manly’s ability to memorize layout is always so impressive to me, if I’m playing a game without an actual map I just accept that I will be lost forever
If there’s one thing the boom in analogue horror has taught me, it’s that owning a camera and/or having an interest in filming is hazardous for one’s health.
Its worse than that, if you find that much footage, how many unrecorded stories are lost to the dark? A camera doesn't make you more likely to fall, it only makes it more likely you'll be remembered.
I appreciate this kind of approach to liminal spaces and the overall dream pools/dreamcore aesthetic, because it's more about the environment and its bizarre design generating this feeling of uneasiness than some loud spooky jpg monster lurking in the corner.
except there is nothing to be worry about it's not real life you know it's a game there won't be any jumpscares it's just boring walking simulator thru some shitty ai generated levels
I actually think that Manly is a part of backrooms You get here and you see him looking at you from the shadow with his eyes glowing edgy-anime shade of red
hey! Thank you so much for playing my game 💙 Im the developer of the game. Sorry about the bug, I wasn't supposed to be there. I will fix it as soon as possible, the game has more variety just the map is too big. But I will tell you that it has two endings, bad and good :D
just suggested it to another youtuber. This is such a good game. Don't fall into these ''lets just scare everyone''-vibes. The best part is how slowly it progresses. When you think there isn't much more to see, the game gets you right where it wants you. Even if the title already said that, i have never expected ''something'' in there. My nose got fuzzy in that moment...
Could I ask if you meant for it to almost look like you can see people on long distances? If so it's such a great psychological element, really creates a great atmosphere for the game ❤❤
I feel that "ending", despite it definitely being a bug, is rather fitting for a game like this. Pretty solid demo all in all, strong use of atmosphere and I respect the restraint with the hints of something else being in here.
this new wave of realistic backrooms games are actually amazing, no jumpscares, just psychological horror walking around in silence for hours exploring beautiful landscapes.
A few years ago I was really hoping someone would make this style of game. I could've done it myself, but I lack the time and money. Now there's tons of games like this, it's great.
I gotta say, this one is especially realistic looking. Looking at things far away it looks like it's just real life and looking at things close up it you can just barely tell it's a game. The dev did amazing on it.
@@teamofone1219there was always a reference of entities in the first ever backrooms post. It's just people actually decided to give names, behaviors, and appearance to them whereas original they were just a mystery.
Yeah, I'm not a fan of there always being some sort of entity in it. Worse is if the entity immediately makes its presence know upon you spawning into the game, either screeching or running right at you from the get go. I would rather it be a psychological horror, where you are alone, no actual threat is there, but your character slowly begins to go crazy the longer you play. You're able to explore and see everything in the game, but begin to hear and see things that aren't there (shadows moving, something at the corner of your eye, breathing behind you, footsteps that aren't yours, etc), up until the character gets so paranoid they die from Stress Cardiomyopathy.
I don’t know if it’s just me but it felt like you were more likely to get to new zones if you took the darker routes. Which I really like because it feels like the game is subtly encouraging you to go into the spookier areas to proceed
Thank god it's just a texture and not a real thing But those tiles usually come in bigger sets unless you wanna do some design or something. Like one actual TILE imitates like a 5x5 area of smaller tiles, so you can work quicker through a surface. There's also the sets where the smaller tiles are connected with mesh that you're supposed to cover with spackle or whatever, that work for curved surfaces.
I noticed that, with all the slides around the map, the green ones seemed to be shaped one more dangerous ways. I wonder if that was a warning about choosing the green slide at the end… Also totally agree with manly, very effective liminal architecture. Well done.
I'm the weirdo who unironically loves the architecture of these spaces and would love to have some sort of billionaire estate with a whole "public pool wing" that has nonsensical layouts like this. It'd be perfect for lavish parties and lone existential crisis induced panic attacks alike.
20:48 the way these colored things subtly look at you is creepy 21:45 looks like something was creeping out of the entrance, might be the lighting 41:39 creature painting 44:10 creature encounter
For the thing at 21:45 it's definitely the lighting. The filter in this game plus the reflections on the surfaces is really scuffed, so lots of weird dark patches and lines where there shouldn't be. Possibly done on purpose to mess with your eyes.
@@patricianpenguin Actually, I think that they could be static object, just that there is a optical illusion that make it looks like a static object is following your movement. On the other hand, this is a game so it’s probably just easier for them to have it actually tracks the player instead of having to precisely create that optical illusion in the game.
If I had a nickel for every liminal space game Manly played that had a swimming pool or bathroom tile aesthetic... I don't know how many nickels I'd have, but it's definitely more than two.
Wow, that filter and the lighting made everything look... real. I'm not even hyperbolizing. It looks like someone video recorded it. Loving it Manly, ty.
Not really. The tiles are too white. In dark/dimly lit spaces white turns beige/yellow. So a bright light that enters a dark hallway would go white, eggshell, yellow, beige, dull green, black ever so slowly instead of just shades of white/grey. But I get that's a limitation of games in general. It just makes games with lots of white environments very obvious they're fake, shadows aren't grey even on white tile.
@@LycanFerret Except you can observe the exact effect that you're describing throughout the game. Pause at 40:12. You can see your precious dull green.
its cool, especially getting things to look realistic by lowering the "quality" of the perspective, since we can tell real from not easily from our eyes, using a camcorder or vhs, which is already low quality, it adds a more real feel. its dope!
I remember being sick and playing ONLY doom eternal for a month straight. I still have dreams where I’m walking around an eerie empty level with no health, no ammo, and no armor.
@@benjaminfranklin1844same here but except it wasnt a dream for me, perhaps i was hallucinating but that's still one of the weirdest shit ive ever experienced
Anyone else notice the sound design? Every time you walk it plays white noise of wind blowing in your ears so that when you stop its extra quiet and gives you a creepy feeling. what a great little addition that makes a world of difference to help set the atmosphere.
The subtle way those colored statues eyes follow the player really had me paranoid because i couldnt tell if they were watching me or if it was perspective. They were following you but it was done so well! Props to the dev
@@ParagonDerp i thought this too at first, but at 20:27 you can actually see the red one’s eyes moving ever so slightly to look straight ahead once the player gets close enough. i love that we assume it’s concave at first, which already felt unnerving enough, but realizing that the eyes actually are following you so discreetly is even more so
@@TheDeerfox You might be right since there are rubber ducks in the game that very obviously rotate to follow you but I've played it and spent a good bit staring at these boys and never saw their eyes move, I think it's just a really good illusion.
I have a neurological condition, which makes me unable to recognize faces (even my own) or places/directions. It's so interesting watching people play liminal space games like this, because to me, this confusing layout/"have I been here?" vibe is what I feel in every video game without a map haha.
