Post originally by Curzon at 2005-06-09 04:32:01
Converted from Phorums BB System

I don't accept the willpower+culture argument against the Japanese developing supers at all. Given devotion to an Emperor who's seen as a divine being, wouldn't seeking to emulate such divinity, or even just the idea of seeking to serve the Emperor in whatever way possible, mean supers are just as likely, if not more so, to arise in Japan?

The 'collective culture' may also be a misunderstanding. Japan, up to and including, WWII had a very strict social code which differed completely to its cultural outlook - a dichotomy that's still in evidence today. The Samurai - if not most Japanese - sought perfection in all endeavours, and I'm not sure that developing supers would be at odds with that ethos at all.

I should caveat all this by saying that I haven't read 'Godlike' or played it, but from my reading of the review, and the comment the reviewer makes about the Japanese and superheroes, I'm uncomfortable with the reasoning. Of course, this may have been addressed by the designers in other ways, so I'm quite happy to be corrected if that's the case!