Video games can be many things, but political? While some titles try to be so overtly, many luck upon being political time capsules of their particular era. Below are four games that are unique reflections of the politics of their time, only in video game form.
BlackSite: Area 51
Remember the good old days when Area 51 was simply an arcade light gun game? Remember when the depth of its plot was simply “shoot the aliens?” Apparently the developers of BlackSite: Area 51 would have none of that, and instead produced a first-person-shooter with political commentary to spare. Actually, that’s not such a bad idea.
You have to give them credit; actually trying to make a game about something is rare indeed. Sure, plenty of games have plots, but here was one actually trying to say something. The game’s politics are certainly left leaning, mocking some choice quotes such as “Cut and Run” and “Stay the Course.” Of most interest, however, is the simple fact that unlike most shooters, it’s completely a byproduct of its time.
Rambo III
Rambo III, both the movie and the game, have one of those unfortunate stories that only looks unfortunate with the clarity of time. In the 1980s the Soviet Union was the big villain of most media, and almost nobody had ever heard of the Taliban or Osama Bin Laden. Rambo III featured the titular hero helping the Afghans battle the Russians that had invaded their country. So what if along the way he might have taught some “freedom fighters” how to use a RPG? Oh, wait, that probably wasn’t a good idea. Again, no such game could get made today, but for its time it seemed perfectly reasonable.
NARC
The 1980s and early 1990s were big on the war on drugs, as was Nancy Reagan. While for some that war’s benefits might be debatable, it did help produce some interesting media including this game. Essentially the player plowed through levels gunning down or arresting drug dealers in an effort to clean up the streets.
As a weird twist of fate, years later a reboot of the franchise would see the player using drugs to enhance their abilities. That game wasn’t nearly as unique for its time as its namesake.
Rush’n Attack
Originally titled Green Beret, Rush’n Attack got a new title to focus on, again, the impending Soviet threat. While it wasn’t exactly heavy on story, Rush’n Attack made it very clear that the goal was to rush in, shoot some Soviets, and detonate their nuclear missile on top of them. Does that seem a little politically incorrect in the age of glasnost? Yes, of course it does, but it didn’t then.
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