Fascinating! I've studied this phenomenon but I've never met someone who has it. Can I ask you one thing that's always been bothering me? What do faces look like to you? Do you not even see faces? Do all faces look the same? Are they jumbled? What do you see when you look at a face?
is it impossible for you or just really difficult to tell faces apart? Ive heard of that before and I always thought it was like having trouble telling kittens from the same litter apart from each other, but not recognizing your own face is crazy
@@N51totallynotprivatemilitary no. they do track. the effect to make it seem like eyes follow you is to make then concave(curved inward), or inset. you can see from side views here the eyes are not. They bulge out following the shape of the dome. the pupils do actually move. watch the pink one to the left at the start of the linked timestamp. you can see the eye move when manly stops moving.
Yeah, I rewatched this closely, and it's just the positioning of the eyes partly on the dome so you can see them from more than one side that makes them appear to follow you; like those paintings where people claim that the eyes follow you. It's just an optical illusion.
18:31 the moment he started singing i actually started tearing up. Manly has such a serious voice and hearing him sing “put on a happy face, things are gonna start looking up” actually makes me tear up. that was unexpectedly adorable and comforting
I've dreams like this. They're...not pleasant. But somehow I find the game is. Likely for the same reason, but I'm awake and just see a monitor after all. xD
There's just something relaxing about liminal spaces. It kinda reminds me of when I just wanted to get away from large crowds of people and start wandering the hallways instead, exploring the building, seeing the sunlight through the windows, enjoying the emptiness and silence. It's hard for me to imagine it as scary, but I guess it's because everyone has different experiences and therefore different associations of it. Also, the slight disappointment in his voice, being unable to ride the slide is very funny to me for some reason.
"Wait, no, it's actually hostile!" -Manly "Wait, no, it's actually hostile!" -Liminal Space creature before booking it. Honestly I'm not sure I get the horror of this, it is pretty peaceful aside from the loneliness factor.
It's meant to induce the anxiety of "what ifs" and it focuses on the fear of **not** knowing if you're truly alone and waiting with baited breath for a potential jumpscare down every dark corridor but I know that not everyone will get that experience since not everyone has that kind of anxiety (which is very different for different people) or a particular love of this type of horror
I personally have a very bad fear of such things, I even have dreams sometimes, of being alone in the entire world, and seeing things moving in the windows where there's supposed to be no one... But here's the thing, I have a pretty bad paranoia and overall fear of being watched/hunted/followed. These places just bring all that out. Its just a bit too empty, too quiet.
@@WobblesandBean I had to look that up, but it looks like it's certainly taking that angular head from Boisvert's monster and the flickering shadow body from Ico's basic monsters.
It's a random thought but just imagine the nightmare that keeping all that water filtered and clean would be, and how moldy and filled with algae it'd end up without a migraine inducing level of effort.
It adds an element of how is it so clean here. The pool areas are almost sterile. Is something keeping it clean or does the environment of the pool not support any kind of life
@@spookycircuits455now that someone walked on it, i suppose now it does have life now, although im unsure how sustainable it is considering the lack of life in the first place _im also unsure wether sterile thing can technically be "deadly" because it can't sustain life due to how clean it is_
Yeah, I thought about the algae as well. With no skimmers or floor drains and no returns to provide chlorinated water, I bet the strange creature that lives there must be really busy with brushing. Hey, maybe that's why he's hostile. He knows the player is introducing contaminants for him to clean.
Exactly! And how it would SMELL with no vents or even windows to let fresh air in. Those plants are definitely fake. But if there WAS a way to air out the rooms properly, I imagine the dark pets having party lights. It would be a kickass club.
@@InsaneLaughter01 I still like the idea of setting up a taco/margarita bar near one of the bright "sunlit" pools and having a party. Only problem is that I've never found a bathroom in this game. Speaking of which, imagine the horror of a backrooms level that's only "The Bathrooms." Miles and miles of weird stalls, and nothing else.
Liminal space horror is always weird to me. 'cause, on the one hand, I really love it and I think it's legitimately scary when done well. On the other hand, I would also sorta love to live in a place that looked like this. (Just, y'know, not an endless labyrinth I could never escape from) EDIT: At 44:00, if I don't miss my guess, that's a "Roman dodecahedron". They're copper alloy objects that Romans made from the 2nd to 4th century AD and no one knows what they are. They're very mysterious, so it's appropriate that they show up in this game completely without any context.
Oh yeah, these places do seem nice and pristine, and tons of space! Just have to bring our own furnishing and stuff, and claim a part with some privacy, and for the place not to be an inescapable labyrinth. I seriously did think how nice it would be, to have so much space-- a lot of people can live here! Just need to make everywhere more interesting and make use of all these spaces.
My grandparents old house had a cupboard which was blocked off by furniture, not scary in itself but always had me curious as to what it looked like inside. These days though I think the internet would require me to make a creepypasta out of it.
This has to be the best liminal spaces game yet. You can actually see Manly getting more paranoid as the video progresses, he turns around more often and sometimes SLOWLY backs away from places or through doors just in case something might be coming for him. I was at the edge of my seat, invested in the atmosphere.
For the first ten or so minutes I was so struck by how beautiful the graphical style and architecture were, I kinda forgot to feel any kind of anxiety. It was just so nice to look at, I loved it.
I know, right?! I grew up playing games on a 386-486MHz DOS computer in the early 90's, so games like this (and frankly, my cellphone) is absolute sci-fi level nonsense by comparison. VR is also leagues beyond what it was back then (oh, boy! It's almost like I'm in a dull Legoland without shadows or physics!), if you'd showed me this kind of thing back then, I'd have been completely flummoxed.
44:00 isn't that the SCP that actually turns any building into a liminal space, twisting and turning it and making it nearly infinite? I can't remember the number but I remember the picture, it was a small metal gizmo like that drawing. Man, I hope. Games referencing SCPs when done right are so cool
I would love a series where Manly just talks about his scary childhood experiences like the thing with the staircase to nowhere and the other things in that house.
"I'm seeing signs, maybe that's a g-...." I love when Manly is caught off guard. He's usually so chill and calm so you know something's not right if he stops dead in his tracks and just stand there for a beat! EDIT: Also, the "octagon" Manly didn't get a good look at is actually a Roman dodecahedron. In real life we're not actually sure what these objects were used for, which is probably why the developer used it. It's a mysterious object with no known purpose, kinda like these pools and the rest of what I assume is some sort of complex.
