Depression Quest
Depression Quest accurately portrays mental health while adding fictional and non-fictional elements to its synopsis. Although the author labels it nonfiction because depression is a real issue and the situations he presents are very real, the story remains fiction because of its made-up elements since it is not explicitly based on a true story and is still a fictional universe. You may wonder, “How does Depression Quest relate to fantasy?” It doesn’t. Depression quest does not directly correlate to themes commonly associated with fantasy. However, an element of fantasy fiction is the sole name of the story: a quest. Quests are an element of fantasy because of their relation to themes in mythology and fiction. They are usually associated with the idea of a “Hero’s Journey” and can be related to Depression Quest through that very concept. The main character is going through their journey or quest with the hope of reaching a goal or accomplishing something. In Depression Quest, the ultimate goal of the hero or the main character would be to attain happiness and escape the cluttered mind that consumes them with saddening thoughts.
A fantastical element featured in Depression Quest could be the cat that the main character has the opportunity to adopt. Throughout the history of folklore and mythology, cats were seen as gods but also, cats have represented guardians. The main character's cat (If the player chooses to adopt it) is constantly mentioned to be accompanying the main character, giving him support. Another way Depression Quest introduces a fantasy aspect is through its immersive transformation. As explained by Murray, “We seek the same feeling from a psychologically immersive experience that we do from a plunge in the ocean or swimming pool: the sensation of being surrounded by a completely other reality, as different as water is from air, that takes over all of our attention, our whole perceptual apparatus” (Murray 97) Depression Quest manages to incorporate a feeling of fantasy through the immersive psychological experience it provides. It allows players to be transported and feel another reality. Through its fictional, interactive experience, the players place themselves in the shoes of someone with depression, allowing us to empathize with depression and better understand how it works.
