@@voon1032 don’t walk away from an area unless you know that area has nothing else. The game is pretty good about vaguely telling you what to do. If you see a puzzle assume that the answer is nearby. Some of the paper cups are kinda hard to find. Though they aren’t super necessary
A missed detail, trashcans in the game have loot in them sometimes, of course, this prompts you to check EVERY trashcan, where one in or around your starting house breaks and the text says "you accidentally crush it" which the same text comes up after talking to the guards of Gibby, a very good call back and explanation with your power
Ironically, I found Hylics 2’s combat much more engaging than 1’s. Not being able to run away didn’t really bother me that much, especially with how easy it is to avoid the enemies. I see the battles in 2 as more as a “are you in the mood for a fight” kinda deal. Plus charging is fun.
I really thought that whole section of Hylics 2s battle system as a skill issue? Coming from someone who plays turn based rpgs on the regular, the combats amazing and very complex and their are many ways to gain an edge through understanding what each enemies capabilities are and your own party members.
Personally I found Hylics 1 way too easy if you just abuse Wayne's hypnosis. I feel like H2 encouraged more creative strategies, and I love that winning a battle never felt guaranteed
"that someone only played these games cause of a funny meme on discord" I won't lie i saw the die gif and immediately bought the game in like the next minute
This video was very weird to me I absolutely had to do almost no backtrack or grinding in all my playthroughs of Hylics 1. You also can use the crystals for a quick teleport system I feel like you missing the first party member is what gave you all those impressions.
Just saw the Hylics 2 section The movement is quirky, but once you learn that the little white circle below you indicates where you'll land, it feels fine
Wayne could be Gibby’s son or younger brother. With Gibby having the moon as his head and being connected to Wayne, Wayne’s head could probably be a half/crescent moon, having that somber look at the stars as the Moon explodes and Gibby apologizing could mean that Gibby kicked Wayne from the moon a long time ago.
I personally believe Wayne to be the Zidane to Gibby's Kuja; a failsafe/replacement for Gibby should his rule over the Moon had proven to be detrimental to the Earth. It's also possible that Wayne could have been a Moon Soldier, which would explain his "expertise" in battle tactics (as quoted by Pongorma in "The World Begins to Wane"), and the unloaded Pistol equipped in his weapon slot at the start of the first Hylics.
Heat me O' Sun has become a thing i use in my day to day lexicon... usually to be an ask for reprieve of whatever is bothering me, or to enjoy said reprieve. because i mean, when all things suck, just ly on your back and profess; "Heat me o' sun!"
@@daminit6 wow that means a lot thank you so much. The direction I was given in the script really helped me out so I have to give credit where credit is due!
You gave a great gravitas and dignified but fairly approachable presence to Pongorma. The statement he gave to which you lent your voice for, together with the actors for Dedusmuln and Somsnosa, helped make this video leave a stronger impact on me than it otherwise would have. Have a good one.
I like to think Lindroth would be thrilled with the way you describe his games. These games were crying out for a video like this, and now you've done it. Thank you.
I was obsessed with games like off and hylics as a kid so its SO fun to see people finally talking about it on a more long form scale. (Also, imo it is a blessing in disguise that this didn’t get Ut’s popularity TRUST ME.)
it's not a blessing that this remained underground. That's fun for the consumer who gets to feel like they are familiar with some exclusive art that most people don't know about That's not fun for the people who develop this niche pieces of art. if their art gains no popularity then they make no money from their art. Hipster mentality is incredibly selfish
I feel like there may be something you are missing with the Philology stat. Philology is the study of languages. Maybe leaving your Philology stat at one leaves the game at maximum randomness for any speaking roles, but as you raise it, the NPCs become more intelligible
@@travisleabeck2572 It's just how Mason relabeled the existing stats in the engine. RPG Maker has 8 character stats - HP, MP, Attack, Defense, M. Attack, M. Defense, Luck, and Speed. These are non-negotiable: you can't add or remove any of them entirely. You CAN change how the names for these stats appear in the menu, though. And you can change how damage calculations and chance to hit are determined.
@@OtakuUnitedStudio fair enough. If he ever makes another, I would love to see it have some functional implementation that would allow the MC to squeeze some lore out of the NPCs
Some really bizarre criticisms here. Hylics 2 combat is actually really good if you know basic strategy. It allows a great deal of variety in how you approach battles and it's not hard to develop a successful strategy once you've learned what enemies do. It seems like you don't know what you're doing.
There is a weird undertone of bugs/mollusks in Hylics 1 and 2. For example: juice is taken out of a mollusk like creature, Pongorma has a beetle like helm in the sequel, bugs could be killed in the first game for benefits, Wayne is a larva when early in their life, and I think there may be more. It’s just something odd I noticed.
I haven't finished the video yet to see what is contained in Hylics 2, but the vibe I got from the original Hylics is of a group of friends who used to play together everyday when they were young, but are now either fresh out of high school or college, and feeling apathetic and lost in the world. They are depressed, disillusioned, scared, etc. And in an attempt to heal themselves, they try to meet up and relive those days of happy childhood, only to find, after they've reached the end, that it can never be the same. They aren't in the past, and it will never feel the same as when they were little. It gives me the "you can never go home" feeling, of college kids coming home from college and realizing their life is forever changed and home will never be what it once was. How you phrased that the world felt lonely and how you were explaining that we never even realized what Gibby was supposed to be doing, that just reminded me of the half-baked plots my childhood friends and I would come up with as kids when he pretended to do RPG games in the woods out back. And how back then it didn't really matter that none of our "NPC" characters really had any depth to them or that our bad guys had any motive. We were just having fun. And then I was thinking... How unfulfilling that would be as adult trying to relive those old stories we once acted out. It would feel hollow, lonely, sad. Because we're not kids anymore, and we understand and think about things much deeper, and now we have to face the scary unknowns of adulthood and learn to have fun in a new way, however we can manage that. And sometimes, some of us can't learn how to have fun in a new way and we struggle to let go and move on, and it crushes us. Anyway, I'm going to continue to watch for your presentation of Hylics 2, which may go in a totally different direction from what I was missing on, but I just wanted to share what the first game, and how you described it, brought up in my mind.
