I clicked on this video as something to listen to while I make dinner. It was so well done that I didn’t even realize I watched the whole thing standing in my kitchen without even taking the food out of the fridge. Please keep making this kind of content.
I think what made ds1 firelink shrine so special was the fact that travelling was only available later on. Everytime you ran across the whole map you always cross its way. Its like home.
This is bringing me back... I used to play SoT with my friends a few years back, and it was great. This one time we were sailing, and this random guy shot himself out of a cannon and gave us Kraken meat before leaving.
The old-nether section of this video just showing the nether gave me horrific flashbacks of getting lost in the nether in pre-nether update with full diamond gear...
Was trying to find something to watch while I grind the DS3 Platinum and clicked on this. Genuinely thought this guy was like mega popular until I saw only 1.4k views. Good job dude, keep it up this is sick
just clicked on the video without paying any mind to what channel it was or how many views it had. Thought i was definitly watching a video with 1 mil+ views from a big established creator so was really surprised to see it was from someone with "only" 400 subs. Great video man! You've earned a like a and sub!
Atmosphere is one of those things that you don't really understand the impact of... until you play a game that doesn't leverage it well, or inversely, when a game leverages it *absurdly* well. I think this is why games like Warframe and Destiny, despite being insane fever dreams, are still returned to and still have devout communities; their universes are genuinely atmospheric and well-realized. As for the Halo, that main theme's narrative transition is something else; it starts out as this melancholy, arcane thing... then it transitions to the titular backing track for all of Chief's heroics. The song itself has a narrative progression, and you don't really notice that aspect of it until a second playthrough. You experience the entire story of Halo: Combat Evolved in its first 3 minutes of having the main menu open.
@@RememberTheDuck very interesting, I never knew that now I gotta take another listen to the soundtrack. Maybe I’ll make a video on the music. Thanks a ton for watching:)
This is so real, sometimes during quiet moments in ds1 I have to play a video in the background because I feel like I may become hollow myself. The ambience of dark souls really is something powerful.
I love how this guy discribes things like how he said the ship speaks to you its really great to see a game or games that you like being told in this way
I remember booting up Minecraft somewhat late at night, just when the nether update released. I build a Portal, entered the nether and spawned in a basalt Delta. I listened to the sounds and atmosphere, lava popping, some sort of wind gushing. Immediately I felt a feeling of dread, hopelessness, and just emptiness. That is still one of the greatest immersions in videogames i had.
I don't usually comment but that was truly one of the best video essays I have ever watched, I cannot believe that you do not have more subscribers. I hope that this video and its reception encourages you to create more like it, bravo!
Amazing video! The one game I recently found brought me that childlike "immersion" where I was completely engrossed in the world was Death Stranding. While it certainly isn't a game for everyone, when I finally sat down to play the game I was hooked. I played it all day for 3 days straight, and was enamored by the world. I felt truly like I was making my way through the world with Sam, I cared for everyone I talked to. It had a strange effect of bringing me back to 2020 and reminding me of the isolation of lockdown. It was an incredibly strange and beautiful experience and I highly recommend the game to anyone interested in it.
Atmosphere is one of the most important parts of a game by far. I remember playing Vampire: The Masquerade and there was one mission where you have to go into a haunted house. There was no jumpscares or anything like that but the atmosphere was built up so well that it felt like my skin was on fire for the whole mission. Still chasing that high to this day...
the nethers depressing atmosphere is so strong that even when I was there for a long time in creative mode I just felt so depressed and uncomfortable even though nothing here can hurt me and thats how you know an atmosphere is good
What I like about Dark Souls 1 compared to the other games is how well everything connects, from the map design to even the sound effects, the armour sound and player animation have it's weight that makes you feel like an actual knight and not some guy in custom.
Just a note on your Sea of Thieves portion. When you spot a player ship that is not owned by the captain of the crew with a spyglass, it makes a different sound than if it were owned by the crew and the ones owned by crews will make a different sound when spotted if the ship for the different titles/banners you can equip to them. The sound you put for the skeleton ship is the sound of a skeleton ship spawning on you in which it will engage you in combat, but if you spot it with a spyglass it will make a different sound. Just thought I would mention the extra details, enjoyed the video keep up the good work 👍.
WHAT only one thousand subs I that it would be at least 200 thousand, the quality of this is insane great job, anytime someone brings up the old Minecraft it always brings tears
I honestly think the quiet moments of L4D2 and L4D1 are some of the most hauntingly beautiful in gaming, there are few of them but that only accentuates them
This was an awesome video! I fully expected your channel to have hundreds of thousands of subscribers… methinks you are a diamond in the rough! I also really enjoyed your Minecraft video. Keep up the good work!
