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The secret to Shadow's popularity

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:10 am
by Double-S-
Okay, so it's not a secret. We live in a world of TEEN ANGST!

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=2269


For the record, I voted for the fourth option, as it describes Vyse and Ryo perfectly.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:39 am
by Neo Yi
Nothing I didn't already know. As someone who's actually been angst in my middle/high school years (It hurts to mention), I can safely say angst suck and so does Shadow.
~Neo

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:50 am
by chriscaffee
Now the real question is: why is angst popular?

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 12:57 pm
by Delphine
Because we live in a culture that likes to victimize itself.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 1:03 pm
by chriscaffee
That is a spooky eye.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 1:19 pm
by Delphine
She's going to kill you.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:03 pm
by Baba O'Reily
Angst has been popular since the days of Foreigner.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:14 pm
by Light Speed
Because pain is real!

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:28 pm
by Ngangbius
The first option describes Sonic perfectly...

...too bad that type of hero is the least popular according to GameFAQs.

The third option also explains why characters like Cloud, Sephiroth, and Squall are popular on that site.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:50 pm
by The Doc
Whyzzat?

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:06 pm
by Frieza2000
Sonic's cocky, but not quick to anger. Strong willed and determined is a closer match.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:42 pm
by Zaranth
chriscaffee wrote:Now the real question is: why is angst popular?
I would it say it's popular for the same reason Ghetto/Rap culture is popular. Think of it this way:

Most of the kids who are into the Angst/Ghetto/Rap culture(s) are white and black kids from suburbia (at least, those are the kind of kids I've seen into it). They really have nothing to complain about; in general, they live in safe homes/neighborhoods, go to good schools, and get what they want/need. So why would they go to such gritty, depressing lifestyles?

They're bored. The Media makes it all look cool (*coughMTV*cough). And that's all she wrote.

Now I'm not saying that people don't have a reason to be depressed, nor am I saying that tough neighborhoods don't exist at all and people don't lead tough lives. It's just a lot of people are sheep and will follow whoever's in the front of the line. (Though I think "lemmings" should replace "sheep" for this; I mean, we know that lemmings will literally jump off a cliff because they're following everybody else).

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 5:29 pm
by Zeta
Most of the kids who are into the Angst/Ghetto/Rap culture(s) are white and black kids from suburbia (at least, those are the kind of kids I've seen into it). They really have nothing to complain about; in general, they live in safe homes/neighborhoods, go to good schools, and get what they want/need. So why would they go to such gritty, depressing lifestyles?

They're bored. The Media makes it all look cool (*coughMTV*cough). And that's all she wrote.

Now I'm not saying that people don't have a reason to be depressed, nor am I saying that tough neighborhoods don't exist at all and people don't lead tough lives. It's just a lot of people are sheep and will follow whoever's in the front of the line. (Though I think "lemmings" should replace "sheep" for this; I mean, we know that lemmings will literally jump off a cliff because they're following everybody else).
See, I don't think so. Being depressed is viewed as a "Mature" thing, while being happy for no reason is viewed as childish and silly. Thus, teenagers subconciously think being morose and depressed makes them seem more mature, older, and wiser and allows them to distance themselves from the childhood joy they suddenly find so embaressing in a quest to prove that they can handle independance from authority figures like parents, babysitters, and teachers.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 5:58 pm
by Senbei
Would it be wrong of me to point out that being "dark, withdrawn, and mysterious" and being full of angst are two different scenarios and that it's unfortunate that they are often confused with each other?

My dictionary defines angst as a feeling of anxiety. Now, I've never seen a fan of an anxious or overly distressed character, but I have seen many fans of dark characters that break the normal good guy stereotype, and I think this is why characters like Shadow or Sephiroth are popular with the youth. Kids aren't relating to the character's depressing personality, they're seeing a guy with a mean expression (or a gun) and thinking, "bad-ass!" And none of us can deny a good bad-ass character.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 6:48 pm
by Nova
Senbei wrote:Would it be wrong of me to point out that being "dark, withdrawn, and mysterious" and being full of angst are two different scenarios and that it's unfortunate that they are often confused with each other?

