There are two videogame franchises which feature my favorite characters, and they are Cole MacGrath from inFAMOUS and Wander from Shadow of the Colossus for the PlayStation 3 console.
Cole MacGrath from inFAMOUS is my favorite videogame character, but my second favorite is Wander from Shadow of the Colossus. I’m going to explain why I have a strong emotional connection with these characters.
inFAMOUS: Cole MacGrath (2009-2011, and played when released)
The inFAMOUS videogame franchise started on the PS3 developed by Sucker Punch Productions, and published by Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA). The game focuses on bike messenger turned electrical superhero Cole MacGrath.
While Cole was delivering a package, it exploded leveling six square blocks of Empire City. Leaving Cole at the center, alive but changed and able to control electricity. Cole looked at his new-found powers as a burden, and he knew he had a responsibility to save what was left of the city, or destroy it.
This is where the karma system comes in because depending on Cole’s actions in the game. The civilians will react to him as being a “Hero” or “inFAMOUS.”
For example, when Cole is a hero, the civilians will say, “You give us something to believe in,” and they’ll pull out their cell phones and say “Hey look its Cole!” and take pictures of him while he is saving the city. The women in the game will ask if he dates normal girls or if he has a girlfriend.
When Cole is inFAMOUS, the civilians will protest him by chatting, “Cole is Crap!”, “Kill MacGrath!” and say “You’re the reason why we have a death penalty!” They also form mobs around him and throw rocks chatting, “Let’s kill him before he kills us!”
There are “karma” moments in the game where Cole must think on his feet and do what he feels is right to him. For instance, civilians will approach Cole and ask him to heal somebody who is seriously injured. Cole has the choice to heal the person, or not care and go on about his business.
Depending on Cole’s actions, his appearance changes. For instance, Hero Cole is clean and pristine. His electricity is blue and his powers are defensive. He can also heal civilians and arc-restrain his enemies, which are electrical handcuffs.
inFAMOUS Cole appears dirty, with veins visibly showing throughout his body and he has red bloodshot eyes. His electricity is red and his powers are about creating collateral damage killing anybody who gets in his way. He also drains the electrical charges from people killing them instantly, but re-healing himself in the process.
One of my favorite missions is from the original inFAMOUS called “The Price.” The mission starts with the antagonist Kessler telling Cole that he abducted his girlfriend Trish. Kessler had Trish hanging from one building and the other building had six doctors hanging.
Cole had enough time to go to one building before the bomb exploded. Which building would Cole choose? Kessler told Cole he could save Trish, the love of his life, or the six doctors. Kessler explains to Cole if he saves the doctors, think of the extra lives they could save.
Check out “Hero Cole” The Price mission here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7pZxs2NZGc
Check out “inFAMOUS Cole” The Price mission here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sWHdcv1nlY
I connected with the way Cole carried himself throughout the first two inFAMOUS games on the PS3. Cole was just making a routine delivery as a bike messenger, then his life changed instantly and he was forced to control electricity.
The inFAMOUS videogame franchise started on the PS3 developed by Sucker Punch Productions, and published by Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA). The game focuses on bike messenger turned electrical superhero Cole MacGrath.
While Cole was delivering a package, it exploded leveling six square blocks of Empire City. Leaving Cole at the center, alive but changed and able to control electricity. Cole looked at his new-found powers as a burden, and he knew he had a responsibility to save what was left of the city, or destroy it.
This is where the karma system comes in because depending on Cole’s actions in the game. The civilians will react to him as being a “Hero” or “inFAMOUS.”
For example, when Cole is a hero, the civilians will say, “You give us something to believe in,” and they’ll pull out their cell phones and say “Hey look its Cole!” and take pictures of him while he is saving the city. The women in the game will ask if he dates normal girls or if he has a girlfriend.
When Cole is inFAMOUS, the civilians will protest him by chatting, “Cole is Crap!”, “Kill MacGrath!” and say “You’re the reason why we have a death penalty!” They also form mobs around him and throw rocks chatting, “Let’s kill him before he kills us!”
There are “karma” moments in the game where Cole must think on his feet and do what he feels is right to him. For instance, civilians will approach Cole and ask him to heal somebody who is seriously injured. Cole has the choice to heal the person, or not care and go on about his business.
Depending on Cole’s actions, his appearance changes. For instance, Hero Cole is clean and pristine. His electricity is blue and his powers are defensive. He can also heal civilians and arc-restrain his enemies, which are electrical handcuffs.
inFAMOUS Cole appears dirty, with veins visibly showing throughout his body and he has red bloodshot eyes. His electricity is red and his powers are about creating collateral damage killing anybody who gets in his way. He also drains the electrical charges from people killing them instantly, but re-healing himself in the process.
One of my favorite missions is from the original inFAMOUS called “The Price.” The mission starts with the antagonist Kessler telling Cole that he abducted his girlfriend Trish. Kessler had Trish hanging from one building and the other building had six doctors hanging.
Cole had enough time to go to one building before the bomb exploded. Which building would Cole choose? Kessler told Cole he could save Trish, the love of his life, or the six doctors. Kessler explains to Cole if he saves the doctors, think of the extra lives they could save.