Man, I don't know why, but Dead Voxel always manages to tear me apart and consider my life choices. It's such a thoughtful track that feels like being lost, but somehow at ease too. You can also try and listen to it, while it rains outside. I guarantee you that you will feel something.
This video came out of left field, and I was even more excited to find out it was from a smaller creator. I loved it. As a game developer, it made me think about the different ways games capture atmosphere and their uniqueness. Also, thumbnail is a banger. Keep it up man!
i've only just began the combat evolved section of this video, but as someone who, only yesterday completed their first souls game, feel as if this video was made for me. the incredibly vibes from the flood missions in CE were simultaneously some of the coolest and eeriest experiences that i had up until that point. chief picking up the helmet and seeing what happened to the crew was something that gave me chills, immediately followed by entering this place myself and knowing i'd have to take on this enemy of which i had no experience with. top notch video. edit: i was that kid on zombies. particularly five on bo1... having such an enclosed environment with the undead coming at you from all angles was too much for myself as a 10 year old. sea of thieves was the only game that i couldn't relate to you on with this video, as i am terrified of the ocean and even playing with friends induces a feeling of primal fear that i cannot rid myself of.
Shoutout to Lost Planet 3. As a prequel to the Lost Planet games, I haven’t played 1 or 2, but the sheer desolate, frozen, incredibly hostile environment of Lost Planet will never fail to make me feel scared and alone. And the abandoned NEVEC bases only solidify that anxiety. I feel alone. I feel unsafe. I feel like I could die at any moment, and no one would ever know what happened. Just like what happened to so many others.
not gonna lie this video made me take more time in games i usually play fast multiplayer games were the focus isnt really on the atmosphere but i sometimes play games like that but i never really saw the atmosphere behind it my brain is programmed for fast constant action and no breaks but since i played elden ring i started to take time for little things in games and try not to listen to music in the background or watch a stream or video on my second monitor and i can say these moments were you just walk around or stand and look at stuff is so awesome
I used to play a lot of minecraft creative on the ps3 when I was younger, and would visit the nether often when i was really young, idk if its just me, but since mobs ignore you in creative, there was something strangely beautiful and somber about just watching the ghasts just fly. The way they slowly drift over the sea of lava, this elegant white ghoslty jellyfish soaring above the harsh red and orange wastes, it almost seemed like they were, angelic in a way (I played creative so much i actually didnt know they would attack you). I'm probably way over explaining this, but I loved the serene beauty of the ghasts contrasting with the other harsh and violent inhabitants of the nether.
1:18 i definitely agree on the atmosphere aspect. When I made it to lyendel, loyal capital, I was genuinely breathtaken. I sat down and enjoyed original soundtrack still listen to it to this day on Spotify and UA-cam
One of the most atmospheric games I’ve played (on top of these excellent picks) is Mario Galaxy. It’s extremely fun, wacky, and uplifting. It’s also quiet, thoughtful, and lonely at times. The background skyboxes and several of the soundtrack pieces really sell the feeling of “deep space” in a lot of the worlds. Jacob Geller has an excellent video solely on this topic, and this one is on par with that in terms of quality. Great job!
I loved the world shift in dragons dogma. I had no idea anything was going to change, it was a shocking twist for me, and caused me to think about the philosophical questions presented deeply
As a game artist, this is one of the best video about games. I see that you truly analyzing, understanding and *feeling* some real important aspects about games instead of clickbaits and generic bullshit. It's an instant subscribe for me. Keep going please, I need more soul in my YT homepage
@@EmbersJournal See it as a skill! Talent means curiousity, if you are truly curious about something you learn faster, thats it! :) If you make videos like that, im sure you got it
I remember myself playing the original Dead Space for the first time. Man it was scary but the atmosphere was just genius. There was just so much tension and with Isaac being a silent protagonist made it even more scary, I don’t know for the life of me how many times I cursed during those play sessions after school but it was awesome *the Ishimura was a great ship*
Damm when i saw the Thumbnail and listened to the video it sure came as a surprise you didnt have more followers. Keep at it! The Algorithm gods will bless you soon.
