How woke is it really?

[Evo]

Really want to support bringing more PS exclusives to PC, but given the direction Sony is heading with their games and what I've heard a few people say, I'm hesitant to purchase this one. I don't want to argue about politics, I don't care what others believe, it's their right. I'm asking about this game in particular. Just how woke is it? Having a female protagonist, despite what the game journo dangerhairs will say, isn't a big deal at all when it comes to what I'm talking about. Females have led some of the greatest games I've ever played and that has been a regular occurrence since the pixels were good enough that you could actually tell the character's sex. I'm talking more like the themes, comments from in-game characters, backstory, etc. I'd appreciate an objective answer. How bad is it? Is it overblown by the other side end of the horseshoe and some are legit pissed about a female protag (doubtful)? Is it just a typical "world dead because climate change" thing or full-on "white male capitalism has destroyed our planet and we're going to make sure you know it" territory?

EDIT: This becomes a ♥♥♥♥ show very quickly and I suggest you ignore the entire thread.

[ᑕYᗷEᖇᑕᗩT]

As with all things you have to weigh such questions against your own personal values and ethics because what you feel to be "woke" others might see as normal and vice versa. I'd suggest some in depth reviews from some notable YT reviewers.

You say you don't want to argue about politics yet use a politically charged buzzword like "woke" and what, hope that your're going to get reasoned and unbiased reply's.... From gamer's? Perhaps you should maybe think about rephrasing your question and if not well, good luck.

[Dies Fourth]

Its a video game, its not " anything " just play and have fun.

[Flyingshjt]

I will give you straight answers.

1. The world ends because of 1 incompetent, greedy business man.
2. Approx. 1k years later, the Majority of men are either weak-willed, often in self doubt, or straight up evil. Meanwhile, the VAST majority of female npc you meet will be virtuous, brave, resilient and nearly always correct.
3. The evil god is technically a "man", while the peaceful ever loving goddess is female

Despite all this, the gameplay is very good though. The plotline is very compelling.

[Laserak]

Eh, I wouldn't consider HZD 'woke', they don't churn ideological ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ into your face like other 'games'. There are some things that if you squint really hard, could be considered woke, but at that point you're becoming what you hate.

It's a good game imo. Not 'great' but it's not preachy or any other such nonsense.

[Crimsomrider]

I wouldn't say the game is woke, but it does unfortunately make one noticeable mistake which is uplifting its main protagonist at the cost of dumbing down everyone else around her.

What I mean by that is that she is the best at everything while everyone else around her is a weak, incompetent buffoon that would trip over their own two feet without you... with the exception of Rost, Aratak, Sylens and a few female characters who have a strong personality and can get things done on their own.

There are plenty of games that do this right, like Shadow Of The Tomb Raider. Lara Croft is a well known and established character with an incredibly strong and determined yet flawed personality, constantly making mistakes and trying to remedy them. Her best friend Jonah is her motivation and moral compass and majority of other characters around her have strong personalities that match and even outweigh her own.

Witcher games are also a great example. Divinity Original Sin 2, God Of War, Nioh games, Resident Evil games, Dishonored games, A Plague Tale, Days Gone, Control, Marvel's Guadians Of The Galaxy, Baldur's Gate 3, Detroit Become Human, Beyond Two Souls, Heavy Rain... I could go on forever. All of these games have characters with personalities full of virtues and flaws.

HZD unfortunately makes Aloy a strong character at the expense of everyone else not matching up to her. So if that is something that you might not enjoy, then this game might not be for you. It didn't personally stop me from enjoying the game, but it did make the characters and story less compelling to care about.

[Holografix]

Originally posted by Crimsomrider:

HZD unfortunately makes Aloy a strong character at the expense of everyone else not matching up to her.

Just like every main character you play, in every video game ever.

[RageOfPerun]

Its very under-handedly "woke".. except for obvious female-empowerment there is a lot of implied miscegenation, implied culture-mixing, implied egalitarianism - there only reason its not "in your face"(unless you look for it) is because the game takes those things for granted instead of a future goal.

"Woke" is a process while the game takes it as a done deal.

So if "woke" really gets under your skin you might not enjoy HZD or even hate it, I my self barely got through this game only thanks to my think-skin buff.

[Evo]

Think I got my answer. Thanks to all for not resorting to ♥♥♥♥ flinging. It seems that it's not in your face, but it's there if you know the agenda. Appreciate all the answers guys, thank you. Will probably give this one a pass and save my money for Uncharted, hopefully they didn't massacre my boy. Take care, folks.

[Dies Fourth]

Things can only trigger you if you let them or look for things to trigger you for the sake of you want to be triggered.

When they started maing this game " woke " wasnt even a thing.

[gaqo]

This game is definitely progressive and has a female protagonist. But it's just a fun game.

People who use the word 'woke', don't understand it's etymology and real meaning, move along, not for you. You are just too limited.

[Dies Fourth]

OP has bought almost 600 games in 9 years. Started WAY before " woke " was even a thing and NOW it somehow matters ????

Sounds like shes just getting on a soapbox to be hear herself and front as some special snoflake.

[Laserak]

Woke defenders are hilarious. They get so mad when people reject "the message".

[gaqo]

This game is definitely 'woke', in that it's progressive and Aloy attempts to fight against injustice.
As I said you don't even understand the language you've appropriated, hilarious!

[Lord Of War]

Either I'm a blind player with low to zero standards (I heavily enjoyed HZD),
or, Evo and others alike who bring up the whole woke thing - you aren't gamers.

Remember a specific South Park episode, where kids didn't see anything wrong with a black man being hanged by whites? With Chef being offended and etc-etc.
Well I am those kids - I just enjoy PC games and see nothing wrong with a female smashing big machines and rescuing helpless male warriors.

[Holografix]

Originally posted by Lord Of War:

Either I'm a blind player with low to zero standards (I heavily enjoyed HZD),
or, Evo and others alike who bring up the whole woke thing - you aren't gamers.

Remember a specific South Park episode, where kids didn't see anything wrong with a black man being hanged by whites? With Chef being offended and etc-etc.
Well I am those kids - I just enjoy PC games and see nothing wrong with a female smashing big machines and rescuing helpless male warriors.

Veritably, the 'woke' is in the mind of the viewer. Zooming into the screen, we find nothing but pixels. It does not exist at the level of pixelated reality.

In this thread, 'woke' is just another virtue signaling term that signifies an in/out herd mentality. The checked answer serves only to prove that the term 'woke' is nothing more than a callous and cretinous offensiveness pitched to peak frenzy. It is a nothing short of a troll's tool, meant to garner relevance in the indifferent void of the internet.