It's SCP-184. It extends internal spaces without changing the exterior dimensions of the location. If left in one spot for a long time, it starts created new rooms. If left in one spot for a _really_ long time, the newly created rooms become increasingly insane.
@@blacksilkmagick You should probably use a non-anomalous one for knitting. The SCP Foundation does not take kindly to people handling their contained anomalies.
That's part of the charm in my opinion! It's very subtle and restrained, and gives ample opportunity for the player to get comfortable, with occasional spooky elements to cause anxiety and/or excitement to explore further. It's inherently a walking sim, but that's not a bad thing! It's just not traditional to a large portion of video games :3
"NO!" runs towards it honestly nicely designed areas. the use of the red reflected light off of the spiral slide in that one room was really fun. great vid as always 👍
This might actually be one of my favorite liminal space game, it's very well done, the atmosphere is great as well as the fact that the monster is just elusive and you are not sure if it's ever going to come and chase you
I think that with this filter and the visuals in general it looks more realistic than some game engine trailers I've seen. The only thing bothering me - visual bug near water at 4:08. Level design is much better than other projects on backrooms (from those that I've seen) in a way that is interesting to explore. The absence of jumpscares is also great. I understand that if a person actually ends up in this kind of environment they'd go insane but I feel a weird attraction towards it.
The filter definitely helps making it look more realistic. I kept thinking how if the player's movement matched more closely to real movement and the water physics were a bit more realistic, I would've had a difficult time remembering it's a game.
I absolutely adore the look of this game! I find the pool spaces with the “sun” shinning through really beautiful and calming. If they’re were spider monsters I would love to be there! :D
That hexagonal sketch you saw seems to be a reference to the Architect SCP, which works rather well with the Backrooms in hindsight. The creature seems to be a reference to that one series on UA-cam related to mental illness (I think?), but I can't remember what it was about.
Yes I was thinking the same thibg, the second I saw the long head on thr picture and definitely it's movement when standing was so much like that series
I do enjoy these Liminal Space videos with you. I also like the stories of your past. The two in combination just make for a strangely relaxing hour. Thank You.
I downloaded the demo at the start of this video and decided to give it a play before watching... And I'm really happy I did. I managed to complete the demo and there _is_ an ending that the developer clearly intended and finding the flashlight is pivotal. That said... where you found the flashlight is not where I found it. I'm not sure if that means there are multiple locations where one can be found or if that has changed. I noticed some clear differences from the version I played to what you must have played when you recorded. What's crazy to me beyond that is I wandered around for a solid hour and somehow about 2/3rds of the areas you explored I *never* saw in my playthrough. Similarly about half the places I saw were not in this playthrough. So the map is crafted, but so insanely massive with no dead ends so it (at the very least) _feels_ procedural. I'm extremely excited to see the full release of this game. This is liminal horror done right. I had some critical thoughts about it, but the positives I experienced far outweighed the negatives that I feel like they aren't worth mentioning.
The moment these colored blobs with eyes appeared I legit had shivers. Like there was a physical wave of chills that went through me. They are tracking you with their eyes. At first you aren't so sure if you are just seeing things or it's really happening. But then you just can't unsee it - they are following you with their gaze.
The environments in this one are super uncomfy. Some liminal space games are honestly very pleasant to me but they're is something about the architecture here in particular that makes me get the chills. Im sure someone who knows more than me could explain why exactly that is.
This looks really nice, it definitely captures that idea of being lost in nonsensical architecture bordering on the impossible, although I could do without there being an actual monster and just playing with the players mind the whole way through, never letting go of the tension and confusion. The layout is so convoluted that I legit couldn't tell if the building is non euclidean or just very disorienting.
42:06 That "hmm" is why I love watching Manly. He's so thorough and the decision making is on point. I can't stand it when people do a playthrough and miss half the content.
These kinds of games, especially well done ones like this one, unlock hazy memories of dreams I used to have, and similar places I've been. Far from being creeped out, there's something kind of comforting about them. There's a definite feeling of danger, but also something very enticing.
I love when these places have a 'kids area'. Like imagine if it was real, them kids are NEVER getting picked up. "Have fun on the 23rd floor Jimmy, I'm going to the claustrophobia pools on floor 2! See you in a month!"
I'm honestly just glad that someone finally made one of these games where something actually happened. Most of these games have a really nice, creepy atmosphere but any chance at actual fear or tension drops starkly when you realise that absolutely nothing is going to happen as you wander around for an hour or more. I will never understand how anyone can be afraid of these games.
im honestly just sad that someone finally made one of these games where something actually happened. Most of these games have a great, creepy atmosphere and the chance of actual fear and tension grows immensly when you realize that you are absolutely alone as you wander around for an hour or more. I will never understand how anyone could be afraid of other games.
What I'm really starting to love is that you're uploading every day and it's all horror too, I like the majority of your games but my favorite ones are the ones where you're house sitting and trying to keep people out or I really liked the 2 you done where you were news reporters, watching your playthroughs late at night actually gives me something to look forward to especially if they're 30 minutes or over, I won't go into why I look forward to it so much because there's too many trolls but please know your horror game playthroughs actually seriously give me something to look forward to so please keep 'em coming
I warned you about stairs, bro! Seriously though, this game definitely has the best liminal architecture I've seen in a game so far. It's gorgeous. I also appreciate that the little round headed guys have eyes that are built to make it look like they are watching you from any angle. Excellent little effect.
I love the atmosphere of this game. It's always nice to find a liminal horror that doesn't get so ham-fisted with the 'horror' part that they forget about the 'liminal' part. The scares and creepiness are just right to get under your skin, while still leaving room for the peaceful, nostalgic vibes of the environment.
Thanks for covering this game! Never heard of it and loved it! I'd say that I personally LOVED the wind sound when sprinting! It made it sound like a camera even more.
This game was one of the few in which Manly's mental mapping ability genuinely impressed me. I lost track of which direction things were in *so* quickly due to the unusual architecture.
Really love the architecture of this game; like Manly said, it gets right the oddness and serenity of liminal places. One thing interesting about the game is the layout. All the props and materials you'd find in a hotel with a pool area are arranged in a way that makes me think of a temple or cathedral.
The way I think it works: It _is_ procedurally generated layout, but then its hand crafted rooms, and hall. How I can tell is because every tile lines up perfectly to match with every other one, which I can respect, so so so much.
Sometimes I imagine Hell not as a smoldering scape of suffering and lament, but places where your spirit is stretched into eternal spaghetti. Being lost and alone in a sterile, silent area that just goes on forever and ever. The only noise you'll ever hear is the echoes of your shouts. If you think you've found a new route, it only takes you back to a place you've already been. You have no need for sleep or food. You're just lost forever, and things never change. Just try to fathom what it would be like for a year....then what it would be in 10,000 years. Yep, doesn't even top the iceberg from there.
I really enjoy watching these Backrooms/ Dreamcore games, this may sound cheesy but, I feel comfortable and safe with Manly at the helm. Kind of like a scary horror attraction you're slowly moving towards the scary thing, but Manly is such a cool, _smooth_ operator... its such a chill time. I keep thinking there are shadow figures all the time at the edges of the screen thanks to the lighting system. I'd compliment the level design here from what I've seen, its really just walking sim hallways, but the sheer scale of area created for you is really impressive while still being pleasing to look at and still interconnected.
The videos where you play these sort of liminal space games are the perfect thing to have on in the background while I'm doing something else; they're honestly very relaxing, at least until a creepy guy inevitably shows up.
Kinda good actually for being another backrooms game. It’s beautiful enough to feel uneasy if it really is sterile and untouched as it presents itself to be. It’s too quiet, it gets dark sometimes, my god why are there so many blind spots for a big bloody space, and _is that monster or a bush?_ And when it’s over, (except for the big reveal) it’s chill enough that you can add 55mins of manly to fall asleep to 😅 sleep gang here we come
You know what's cool about this game? I saw this upload of yours, Manly, and I decided to play it for myself before watching this. I spent 1½ hours just walking around, not finding anything you found in your playthrough, but the scariest shit is that I had _no_ repeated rooms. I _never_ walked the same path twice. I didn't find a monster, I didn't hear sounds, it was just quiet bathrooms for 1½ hours and me "thinking I saw something." Brilliant game.
I'm sure there's a way to program this so that there's some randomness in the movement intensity or something, but I always notice when it's a short animation loop for the shaky cam which does take me out of it a bit. This one is not so bad but could be better
The optical illusions some of these structures pull really proves this game's visual matery. Liminal spaces don't scare me, but the atmosphere, audio engineering, and largeness of the rooms really did manage to make me uncomfortable. Very well-done!
Wow... Dreamcore is a perfect name. I have had tons of dreams of being stuck in buildings that look just like this and it always amazes and terrifies me what my brain can make up
Welcome to the HELLO Club how HELLO are ya?
Hello
Day 521 of asking Manly to play A Cold Love Story through UA-cam comments
I feel goodbye today..
I don't know I'm feeling pretty GOODBYE rn
Hello squared
manly’s ability to memorize layout is always so impressive to me, if I’m playing a game without an actual map I just accept that I will be lost forever
BRO YES
_s a m e_ i’ll be searching through the same area for half an hour bc i cant find the next one, or not realize i didnt check every hALLWAY OR WHATEVEr
Sad to say I get lost even with a map sometimes 😄
Navigating caves in Minecraft be like:
But... He got to the bottomless pit room and didn't recognize it.
If there’s one thing the boom in analogue horror has taught me, it’s that owning a camera and/or having an interest in filming is hazardous for one’s health.
Especially if said camera is low res
Its worse than that, if you find that much footage, how many unrecorded stories are lost to the dark?
A camera doesn't make you more likely to fall, it only makes it more likely you'll be remembered.
unless its heavy@@Charmlie.R
It's the only time the camera man is in danger
Camera man is invincible, except when he isn't
I appreciate this kind of approach to liminal spaces and the overall dream pools/dreamcore aesthetic, because it's more about the environment and its bizarre design generating this feeling of uneasiness than some loud spooky jpg monster lurking in the corner.
so there are no jumpscares?
@@Fachezz 44:10
Yeah stuffs like those seen in roblox and gmod are cheap jumpscares
Yesss it is TRUE liminal horror
except there is nothing to be worry about it's not real life you know it's a game there won't be any jumpscares it's just boring walking simulator thru some shitty ai generated levels
at this point if manly went into the backrooms he'd be completely unfazed
“These hallways are kind of empty…”
cap
@@deadlydingus1138and then he countinues with a "just like my soul"
I actually think that Manly is a part of backrooms
You get here and you see him looking at you from the shadow with his eyes glowing edgy-anime shade of red
I wonder what he'd think of Escape the Backrooms
hey! Thank you so much for playing my game 💙
Im the developer of the game. Sorry about the bug, I wasn't supposed to be there. I will fix it as soon as possible, the game has more variety just the map is too big. But I will tell you that it has two endings, bad and good :D
It's a strong demo! You're doing good on the atmosphere.
just suggested it to another youtuber. This is such a good game. Don't fall into these ''lets just scare everyone''-vibes. The best part is how slowly it progresses. When you think there isn't much more to see, the game gets you right where it wants you. Even if the title already said that, i have never expected ''something'' in there. My nose got fuzzy in that moment...
Nice game, really want to play it and chill!
Is there any chance you got inspired by the character Room by _ Boisvert to create the creature?
you did an amazing job on the map! if this was a demo i can't even imagine what the full experience would be
Could I ask if you meant for it to almost look like you can see people on long distances? If so it's such a great psychological element, really creates a great atmosphere for the game ❤❤
Love when liminal games don't actually have monsters but play with your head. Psychological horror is hard to get right.
I love it when the audio is almost also garbled so you're truly lost in your own thoughts
Hey, thanks for spoiling the whole video with your top comment
@@SparklySnuggly Man, just don't check the comments lol
I agree liminal space games are the best
An then there is the literal monster from boisvert
I feel that "ending", despite it definitely being a bug, is rather fitting for a game like this. Pretty solid demo all in all, strong use of atmosphere and I respect the restraint with the hints of something else being in here.
Manly the type of guy that finds a way out of the backrooms but sticks around to 100% it.
He gotta get the "seeecrets~"
this new wave of realistic backrooms games are actually amazing, no jumpscares, just psychological horror walking around in silence for hours exploring beautiful landscapes.
A few years ago I was really hoping someone would make this style of game.
I could've done it myself, but I lack the time and money. Now there's tons of games like this, it's great.
I gotta say, this one is especially realistic looking. Looking at things far away it looks like it's just real life and looking at things close up it you can just barely tell it's a game. The dev did amazing on it.
Yup the fans kind ruined the backrooms with all the entities. They basically turned it into scp 2.0.
@@teamofone1219there was always a reference of entities in the first ever backrooms post. It's just people actually decided to give names, behaviors, and appearance to them whereas original they were just a mystery.
Yeah, I'm not a fan of there always being some sort of entity in it.
Worse is if the entity immediately makes its presence know upon you spawning into the game, either screeching or running right at you from the get go.
