"Sometimes, it takes a near-death experience and an indie horror game to be humbled and ready to listen."
FAITH features a priest on a mission to remedy a failed exorcism that took place the year before. The game is rife with terrifying monsters, eerie music, and bone-chilling notes that spell out the story of what exactly happened. Throughout this, you are given only one object to defend yourself: a cross. As long as you have faith in the cross, you will continue moving forward towards the hope of a positive conclusion to the story. I’m a sucker for a good scary story, and I was intrigued by the way this one positively portrayed religious devotion. No matter what the protagonist faces, even when he begins to fear that he may not be strong enough to go up against the literal forces of Hell, he holds up his cross for protection. During his journey, however, his cross loses its luster, and the priest’s wavering faith proves to leave the character more vulnerable. It is not until a fellow priest joins him in his battle against the game’s various enemies that his cross regains its brilliance, allowing the two holy men to finally defeat the evil before them. This message about relying on — and trusting — others to get us through difficult journeys struck a chord. I used to tell people that despite the tragedies and trials I faced, I wholly trusted God to see me through the dark. It didn’t ever occur to me that I was lying to myself and others in saying this. I expected God to fix my problems, or at least work in ways that allowed me to continue about my life without having to ask for others’ support. I refused to let myself be cared for, forgetting that God so often works through others to help us.