Now that many politicians (and Donald Trump) have announced their candidacy for the 2012 presidential election, it is safe to say that the race for our next president has officially begun. While everyone in their right mind has absolutely no doubt that Incumbent President Barak Obama will represent The Democratic Party, there really is no frontrunner for The Republicans. One dark horse candidate for the right is my favorite Libertarian disguised as a Republican, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who won the straw poll for most favorable representative of The Republican Party at a prominent conservative event the past two years in a row. Some may discredit Paul automatically because of his “republican” nametag, but pro-choice, pro-gay marriage and anti-war stances are polar opposite than the views of his colleagues.
    Simply put, the basis of The Libertarian Party is that every citizen is to be treated equally in a country managed by a limited government. If you’re still confused over the basis of being libertarian, there are some amazing few video games that represent the libertarian theme of freedom and liberation; and they aren’t that expensive anymore, either!

Mirror’s Edge
    Mirror’s Edge stars Faith, a young woman who uses her athleticism to perform a job that’s a little out of the ordinary compared to today’s standards. In the near future, politicians have gained totalitarian control over its citizens in an effort to prevent crime. While they succeeded in nearly abolishing crime, the citizens have lost many freedoms, since the government now surveys and regulates almost everything. There are a group of people known as Runners who move through the shadows and over rooftops to deliver items that are meant to be kept from the government’s eye. Faith is one of these Runners and the game follows her through a government conspiracy that threatens the lives of her and her sister.
    Not only does the story show the oppressive government at its worst, but its control over the public is also prevalent in the gameplay. Most of the game takes place on rooftops, but there are still a variety of settings including streets, offices, and even a mall. Through all of these settings, it is instantly noticeable that the population of people walking around in public is very slim. Even indoors, no people are seen other than police who are trying to capture Faith! Comparable to North Korea today, the city is very clean and looks nice, but there are few people, if any, walking or driving around the city, making it look like a ghost town.
    In disappointment to the libertarian gamer, Mirror's Edge does not have the “Hollywood” climax where the oppressed fight back and beat their enemies. Rather, a more meaningful message is conveyed when the only option Faith and her sister have at the end of the game is to run away from the government’s eye and go into hiding. While a coup could happen in the sequel (which is currently in production), the current story gives a bleak view as to how increased government control and policy-making can be abused to rid a society of freedom once and for all.

Grand Theft Auto IV
    I’m sure upon immediately reading this game’s title, you’re ready to bash me for supporting the freedom to do anything from beating up granny in the middle of the street, to going bowling for pedestrians in your car. However, I’m not including this game for the reason that you have the freedom to do anything and go anywhere in the sandbox-designed city.
    The main character, Niko Bellic, has left the Eastern European country he used to call home to live a better life in the U.S. It should be no surprise to you that the main theme behind this story is freedom. Rather than fighting against an oppressive force, the game simply shows what makes this country so great to live in. Niko knows that the U.S. is one of the greatest places in the world to start a better life because of the freedoms we are given. I know Niko is an illegal immigrant and it's a bit ironic to talk about his "freedoms," but the freedom I'm talking about here is opportunities, not rights.
    Amid troubles with Russian mobsters, Niko is eventually freed from all strings that connected him to organized crime and looks forward to the opportunities ahead. The game’s final mission ends on Rockstar’s version of Liberty Island. When Niko heads off to begin a normal life, the camera pans up to their adaptation of the Statue of Liberty and fades out. If that doesn't bring a tear to the libertarian gamer's eye, I don’t know what will.

Half-Life 2
    Half- Life 2 is the must-own game for the libertarian gamer. Originally, the Half-Life series was of the survival-horror genre. In the first game, there is mention of a government conspiracy by way of soldiers being sent to eliminate everyone that was involved in a scientific experiment gone wrong, but the story focuses basically on only one goal: kill the bad aliens who are trying to kill you. At the end of Half-Life, the main character prevails and is teleported away by a mysterious man to not be seen again for years.
    Here begins Half-Life 2, where our hero has been brought back and led to City 17, a place that is under control by a force known as the Combine. The Combine’s totalitarian control over the city is apparent at the very beginning, where the player’s path is blocked by fences and goes through guarded security checkpoints. During my first playthrough, all I could think about were the similarities to a person’s admittance into a Nazi-controlled concentration camp (fun fact: the first concept art depicting a Combine soldier’s wardrobe was inspired by that of the SS). While walking through the streets, videos play of a man spewing propaganda to the public. The desperation of City 17’s citizens is shown in the homes, where they cry and wonder if they will ever be freed from this control.
    The Combine’s power is not limited to City 17 and our hero must fight through many Combine-controlled areas to eliminate this threat. The image of totalitarian rule is enforced even when the character is simply walking around the world. Small, flying robots traverse the entire land and take pictures of anything that moves, effectively overseeing pretty much anything that is done within territories under Combine control.
    Unlike Mirror’s Edge, players do get to partake in a large resistance in which the Combine forces in City 17 are defeated and hope is restored to all who are part of the revolution. Although the Combine is still in power after the events of Half-Life 2, the actions of the main character has significantly influenced the power struggle, and possibilities of the resistance defeating the Combine remain very optimistic. To top it all off, what is the last name of our liberating hero? Freeman.