We Know The Devil
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- Опубліковано 9 жов 2020
- / optimisticduelist
www.keep-rising.org
Hey, pals. Today we talk about We Know The Devil, the first of my two favorite visual novels, and one of my favorite works of literature ever. This spooky season, let's talk about isolation, queer Christian horror, and the terror of growing up as we get to know a little bit about sad, bad teens Venus, Neptune and Jupiter, shall we?
Happy 5th anniversary to We Know The Devil, and happy Halloween. You can find We Know The Devil and its soundtrack here:
store.steampowered.com/app/43...
aleclambert.bandcamp.com/albu... - Ігри
I grew up in a very liberal household. Me being trans and gay -- this was fine! It still is. This wasn't the part that really spoke to me about WKTD, because I can't emphasize with the culture of religious oppression and self-suppression; what spoke to me, actually, was Jupiter -- because I'm the oldest child, and I've always been praised for how little I need compared to my sibling, how little I ask for, how little I require. I'm so low-maintenance! Why can't my sibling be more like me? Neptune is my favorite for other reasons, but Jupiter... hoo boy.
The thing is, Jupiter wants. She wants so badly, and she hates herself for it so much she can barely stand it. She thinks she's a bad person because she wants these things, that she thinks about these things at all; she thinks she's a liar and a fake, because if anyone knew she wasn't the way they perceived her, they'd despise her. If they knew she didn't even try, they'd hate her. She wants people to touch her and she wants to touch other people, but she can't bear the thought of ever asking for it, because she thinks she knows what the response will be -- and the thing is, she might not even be wrong, which validates her paranoia and despair even further. And her friends validating her, when she's at the bottom of the pit tied up in her self-hatred -- it doesn't even help. As far as she saw... they distanced themselves from her, and they stayed away from her, and NOW they're saying 'it's okay'? She's even fucking this up, too, like she fucks up everything she does; she can't even be the devil right.
So. As someone who deals with a lot of self-doubt and issues with 'no, I'm not as good or nice as you think I am', Jupiter always hits me very hard.
oh wow I Love this comment. thank you for sharing this with us
This game was what made me realise I am non-binary. I remember loving Venus and relating to her in a way I couldn't describe. Then I found out she was a trans girl and I was like "Oh.... O H !"
We Know The Devil is fantastic, played both it and Heaven Will Be Mine a couple years ago and loved them to bits. I got real emotional when the girls embraced the devil in themselves and each other in the true end. Also, it's difficult to point to any one thing as the cause or catalyst, but looking back on it, there's a good chance that Venus at least played some small role in me figuring out I was non-binary.
I played We Know The Devil in the middle of the night, like a year after I came out as trans and each and every one of their stories hit me like a truck (but Venus, especially, hit me in a soft spot). I was still closeted to a good number of people at the time, I had only really come out to my partner and some close friends, and so the concept of hiding and being able to share that with a select number of people was something I was actively experiencing at the time, and I was very unprepared for how close to home the story would be. At the same time, my grandfather who was a baptist preacher had passed away only a few months before, so I was still dealing with the fact that I never got to tell him who I really am, and that even if I did, he would almost certainly have seen me as the Devil. So I finished this after a handful of hours at like 3am, and then had a good cry and it's been near and dear to my heart ever since. It's really nice to hear somebody talk about it, it doesn't get nearly as much attention or love as it deserves, for a story so full of both.
bought the game because this is my second time watching the video and i still cried at work. love that you instantly switched pronouns for Venus as soon as she transitioned
Finally someones talking about this. This game deserves so much more love
The speech at the start was very compelling to me,
As a Catholic, WKTD really spoke to me (i know, i know, half the people in here have the same story). Especially the endings where two defeat the devil, differentiated by points that each girl/devil bring up about the world/religion/basically everything you mentioned. However, one thing that occurred to me while playing that I don't think I've seen anyone point out (forgive me, i'm only halfway through the video at this point) is that the radios were symbolic for prayer. Each girl approaches it differently, and it's described as water/storm/light. They also pray together, tuning into God's "station" on the radio.
Edit: Yes I like the alternate endings, just out of like, I don't know, really getting to see the differences between the girls. But, honestly, I do think they're happier/better off in the true ending. I'm just one for angst lol. (this was just for clarification ^-^)
Oh my gosh, the parallels between radios and prayer never occurred to me before but you're right on the money! Incredible insight, thank you.
played this game a few years back
this was the one that finally broke my eggshell, so to speak
I have never felt more impacted by a game I haven't played yet. The game hits so close to home in every place possible and I feel like I might cry. I see a piece of myself in all of the characters, and their full realizations almost hurt to think about, only because I'm worried if I'll ever come to that kind of fulfillment. They are the things I most want for myself and what I most fear about myself; every realization feels like a shot to the heart. Thank you for introducing me to this game, I never want to forget it.
