Oh dear, I have amnesia

[Pumpkin]

What do you think of the story plots that seem to often feature someone suffering from amnesia? Overused? Good when done properly? A really great plot device?

[Jinx]

Overused and almost never in a way that makes it forgivable.

[Bubba]

I've already forgotten what this thread is about.

[Wolf Kanno]

It varies, I kind of like this trope to be honest but it was definitely overused in the 90s and early 00s. I feel it can still be used rather well but its now reached a point where you can't just have a blow to the head, we need a twist with it. I still feel Xenogears played this trope the best, the absolute mindsmurf that is Fei Fong Wong just puts others to shame.

[Pumpkin]

Fei Fong Wong is actually a really good one, I agree

What I would like to see is a game where you don't find out the main character has amnesia until like really late in the game. Would be interesting to see how its done

[Sephex]

It's good if pulled off correctly, but these days it does seem very overused.

[Karifean]

I find it to be used well surprisingly often. Though I may be biased considering the last few games I've played that used this trope ended up being some of my all-time favorites.

[Old Manus]

>FFVII
>FFVIII

[Skyblade]

I normally don't care. It's usually just a device to get things going, and I forget about it after the first ten minutes. There are definitely better ways to achieve that objective (see FFX or Bravely Default), but it doesn't really hurt things for me.

When it is an actual plot point though, I think it's usually handled well. Rune Factory 3 has one of my favorite amnesia plots. But no one is interested in my Let's Play, so you'll have to find out what happens on your own.

[Vyk]

Yeah, I'm with most of the consensus that it's alright when done properly. I watched an Extra Credits video on YouTube that explained in pretty well as a plot and narrative device. It's mostly just an excuse so that the player and character experience the world together in a way that makes sense. In reality, there'd be no reason for exposition if you didn't have someone new to the world, or horribly sheltered, or with amnesia, because they'd already know the world, it wouldn't make sense for their friends to all of a sudden start explaining to them (and you) how the world and things in it work, since they grew up there and would otherwise know all this stuff already

[Dat Matt]

In my experience it's pretty much only ever used to hide a plot point about a character until such times as the narrative deems it necessary to reveal their backstory. I can't think of any story where it's been done well.

[Skyblade]

In my experience it's pretty much only ever used to hide a plot point about a character until such times as the narrative deems it necessary to reveal their backstory. I can't think of any story where it's been done well.

You haven't played Rune Factory 3, though. That does not happen. There is no twist with the backstory at all. It's the amnesia itself that is important.

[Wolf Kanno]

In my experience it's pretty much only ever used to hide a plot point about a character until such times as the narrative deems it necessary to reveal their backstory. I can't think of any story where it's been done well.

Xenogears
Xenogears_motivational_poster_by_Tomegathericon.jpg

[Christmas]

I prefer those with selective amnesia. Like how I choose to forget those parts that I failed in life.

[Quindiana Jones]

u dun remember much then huh