R P G A M E R . C O M   -   E D I T O R I A L S

Games as Painkillers

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Drago Musevini
FAN EDITORIALIST

For the past few millennia of human society, the best way for us to cure pain was to hook the patient up with some drugs, medicinal or otherwise - whatever we could concoct. Unfortunately, these have rarely come without side effects, especially nowadays when they are often as damaging as the ills they supposedly cure. But a friend of mine just went thru a very painful ordeal and I’d like to share his story of a different kind of painkiller.

He had lost his father to cancer and was himself diagnosed with a terrible disease right afterwards. Situations like that tend to take a toll on a person; he was no exception. He succumbed to depression shortly thereafter, and remained so until one day, when he received a copy of both Final Fantasy X and Kingdom Hearts.

He soon lost himself in it. All he could tell me was about how it was so cool playing in beautiful environments, locations so rich that sometimes he’d pause to listen to the music and look at the scenery. I checked it out and was amazed as well, impressed at how far graphics had come. Of course, the story was very sad too, as those who have played it know. But something different happened in the real world. He didn’t have to take too many pain pills to cope with what was happening with him. He was completely lost in magical worlds with heroes and villains, worlds that had come to life, worlds that had their own stories to tell.

It was through that experience that I came to the realization that RPGs were indeed the best games in the world. Where else could you find a hack and slash story with awesome graphics and great stories? I know, I know, RPGs have become a broad definition now. But I’m talking about the age-old form of communication, sitting by a campfire and telling stories of other worlds in other times. RPGs are the natural evolution of that activity, and we have only to wait so long before another one comes out and captivates us with its immeasurable beauty. I can only hope that the studies being conducted now that show games can help in controlling pain will one day bear fruit. As my friend would profess, flying in Kingdom Hearts with Peter Pan is a truly magical moment.