We Become What We Behold is a thought-provoking, satirical game that explores the dangers of media sensationalism and societal obsession with negativity. In this game, you control a camera, capturing images of people as they interact with one another. As the game progresses, the images you take slowly shape the narrative, influencing the behavior of the crowd. The more dramatic or outrageous the scene, the more it feeds the escalating chaos, leading to a snowball effect that reflects how media and public opinion can spiral out of control.
Gameplay: Capturing the Right Moments
The core gameplay of We Become What We Behold revolves around taking pictures of the people in a small town. At the start, everything is calm, but as you capture images of specific actions—whether they’re peaceful or violent—the people around you start to react. The game creates a feedback loop where each photograph you take intensifies the behavior of the crowd, leading to exaggerated, often absurd results.
- Picture Taking: The main action involves taking pictures of people in the town. The subjects of your photos will react based on the images, gradually altering the atmosphere.
- Escalation: The more sensational the moments you capture, the more the crowd’s behavior escalates, leading to increasingly extreme reactions.
- Impact on Society: Each photograph changes the way individuals interact, turning a peaceful town into a chaotic one where everyone is influenced by what they’ve seen.
The Message: A Reflection on Media and Society
We Become What We Behold is more than just a game; it’s a commentary on how sensationalist media can shape public perception and perpetuate fear, hatred, and division. The game’s minimalist design and straightforward mechanics allow players to engage with its message on a deeper level, making it an intriguing experience for those interested in reflecting on the influence of media on social behavior.
- Observing Behavior: The game encourages you to observe how the crowd reacts, providing insight into how easily mass opinions can be swayed by images.
- The Power of Media: As you take pictures, you notice how the subjects’ actions shift in response to the images they see, illustrating how media shapes public narratives.
- The Escalating Conflict: The game’s escalating tension serves as a metaphor for how conflict can quickly spiral out of control when fueled by sensationalism.
Understanding the End Game
The ending of We Become What We Behold is open to interpretation, but it highlights the consequences of feeding into negativity and sensationalism. As the game progresses, it becomes clear that the more you provoke and escalate, the more extreme the reactions become. This outcome challenges players to consider the impact of their actions, both within the game and in real-world contexts, where media often plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions and actions.
We Become What We Behold is an engaging yet unsettling game that uses simple mechanics to create a thought-provoking narrative. With its clear social commentary, it serves as an insightful tool for those looking to reflect on the power of media and the effect it has on societal behavior.
