History Analysis / MetalGearRisingRevengeance

This is a throwback to ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', where Liquid accused Snake of enjoying killing and Snake denied it. On a meta level, killing is why the player is playing the game; shooting fictional people in a fictional world is fun. The confrontation puts the player's desires at odds with Snake's - the player likes killing, but Snake doesn't. This isn't quite [[GameplayAndStorySegregation ludonarrative dissonance]] because while Snake doesn't enjoy killing, it's all he knows and it's the only way he feels alive, so he'll never stop. This is because he's a video game character who exists only to fight.

Of course, Raiden's character arc isn't over here. At the climax, he accepts that his life has never been about justice ''nor'' the fun of killing, but rather because he [[NominalHero pursues his goals no matter what]]. The player and Raiden come into harmony, as both of you fight Senator Armstrong simply to put an end to this conflict. Jack the Ripper - the player - doesn't dominate Raiden's psyche after all, but is merely a part of a more complex character. In the ending, Raiden has escaped from the player's control once again to fight his own war, but leaves room in case they ever need to come back.

However, ''Rising: Revengeance'' takes a different route because Raiden ''doesn't'' deny that he enjoys killing. Instead, Raiden's [[SuperpoweredEvilSide "Jack the Ripper"]] persona comes out. He rescinds his statement that his sword is a "tool of justice", coming to the conclusion that he's always loved killing and that justice was his excuse to do so. Rather than contradict the player's motivation like Snake, Raiden ''aligns'' with the player. ''[[PlayerAndProtagonistIntegration You]]'' are Jack the Ripper. Raiden accepts that ''you'' are playing this game to face a challenge, and you don't really care about bringing Desperado to justice. The game doesn't try to guilt-trip you about it, instead telling you to let it all out and go crazy! It even gives Raiden a new [[HourOfPower super mode]] mechanic that encourages brutality. This is a hack 'n' slash game about cutting cyborgs into tiny pieces, and you're gonna play it this way no matter what, so go for it!

Of course, Raiden's character arc isn't over here. He eventually accepts that his fight has never been about justice ''nor'' the fun of killing, but rather because he forges his own path and [[NominalHero pursues his own goals]] no matter what. Jack the Ripper doesn't dominate Raiden's psyche after all, but it is merely a part of a more complex character. By the end of the game he's come to terms with this, freeing him from the player's control once again, but leaving room in case they ever need to come back.

However, ''Rising: Revengeance'' takes a different route because Raiden ''doesn't'' deny that he enjoys killing. Instead, Raiden's [[SuperpoweredEvilSide "Jack the Ripper"]] persona comes out. He rescinds his statement that his sword is a "tool of justice", coming to the conclusion that he's always loved killing and that justice was his excuse to do so. Rather than contradict the player's motivation like Snake, Raiden ''aligns'' with the player. ''[[PlayerAndProtagonistIntegration You]]'' are Jack the Ripper. Raiden accepts that ''you'' are playing this game to kill and face a challenge. You don't ''really'' care about bringing Desperado to justice, you just want to kill. The game doesn't try to guilt-trip you about it, instead telling you to let it all out and go crazy! It even gives Raiden a new [[HourOfPower super mode]] mechanic that encourages brutality. This is a hack 'n' slash game about cutting cyborgs into tiny pieces, and you're gonna play it this way no matter what, so go for it!

During the raid in Denver, Raiden is [[BreakThemByTalking tormented]] by Jetstream Sam. His [[ForGreatJustice "one sword keeps another in the sheath"]] logic is put against his actions, [[VideoGameCrueltyPunishment revealing the suppressed fears of the soldiers he's been killing]] to induce guilt. Raiden becomes weak and conflicted, similar to when he lost his arm in Africa - again, he has been ''disarmed'' by Sam. Then he meets Monsoon, who taunts him for his ruthless killing by suggesting he must enjoy it.