To add to this excellent analysis; Another game that brilliantly builds atmosphere is Half Life 2. Like Dark Souls, it uses music sparingly and to great effect. Far and away, the best example has to be Ravenholm. The only thing you hear about it is “We don’t go there anymore…” Soon afterwards, The Combine attacks, and you’re forced to flee the first safe haven you’ve found in the story…and the only escape is through Ravenholm. You walk through a silent, pitch-black tunnel. You need to break through multiple barricades. You walk past several automatic turrets, which are pointed in the way you must go. You ride a rusty, creaking elevator to the surface, and finally step into the abandoned town. Let me tell you, the music that plays when you enter Ravenholm…it’s a deeper feeling of dread than you’ll find in most horror games.
as a game develouper, i do think atmosphere its the key, and the atmosphere must be able to be described with a single word, and the enemies, the gameplay, the history should flow throughout the game, the flow and feelings can change depend on the subject what we would like to add, in dark souls as a such example, you begin feeling overwelmed by the amount of deaths could you do, but after a couple of days and tries you begin to feel more powerful once you kill the bosses, and if you fail, the feeling what you got its, i must need to improve my equipment, once you does it, an gotcha the kill of the boss the reward its that feeling of power, after your long quest you being like a bug you take down a such boss what you cannot defeat alone or without skill.
I still log onto my old Dark Souls save just to sit at fire link shrine, listening to the music while I finish my homework, greatest game of all time in my opinion
Shocked you're a small creator. Nice stuff! Seems like a video essay a bigger YTer would've made! Game with the best atmosphere in my mind? That's an incredibly hard pick. So many different "kinds" of atmosphere to pick from. Aside from the ones you mentioned, coming to mind: The lonely, eerie, and sometimes terrifying beauty of Shadow of the Colossus' far reaches, and even some of it's mysterious secrets buried in the code The scifi horror of the Half-Life series and it's setpieces, not to mention the famous 'liminality' factor of it's engine. The general playful vibes of most first-party GameCube games back in the day. The contrast between emotional grit and oddball charm on the streets of Kamurocho and it's people in the Yakuza series. The various original worlds in the Kingdom Hearts series were immaculate at either providing feelings of calmness, intimidation, or good ole 'epic coolness' Or any of the places in Any Austin's "Unremarkable Places in X" videos Different things immersed me in different ways, sometimes it was just you and the environment, sometimes it was the stories they told, sometimes it was the graphics of the time. Sometimes it was even an absence of something. They all made their own worlds with their own feelings.
Minecraft nether music is the most relaxing music, you cannot change my mind, when listening to it you feel like you're in another universe, forgetting all you're problems and just relaxing
If anything I believe World building is one of the most important parts of writing. That and atmosphere. Setting the tone for places in games and getting to know why something is the tone it is feels so amazing and it’s why I love dark souls.
This is Such a Crazy good video dude. I love video games so it bums me out to say that we have lost entire game genres lately.. Remember what the game landscape was like during the PS3/360 era or the Xbox/PS2 era. The game selection was no joke overflowing with such a wide array of different game types. The consoles we currently have are very capable consoles with plenty of capabilities. We just need the game industry to wake up and start producing a bunch of different games again. I don't think I've ever seen it where games so rarely get released? I really hope we see the game industry get reborn and start pumping out a wide range of different game types. We can only Hope that video games will survive this dark chapter..
I also was scared of zombies black ops 2. I’m 23 and I played it on launch. And sea of thieves, now that I am a game 3D artist I think the water is extremely good
@@EmbersJournalplease do, it’s a fantastic game. The stealth mechanics, atmosphere, soundtrack, and art style are all AMAZING. Even if you don’t make a video on it, it’s worth just playing to enjoy such a fun game
In Sly 2. Episode 4, where Bentley is alone in Prague. It has this scary and heavy but cosy vibe. Dark reds and scary music. But somehow still calmes me
Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach also do a pretty good job with their atmospheres, I think. ODST drops you in a city overrun with Covenant... but as an ODST. You don't have the Spartans' advanced armour or their superhuman physicality. Your melee is a lot weaker. You actually experience recoil. You have no shields. The only thing you hear is the haunting, noir-esque smooth jazz that makes up the game's soundtrack. That, and the voices of Covenant patrols. Which you now have to try and _avoid_ due to your limited resources and worse durability. You can still take them on if you know what you're doing, but it's a risk now. And all you can find are odd pieces of equipment belonging to the ODSTs in your squad.
