You Won’t Believe These 7 Video Game Retcons That Changed Everything Forever!

Summary

Retcons can reshape fictional universes and storylines in video games like Saints Row 2 and Metal Gear Solid 5.
Pokemon games evolved from real-life settings to fantasy worlds, changing player experiences.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword reshaped the origin stories of the Master Sword and Ganon.

In simpler terms, a retcon is a tool writers use in storytelling to go back and change the past events within their fictional worlds. It can be seen as either beneficial or detrimental based on how it’s utilized, often serving to introduce fresh plotlines or subtleties into ongoing narratives.

As an avid gamer, it’s fascinating to witness how long-lasting video game series often incorporate retcons, weaving them seamlessly into the narrative. These creative twists can alter a character’s essence and their impact on the world, or even reshape the very fabric of the game universe itself.

7. The Identity Of The Boss – Saints Row 2

From Silent Gangbanger To Charismatic Leader

Initially, the main character in the original Saints Row was more of a pre-set figure. He was male, had no voice, and his personality was defined through his actions. However, in the sequel, Saints Row 2, they decided to alter this setup, as well as the game’s overall mood, by allowing players to customize their character’s visual appearance extensively, thanks to some impressive character customization features.

In Saints Row 2, the story starts with The Boss being awakened in a hospital within the prison, sporting a different look due to extensive plastic surgery from the severe burns sustained at the end of the last game. However, a retcon is necessary to account for their gender change or the completely altered voice and character that they now possess.

6. Big Boss Only Lives Twice – Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

A Snake Split Down The Middle

In the intricate storyline of the Metal Gear Solid series, it’s often challenging to distinguish between retcons and revelations. Starting from Metal Gear Solid, the character Big Boss often found himself on the receiving end of such narrative twists. For instance, Liquid Snake claims that the genes utilized to produce his and Solid Snake’s clones were “antique,” implying that Big Boss was cloned in his fifties.

In the game titled “Peace Walker”, Big Boss was around his mid-30s, having been cloned some time earlier. A significant change in the Metal Gear storyline took place in “The Phantom Pain”. Here, it became clear that the character being controlled wasn’t actually Big Boss, but a doppelganger named Venom Snake. This twist alters the conclusion of the battle between Solid Snake and “Big Boss”, which was depicted at the end of 1987’s “Metal Gear”.

5. Cyrodiil Unjungled – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion

From Dragon-Rusted Rainforests To A Land Of Knights And Fair Meadows

In the world of Tamriel depicted in the Elder Scrolls series, there has been a significant evolution between each game. Initially, it was a typical fantasy realm, but over time, it developed intricate details, elements inspired by real-world mythology, and profound philosophical aspects, transforming into the richly detailed fictional universe we see now. The shift from Daggerfall to Morrowind is particularly noticeable in this respect, with an immense focus on creating thought-provoking creation stories, elaborate metaphysics, captivating lore entries, and even a retcon of the “Warp in the West,” which merged all of Daggerfall’s endings into one single narrative.

In a somewhat contentious shift, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion transformed the traditional divided continent of Cyrodiil. Instead of its previous tropical and marshy landscapes, it was reimagined as a tranquil, European-inspired landmass reminiscent of Tolkien’s works. As with many retcons in The Elder Scrolls series, this change was explained through the use of “magic,” “dragon breaks,” and “Talos’ mastery of CHIM.” However, it could be that rendering a jungle was too computationally demanding or that The Lord of the Rings became popular in the 2000s.

4. Zack’s Greater Role In The Story – Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7

From A Flashback Character To Hero Of The Flashpoint

Due to its widespread success, “Final Fantasy 7” expanded its narrative scope beyond a solitary tale within the series. In the game titled “Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7“, Square Enix delved deeper into the incidents that ignited the events of “FF7”, explored Sephiroth’s intentions at the Nibel Reactor, and shed light on Cloud’s puzzling memories, especially those related to his friend Zack. In the original “Final Fantasy 7”, Zack was just a comrade in arms who was captured, subjected to experiments for years, and eventually escaped with Cloud to Midgar.

In the end, after a grueling trek, Zack meets an unfortunate demise at the hands of two goons from Shinra. On his last breath, he utters his final words to Cloud and passes on his famous Buster Sword. In the game Crisis Core, as the player-controlled protagonist, Zack appears to defeat a large portion of Shinra’s troops before succumbing to his injuries. He then delivers a heartfelt monologue and farewell to a more attentive Cloud. These events were mirrored in Remake, which followed its unique narrative thread.

3. Wesker’s Plan All Along – Resident Evil – Code: Veronica

Hiding A Whole Lot Behind The Sunglasses

Among various instances where the storyline of “Resident Evil” has been altered or corrected, Albert Wesker’s character transformation is the most conspicuous. Originally designed as a shady team member who ultimately faced the consequences for betraying his comrades at the end of the initial “Resident Evil”, Wesker evolved into something far more sinister and powerful due to virus enhancements.

It was revealed in Resident Evil – Code Veronica that he not only survived but orchestrated the events of the first, second, and third games. In subsequent games, with his extraordinary strength, speed, and near indestructibility, he aimed to plunge the entire world into viral chaos.

2. From The Real World To A Fictional World – Pokemon Red And Blue

From Near Future To Far Fantasy Settings

The initial Pokémon games offered a unique gaming experience to many, set in a recognizable, slightly futuristic backdrop. The concept of capturing monsters instead of killing them was fresh, as was the notion of traversing a more technologically advanced reflection of our world. Specifically, games like Pokémon Red and Blue, along with their early sequels Gold and Silver, allowed players to journey through real-world Japanese regions such as Kanto and Johto.

As they progressed in the tale, they encountered numerous links to our world such as a gym leader from America (Lt. Surge) and a Pokemon that could leap across the Pacific Ocean (Poliwrath). Yet, much like other Poke-counterparts, the series opted to depict fictional instead of real locations and countries. To illustrate, Kalos and Galar are reminiscent of France and the United Kingdom respectively, but they are purely imaginative creations.

1. The Master Sword And Ganon’s Origins – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Forged With Fate And Divine Will

Initially, the Master Sword was just a potent artifact, while Ganon was a warlock transformed into a demon king with obscure beginnings. However, this changed drastically when Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which fundamentally altered the entire Zelda series timeline. This game introduced Demise, an ancient malevolence that was imprisoned by the goddess Hylia long ago.

Following his downfall, Demise vowed a perpetual curse upon the descendants of both Link and Zelda – they would be persistently pursued by the reborn malice of Ganon. It was disclosed that the Master Sword is none other than the resurrected Goddess Sword, imbued with Fi, the indigenous spirit of the original Goddess Sword, destined to always find Link in his encounters against the successors of Demise. This narrative adjustment not only provided historical depth but also embedded a predetermined fate into every future Zelda game.

2025-04-28 13:43