This is a long one, so buckle up y'all
Something I've been thinking about is why The Lot's and The Idol's executions hit me in a manner different to that of the other victims. I don't think I'm the best at words so uhh I'm gonna try and explain best I can LMAO. The thing that stands out the most (for me at least) is that we know these people's names, and one of them we're even shown their face (The Lot). It's an added layer of humanity to these characters that I find we don't really get with the other victims. While they are all humans, regardless of the title or costume or story presented to us and given to them by murkoff, the knowledge alone is kinda jarring. (The Union Boss can also fall under this, as he tells us he has a family while we're escorting him to the factory!)
Dawn, having her name discovered via her partner who is also trapped and made to die with her (more so killed in front of us but whatever), as well as having her picture up on the wall for everyone to see while we literally tear her limb from limb.
And Eric, who gives us his name in an attempt to remind us that he is a person, especially with lines such as "My name's Eric, what's yours?" And"I'm from Rochester." He isn't "Bob Vanier", shining star and puppet of the Kress twins; this is a human being strapped down and forced to endure torture at the hands of those he's most likely once called his comrades. (Such is the fate of all unlucky enough to find themselves in these positions).
I find Eric's character especially interesting and gut wrenching because of his attempts to connect with us, and trying to get us to spare him. I think it's easy for players (speaking from my own experience) to become desensitized to these things, especially when we've repeatedly killed these people before. But, every time we're given someone new to torture, mutilate, and murder, I find myself feeling the disgust and shame that comes with it all over again. And when this is coupled with a character who set out to humanize themselves it's a whole other world of hurt.
Uhh all of that is to say I really like whenever we're given information like that about the victims, because it's another of reminding us what we've done and what we are, now.
Anyway thank you for coming to my TEDtalk uhh I hope this all made sense