my personal favourite atmosphere is the half life 2 beta's, just so surreal and creepy with a giant citadel looming over you as you breath through a gas mask, no water to keep plants alive and thus no clear air to breath making the skies dark and ominous. you are put into stasis for god knows how long just to wake up to a world you once knew being enslaved by an alien race exploiting us for our resources and intelligence. being completely honest, if you make a part 2, I hope you put it in, it's just an atmosphere not replicated by any other game I can think of.
i can fully agree on the assignement i played minecraft right before and i'm pretty much the scout of the team, it regularly happen that i'm thousend of block from base. and it already feel odd, sometime, theyre something off but that part of what i love about exploration, there is alway something to find
Metro: Exodus has made me feel the most immersed into a game world, topping everything else I've ever played. My favorite atmosphere in a game is either Metroid Prime 2 or Thief Gold, but even Deep Rock Galactic when played solo with the soundtrack off I find has a similar immersive effect like you mentioned with COD Zombies
Stay safe, friends, and don’t you dare go hollow.
hugs and hagrid
what if im a knight, born of god and void?
No cost to great...@@THEOPDESTROYER777
No mouth to speak, with no will to break@@THEOPDESTROYER777
@@THEOPDESTROYER777 guess you have no voice to cry suffering then
Bro came out of nowhere and started posting heat!
Right? I’m shocked how small his channel is
Real stuff
You're 10 years old, with an 80 IQ at an available maximum
You should too.
Legit!
I clicked on this video as something to listen to while I make dinner. It was so well done that I didn’t even realize I watched the whole thing standing in my kitchen without even taking the food out of the fridge. Please keep making this kind of content.
@@kaiden_w1378 haha that means a lot to me thank you, really. I’m not stopping any time soon!
You must have a severe ADHD issue!
What did you make to eat?
@@trooper2737 Lmao bros asking the real questions
This is accurate I also had my attention demanded
As soon as I saw the thumbnail I knew this was a banger.
Keep going my friend, you have the vision and the talent.
@@UmCaraqueAnalisa Thank you so much, I have no plans of stopping for sure. Thanks for taking the time to watch!
I think what made ds1 firelink shrine so special was the fact that travelling was only available later on. Everytime you ran across the whole map you always cross its way. Its like home.
This is bringing me back... I used to play SoT with my friends a few years back, and it was great. This one time we were sailing, and this random guy shot himself out of a cannon and gave us Kraken meat before leaving.
The old-nether section of this video just showing the nether gave me horrific flashbacks of getting lost in the nether in pre-nether update with full diamond gear...
Was trying to find something to watch while I grind the DS3 Platinum and clicked on this. Genuinely thought this guy was like mega popular until I saw only 1.4k views. Good job dude, keep it up this is sick
@@mrlemonlime1434 thanks man I appreciate you taking the time to watch!
dark souls 2 majula is one of the most emotional and homefeeling places in video games
@@solairedababy5982 best hub for a souls game in my opinion
just clicked on the video without paying any mind to what channel it was or how many views it had. Thought i was definitly watching a video with 1 mil+ views from a big established creator so was really surprised to see it was from someone with "only" 400 subs. Great video man! You've earned a like a and sub!
@@SwedishFIFAplaya thanks so much for checking it out! It’s people like you who might help me get there :)
Nice video brother. The part about Halo: CE was my favorite. The Flood were terrifying the first time I fought them.
for real, prolly one of the best alien races depicted in sci fi
@@EmbersJournalOn point brotha man. Every souls fan I’ve met seems to love halo too
Atmosphere is one of those things that you don't really understand the impact of... until you play a game that doesn't leverage it well, or inversely, when a game leverages it *absurdly* well. I think this is why games like Warframe and Destiny, despite being insane fever dreams, are still returned to and still have devout communities; their universes are genuinely atmospheric and well-realized.
As for the Halo, that main theme's narrative transition is something else; it starts out as this melancholy, arcane thing... then it transitions to the titular backing track for all of Chief's heroics. The song itself has a narrative progression, and you don't really notice that aspect of it until a second playthrough. You experience the entire story of Halo: Combat Evolved in its first 3 minutes of having the main menu open.
@@RememberTheDuck very interesting, I never knew that now I gotta take another listen to the soundtrack. Maybe I’ll make a video on the music. Thanks a ton for watching:)
I yelled zombies before the transition and was so hyped when it ended up being about cod zombies.
@@randomaj237 hell yeah lmao
This is so real, sometimes during quiet moments in ds1 I have to play a video in the background because I feel like I may become hollow myself. The ambience of dark souls really is something powerful.