It’s all clay huh? Wayne looks awfully similar to ancient religious dolls being made of clay. The humanoid body with a drastic head change. Even the character names are religious Wayne = Cain Samsnosa = Samyaza (Fallen angel) or Samsara (infinite cycle of life and death, like how you can’t permanently die.) Dedusmalin = Methuselah (another biblical figure)
What unlocked Hylics lore for me was realising how much the series takes from egyptology, (ruins, deserts, artifacts, temples, monks, crypts, tombs, you find effigies of Gibby as the sphinx, Gibby emerges from a Pharaoh's coffin) When people rediscovered The Sphinx in 1817, it was buried in sand up to it's shoulders, the Sphinx was said to house "The Hall of Records" like something containing hidden knowledge, you could draw a parallel to the Bombo-Genesis monitor and other artifacts being buried in the Accretion. ...and what the heck is The Accretion? I will take another hint from egyptology and liken it to a flood. Hylics has a line of dialogue "A great gesture may oppose Gibby. But accretions place it beyond our reach" which implies that there's been accretions and then there was The Accretion which could be parallel to how in Ancient Egypt there were ubiquitous floods and in almost every religion on earth there's a Flood Myth, including in Ancient Egypt, which we actually have archeological evidence for there being some kind of worldwide catastrophic flood event happening. This ties in perfectly with all the lunar cycle stuff in Hylics, the moon quite literally controls the tide. The villain being a Gibbous moon, always on the brink of a full moon, which often symbolises doom, and the hero being a waning crescent moon who has to return the world back to form is pretty poetic. yeah and what's up with the title "Hylics"? I see it as being sort of derogatory, like "peons" or "NPCs", maybe hurled by Gibby at the main four? There's this theme of mundanity in the series, it's kind of funny how even when we find Pongorma, Greatest of The Dread Knights of Yiithorn, locked away in a vault deep underground, the dude is just sitting on his couch watching TV. The line of dialogue that stuck with me the most in the series was when Gibby is trying to win over Pongorma by saying "Pongorma, you witnessed the empire of the Sages. Only through my work here can such grandeur again be realized." and Pongorma responds with "Alas, I've become habituated to this shabby planet." I interpreted this as Pongorma admitting that even though his best days are over, and even after he's seen the world become drab, he's grown fond of his menial life as a Hylic, and to him it's worth protecting even if he has to abandon the promise of glory. This is kind of why I don't see Hylics as being a Grimdark like you interpreted it as, sure their lives might be kind of sucky, but our crew still has time to start a band, pet a cat, set up a grill, do some yard work and watch TV. Hylics reminds me a bit of Dorohedoro in that way.
Hear you calling the new pongorma design a downgrade kinda offended me, like, old Pongorma looked like a turkey with a face. I LOVE THE NEW PONGORMA HE'S MY FAV
Loved the video, but I really enjoyed the combat in 2 more. I dunno, it just felt like an actual accomplishment to clear an area, get a new strat working, the visual feast of the polished combat animations. Edit: bonus points for that trails ost when gibby "gibby-fies" the whole world
Also the more you defeat the enemies where at first it feels like a struggle, it then starts to roll into crushing the enemies. It felt like that to me. (plus it helps when you thoroughly explore the areas and get everything haha)
@@Stone-faced Gibby, a tyrant, sets up a satellite which causes the people in that world to have their mind scrambled, and speak words that make no sense. This persons video is misinformed especially on the "calm" aspect of fighting him.
Hylics and Hylics 2 were some of my first introductions to Vinny Vinesauce's content, as I found him while he was playing through 2 (so in 2020 I think). Because of that, both have a very strong connection in my mind. Vinny becoming the canon voice for Wayne feels like such a natural choice to me, and when Absent Moon came out I lost my mind. I'm super excited for Hylic 3!
I've always seen the Wayne character floating around on Pinterest then whenever I tried to look it up I couldn't find it, felt like a fever dream and now to find out this a video game is even more surreal
Mason Lindroth truly makes me feel like less of an artist. The dude is way too creative for his own good. And excellent video, you've earned my little sub :)
Despite this not being a horror game, for some reason I find the the visuals and the vibes more disturbing than (most) horror games. Claymation can already get really creepy; the additional weirdness from the other aspects of the game really adds to the freaky factor.
God Elon is such a fuckin goofball. I used to tell my friends that he's gonna end up being thoroughly embarrassed in a very public way and he is not this 200 IQ genius people thought he was.
This is an amazing video, well deserved for the masterpieces that these games are. While I want to introduce people to this series with my own videos, a comprehensive deep dive is what these games needed, I think. These games deserve so much love. It's interesting to hear your analysis of Absent Moon too, as I haven't seen too many people breaking it down. (Why was 'Spell of Absurdity' cut though?) Your gags are hilarious too. Time to wait for Hylics 3 to release in 2028!
@@OtakuUnitedStudio thank you for watching them, much appreciated! i'm planning on doing a remastered version of those videos with my own freshly-made iceberg chart now that i know a lot more about the Hylics series.
truly this series is a breath of fresh air. so many games now feel like they have to be triple a games and take themselves more seriously. also i love pongormas hylics 2 design hush your mouth
i don't agree with you on the "hylics2 combat should be avoided" part, i've beat the game and honestly have zero problem with the combat. good video nontheless
1:17 i don't think pitting indie games against one another like that is a great idea. the games cater to different audiences, and undertale likely felt more approachable to its (especially when it first came out) younger audience. it's obvious math, but i think this puts it into perspective: people who were around 15 in 2015 are now about 24. i think many people who liked undertale grew up to be able to appreciate hylics, but may not have liked it if they had been exposed to it sooner. it's hard to say whether i would've gone crazy over this game or wrote it off as too weird, but i know that learning about this game now, i think it's cool as hell. that said, i'm gonna stop watching and play this game before spoiling myself! thanks for introducing me to this gem
1:18:57 -Gibi-lette might be a play on words to giblet. These are the liver, heart, gizzard and neck of poultry that is removed before cook prep. They tend to be used in gravy or soups. They are essentially the parts you dont cook and eat with the main bird nor discard. The usable leftover bits.
