Castle Crashers, most racist game of 2006?

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 18th 2006 at 4:30PM }

We love Castle Crashers. That's no secret. It sits at the top of our XBLA wish list, right next to Small Arms. We could think of many words to describe it. Awesome, sweet, phat, dope, cool, all of these words leap to mind. But racist? That was the thought of one concerned mother upon seeing the trailer on GameTrailers.com. First of all, what mom is cruising GameTrailers? That's awesome. Second, racist? Apparently, she thinks the multicolored knights are actually white supremacists. We'll just let you absorb that for a minute ... and there we go. Listen to her bewildered phone call after the break.

[Via Xboxic]

Our apologies to this woman. She is about to become unexpectedly famous.

Tags: arcade, behemoth, castle crashers, CastleCrashers, live arcade, LiveArcade, xbox live arcade, XboxLiveArcade

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

J.Goodwin @ Oct 18th 2006 4:43PM

I kinda thought they were all undead, actually. You know, skeletons...

Ciaran Gallagher @ Oct 18th 2006 4:46PM

She has a point actually.
They should make the characters different colour.

delerious @ Oct 18th 2006 4:53PM

Oh, shit! I'm definately hitting this. I haven't seen footage until you all did this just now. But, what I'm guessing... if the crashers were also black... there wouldn't be a problem? But they're in masks... and this is fictional... and the KKK wear all white......... THIS WOMAN IS OBSURD!!

If none of you ever noticed, in the original Power Rangers all of the rangers were color coordinated. The asian was the yellow ranger, the black was the black ranger, the ditsy gymnist was the pink ranger, the evil(went good after a while, but he turned white afterwards... SEE!!!) guy was green, and the angry/angsty/troubled leader was red.
No one ever complained about them killing neutral grey characters. And they blew up!

Johnny @ Oct 18th 2006 4:57PM

listening to the caller she's almost certainly an older woman from an older time. who despite the veiws back then had an interacial relationship.

"you go girl!"

however...
becuase of that relationship, she now has it in her head that she has some kind of complete understanding of the other race, and she's also probably become a little overly protective and gun jumpy.

she probably sees racism where it doesnt exist on a daily basis.
not to say that it doesnt exist.
but she's definatly over examining things...

(probably like I am now.)

Scott @ Oct 18th 2006 5:04PM

I have a feeling that she also thought that the LOTR movies were racist.

AoE @ Oct 18th 2006 5:07PM

Hahaha! She's so off base! Everyone knows the game is actually about the crusades and you play a christian slaughtering muslims!

^--- for the record, that's a joke.

Mal F4cti0n @ Oct 18th 2006 5:19PM

She focused on the brown and black enemies. The players are not white. They are red, blue, green and yellow.

But I see where she may have a gripe as all the enemies shown were, as what she perceived, of the black or brown color; representing Africans and African Americans to her.

With that said, I would imagine all of the enemies are not brown or black in color.

Typically racists are the first to see racism where it is not. And yes, minorities can be racists and bigots too.

Darko @ Oct 18th 2006 5:42PM

This just means that people cant do anything without having a problem with something. Get the hell over it. Its not racist. If it was WHO CARES!

I am not racisit, But if people called me Ni*** or Cracka i wouldnt care. Because there are far worse things to care about.

Dirk Dorkelson @ Oct 18th 2006 6:05PM

"Typically racists are the first to see racism where it is not"

This is vapid. You wanna provide some examples of this? This is spouted, without evidence, any time a discussion arises on racism. Who is the arbiter on what is racist and what is not? Who gets to decide when complaints are reasonable and out of line?

This kind of logic reinforces the idea that if you have a problem with something, it's better to keep your mouth shut, for fear of some dude on the Internet labeling you as racist or homophobic because you perceive bias where he does not. There was a time when the majority of Americans didn't have a problem with Little Black Sambo dolls or actors in blackface. Did that make the people who complained about 'em at the time racist? Fool.