@@bambinolandeno8560 Probably one of the most underrated aspects of the souls games for sure
This video has really brought me back to what I loved about gaming, thank you. And don't you dare go hollow.
thanks for watching :)
Masterful video essay mate, I eagerly await your next piece of work
@@badger_laser6206 thanks so much!
@@EmbersJournal no problem, most new video essayists struggle with how to best pace the their essays but you managed to hit the nail on the head
I love when UA-cam shows me small channels with sleeper hit videos!
Great content, keep it up dude!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
Bro your videos are peak. No joke, your quality is allready up there under the best, please dont stop and make more Videos!
@@DarkIceLight thanks so much!
I love how this guy discribes things like how he said the ship speaks to you its really great to see a game or games that you like being told in this way
I Like long videos that put more thought into each point presented there, they are fun to watch during day-offs and such.
@@el_gatoNegro same! I love long form stuff. I definitely wanna try making some hour+ long videos in the future
I’m gonna tell you right now. With quality videos like this, your channel won’t be small for long. Keep up the great work man!!
@@Bludlungg thanks a ton!
I remember booting up Minecraft somewhat late at night, just when the nether update released. I build a Portal, entered the nether and spawned in a basalt Delta. I listened to the sounds and atmosphere, lava popping, some sort of wind gushing. Immediately I felt a feeling of dread, hopelessness, and just emptiness. That is still one of the greatest immersions in videogames i had.
cant believe you are not even 1k sub and you make such high quality video . Great job !
I don't usually comment but that was truly one of the best video essays I have ever watched, I cannot believe that you do not have more subscribers. I hope that this video and its reception encourages you to create more like it, bravo!
@@joshstauffacher819 thanks so much!
Amazing video! The one game I recently found brought me that childlike "immersion" where I was completely engrossed in the world was Death Stranding. While it certainly isn't a game for everyone, when I finally sat down to play the game I was hooked. I played it all day for 3 days straight, and was enamored by the world. I felt truly like I was making my way through the world with Sam, I cared for everyone I talked to. It had a strange effect of bringing me back to 2020 and reminding me of the isolation of lockdown. It was an incredibly strange and beautiful experience and I highly recommend the game to anyone interested in it.
ive heard so many great things about it, i gotta try it out at some point
Atmosphere is one of the most important parts of a game by far. I remember playing Vampire: The Masquerade and there was one mission where you have to go into a haunted house. There was no jumpscares or anything like that but the atmosphere was built up so well that it felt like my skin was on fire for the whole mission. Still chasing that high to this day...
the nethers depressing atmosphere is so strong that even when I was there for a long time in creative mode I just felt so depressed and uncomfortable even though nothing here can hurt me and thats how you know an atmosphere is good
Good quality and narration. Great vid dude!
btw I loved the elden ring main theme jumpscare haha
@@damnnavi3718 lol thank you so much for watching!
I actually thought this was some huge channel just to find a guy with 1k subs. keep making these videos!
Incredible video man, from one video essay-ist to another! This is def one of all time favorites on UA-cam
15:35 homer simpson
3:59 you perfectly described that feeling when you see bonfire
What I like about Dark Souls 1 compared to the other games is how well everything connects, from the map design to even the sound effects, the armour sound and player animation have it's weight that makes you feel like an actual knight and not some guy in custom.
Just a note on your Sea of Thieves portion. When you spot a player ship that is not owned by the captain of the crew with a spyglass, it makes a different sound than if it were owned by the crew and the ones owned by crews will make a different sound when spotted if the ship for the different titles/banners you can equip to them. The sound you put for the skeleton ship is the sound of a skeleton ship spawning on you in which it will engage you in combat, but if you spot it with a spyglass it will make a different sound. Just thought I would mention the extra details, enjoyed the video keep up the good work 👍.
You sir, have a new devoted subscriber 10/10 content
ABSOLUTELY wonderful man! Keep going, you got this! Thank you for the presentation🍻
Amazing content and topics you chose for videos you have great taste
You’re doing amazing bro! Quality it’s on point
@@mattbxch thank you!
What an awesome video dude! Absolutely loved it, keep up the great work. 😁
Thanks so much!
this video was amazing, PLEASE keep this up 🙏
@@biz3678 thank you brother :)
This is my type of content. Keep it up 💪
Thanks for watching!
Love this video man deserves all the attention
@@angelvasquez8006 thank you for taking the time to watch :)
WHAT only one thousand subs I that it would be at least 200 thousand, the quality of this is insane great job, anytime someone brings up the old Minecraft it always brings tears
@@Kolya-cx5sk Thanks so much!