Check out “Hero Cole” The Price mission here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7pZxs2NZGc
Check out “inFAMOUS Cole” The Price mission here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sWHdcv1nlY
I connected with the way Cole carried himself throughout the first two inFAMOUS games on the PS3. Cole was just making a routine delivery as a bike messenger, then his life changed instantly and he was forced to control electricity.
I blogged about my experience with Shadow of the Colossus a few months ago, stating that this game along with Ico became one of my favorite videogames of all time. I did a speech at Toastmasters at CSUSB talking about these games entitled, “Can Video Games Be Art?”
Check out my blog post here: http://www.calmandstrong.net/apps/blog/show/44147612-csusb-toastmasters-can-video-games-be-art-
Both games are developed by Team Ico and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. I played the remastered version on the PS3, and I felt myself gravitating more towards playing Shadow of the Colossus a lot more than Ico.
I noticed playing as Wander in Shadow of the Colossus was special to me because I got the same feeling while playing as Cole MacGrath in inFAMOUS.
Shadow of the Colossus is about a young man named Wander who enters a forbidden land with his horse Agro, bow-and-arrow, sacred sword and the hope of bringing his girlfriend Mono back to life.
Wander comes across a mysterious entity named Dormin, who tells him if he slays all 16 Colossi. There could be a chance that he could bring his love back to life. Dormin also told Wander there could be a huge price to pay if he succeeds, and Wander wasn’t concerned about what could happen to him, because he just wants his love back.
After Wander slays each Colossi, he starts to disintegrate and his appearance changes drastically (like inFAMOUS Cole as he progresses through the game). Wander is defiantly a normal person by the way he carries himself throughout the game.
For example, he looks awkward when he swings his sword, he is not the best climber, he is clumsy at times, but he is great at archery and is familiar with a bow-and-arrow. Team Ico in my opinion did a great job making Wander feel like he didn’t belong in this beautiful forbidden land with huge monsters.
I connected with the sense that Wander was willing to do whatever he could to bring his love back to life, even if it meant putting his own life in danger. Wander is basically a silent protagonist, because he barley says anything throughout the game, but his motivations are easily relatable.
The relatability of Wander’s motivations inspired me to always look for ways to make myself a better inspirational speaker and a better person in general. As I said before, Wander barley speaks in the game and he lets his motivations and actions do the talking for him, which is powerful to me.
Almost every living thing in the game towers over Wander (except for the small lizards, birds and turtles). When Wander finally reaches a Colossi, he must find a way to climb it and find its weak point to kill it, which turns the Colossi into a living breathing puzzle.
Check out one of my favorite Colossi’s from Shadow of the Colossus here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ9Q34MZkRw
The soundtrack for Shadow of the Colossus is defiantly my favorite of any videogame or film. I listen to the soundtrack all the time and reminisce about the atmosphere and the beautiful world Team Ico created.
Conclusion: Cole MacGrath and Wander Similarities
Cole and Wander are PlayStation mascots who were motivated to achieve whatever goals they put their minds to, and they eventually reached their goals by overcoming all adversities that came their way.
I completed my 10th speech for Toastmasters at CSUSB and it was about my personality type (INFJ), which means introverted intuitive. My speech was about why I have a deep-rooted connection with the inFAMOUS videogame franchise and superhero Cole MacGrath.
Check out my INFJ: My Connection with inFAMOUS speech video here: http://www.calmandstrong.net/videos
inFAMOUS is an open-world, action-adventure role playing game (RPG), and Shadow of the Colossus is an open-world, action-adventure game. INFJ’s enjoy the personal progression they have with a character who goes on a quest within the digital world.
I could honestly say that the same way I’m emotionally invested in Cole from inFAMOUS is the same way I’m emotionally invested in Wander from Shadow of the Colossus.
Thank you…
Sony PlayStation for giving the talented companies Sucker Punch Productions (inFAMOUS) and Team Ico (Shadow of the Colossus) the resources to create these two amazing videogame franchises with my two favorite videogame characters: Cole MacGrath and Wander.
* Myself along with other diehard fans of the original inFAMOUS videogames that started on the PS3 would love to see a remastered version of inFAMOUS, inFAMOUS 2 and inFAMOUS: Festival of Blood on the PlayStation 4.
Disclaimer…
I do not own any content from the images inFAMOUS videogame franchise and Shadow of the Colossus. No Copyright Intended. All inFAMOUS and Shadow of the Colossus content is copyright to their respective owners.
All inFAMOUS and Shadow of the Colossus content is property of Sony Computer Entertainment, developed by Sucker Punch Productions and Team Ico.
YouTube video curtesy of Forever on the Road of Playing
InFamous - #54 - The Price. Youtube/inFamous - #54 - The Price. Www.youtube.com, 1 June 2015. Web. 24 Oct. 2016. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7pZxs2NZGc
YouTube video curtesy of EvilBowlOfCereal
InFamous Gameplay 35 Mission: The Price [HD]. Youtube/inFamous Gameplay 35 Mission: The Price [HD]. Www.youtube.com, 9 June 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2016. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sWHdcv1nlY
YouTube video curtesy of Boss Fight Database
Shadow of the Colossus: Gaius Boss Fight - 3rd Colossus (PS3 1080p). Youtube/Shadow of the Colossus: Gaius Boss Fight - 3rd Colossus (PS3 1080p). Www.youtube.com, 31 Mar. 2015. Web. 24 Oct. 2016. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ9Q34MZkRw
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