Long Lost Parents in Video Games

Key Takeaways

The return of presumed dead parents is one among many big video game tropes that often lead to messy, emotional outcomes.
Misty Fey, Jun Kazama, Gaidel, and Adria are examples where parents reappear later on in the story.
All these video game parents have complicated relationships with their children, which eventually come to play a role in the game’s plot.

In my humble opinion as a seasoned gamer and student of these digital realms, I must say that these characters we’ve delved into today are as diverse as they come, each with their own unique tales of struggle, redemption, and the complexities of family ties.

Storytelling through gaming often employs various techniques, and one recurring theme is when a child’s previously absent or deceased parent reappears in their life. This trope can be found in numerous games.

Frequently, this situation leads to complex emotions, possibly due to the causes of their split and the feelings that followed. Much like common themes in storytelling, there are multiple ways to portray it. In this narrative, each character was temporarily separated from their child, only to be reunited unexpectedly at a later point.

5. Misty Fey

Long-Lost Mother of Maya Fey

In the concluding part of “Trials and Tribulations,” titled “Bridge to the Turnabout, ” Phoenix Wright, along with Maya and Pearl Fey, visit Hazekura Temple. Here, they meet a Children’s Author named Elise Deauxnim. Interestingly, this character was once a mentor to Larry Butz, who adopted the pseudonym Laurice Deauxnim during his later artistic endeavors.

By chance, Elise turned out to be Pearl’s preferred author, and it wasn’t just this shared interest that connected them. After the author’s unfortunate death, it was also discovered that she was Pearl’s aunt, Misty Fey, and Maya’s missing mother. Mystic Misty, a powerful user of the Kurain Channeling Technique, became the head of the Fey clan instead of her elder sister who lacked this ability. She was secretly enlisted by the authorities to use her powers to identify Gregory Edgeworth’s killer. Sadly, Edgeworth mistakenly identified his killer during trial, leading to an acquittal and lasting repercussions for those involved. After her involvement came to light, Misty left the Fey clan in shame.

Initially, Prosecutor Godot managed to persuade Maya to emerge from hiding, as he had discovered a planned assassination aimed at her. It turned out that Morgan, Maya’s sister, was envious of her lack of influence within their clan and intended to kill Maya to ensure power for her daughter, Pearl. Unfortunately, Godot was unaware of this plot by Morgan until the trial itself, as he had no prior knowledge due to his mistrust and dislike of Phoenix. However, Godot collaborated with Misty and Iris, a nun from Hazekura Temple, in an effort to protect Maya. Sadly, this cooperation ultimately led to Misty’s own demise.

This situation arose because Dahlia Hawthorne, Morgan’s deceased estranged daughter, was set to be controlled by Pearl for carrying out Morgan’s plans. Pearl herself has no intention of taking control from Maya. To prevent this, Misty ended up controlling Dahlia herself after being unable to locate Pearl. However, the Dahlia who had been channeled was a murderer multiple times over and still intended to kill Maya. In the end, Godot killed Misty in an attempt to protect Maya. This act of violence was driven by Godot’s own guilt, which stemmed from his failure to save Mia, Maya’s older sister, with whom he had a romantic relationship.

Despite keeping her true identity hidden from her daughter throughout her life, Misty had a brief reunion with her before she passed away tragically. It’s possible that she wouldn’t have revealed herself if it hadn’t been for Maya’s life being in danger.

4. Rudolf

Alm’s Sort-of-Secret Father

Although he was merely a member of a branch family, Albein Alm Rudolf eventually ascended to the throne as the fourth king of Rigel. His homeland, Valentia, was governed by twin deities: Mila and Duma. Mila had significant power over Zofia, while Duma ruled over Rigel. However, Duma’s aggressive behavior and deteriorating condition led him to unite a nation under his leadership. This troubled Rudolf, who discovered a prophecy predicting that a prince from Rigel and a princess from their rival kingdom Zofia would bring an end to the rule of the gods in Valentia.

In secret, he gave birth to a son named Alm, whom he entrusted to his trusted friend Mycen for safekeeping. Alm grew up with Celica, a hidden princess from Zofia, for a while. But, due to continued attacks, they were forced apart, causing much sadness. As they matured, they made a vow to reunite and even built their own armies during this time. However, tensions rose and food became scarce in Zofia, prompting Rudolf to plan an invasion. In their encounter on the battlefield, Alm was surprised by Rudolf’s lack of opposition. As Rudolf lay dying, he disclosed that Alm was his son, with his full name being Albein Alm Rudolf II. He lived longer than most lords’ fathers in Fire Emblem, possibly because he served as a significant adversary.

In the end, Alm and Celica combine their powers to overcome Duma. Over time, they marry and govern a united Valentia, where both Duma and Mila are revered in the same religion without either deity directly interfering with their respective lands. This union, to some extent, was orchestrated by Rudolf’s foresight. Although he recognized that his own son might face peril from Duma worshippers, his strategic moves and a trusted ally’s help across the border facilitated Alm’s growth into a benevolent ruler who would eventually unite the continent.

