The latest Playstation + offering for Playstation 4 is a doozy. We said so in our As We Play.
And now we’ve finished it we’re full of thoughts. It’s a game that really got our cogs whirring. We wonder if things are the same for you?
That’s why we’ve set up Now We’ve Played – A brand new Expansive feature full of …well …SPOILERS. These features allows you to talk to us and everyone else about games you’ve played, then let us know what you think about them – beginning to end – without fear of spoiling someone.
Why is there no fear of spoiling? Because we’re telling you right now. SPOILER ALERT. If you’ve not finished the game, stop right here. We’re going to be completely open about everything and not hold back. Puzzle-solving and solutions, plot points, character development, gameplay mechanics. The lot.
So, SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER. Do not read a line further if you’ve yet to finish Stick it to The Man because we’re going all in…
Still here? You know there’s SPOILERS right? Good. Here we go…
It’s really difficult to theorize about what happened, even if everything seems relatively straight forward. The game is zany crazy, but there was a coherent narrative throughout. From the moment Ray gets smacked on the head by a hammer, to the time he says goodbye to Ted, Stick it to The Man never lost or confused me. It stayed with me and once it was all over, many memorable moments started to bubble up to the surface.
The game does a remarkable job of character development. Exploring Ray’s early days with dates – the choking on the grape being my absolute favourite – the game is quick to emphasize that Ray is a pretty normal’ish guy, but with a really quirky sense of humour. All of this helps draw us into this crazy world.
The journey through Ray’s inner-psyche is bold. His trips to the beach resemble happy places, but eventually we shift onward and explore his deepest, darkest nightmares later on in the game. Both scenarios really give us an interactive, entertaining insight into the character, developing him in a refreshing way. Still, we’re not entirely sure whether this is ‘all a dream’ or a manifestation of Ray’s imagination considering how many times we delve in and out of consciousness. Also, the fact that a hit on the head starts this whole journey off? I’m still suspicious of that.
There are plenty of reasons to suggest that all of this definitely did happen. Characters in the game cannot see the pink arm, and right up until the end, nobody but The Man and his Agents believe there is something special about Ray. However this also helps craft the illusion that maybe, just maybe, Ray is imagining all of this, and is the architect of his own perfect adventure story. Right up to the end, we wonder if we’re going to end the whole thing with him waking up and saying ‘I had a bad dream’. Up until that final chapter, I have to confess, I wasn’t entirely sure. And I love that about Stick it to The Man. It hooked me in from start to finish because I just had to know, whether I wanted to or not.
It would certainly seem that Ted is very real, contact has been made with extra-terrestrials, Area 99 has been exposed and there really was a pink arm poking out of Ray’s head that enabled him to read minds.
But what if it really was a dream…
What if Ray never actually woke up after the blow to the head? Perhaps Ray’s actually in a very deep coma and trips into his inner psyche are all part of a deeper imagination, ala Inception. Obviously segments that delve into Ray’s brain are illusionary, but what if everything else was as well? Maybe Ted is actually a representation of everything Ray wants to be. The person who wants to help people solve problems and be a more positive force in the world.
Or perhaps Ted’s presence is more indicative of an insecure man. Perhaps it’s a closer inspection of Ray’s own fears and vulnerability. Maybe we’re controlling a man who is always wondering what people think of him, someone who is intrigued by what other people think of the World around them. Perhaps he’s not sure his thoughts and feelings are ‘the right ones’ therefore he needs reassurance from others that he is seeing things in a perfectly normal and acceptable way.
And it does make sense in context of the game. We’re spending most of the time trying to prove that Ray isn’t crazy. But maybe Ray is actually trying to prove that to himself? In a brief moment where Ray and Ted are separated, both appear a bit vacant and disjointed. Neither wants to be apart from the other, even though they try and make the other believe that they can exist individually. The reality is, Ted is Ray and Ray is Ted. They are one in the same, and their relationship is actually more prominent and established and secure than that of Ray and his girlfriend, Arlene. Where we watched Ray fail at relationships while younger, this is the most natural he has ever been. The awkwardness of this body-snatching quickly subsided and the bond was established faster than either could have ever imagined.
We’re probably reading too much into things. The game certainly seems to be cleared up and well-rounded. But these are the kinds of thoughts we’ve been left with since the credits rolled.
Obviously the setup is there for a sequel with Ted having laid an egg in Ray’s brain. This once again sprouts a pink spaghetti arm out of Ray’s head, though Ray’s powers remain uncertain. There are plenty of ways this could go: Ted may want to return to Earth to see his baby with absence making the heart grow fonder. Or perhaps Ted longs for the bond with Ray and he seeks him out once more. There may be an extra-terrestrial threat to Earth which only Ted can prevent. Hell, maybe Ray’s new ability could taint him.
The Man didn’t appear dead, either. He’s just floating through space with a suit, trying to smoke his cigarette. There are definite ways he could come back for revenge. I’m sure he wouldn’t want his legacy to be all about poop stories.
There’s also the possibility of having a story based around the release of Area 99 prisoners. With Santa, Rudolf, Elvis, Zombies, a Yeti and Nessy wandering around, as well as the fragments of a Spaceship exploding, spreading debris throughout the galaxy, there’s a real openness available to Zoink.
But for selfish reasons, I hope we don’t see a follow-up. I’m more than happy for Stick it to The Man to remain a sole entity. I feel satisfied by all that i’ve seen and am contented.
There certainly are possibilities for further narrative growth here, but are they necessary? Not really. The game works perfectly well on its own. The character development is just right, we’ve explored different areas in this universe, met a variety of characters. We wouldn’t be opposed to a sequel and can see ways for the story to progress, but we’re not sure if it should.
What do you think?
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