Oh whoa. Did you know that I have a Patreon where I do director's commentaries on videos? AND a monthly podcast? Wow. What a deal. Check it out (or don't, honestly, that is fine too): www.patreon.com/razbuten Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this existential crisis of a video.
This went from a breakdown of forced breaks in videogames to a discussion about the melancholy that is life as a human to an ad about soap. Really an emotional rollercoaster this one was!
Really makes me think about a quote from the office: "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days". Because we rarely focus on the moment and enjoying it, you don't realize you're having a great time and that any time in you life can be 'the good old days', as long as you keep making memories
@@octolockg5059 Agreed, it's sort of like an itch I get to complete it, I'm really enjoying this, so I must complete it to feel satisfied and not have to play it anymore.
I'm always to scared I finish it too soon, which I don't want because I'm enjoying myself so much, so I will put it down more often but eventually never finish because I wanted to play it longer .-.
@@Realmfaker I get that, when I was watching one of my favourite tv shows and knew I was on the final season. It took me months to actually watch that last season, I found myself only watching one episode at a time every few weeks, trying to make it last as long as possible, not wanting it to end.
Bus journeys are great IRL vibe checks; don't read or do anything overly engaging, just put on some chill music and watch the people get on and off the bus, watch the rain roll down the windows, feel the engine growling behind you... It's nice, I swear :)
I used to ride the bus often. And unless an angry person was screaming at people, I found those trips very helpful. I was working two jobs and it was the time I had to relax and check in with myself and enjoy the view. I regularly got to watch the sun rise over the bay, with snow covered mountains in the distance. It was peaceful.
@@mat-bu7ms I get carsick when I'm staring at my phone while travelling, which is why I put it away and just listen to music. Maybe try that? Idk if it'll help you, but it helps me 😊
im suprised you didn't mention the two parts in hollow knight knight where you have the option to "sit" rather than "rest." next to quirrel at the blue lake and by marissa while she sings. there's no special award or save point when you sit because you aren't resting, you aren't saving progress and you're not regaining health or soul. you're just sitting there, you're just having a moment- and idk about you but it makes me super emotional:') (also really good video I enjoyed it greatly!)
Returning to the isolated Nailmaster who teaches you the Cyclone slash prompts him to ask you to meditate with him, making three instances of 'sit' options.
I think you can also stop and look at the statue of the Hollow Knight and Dreamers in the City of Tears, and while it's not quite the same, you can also look through Lurien's spyglass (once you finally get through the Watcher Knights, of course). It's also worth mentioning that if you have pets equipped, while you're sitting at a bench they'll settle down and go to sleep after a few seconds.
Undertale is just full of vibe checks. For me, Snowdin was the biggest one, despite it being so early in the game. That isn't to say there aren't others, there's of course the one you mentioned, every single shop, MTT resort, interacting with Onionsan, Temmie Village, making friends with all the NPCs on a pacifist run, and so many more I won't list here.
“And if I keep putting down my head down and hoping the days will go by quickly, I’m going to look up and realize there aren’t that many days left.” Is such a raw quote that it vibe checked me.
especially considering the proximity to danger. some benches are literally in the middle of rooms swarming with enemies, but HK establishes that 'benches are safe' so soon and early that it always feels safe regardless. I've used the track Reflection to relax in a bath and I almost fell asleep, it's just that great at setting the right mood.
Yep. I know it'd be cheeky to give Hollow Knight a double mention, but I LOVE the story based vibe checks that just let you reflect. I often passed by Marissa and sat and listened to her sing for a bit, reflecting on the faded glory of the kingdom.
Quirrel is just my favorite vibe check of all time. Especially sitting at the bench with him, in the City of Tears. I could listen to him for hours on end, if he had something to say.
My absolute favorite vibe check was in Outer Wilds, when one loop I decided to attempt to fly after the Eye Probe. After following for a good 5 minutes, I flew right past it, and, in turning around to find it again, found that I couldn't. I had lost it. It was then that I turned back and looked at the solar system to see it as nothing but a speck, thousands of kilometers away. I panicked at first, but very quickly realized that, even if I did make it back, I likely wouldn't be able to do anything productive with the time left anyway. So I just... let go. I let myself drift, so very far away from my home. I stared, watching as the stars slowly started blinking out, a strange and intense serenity washing over me. It was then I thought to equip my signalscope and listen to the music of the Outer Wilds Ventures. There, for the first time, I heard every single instrument playing Travelers in harmony. And, for the first time, I found myself tearing up while playing a game. It was a stunning moment which took me completely by surprise. Ever since then, I've loved breaks in games (though none have been quite as emotional as that one). They give me the chance to get fully immersed in a world, taking a second to catch my breath. To stop and smell the roses, as it were.
I’ve heard from just about literally everyone on the internet how good of a game Outer Wilds is, but nothing has given me near as much drive and desire to play it as your comment just did. Seriously, what an amazing story. That sounds incredible and makes me want to stop creating my nth character in FF14 and start up Outer Wilds right now, which has been sitting on my Xbox for months now, untouched. Thank you :)
It’s a pleasure to hear you say that! I hope my anecdote doesn’t change your experience by way of expectation. Regardless, I’m certain you’ll enjoy the time you spend playing. Maybe by the end you’ll have your own stories to share!
I experienced something similar with another game. I was playing Alto's Odyssey. It's a mobile game where you snowboard in the Alps doing flips and stunts. In the game you can play in Zen mode, where there are no coins, power ups, challenges or a hard stop. You can play as long as you like. The mode has a more obvious sound with the occasional rain. I was playing it for a while, just relaxing when I fell down, rain pouring around me, a beautiful moon behind me. The character was barely visible, just sprawling mountains, the rain, the moon. I just sat there and watched, wondered. My eyes were moist after about 10 minutes
That saying has been wrongly attributed to John Lennon or Bertrand Russel, but originally comes from the 1912 novel "Phrynette Married". The original quote is "Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time". I really like that saying myself.
I agree. Though I also think there are better uses of your time than just normal fun. Passions and hobbies can lead to even more reward in the end. I’m not talking about school though, which is in my head mostly a waste of time. I’m talking about music drawing programming etc. But you know having fun is definitely good balanced with passions imo
This video got way more thoughtful than I'd expected and your positive "I'm learning" mentality at the end has made me want to consciously do the same myself. This is genuinely great. EDIT: I also love live action Razbuten. He is adorbs.
My favorite vibe check in Undertale is when you walk with Monster Kid as silhouettes against the scrolling background of the view of the castle and the glow. I always stop there and just look at the castle. You learned part of their history. See your destiny. Accompanied with a naive kid. Its not a forced pause. But its a great reflection moment
In my opinion, pets are some of the best real-life vibe checks around. It's a lot easier to live in the moment when you have a dog in your lap begging for scritches.
@@PKMNResearcherSkyler Reminds me of the days when most controllers were wired. They got pulled out so many times by people and animals alike tripping on them. Also, had rabbits chew the cords.
Yeah. Its pretty easy to get lost while just petting a dog or a cat. I just pet them while looking at them or at the horizon or at the ground and think about everything. Its pretty magical .
My favorite vibe check has to be the mirror towards the end of Undertale. "You look in the mirror. Despite everything, its still you". When I read that line paired with the son "Undertale", I couldn't bring myself to leave, I just sat there and read that line over, and over again. Its a totally optional line, but I don't think my experience would've been the same without it.
That’s my favorite as well. The line is one that many people will skip over, but I usually end up spending a few minutes staring at that mirror. It’s a simple line, but it’s an extremely powerful one nonetheless, especially when paired with the music
The long ass paraglide down to eventide island at 4:00am when the sun just comes up on the horizon and there is nothing but the breeze and ocean surrounding you was the biggest vibe check in the game for me. That was singlehandedly the most beautiful moment in the game.
One of my friends does a "date with Jenny" every year around the time of their anniversary with girlfriend. They play through the game and just chill at the movie for a few hours. They even went a little overboard last time and did cosplay. Always a chill evening.
I'm grateful for vibe checks in games like Assassins Creed or Breath of the Wild, where you have to Synchronize at the top of a tower, allowing you to take in the beautiful scenery.
I bought all of the AC games since black flag a few months ago. So far I’ve beaten Black Flag and Rogue and am most of the way through Unity even though I haven’t played it in a while. None of them I ever felt like slowing down in though. I always just wanted to get through them.
i've experienced a strange paradox with odyssey where though i quite hate the gameplay and don't find the story that interesting, i played it back to back with dlc because the whole game, for me, was a vibe check. and it happens quite often that i gaze upon the landscape so much that i eventually jump from the tower and... remember i haven't synchronized after all.
The way AC is designed though kinda doesn’t let you enjoy the view, being a game where my map is full of icons and shit I have to do, I wish I would have taken the time to rest, but I always had something mindless to get to. Holy shit I’m so good at making run on sentences.