My dictionary defines angst as a feeling of anxiety. Now, I've never seen a fan of an anxious or overly distressed character, but I have seen many fans of dark characters that break the normal good guy stereotype, and I think this is why characters like Shadow or Sephiroth are popular with the youth. Kids aren't relating to the character's depressing personality, they're seeing a guy with a mean expression (or a gun) and thinking, "bad-ass!" And none of us can deny a good bad-ass character.
People like you is the reason why “Shadow the Hedgehogâ€￾ game exist, make a Echidna with superpowers use guns,is cool!.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 7:19 pm
by jenkins
The difference is that while Sephiroth is genuinely badass, Shadow with a gun is just stupid. Personally, I hate guns anyway, and have an unmerited hatred of Halo, Doom, etc., so Shadow was a double insult to me.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 7:32 pm
by Frieza2000
Senbei wrote:My dictionary defines angst as a feeling of anxiety. Now, I've never seen a fan of an anxious or overly distressed character, but I have seen many fans of dark characters that break the normal good guy stereotype, and I think this is why characters like Shadow or Sephiroth are popular with the youth. Kids aren't relating to the character's depressing personality, they're seeing a guy with a mean expression (or a gun) and thinking, "bad-ass!" And none of us can deny a good bad-ass character.
I agree. I don't think it's the fact that the characters have troubled emotional situations as much as it is that they're badass villains, which have been growing in popularity for at least the last decade. The angst is just an addition to that. I think the reason it's embraced is because it tries to justify the actions of the character. It gives them a motive for usually unacceptable things like slaughter and allows the viewer to relate more closely to the character, whereas with villains like Eggman there's not much to relate to. It's a more impressive experience that speaks to the yearning of the human soul to lash out at a repressive world and reject the etc, etc.

I'm sure there're characters out there who are pure emo, but they're not popular and probably not cool. Characters like Vegeta, Bass, and Shadow are badass first and angst second.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:03 pm
by Light Speed
Senbei wrote:Would it be wrong of me to point out that being "dark, withdrawn, and mysterious" and being full of angst are two different scenarios and that it's unfortunate that they are often confused with each other?

My dictionary defines angst as a feeling of anxiety. Now, I've never seen a fan of an anxious or overly distressed character, but I have seen many fans of dark characters that break the normal good guy stereotype, and I think this is why characters like Shadow or Sephiroth are popular with the youth. Kids aren't relating to the character's depressing personality, they're seeing a guy with a mean expression (or a gun) and thinking, "bad-ass!" And none of us can deny a good bad-ass character.
I always just thought that the term ANGST all caps like that generally referred to heroes like Shadow or the Prince of Persia in Warrior Within, I didn't think it actually referred to the meaning of the word.

Oh and Jenkins, shut up. Sephiroth is overrated.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:10 pm
by Baba O'Reily
jenkins wrote:The difference is that while Sephiroth is genuinely badass, Shadow with a gun is just stupid. Personally, I hate guns anyway, and have an unmerited hatred of Halo, Doom, etc., so Shadow was a double insult to me.
I've come up with witty insults, so Jenkins, you are now getting the bottom of the barrel.

ur dumb lol

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:47 pm
by Senbei
Light Speed wrote:I always just thought that the term ANGST all caps like that generally referred to heroes like Shadow or the Prince of Persia in Warrior Within, I didn't think it actually referred to the meaning of the word.
This is true, but this thread seemed to be taking the word literally. And anyway, I wanted to see if anyone agreed with my views on what I think is a confused situation.

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 2:54 am
by Double-S-
It was taking the word literally. TEEN ANGST!!! is in no way "anxiety".

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:25 am
by Segaholic2
jenkins wrote:The difference is that while Sephiroth is genuinely badass,
Hahaha.

Oh wait, you were serious.


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:38 am
by Ngangbius
Kefka is soooo much cooler than that silver-haired, poor excuse for a 'mama's' boy. Sephiroth only got far to nearly destroying the world while Kefka actually done it and he let the people suffer on that world in despair, in fear, or in the case of the Cult of Kefka, a sick admiration for him.

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:17 am
by jenkins
Kefka? KEFKA?? Okay, I didn't exactly expect any agreement about Sephiroth being badass, but to say Kefka is cooler is just a bridge too far. Just because he accomplished more doesn't make him better, and I can't quite picture anyone, even a genuine Kefka fan, saying that Dancing Mad is a cooler tune than One-Winged Angel. At least, not with any honesty.

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:18 am
by Delphine
Sephiroth's problems stem from the fact that he was born in the wrong body. He's really a woman. :/