That said, I'm not taking a position on Castle Crashers, based on one short clip at low resolution. But it is kind of weird having a bunch of white dudes in hoods running around slaughtering a bunch of brown dudes. I doubt it's racist, but it's probably not the best decision from a game design standpoint.

But give this poor woman a break. She sounds older and she says she is black. She may have once feared for her life because of the KKK. To brand her as racist because she may be sensitive to imagery that for her evokes the KKK displays a stunning lack of cultural sensitivity. Whether she's right in her criticism or not, saying, "She's the racist because she perceives bias where I don't" adds nothing to the dialogue. In fact, it impedes it.

Player1 @ Oct 18th 2006 6:27PM

Dirk Dorkelson,

You are crazy. The characters are WEARING white. As a matter of fact, I haven't seen a single bit of skin in that game. That's like saying a racing game is racist because someone driving a white car won, and someone driving a black car lost.

Here are some examples of people seeing racism where it isn't for you:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006480068,00.html
http://www.harpers.org/ABananaInTheSun.html

The point is, crying racism when it's not the case does not help get rid of it, it just makes it worse. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Dirk Dorkelson @ Oct 18th 2006 6:37PM

I never said the game was racist. I just said it might be a poor design decision. That's it. I'm just jumping on this guy for saying this woman might be racist because she sees racism where many do not. That's just plain silly.

Kurt @ Oct 18th 2006 6:39PM

I dunno, those characters near the end looked a lot like they were wearing blackface...

seriously though, I don't think this game was created with the intent of being racist or promoting white supremacist ideals. There is a trend in popular culture, however, of portraying protagonists as white and enemies as black or brown. This game is partially a byproduct of this trend.

Dirk Dorkelson @ Oct 18th 2006 6:42PM

Player1,

Also, I'm not saying that people don't sometimes see racism where there is none. Hell, that may very well be the case here. But to suggest that someone else may be racist because they find racism in something that you don't, as Mal F4cti0n did, is fascist. Our perceptions of the world are shaped by experience. So to suggest that we should all perceive something the same way regardless of our experiences is messed up.

Player1 @ Oct 18th 2006 6:42PM

Perhaps racist isn't the term, but they are perpetuating racism as an element of our society by calling things racist when they aren't. Perhaps hypocrite is the term?

Player1 @ Oct 18th 2006 6:45PM

I think what Mal F4cti0n was saying is that this woman sees things in racial terms when they have absolutely nothing to do with race. She's essentially making it a race thing.

sracer @ Oct 18th 2006 6:53PM

Player1, claiming that it is okay because they are "wearing" white actually gives a greater support to an impression of a racist tone.

Given the graphic elements involved, comparing them to KKK symobolism... such as...
http://www.pointsouth.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/book_invisible-empire.jpg

The KKK cross has certain similarities to the white cross formed on the protagonist's helmets.

I can understand why the woman felt the way she did. I'm not saying that I necessarily agree with her, but I can understand.

3dc @ Oct 18th 2006 7:03PM

First and foremost I must say that to present this blog as an opportunity to ridicule this woman's belief that Castle Crashers is Racist is in itself questionable intent. - "We'll just let you absorb that for a minute ... and there we go." I know an apology quickly followed but still?

As for the woman’s concerns I can justify what she is "seeing" the representation of four white clad knights eliminating their oppositions which mainly comprised of dark brown clothed goblins, and if struck by electrical force are thus completely black and continue attacking our White clad heroes. I can see how this could alarm some people who feel passionate regarding the white gown symbol of KKK racism. Unfortunately there are still some practicing KKK groups and I wish our society were well past this disgusting way of life.

I decided to look at this from the woman’s perspective. It was then I did notice something that on a subconscious level may have really disturbed her more than the two differentiating colors. On each of our knightly hero is their helmet. This helmet could be perceived as painted white to match the (At the time) chain mail garb to protect themselves. Or maybe the knights are really some undead souls; I could leave the open for discussion. But the most alarming aspect I could see was the shape that the white area of the helmets made. Take a second look; they resemble upside down white crosses. While the whole upside down cross may not have anything to do with the KKK the cross in itself does. I could image how her subconscious picked up this image and re-lived some night where she may have been subjected to the agonizing fear of some group burning a cross in her front yard. Do I think all this is a far fetched reach and Behemoth did not intend for any of this, yes I do think that. I also do not think she is crazy and she does have the right to her beliefs and fears.