I've spent around 300 hours in the past two months playing Hollow Knight, and the moments you can just sit next to a character, listen to the music and reflect on the game give me such a sense of relief and comfort.
The moment where you sit at the Blue Lake in Hollow Knight is my favorite vibe check moment. Every time I get to it in a playthrough I just sit there for a while and soak in the atmosphere. Perfect mix of peaceful and melancholy.
Hey Raz, I graduated from college 6 days ago after an 8 year bachelors degree. I know that feeling of, "just make it to the next part, it will be better." After 6 days, my brain is already looking for the "next part" instead of being glad that I accomplished something after 8 years. So thanks for this. Your timing couldn't have been better.
That’s a long time in college. I’m still trying to figure that next part out. I’ve now spent as much time out of college as I have in it, so just trying to take things day by day as I figure things out. Can be tough when the next thing doesn’t come, so best of luck to you.
Congrats! :0 Soon I'll graduate for High School and I just feel like I'm not ready at all Here, Raz said that his High School mindset was the same as always "just need to finish this, things will get better after that", but I'm terrified, I don't want to to leave High School or rather, studies are making me afraid I love learning, but school's system is tiring me (especially now when the end of the year is approaching) and is so stressful I feel like people expect more and more from me, I now have to take my responsibilities and basically, I won't learn at school anymore, I have to learn by myself, school will be for tests, and I just feel like I can't I feel like all this ranting is childish, people in my class still have energy, they still work, and I still do, but I have less and less motivation I guess summer vacation will help me recharge my batteries but still, I don't know what to expect for the next years, I might go to some sort of "intense college" (there's no english translation for this) where basically all I'll do is work for 2 years, leaving few hours per week to practice hobbies eventually, and almost nothing to see friends, family if living on you own, and partner I work, I know I can do it, if others did I surely can, but I have no idea how I'll manage my sanity and time and all this and I'm just scared This whole comment is just me venting I'm sorry
Any game that lets you physically sit down anywhere is the perfect vibe. Sitting on the bridge you just built in Animal Crossing. Watching the sun and sea with Majula's theme in the background in Dark Souls 2. Placing a campfire on a cliff and looking into the distance in Breath of the Wild. It's all so perfect.
Minecraft seems to be lacking a sit button very badly. I keep thinking about how awesome it would be to just build some hotel/pool or other nice area to simple exist and relax in, but somehow it's very difficult to just do nothing and relax in that game (plus, the day/night cycle is so short that you're always on the run anyway).
I've tought this ever since I was a kid, it's a personal joy of mine booting up new game and finding out it has a sit button. The amount of downloads on mods that let you sit also confirm people love this
Sometimes I use to hear Majula's theme when I feel sad. That song sends a feeling of peace that calms me. That place in the game felt like a real home where I could be safe from any harm and just relax.
I like how this guy dives so deep into video games, he goes from checkpoints to existential crises. And it actually somehow fits perfectly. This is why I love his videos, everytime you learn something new, but thought video games somehow. Makes u appreciate the world more. As you listen to his smooth calming voice. GOAT
I actually realized I was in the 'Consumption' mindset, more focused on finishing a game than enjoying it. I'll definitely need to remind myself to sit and reflect every now and then
9:52 29/04/2021 "If i keep putting my head down and hope the days go by quickly, im going to look up and realise there arent many days left" - a wise man
I remember a phrase or quote that goes something like this "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things" Basically, enjoy the journey, not just the end goal.
@@riceshot9981 While that is... An option... I think I was focusing more on the "what if the real treasure was the friends along the way" stuff. The reward may not be very... Rewarding. However... Uh... Um... Eh... Ok, I'm not good at the whole meaning of life stuff, but at least there are momentsry satisfactions to distract us from all that, like tasty food, games and the horni.
@@riceshot9981 nah it's just u judge ur journey if u want to be sad even the perfect journey be cold sad and hard with an unsatisfactory reward if u want to be happy u can have an average journey and an average reward and still feel satisfied
"fairwell...to all the earthly remains...no burdens...no further debts to be paid...atlas can rest his weary bones, the weight of the world...all falls away...in tiiiiiiiiime..." one of the best vibe checks in gaming imo
there is no feeling quite like hearing her voice and knowing you've got a spot to chill for a while and you don't have to run from everything trying to kill you. you can just have a snack and listen to the singing, maybe give her some nectar as a thank you
The bench with Quirrell in the entrance to the City of Tears, sitting with Quirrell at the Blue Lake, and listening to Marissa will forever be some of my favorite video game moments
In omori, "do you want to have a picnic with your friends?" can have very different contexts depending on where you are in the game, and is my vibe check of the year.
I was looking for a comment mentioning OMORI. The game is chock full of vibe checks, not only in the picnics, but also the huge amount of interactable stuff in every zone. Having tea in Sweetheart's garden, fishing in the frozen lake, flying a kite in the floating island. There's so many calming moments like those. It's a great game!
@@psirockingaming The world is so rich in content I didn't think about finishing the game at any second - I just wanted to see EVERYTHING I could in my first run and then 73 hours.
It took me a little too long to figure out that the "vibe check" meme was entirely about just sucker punching someone really hard. The litteral meaning is checking if someone has good or bad vibes, basically are you killing the mood, so i was confused for awhile.
NO! NO! NO! Many people say I am sick in the head. NOOOO!!!! I don't believe them. But there are so many people commenting this stuff on my videos, that I have 1% doubt. So I have to ask you right now: Do you think I am sick in the head? Thanks for helping, my dear vai
I think one of my favorites has to be when you get anywhere high in Jedi: Fallen Order, and you can press a button to have Cal comment on the view. Just a brief moment where you can let the scale and detail of the map wash over you before going back to slicing stormtroopers
As someone who struggles to finish games, these vibe checks are so relaxing and remind me that I'm making progress. I get to sit and be like, "yeah! I'm doing it!" You know you're safe in that spot and you'll get to where you're going (or appreciate where you have been).
A Night in the Woods is another game with great vibe checks. It’s so “loose” and you’re just wondering the town during the day, when you find a place that lets you just sit and listen to music, like the town bridge or the couch in the church, it’s like it’s own reward.
I think it's cool how even the action feels like just you as a person getting to vent vicariously through her. When she's angry at life and you just go around bashing things with a bat or shredding your guitar, it feels like a vibe check of a different sort
I feel like the whole town during the day is a vibe check, I probably spent at least 70% of my gameplay there. There's so many side things you can do, and there's a lot of new things every day in almost the whole town, even if it's just dialogues. I got pretty much the whole town memorized because I'd go through it all daily and there would always be something new in almost every single scenario I had access to. If you do that instead of just rushing to finish the day, it does start to feel like you live in Possum Springs and you're very familiar with it. Also a funny thing is that I've taken naps while exploring. Not only because I played it in my xbox, lying on my couch with a nice blanket in the afternoon, but also because of these extremely calm vibes the game gives there.
Just wanted to come back and say this video was eye-opening for me. I adore your channel cause you have such perspective on video games. Didn't think I would actually take anything from the video when I first watched it, but I kept coming back to the thought that no one will set the pace of your life besides you. Thank you,Raz
I’m a simple man. I see Hollow Knight, I click. EDIT: Holy shit I just finished the video and that was one of the most profound things I’ve ever experienced. God damn. I thought you were just going to talk about how it’s nice to take a moment to sit on a bench in Hollow Knight.
Honestly his videos are so great and has such depth when he talks about aspects of video games, then he transitions to real life and you learn something about yourself and games
oh, yeah! I also love the room after traitor lord, as to not spoil much, i kind of just sat in awe to the music when i arrived there... hollow knight has some great moments
@@TheKnegen On my first playthrough I dream nailed her because I thought it gave more than just one essence and I instantly regretted it after realising I couldn't hear her singing again.
I like the one that comes towards the end of the game where you just find Quirrel sitting at the edge of the lake and you can just choose to sit next to him for as long as you want. It's just so peaceful and calming :)
10:03 This reminds me I am spending my high school days like that too. Hearing that made me realize I should use my time better and enjoy the moment instead of trying to overcome it. I wanna thank you for this, I am honestly grateful. Thanks
My favorite vibe checks have been: - the benches in hollow knight, but especially in that one room with the gramophone - that room in chapter 1 of Celeste where the music fades out a bit and you’re just standing at the cliff side (also the end of chapter 7, with the different music; moral of the story is Lena Raine fucking rules) - the majority of hyper light drifter; I spent soooo much time sitting down in that game because it’s music is so good and it’s so damn pretty - the top of hawk peak in a short hike - Supergiant games does this really well too but it’s been so long since I played bastion or transistor that I don’t have examples. Hades has those lookout points but I have the sense that they’re not as prominent as in other games by them.
