitive conclusion. This paradox raises the question: How can time discarded not also be time wasted?

The Evolution of Failure in Gaming

The early days of arcade gaming were heavily reliant on failure, with each loss prompting the player to insert another quarter to continue. This model, while profitable, was often criticized for its lack of narrative depth and emotional resonance. However, the advent of home consoles and personal computers allowed games to experiment with failure in a more nuanced way, integrating it into the narrative structure and using it as a driver of tension and catharsis.

The Allure of Cyclical Narratives

The sensation of breaking through barriers and achieving dramatic victories is one of the most captivating experiences that games offer. Failure builds tension, which is then released with a sense of triumph. This cyclical nature of gameplay, where the protagonist's story is caught in a loop until the player achieves a better result, has become a hallmark of many beloved gaming franchises. The allure of these cyclical narratives lies in the player's ability to learn from their mistakes and ultimately triumph over the challenges they face.

The Paradox of Modern Game Design

However, the accusation that these discarded loops are irrecuperable wastes of time still holds true, as modern game audiences have become accustomed to consuming vast amounts of content for the sake of content. Open-world games and survival crafting titles often present a series of repetitive tasks and activities that can feel devoid of meaningful progress or narrative weight. The failure states in these games can become indistinguishable from success, leaving players with a sense of resignation rather than a sense of accomplishment.

Embracing Failure as Artistic Expression

In contrast, there are games that have embraced failure and cyclical narratives as a means of artistic expression. Titles like Deathloop and Elden Ring use the repetitive nature of gameplay to explore deeper themes and create a sense of immersion that transcends the traditional notions of success and failure. These games use failure as a tool to build atmosphere, create tension, and ultimately, to tell a more compelling and meaningful story.

Deathloop: Embracing the Absurdist Slapstick of Failure

Deathloop, a story-driven shooter, functions as a winkingly violent sci-fi riff on the classic time-loop narrative. Set on the isolated island of Blackreef, the game's protagonist, Colt Vahn, is trapped in a never-ending cycle of death and rebirth. What sets Deathloop apart is its willingness to embrace the absurdist slapstick of failure, using it as a means of exploring existential discomforts and creating a meta-commentary on the player's experience.

Elden Ring: Failure as Friction and Atmosphere

Elden Ring, on the other hand, uses the constant cycle of death and rebirth to build a sense of atmosphere and tension. Set in the Lands Between, a stagnant and cursed kingdom, the game's difficulty is not a means of extending playtime or coercing spending, but rather a tool to create a sense of immersion and dramatic weight. The player's persistent failures take on a defiant quality, as they struggle to rise above the melancholy and nihilism that permeates the world around them.

The Importance of Meaningful Failure

These games demonstrate that failure can be a powerful tool in the hands of skilled developers. By incorporating meta-textual elements into the mechanical play, they create a sense of individuality and ownership of the experience that is often lacking in more typical open-world games. Failure in these titles is not a meaningless waste of time, but rather a crucial component of the overall narrative and artistic expression.

The Industry's Struggle with Meaningful Content

The success of games like Deathloop and Elden Ring highlights a broader issue within the video game industry. As the demand for content continues to grow, many developers have resorted to diluting the experience, creating an endless treadmill of repetitive tasks and artificial barriers. This trend, driven by the pursuit of profit, has led to a proliferation of "live service" games and mobile titles that leverage failure and cyclical spending to keep players engaged.

The Importance of Artistic Integrity

In contrast, Elden Ring's refusal to succumb to these industry trends and its commitment to delivering a cohesive, meaningful experience serves as a testament to the power of artistic integrity. By eschewing the temptation of seasonal content and in-app purchases, the game demonstrates that success can be achieved through a deep understanding of the medium and a willingness to challenge the player's preconceptions.

The Future of Video Games as an Artistic Medium

As the video game industry continues to evolve, the need for games that embrace failure and cyclical narratives as a means of artistic expression becomes increasingly crucial. By redefining the relationship between player and story, these titles have the potential to elevate the medium, challenging the perception of video games as mere entertainment and positioning them as a powerful form of artistic expression.