I personally love this quote by one of the developers: "I hope you may find bravery like Feldspar; bravery to break new ground and do what others won't. I hope you may find peace like Esker; peace to be with yourself, because sometimes you're all you really have. I hope you may find curiosity like Chert; curiosity to learn about the universe, even if it means discovering uncomfortable truths. I hope you may find passion like Riebeck; passion that lets you overcome even your greatest of fears. I hope you may find time to stop and smell the pine trees like Gabbro; time to take everything in, and simply be. Most of all, I hope you may seek out and understand whatever it is you might be searching for in the universe like the Nomai The universe can feel very scary, hopeless, and overwhelming at times - we're always dealing with something that feels like the end of everything. But it also comes with an infinite promise of beauty and wonder, and I hope that promise can help you overcome whatever challenges you may face. I look forward to seeing you at the end of the universe. Don't be a stranger when you see me." It was a joy and an honor to watch you play a game I adore. Here's to the next ones.
That's my favourite quote from the game, by Solanum. It made me meditate about life, luck, fate, and all those concepts some people cling to in order to find some meaning in existence. It made me realize that life in itself doesn't have a meaning... but because of that, it can have *any* meaning that we want. We get to decide our own destiny, because there's no grand scheme of the universe, no big picture painted by a god. Nothing orbits around oneself solely, but at the same time everything orbits around everyone, and by extension, ourselves. It is a very good therapy for paranoic people like me, to remember that "The Universe is, and we are". Nothing more. Nothing less.
@@AmaiarAiramand Well, and what if my meaning is to live a carefree life without wasting my life on what i don't like and don't want to do? that's not possible in our world, you just die from starvation and homeless or being locked in psychoneurological hospital until you are dead
@@CamelliaFlingert You're talking about your relationship with society, not with the universe itself. There's a big difference there. You sure can live a carefree life if you want (although calling it your 'meaning' is also a stretch). If other people don't feel like following your example, that's another issue, but the Universe will not do anything to stop you, or aid you. It simply is.
"It's time to move on" is the message this game conveys put into the simplest manner. But that message applies in so many different ways to life that everyone can connect with it. For me, it helped me with getting past the fear of moving away from my home town, and with the mourning of my grandmother. "I learned a lot, by the end of everything. The past is past, now, but that's... you know, that's okay! It's never really gone completely. The future is always built on the past, even if we don't get to see it" -Riebeck
I am really hesitant to say this as you said that it was a terrible experience for you, but I really recommend checking the DLC, Echoes of the Eye, sometimes. I thought the creators couldn't possibly add anything great to the plot of Outer Wilds. I was wrong.
it's a dilemma for sure. the DLC is amazing and i would normally recommend it to anyone after beating the game, but its mysteries are more complex to solve than the ones in the base game. if he does decide to play it, i hope the experience isn't too frustrating for him so he can experience it to the fullest.
I second this. Like, absolutely not immediately, but wait a while, let the game settle in your past, and when you feel ready revisit with the DLC that has honestly elevated the game from GOTY to what could be my favourite game ever.
I know i'm late to this party, but i agree. What might make the DLC more interesting/approachable to him is that it's much more ocndensed into a smaller space, and you get a much more direct connection with the emotional aspect of the story. While imo it does make the puzzles more difficult it also reduces the overwhelming feelings of "you have 6 entire planets to scour and explore", and that might make it a lot easier for Marco.
I cried at the end of Outer Wilds. The music the themes the gameplay. They were all just so perfect. I then proceeded to beat the DLC… and cry again. But this time was different. It was me crying because I knew I could never play this game the same again.
I had this exact experience today. Finally finished the DLC after much procrastination then did the true ending with my new friend. Right as the credits began to roll I just sat and cried. I don't think I've cried quite like that in a while. I don't know when I will again. Much love, internet stranger
The DLC ending might honestly be the best piece of art I have ever seen, in any medium. It hurts that statistically speaking nothing as good will be made again.
I've never seen someone who had such a difficult time experiencing the detective style of the game. Very glad that you pushed through it despite it not being the kind of game you can enjoy, and that it brought out such strong emotions.
I also had some trouble with it, though I think maybe less than Marco. Since that style of puzzles was something I'd never experienced before, it wasn't intuitive for me to draw a line in my head between what I was seeing and what I was supposed to do with it. It often seemed like there were infinite possibilities for how to use any piece of information so it kind of left me with deductive paralysis.
"We do not have much connection, you and I. Still, this encounter feels special. I hope you won't mind if I think of you as a friend." - Solanum that one hits hard
This is very interesting for me to hear, because of how different this experience was for me. The exploration and discovery came very naturally to me, and it was very rare for me to feel stuck or frustrated because of how cleverly the game points you at hints in the environment. The feeling of dread and feeling stupid that you described applies much more to traditional skill-based and grind-based games to me. Here, connecting the dots and learning to understand the beautiful way this fictional universe works, I feel more in my element than in any other game. I'm glad that we can all take away our own things from different games, and that there are so many different games for all the different kinds of people in the world.
I just finished watching your playthrough through Ellis super cut. Love your perspective and experience. Very interesting to get your explanation, thanks for that! Cheers!