I don't mean to nitpick but on days 1 through 6 he said "it is good" yet on the 7th day he said "it is very good" Small difference I know but I always thought it was cool that after everything was finished, creation was special, more than just good but "very good"
The point with the giraffe in TLOU is not only a point where you think "probably nothing better will happen after this". It also the moment when Joel makes the decision that he doesn't want to pursue their goal any longer and suggests to Ellie that they should just try to find a good life somewhere instead. So, it functions both as a vibe check and a pivot point that determines their fate at the end.
I have only one thing to say: The observatory rooms in Super Mario Galaxy. The soothing ambiance plus the cozy atmospheres make them some of the best vibe checks in videogames. My favorite is the kitchen and the soft fire crackling you can hear coming from the fireplace
I loved being able to play guitar or sit on a fountain and reflect in life is strange. It just had great music and was a fun experience 10/10 reccommend
The humming mechanic in Transistor is one of my favorite vibe checks. Zero prompts. Just hum whenever you feel like it and enjoy the atmosphere of the game.
My favourite vibe check has to be when you first come across the Hollow Knight Memorial. It's absolutely perfect to me. The music hits just in the right spot, Hornet's cryptic message to The Knight, the description accompanying the memorial and how it comes just after 3 gruelling biomes, along with the whole vibe of the City of Tears. It was 3:30 in the afternoon when I encountered it, I damn near started sobbing in front of my laptop screen.
One of my favorite vibe checks in games that is purely driven by me is a small ritual I made for myself in outer wilds: whenever I could, once the music signalled the end of another time loop and the beginning of another supernova, I liked to just fly into space and get out of my ship, and just drift in space for a bit. It made it all so much more beautiful and I think a part of it that made it so memorable was how it came from me and nothing else.
in college, i had this mindset that goes like: in college, whether im suffering or not, i will take it all in, i will never say "i just need to get to the end of this" i was able to do that, and yet, the end came so fucking fast, still fuck life, man
As someone who is putting his head down to finish this last week of high school, this past year has been me trying to rush to the next chapter and knowing that college will be so much better and I’m sure it will be but, but with the pandemic and work and early college course that I’m barely passing, I haven’t looked up and seen the world around me. I think I’m going to go for a walk in the woods for a while with no tech and just be in the moment. Thank you for this wonderful essay and reminder that it’s ok to pause occasionally and reflect.
Unsolicited advice from a 39 year old. If you possibly can, take at least one summer during college, and just reserve it for enjoyment. Use your new freedom and adult status to try new stuff, travel, see what hobbies exist and which ones might be interesting to you (the more real-world / non-computer-based the better), connect with an aging relative or even just one or more parents (with your new perspectives), meet new people / figure out how to make friends in adulthood, learn what habits can actually help you feel happy / healthy / centered, learn to cook, figure out how you are distinct from your parents / home town but not in a reactionary way, or some combination of these things. It's the last time you'll be able to take any time off without asking some kind of permission for a _long_ time (even quitting for a sabbatical like I just did, is kind of asking permission from the universe to take a bleeping break and not get financially ejected), and it's kinda hard to justify more than 2 weeks off at a time if you have to ask permission. Don't get me wrong, you should also insist upon taking your available vacation to its fullest and taking sabbatical time as needed when in the working world, but it'll probably be harder / scarier / more stressful then.
There's some solid advice above. I'm not as experienced, but often I feel more creative, flexible and capable of tackling challenges after taking a long break. The inspiration and rejuvenation you feel are priceless.
Ghost of Tsushima is the KING of this. Plenty of moments where it makes you stop and see the gourgous environments but also so many times when it made me stop of my own choice to look. Beautiful game. Having such a good photo mode was really rewarding when there are som many chances to use it
I’m not gonna lie the last few minutes of this videos made me cry so hard. I got out of a pretty serious and happy relationship yesterday and this video hit me where it hurt and made me realise how much more I wish I appreciated every little moment and the time together. But I think it was something I was meant to see so thank you
This brought me to tears, I forget in the rush that I can stop and check the vibe. Because of this video I will try to do this more and reflect. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Razbuten. I have been racing my life for the past 10 years. From middle school to high school and on. Racing to the next thing, because it will surely be better than what's now. Racing to live up to my successful parents' expectations. Racing just for the sake of racing. Living from weekend from weekend, from vacation to vacation, hopping from one achievement to another. And I've barely ever stopped to just sit down, look around and think about where I even am and where I'm actually going. I want to live my life out well, yet in the strive for my goal I have lost it's very purpose out of my sight - living a fun life. Now I'm sixteen and I'm watching myself become someone else right in front of my eyes. I lay in my bed, I sit on the balcony and I stand in the shower saying to myself that tomorrow I'll just relax and chat with my friends about things I actually care about. And then I meet them and the story repeats itself - we talk, we laugh and then we part ways, restarting the loop. It's like the old joke about the class clown coming home and taking his make-up off. Nowadays each and every one of us lives a life that is faster and more saturated then ever before. So thank you Razbuten, for slowing down and taking us with you. Peace :)
My favourite vibe check is in Ori and the Will of the Wisps where we just stop for a second and the camera pans round to show you the rolling canopy of the vast forest as the music swells... It was truly a beautiful scene and is one of my favourite moments from a game I have ever played
Sitting down just to listen to Marissa in the Opera House in hollow knight. Then when you accidentally turn her into essence you keep coming back to think about what you have done.
As a person with synesthesia i always love vibe checks in videogames. They always give u these feelings of hope and pure happines. These are the most nostalgic moments in videogames.
As a person with synesthesia as well, I do love vibe checks in video games, but I can't for my life understand how exactly colorful numbers help me appreciate them more.
This reminded me of the parts in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers Of Sky when you would get to the end of a particularly tough chapter and it would show some beautiful scenery that would fill up both DS screens. Always liked those moments.
So many goosebumps from this video seriously, this gives me life. May I add one of my favourite vibe checks ever: Resting in Death Stranding. Basically, your character gets physically and mentally tired from having to balance so much weight on his body, and your BB (a baby that is attached to the protagonist through a fake womb) gets more and more stressed out the more you find yourself in stressful situations, so you can decide to just lay down and have a rest in any moment as you see fit. The feeling of watching Sam just take a nap and rest his eyes while holding BB, coupled with the amazing sound design of your sorroundings and watching as the stress bar and the tiredness bar very slowly decrease is just so comforting. There was this one time that I'll always remember. In Death Stranding there is this mechanic in which certain areas that you connect under a network show you other player's messages and signs, warning you from danger, uneven terrain, and even cheering you on. There was this forest area which you had to pass through so that you could connect it to the network, making it very tense to not have any help while having to deal with BTs (which are essentially blind and invisible enemies that you need to hold your breath around). Just getting through it all, connecting the area to the network and watching all the messages and signs warning from danger and cheering everybody on from other players pop up in the map, and then taking a rest with the leaves blowing in the wind knowing that I had completed my mission and had to de-stress both in game and in real life was such an absolutely perfect, memorable, and unique vibe check.
I used to be so worried about the future. Now, I feel like as long as I can enjoy most days, that's enough. It's led to me spending a lot more time playing video games which sometimes feels like a waste of time, but I really enjoy them, so it's not wasting time, it's just furthing my goal of enjoying as much of my life as I can.
Abzu has gorgeous vibe check moments, you can choose to 'meditate' and the camera will start smoothly gliding between the vibrant ocean life that surrounds you
Absolutely! I just replayed the game and between meditating at the statues and just riding a turtle or something and letting it guide you is so relaxing
Yeah, journey and Gris are two other awesome vibe check games. And then there is stuff like the jumping puzzles or vistas in gw2, that are just made for this. A lot of games seem to adopt this concept, and I truly enjoy it :D
Damn. This video really made me want to appreciate the world more. Even if its just sitting by the flower bush or appreciating a sunset. Thanks for making me appreciate life more.
I think that transistors "vibe checks" are still my favorite because you have to make them. So my memories of standing humming to myself after a stressful boss or something emotional happens are all my own. For me that is truly beautiful. To anyone who reads this who hasn't played the game. I highly recommend it.
In Omori, there're nice little sort of cutscenes where you can "**do something** with your friends". And the characters are pausing their adventure to have fun, until you press a button and the cutscene ends. Really sweet vibe check. Also because you know that the sweetness isn't gonna last long...
Sometimes when I play Sea of Thieves with my friends, I occasionally just take in the view While I am at the helm whether its a clear sunny day, or at night where an aurora mesmerizes me. It just brings me such peace and calmness. Then some a-hole will come by, sink our ship, and ruin the moment.
I wasn't expecting you to make me cry after saying "If I keep putting my head down, and hoping the days go by quickly, I'm going to look up and realize there aren't many days left". What a statement to make you question what you're really doing with your life. Guess I need to learn to check the vibe with you! Thanks for that little moment, I've been kind of down lately, and that helped! :)
"We aren't guaranteed once in a life time experiences right before going through a big change." This line alone is the perfect reminder to enjoy something every day even if it's something small. Seriously, your writing is thought provoking and, combined with the structure of your work and experience, brilliant. I just turned 30 this year and really needed this reminder. So, thank you.