This vid really struck a chord and reminded me of how much games have infuenced and changed my life for the better ❤
I honestly think the quiet moments of L4D2 and L4D1 are some of the most hauntingly beautiful in gaming, there are few of them but that only accentuates them
Ember back at it again!
This was an awesome video! I fully expected your channel to have hundreds of thousands of subscribers… methinks you are a diamond in the rough!
I also really enjoyed your Minecraft video. Keep up the good work!
@@DamburaDioa thanks so much! I appreciate the support :)
Dude, great great great video. This was put together so well, quality content.
@@hhowdy thank you man!
This channel will definitely blow up, keep it up!
@@Blasphemous96669 thanks so much!
Haven’t even watched the video, I can tell it’s gonna be a banger and subbed
Man, you got me subbed. Very good video, I thought you had like 100k subs at least. Keep up the good work.
@@qwqwqwqwqwqwqw9352 thank you!
Gotta love it when yt shows fire video essay channels
Very nice Video and recap of the best nostalgia moments of my life. Ur talented bro
Man, I don't know why, but Dead Voxel always manages to tear me apart and consider my life choices. It's such a thoughtful track that feels like being lost, but somehow at ease too. You can also try and listen to it, while it rains outside. I guarantee you that you will feel something.
This video explained all my childhood and I love you for that. Best video ever
@@DRE4Mzy thanks for watching :))
This video came out of left field, and I was even more excited to find out it was from a smaller creator. I loved it. As a game developer, it made me think about the different ways games capture atmosphere and their uniqueness. Also, thumbnail is a banger. Keep it up man!
@@curlyboyoli6004 thanks man!
Absolute heat of a vid you deserve more credit dude
@@Havoksh0t thank you!
Great video man, keep it up.
bro just earned a sub with this nostalgic ass video.
this is the video ive been looking for
@@westsidegunnfan123 W. Thanks for checking it out bro 🤝
I invest in this youtuber's glow up.
i've only just began the combat evolved section of this video, but as someone who, only yesterday completed their first souls game, feel as if this video was made for me. the incredibly vibes from the flood missions in CE were simultaneously some of the coolest and eeriest experiences that i had up until that point. chief picking up the helmet and seeing what happened to the crew was something that gave me chills, immediately followed by entering this place myself and knowing i'd have to take on this enemy of which i had no experience with. top notch video.
edit: i was that kid on zombies. particularly five on bo1... having such an enclosed environment with the undead coming at you from all angles was too much for myself as a 10 year old. sea of thieves was the only game that i couldn't relate to you on with this video, as i am terrified of the ocean and even playing with friends induces a feeling of primal fear that i cannot rid myself of.
Great work. Keep it up!
Thanks for taking the time to watch the video! :)
keep up the good work my man
@@osamahalshehri2696 thanks a ton 🙏
Shoutout to Lost Planet 3.
As a prequel to the Lost Planet games, I haven’t played 1 or 2, but the sheer desolate, frozen, incredibly hostile environment of Lost Planet will never fail to make me feel scared and alone. And the abandoned NEVEC bases only solidify that anxiety.
I feel alone.
I feel unsafe.
I feel like I could die at any moment, and no one would ever know what happened. Just like what happened to so many others.
not gonna lie this video made me take more time in games i usually play fast multiplayer games were the focus isnt really on the atmosphere but i sometimes play games like that but i never really saw the atmosphere behind it my brain is programmed for fast constant action and no breaks but since i played elden ring i started to take time for little things in games and try not to listen to music in the background or watch a stream or video on my second monitor and i can say these moments were you just walk around or stand and look at stuff is so awesome
I used to play a lot of minecraft creative on the ps3 when I was younger, and would visit the nether often when i was really young, idk if its just me, but since mobs ignore you in creative, there was something strangely beautiful and somber about just watching the ghasts just fly.
The way they slowly drift over the sea of lava, this elegant white ghoslty jellyfish soaring above the harsh red and orange wastes, it almost seemed like they were, angelic in a way (I played creative so much i actually didnt know they would attack you).
I'm probably way over explaining this, but I loved the serene beauty of the ghasts contrasting with the other harsh and violent inhabitants of the nether.
