{"id":86976,"date":"2022-10-04T19:37:07","date_gmt":"2022-10-04T19:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/hyped-vr-games-noose-sequence-starts-trigger-warning-debate\/"},"modified":"2022-10-04T19:37:07","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T19:37:07","slug":"hyped-vr-games-noose-sequence-starts-trigger-warning-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/hyped-vr-games-noose-sequence-starts-trigger-warning-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"Hyped VR Game’s ‘Noose’ Sequence Starts Trigger Warning Debate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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screenshot: Stress Level Zero \/ Kotaku<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Context is important. What happens in the lead-up to events provides insight into how and why they unfold as they do. But what if the context doesn’t come ’til later? And what if there was zero warning for the traumatic event you were about to experience in a game? Questions like these, the line between artistic intent and players’ psychological wellbeing, have been at the center of a debate over Stress Level Zero’s latest VR game, Bonelab<\/em>, which has a pretty unsettling campaign introduction. So unsettling, in fact, that some fans are now suggesting the sequence should have been skippable entirely.<\/p>\n

A sequel to the first-person virtual reality shooter boneworks<\/em>, Bonelab<\/em> is a sandbox action-adventure romp that dropped on September 29 for the Meta Quest 2 and PCVR. It’s one of the most hyped VR games in recent memory, with tons of press touting its impressive visual fidelity<\/span>, gameplay-affecting avatars<\/span>and \u201cunrelenting intensity<\/span>\u201d It doesn’t have much narrative; instead, sequences kinda funnel you from one point to the next. The first-person, highly physical gameplay, coupled with extensive mod support, have Bonelab<\/em> poised to be a successor to the super-popular physics sandbox Garry’s Mod<\/em>. So far the game’s garnered a \u201cmostly positive<\/span>\u201d rating on Steam, with most players saying it’s hella fun with hella replayability. However, not everyone is as enamored with the long-awaited shooter.<\/p>\n

Trigger Warning: Self-Harm, Suicide<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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though Bonelab<\/em> is a sandbox many will probably play for its mod tools, it does feature a campaign, and it’s the story’s introduction that has ignited debate among players. You start the game by selecting your avatar via a randomizer. Once you’re satisfied with your appearance, you press a big red button that transports you to a black room. It’s dark, but you’re not alone: \u200b\u200bA rope, tied like a noose, hangs in front of you.<\/p>\n

With no further instruction or warning, the only possible action you can take to progress is to place the noose around your neck, which then teleports you to a medieval setting. You’re surrounded by metal pikes. Zealots of some sort, lined up in front of you clad in black robes, await the executioner, who drops the platform below you. You’re left hanging…for a while. You can try grabbing the rope above you, but to little avail. Finally, for some inexplicable reason, a glowing knife materializes, enabling you to cut yourself down.<\/p>\n

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G\/O Media may get a commission<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

You can view the sequence in question in the longplay video<\/span> embedded below; it starts at the 1:24 mark, and is preceded by content warning messages inserted by the video’s creator.<\/p>\n