I would rather it be a psychological horror, where you are alone, no actual threat is there, but your character slowly begins to go crazy the longer you play. You're able to explore and see everything in the game, but begin to hear and see things that aren't there (shadows moving, something at the corner of your eye, breathing behind you, footsteps that aren't yours, etc), up until the character gets so paranoid they die from Stress Cardiomyopathy.
I don’t know if it’s just me but it felt like you were more likely to get to new zones if you took the darker routes. Which I really like because it feels like the game is subtly encouraging you to go into the spookier areas to proceed
Imagine how much work this requied to fill this whole place with tiles.
Imagine having to clean it all
Thank god it's just a texture and not a real thing
But those tiles usually come in bigger sets unless you wanna do some design or something. Like one actual TILE imitates like a 5x5 area of smaller tiles, so you can work quicker through a surface. There's also the sets where the smaller tiles are connected with mesh that you're supposed to cover with spackle or whatever, that work for curved surfaces.
And imagine the water and electricitybills of this place
Look at the blueish water... how much chlorine was spent on these countless pools... my head hurts just thinking bout it
I was thinking the same thing. I hate doing tile work.
The vast empty space and lack of people and pitch-black areas are all pretty creepy BUT.... the TRUE horror in this game is that filthy camera lens.
U can turn it off its a vhs effects
That grain you see is what the backroom's would look like in your own vision
I noticed that, with all the slides around the map, the green ones seemed to be shaped one more dangerous ways. I wonder if that was a warning about choosing the green slide at the end…
Also totally agree with manly, very effective liminal architecture. Well done.
I'm the weirdo who unironically loves the architecture of these spaces and would love to have some sort of billionaire estate with a whole "public pool wing" that has nonsensical layouts like this. It'd be perfect for lavish parties and lone existential crisis induced panic attacks alike.
Wholeheartedly agree, I would unironically love a mini poolrooms inspired pool, but it would be so expensive lol
@@CookieIsMyCat09 For real, that's be awesome but super crazy expensive. Like I said: "Billionaire estate," lol.
i agree i find the pool rooms like such a relaxing and peaceful place
Winchester House of Swimming.
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. I'd have a winchester mansion with liminal spaces and endless pools.
20:48 the way these colored things subtly look at you is creepy
21:45 looks like something was creeping out of the entrance, might be the lighting
41:39 creature painting
44:10 creature encounter
For the thing at 21:45 it's definitely the lighting. The filter in this game plus the reflections on the surfaces is really scuffed, so lots of weird dark patches and lines where there shouldn't be. Possibly done on purpose to mess with your eyes.
fun (not fact but a theory): the "creature" is the embodyment of depression, from the analog horror: boisvert
Great catch on the eyes tracking you at 20:48, they creeped me out but I never spotted they were actually tracking the player!
@@patricianpenguin
Actually, I think that they could be static object, just that there is a optical illusion that make it looks like a static object is following your movement.
On the other hand, this is a game so it’s probably just easier for them to have it actually tracks the player instead of having to precisely create that optical illusion in the game.
also 52:09 looks like it could be something too
I love how they did the water reflection in this game, how it makes the water seem deeper than it actually is. :o
The stairways and hallways too, they look shorter even up close but then when your walking on them, their a lot longer. It’s all subtle but unnerving!
Heehee my water
If I had a nickel for every liminal space game Manly played that had a swimming pool or bathroom tile aesthetic... I don't know how many nickels I'd have, but it's definitely more than two.
Right? I was kind of geeking because I thought he played this already
These kind of liminal spaces are called poolrooms
Wow, that filter and the lighting made everything look... real. I'm not even hyperbolizing. It looks like someone video recorded it. Loving it Manly, ty.
Not really. The tiles are too white. In dark/dimly lit spaces white turns beige/yellow. So a bright light that enters a dark hallway would go white, eggshell, yellow, beige, dull green, black ever so slowly instead of just shades of white/grey. But I get that's a limitation of games in general. It just makes games with lots of white environments very obvious they're fake, shadows aren't grey even on white tile.
@@LycanFerret The embodiment of "ackhtually 🤓🤓"
Crazy, you people do exist.
@@LycanFerret Except you can observe the exact effect that you're describing throughout the game.
Pause at 40:12. You can see your precious dull green.
its cool, especially getting things to look realistic by lowering the "quality" of the perspective, since we can tell real from not easily from our eyes, using a camcorder or vhs, which is already low quality, it adds a more real feel. its dope!
As some who has these kind of nightmares i can tell you this can be the level of fear you can experience
I usually get way less pools and often way more dirt, but YES.
As a lifeguard for fancy hotels ive literally had nightmares like this
That's oddly believable
tbh, i believe that
I remember being sick and playing ONLY doom eternal for a month straight. I still have dreams where I’m walking around an eerie empty level with no health, no ammo, and no armor.
I cleaned a fancy dinning room for a while. I had a dream that the floor kept getting bigger and all the chairs were laughing at me.
@@benjaminfranklin1844same here but except it wasnt a dream for me, perhaps i was hallucinating but that's still one of the weirdest shit ive ever experienced
You know whenever Manly cuts himself off i nervously scan the screen in a panic
I would love an hour long story of manly just talking about his past
he did his only interview with Lia from Phase Connect recently, it was 2 and a half hours of great stories and banter
I know
@@peak4534 it sounded like ya didn't in your original post
@@hate6crew6death6rollthanks!
Ok
Anyone else notice the sound design? Every time you walk it plays white noise of wind blowing in your ears so that when you stop its extra quiet and gives you a creepy feeling. what a great little addition that makes a world of difference to help set the atmosphere.
The subtle way those colored statues eyes follow the player really had me paranoid because i couldnt tell if they were watching me or if it was perspective. They were following you but it was done so well! Props to the dev
They're not following you, the eyes are just concave and give that illusion, it's a clever bit of 3d modeling.
@@ParagonDerp i thought this too at first, but at 20:27 you can actually see the red one’s eyes moving ever so slightly to look straight ahead once the player gets close enough. i love that we assume it’s concave at first, which already felt unnerving enough, but realizing that the eyes actually are following you so discreetly is even more so
@@TheDeerfox You might be right since there are rubber ducks in the game that very obviously rotate to follow you but I've played it and spent a good bit staring at these boys and never saw their eyes move, I think it's just a really good illusion.
I have a neurological condition, which makes me unable to recognize faces (even my own) or places/directions. It's so interesting watching people play liminal space games like this, because to me, this confusing layout/"have I been here?" vibe is what I feel in every video game without a map haha.
bro can’t recognize his own face
@@youngmetro3times849that's what they said in their comment 🤦
Just read a story called Rock, Paper, Scissors with a character having the same neurological condition.