It feels like Keith David should voice Pongorma, and we already know Vinny Vinesauce is Wayne. Also, David Flynn, the va for Solaire of Astora from Dark Souls, is a good match to Dedusmuln. A somber Alicyn Packard would be great for Somsnosa too, what do you all think?
Very good video I liked how it's not overedited and no memes and cutaways, and that is coming from someone who loved Gibby from iCarly in the thumbnail
Another claymation game that I adore is Dominique Pamplmousse! The style is so eye catching which gets my attention to begin with but then the game always ends up being so funny/cool, absolutely love this style in games!
PLEASE say you'll do more Hylics videos when the next one comes out! I found the series from this video (well actually your video comparing Hylics and Cuphead but that one didn't make any sense the first time since i didn't actually know what Hylics was) and now I'm absolutely enamoured
Dude I’m not gunna lie, this could’ve done without how hard or easy you thought each battle was, because your experience is just not universal and dishes heavy bias for a retrospective. I got Dedusmuln early, I used all of the special abilities. I had little to no trouble. All you have to say is that there is a lot of player freedom that can affect how hard the game will be. Saying “this battle/ability sucks ass” just feels mean-spirited, and tbh it sounds like a skill issue. Otherwise, good vid! It was a bit confused whether it wanted to be a walkthrough or a review at times, but otherwise, it was worthwhile
Hey there, composer here. Every time I see this I giggle. I didn’t know bolt thrower existed until someone told me they did. I studied classics for my minor in undergrad. Zeus was sometimes referred to has the “bolt thrower” in texts I was assigned. Pongorma “does lightning,” so I wanted to make that connection. The only reason why it sounds “metal” is because I wanted to give pongorma a theme that sounded like a WWE entrance song, haha. Everything else that people share is speculative/coincidental.
Hello! I'm on the Absent Moon section right now and I've really been loving the video! It sounds like some areas got clipped? I'm guessing by UA-cam getting mad at the songs. Anyhow, Mason Lindroth and Chuck Salamone did a stream a few months back discussing Absent Moon, so I wanted to let you know a little more about Pongorma. Spoilers below. They confirmed that Pongorma's death WILL be seen at the start of Hylics 3, likely as the opener to the game. I, for one, am excited to see how it plays out.
I’ve never heard of these games but I’m a sucker for surrealist art so I’m absolutely fascinated by them lol. Thanks for making this video, I really enjoyed it 👍
Really great presentation, love your emotion, the voice acting, the story analysis, and compilation of all the information you could gather being presented.
Man what a great video, editing, clever AND dumbass jokes and above all an all around very well put together walktrought of both games, sensational friend.
Don't know how to best word my thoughts in an essay, so instead i'll keep it at that i'm glad that you made this video, and that you had the feelings, intrigue, joy, critique and other emotions you did, to want to pursue making a video to this extent and share it with whomsoever comes across it. Props to you for the good script, nice pace and to the voice actors for granting these avenues of life to the main characters in the game. It felt very special to see them and hear them speak at the end like that, with such a message. As if they have found a new form of being, beyond their own world, to express themselves. I too hope that no matter what form a good friend, dear family member or otherwise loved person may take throughout the forms that existence can take, people will be able to meet again. Thank you for the video. I hope that someday you may take a look at the Zeno Clash series as well, which likewise are games with their ups and downs, a world largely inhabited by monsters with strange objects and constructions that make up the world, and have more history than what is explicitly shown. But for now, to you and whoever reads and/or needs this, wish you well with joy, strength, wisdom and fortune where you can receive, need, find, make and share it. Have a good one.
This series gives me somewhat of a Dune vibe, with Wayne defeating the ruler but ultimately becoming a worse/ more hated version of them. This is kinda like how Paul becomes a more blood lusted version of the emperor in their series. Maybe it's also the abstract nature of the game along with it taking place in space and the characters speaking complex/ otherworldly English. Sorry for the yap sesh just wanted to throw in my two cents.
This may be your magnum opus thus far mate! I’ve rewatched the video twice and another 4 times as background noise. More video essays like this please!
@@heypeterRealthanks for the response and I wish you nothing but the best. I also began playing the game for myself. What would you call the music in the album? Hypnotic Rock? I’m fairly new to it lol
i found hylics through a friend (who found it through vinny in 2015!!) in 2017 and i'm so, so glad it's getting the attention it deserves. this game was my personality trait for a good two years LMFAO and i was beyond happy when a sequel was announced. it's awesome
In my opinion hylics 1 biggest strength compared to the second one is the absurdity and confidence in it. Through this confidence it creates an illusion of logic and pattern. Maybe, even not an illusion, but a system and truth through absurdity and emotion. This is obviously contrasted and supported beautifully by the score. Not everything has to be explained. Especially now, in the post-post modern age I would say, over explanation, explanation in general even, is not what we need. Sever your umbilical cord to mechanism and expectation. Sever yourself from interpretation, even if your mind longs for it. The experience opens up to levels of purity and completeness which are incomparable. Also the presentation and artistic medium/flow in the first game is historic. Mark my words, in no time this game will become what it really us. That said, the gameplay was in some parts more rounded in the second game. Commercialization is the death of art. But I believe there is a way. Love this series and the creators, incredible work, refreshing, fullfiling, possibly the grandest release of this decade so far. Hoping for more.
You're the second person I've seen skip over dedusmuln and his easy area to get Somsnosa first. Maybe I just went to the mountain first because everything else was too deadly lol
This game was one of the games i got on my steamdeck, and a cute girl asked me what i was playing and i had legit no idea what to say... so thank you hylics for the cock block
Gibby's theme in the second game is so good Edit: just listened to As the World Begins to Wane. That song about Pongorma, and man, that one was so good, but sad
i really don't agree with ur criticisms against the gameplay of 2. i think that you're far too in love with Hylics 1 and traditional rpgs to approach Hylics 2 as its own game. While yes, it is Hylics 2, i think it would be more beneficial to look at it more as a reimagining of the first game rather than a direct sequel, gameplay wise. It's clear that Mason views himself as an artist primarily and a developer second, and him branching out into the various different playstyles feels more like him realizing his vision far better without the constraints of rpg maker. if this weren't the case he wouldn't have made the move to unity. transferring from rpg maker to unity in my own opinion is a step up in every sense. the status effect mechanics feel incredibly unique over your standard rpg and every encounter requiring all out effort is far more engaging than bunch of smaller combats against weaker enemies. while i do agree the lack of a run button can be frustrating, it's nowhere near as big of an issue as you make it out to be. No running means again having to engage every fight like a boss fight and it's not as the game doesn't leave plenty of heals and resources around every corner to have a full reset between every encounter anyway.
