Games where the plot revolves around a corrupt religion etc

Originally Posted by Bradylama

Are you guys talking about that monastery where it's mentioned in passing that the Priests liked sexing young dudes? If so *yawn*.

Xeno has the thing about Priests dealing with Wels. The deception being that they're pretty much exterminators serving only to eliminate failed experiments and escapees. Of course, as far as Billy goes, there's another deception involving the fate of his mother and how he was "rescued" by Bishop Stone.

Xenogears could be said to revolve around a corrupt religion in the sense that Deus is false god of sorts. The WE is like the true god, though the message of the game is that you find strength within yourself and through your bonds with other human beings rather than relying on some god figure. It's a bit of a stretch perhaps, but not entirely dismissable as a candidate just because the Ethos business was minor in the grand scheme of things. Chances are that if you're looking for games with stories that deal with religion, Xenogears will fit the bill. It also has the Church of Nisan, which is a more positive depiction of religion, even if I don't remember them saying exactly what they worship. All I know is that they have nuns.

I'm surprised that no one has suggested FFX, as that one also involves a corrupt religion. I'm not the biggest fan of the game, but you should probably check it out and form your own opinion.

Personally, I'd go with the aforementioned FFT as my favorite game with a plot that revolves around a corrupt religion. Only thing is that their plan to play both sides is ultimately overrun by the plan to revive "Bloody Angel", who happens to be like an evil (and female?) version of Jesus, so it might as well be a slap in the face to religion anyhow. Or at least Christian religions. Especially for the Roman Catholic church. You gotta love how the heresy examiner is a self-righteous jerk. Even in his death, Zalmo says something like "Oh God, please punish the wicked..." Anyways, the whole story of FFT exists to reveal what actually happened beyond the coverup by the church, so that pretty much confirms it as the perfect game for you to check out, as long as you're okay with the whole SRPG thing.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Ah, I remember now. Thanks.

My view on the corrupt religion thing is that it simply depends on how much you want to read into it. Degrees of corruption and such. I'm pretty sure that just "religion with *morally* bad or dishonest intent" is what the thread poster was looking for. I might be wrong, but I'm sure he can specify otherwise if that's the case. If a religion is created to kill cats and does so, then it isn't corrupt as far as hiding its intent, but just that it would be considered morally reprehensible could justify labeling it as corrupt or "evil".

There's nowhere I can't reach.