Kyle @ Oct 18th 2006 7:12PM

OMG She said crucified... Did anyone tell her what that word means? Anyone? She is obviously blind too. I'm not gonna give her a break because it's stuff like this that we need to be avoiding. Get Jack Thompson out here, he's got another thing to gripe about. Did anyone see them nail someone to a cross? I didn't get to see that. The enemy are wearing brown hoods. Not brown skin, unless she wants to say blue is a skin color too. I guess next we'll hear Microsoft is racist because they changed the xBox color from black to white when they made the 360...

Platinum Skeet @ Oct 18th 2006 7:16PM

This won't go far. We kill Nazi's all the time in WWII games and no one says "you guys are racist to Germans"...

Andrew @ Oct 18th 2006 7:16PM

I thought this game WAS about playing as the kkk, am I wrong?

Either way people need to chill out and stop overeacting to things that just arent there. It's a game, the end.

Shiro @ Oct 18th 2006 7:24PM

You played the race card! Go to jail. Do not pass Go.

Saocom @ Oct 18th 2006 7:27PM

she needs a dick on her pussy to calm the fuck down.

Ray @ Oct 18th 2006 7:30PM

LMAO. I may insenitive, but that whole message had me laughing

Aex @ Oct 18th 2006 7:35PM

I'm sorry, this is kind of rediculous. Its a game... that uses colors... Seriously, what's next? People trying to stop the sale of video games from certain publishers that have strange titles like "Bully"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_Symbolism

ruiner @ Oct 18th 2006 7:50PM

oh this is so annoying....don't these old fogeys have anything better to do than sit home all day and leave complaint messages or write whiney letters about "I heard some lady on the TV say "damn", I'm sick of seeing all these dark-sided people on your show"
Calling something "racist" has got to be the easiest complaint to use because you could take just about any game, any subject and call it racist...annoying.

Shea Scott @ Oct 18th 2006 8:40PM

Player 1,

You are a moron. You make the point that the chararters are wearing white, but don't have actual white skin. You idiot. That is the whole point. The kkk wore white cloaks.
DEE DEE-DEE!
You then post an article about white cops eating bannanas at a civil rights march. Sure it could be coincidental, but you can see where someone could take it wrong. Have you ever seen remember the Titans? The white rival coach calls boon a monkey. It is a common racial slurr towards black people. So if they were eating bannanas at a freaking civil rights march (all of them?) then it is easily preceived as racially oriented, whether intended or not. Know what you are talking about before you comment dude.

Back to the game, I can see where the woman would see the symbolism and interpret it as racist. I don't neccessarily agree with her, but she seems elderly and no one knows what she has gone through. She interpreted it that way probably because of her life experiences, so don't be so quick to judge. It isn't that absurd a claim.

White is usually the symbol of purity and goodness (ie heaven being usually depicted with white and golden light) so it is no surprise the good guys have some white on their costume. I do think that it is a little far fetched to liken them to the KKK.

Mr BoomStick XL @ Oct 18th 2006 9:29PM

WOW, if the ERSB ever had this NUT on the board we would still be playing Pac-Man or Astoriods!! What a FREAK, this game is going to ROCK and I can't wait!!!

Mr BoomStick XL @ Oct 18th 2006 9:29PM

WOW, if the ERSB ever had this NUT on the board we would still be playing Pac-Man or Astoriods!! What a FREAK, this game is going to ROCK and I can't wait!!!

Exra @ Oct 18th 2006 9:38PM

I prefer not to go too deep into this...but I can understand how she might be offended because exactly what she says is happening on the screen. Dark coloured characters are being slaughtered by Seemingly ..and most likely intended white characters...was the intent for the game to look racist? Maybe....we dont know. So you cannot ridicule this woman just because she has concerns..I glad she had the guts to actually say something..even though people think she's ridiculous.

