Les Guerriers de l’Ombre

January 6, 2016 7:38 AM

But where much slavery media aims for education and humanity, Freedom wants blood. You kidnap slave drivers and set fire to their buildings. Freedom still shocks today, and that it debuted the same year as Super Mario Bros. 2 is almost unfathomable in the traditional framework of game history and culture.

Freedom: Rebels in the Darkness was a slave rebellion game for the Amiga, Atari ST, and PC by Afro-Caribbean developer Muriel Tramis. Screenshots at MobyGames, many of which are very evocative.
posted by ignignokt (4 comments total)

This is astounding. It parses out like an Afrocultural relic of the 19A0's lost-memory decade, something that should by rights be iconic if it weren't for our collective psychic damage.
posted by mhoye at 7:51 AM on January 6, 2016 [5 favorites]

I'm listening to Mike Duncan's Revolutions podcast, which is now going through the Haitian Revolution, so this is really apropos. Thanks for digging this up!
posted by Cash4Lead at 8:06 AM on January 6, 2016 [3 favorites]

It's "Nat Turner's Punchout" meets "Metal Gear Solid".
posted by Hellblazer at 9:54 AM on January 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

is almost unfathomable in the traditional framework of game history and culture.

I’m no game expert, but it seems like there were lots of different games back in the early days. I have way more trouble imagining it coming out today, for all kinds of reasons.
posted by bongo_x at 10:59 AM on January 6, 2016 [1 favorite]