1:18 i definitely agree on the atmosphere aspect. When I made it to lyendel, loyal capital, I was genuinely breathtaken. I sat down and enjoyed original soundtrack still listen to it to this day on Spotify and UA-cam
Bloodborne has the best atmosphere of any game i played. Especially yharnam and fishing Hamlet
One of the most atmospheric games I’ve played (on top of these excellent picks) is Mario Galaxy. It’s extremely fun, wacky, and uplifting. It’s also quiet, thoughtful, and lonely at times. The background skyboxes and several of the soundtrack pieces really sell the feeling of “deep space” in a lot of the worlds. Jacob Geller has an excellent video solely on this topic, and this one is on par with that in terms of quality. Great job!
@@willmungas8964 totally agree! Thanks so much for watching!
I loved the world shift in dragons dogma. I had no idea anything was going to change, it was a shocking twist for me, and caused me to think about the philosophical questions presented deeply
Banger after banger you inspire me to start my own UA-cam
Man the title and the thumbnail was so fucking fire, then good audio and dark souls? insta sub, congrats
thank you dude!
As a game artist, this is one of the best video about games. I see that you truly analyzing, understanding and *feeling* some real important aspects about games instead of clickbaits and generic bullshit. It's an instant subscribe for me.
Keep going please, I need more soul in my YT homepage
@@wasquiat thank you! And that’s really cool! If you don’t mind me asking, what kinds of games do you make art for?
@@EmbersJournal I'm working on mobile games over 5 years and developing my own PC indie games for 2 years with my team
@@wasquiat that’s awesome! Art has always been something I wish I was good at. I’m very jealous lol
@@EmbersJournal See it as a skill! Talent means curiousity, if you are truly curious about something you learn faster, thats it! :) If you make videos like that, im sure you got it
I remember myself playing the original Dead Space for the first time. Man it was scary but the atmosphere was just genius. There was just so much tension and with Isaac being a silent protagonist made it even more scary, I don’t know for the life of me how many times I cursed during those play sessions after school but it was awesome *the Ishimura was a great ship*
Damm when i saw the Thumbnail and listened to the video it sure came as a surprise you didnt have more followers. Keep at it! The Algorithm gods will bless you soon.
the old nether at peaceful reminds me a lot of the atmosphere in EYE divine cybermancy, its such a special feeling.
To add to this excellent analysis; Another game that brilliantly builds atmosphere is Half Life 2.
Like Dark Souls, it uses music sparingly and to great effect. Far and away, the best example has to be Ravenholm.
The only thing you hear about it is “We don’t go there anymore…” Soon afterwards, The Combine attacks, and you’re forced to flee the first safe haven you’ve found in the story…and the only escape is through Ravenholm.
You walk through a silent, pitch-black tunnel. You need to break through multiple barricades. You walk past several automatic turrets, which are pointed in the way you must go. You ride a rusty, creaking elevator to the surface, and finally step into the abandoned town.
Let me tell you, the music that plays when you enter Ravenholm…it’s a deeper feeling of dread than you’ll find in most horror games.
as a game develouper, i do think atmosphere its the key, and the atmosphere must be able to be described with a single word, and the enemies, the gameplay, the history should flow throughout the game, the flow and feelings can change depend on the subject what we would like to add, in dark souls as a such example, you begin feeling overwelmed by the amount of deaths could you do, but after a couple of days and tries you begin to feel more powerful once you kill the bosses, and if you fail, the feeling what you got its, i must need to improve my equipment, once you does it, an gotcha the kill of the boss the reward its that feeling of power, after your long quest you being like a bug you take down a such boss what you cannot defeat alone or without skill.
awesome video man
@@shaun7408 thanks!
I still log onto my old Dark Souls save just to sit at fire link shrine, listening to the music while I finish my homework, greatest game of all time in my opinion
Great video, needs more attention.
Keep it up man
@@matorias thanks for watching :)
Shocked you're a small creator. Nice stuff! Seems like a video essay a bigger YTer would've made!
Game with the best atmosphere in my mind? That's an incredibly hard pick. So many different "kinds" of atmosphere to pick from. Aside from the ones you mentioned, coming to mind:
The lonely, eerie, and sometimes terrifying beauty of Shadow of the Colossus' far reaches, and even some of it's mysterious secrets buried in the code
The scifi horror of the Half-Life series and it's setpieces, not to mention the famous 'liminality' factor of it's engine.
The general playful vibes of most first-party GameCube games back in the day.
The contrast between emotional grit and oddball charm on the streets of Kamurocho and it's people in the Yakuza series.
The various original worlds in the Kingdom Hearts series were immaculate at either providing feelings of calmness, intimidation, or good ole 'epic coolness'
Or any of the places in Any Austin's "Unremarkable Places in X" videos
Different things immersed me in different ways, sometimes it was just you and the environment, sometimes it was the stories they told, sometimes it was the graphics of the time. Sometimes it was even an absence of something. They all made their own worlds with their own feelings.