Fascinating! I've studied this phenomenon but I've never met someone who has it. Can I ask you one thing that's always been bothering me? What do faces look like to you? Do you not even see faces? Do all faces look the same? Are they jumbled? What do you see when you look at a face?
is it impossible for you or just really difficult to tell faces apart? Ive heard of that before and I always thought it was like having trouble telling kittens from the same litter apart from each other, but not recognizing your own face is crazy
I love the idea of just wandering around these places. No monsters just quiet atmosphere. I would play that kind of game and just relax
Manly playing liminal games is a blessing for us
I love the fact he missed the eyes following him on the statues at around 20:15-20:22
they dont follow the player, its just an effect that makes it seem like they are
@@N51totallynotprivatemilitary no. they do track. the effect to make it seem like eyes follow you is to make then concave(curved inward), or inset. you can see from side views here the eyes are not. They bulge out following the shape of the dome. the pupils do actually move. watch the pink one to the left at the start of the linked timestamp. you can see the eye move when manly stops moving.
Yeah, I rewatched this closely, and it's just the positioning of the eyes partly on the dome so you can see them from more than one side that makes them appear to follow you; like those paintings where people claim that the eyes follow you. It's just an optical illusion.
Ah thanks for the carafucation
@Singularity606they're not moving. They're indents. What you're seeing is the inside of "eye holes" that make it look like its moving, but its not
18:31 the moment he started singing i actually started tearing up. Manly has such a serious voice and hearing him sing “put on a happy face, things are gonna start looking up” actually makes me tear up. that was unexpectedly adorable and comforting
I think perhaps the only thing worse than wondering if there's a creature or a threat around is finding out there is one and not knowing where it is
cockroaches
had that happen
stayed out of my room for days yet ended up finding it in the bathroom
This is the perfect game for Manly to tell a story about his childhood. It's so relaxing
Well, this feels more relaxing than being scary. The place really feels like something straight out from dream.
Perhaps like… dreampools
I've dreams like this. They're...not pleasant.
But somehow I find the game is. Likely for the same reason, but I'm awake and just see a monitor after all. xD
comfy nightmares :)
There's just something relaxing about liminal spaces. It kinda reminds me of when I just wanted to get away from large crowds of people and start wandering the hallways instead, exploring the building, seeing the sunlight through the windows, enjoying the emptiness and silence.
It's hard for me to imagine it as scary, but I guess it's because everyone has different experiences and therefore different associations of it.
Also, the slight disappointment in his voice, being unable to ride the slide is very funny to me for some reason.
Yeah that all plus you wouldn't have a time limit for this kind of stuff (assuming you don't need to worry about food or water)
"Wait, no, it's actually hostile!" -Manly
"Wait, no, it's actually hostile!" -Liminal Space creature before booking it.
Honestly I'm not sure I get the horror of this, it is pretty peaceful aside from the loneliness factor.
Same
It's meant to induce the anxiety of "what ifs" and it focuses on the fear of **not** knowing if you're truly alone and waiting with baited breath for a potential jumpscare down every dark corridor but I know that not everyone will get that experience since not everyone has that kind of anxiety (which is very different for different people) or a particular love of this type of horror
I personally have a very bad fear of such things, I even have dreams sometimes, of being alone in the entire world, and seeing things moving in the windows where there's supposed to be no one... But here's the thing, I have a pretty bad paranoia and overall fear of being watched/hunted/followed. These places just bring all that out. Its just a bit too empty, too quiet.
@@_-REDACTED-_ I want to play it for the exploration!
I kinda liked that _‘Andy’s Room’_ level.
Maybe those floaty guys move & have a pool party whenever you’re not in the room.
manly's plain "OW." when he fell caught me so off guard 😭 bro feels pain in video games
That creature encounter at 44:10 gave me a heavy throw back to the shadow monsters from Ico.
It's a ripoff of the monster from boisvert.
@@WobblesandBean I had to look that up, but it looks like it's certainly taking that angular head from Boisvert's monster and the flickering shadow body from Ico's basic monsters.
Gosh I love Ico. And The Last Guardian is one of my favorite games ever
@@tinnedteainsyrup8943 I gotta play Last Guardian one of these days. Ico was cool but Shadow of the Colossus is probably my all-time favorite game
@@TracksWithDax Oh yeah they're both phenomenal
It's a random thought but just imagine the nightmare that keeping all that water filtered and clean would be, and how moldy and filled with algae it'd end up without a migraine inducing level of effort.
It adds an element of how is it so clean here. The pool areas are almost sterile. Is something keeping it clean or does the environment of the pool not support any kind of life
@@spookycircuits455now that someone walked on it, i suppose now it does have life now, although im unsure how sustainable it is considering the lack of life in the first place
_im also unsure wether sterile thing can technically be "deadly" because it can't sustain life due to how clean it is_
Yeah, I thought about the algae as well. With no skimmers or floor drains and no returns to provide chlorinated water, I bet the strange creature that lives there must be really busy with brushing. Hey, maybe that's why he's hostile. He knows the player is introducing contaminants for him to clean.
Exactly! And how it would SMELL with no vents or even windows to let fresh air in. Those plants are definitely fake.
But if there WAS a way to air out the rooms properly, I imagine the dark pets having party lights. It would be a kickass club.
@@InsaneLaughter01 I still like the idea of setting up a taco/margarita bar near one of the bright "sunlit" pools and having a party. Only problem is that I've never found a bathroom in this game.
Speaking of which, imagine the horror of a backrooms level that's only "The Bathrooms." Miles and miles of weird stalls, and nothing else.
Liminal space horror is always weird to me. 'cause, on the one hand, I really love it and I think it's legitimately scary when done well. On the other hand, I would also sorta love to live in a place that looked like this. (Just, y'know, not an endless labyrinth I could never escape from)
EDIT: At 44:00, if I don't miss my guess, that's a "Roman dodecahedron". They're copper alloy objects that Romans made from the 2nd to 4th century AD and no one knows what they are. They're very mysterious, so it's appropriate that they show up in this game completely without any context.
The "Roman dodecahedron" is likely also a reference to "SCP-184", possibly hinting at the cause of this game's weird interior environment.
fun fact: I don't know if it's commonly accepted, but there's a video of someone using it for knitting and it works like a charm.
Oh yeah, these places do seem nice and pristine, and tons of space! Just have to bring our own furnishing and stuff, and claim a part with some privacy, and for the place not to be an inescapable labyrinth. I seriously did think how nice it would be, to have so much space-- a lot of people can live here! Just need to make everywhere more interesting and make use of all these spaces.
Same I love it
@@eve6262_ We found all of those dodecahedrons in colder northern reaches, so knitting is 100% what they're for.
