Story Quest Decoded

Lara is not your typical adventurer. She’s agile. Curious. Intelligent. With the mind of a scientist, Lara Croft can accomplish just about anything. Most impressively, language.

I know it’s difficult to compare a video game to reality (especially when most–if not all–of Central and South America spoke fluent English); however, throughout the games, I’ve admired the attention to detail in languages that pop up. Lara’s ability to understand and speak all of them seems a bit too good to be true but I still enjoy the refreshment of linguistic variety.

Realistically, to understand all of the languages in the games for Proficiency Points (Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, respectively), one would have had to study the Romance languages at a very young age (allowing Spanish, English, Latin, and French to be easily learned) and then individually added the other branches of the linguistic trees to the point that Lara would be able to decipher not only Greek and Russian, but ancient unspoken Maya dialects of Mam, Quetchua, and Yucatec.

As someone who has attempted to study many of the similar languages, I find it interesting that Lara barely hesitates when translating or gaining language proficiency. I also didn’t like when minor characters spoke the King’s English when they spoke to Lara instead of subtitles at the bottom to leave Lara’s linguistic abilities to flex their power… Perhaps this was done for the mercy of the player, but I wished more games used linguistically accurate dialogue when speaking in the games, other than this gem here. You go…girl?

I guess the last thing people expect is to be sucked into a cult while playing a video game, but Far Cry 5 manages the deed with eloquence and ease. I left the game disturbed and confused. Was the cult actually that bad? To answer this question, I delved into the world of cults and discovered a few key questions these cults seek to answer and why your membership matters. (Spoilers included) 

1. Equality for All

Most cults include some sort of appeal to the greater good or the foundation that we are all created equal and to be treated equally (think Peoples Temple, Jim Jones). Outside of a tenth grade English lesson on Utopian ideology, most people would understand that this concept is unrealistic, much like the idea of utopia itself. It’s unattainable. But for those lost, unsure of themselves, or seeking community, the idea that they can be equally treated as a human being and contribute to a cause is enough to entice many.

Jim Jones, the notorious and charismatic leader of Peoples Temple, a cult from San Francisco, was obsessed with death, religion, and consumed with socialist ideologies of equality that his captive African-American audience related to. Rising during the racially charged 1960’s and 1970’s, Jim Jones sought to unite society regardless of skin color (as opposed to Charles Manson’s Helter Skelter cult, which believed in white supremacy). To the point that when he encouraged a mass suicide, 900 of his followers obeyed without hesitation on their South American compound (they were forced to relocate from the States after the government began to get suspicious). The same devotion is offered by the Seed family (cult leaders) who encourage their followers to relinquish their past and become an equal, contributing member to the Gates of Eden. Most of the game is spent eliminating the culturally diverse members–Peggies– as they ruthlessly slaughter the residents of Hope County who refuse to join them.

2. Rebirth into the Cult

In Christianity, baptism is a sacred and beautiful part of becoming a Christian through the act of being ‘born again’. In a neighbor’s pool, my six-year old self was immersed in the chlorine water and brought back up, cleansed of my sins, according to Christian belief. By dedicating your life to Christ and leaving your past behind, you become a new person in Christ. Your life going forward is fresh and alive while your baptism… a temporary watery death…of your old life is washed away.

In Far Cry 5, the Seed sibling John is responsible for…let’s say…social outreach. During the game, while in his region of Hope County, my character was harassed into “confessing” sins, forcibly baptized, and scarred on the chest with my sin (chosen of course by the Seeds). By cleansing away your past, the cult allows you to believe your future will benefit yourself and the cult. By cleansing yourself, the cult also gives you…

3. A Chance at a New Beginning

Like any religion/sub-religion/cult etc., your joining implies that you are ready to embark on a new journey with your religious “family”. Members of the Peoples Temple in the 1970s describe their experiences with other members as almost magical. Everyone was very altruistic, loving, and their acts of service to the community changed the lives of former criminals and drug addicts.

Members of Heaven’s Gate, a cult obsessed with transcending their physical bodies and joining an extraterrestrial spaceship hidden by the Hale-Bopp comet in 1997, committed mass suicide to achieve their goal. Before their “ascension”, their leader, Marshall Applewhite, had convinced several of his followers to abandon all of their possessions and family in order to join him in getting to the spacecraft. As someone who taught sexual abstinence, Applewhite also encouraged male castration. Several members complied, believing in his word to the point that they willingly mutilated their bodies to bring on a ‘new beginning’ with Heaven’s Gate (hmmm….similar to Eden’s Gate, isn’t it?).

A new beginning, a fresh start. Terms that excite those who have struggled against adversity or who felt like they have done wrong in the past. In Far Cry 5, Joseph Seed and Faith Seed use this technique of persuasion to encourage my character to reconsider my current life on the run from them and embrace my future within the confines of the cult. (Spoiler) Faith Seed admits mid-game that she was a sinner in her past, addicted to drugs and suicidal. But Joseph, through his prophet-like powers, managed to salvage her soul and turn her into a force for the Father (as Joseph is known throughout the game by cult members).

