Elizabeth Myer
Personal Connection
The overall objective of this game is to “stop Malekith’s dark ambitions and restore order to the Nine Worlds.” In my life, like Thor, I am always the peacemaker. I hate when people selfishly start arguments that ruin friendships or family relationships. I am usually the one who actively tries to repair these situations and/or prevent them from happening. While I don’t hit troublemakers with a hammer that controls thunder, and while my goal isn’t to kill of the troublemakers, my goal is to restore order and peace.
Cultural Connection
In today’s world, there is a constant battle between good and evil. A relevant example is terrorism. We as Americans easily view terrorism as dark and evil, and this has led to the government taking many steps to end terrorism (for example, The War on Terrorism in the middle east.) Troops go into war hoping to stop the opponent, but more troops can be called in when necessary. Many kinds of weapons are necessary. In the end, like Thor, America just wants to restore justice and order to the world.
Archetypal Associations
The Thor in this video game is inspired by Norse mythology. According to Norse mythology, Thor, son of Odin (the highest, “father” god), is the God of Thunder. He is one of the three main gods, along with his father, Odin, and his mother, Frigg. His siblings, though gods, were not as powerful as Thor. Thor was an enemy of giants – he and his hammer would always be victorious over them. His hammer was known as “Mjolnir,” which means the destroyer. It allowed Thor to produce thunder. Whenever Thor threw his hammer, it would quickly return back to him. He wore gloves of iron and a belt of strength; he was tall, bearded, and muscular with long red hair. The video game displays certain aspects of this norse mythology accurately.
The game Thor as a Series
Various levels are often repetitive. For example, level 1 and level 2 are basically the same (same narrative, same plot, same objectives.) The only difference is that in level 2, a specific type of fighter is introduced: the Valkyrie. Repitition of the narratives made this process slightly more difficult.
Overall Interpretation
The narrative places a great emphasis on justice and the fight for good. Many different kinds of fighters from various planets united under one force to fight against evil and restore peace. Their overall objectives reflect our real-life society's objectives. In America, people with a strong desire to defend their nation enlist in the military on a daily basis. Those people are willing to sacrifice their own lives to protect the well being off America and its people. They are willing to fight anyone whom the government deems "unjust." Their efforts are to stop wrongdoings/evil actions and restore peace and good to their nation. The same idea occurs on the individual level. Through this narrative, I can see how I "fight" for justice and peace on a daily basis, whether its attempting to resolve an argument between my sisters, or I stand up for what I believe in. This narrative demostrates the fact that we are al fighters -- fighters with the goal of defending what we deem good and right.
Therefore, to restate what is said above, I believe both Thor and the fighters represent not only American troops, but Americans in general. Whether the American citizen is fighting physically for his/her country or simply fighting with smaller actions (i.e. defending a certain cause, voting, etc.), the citizen is fighting for his/her country. I determined that fighters represent us. The enemies (the dark elves and Malekith's army) represent anyone that puts a great effort in attacking, harming, and/or stopping the fighter. The dark elves are the antagonists, as are any other groups that go against the fight for the common good.
SOURCES
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/thor-dark-world-official-game/id633863854?mt=8
Norse Mythology, Legends of Gods and Heroes by Peter Andreas Munch