Please play/ watch a let’s play of it! It is *SO* worth it!!!
@@temerianlillies I just did and I cried a lot. This is my new favorite thing ever. I felt Jupiter and Venus' arcs so personally, and Neptune felt like what I want to be able to be. I want to find all the content I can and absorb it, I want to feel more of the characters and from the characters. I could write essays about how much I love the game, especially little things. Like how Neptune knows Jupiter wont give her a straight answer in truth or dare about who she likes so she asks her who Venus likes, and Jupiter says she likes Neptune because she has good taste. Or more significant thing like how every girl's demons manifest subtlety in any route because of how close to the surface all of them are. No story has ever impacted me more.
I played this one on a whim hoping to find a horror game to waste time on and didn’t expect to have my face blown clean off with a game that completely reflected feelings I’ve always never felt I could put into words. It’s disturbing but comforting in the best way and I can’t recommend it enough.
I am so, so unbelieving happy that your covering We Know The Devil and Heaven Will Be Mine. They are such personal experiences to me that hearing just about anyone talk about really makes me happy.
Also having about half of my speculated Claspects for the WTKD confirmed was also nice as well. Really interested to see where you take the HBWM characters in that regard.
(Just so you know...Jupiter with the hero title of Rogue of Blood was something I found really funny, because funfact...that’s my claspect. I just never really considered her a Rogue until now. Definitely a Blood player though.)
Im not a crier - never have been - but man thought i was going to when you started describing the ending. I love this game so fucking much
Thank you for covering this. As someone who lives in a very religious country, hiding myself and my wants has become the norm before I realized it. Most of the middle east is like this so it feels like there is no escape from rejection, disapproval and even worse. The only relief is hushed confessions to a trusted friend or family member, or someone that feels the same way as you. Sometimes I forget about it, but Ill always be looking over my shoulder and it sucks. WKTD's True Ending always hits me like a truck and I always tear up from it. Such love and freedom is so beautiful and you can't help but feel so happy for the characters embracing themselves (bruh I need to stop tearing up while writing this).
I respect the content warnings, and I backed out at them. I still support the channel and like the content, but I will respectfully decline to watch this one this time. Thank you again.
babe wake up optimisticduelist posted again
Never thought I would see anyone talk about WKTT, I remember when it was being worked on and it turned out so good! Though, I have to admit I didn't know it had a sequel, so that's a nice surprise!
Personally, i classpect Neptune as Thief of Void, Jupiter as Prince of Blood, and Venus as Seer of Rage
Honestly beautiful video.
we know the devil made me cry like a baby when i first played it, but ive tried showing it to people *without* heavy religious trauma and it never seems to click?
venus couldn't be closer to the kind of person i was and am, honestly. aside from the transness, ive always tried my hardest to be agreeable but being too timid or maybe just lacking in social sharpness for my peers to buy it?
and honestly i love the point you made of transness not being... a thing you can be truly private about? it makes venus' sequence as the truest and most visible transformation rather than a manifestation of powers... very resonant
also, good classpect choices. if you didnt give venus sylph i feel it could be argued for neptune, too-- her fury as expressed in her ending was focused on the repression forced not on herself but on others?
I never had heavy religious trauma, but it really clicked for me for some reason
I saw your video but didn't know the game so I've looked it up. IT WAS WORTH IT!!! The story, the characters, the world, the concepts... it all MESMARISED me! I am so glad for this. Thanks for the video by the way. It helpep me to understand the deeper explanations of things in the game.
I also LOVED the way you've showed the character's classpects. That little part made my DAY!
I was lucky, I got this for £1 as it was on sale on Steam. I feel so happy I found this game. The writing is a bit hard to follow (if you only play one ending, you won't understand what's happening), and the art is not that varied (only a few sketch drawings for the main characters, all the backgrounds are photos). BUT the message is SO nice and I loved the characters with all my heart. I also appreciate how they took a common theme (self-acceptance) and put such a fresh spin to it. If only they spent a bit more time on the writing to proofread errors and make the narrative parts clearer, it would be one of the best indie visual novels out there.
thank you for this video! it is what this game deserves, a very beautiful analysis. i love this game and i love heaven will be mine a little bit more. the way these games are written (and the soundtrack, and the art) opened my eyes to what art can do. i've never felt someone's message, emotions enclosed in an artwork so strongly. it's art as a language, and this language feels like something very familiar and buried very deep. even being open as a queer person, those painful and contradicting feelings are still in me, and worst girls games' games force me to look at them and see that they are precious. i feel like i'm rambling, these games are so dear to me.
i bought this game because of your tweets and i loved it, made me feel some things that i havent been able to finish thinking about. anyways what a great video!
whelp, guess who just bought the game
seriously, I can't wait to play through this game, cults + religions and how they affect the mental health and wellbeing of those in those specific circles and their journey trying to recover from the effects of those environments are literally my thing. Thank you for introducing me to this game, OD!