Ok. Now I'm going to need to hear the story about the spooky Grandfather house!
My grandparents old house had a cupboard which was blocked off by furniture, not scary in itself but always had me curious as to what it looked like inside. These days though I think the internet would require me to make a creepypasta out of it.
Use some photoshop to make an image and do it anyway if you want to haha
i like how the painting of the monster scared him more than the actual monster
This has to be the best liminal spaces game yet. You can actually see Manly getting more paranoid as the video progresses, he turns around more often and sometimes SLOWLY backs away from places or through doors just in case something might be coming for him.
I was at the edge of my seat, invested in the atmosphere.
Damn in VR it would be so scary to play
For the first ten or so minutes I was so struck by how beautiful the graphical style and architecture were, I kinda forgot to feel any kind of anxiety.
It was just so nice to look at, I loved it.
I know, right?!
I grew up playing games on a 386-486MHz DOS computer in the early 90's, so games like this (and frankly, my cellphone) is absolute sci-fi level nonsense by comparison. VR is also leagues beyond what it was back then (oh, boy! It's almost like I'm in a dull Legoland without shadows or physics!), if you'd showed me this kind of thing back then, I'd have been completely flummoxed.
44:00 isn't that the SCP that actually turns any building into a liminal space, twisting and turning it and making it nearly infinite? I can't remember the number but I remember the picture, it was a small metal gizmo like that drawing. Man, I hope. Games referencing SCPs when done right are so cool
I'm really loving the camera effect on this game. The slight condensation on the screen is just chef's kiss.
I would love a series where Manly just talks about his scary childhood experiences like the thing with the staircase to nowhere and the other things in that house.
"I'm seeing signs, maybe that's a g-...."
I love when Manly is caught off guard. He's usually so chill and calm so you know something's not right if he stops dead in his tracks and just stand there for a beat!
EDIT: Also, the "octagon" Manly didn't get a good look at is actually a Roman dodecahedron. In real life we're not actually sure what these objects were used for, which is probably why the developer used it. It's a mysterious object with no known purpose, kinda like these pools and the rest of what I assume is some sort of complex.
It's SCP-184. It extends internal spaces without changing the exterior dimensions of the location. If left in one spot for a long time, it starts created new rooms. If left in one spot for a _really_ long time, the newly created rooms become increasingly insane.
@@theuncalledforthey were good for knitting
@@blacksilkmagick
You should probably use a non-anomalous one for knitting. The SCP Foundation does not take kindly to people handling their contained anomalies.
The game is too calming. If it didn’t have the backrooms name on it, it would just be a walking pool labyrinth simulator.
That's part of the charm in my opinion! It's very subtle and restrained, and gives ample opportunity for the player to get comfortable, with occasional spooky elements to cause anxiety and/or excitement to explore further.
It's inherently a walking sim, but that's not a bad thing! It's just not traditional to a large portion of video games :3
"NO!" runs towards it
honestly nicely designed areas. the use of the red reflected light off of the spiral slide in that one room was really fun. great vid as always 👍
I could watch several hours of just Manly exploring the poolrooms. Pure ASMR.
This might actually be one of my favorite liminal space game, it's very well done, the atmosphere is great as well as the fact that the monster is just elusive and you are not sure if it's ever going to come and chase you
I think that with this filter and the visuals in general it looks more realistic than some game engine trailers I've seen. The only thing bothering me - visual bug near water at 4:08. Level design is much better than other projects on backrooms (from those that I've seen) in a way that is interesting to explore. The absence of jumpscares is also great. I understand that if a person actually ends up in this kind of environment they'd go insane but I feel a weird attraction towards it.
The filter definitely helps making it look more realistic. I kept thinking how if the player's movement matched more closely to real movement and the water physics were a bit more realistic, I would've had a difficult time remembering it's a game.
I absolutely adore the look of this game!
I find the pool spaces with the “sun” shinning through really beautiful and calming.
If they’re were spider monsters I would love to be there! :D
If there were*
That hexagonal sketch you saw seems to be a reference to the Architect SCP, which works rather well with the Backrooms in hindsight. The creature seems to be a reference to that one series on UA-cam related to mental illness (I think?), but I can't remember what it was about.
Boisvert, deals with isolation. Very fitting
@@katelynnsmith5165 i wonder how the rest of the "levels" will be told, since in the desc on steam it says the levels are not connected in story
@@katelynnsmith5165 Thank you! Since this is a demo, I wonder how this unconventional(?) crossover will go in the full game
SCP-184. Yes, I was thinking the same thing.
Yes I was thinking the same thibg, the second I saw the long head on thr picture and definitely it's movement when standing was so much like that series
I do enjoy these Liminal Space videos with you. I also like the stories of your past. The two in combination just make for a strangely relaxing hour. Thank You.
I downloaded the demo at the start of this video and decided to give it a play before watching... And I'm really happy I did. I managed to complete the demo and there _is_ an ending that the developer clearly intended and finding the flashlight is pivotal. That said... where you found the flashlight is not where I found it. I'm not sure if that means there are multiple locations where one can be found or if that has changed. I noticed some clear differences from the version I played to what you must have played when you recorded. What's crazy to me beyond that is I wandered around for a solid hour and somehow about 2/3rds of the areas you explored I *never* saw in my playthrough. Similarly about half the places I saw were not in this playthrough. So the map is crafted, but so insanely massive with no dead ends so it (at the very least) _feels_ procedural. I'm extremely excited to see the full release of this game. This is liminal horror done right. I had some critical thoughts about it, but the positives I experienced far outweighed the negatives that I feel like they aren't worth mentioning.
The moment these colored blobs with eyes appeared I legit had shivers. Like there was a physical wave of chills that went through me.
They are tracking you with their eyes. At first you aren't so sure if you are just seeing things or it's really happening. But then you just can't unsee it - they are following you with their gaze.
That video really makes me comfortable. I could fall asleep listening to Manly and watching this endless rooms.
The environments in this one are super uncomfy. Some liminal space games are honestly very pleasant to me but they're is something about the architecture here in particular that makes me get the chills. Im sure someone who knows more than me could explain why exactly that is.
23:06 I love how the doors with the lighting visually mimics the things staring at you in the pool.
This looks really nice, it definitely captures that idea of being lost in nonsensical architecture bordering on the impossible, although I could do without there being an actual monster and just playing with the players mind the whole way through, never letting go of the tension and confusion.
The layout is so convoluted that I legit couldn't tell if the building is non euclidean or just very disorienting.