I will be back to watch this. But I must play these games first. Thank you for the recommendation, the fact that the 1st game is a total of $3 also helps, but I’m glad to finally have a new surreal RPG to play through.
Soundtrack used in video in order of appearance:
(Edit: Spell of Absurdity was removed because of a copyright claim. bruh)
Endless Cycle (Wanye's Theme) - Hylics: Moonage Lobotomy
Depths Ocean Floor - Yume 2kki
Piano - Hylics
Interlude - Hylics
House - Hylics
Locker Room - Zero Time Dilemma
Map 1 - Hylics
Computers - Hylics
Afterlife - Hylics
Town - Hylics
Draw a Dog - Hylics
Map2 - Hylics
Distorted Guitar - Hylics
Messy Song - Hylics
Azure Memory (Somsnosa's Theme) - Hylics: Moonage Lobotomy
Boss - Hylics
Chill Out - Hylics
Graveyard - Hylics
Tomb - Hylics
Shadow Temple - Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ruins - Hylics
La Danse du Goblette Papier (Dedusmuln Theme) - Hylics: Moonage Lobotomy
Eeriness - Virtue's Last Reward
The Chase - Ao Oni
Wind Turbine Plateau - Yume 2kki
Bolt Thrower (Pongorma's Theme) Hylics: Moonage Lobotomy
Theremin Overlaps - Hylics
sharp strumming - Hylics
Palace - Hylics
Gibby - Hylics
April Guitar - Hylics
Riddle and Puzzle 2nd Mix - Zero Time Dilemma
Title - Hylics 2
Waynehouse - Hylics 2
Lives Wasted Away - Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Lakebed Temple: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Afterlife - Hylics 2
World - Hylics 2
New Muldul - Hylics 2
Them's Fighting Words - Hylics 2
Battle Alternate - Hylics 2
Singing Sand - Hylics 2
Xeno Arcadia - Hylics 2
That's a Big Stick - Hylics 2
Dark World - Yume Nikki
Prevailing Westerlies - Hylics 2
TV Island - Hylics 2
Exercise (Night) - Hylics 2
Treatment - Virtue's Last Reward
Beyond 3 - Harvester
Hamel Remains - Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3
Mystic Cryptic - Hylics 2
Big Airship - Hylics 2
Look Ma, I fly now! - Hylics 2
Grand Cross - Final Fantasy 9
Fancy Meat Computer - Hylics 2
Closing Arguement - Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
(I put all the names for the Absent Moon songs on screen lol)
Day of The Night - Silent Hill 2
Staff Roll - Sonic Advance 3
my little sister hates youre fucking voice man
she said you sound like a E dater
Hylics, huh. I didnt think there was a game for me, then YIIK *almost* hit that spot. Hylics.
I honestly thought that Spell of Absurdity removal was an absurd joke
Great video Hey Peter!
I like that this is both a retrospective and also a case study of how much Peter fucking sucks at Hylics lol
casually playing half the game without 2 party members.
I mean it makes sense why it was hard. Though.... yea.... for sure a skill issue.
I'm thinking of giving it a shot, what should I not do?
@@voon1032 don’t walk away from an area unless you know that area has nothing else.
The game is pretty good about vaguely telling you what to do. If you see a puzzle assume that the answer is nearby.
Some of the paper cups are kinda hard to find. Though they aren’t super necessary
For real!!!!
Is it really him sucking if the answer was to pixel search every map to not get steamrolled?
I didn't even noticed Gibby in the thumbnail, I only registered the banana and thought "yeah, that's a hylics thumbnail alright"
A missed detail, trashcans in the game have loot in them sometimes, of course, this prompts you to check EVERY trashcan, where one in or around your starting house breaks and the text says "you accidentally crush it" which the same text comes up after talking to the guards of Gibby, a very good call back and explanation with your power
Ironically, I found Hylics 2’s combat much more engaging than 1’s. Not being able to run away didn’t really bother me that much, especially with how easy it is to avoid the enemies. I see the battles in 2 as more as a “are you in the mood for a fight” kinda deal.
Plus charging is fun.
I really thought that whole section of Hylics 2s battle system as a skill issue? Coming from someone who plays turn based rpgs on the regular, the combats amazing and very complex and their are many ways to gain an edge through understanding what each enemies capabilities are and your own party members.
@@KTK-PRODUCTIONSYeah whole time I was thinking to myself “This guys fucking sucks at Hylics 2”
Personally I found Hylics 1 way too easy if you just abuse Wayne's hypnosis. I feel like H2 encouraged more creative strategies, and I love that winning a battle never felt guaranteed
@@KTK-PRODUCTIONS I can get why not having the ability to run away would be annoying, though.
"that someone only played these games cause of a funny meme on discord" I won't lie i saw the die gif and immediately bought the game in like the next minute
the die sequel did it for me
Funny fish Friday
Hylics isn't post apocalyptic cuphead; Ena is post post apocalyptic Hylics.
Space Funeral is the apocalypse before Hylics. No, really it could fit the description of "the accretion."
This video was very weird to me
I absolutely had to do almost no backtrack or grinding in all my playthroughs of Hylics 1. You also can use the crystals for a quick teleport system
I feel like you missing the first party member is what gave you all those impressions.
Just saw the Hylics 2 section
The movement is quirky, but once you learn that the little white circle below you indicates where you'll land, it feels fine
yeah it really felt like he was talking about a different game to me. the video was a pretty major miss for me in that way
I had to look up a guide at the beginning of the game which told me where to go to recruit Dedusmuln, after that it was basically just me
you should make a video man. show your perspective on it.
@micahfoley9572 you're replying to my perspective
Wayne could be Gibby’s son or younger brother.
