The Melancholy of Slaying Monsters | Hacker News

A Hacker News thread debates whether games like God of War and Shadow of the Colossus are designed to make players feel moral unease about killing.

One commenter says a God of War troll encounter is being overread, while others argue some games intentionally frame combat to provoke guilt or empathy.

The discussion broadens to how humanoid enemies, enemy AI, and animation choices can make violence feel artificial, self-defense-like, or unsettling.

The thread highlights how combat mechanics and narrative framing shape whether players experience combat as challenge, tragedy, or simple action.