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Over the summer I received a copy of Brave Story: New Traveler in the mail, and inside the case was a letter written by the previous owner. That person left me with kind words that made me believe Brave Story was going be something special. The letter reads:
My Dearest Sam,
May this game bring you the lifetime of happiness that it already gave me. May all your stories be brave. May all your travelers(sic) be new.
Reading this letter again after completing roughly ten hours of the game reminded me of that comforting feeling I felt back when first reading this letter. Brave Story is not a unique game by any means, but there is something so comforting about it, that it's really tough to put down. Tetsuya is a character who makes the player feel comfortable, even if the world of Vision isn't safe or comfortable by any means. He is the character players can relate to because they may find themselves identifying with his feelings of what it means to be in a foreign land that has no similarities to the real world left behind. People feel this emotion all the time, whether it's moving to a new city, a new country, going to a different school, or even just changing jobs. This feeling of foreignness is what allows people to take hold of their strength, possess a sense of bravery, and step forward into unknown territory.
When Miyuki Miyabe wrote her novel Brave Story, she wanted young children to identify with the character of Wataru. Wataru deals with drastic life changes that include his parents divorcing, as well as the loss of a loved one. The character of Wataru is someone we can identify with on many levels even if we've never experienced his situations personally. While reading the novel, Wataru was a character who made me feel most comfortable about who I am as a person. In a way, he made me feel as though I wasn't alone in my everyday struggles. Much like when I was reading Brave Story, while playing Brave Story: New Traveler I find myself identifying equally with its main character of Tatsuya. Tatsuya is the character who makes the player feel comfortable in their own skin when the world around them is changing at too rapid a pace. He is the character we cling to because we have embarked upon a new adventure and we're never entirely sure where our fantastic voyages may take us. From danger, to hardship, to new romances, and new beginnings, this journey is something we all embark on at some point in our lives. One thing we can all relate to at the end of an adventure is always having a grand story to tell, and someone who's willing to listen to us.
Gaming comfort food can be difficult to find, but when you find it, you'll savor the experience more than you realize. However, every new RPG I play places me at the beginning of a new adventure, yet what I remember of them always depends on the type of emotion that the game brought out in me as I was playing it. I have a hard time finding games that make me feel comfortable or bring out my sense of bravery, but when I do find them, they are adventures I hold very close to my heart.
How often do you find yourself embarking on a brave new adventure? Have you ever found yourself clinging to stories of old, simply because they brought you so much comfort and joy?
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