With Gibby having the moon as his head and being connected to Wayne, Wayne’s head could probably be a half/crescent moon, having that somber look at the stars as the Moon explodes and Gibby apologizing could mean that Gibby kicked Wayne from the moon a long time ago.
I personally believe Wayne to be the Zidane to Gibby's Kuja; a failsafe/replacement for Gibby should his rule over the Moon had proven to be detrimental to the Earth. It's also possible that Wayne could have been a Moon Soldier, which would explain his "expertise" in battle tactics (as quoted by Pongorma in "The World Begins to Wane"), and the unloaded Pistol equipped in his weapon slot at the start of the first Hylics.
Waning moon
Gibbous moon
I never saw it like that , but it's a cool idea!
Heat me O' Sun has become a thing i use in my day to day lexicon... usually to be an ask for reprieve of whatever is bothering me, or to enjoy said reprieve. because i mean, when all things suck, just ly on your back and profess; "Heat me o' sun!"
Hey I had a blast recording for Pongorma! Your video came out amazing dude! I might have to give these games a try now!
Luckily you didn’t have to record this during the UNSPECIFIED SOCIAL CONTAGION EVENT, so that’s a plus. 🥰
You did Great as Pongorma, whatever voice he had in my head before has fully been replaced by you.
@@daminit6 wow that means a lot thank you so much. The direction I was given in the script really helped me out so I have to give credit where credit is due!
You gave a great gravitas and dignified but fairly approachable presence to Pongorma. The statement he gave to which you lent your voice for, together with the actors for Dedusmuln and Somsnosa, helped make this video leave a stronger impact on me than it otherwise would have.
Have a good one.
@@jurtheorc8117 I’m honestly a little lost for words here. Thank you so much for the kind words
I like to think Lindroth would be thrilled with the way you describe his games. These games were crying out for a video like this, and now you've done it. Thank you.
I was obsessed with games like off and hylics as a kid so its SO fun to see people finally talking about it on a more long form scale. (Also, imo it is a blessing in disguise that this didn’t get Ut’s popularity TRUST ME.)
Ikr i ammmm so relieved i love ut and it is a vary big part of my life but its fandom was the worst ever :(
honestly, if a game that's risen to stardom has a fanbase that isn't malding lunatics. That's luck
imagine alt universe versions of this game like ut 😭 highlicks = undertail equivalent
it's not a blessing that this remained underground. That's fun for the consumer who gets to feel like they are familiar with some exclusive art that most people don't know about
That's not fun for the people who develop this niche pieces of art. if their art gains no popularity then they make no money from their art. Hipster mentality is incredibly selfish
something tells me you are still a kid now
why does old wayne, the largest of the waynes, not simply eat the others?
To keep the species prolonged & continue the cycle.
He was full
Perhaps they are saving that for Hylics 3?
I would not care if four strangers came into my workplace and did that no.
I feel like there may be something you are missing with the Philology stat. Philology is the study of languages. Maybe leaving your Philology stat at one leaves the game at maximum randomness for any speaking roles, but as you raise it, the NPCs become more intelligible
It's actually the engine's Luck stat but no mechanics in the game use Luck. It can't be modified in any way other than hacking.
@@OtakuUnitedStudio that makes no sense as a luck stat, but neither does much else in the game lol
@@travisleabeck2572 It's just how Mason relabeled the existing stats in the engine.
RPG Maker has 8 character stats - HP, MP, Attack, Defense, M. Attack, M. Defense, Luck, and Speed. These are non-negotiable: you can't add or remove any of them entirely. You CAN change how the names for these stats appear in the menu, though. And you can change how damage calculations and chance to hit are determined.
@@OtakuUnitedStudio fair enough. If he ever makes another, I would love to see it have some functional implementation that would allow the MC to squeeze some lore out of the NPCs
That's extremely clever.
Some really bizarre criticisms here. Hylics 2 combat is actually really good if you know basic strategy. It allows a great deal of variety in how you approach battles and it's not hard to develop a successful strategy once you've learned what enemies do. It seems like you don't know what you're doing.
There is a weird undertone of bugs/mollusks in Hylics 1 and 2. For example: juice is taken out of a mollusk like creature, Pongorma has a beetle like helm in the sequel, bugs could be killed in the first game for benefits, Wayne is a larva when early in their life, and I think there may be more. It’s just something odd I noticed.
I haven't finished the video yet to see what is contained in Hylics 2, but the vibe I got from the original Hylics is of a group of friends who used to play together everyday when they were young, but are now either fresh out of high school or college, and feeling apathetic and lost in the world. They are depressed, disillusioned, scared, etc. And in an attempt to heal themselves, they try to meet up and relive those days of happy childhood, only to find, after they've reached the end, that it can never be the same. They aren't in the past, and it will never feel the same as when they were little. It gives me the "you can never go home" feeling, of college kids coming home from college and realizing their life is forever changed and home will never be what it once was. How you phrased that the world felt lonely and how you were explaining that we never even realized what Gibby was supposed to be doing, that just reminded me of the half-baked plots my childhood friends and I would come up with as kids when he pretended to do RPG games in the woods out back. And how back then it didn't really matter that none of our "NPC" characters really had any depth to them or that our bad guys had any motive. We were just having fun. And then I was thinking... How unfulfilling that would be as adult trying to relive those old stories we once acted out. It would feel hollow, lonely, sad. Because we're not kids anymore, and we understand and think about things much deeper, and now we have to face the scary unknowns of adulthood and learn to have fun in a new way, however we can manage that. And sometimes, some of us can't learn how to have fun in a new way and we struggle to let go and move on, and it crushes us. Anyway, I'm going to continue to watch for your presentation of Hylics 2, which may go in a totally different direction from what I was missing on, but I just wanted to share what the first game, and how you described it, brought up in my mind.
This is EXACTLY the theme in The Night in the Woods, lol. Check this game out!
It’s all clay huh?
Wayne looks awfully similar to ancient religious dolls being made of clay.
The humanoid body with a drastic head change.
Even the character names are religious
Wayne = Cain
Samsnosa = Samyaza (Fallen angel) or Samsara (infinite cycle of life and death, like how you can’t permanently die.)