It is incredible the depth to which Marco manages to verbalize how he experienced playing the outer wilds. How the song changed from the life and death of his father, to the life and death of the universe, with all beauty and sadness that goes with that.
I love this game because it almost always has it's hand outstetched, but never forcibly holds your hand. It gives you the option to go on a more guided path through the story in the form of the rumors, or lets you just wander until you think you've seen all there is. The game doesn't hold your hand and pull you in one direction. It will only hold your hand when you reach out and come along with you to tell you more about what you found. The game won't stop you from leaving your ship without your suit, it won't stop you from crashing into a planet hundreds of km/h, and it certainly won't keep you from flying into the sun. Yet until you reach what the game WANTS to be mysterious, it's guiding hand will never retract itself.
Honestly, after completing Outer Wilds it didn’t really connect with me at first. I mean I loved searching around and putting the pieces together, learning what happened to the Nomai, but it wasn’t much more than that to me at the time. But after having the time to reflect on it, and especially after listening to your experience, it really just hit. I felt genuinely emotional by the end of your video. Thank you for sharing this. It made me appreciate Outer Wilds and my own experience a whole lot more. Ps. The DLC is worth it.
You may feel like you hated the game, but you've finished it and should be proud of that achievement. The game is about things that are *designed* to make you feel uncomfortable: witnessing the death of entire civilizations, feeling lost and lonely in the vastness of space, facing challenges your whole body tells you not to go into (zero G, for a start!), dealing with the pressure of tragic events unfolding quicker than you can understand them, and not being sure you're even able to fix them with what you have,... Without even noticing, you've embraced a mindset that is not easy to accept, and goes far beyond anyone's comfort zone. "Science compels us to explode the Sun", as the Nomai would say! Deep inside us all, we have that urge to answer the typical "what if...?" question, and it drives us into great things. No one said it would be easy, but oh boy does it feel great when things finally click...
Hello Marco, long time viewer/lurker here. I'd just like to say, thank you for making this video! You see, even though Outer Wilds is in my top 10 favorite games of all time, and its probably my favorite story game of all time, its not an experience that I can recommend to everyone, for all of the reasons that you discussed. It is an experience that really goes against modern (at least, AAA gaming rather than indie games) game design, which can be a huge turnoff for people. It's a concept that is very rarely talked about in reviews for this game, but I think that you described it perfectly! I'll end off this comment with a recommendation. Not for another game or an OST, but a 17 min video. It's called "Outer Wilds: Death, Inevitability, and Ray Bradbury" by Jacob Geller. I think you'll enjoy it :)
I heard you mention that you struggled with the Myst games. I did too... until somebody told me HOW to play them. Here's what you do: You sit down to Myst... ...on a nice overcast/rainy day... ...with a nice warm beverage... ...and a notepad. And that's how you play the game. Take your time. Write down things. Look around. Jot down things that are interesting. Sip your beverage. Wander and observe. Once you get it, Myst is a great experience, not unlike Outer Wilds, and the notepad you fill up during your adventures will be the trophy you have at the end of your journey. I highly recommend it. It's not played like other video games. Seriously. Warm beverage. Notepad. Again, I never understood how to play Myst, Riven and Exile, until someone told me this, so I'm just passing it along. Hope you give it a try some day.
@@MarcoMeatball I do struggle with video games but I got recommended some truly great indie games that are puzzle based (Void Stranger for exemple). I did have some issues with Outer Wilds too, the way I did succeed in not having a bad experience is to take things VERY slow, I mean if I just start to get frustrated I stop before burning out. I try to just disconnect this part of "progressing" in the game in Outer Wilds and I'm like "I'll just explore, go whatever, no need to discover anything". I take notes too and I try to stopped and wait until I feel better. The worst part of a puzzle game is you start accumulating frustration again and again to the point where it sucks your joy out of you and it's what you should avoid. I haven't played Void Stranger in more than 3 weeks and it's okay, I'm on my pause to try and appreciate it because I got frustrated before with it, so I try to really take my time...Just wait to be ready to discover it again. I feel like if you pause often when you get frustrated and wait it makes it easier to appreciate what you would miss if you were frustrated, so taking your time, taking notes is very helpful. I hated puzzle games but I start to appreciate it, I think it's a skill you have to learn, to temper your expectations to progress and just take your time.
You know... Watching this premiere made me think..... You might also like Rain World. A lot of things you said for Outer Wilds are easily applicable for my experience with Rain World.
As much as I love Rain World and completed the DLC, I find that the difficulty can be very frustrating for many. I feel like Marco talking about Outer Wilds difficulty being personally problematic for his enjoyment might be multiplied ten fold when playing with our scug friends. If he ever does play it, I hope it's out of enjoyment and not peer pressure. 😅
@@MarcoMeatball I think getting the "Jolly Coop" mod and playing with a friend might be a fun idea, but maybe not on the first playthrough The other person doesn't need their own copy of Rain World, they can join through Steam's remote play system. This may or may not make the game easier or harder but it definitely will make it more fun seeing each other get into, out of and helping with shenanigans. I watched a 13 player playthrough once and it was so funny seeing a mass of players scrambling their way through the game.