Lion @ Oct 18th 2006 9:52PM

17: They are in fact crosses on the helmets. This is a throwback to the crusades. In those days, the Great Helm was popular and any good Christian knight wore the cross. The cross was often incorporated into the design of the Great Helm.

I don't think there was any racist intent ... But then again, I can see how she would feel that there is a bit of racism there. I'd love to hear her voicemail about "Loco Roco".

nodnetni @ Oct 18th 2006 10:07PM

I dislike racism as much as the next guy, but know what i dislike even more, people that go looking for racism. You can find racism in almost anything if you look hard enough. I feel that the best way to get ride of racism, is to not talk about it. The only reason I look at "black"s(her word) different is because i was taught in school, that they were treated differently though out history.

Ulyssess @ Oct 18th 2006 10:16PM

i TOTALY agree... totaly. lol you know what else is from the depths of hethen devil worshiping pits of hell are the tellatubbies

no seriously racists are dieing out. why? cause im killing them! no but more seriously, i would say on majority games are based around predominintly white events. or just based in the future. what i would say to this woman is to crucify any racist you find. hell ill help you too! just dont even think of touchin my games. generation Y has much larger influences against racism then vaguely for racism in video games.

nitussi @ Oct 18th 2006 10:39PM

Its wrong to say this woman is stupid and ridiculas when she does have a point, it does not matter what color they are under the gowns and cloths, the game shows white characters killing brown and black characters. Something I myself didnt notice, after seeing this game in action several times over a month ago, until now.

Whether this be intentional or not, people have to realize that racism still exist and will always exist. You can only teach those people how to not give into their prejudice. Even if you dont think you are racist, there is a breaking point where everyone would show their true colors.

And if you look at the black jungle looking characters, they seem to have the stereotype look of the characters on tv and cartoons of the early 1900's.

epobirs @ Oct 18th 2006 10:47PM

Perhaps the developer can add a scene at the beginning where the knights all suit up, revealing that they're all plaid skinned under the armor. Then we see the enemies suit up, showing them to be so pale as to verge on albinism.

Will that satisfy the dingbats looking for political symbolism in a game designed for high color contrast so you can keep track of your character amid the chaos?

nitussi @ Oct 18th 2006 11:09PM

It would be best to make the four main characters all 100% green, yellow, red and blue. And there shouldnt be a problem.

I for one thought it was like that(all solid colors)when I seen early veiwings of this game. Because I remeber trying to distinguish what they were. I personally dont remember seeing upside down crosses with white hoods under their helmets. Im talking about earliar trailers of this game. But I am probably wrong.

p @ Oct 18th 2006 11:21PM

rac·ism - n. 1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. 2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race. 3: the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races 4: discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race

Ignorance begats ignorance. I would probably bet that the majority of people responding and saying that the Black caller is crazy for "seeing something that isn't there," are probably not Black themselves. I also don't think it'd be too far fetched to say that the people responding aren't as old as she is either. Which probably means she has seen some things that we most definitely have not.

That being said, how many of us have personally seen a KKK member, besides those on Jerry Springer? I can honestly say I have not... But I know several people who are older, both White and Black who have. How many of us then have also felt the feeling of fear, simply for being yourself and no other reason?

Racism isn't a television show that comes on with a title, so everyone knows what it is... It is something that people experience. And for the MOST part, it isn't White people who experience it.

The most racist thing a person can do is deny that there is racism.

Shame on Xbox360fanboy for insinuating such contraversal topic, without actually providing some background for those that are too ignorant to know what racism is... the writer was well aware of what was to ensue (Locoroco anyone).

Shame on the posters who deny racism and "flame" the woman because her views don't fall inline with what you believe.

I might have to also put this site on the "do not visit list" along with the racial slur using site Kotaku.