“I’ve just got to get to the end of this, and then things will be better.” I’ve found myself thinking like that a lot lately, and I’ve only just now realised that that isn’t the healthiest way to think. Keeping your head down and trying to let life pass you by in hopes you’ll look up someday and be in a better place is a pretty silly thing to do, especially when life can hand you a precious moment at any time. Thanks for the eye opening vid man.
I think an amazing example of this that wasn't mentioned is in Omori! Things can get pretty intense at times, but every so often there are these little sparkles that you can interact with to show a cute cutscene of all the characters hanging out. They are most often seen at save points, but can show up in other places as well. It is always really exciting to come across one in the wild. These cutscenes don't have any practical function other than to provide a breather and spread good vibes to the player. The friends might be having a picnic, building sand castles, fishing, or playing video games just to name a few examples. But during a lot of these, each character is acting and behaving in a way that really fits their personality in order to not only add to the charm, but also make it much more interesting. It can teach you about the characters more, build upon what you may already know about them, or just strengthen your connection with them. Also, it does let you enjoy the cutscene until *you* decide to push the button to exit it. Not to mention the game's soothing and amazing music playing in the background. It is my favorite execution of the "vibe check" as you call it.
Omori’s hangout spots and picnics So Good, I’m replaying it and good lord am I terrified of the dang game!! Even looking in the mirror has a chance to scare you. These hangout spots, as far as I’m aware, have no jumpscares or creepy meaning. It’s super refreshing to just sit in a disappointing ball pit with my friends while the game outside reaches one of it’s most confronting points.
My favorite of these is after you beat Hades for the first time. The game forces you to walk at a normal pace, and when Zagreus gets to the bluff above the water, the frame expands to include the view of the sea-- then the sun starts to rise. The sky goes from this gentle indigo to a vivid, warm pink, contrasted by the harshness of the snow-- save for the sweet little flowers on that bluff-- and it's Zagreus's first sunrise. All of this combined with the track in the background makes for one of my fondest, most gorgeous memories ever associated with completing a game.
I cannot put into words how incredible your work is. You so often speak about seemingly small things nobody else speaks about, but as you ve put it. It can make a HUGE difference. Thank you for putting these things into words, as I ve always struggeled with expressing why certain things are so important to me. I hope you know how amazing your videos are!
'If you keep your head down and hope the days go by quickly, eventually you'll look up and realize there aren't many days left.' I'm not crying you're crying
Sound design is a complete and other vibe on it’s own merits. After I played my first session of SH 3 I was taken back by some of the interior sounds to make me feel at ease but also help sell the atmosphere of complete isolation to make my journey in and out through the game.
Raz, that was beautiful! I think I'll take a moment more often when I come across those in games, and debrief a little more internally. I LOVE that you talked about doing it in real life too, because it's SO important for time not just flying by, and for enjoying life. I'll often stop to enjoy a cool view, or beautiful sunset, or to smell the flowers, and it's so great to just pause for a moment.
I think I needed this video right now. You know what? The sun is setting soon, and it's just a half an hour walk to a beautiful lookout point. No one else is gonna make that vibe check for me.
Oh whoa. Did you know that I have a Patreon where I do director's commentaries on videos? AND a monthly podcast? Wow. What a deal. Check it out (or don't, honestly, that is fine too): www.patreon.com/razbuten
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this existential crisis of a video.
yoo sounds like a steal :)
46 seconds in, really like it so far.
Edit: Finished the video, it was amazing, very nice job on this one
May I ask to get the list of the games shown with timecodes?
Anyone know what the game at 1:05 is?
@Razbuten
I've only started playing Hollow Knight last week and the benches are my favorite checkpoints in gaming already.
“haha fun vibe check video”
*10 minutes later*
“ah yes, existential dread about how short life really is”
lol
but yo that ad with the bag was pretty funny, right?
Incredible ad, thank you
@@razbuten it was
@@razbuten It was funny until the very end when you murdered the bag on camera you monster
alternate title
thinkin about death and soap
r/showerthoughts basically
hey indei those bioshock videos were top notch! cant wait for the next video man
The two certainties of the universe.
I've no idea what taxes are - fake certainty.
Thinking about Death and Soap sound like a good album, but what genre? I am not sure.
@@razagan1343 pop rock? idk lol
Raz in retirement: "Well I just gotta get through this and then I can fucking die"
Raz in the afterlife: well I just gotta get through this and become god or something
@@Mr.Slinky Raz after reincarnating as a harem-protagonist: well I just gotta do nothing and watch everyone fall for me
I was just thinking that 😂
Me since elementary school
lmao
This went from a breakdown of forced breaks in videogames to a discussion about the melancholy that is life as a human to an ad about soap. Really an emotional rollercoaster this one was!
@Freeplay I just watched that before I read your comment-
from a videogame breakdown to a mental breakdown
Fr I loved it tho
Really makes me think about a quote from the office: "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days". Because we rarely focus on the moment and enjoying it, you don't realize you're having a great time and that any time in you life can be 'the good old days', as long as you keep making memories
I will remember youuuuuuuu
"Before I'm even halfway through a game, I'm already thinking about how good it will feel to be at the end of it" incredibly relatable
Definitely. When I realize this when playing games, I feel like an ass of sorts.
@@octolockg5059 Agreed, it's sort of like an itch I get to complete it, I'm really enjoying this, so I must complete it to feel satisfied and not have to play it anymore.
I'm always to scared I finish it too soon, which I don't want because I'm enjoying myself so much, so I will put it down more often but eventually never finish because I wanted to play it longer .-.
@@Realmfaker I get that, when I was watching one of my favourite tv shows and knew I was on the final season. It took me months to actually watch that last season, I found myself only watching one episode at a time every few weeks, trying to make it last as long as possible, not wanting it to end.
Funny, I always think about much it'll suck once I finished that game that I currently regard as part of my life. :/
in persona 5 royal, they added a feature where you can just pause the game and play cards with the other characters for no reason
Plus the safe rooms where you sit and chat with your friends and some relaxing music.
That's awesome
Another reason why I need to play Persona 5 royal
yakko is here? Heeeeellllooooo xD
what card games do they play?
I vibe check when I go to the toilet.
@Potaote Joe YES
The sounds of the shit sooth me
vibe check is void
The benches are void
HornEt iS vOiD
Bus journeys are great IRL vibe checks; don't read or do anything overly engaging, just put on some chill music and watch the people get on and off the bus, watch the rain roll down the windows, feel the engine growling behind you... It's nice, I swear :)
I find it hard to read or play on my phone as a passenger because I feel like I will miss life going on around me, maybe that’s why.
I used to ride the bus often. And unless an angry person was screaming at people, I found those trips very helpful. I was working two jobs and it was the time I had to relax and check in with myself and enjoy the view. I regularly got to watch the sun rise over the bay, with snow covered mountains in the distance. It was peaceful.
Noticing there are two moons in the sky and a beached whale 🤷🏽♀️ just that normal casual stuff.
It's nice if you don't get easily car sick, bus rides are more like torture for me than a vibe check.
@@mat-bu7ms I get carsick when I'm staring at my phone while travelling, which is why I put it away and just listen to music. Maybe try that? Idk if it'll help you, but it helps me 😊
im suprised you didn't mention the two parts in hollow knight knight where you have the option to "sit" rather than "rest." next to quirrel at the blue lake and by marissa while she sings. there's no special award or save point when you sit because you aren't resting, you aren't saving progress and you're not regaining health or soul. you're just sitting there, you're just having a moment- and idk about you but it makes me super emotional:') (also really good video I enjoyed it greatly!)
Returning to the isolated Nailmaster who teaches you the Cyclone slash prompts him to ask you to meditate with him, making three instances of 'sit' options.
And Mato
I think you can also stop and look at the statue of the Hollow Knight and Dreamers in the City of Tears, and while it's not quite the same, you can also look through Lurien's spyglass (once you finally get through the Watcher Knights, of course).
It's also worth mentioning that if you have pets equipped, while you're sitting at a bench they'll settle down and go to sleep after a few seconds.
Skurry kill Marrisa, we kill Skurry
lying down on the floor and feeling like garbage with napstablook was the vibe check of the decade for me
Undertale is just full of vibe checks. For me, Snowdin was the biggest one, despite it being so early in the game. That isn't to say there aren't others, there's of course the one you mentioned, every single shop, MTT resort, interacting with Onionsan, Temmie Village, making friends with all the NPCs on a pacifist run, and so many more I won't list here.
That's the most I've ever related to any game ever
When you clean your room so now the only trash left is you...
Just chillin with Burgerpants as he drops one truth bomb after another.