@@mattomanx77 shadow of the colossus is a fantastic example! I love that empty feeling world for sure. Thanks so much for watching!
Minecraft nether music is the most relaxing music, you cannot change my mind, when listening to it you feel like you're in another universe, forgetting all you're problems and just relaxing
I really love the atmosphere of Persona 4 Golden. It's just so cozy. As a kid from a suburban town, it feels really real.
If anything I believe World building is one of the most important parts of writing. That and atmosphere. Setting the tone for places in games and getting to know why something is the tone it is feels so amazing and it’s why I love dark souls.
@@Ball_shlopper absolutely, it goes so far for a story/world and helps your suspension of disbelief so much
incredible content! love from Brasil 🇧🇷
This is Such a Crazy good video dude. I love video games so it bums me out to say that we have lost entire game genres lately.. Remember what the game landscape was like during the PS3/360 era or the Xbox/PS2 era. The game selection was no joke overflowing with such a wide array of different game types. The consoles we currently have are very capable consoles with plenty of capabilities. We just need the game industry to wake up and start producing a bunch of different games again. I don't think I've ever seen it where games so rarely get released? I really hope we see the game industry get reborn and start pumping out a wide range of different game types. We can only Hope that video games will survive this dark chapter..
@@benmcreynolds8581 yeah this current generation is lacking so much compared to what we used to have. I miss the 360/ps3 days
This video is an incredible callback as to why i love video games
@@wildgoose6122 I appreciate you checking it out!
Subscribed immediately. Such a good written video
I also was scared of zombies black ops 2. I’m 23 and I played it on launch.
And sea of thieves, now that I am a game 3D artist I think the water is extremely good
I also love how you include the music of the game itself
Wait till this guy discovers Dishonored, he's gonna lose his mind.
@@Fintank_ I’ve been wanting to play it for so long, maybe now’s the time
@@EmbersJournalplease do, it’s a fantastic game. The stealth mechanics, atmosphere, soundtrack, and art style are all AMAZING.
Even if you don’t make a video on it, it’s worth just playing to enjoy such a fun game
nah wait till he plays STALKER, Thief Gold, the Half-Life games, and Deus Ex (2000)
In Sly 2. Episode 4, where Bentley is alone in Prague. It has this scary and heavy but cosy vibe. Dark reds and scary music. But somehow still calmes me
Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach also do a pretty good job with their atmospheres, I think.
ODST drops you in a city overrun with Covenant... but as an ODST. You don't have the Spartans' advanced armour or their superhuman physicality. Your melee is a lot weaker. You actually experience recoil. You have no shields. The only thing you hear is the haunting, noir-esque smooth jazz that makes up the game's soundtrack. That, and the voices of Covenant patrols. Which you now have to try and _avoid_ due to your limited resources and worse durability. You can still take them on if you know what you're doing, but it's a risk now. And all you can find are odd pieces of equipment belonging to the ODSTs in your squad.
This is lowk professional
my personal favourite atmosphere is the half life 2 beta's, just so surreal and creepy with a giant citadel looming over you as you breath through a gas mask, no water to keep plants alive and thus no clear air to breath making the skies dark and ominous.
you are put into stasis for god knows how long just to wake up to a world you once knew being enslaved by an alien race exploiting us for our resources and intelligence.
being completely honest, if you make a part 2, I hope you put it in, it's just an atmosphere not replicated by any other game I can think of.
bro just decided to kill it with this video, keep it going man
thanks brother
i can fully agree on the assignement
i played minecraft right before and i'm pretty much the scout of the team, it regularly happen that i'm thousend of block from base. and it already feel odd, sometime, theyre something off but that part of what i love about exploration, there is alway something to find
Hey, thank you for reminding me not to go hollow. That actually means a lot rn somehow ❤
@@prodlexii4945 I’m glad it resonated with you. Just remember you matter, dont ever forget that. Thanks for checking out the vid :)
Metro: Exodus has made me feel the most immersed into a game world, topping everything else I've ever played.
My favorite atmosphere in a game is either Metroid Prime 2 or Thief Gold, but even Deep Rock Galactic when played solo with the soundtrack off I find has a similar immersive effect like you mentioned with COD Zombies
metroid is absolutely a great game when it comes to atmosphere. And I've been wanting to play metro, ive heard its amazing!
Amazing video super underrated