"Always err on the side of harshness. Better a million innocents fall before the Emperor's wrath than one heretic kneel before the daemon."
At one point in the opening mission, a cutscene shows an enemy mercenary surrender. Then the player is forced back in control of Ryu, but all that can be done is slowly walking towards the enemy, who continues to advance backwards, pulling off his mask, talking about his family and begging for his life. Then you can either turn off the game or commit cold-blooded murder.
Yahtzee: I see our Rube Goldberg machine of a plan is coming off.
Gabriel: Yeah, I've got the Norm to chase the dog so I can set a fire, with predictable results
Yahtzee: Of course you are, because we wouldn't want this character to start acting responsibly and become a likeable character, would we?
Gabriel: Oh it just gets worse, man, just give it time. This is some Project Mayhem shenanigans right now. It gets fucked up.
Yahtzee: Yes, we're starting a fire. This started as a merry prank to, like, black the eyes and just sorta tweak the noses of authority! And now we're starting fires in public places...
Gabriel: And now that Norm has a big piece of metal in his head which is making him feel weird.
Yahtzee: Oh my—! That's horrendous! He's got a bit of metal just jutting from his skull!
Gabriel: Yeah, I've got the Norm to chase the dog so I can set a fire, with predictable results
Yahtzee: Of course you are, because we wouldn't want this character to start acting responsibly and become a likeable character, would we?
Gabriel: Oh it just gets worse, man, just give it time. This is some Project Mayhem shenanigans right now. It gets fucked up.
Yahtzee: Yes, we're starting a fire. This started as a merry prank to, like, black the eyes and just sorta tweak the noses of authority! And now we're starting fires in public places...
Gabriel: And now that Norm has a big piece of metal in his head which is making him feel weird.
Yahtzee: Oh my—! That's horrendous! He's got a bit of metal just jutting from his skull!
"Moral choice system, hmmm?" "Well, not really," I would reply. "More a violent option or equally violent but better spirited option!"
"Raiden is alone in front of the remains of Federal Hall, where the George Washington monument stands. Solidus Snake, the ex-President who worked so tirelessly to liberate America from digitized tyranny, clings to his role model. We’ve killed the only man who stood a chance at freeing America from total societal manipulation, and we did so after being told it was all part of the Patriot’s heinous scheme. We are jerks."
— Terry Wolf on
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty"I must confess that I prefer to play the Lawful Good role in games like this. In Blood Omen, after discovering I had nothing to gain from mingling with the locals, I was content to raid their homes for items and continue on my way. What Blood Omen does later on is rather sinister... After racing in consternation from a pack of poison-blooded mutants with sawblades for noses and having only a sliver of health left, how fortunate was I to pass into a safe zone filled with walking health packs? Unlike some of the other towns, Uschtenheim has no guards. I was free to slaughter and feed as I pleased without any danger of reprisal. Since this was about halfway through the game, Kain's health cap was considerably high, requiring that I kill off a not inconsiderable number of gasping, screaming innocents before I could return to Dark Eden with a full gauge. This became a fairly common occurrence afterwards; as Kain's health cap continually increased, more and more villagers had to die at each town. Like Kain, I hit a point where I stopped caring and saw Nosgoth's human population as nothing more than convenient power-ups."
Can you help me? I guess not.
— Zombie in Threed, EarthBound (1994)
Sif will also begin to limp at the brink of death. His attacks will become slower, and the slash combo will cause it to fall over and struggle for a bit before getting back up. Despite rumors that attacking his sword at this point, will cause it to break and him to flee, there is no such forgiving option.
As you try to figure out how on Lordran you can spare his life, you realize the true evil of the creators in making you kill a limping, almost defenseless doggo.
As you try to figure out how on Lordran you can spare his life, you realize the true evil of the creators in making you kill a limping, almost defenseless doggo.
— Wiki advice on the Sif boss battle in Dark Souls
on the Sif boss battle in Dark Souls"You know what they say: if you want to save the world, you got to push a few old ladies down the stairs."
— Bernard, Day of the Tentacle