“And if I keep putting down my head down and hoping the days will go by quickly, I’m going to look up and realize there aren’t that many days left.” Is such a raw quote that it vibe checked me.
4:03 - 1000 times yes, no other game makes me feel like *not* having the game paused is *safer* than having the game paused
especially considering the proximity to danger. some benches are literally in the middle of rooms swarming with enemies, but HK establishes that 'benches are safe' so soon and early that it always feels safe regardless. I've used the track Reflection to relax in a bath and I almost fell asleep, it's just that great at setting the right mood.
You just vibe sometimes
its fun how all my favourite youtubers watch razbuten
I didn't do this when I first started but I did like just taking it slowly its better that way
Did anyone else get a tiiiiny bit of PTSD at the spider village bench with them literally beating you unto unconsciousness?
the 'sitting at the lake' vibe check in Hollow Knight is just heartbreaking
Yep. I know it'd be cheeky to give Hollow Knight a double mention, but I LOVE the story based vibe checks that just let you reflect. I often passed by Marissa and sat and listened to her sing for a bit, reflecting on the faded glory of the kingdom.
@@AlfontsIV Spoilers!… and after she was gone I would still sit there and try to remember and sing that music
I never sit with quarrel there after my first playthrough because if I never sit with him he will always be there.
@@w.a.pweaponizedassaultpeng7141 dude. Did you really kill her?
Quirrel is just my favorite vibe check of all time. Especially sitting at the bench with him, in the City of Tears. I could listen to him for hours on end, if he had something to say.
My absolute favorite vibe check was in Outer Wilds, when one loop I decided to attempt to fly after the Eye Probe. After following for a good 5 minutes, I flew right past it, and, in turning around to find it again, found that I couldn't. I had lost it. It was then that I turned back and looked at the solar system to see it as nothing but a speck, thousands of kilometers away. I panicked at first, but very quickly realized that, even if I did make it back, I likely wouldn't be able to do anything productive with the time left anyway. So I just... let go. I let myself drift, so very far away from my home. I stared, watching as the stars slowly started blinking out, a strange and intense serenity washing over me.
It was then I thought to equip my signalscope and listen to the music of the Outer Wilds Ventures. There, for the first time, I heard every single instrument playing Travelers in harmony. And, for the first time, I found myself tearing up while playing a game. It was a stunning moment which took me completely by surprise. Ever since then, I've loved breaks in games (though none have been quite as emotional as that one). They give me the chance to get fully immersed in a world, taking a second to catch my breath. To stop and smell the roses, as it were.
I’ve heard from just about literally everyone on the internet how good of a game Outer Wilds is, but nothing has given me near as much drive and desire to play it as your comment just did. Seriously, what an amazing story. That sounds incredible and makes me want to stop creating my nth character in FF14 and start up Outer Wilds right now, which has been sitting on my Xbox for months now, untouched. Thank you :)
It’s a pleasure to hear you say that! I hope my anecdote doesn’t change your experience by way of expectation. Regardless, I’m certain you’ll enjoy the time you spend playing. Maybe by the end you’ll have your own stories to share!
I experienced something similar with another game. I was playing Alto's Odyssey. It's a mobile game where you snowboard in the Alps doing flips and stunts. In the game you can play in Zen mode, where there are no coins, power ups, challenges or a hard stop.
You can play as long as you like. The mode has a more obvious sound with the occasional rain. I was playing it for a while, just relaxing when I fell down, rain pouring around me, a beautiful moon behind me. The character was barely visible, just sprawling mountains, the rain, the moon.
I just sat there and watched, wondered. My eyes were moist after about 10 minutes
Did... did you sit in a public park with a paper bag over your head?
What a vibe.
Why mask when sack do good?
Nah man,it's his head
dude, that's so rude, the bag is his head. don't be disrispectful
My mother shared me a saying, I don't know from where. "If you waste your time to have fun, then it wasn't wasted."
A good maxim to live by.
That saying has been wrongly attributed to John Lennon or Bertrand Russel, but originally comes from the 1912 novel "Phrynette Married". The original quote is "Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time". I really like that saying myself.
@@fpedrosa2076 Ah, thank you, very informative.
I agree. Though I also think there are better uses of your time than just normal fun. Passions and hobbies can lead to even more reward in the end. I’m not talking about school though, which is in my head mostly a waste of time. I’m talking about music drawing programming etc. But you know having fun is definitely good balanced with passions imo
@@tobyk5091 yeah exactly. theres a nice balance to keep with your free time and responsibilities, which makes the free time feel all the more earned
The Dreamers theme in Hollow Knight is a aggressive vibe check that makes you question everything you are doing, perfect.
Jup I felt so bed killing them.
lol i played the whole game with no sound
...
@@4Isaac it's worth playing again for the soundtrack alone. The composer did a phenomenal job with every single piece.
i only have it on switch and my headphones wouldn't work so i just played without
This video got way more thoughtful than I'd expected and your positive "I'm learning" mentality at the end has made me want to consciously do the same myself. This is genuinely great.
EDIT: I also love live action Razbuten. He is adorbs.
My favorite vibe check in Undertale is when you walk with Monster Kid as silhouettes against the scrolling background of the view of the castle and the glow. I always stop there and just look at the castle. You learned part of their history. See your destiny. Accompanied with a naive kid. Its not a forced pause. But its a great reflection moment
Yes God I love that moment. It's so lovely and calm, and with the Undertale music it's a beautiful moment
In my opinion, pets are some of the best real-life vibe checks around. It's a lot easier to live in the moment when you have a dog in your lap begging for scritches.
A lot easier to put something down when the cat sits on your controller or screen.
@@BonaparteBardithion or your dog literally knocks the controller from your hands
@@PKMNResearcherSkyler
Reminds me of the days when most controllers were wired. They got pulled out so many times by people and animals alike tripping on them.
Also, had rabbits chew the cords.
@@BonaparteBardithion I believe that 100%. My dogs have gotten tangled up in wires far more than I can count, and that's just for charging my devices
Yeah. Its pretty easy to get lost while just petting a dog or a cat. I just pet them while looking at them or at the horizon or at the ground and think about everything. Its pretty magical .
My favorite vibe check has to be the mirror towards the end of Undertale. "You look in the mirror. Despite everything, its still you". When I read that line paired with the son "Undertale", I couldn't bring myself to leave, I just sat there and read that line over, and over again. Its a totally optional line, but I don't think my experience would've been the same without it.
That’s my favorite as well. The line is one that many people will skip over, but I usually end up spending a few minutes staring at that mirror. It’s a simple line, but it’s an extremely powerful one nonetheless, especially when paired with the music
Yess love that moment.
You almost made me sob with the memory of it
My favorite is the scene where monster kid stops and looks at the castle in the background of that one room in waterfall, i always stop with him
71st like lol
Underrated vibe check example:
When you summit a mountain and stop to look around in Breath of the Wild
When you climb up a tower in an explored area and take a look around
Absolutely. The way the world of BotW utilizes sightlines is brilliant.
This was actually what I immediately thought of
with that ambient noise of the wind kicking, birds chirping, damn that game is amazing
The long ass paraglide down to eventide island at 4:00am when the sun just comes up on the horizon and there is nothing but the breeze and ocean surrounding you was the biggest vibe check in the game for me. That was singlehandedly the most beautiful moment in the game.
Hollow Knight: I just want to sit on this bench and vibe to the music
Salubra: Allow me to introduce myself
*ahu hu hu hu hu hu hu...*
lucky for me I only got every charm after I beat the game and just wanted to get to 112%
To be fair, that is a vibe check as well.
Like a silly vibe check from all the seriousness of HK.
The videogame "The Darkness". The couch scene where your girl is laying her head on your shoulder. Xbox-era vibe check.
And watching the entirety of To Kill A Mockingbird.
One of my friends does a "date with Jenny" every year around the time of their anniversary with girlfriend. They play through the game and just chill at the movie for a few hours. They even went a little overboard last time and did cosplay. Always a chill evening.
@@extreemkb So they emulate Jenny and Jackie and have you emulate the player by watching them?
@@waitwhat4302 the book? Yea its great
Your comment came out of nowhere to slap me in the childhood. How did I stumble across you here? No idea, but I’m glad I did.
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around every once in a while, you might miss it. “
- Ferris Bueller
This quote is so blunt and non-poetic and unprofound, and yet gets its message across so clearly.
I'm grateful for vibe checks in games like Assassins Creed or Breath of the Wild, where you have to Synchronize at the top of a tower, allowing you to take in the beautiful scenery.
I bought all of the AC games since black flag a few months ago. So far I’ve beaten Black Flag and Rogue and am most of the way through Unity even though I haven’t played it in a while. None of them I ever felt like slowing down in though. I always just wanted to get through them.
i've experienced a strange paradox with odyssey where though i quite hate the gameplay and don't find the story that interesting, i played it back to back with dlc because the whole game, for me, was a vibe check. and it happens quite often that i gaze upon the landscape so much that i eventually jump from the tower and... remember i haven't synchronized after all.
The way AC is designed though kinda doesn’t let you enjoy the view, being a game where my map is full of icons and shit I have to do, I wish I would have taken the time to rest, but I always had something mindless to get to. Holy shit I’m so good at making run on sentences.
ohh... we could do that, i ended up synchronizing all the towers after the intros
I've spent around 300 hours in the past two months playing Hollow Knight, and the moments you can just sit next to a character, listen to the music and reflect on the game give me such a sense of relief and comfort.
The moment where you sit at the Blue Lake in Hollow Knight is my favorite vibe check moment. Every time I get to it in a playthrough I just sit there for a while and soak in the atmosphere. Perfect mix of peaceful and melancholy.
Hey Raz, I graduated from college 6 days ago after an 8 year bachelors degree. I know that feeling of, "just make it to the next part, it will be better." After 6 days, my brain is already looking for the "next part" instead of being glad that I accomplished something after 8 years. So thanks for this. Your timing couldn't have been better.
Congrats dude!
Congrats!
That’s a long time in college. I’m still trying to figure that next part out. I’ve now spent as much time out of college as I have in it, so just trying to take things day by day as I figure things out. Can be tough when the next thing doesn’t come, so best of luck to you.
I have my final exams of last semester in 2 days? gotta check the vibe now!
Congrats! :0
Soon I'll graduate for High School and I just feel like I'm not ready at all
Here, Raz said that his High School mindset was the same as always "just need to finish this, things will get better after that", but I'm terrified, I don't want to to leave High School or rather, studies are making me afraid
I love learning, but school's system is tiring me (especially now when the end of the year is approaching) and is so stressful
I feel like people expect more and more from me, I now have to take my responsibilities and basically, I won't learn at school anymore, I have to learn by myself, school will be for tests, and I just feel like I can't
I feel like all this ranting is childish, people in my class still have energy, they still work, and I still do, but I have less and less motivation
I guess summer vacation will help me recharge my batteries but still, I don't know what to expect for the next years, I might go to some sort of "intense college" (there's no english translation for this) where basically all I'll do is work for 2 years, leaving few hours per week to practice hobbies eventually, and almost nothing to see friends, family if living on you own, and partner
I work, I know I can do it, if others did I surely can, but I have no idea how I'll manage my sanity and time and all this and I'm just scared
This whole comment is just me venting I'm sorry
Any game that lets you physically sit down anywhere is the perfect vibe.
Sitting on the bridge you just built in Animal Crossing. Watching the sun and sea with Majula's theme in the background in Dark Souls 2. Placing a campfire on a cliff and looking into the distance in Breath of the Wild. It's all so perfect.
Sitting on my face in HoneySelect 2
More games need a sit button
Minecraft seems to be lacking a sit button very badly. I keep thinking about how awesome it would be to just build some hotel/pool or other nice area to simple exist and relax in, but somehow it's very difficult to just do nothing and relax in that game (plus, the day/night cycle is so short that you're always on the run anyway).
I've tought this ever since I was a kid, it's a personal joy of mine booting up new game and finding out it has a sit button. The amount of downloads on mods that let you sit also confirm people love this
Sometimes I use to hear Majula's theme when I feel sad. That song sends a feeling of peace that calms me. That place in the game felt like a real home where I could be safe from any harm and just relax.
I like how this guy dives so deep into video games, he goes from checkpoints to existential crises. And it actually somehow fits perfectly. This is why I love his videos, everytime you learn something new, but thought video games somehow. Makes u appreciate the world more. As you listen to his smooth calming voice. GOAT
Yeah him and Jacob Geller are the best at this kind of videos.
Best description of the vibes of his videos.
I actually realized I was in the 'Consumption' mindset, more focused on finishing a game than enjoying it. I'll definitely need to remind myself to sit and reflect every now and then
"its easier to get caught up in a task than in a sunset"
great quote, also applies irl
9:52 29/04/2021
"If i keep putting my head down and hope the days go by quickly, im going to look up and realise there arent many days left"
- a wise man
I remember a phrase or quote that goes something like this "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things"
Basically, enjoy the journey, not just the end goal.
Interesting fact about life!
The journey can be cold, hard, unforgiving or straight up bad, but the reward isn't worth it!
@@anamap so what you're saying is... To end it all .
@@riceshot9981 While that is... An option... I think I was focusing more on the "what if the real treasure was the friends along the way" stuff. The reward may not be very... Rewarding. However...
Uh... Um... Eh...
Ok, I'm not good at the whole meaning of life stuff, but at least there are momentsry satisfactions to distract us from all that, like tasty food, games and the horni.
@@riceshot9981 nah it's just u judge ur journey if u want to be sad even the perfect journey be cold sad and hard with an unsatisfactory reward if u want to be happy u can have an average journey and an average reward and still feel satisfied
Just gonna put this out here: Eurydice's chamber in Hades.
Tbh I'm kind of disappointed he didn't bring it up 😔
"fairwell...to all the earthly remains...no burdens...no further debts to be paid...atlas can rest his weary bones, the weight of the world...all falls away...in tiiiiiiiiime..."
one of the best vibe checks in gaming imo
there is no feeling quite like hearing her voice and knowing you've got a spot to chill for a while and you don't have to run from everything trying to kill you. you can just have a snack and listen to the singing, maybe give her some nectar as a thank you
The first time I found her chamber I just sat there listening for like 10 minutes
Dude omg I never want to leave.
This hit harder than it should've for a video about "vibe checks".
First, how dare UA-cam take almost a week to put this video on my radar.
Second, how dare Razbuten make me tear up on a Monday morning.
The bench with Quirrell in the entrance to the City of Tears, sitting with Quirrell at the Blue Lake, and listening to Marissa will forever be some of my favorite video game moments
In omori, "do you want to have a picnic with your friends?" can have very different contexts depending on where you are in the game, and is my vibe check of the year.
I was looking for a comment mentioning OMORI. The game is chock full of vibe checks, not only in the picnics, but also the huge amount of interactable stuff in every zone. Having tea in Sweetheart's garden, fishing in the frozen lake, flying a kite in the floating island. There's so many calming moments like those. It's a great game!
@@psirockingaming
Calming, until there’s an one-eyed-demon behind you
And if By your side plays in background it becomes perfect
@@psirockingaming The world is so rich in content I didn't think about finishing the game at any second - I just wanted to see EVERYTHING I could in my first run
and then 73 hours.
I thought this was gonna be a video on when video games rock your shit to make sure you don't get too cocky and ahead of yourself.
Yeah me too. That would be a cool video.
It took me a little too long to figure out that the "vibe check" meme was entirely about just sucker punching someone really hard.
The litteral meaning is checking if someone has good or bad vibes, basically are you killing the mood, so i was confused for awhile.
literally just vibing bro
NO! NO! NO! Many people say I am sick in the head. NOOOO!!!! I don't believe them. But there are so many people commenting this stuff on my videos, that I have 1% doubt. So I have to ask you right now: Do you think I am sick in the head? Thanks for helping, my dear vai
Meanwhile I am watching the video at 1.75 times the speed.
@Vailskibum94 aren't you a teacher?
I hate how you will put your comments on videos to promote you crappy and uninspired videos
@@randomman5337 Jesus.. You people need to chill
I think one of my favorites has to be when you get anywhere high in Jedi: Fallen Order, and you can press a button to have Cal comment on the view. Just a brief moment where you can let the scale and detail of the map wash over you before going back to slicing stormtroopers
As someone who struggles to finish games, these vibe checks are so relaxing and remind me that I'm making progress. I get to sit and be like, "yeah! I'm doing it!" You know you're safe in that spot and you'll get to where you're going (or appreciate where you have been).
A Night in the Woods is another game with great vibe checks. It’s so “loose” and you’re just wondering the town during the day, when you find a place that lets you just sit and listen to music, like the town bridge or the couch in the church, it’s like it’s own reward.
I think it's cool how even the action feels like just you as a person getting to vent vicariously through her. When she's angry at life and you just go around bashing things with a bat or shredding your guitar, it feels like a vibe check of a different sort
I feel like the whole town during the day is a vibe check, I probably spent at least 70% of my gameplay there. There's so many side things you can do, and there's a lot of new things every day in almost the whole town, even if it's just dialogues. I got pretty much the whole town memorized because I'd go through it all daily and there would always be something new in almost every single scenario I had access to. If you do that instead of just rushing to finish the day, it does start to feel like you live in Possum Springs and you're very familiar with it.
Also a funny thing is that I've taken naps while exploring. Not only because I played it in my xbox, lying on my couch with a nice blanket in the afternoon, but also because of these extremely calm vibes the game gives there.
Yes indeed!
'No one can design your life to be filled with these things except for you' - Razbuten, who designed on of these things to fill my life
Am I the only one feeling absurdly emotional in the end? My my, great script 😭❤️
Ico has the greatest vibe check in the form its save points. When "Heal" starts playing I get shivers almost every single time.
Just wanted to come back and say this video was eye-opening for me. I adore your channel cause you have such perspective on video games. Didn't think I would actually take anything from the video when I first watched it, but I kept coming back to the thought that no one will set the pace of your life besides you. Thank you,Raz
I’m a simple man. I see Hollow Knight, I click.
EDIT: Holy shit I just finished the video and that was one of the most profound things I’ve ever experienced. God damn. I thought you were just going to talk about how it’s nice to take a moment to sit on a bench in Hollow Knight.
Man ain't dumb, he knows that hollow knight gets the views ;)
(and just to be clear, I'm a massive fan of both)
Instead it was about how it's nice to sit in a bench in Hollow Knight and think about your impending doom
You've never seen razbuten before?
Honestly his videos are so great and has such depth when he talks about aspects of video games, then he transitions to real life and you learn something about yourself and games
My favourite vibe check in hollow knight is the room in the city of tears where you can sit and listen to marissa sing to you
oh, yeah! I also love the room after traitor lord, as to not spoil much, i kind of just sat in awe to the music when i arrived there... hollow knight has some great moments
I second this. Would you rather keep the dream of her singing or vanquish the dream with the dream nail?
@@TheKnegen On my first playthrough I dream nailed her because I thought it gave more than just one essence and I instantly regretted it after realising I couldn't hear her singing again.
I like the one that comes towards the end of the game where you just find Quirrel sitting at the edge of the lake and you can just choose to sit next to him for as long as you want. It's just so peaceful and calming :)
@@strangething7379 evertime i play the game I always sit for at least 3 minutes (and spoilers) just to Comfort him in his last minutes
"im learning to check the vibe" i respect it
10:03 This reminds me I am spending my high school days like that too. Hearing that made me realize I should use my time better and enjoy the moment instead of trying to overcome it. I wanna thank you for this, I am honestly grateful. Thanks
Enjoy The Life Don't Rush It.
My favorite vibe checks have been:
- the benches in hollow knight, but especially in that one room with the gramophone
- that room in chapter 1 of Celeste where the music fades out a bit and you’re just standing at the cliff side (also the end of chapter 7, with the different music; moral of the story is Lena Raine fucking rules)
- the majority of hyper light drifter; I spent soooo much time sitting down in that game because it’s music is so good and it’s so damn pretty
- the top of hawk peak in a short hike
- Supergiant games does this really well too but it’s been so long since I played bastion or transistor that I don’t have examples. Hades has those lookout points but I have the sense that they’re not as prominent as in other games by them.
And on the 7th day, God did a vibe check and said: "it is good".
Pretty much, yeah 😄
Or did he say, “is it good?”
🥶🥶🙏amen
That's a divine thought
I don't mean to nitpick but on days 1 through 6 he said "it is good" yet on the 7th day he said "it is very good"
Small difference I know but I always thought it was cool that after everything was finished, creation was special, more than just good but "very good"
The point with the giraffe in TLOU is not only a point where you think "probably nothing better will happen after this". It also the moment when Joel makes the decision that he doesn't want to pursue their goal any longer and suggests to Ellie that they should just try to find a good life somewhere instead. So, it functions both as a vibe check and a pivot point that determines their fate at the end.
I watched at 2x speed and may be one of the very first people to have seen this video. I think it is good, maybe slow things down is what I need.
This comment on this video in particular is a work of art.
@@razbuten So true!
Pin
I have no words except for "I have no words except for "ᴵ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ⁿᵒ ʷᵒʳᵈˢ ᵉˣᶜᵉᵖᵗ ᶠᵒʳ""""
I have only one thing to say: The observatory rooms in Super Mario Galaxy. The soothing ambiance plus the cozy atmospheres make them some of the best vibe checks in videogames. My favorite is the kitchen and the soft fire crackling you can hear coming from the fireplace
I loved being able to play guitar or sit on a fountain and reflect in life is strange. It just had great music and was a fun experience 10/10 reccommend
Let's go high quality title.
Edit: didn't expect this video to make me question my own mortality ok
"Tomorrow is a mystery, the past is history, but today is a gift. That is why they call it the present."
-Oogway
Nice quote
Oogway is a rare well made character
Thought it was yoda
"Tomorrow is history, the past is mystery, the presents are gifts. That is why they call it today."
-Albert Einstein
@@logi-operations Sounds like something someone with dementia would say tbh
The humming mechanic in Transistor is one of my favorite vibe checks. Zero prompts. Just hum whenever you feel like it and enjoy the atmosphere of the game.
And chilling with your crew in the Pyre.
My favourite vibe check has to be when you first come across the Hollow Knight Memorial. It's absolutely perfect to me. The music hits just in the right spot, Hornet's cryptic message to The Knight, the description accompanying the memorial and how it comes just after 3 gruelling biomes, along with the whole vibe of the City of Tears. It was 3:30 in the afternoon when I encountered it, I damn near started sobbing in front of my laptop screen.
One of my favorite vibe checks in games that is purely driven by me is a small ritual I made for myself in outer wilds: whenever I could, once the music signalled the end of another time loop and the beginning of another supernova, I liked to just fly into space and get out of my ship, and just drift in space for a bit. It made it all so much more beautiful and I think a part of it that made it so memorable was how it came from me and nothing else.
aaaah nothings better than just vibing with quirrel on Blue Lake in Hollow Knight
Yes exactly. That was what i was thinking about
@Aiden Culbert T-T
Or in front of a window at the City of Tears
O n e L a s t V i b e
in college, i had this mindset that goes like: in college, whether im suffering or not, i will take it all in, i will never say "i just need to get to the end of this"
i was able to do that, and yet, the end came so fucking fast, still
fuck life, man
As someone who is putting his head down to finish this last week of high school, this past year has been me trying to rush to the next chapter and knowing that college will be so much better and I’m sure it will be but, but with the pandemic and work and early college course that I’m barely passing, I haven’t looked up and seen the world around me. I think I’m going to go for a walk in the woods for a while with no tech and just be in the moment. Thank you for this wonderful essay and reminder that it’s ok to pause occasionally and reflect.
Unsolicited advice from a 39 year old. If you possibly can, take at least one summer during college, and just reserve it for enjoyment. Use your new freedom and adult status to try new stuff, travel, see what hobbies exist and which ones might be interesting to you (the more real-world / non-computer-based the better), connect with an aging relative or even just one or more parents (with your new perspectives), meet new people / figure out how to make friends in adulthood, learn what habits can actually help you feel happy / healthy / centered, learn to cook, figure out how you are distinct from your parents / home town but not in a reactionary way, or some combination of these things. It's the last time you'll be able to take any time off without asking some kind of permission for a _long_ time (even quitting for a sabbatical like I just did, is kind of asking permission from the universe to take a bleeping break and not get financially ejected), and it's kinda hard to justify more than 2 weeks off at a time if you have to ask permission. Don't get me wrong, you should also insist upon taking your available vacation to its fullest and taking sabbatical time as needed when in the working world, but it'll probably be harder / scarier / more stressful then.
There's some solid advice above. I'm not as experienced, but often I feel more creative, flexible and capable of tackling challenges after taking a long break. The inspiration and rejuvenation you feel are priceless.
IM SO GLAD HE ADDED IN THE MENU MUSIC WHEN HE DID LIFE IS STRANGE :'))))
I teared up... again
The music from the end of the video was also from life is strange wasn’t it?
Ghost of Tsushima is the KING of this. Plenty of moments where it makes you stop and see the gourgous environments but also so many times when it made me stop of my own choice to look. Beautiful game. Having such a good photo mode was really rewarding when there are som many chances to use it
I’m not gonna lie the last few minutes of this videos made me cry so hard. I got out of a pretty serious and happy relationship yesterday and this video hit me where it hurt and made me realise how much more I wish I appreciated every little moment and the time together. But I think it was something I was meant to see so thank you
It might just be me, but I love how vulnerable Raz is in most of his videos. It really put things into perspective.
This brought me to tears, I forget in the rush that I can stop and check the vibe. Because of this video I will try to do this more and reflect.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, Razbuten.
I have been racing my life for the past 10 years. From middle school to high school and on. Racing to the next thing, because it will surely be better than what's now. Racing to live up to my successful parents' expectations. Racing just for the sake of racing. Living from weekend from weekend, from vacation to vacation, hopping from one achievement to another. And I've barely ever stopped to just sit down, look around and think about where I even am and where I'm actually going. I want to live my life out well, yet in the strive for my goal I have lost it's very purpose out of my sight - living a fun life. Now I'm sixteen and I'm watching myself become someone else right in front of my eyes. I lay in my bed, I sit on the balcony and I stand in the shower saying to myself that tomorrow I'll just relax and chat with my friends about things I actually care about. And then I meet them and the story repeats itself - we talk, we laugh and then we part ways, restarting the loop. It's like the old joke about the class clown coming home and taking his make-up off.
