Well, it’s a little more complex but I think it has the same conclusion. You have to look at a theoretical perspective as well. You have to ask “is this a fundamental issue with the political-economic system of the people’s republic of China, or is it some form of mistake or flaw natural of the economic period existing within and without china” Because you technically could make a maoist or anarchist argument that China should be replaced with a new system, so youre not replacing China with “the average nation.” However the answer is more along the lines that it is flaw but not indicative or damning of the general progressive trend of the people’s republic.

Also, like this is so many degrees removed from China. It’s a company owned by the state, who owns a minority stake in another company, being criticized for a pipeline in a foreign country.

I know exactly what you’re talking about. I fucking hate that mission too. The game railroads you into their forced moral dilemma of “hey du u forgive Nelly for being a terrorist now that she’s stopping terror attacks” and I’m just sitting there like “I’ve seen the shit biotechnica does, let me blow up that net bomb myself.” And the fact that Johnny is there too saying exactly what I’m thinking and the game is still not letting you agree with him at all is ridiculous. (The faction is called the crimson road btw [edit:no its not, it’s crimson harvest, sorry])

Honestly the phantom liberty side content really varies between really fun and fairly well written (the Zetatech scav mission, dazed and confused) to insanely railroaded and boring (this mission and shot by both sides comes to mind)

I don’t think you quite understood disco-elysium. I don’t have time to do a full in depth analysis, but a few things from what I remember of the path.

1.Communism does work in Disco. It should be remembered that the game was made (and primarily written) by people who hung portraits of Stalin on their wall. The games version of communism didn’t really fail, it was more crushed by the moralistic international.

2.Communism is different in Disco Elysium because it intersects with two things. The paranormal magic stuff of the universe and Harry Dubois’s booze addled brain (that might have also intersected with the magic stuff)

2a.The “magic” system mainly focuses around the Pale. In essence, it’s entropy and despair. The less people believe in the future and hope and etc., the faster the ever consuming pale grows. It essentially devours everything and starts turning anything that enters it lifeless. Communism (as expanded in “the sacred and terrible air” which is a book set in the same universe) actually pushes the pale back and repairs the world

2b.This is on your sarcasm thing. Harry believes in things, yes, but they can be very basic. He essentially believes whatever ideology he does because of his depression, so he goes so hard-core into them that even proponents of the ideology he agrees with finds him wierd. You’ll notice how communists are a little confused by his obsession with literal meat grinders. This happens in the fascist path too, where Harry literally wants to rewind time. (However, they are not presented as equals. The communist path, I feel, is actually a little hopeful, while the fascist path is downright sad and pitiful)

3.Communism in Disco is written with a kinda familiarity. Basically every leftist I’ve seen who plays or watches the game finds the sarcasm funny. “Arguing with other leftists is a core Tennant of being a communist.” And, well, doesn’t that sound familiar.

4.There aren’t any real communists in game (somewhat), and the game comments on it.

Harry:Where are the real communists

The deserter:They died, fighting for communism.

Again, the game takes place a few years after the communist revolution was crushed. In those times (similarly to Eastern Europe, where the devs are from) there aren’t many real communists. There are isolationist intellectuals, edgy radicals, wayward souls, and walking corpses. The point isn’t “oh all these commies are stupid.” The point is to find common ground with those class allies around you.

Personally, I do want you to take another crack at the game, but if you don’t want to I understand