42:06 That "hmm" is why I love watching Manly. He's so thorough and the decision making is on point. I can't stand it when people do a playthrough and miss half the content.
manly doing the sudden stops and slowing down and turning around IMMENSELY adds to how terrifying silent games can be
The floating guys following you with their eyes was kinda cute :)
These kinds of games, especially well done ones like this one, unlock hazy memories of dreams I used to have, and similar places I've been. Far from being creeped out, there's something kind of comforting about them. There's a definite feeling of danger, but also something very enticing.
This is a very smart thing to watch right before going to the pool with some friends
I've never once felt spooked by anything backrooms-related. This is the one that did it for me. Bravo.
Well, if any of us ever get trapped in the backrooms with Manly, we know we'll survive 😂
0:17 I love the chain of events, from the fall, Manly saying *ouch* and then the title 😂
Would have been funnier of he said ouch after the title, like "that's the name oh God"
I love when these places have a 'kids area'. Like imagine if it was real, them kids are NEVER getting picked up.
"Have fun on the 23rd floor Jimmy, I'm going to the claustrophobia pools on floor 2! See you in a month!"
I'm honestly just glad that someone finally made one of these games where something actually happened. Most of these games have a really nice, creepy atmosphere but any chance at actual fear or tension drops starkly when you realise that absolutely nothing is going to happen as you wander around for an hour or more. I will never understand how anyone can be afraid of these games.
im honestly just sad that someone finally made one of these games where something actually happened. Most of these games have a great, creepy atmosphere and the chance of actual fear and tension grows immensly when you realize that you are absolutely alone as you wander around for an hour or more. I will never understand how anyone could be afraid of other games.
What I'm really starting to love is that you're uploading every day and it's all horror too, I like the majority of your games but my favorite ones are the ones where you're house sitting and trying to keep people out or I really liked the 2 you done where you were news reporters, watching your playthroughs late at night actually gives me something to look forward to especially if they're 30 minutes or over, I won't go into why I look forward to it so much because there's too many trolls but please know your horror game playthroughs actually seriously give me something to look forward to so please keep 'em coming
His reaction to the creature was priceless. I feel like of he saw a monster in real life he'd be like "huh, that's interesting"
I also really love the idea of that house built into a hill. Your past is so interesting, Manly!
This was really cool, i love these types of horror games, falling through the fabric of reality at the end was hilarious.
I warned you about stairs, bro!
Seriously though, this game definitely has the best liminal architecture I've seen in a game so far. It's gorgeous. I also appreciate that the little round headed guys have eyes that are built to make it look like they are watching you from any angle. Excellent little effect.
Always happy to see a backroomy game played by Manly :D
I love the atmosphere of this game. It's always nice to find a liminal horror that doesn't get so ham-fisted with the 'horror' part that they forget about the 'liminal' part. The scares and creepiness are just right to get under your skin, while still leaving room for the peaceful, nostalgic vibes of the environment.
Considering my connection to liminal spaces I think it's fitting that this is the earliest I've ever been to a video
this was so fun to watch
The graphics are just plain amazing, the metal railings and the tiles look exactly like they would in real life
Thanks for covering this game! Never heard of it and loved it!
I'd say that I personally LOVED the wind sound when sprinting! It made it sound like a camera even more.
"Why did I agree to follow the arrow to the spoopy area? That's so stupid" 😂
This game was one of the few in which Manly's mental mapping ability genuinely impressed me. I lost track of which direction things were in *so* quickly due to the unusual architecture.
I absolutely love dreamcore. Thank you manlysenpai
Really love the architecture of this game; like Manly said, it gets right the oddness and serenity of liminal places.
One thing interesting about the game is the layout. All the props and materials you'd find in a hotel with a pool area are arranged in a way that makes me think of a temple or cathedral.
The way I think it works:
It _is_ procedurally generated layout, but then its hand crafted rooms, and hall.
How I can tell is because every tile lines up perfectly to match with every other one, which I can respect, so so so much.
I am a playtester for the game and I can assure you, it's all manually crafted.
Sometimes I imagine Hell not as a smoldering scape of suffering and lament, but places where your spirit is stretched into eternal spaghetti. Being lost and alone in a sterile, silent area that just goes on forever and ever. The only noise you'll ever hear is the echoes of your shouts. If you think you've found a new route, it only takes you back to a place you've already been. You have no need for sleep or food. You're just lost forever, and things never change. Just try to fathom what it would be like for a year....then what it would be in 10,000 years. Yep, doesn't even top the iceberg from there.
This has got to be one of the best backrooms games, really nails the atmosphere
I really enjoy watching these Backrooms/ Dreamcore games, this may sound cheesy but, I feel comfortable and safe with Manly at the helm. Kind of like a scary horror attraction you're slowly moving towards the scary thing, but Manly is such a cool, _smooth_ operator... its such a chill time. I keep thinking there are shadow figures all the time at the edges of the screen thanks to the lighting system. I'd compliment the level design here from what I've seen, its really just walking sim hallways, but the sheer scale of area created for you is really impressive while still being pleasing to look at and still interconnected.
I love poolrooms. They’re comforting and nostalgic for me.
The videos where you play these sort of liminal space games are the perfect thing to have on in the background while I'm doing something else; they're honestly very relaxing, at least until a creepy guy inevitably shows up.
Kinda good actually for being another backrooms game. It’s beautiful enough to feel uneasy if it really is sterile and untouched as it presents itself to be. It’s too quiet, it gets dark sometimes, my god why are there so many blind spots for a big bloody space, and _is that monster or a bush?_
And when it’s over, (except for the big reveal) it’s chill enough that you can add 55mins of manly to fall asleep to 😅 sleep gang here we come
You know what's cool about this game? I saw this upload of yours, Manly, and I decided to play it for myself before watching this.
I spent 1½ hours just walking around, not finding anything you found in your playthrough, but the scariest shit is that I had _no_ repeated rooms. I _never_ walked the same path twice.
I didn't find a monster, I didn't hear sounds, it was just quiet bathrooms for 1½ hours and me "thinking I saw something." Brilliant game.
Adding to the filter thing: this game also balances the headbobbing super well. A lot of other games overdo it but this one is subtle, but noticeable
I'm sure there's a way to program this so that there's some randomness in the movement intensity or something, but I always notice when it's a short animation loop for the shaky cam which does take me out of it a bit. This one is not so bad but could be better
The optical illusions some of these structures pull really proves this game's visual matery. Liminal spaces don't scare me, but the atmosphere, audio engineering, and largeness of the rooms really did manage to make me uncomfortable. Very well-done!
Wow... Dreamcore is a perfect name. I have had tons of dreams of being stuck in buildings that look just like this and it always amazes and terrifies me what my brain can make up