Thread by @dave_judgment

I'm a big fan of the games @IntiCreatesEN publishes. Blaster Master, and lots (all?) of the Gunvolt games.

But man, Gal•Gun is suuuuuper problematic.

Short explanation of the game:
It's like an on-rails shooter like Virtua Cop or House of the Dead (insert whatever concern you have about violence here), except there's wave after wave of schoolgirls that are falling in love with "you."

As far as I can tell, this game reinforces the idea that women/girls aren't really humans, but machines whose main purpose is to be love interests for men who are apparently irresistible.

This narrative reinforces this idea/fantasy that young men "deserve" physical affection from women/girls.
In a society where men/boys lash out at women/girls when they don't receive the affection they feel they deserve, titles like this only make things worse.

I know there's some Japan/USA culture clash baggage going on here, but I am having a hard time understanding how titles like this aren't actively harmful in helping men see women as equals -- in intelligence, autonomy, and every other aspect in society.

Anyway, I hope Gal•Gun fails in sales, and @IntiCreatesEN decides to develop/publish less titles like this in the future.
There are so many other ways to spend their resources making games that are fun, that don't contribute to toxic gender stereotypes.

In case you're looking for games that treat girls/women like the equals that they are, give these titles a try:
Celeste
Stardew Valley
Enter the Gungeon
Snipperclips
Oxenfree
Golf Story
I am Setsuna
The Flame in the Flood
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime