#operation darkness

[gamevecanti]

Japanese magazine ad for "Operation Darkness" (360).

[g4zdtechtv]

THE PILE PRESENTS: X-Play - Army of Two + Two Is Four | 4/4/08

It's full of retcons, so pay attention!

(4GTV - 24/7. LIVE. WATCH NOW.)

[ludwigfanfunkoven]

operation darkness, a game that predates valkyria chronicles by about a year, is about 2 guys who go to fight the nazis because a girl close to them whose name was alicia got killed during the blitz

valkyria chronicles, a game that is, for all intents and purposes, a smoothed out operation darkness but with a significantly more japanese twist, features a main character named alicia

both similar games, both with a girl named alicia as a center point

conclusion? valkyria chronicles is an isekai world and alicia got isekai’d by nazi bombs

[vgprintads]

‘Operation Darkness’

[X360] [USA] [MAGAZINE] [2008]

Play, July 2008 (#79)

via personal collection

[boredtechnologist]

Atlus's "Operation Darkness" for the XBox 360 console explores the philosophical themes such as the nature of evil, the ethical implications of war, existential heroism, and the metaphysical struggle between light and darkness.

1. The Nature of Evil and Moral Philosophy: Immanuel Kant’s deontological ethics offer a foundational framework for analyzing the portrayal of the Nazi regime and their supernatural allies in "Operation Darkness." Kant’s emphasis on duty and the categorical imperative – that one should act only according to that maxim whereby they can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law – is starkly violated by the game’s antagonists. The characters' struggle against these forces raises profound ethical questions about the nature of evil, not only in terms of human actions but also within the cosmic battle between supernatural forces of good and evil.

2. Existentialism and Combatting Absurdity: The existential philosophy of Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre provides a lens through which to view the personal struggles of the game's protagonists, such as Edward Kyle and Jude Lancelot. Camus’s concept of the "absurd hero" – someone who lives without appeal to a higher meaning yet finds value in their actions – mirrors the characters’ fight against overwhelming odds. The absurdity of fighting supernatural forces in a historically grounded war reflects the existential challenge of finding personal meaning in a chaotic, indifferent universe.

3. Nietzsche and the Will to Power: Friedrich Nietzsche’s notion of the "will to power" can be explored through the game’s supernatural enhancements of historical figures and events. Nietzsche’s idea that life’s fundamental driving force is not survival but a fundamental will to power is exemplified by the game's use of dark magic and mythical powers, suggesting that the real historical conflict is not merely over territory but over the metaphysical control of reality itself. Characters like Edward and Jude, in their resistance against these forces, may be interpreted as embodying the Nietzschean affirmation of life, a counter-assertion of their own will to power against the dark forces.

4. Foucault and Power Dynamics: Michel Foucault’s analysis of power and knowledge can be used to dissect the strategies and tactics employed by both the Allies and Axis powers in manipulating information and people. Foucault’s concept of biopower – the control of populations through an intersection of political and knowledge systems – is reflected in the game’s portrayal of the Nazi’s occult research and the Allies’ secretive operations. This introduces questions about how power is exercised through knowledge and secrecy, particularly in the context of war.

5. Levinas and the Ethics of the Other: Emmanuel Levinas's philosophy, which prioritizes ethical responsibility to the Other, can be critically applied to the relationships between characters in "Operation Darkness." Levinas argues that responsibility to the Other is an unconditional demand that precedes individual freedom. This ethical framework can be used to evaluate how characters respond to comrades and civilians, challenging players to consider whether their actions in combat scenarios honor this infinite responsibility to the Other.

6. Aristotle and Virtue in War: Aristotle’s virtue ethics, particularly his ideas about courage and justice as mean states between excess and deficiency, provide a moral compass for evaluating the characters’ decisions in battle. The virtues displayed by characters like Edward, who must balance bravery with prudence, and Jude, whose loyalty must be tempered by wisdom, illustrate the Aristotelian ideal that virtues are cultivated through habit and are essential for achieving eudaimonia (flourishing) even in dire circumstances.

By analyzing the game through various philosophical lenses, players and critics alike can uncover deeper meanings in the characters’ battles and decisions, reflecting on the broader existential, ethical, and metaphysical questions that define the human condition.

[g4zdtechtv]

X-Play Classic - Operation Darkness Review

Set in an alternate WWII where you’re part of a werewolf army fighting Nazi Zombies run by Vampires.

[g4zdtechtv]

X-Play Classic - Made in Japan

The finest interactive entertainment Nippon has to give us.

[nearphotison]