Nowadays each and every one of us lives a life that is faster and more saturated then ever before. So thank you Razbuten, for slowing down and taking us with you. Peace :)
My favorite vibe check is Geralt and Ciri's snowball fight in the witcher 3
My favourite vibe check is in Ori and the Will of the Wisps where we just stop for a second and the camera pans round to show you the rolling canopy of the vast forest as the music swells...
It was truly a beautiful scene and is one of my favourite moments from a game I have ever played
Sitting down just to listen to Marissa in the Opera House in hollow knight. Then when you accidentally turn her into essence you keep coming back to think about what you have done.
Why did you have to remind me... she was probably the main reason I completed a second play through.
The one I accidentally turned into essence was the cookie girl
she's fine now of course
Also that Greenpath bench. You know, that one.
also sitting next to quirrel by the blue lake :(
most relatable comment award
also yeah, I am so sorry. It only got me like 2 essence... Why? Why did I do it?
As a person with synesthesia i always love vibe checks in videogames. They always give u these feelings of hope and pure happines. These are the most nostalgic moments in videogames.
As a person with synesthesia as well, I do love vibe checks in video games, but I can't for my life understand how exactly colorful numbers help me appreciate them more.
@@captainfiri7619 damn, colorfull Numbers kinda sucks, i have music with colors
@@vibecheck9117 Oooh, that makes sense! Yeah, that's really cool
This reminded me of the parts in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers Of Sky when you would get to the end of a particularly tough chapter and it would show some beautiful scenery that would fill up both DS screens. Always liked those moments.
So many goosebumps from this video seriously, this gives me life.
May I add one of my favourite vibe checks ever: Resting in Death Stranding. Basically, your character gets physically and mentally tired from having to balance so much weight on his body, and your BB (a baby that is attached to the protagonist through a fake womb) gets more and more stressed out the more you find yourself in stressful situations, so you can decide to just lay down and have a rest in any moment as you see fit. The feeling of watching Sam just take a nap and rest his eyes while holding BB, coupled with the amazing sound design of your sorroundings and watching as the stress bar and the tiredness bar very slowly decrease is just so comforting.
There was this one time that I'll always remember. In Death Stranding there is this mechanic in which certain areas that you connect under a network show you other player's messages and signs, warning you from danger, uneven terrain, and even cheering you on. There was this forest area which you had to pass through so that you could connect it to the network, making it very tense to not have any help while having to deal with BTs (which are essentially blind and invisible enemies that you need to hold your breath around). Just getting through it all, connecting the area to the network and watching all the messages and signs warning from danger and cheering everybody on from other players pop up in the map, and then taking a rest with the leaves blowing in the wind knowing that I had completed my mission and had to de-stress both in game and in real life was such an absolutely perfect, memorable, and unique vibe check.
I used to be so worried about the future. Now, I feel like as long as I can enjoy most days, that's enough. It's led to me spending a lot more time playing video games which sometimes feels like a waste of time, but I really enjoy them, so it's not wasting time, it's just furthing my goal of enjoying as much of my life as I can.
"time spent wasted on something you enjoy is never time wasted"
Abzu has gorgeous vibe check moments, you can choose to 'meditate' and the camera will start smoothly gliding between the vibrant ocean life that surrounds you
Absolutely! I just replayed the game and between meditating at the statues and just riding a turtle or something and letting it guide you is so relaxing
Yeah, journey and Gris are two other awesome vibe check games.
And then there is stuff like the jumping puzzles or vistas in gw2, that are just made for this.
A lot of games seem to adopt this concept, and I truly enjoy it :D
@@SeiShinCasios omg I haven't played gw2 in years but you're absolutely right! The 'vistas', probably my favourite way to earn xp in that game
Damn. This video really made me want to appreciate the world more. Even if its just sitting by the flower bush or appreciating a sunset. Thanks for making me appreciate life more.
I think that transistors "vibe checks" are still my favorite because you have to make them. So my memories of standing humming to myself after a stressful boss or something emotional happens are all my own. For me that is truly beautiful. To anyone who reads this who hasn't played the game. I highly recommend it.
Thanks for the soap recommendation, perfect for when I have to wash my face from all the tears streaming down my face after watching this video!
In Omori, there're nice little sort of cutscenes where you can "**do something** with your friends". And the characters are pausing their adventure to have fun, until you press a button and the cutscene ends.
Really sweet vibe check. Also because you know that the sweetness isn't gonna last long...
I like the one where you ride the raft with Basil. So relaxing.
Glad someone else was thinking of this^^
Sometimes when I play Sea of Thieves with my friends, I occasionally just take in the view While I am at the helm whether its a clear sunny day, or at night where an aurora mesmerizes me. It just brings me such peace and calmness.
Then some a-hole will come by, sink our ship, and ruin the moment.
I wasn't expecting you to make me cry after saying "If I keep putting my head down, and hoping the days go by quickly, I'm going to look up and realize there aren't many days left". What a statement to make you question what you're really doing with your life. Guess I need to learn to check the vibe with you! Thanks for that little moment, I've been kind of down lately, and that helped! :)
"We aren't guaranteed once in a life time experiences right before going through a big change." This line alone is the perfect reminder to enjoy something every day even if it's something small. Seriously, your writing is thought provoking and, combined with the structure of your work and experience, brilliant.
I just turned 30 this year and really needed this reminder. So, thank you.
“I’ve just got to get to the end of this, and then things will be better.” I’ve found myself thinking like that a lot lately, and I’ve only just now realised that that isn’t the healthiest way to think. Keeping your head down and trying to let life pass you by in hopes you’ll look up someday and be in a better place is a pretty silly thing to do, especially when life can hand you a precious moment at any time. Thanks for the eye opening vid man.
He's alive! I've been waiting for another masterpiece of an essay from you!
I think an amazing example of this that wasn't mentioned is in Omori! Things can get pretty intense at times, but every so often there are these little sparkles that you can interact with to show a cute cutscene of all the characters hanging out. They are most often seen at save points, but can show up in other places as well. It is always really exciting to come across one in the wild. These cutscenes don't have any practical function other than to provide a breather and spread good vibes to the player. The friends might be having a picnic, building sand castles, fishing, or playing video games just to name a few examples. But during a lot of these, each character is acting and behaving in a way that really fits their personality in order to not only add to the charm, but also make it much more interesting. It can teach you about the characters more, build upon what you may already know about them, or just strengthen your connection with them. Also, it does let you enjoy the cutscene until *you* decide to push the button to exit it. Not to mention the game's soothing and amazing music playing in the background. It is my favorite execution of the "vibe check" as you call it.
Omori’s hangout spots and picnics So Good, I’m replaying it and good lord am I terrified of the dang game!! Even looking in the mirror has a chance to scare you. These hangout spots, as far as I’m aware, have no jumpscares or creepy meaning. It’s super refreshing to just sit in a disappointing ball pit with my friends while the game outside reaches one of it’s most confronting points.
My favorite of these is after you beat Hades for the first time.
The game forces you to walk at a normal pace, and when Zagreus gets to the bluff above the water, the frame expands to include the view of the sea-- then the sun starts to rise. The sky goes from this gentle indigo to a vivid, warm pink, contrasted by the harshness of the snow-- save for the sweet little flowers on that bluff--
and it's Zagreus's first sunrise.
All of this combined with the track in the background makes for one of my fondest, most gorgeous memories ever associated with completing a game.
Wasn't expecting a tear from a video with "vibe check" in the title
I cannot put into words how incredible your work is. You so often speak about seemingly small things nobody else speaks about, but as you ve put it. It can make a HUGE difference. Thank you for putting these things into words, as I ve always struggeled with expressing why certain things are so important to me. I hope you know how amazing your videos are!
'If you keep your head down and hope the days go by quickly, eventually you'll look up and realize there aren't many days left.'
I'm not crying you're crying
Sound design is a complete and other vibe on it’s own merits. After I played my first session of SH 3 I was taken back by some of the interior sounds to make me feel at ease but also help sell the atmosphere of complete isolation to make my journey in and out through the game.
Raz, that was beautiful! I think I'll take a moment more often when I come across those in games, and debrief a little more internally. I LOVE that you talked about doing it in real life too, because it's SO important for time not just flying by, and for enjoying life. I'll often stop to enjoy a cool view, or beautiful sunset, or to smell the flowers, and it's so great to just pause for a moment.
I think I needed this video right now. You know what? The sun is setting soon, and it's just a half an hour walk to a beautiful lookout point. No one else is gonna make that vibe check for me.
The "getting to the end" need that you explained superbly really resonates with me, thank you for putting it into words!