Dedusmalin = Methuselah (another biblical figure)
@@JungéShikisanki i didn't even think of that. Nice catch!
@@heypeterRealThe characters also have similar religious names.
Hylics is quite interesting..
What unlocked Hylics lore for me was realising how much the series takes from egyptology, (ruins, deserts, artifacts, temples, monks, crypts, tombs, you find effigies of Gibby as the sphinx, Gibby emerges from a Pharaoh's coffin) When people rediscovered The Sphinx in 1817, it was buried in sand up to it's shoulders, the Sphinx was said to house "The Hall of Records" like something containing hidden knowledge, you could draw a parallel to the Bombo-Genesis monitor and other artifacts being buried in the Accretion.
...and what the heck is The Accretion? I will take another hint from egyptology and liken it to a flood. Hylics has a line of dialogue "A great gesture may oppose Gibby. But accretions place it beyond our reach" which implies that there's been accretions and then there was The Accretion which could be parallel to how in Ancient Egypt there were ubiquitous floods and in almost every religion on earth there's a Flood Myth, including in Ancient Egypt, which we actually have archeological evidence for there being some kind of worldwide catastrophic flood event happening.
This ties in perfectly with all the lunar cycle stuff in Hylics, the moon quite literally controls the tide. The villain being a Gibbous moon, always on the brink of a full moon, which often symbolises doom, and the hero being a waning crescent moon who has to return the world back to form is pretty poetic.
yeah and what's up with the title "Hylics"? I see it as being sort of derogatory, like "peons" or "NPCs", maybe hurled by Gibby at the main four? There's this theme of mundanity in the series, it's kind of funny how even when we find Pongorma, Greatest of The Dread Knights of Yiithorn, locked away in a vault deep underground, the dude is just sitting on his couch watching TV.
The line of dialogue that stuck with me the most in the series was when Gibby is trying to win over Pongorma by saying "Pongorma, you witnessed the empire of the Sages. Only through my work here can such grandeur again be realized." and Pongorma responds with "Alas, I've become habituated to this shabby planet." I interpreted this as Pongorma admitting that even though his best days are over, and even after he's seen the world become drab, he's grown fond of his menial life as a Hylic, and to him it's worth protecting even if he has to abandon the promise of glory.
This is kind of why I don't see Hylics as being a Grimdark like you interpreted it as, sure their lives might be kind of sucky, but our crew still has time to start a band, pet a cat, set up a grill, do some yard work and watch TV. Hylics reminds me a bit of Dorohedoro in that way.
I really really like this comment; and your interpretation put into words the sort of “adventure time” feeling I got from the game.
1:43:37
Gotta love the "Griffith!" style scream. Fantastics work.
CANT UNHEAR IT NOW
Hear you calling the new pongorma design a downgrade kinda offended me, like, old Pongorma looked like a turkey with a face. I LOVE THE NEW PONGORMA HE'S MY FAV
Yes!!! He's my fuzzy battle grandpa, and I love him!!!
Loved the video, but I really enjoyed the combat in 2 more. I dunno, it just felt like an actual accomplishment to clear an area, get a new strat working, the visual feast of the polished combat animations.
Edit: bonus points for that trails ost when gibby "gibby-fies" the whole world
Also the more you defeat the enemies where at first it feels like a struggle, it then starts to roll into crushing the enemies. It felt like that to me. (plus it helps when you thoroughly explore the areas and get everything haha)
The "random generation" existed because Gibby scrambled everyone's brain in Hylics.
Do tell more of the random generation :)
@@Stone-faced Gibby, a tyrant, sets up a satellite which causes the people in that world to have their mind scrambled, and speak words that make no sense. This persons video is misinformed especially on the "calm" aspect of fighting him.
I'm normally not a game soundtrack guy. But 2 minutes in, this music fucks
Hylics and Hylics 2 were some of my first introductions to Vinny Vinesauce's content, as I found him while he was playing through 2 (so in 2020 I think). Because of that, both have a very strong connection in my mind. Vinny becoming the canon voice for Wayne feels like such a natural choice to me, and when Absent Moon came out I lost my mind. I'm super excited for Hylic 3!
I've always seen the Wayne character floating around on Pinterest then whenever I tried to look it up I couldn't find it, felt like a fever dream and now to find out this a video game is even more surreal
Crazy insane take that you concluded that you shouldn't engage in combat in hylics 2, it baffles me that you decided that was the intended thing
Hylics, Yume Nikki and Lisa are some of main inspirations. Thank you for this great video.
It’s like 90’s hospital artwork made into a psychedelic trip
Mason Lindroth truly makes me feel like less of an artist. The dude is way too creative for his own good.
And excellent video, you've earned my little sub :)
Pathetic wormlet, the only way to foster creativity is to indulge in the narcotic. You are too WEAK and FRAIL. While I am STRONG and VERILE.
Despite this not being a horror game, for some reason I find the the visuals and the vibes more disturbing than (most) horror games. Claymation can already get really creepy; the additional weirdness from the other aspects of the game really adds to the freaky factor.
I completely understand and relate 😅
Yeah it took me a while to get used to it. Starting out I got physically sick
9:19 Well, that's what artists do in video games. They create all the assets by hand.
Dude, I have had a slight fixation on hylics as of recent, so this video is a blessing to me
Sameee. I’m so glad that there is finally more content for Hylics
you calling twiiter 'x' physically hurt me. dont do that again please
It is x though
@@elgatochurro girl...........
@@elgatochurro it will always be Twitter.
How dare a person *check notes* called a internet service by it's name.
God Elon is such a fuckin goofball.
I used to tell my friends that he's gonna end up being thoroughly embarrassed in a very public way and he is not this 200 IQ genius people thought he was.
This is an amazing video, well deserved for the masterpieces that these games are.
While I want to introduce people to this series with my own videos, a comprehensive deep dive is what these games needed, I think.
These games deserve so much love.
It's interesting to hear your analysis of Absent Moon too, as I haven't seen too many people breaking it down.
(Why was 'Spell of Absurdity' cut though?)
Your gags are hilarious too.
Time to wait for Hylics 3 to release in 2028!
I highly appreciate that comment! I'm a huge fan of your Hylics content!