3. Jun Kazama

Jin Kazama’s Missing Mother

Born in the ranks of the WWWC, an animal conservation organization, Jun Kazama was exceptionally compassionate towards wildlife. Her ancestral powers tended to keep her away from human interaction, making animals her preferred companions. She developed a close bond with Kazuya Mishima, another individual burdened by his inherited abilities. Their union eventually resulted in the birth of Jin Kazama. Approaching Jin’s 15th birthday, an enigmatic entity called Ogre emerged to confront Jun. The young Jin was swiftly defeated by the monster, leaving Jun gravely injured and retreating to a sanctuary for extended recovery. When Jin regained consciousness, he assumed his mother had passed away due to her disappearance, and sought revenge against Ogre in her memory.

Jin notably despises both his father, Kazuya, and his grandfather, Heihachi. That said, Jun has clearly shown a level of apparently reciprocated affection towards Kazuya. It is speculated by fans of Tekken, and to some extent confirmed by the events of the game, that the hereditary powers of the Kazama clan are capable of neutralizing the Devil Gene. This is shown when Asuka, a relative of Jun’s, is able to neutralize Jin’s own Devil Gene powers. It is possible that when removed from the corrupting influence of the Devil Gene, Kazuya is a far kinder person than he is otherwise shown to be.

In most Tekken games, Jun has been absent and not playable since her disappearance. She made an appearance in the non-canonical versions of Tekken Tag Tournament, where she also had a corrupted form of unknown origin called Unknown. For now, this corrupted form is only present in non-canonical content.

In Tekken 8, Jun was made playable again, though her role in the narrative, excluding Jin’s visions, was somewhat restricted. From afar, Jun motivates Jin to unleash his Kazama powers to rescue his father from the Devil Gene. This empowerment results in Jin transforming into Angel Jin, seemingly nullifying the Devil Gene within him and his father. In the favorable ending, an unconscious Kazuya is approached by Jun.

2. Gaidel

Leona’s Fallen Father

As a die-hard King of Fighters fan, I’ve always found the elusive figure of Gaidel intriguing. In the series, he is revealed to be the blood father of Leona Heidern, a character from the Ikari Warriors team, who was actually adopted by its commander, Heidern. Originally, Gaidel belonged to the Hakkeshu, a cult striving for Orochi’s resurrection and human annihilation. However, he rejected this fate and chose love over destruction, marrying a woman outside the Hakkeshu, who became Leona’s mother. Goenitz, another member of the Hakkeshu, asked Gaidel to aid in Orochi’s resurrection but was denied. In retaliation, Goenitz initiated the Riot of Blood, a ritual that amplifies the power and madness of those with Hakkeshu lineage – an event that ultimately led Leona to lose her sanity, causing her to commit unspeakable acts, including killing her parents and entire village.

For a short while after this incident, she suffered memory loss, or amnesia. Intrigued by her resilience, Heidern enlisted the help of the young Leona. Fate had cruelly taken his family away from him, at the hands of Rugal Bernstein, his own adversary. Leona was a regular member of the Ikari Warriors squad in most reiterations, stepping into Heidern’s role as he took part in fewer competitions. The strife with her Orochi lineage is a recurring theme in most games, particularly those focusing on Orochi. Even though Gaidel has departed from this world, his spirit urges Leona to forge her own path instead of being ensnared by the presumed “destiny” of the Hakkeshu.

It’s possible that Gaidel could make a comeback in future King of Fighters games, given the unusual circumstances surrounding his death in King of Fighters 14. The character Verse, a peculiar amalgamation of souls, died in this game but was later resurrected, along with several other deceased characters. Among them was confirmed to be Gaidel. This is indicated when Verse defeats Leona and tells her he has been “constantly…overseeing [her.]” This death may have been used as a means to retcon the many character deaths following fewer “dream match” games, implying that it also revived Gaidel. Intrigued by this revelation, Leona has since been actively seeking information about her biological father. If he does return, it’s likely he will clash with the Hakkeshu once more, as many of their previously deceased members have also been resurrected.

1. Adria

Leah’s Monstrous Monster

Adria endured a challenging childhood, growing up with a father, Sevrin, who seemed more interested in wealth than family. This indifference drove her into the realm of witchcraft as a means of finding solace and accumulating power. She forged connections with whoever she thought could provide her with this power, leading to some unsuccessful partnerships and an inclination to go to great lengths. In conversation, she often mentions getting rid of unwanted children, which it seems families approached her for such services.

In the heat of my gaming world, I eventually crossed paths with a gamer named Aidan, known for slaying Diablo, but the encounter left deep scars on him emotionally. Later, Diablo reappeared to me, and Aidan had sealed his essence within himself, hoping to keep him at bay. However, Diablo managed to reach out to me, tempting me with power if I agreed to bear his child, Leah, and offer myself to him. Yet, here’s the twist – Aidan was Leah’s father.

When Adria introduced herself to Leah, she gave the impression that she had Leah’s well-being as her top priority. However, it was later revealed that Leah was loyal to Diablo and let him take control of her daughter. Sadly, Leah met her end with Diablo’s defeat, unlike her previous counterparts. Though Adria lived longer than her child, she ultimately met the same fate – death. Even in video games, parents who seemingly go above and beyond for their children may not always have their best interests truly at heart.

2024-12-06 06:36