Grief, Sadness, and Failure in Xillia

In many, if not most, video games the narrative is one of hope. Hope that the protagonist and his allies will make it through the challenges that lay before them and achieve their ultimate goal. Often this goal is a kind of self-actualization or a long denied validation. When achieved it gives meaning to all the struggles that the protagonist has gone through; changing them in the minds of the audience from unpleasant obstacles to necessary stepping stones. But as we all know, or will come to know, life doesn’t always work this way.