Spell of Absurdity was cut out because I got a copyright claim
I watched all of your Hylics Iceberg videos more than once. Thank you for your hard work on them!
@@OtakuUnitedStudio thank you for watching them, much appreciated! i'm planning on doing a remastered version of those videos with my own freshly-made iceberg chart now that i know a lot more about the Hylics series.
@@HarryButHarry Looking forward to it!
truly this series is a breath of fresh air. so many games now feel like they have to be triple a games and take themselves more seriously.
also i love pongormas hylics 2 design hush your mouth
i don't agree with you on the "hylics2 combat should be avoided" part, i've beat the game and honestly have zero problem with the combat. good video nontheless
1:17 i don't think pitting indie games against one another like that is a great idea. the games cater to different audiences, and undertale likely felt more approachable to its (especially when it first came out) younger audience. it's obvious math, but i think this puts it into perspective: people who were around 15 in 2015 are now about 24. i think many people who liked undertale grew up to be able to appreciate hylics, but may not have liked it if they had been exposed to it sooner. it's hard to say whether i would've gone crazy over this game or wrote it off as too weird, but i know that learning about this game now, i think it's cool as hell. that said, i'm gonna stop watching and play this game before spoiling myself! thanks for introducing me to this gem
Hylics is the type of game you buy because it's all you can afford only for you to wonder why it was priced that low
1:18:57 -Gibi-lette might be a play on words to giblet. These are the liver, heart, gizzard and neck of poultry that is removed before cook prep. They tend to be used in gravy or soups. They are essentially the parts you dont cook and eat with the main bird nor discard. The usable leftover bits.
That recreation of the Mystic Meat animation at 22:03 made me think I was watching a How To Basic video at first
This games soundtrack is such a fucking treat.
It feels like Keith David should voice Pongorma, and we already know Vinny Vinesauce is Wayne.
Also, David Flynn, the va for Solaire of Astora from Dark Souls, is a good match to Dedusmuln. A somber Alicyn Packard would be great for Somsnosa too, what do you all think?
two hours long hylics review... youtube recommendation knows exactly what I need right now
Very good video I liked how it's not overedited and no memes and cutaways, and that is coming from someone who loved Gibby from iCarly in the thumbnail
Using hallucigenia as the base for monstrous Wayne is just really on brand for this game.
Another claymation game that I adore is Dominique Pamplmousse! The style is so eye catching which gets my attention to begin with but then the game always ends up being so funny/cool, absolutely love this style in games!
PLEASE say you'll do more Hylics videos when the next one comes out! I found the series from this video (well actually your video comparing Hylics and Cuphead but that one didn't make any sense the first time since i didn't actually know what Hylics was) and now I'm absolutely enamoured
Whenever Hylics 3 comes out 100% there will be a video
Dude I’m not gunna lie, this could’ve done without how hard or easy you thought each battle was, because your experience is just not universal and dishes heavy bias for a retrospective.
I got Dedusmuln early, I used all of the special abilities. I had little to no trouble. All you have to say is that there is a lot of player freedom that can affect how hard the game will be.
Saying “this battle/ability sucks ass” just feels mean-spirited, and tbh it sounds like a skill issue. Otherwise, good vid! It was a bit confused whether it wanted to be a walkthrough or a review at times, but otherwise, it was worthwhile
The song name bolt thrower is a reference to the warhammer inspired metal band.
Hey there, composer here. Every time I see this I giggle. I didn’t know bolt thrower existed until someone told me they did. I studied classics for my minor in undergrad. Zeus was sometimes referred to has the “bolt thrower” in texts I was assigned. Pongorma “does lightning,” so I wanted to make that connection. The only reason why it sounds “metal” is because I wanted to give pongorma a theme that sounded like a WWE entrance song, haha. Everything else that people share is speculative/coincidental.
This was an amazing breakdown of this underated game series and I hope its discussed more going forward.
Hello! I'm on the Absent Moon section right now and I've really been loving the video! It sounds like some areas got clipped? I'm guessing by UA-cam getting mad at the songs. Anyhow, Mason Lindroth and Chuck Salamone did a stream a few months back discussing Absent Moon, so I wanted to let you know a little more about Pongorma. Spoilers below.
They confirmed that Pongorma's death WILL be seen at the start of Hylics 3, likely as the opener to the game. I, for one, am excited to see how it plays out.
For me personally, Hylics 2 was the game of the year for 2020.
This video is why I'm in a Hylics rabbit hole
really appreciate the detail and care in the writing and the narration. i feel like im on a journey watching this. thank you!
I’ve never heard of these games but I’m a sucker for surrealist art so I’m absolutely fascinated by them lol. Thanks for making this video, I really enjoyed it 👍
The Zeno Clash series (1, 2 and Clash: Artifacts of Chaos) may be interesting to explore to see such kind of art as well.
@@jurtheorc8117 thank you I’ll have to check it out
@@lingus1382 You're welcome, I hope the land of Zenozoik may prove interesting to you.
I have no idea why i watched this, but you did a great job bro. Made me want to check this cool looking game out.
"this is his actually him" great start
Really great presentation, love your emotion, the voice acting, the story analysis, and compilation of all the information you could gather being presented.
Why did the guy make dedusmulin so breathy when talking about the canoe XD
Man what a great video, editing, clever AND dumbass jokes and above all an all around very well put together walktrought of both games, sensational friend.
1:14
It's funny that you mention undertale here because I actually discovered this game from an undertale fan game
Always love to see coverage of these games, extremely underrated.
Great work!
Hylics is the most punk-rock game to ever exist. Unapologetically itself.
the little clay wayne you made is adorable and reminds me of schloofus
I don’t mind all the backtracking in hylix. The game is so short that it actually feels in place
Don't know how to best word my thoughts in an essay, so instead i'll keep it at that i'm glad that you made this video, and that you had the feelings, intrigue, joy, critique and other emotions you did, to want to pursue making a video to this extent and share it with whomsoever comes across it.
Props to you for the good script, nice pace and to the voice actors for granting these avenues of life to the main characters in the game.
It felt very special to see them and hear them speak at the end like that, with such a message. As if they have found a new form of being, beyond their own world, to express themselves.