I love this video! This game had such an impact on me because I could relate to all the girls in different ways. Also I really like the fact that you thought about what classpect fits each girl!
always excited for an OD vid
Agreed
Very excited for the next video, your essays are always extremely entertaining and well thought-out!
AHHH!!! thank you for reminding me of how fantastic this game is!! i really needed this this week!!
It's a wonderful surprise to see you talking about this VN. I truly love it and it gave me a lot to think and consider.
You will not believe how excited I was to see a new We Know the Devil video when I was searching through youtube.
Ahh one of my favourite VN's finally getting glorious coverage.
Oh my gosh I don't watch the homestuck things but I will ALWAYS click for wktd content
This video is great and really gives a great look into these character :)
Can’t wait for the next one
I clicked your video without looking very closely because of course I would it's you. I audibly GASPED when I read the title because I LOVEEEEE THIS GAME
would love to see you cover Heaven Will Be Mine. not enough people talk about that game
im so happy to see u covering these games; this and Heaven Will Be Mine are my favourite games plain and simple, and as a gay trans woman they both speak to me SO MUCH!!! this video itself reflects the beauty and themes of wktd in a wonderful way, and im looking forward to seeing the next video capture hwbm!!!!
You always provide very concise video essays
thank you for this video
I think i've known i was trans for a long time now, but admitting it to myself was always so, so difficult, so i just didn't at first i was happy with being called just nonbinary, that was close enough to the truth i had assumed, and even with loving friends who accepted me i still didn't feel like myself fully. I think it was this game and venus especially that helped me come to terms with the fact that i am a trans girl. i live in a pretty bad country for being one so my actual road only really starts now, but i will literally never forget what this game helped me with, its a shame i only discovered it this late
I learned about We Know the Devil around two years ago thanks to Errant Signal's video on the game, and I picked it up almost immediately after watching it. I ended up liking it so much that I bought for like, EIGHT other friends since it was on deep discount at the time.
That said, this is an excellent analysis of the game! I actually didn't pick up on thing the game does with colour until you mentioned it. I never was as hooked by the premise of Heaven Will Be Mine, but I should probably give it a go sometime because Worst Girl Games really do have some incredibly strong writing going on.
Heaven Will Be Mine is fundamentally about three women finding commonalities in their experiences, and the ways they have been shaped and used by the people around them to fight a war, even with their own consent -- and now the war is over, and they have to figure out - in these last few battles - who they are, now that the thing that shaped their entire childhoods is done. Having a giant psychic mecha battle in space is... basically just a framing device for them to have an emotional clash that isn't just purely dialogue. (I mean, there's some really fascinating worldbuilding in there! But it's really just background.)
Also the music is outrageously good, and it's a shame it doesn't get acknowledged very often.
Another compellingly written video!
This was powerful. Thank you for this video
Thanks for this!
i'm really far from being queer, but i'm sure an apostate who really struggles with relationships and this game really does affect me. i know how it feels like to avoid showing your true beliefs, how you have to force yourself to behave in ways you don't like or in way you see as wrong, how empty you can feel when you have to reconstruct yourself
Can't wait for the next one!
I got so confused watching this, even as a Christian but still watched it, even if I don’t understand I’ll watch it. And I’ll try my best to understand.
Oh shit I played this!
7:43
He is already here.
I played we know the devil for the first time in 2014m my first year of uni and I never recovered
we know the devil is incredible, yeah. i'm a nonbinary lesbian - im not out as enby to my family, but they accept me as a lesbian, and i've never really experienced discrimination for it on a large scale that made me want to hide it. so, strangely enough, i ended up identifying with neptune the most. either way, it really is an incredible game.
do you know the fansong about it by phemiec? its called daughter of god and its insanely good.
can we get a drakengard 3 video someday maybe?
h o m e s t u c k =)
This video is very good, but at the start of this channel you said that it was a walkthrough of how homestuck works, then it became a channel that examines the philosophy's of homestuck (cool i guess but not what you said it was) then it became a channel about homestuck-like things. This is 100% a-ok amazing, im glad you are doing what you want....
BUT it would be nice if you made a video talking about this shift like "i am done making HS explinations, and am moving on to similar media and how they relate to HS"
its not THAT important but idk its odd to me that the last video you made that follows the plans you had layed out on your patreon at the start was Dave Strider, 5 months ago...
Whoa first
Well let's see...
Fun fact: no one who has commented has seen the whole video
i liked it but it realy didnt give me that insight..more some people are just born fucked up like i dont know born epileptic but the rare variant that you grow out of, but you have no memory of the time you had it. some people are born fucked up.
Go back to homestuck
Let him post what he wants >:/