This is why I like anime and Japanese media so much more than western media today. Sure there's the FRIENDSHIP POWER nonsense, but there's just as many with a more brutally realistic portrayal of betrayal and violence.
Recently I've gotten into FFXIV and the story is pretty great in this respect. It runs the full gauntlet of motivations and character interactions.
There's one in particular, a minor side character from a random quest. He betrays his people to the enemy and gives them troop movements and supply logs. You catch him and he turns himself in promising to turn a new leaf. Later, when your group forms a mercenary troupe of sort he joins in promising to right his wrongs and blah blah blah. Well wouldn't ya know it, he lied and betrays you as well and at a critical moment forces a false flag attack killing his own men to advance a plot element.
I've been really surprised with the kind of moral dilemmas the game builds and presents. Characters are actually characters and grow with time, staying true to their loyalties and personal objectives. Would highly recommend.
This is why I like anime and Japanese media so much more than western media today. Sure there's the FRIENDSHIP POWER nonsense, but there's just as many with a more brutally realistic portrayal of betrayal and violence.
Recently I've gotten into FFXIV and the story is pretty great in this respect. It runs the full gauntlet of motivations and character interactions.
There's one in particular, a minor side character from a random quest. He betrays his people to the enemy and gives them troop movements and supply logs. You catch him and he turns himself in promising to turn a new leaf. Later, when your group forms a mercenary troupe of sort he joins in promising to right his wrongs and blah blah blah. Well wouldn't ya know it, he lied and betrays you as well and at a critical moment forces a false flag attack killing his own men to advance a plot element.
I've been really surprised with the kind of moral dilemmas the game builds and presents. Characters are actually characters and grow with time, staying true to their loyalties and personal objectives. Would highly recommend.