4. Enticed by the Exotic…and Erotic

I am obsessed with the show “Seeking Sister Wives” on TLC. The premise of the show is that polygamous couples are looking for potential additional spouses to add to their flock. It’s as entertaining as it is taboo. But make no mistake, the subject of polygamy has always fascinated Western society. From Oriental texts depicting Turkish harems to the canyons of Utah’s compounds, polygamy makes us imagine the kind of perverse–yet scintillating lifestyle that someone with multiple women at their beck and call could live.

Many cults take advantage of the idea of polygamy by incorporating polygamy into their cult to entice new members or retain older members. Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints follow the original command of founder Joseph Smith in taking multiple wives like Abraham from the Old Testament (despite the New Testament contradicting this after the life of Christ)*. As polygamy in mainstream LDS church is forbidden (since the 1890’s), those that believe they are retaining the words of the prophet have since broken off into smaller denominations and in some cases, cults.

Surprisingly, Peggies in Far Cry 5 do not address personal relationships, marriage, or the potential of polygamy. (Spoiler) Joseph Seed is charismatic and erotic in his movements as he is characteristically partially nude with the word ‘LUST’ carved into his belly. Faith Seed, in a cut-scene confession, implies that Joseph MAY have had intimate relations with her in order to convert her. This makes me wonder if he has relations with ALL of his female converts…

I’m sure if I had played as a female character, the relationship with Joseph in the game would’ve been a lot more…complicated. He typically appears when I am bound by something or trapped. Using persuasion and emotion, he embodies the erotic and exotic by encouraging you to let go of inhibitions and embrace his love and join him. Needless to say, even playing as a male character, our interactions were…strangely uncomfortable.

6. Militant Freedom

For many, guns symbolize violence, fear, uncertainty, and instability. For others, guns represent what they love most about America: the freedom to defend themselves with weapons. This idea reaches back through the annals of history to America’s birth, where the colonies belonging to Great Britain were wrenched away their king by colonists armed to the teeth with everything from muskets to tomahawks (if Mel Gipson’s The Patriot movie is to be believed).

For those eyeing a cult with curiosity, they might be pleasantly surprised about the complete lack of weaponry or the stockpiling of it. Many cults have certain doomsday prophesies that they believe require preparation through the collection of guns, ammo, or other tools of survival in an apocalyptic landscape. The best cult example of this is the Branch Davidians, who under the command of their leader–David Koresh–stockpiled weapons to protect themselves during the end times. This caught the attention of the U.S. government and in 1993, their compound was raided, leading to the death of almost 80 people.

The cult in Far Cry 5 enjoy their guns. Like…a lot. Jacob Seed, the veteran soldier, runs a training camp for the Peggies. Here, they face brutal military practices that are meant to strengthen them but really brainwash them into following the cult’s religion without thinking first. A common thread in the ideologies of creating a cult. Don’t think. Just do.

7. Latching on to Established Religions

By latching on to established religions, cults are empowered to spin their own twists on religions were norms are already established. Many American cults set their roots deep into the backbone of one of America’s largest religions: Christianity. By inserting their own beliefs into the ideology of Christianity, the cult has a structure that gives itself legitimacy.

Far Cry 5 uses Christianity to support their practices. They accomplish this by adopting the practices of baptism, churches for worship, and the process of giving sermons. Understanding the implications of sin and the fact it prevents you from joining the Father in New Eden also alludes to the Christian ideology that without repentance and acceptance of God and Jesus, one is not allowed into Heaven.

At the end of the game, I was shooketh. The game had been so skillfully created and every detail alluded to larger picture than what was presented. At the end of the game, I realized that the Peggies had kept an interesting cult detail all to themself without the player ever realizing the truth: the cult still has its secrets. You will always be an outsider to the cult, looking in. As the game ends, your player is still labeled as an outsider viewing into the world of this fascinating and disturbing cult of religious zealots who have been brainwashed by Joseph Seed.

As an English major, I seek games with compelling stories and characters that can capture my imagination. Assassins Creed always pulls through but typically outdoes itself when it comes to satisfying my history tooth. After playing as the ever-charming Alexios (the male protagonist who discovers his past while proving himself in battle), I have compiled a list of my top 5 Favorite Historical Aspects that really make Odyssey a raging success with gamers, artists, and historians alike.

1. Religions of Rome:

I was not expecting to witness the beauty of Ancient Greece religious splendor but was pleasantly surprised at the intimate details of spiritual landscape. From mosaics to animal sacrifices, the process of worshipping the gods is fundamental to life in Sparta. As Alexios discovers the secrets of his past, I am berated with references to how to please the gods, including sacrificing the weakest babies at an oracle’s whim.

3. Everyday Life

The blending of myth, fact, and legend creates the intoxicating world of Odyssey. There is the potential to meet gods in the form of humans, battle mythical beasts to escape caverns, and the possibility of discovering ancient mythical artifacts that boost your in-game abilities.