I too hope that no matter what form a good friend, dear family member or otherwise loved person may take throughout the forms that existence can take, people will be able to meet again.
Thank you for the video. I hope that someday you may take a look at the Zeno Clash series as well, which likewise are games with their ups and downs, a world largely inhabited by monsters with strange objects and constructions that make up the world, and have more history than what is explicitly shown.
But for now, to you and whoever reads and/or needs this, wish you well with joy, strength, wisdom and fortune where you can receive, need, find, make and share it.
Have a good one.
This series gives me somewhat of a Dune vibe, with Wayne defeating the ruler but ultimately becoming a worse/ more hated version of them. This is kinda like how Paul becomes a more blood lusted version of the emperor in their series. Maybe it's also the abstract nature of the game along with it taking place in space and the characters speaking complex/ otherworldly English. Sorry for the yap sesh just wanted to throw in my two cents.
I’m so glad this game is finally getting exposure
This may be your magnum opus thus far mate! I’ve rewatched the video twice and another 4 times as background noise. More video essays like this please!
@marvinsalmeron585 thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. I do plan to make this style of video my regular output
@@heypeterRealthanks for the response and I wish you nothing but the best. I also began playing the game for myself. What would you call the music in the album? Hypnotic Rock? I’m fairly new to it lol
I didn’t think of I see hylic content on this fine Sunday.
(also Toilet burrito and "You can clean yourself off in the sink" goes hard)
i found hylics through a friend (who found it through vinny in 2015!!) in 2017 and i'm so, so glad it's getting the attention it deserves. this game was my personality trait for a good two years LMFAO and i was beyond happy when a sequel was announced. it's awesome
gloomy weather
rain pouring down
hey peter uploads
oh yeah...
it's kino time
Someone sounds like a Flaw Peacock fan ;)
I will be very disappointed if he doesn’t mention the “post-nuclear cuphead” theory.
What the fuck does that even mean?
@@Kashcwinpoing use your brain and reading comprehension skills, in tandem with a search engine.
@gadellomagnollo1810 not worth the effort
@@Kashcwinpoing lol it shouldn’t take effort
@gadellomagnollo1810 I'd rather not waste my time and energy looking up the "post-nuclear cuphead" theory.
I wonder if King Gibby yelling his name is a reference to King Gibby yelling his name in the show iCarly which had aired from 2007-2012.
That Viewax fight music is tight tight tight
In my opinion hylics 1 biggest strength compared to the second one is the absurdity and confidence in it. Through this confidence it creates an illusion of logic and pattern. Maybe, even not an illusion, but a system and truth through absurdity and emotion. This is obviously contrasted and supported beautifully by the score. Not everything has to be explained. Especially now, in the post-post modern age I would say, over explanation, explanation in general even, is not what we need. Sever your umbilical cord to mechanism and expectation. Sever yourself from interpretation, even if your mind longs for it. The experience opens up to levels of purity and completeness which are incomparable. Also the presentation and artistic medium/flow in the first game is historic. Mark my words, in no time this game will become what it really us. That said, the gameplay was in some parts more rounded in the second game. Commercialization is the death of art. But I believe there is a way. Love this series and the creators, incredible work, refreshing, fullfiling, possibly the grandest release of this decade so far. Hoping for more.
We need more games that look like hylics 1. It’s unique, never ever have I seen anything similar.
I just finished playing danganronpa and hearing that music near the end was wonderfull. Great video
I think that Hylics is a pretty cool guy. Eh kills the moon and doesn't afraid of anything
You're the second person I've seen skip over dedusmuln and his easy area to get Somsnosa first. Maybe I just went to the mountain first because everything else was too deadly lol
I love weird games with weird graphics. Cruelty Squad is another amazing game that comes to mind
I love when the Hylics guy just goes "It's Hylics time!" And starts Hylics'ing all over the place.
“Clawman isn’t even worth talking about” ooooh boy do I have news for you during Hylics 3…
This game was one of the games i got on my steamdeck, and a cute girl asked me what i was playing and i had legit no idea what to say... so thank you hylics for the cock block
been tryna find a game that gives the same vibe of fear and hunger 1 & 2 for a while. this might be it
ty youtube algorithm
this is what gaming is meant to be, just someone having a vision/idea and creating it. absolutely love hylics
Gibby's theme in the second game is so good
Edit: just listened to As the World Begins to Wane. That song about Pongorma, and man, that one was so good, but sad
1:15:00 I'm literally going crazy, I need to know if that was a homestuck reference or not
+1
I think it was 😭
That Hylics 2 ending theme sounds kinda like something Susumu Hirasawa would make.
HOLY CRAP, YOUR CLAY WAYNE IS FRIGGIN’ ADORABLE.
It has the scrimblo feel of the Autism Creature/Yippee, imho.
“……PUSSY.”
I like how in HYLICS 2 you collect your friends in the reverse order from HYLICS 1
Looking forward to the second video in five years
Moonsetter reference hit me like a truck. Thank you!
So high on acid rn this was the best thing I ever done in my life
i really don't agree with ur criticisms against the gameplay of 2. i think that you're far too in love with Hylics 1 and traditional rpgs to approach Hylics 2 as its own game.
While yes, it is Hylics 2, i think it would be more beneficial to look at it more as a reimagining of the first game rather than a direct sequel, gameplay wise. It's clear that Mason views himself as an artist primarily and a developer second, and him branching out into the various different playstyles feels more like him realizing his vision far better without the constraints of rpg maker. if this weren't the case he wouldn't have made the move to unity.
transferring from rpg maker to unity in my own opinion is a step up in every sense. the status effect mechanics feel incredibly unique over your standard rpg and every encounter requiring all out effort is far more engaging than bunch of smaller combats against weaker enemies. while i do agree the lack of a run button can be frustrating, it's nowhere near as big of an issue as you make it out to be. No running means again having to engage every fight like a boss fight and it's not as the game doesn't leave plenty of heals and resources around every corner to have a full reset between every encounter anyway.
I will be back to watch this. But I must play these games first. Thank you for the recommendation, the fact that the 1st game is a total of $3 also helps, but I’m glad to finally have a new surreal RPG to play through.
You're really great in this huge video-essay format. Hope to see more content like this!✨🔥