Shadow Of The Colossus Is A Powerful Fairy Tale Because It Resists Condemning The Player

The article discusses the moral complexity of the narrative in the video game Shadow of the Colossus, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It examines how the silent protagonist, Wander, challenges the common video game logic of the silent protagonist as a self-insert for the player. The article highlights how Wander's taciturn nature and the game's curated gaps create an empathetic distance from the player, allowing the game to present a profound moral fable. Unlike games that condemn the player for the protagonist's actions, Shadow of the Colossus allows the player to sit with Wander's wrongdoing and embody it, leading to a deeper understanding of his character and motivations. The article contrasts this approach with games like BioShock and Spec Ops: The Line, which use the protagonist as a player surrogate and rely on player condemnation. In contrast, Shadow of the Colossus treats Wander's agency as the focus, allowing the player to feel for him and mourn his fate, which is ultimately sealed in an ambiguous ending that leaves the player's own fate open to interpretation.