Wargazm @ Oct 18th 2006 11:39PM

Man it really burns me when people see racism where it's not, because then those racist people who see racism where there's no racism are really racist racists who are just being fascist racists. It's even worse when the fascists are racist against the racists who are fascistically racist fascists, because then you're left with a bunch of racist fascists fascisting all over the place, very racist-ly. It's asbsolutely horrible to be in a world where fascist racists and racist fascists are so perpetually mired in a state of racist fascism that a poor old black woman starts seeing racist fascists all over the place. for shame, Castle Crashers, for shaaammme!!!

james f. @ Oct 19th 2006 2:38AM

Aren't they skeletons? I mean seriously? Thats what they look like to me, cartoonish video game skeleton guys in bright obvious primary colors with flat, not pointed hats with slats that look like sorta an upside down cross. They dont look like white people of the KKK designation or otherwise. Nor do the enemies be they brown or black look like humans at all. If you equate the protaganist with whites and the anatagonists with other ethinic groups your grasping at straws. And insulting everyone. How or Why this woman came across the vid is inexplicable. I've seen older people come up with funny explinations for things they don't understand and this is simply another one of those scenarios.

You can play whatever card you want to here but about 75% of the comments above are looking pathetic. At the end of the day this game is a modern revision of golden axe by the guys who did alien homonid and thats about it. No Smoke No Fire No racist conspiracy.

David Wright @ Oct 19th 2006 3:34AM

My god its a game, make her watch some grand theft auto, I'd like to hear that!

You all read FAR too much into this.

haha @ Oct 19th 2006 3:43AM

Ha! Why do black people always think everyone's out to get them?!

How can any of you even agree with her? If you looked hard enough you can pull racist themes out of anything. There is no racist activity going on here, this is ridiculous.

Blah @ Oct 19th 2006 3:45AM

now, if they were all holding nooses, that would be a whole different story.

Richard Mitchell @ Oct 19th 2006 10:08AM

"Shame on Xbox360fanboy for insinuating such contraversal topic, without actually providing some background for those that are too ignorant to know what racism is... the writer was well aware of what was to ensue (Locoroco anyone)."

I certainly had no intention to create a controversy. If anything, I thought this post was lighthearted. Racism (where it exists) is no laughing matter. Frankly, I think this mother is great. She's obviously looking out for her kids, hence my congratulating her for visiting GameTrailers. And let me tell you, very honestly, I hadn't heard about Locoroco. I actually had to look it up.

My apologies for any misunderstandings.

Chris @ Oct 19th 2006 1:47PM

All I have to say is....what the hell? Is she...serious? I can't tell...I see no racism, at all. The knights aren't even white like she says they are! They're colored! and the enemies are simply Jawas! JAWAS! I mean, who wouldn't like to kill those annoying sand monster jawa things anyways?

joey @ Oct 19th 2006 6:51PM

wow thanks to her i can now enjoy this game in a racist light. I never would have noticed that if not for her calling it to my attention. I thought it was a pure innocent game, with multicolored people getting along and helping each other out. Now i see the folly of my ways. The right way to look at it (as with everything) is to perceive the inherent racism that lies therein. Thanks crazy lady for keeping racism alive.

Da Black Knight @ Oct 20th 2006 2:24PM

I know what could shut her up. Just take the tang colored guy out and replace him with a "Black knight" The one dude everyone will want to be because of his ultra bad ass weapons. Now throw a few fleeing white surfs in the game that you can pummel for a few extra points and maybe some extra health. But when the Black Knight pummels the surfs he picks them up and bitch slaps them and makes them pay him, then he gets mega points for pounding on the white man. I think that would even it out right?

Its just a game and the characaters are colored, if anything they would represent different races than white. Simply based on the colors they are wearing. Red-Indian maybe, Blue-French(couldn't come up with anything better), orange-asian, green-Irish, ..... you could see how fucked up this could get if we went this way. Let it go its a game.

Liam @ Oct 21st 2006 8:35PM

that idiot,

the only reason racism still exists is because of idiots like her taking every little tiny thing that might even slightly hint at hurting different races. She's pulling something horrible which could bring on horrible protests and or violence if anyone believed her story like they believe Jack Thompson's Bully argument.

the moment you stop claiming everything is racist, the more racism disappears.