This game taught me a valuable lesson in evaluating myself and life in general. You aren’t a failure because you didn’t know how a puzzle works or weren’t fast enough to get across a planet, you were simply lacking information to help solve the problem or understand it. Something was missing that would crack the case wide open, and you can only do the best you know how with what information you know. Nothing is added to the game from start to finish, only the changes in your perspectives and understanding of things. And when you do understand things, when you understand the nature of the eye, your time travel, and the universe… you can finally embrace it for what it is, and let go.
Definitely don't forget to play the DLC (Echoes of the Eye) it's just as good if not better than base game and really adds to the story. Plus, the music is really amazing.
I recently finished watching your playthrough after knowing you by Eelis super cut, and I found it fascinating how you have this conflicting feeling of connecting with the game and enjoying its story elements while also being frustrated with its unique progression style gameplay. It was really honest and refreshing to see your perspective because I absolutely LOVE this game, however when I tried to convince some friends and my fiancée to play it, they didn't seem as interested after a few runs, which made me feel completely incredulous: for me, it was perfect how curiosity drove me to seek and uncover everything, unlike them who simply lost interest and became frustrated with not understanding things. And it's just what you said in this video: I think the core issue is that they were bothered by the lack of a clear objective telling them where to go and what to do, which is how we've grown accustomed to playing video games. Outer Wilds breaks that paradigm by making us piece together the story through puzzles without direct guidance, with information being our primary tool, and that can be interesting but annoying at the same time, and that's ok. It truly is a unique game, and certainly not for everyone. But ultimately, I think most agree it's immersive and profound. The ending really provokes reflection, and I enjoyed your take on it, even if the gameplay frustrated you. Regarding the DLC: I won't push you to play it since I've seen your comments about not intending to play it, which I understand. However, I just want to highlight a few points: the soundtrack is AMAZING (even if you are not intending to play it, at least it would be great to see your reaction on its musics, but only if you'1re not gonna play it, 'cause the OST spoils the game), the story is WONDERFUL (and cleverly connects back to the main story, wrapping things up brilliantly), and it offers a different vibe from the base game (less text-based and more accessible in terms of understanding what to do, though still requiring gathering information non-linearly). It's also shorter. If you ever find yourself missing the game, it might be worth considering, but that ups to you. Once again, great video and review! Thank you by your honesty! ::)
I’m so glad you had such a profound reaction to this game. I had a feeling that you would (partially) enjoy it. Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us.
Outer Wilds is one of the only games that changed my visions about video games and it was for me a true experience that I think I will never experience again in other mediums like cinema for example. It is a pure real unique video game experience. And a deep human and beautiful journey. I love this game even tho I was stuck many times, I think it is part of the process of the game and it is awesome when you overcome it and then everything make sens in your mind. I love Outer Wilds and I hope you loved it too and you could enjoy the awesome musics
What a great video! My experience with outer wilds was very similar to yours. I love the concept of this game, the innovation, the deep themes, the lack of hand holding and especially the ending that is easily my favourite of any videogame I've played. It's really easy to forget that while playing this game 80% of the time I was extreamly frustrated, angry or even bored. I really cannot call this game fun despite the fact that it's one of my favourite games ever and I think of it constantly. But like I said the uniqness, the music, the ending and it's message make this game worth playing Btw I also recently played the dlc and contrary to the experience that most people had I actually found it much less frustrainting. The puzzles are harder but imo it does a way better job of presenting information both the gameplay and lore related in a clear and engaging way
It’s funny to me because I experienced all the good things, and none of the bad, sure I got stuck sometimes but I didn’t get mad, I’m not above asking for hints, and the outer wilds discord understands how not to spoil perfectly, it’s great
This is my favorite video covering this game. For the most part from what i've seen with youtubers and streamers, people either just love it or just hate it. The nuance in your perspective I think is a lot more accurate to how a lot of people actually feel about this experience and I think thats what makes the game amazing. I feel like us painstakingly navigating these worlds has a stark contrast to the sense of discovery and just, the strong emotions we feel from learning more about the story and the way I personally took it, was that its a game that reminds us what the human condition feels like. Sure this game is about escaping a supernova through space travel and annoying puzzles but still. As you put it Marco, to digitally stop and smell the roses. To remind ourselves that life's journey is simply a point A to point B. Its the ups and downs and twists and turns along the way that make it all mean something. Now of course I have a bias to Marco's channel and everything its about being a musician myself and how much that matters to me in videogames but I think Marco makes an excellent perspective here. I feel like watching you get pissed off at the bramble sections then getting excited over the story progressions that followed them is a perfect testament to the point you're making. In that regard, as annoying as it is, its truly a beautiful game.
Please please please, give the DLC a try, you won't regret it, it's more "spiritual" and also has some horror elements. Great review of the experience that OW is btw, sending hugs from Italy :)
I got used to playing games pretty fast, reading fast, doing things fast, barely reading things, and hitting myself against the wall until I got through. Outer Wilds reminds me that sometimes it's just nice to stop and smell the pine trees.
Outer Wilds is my favorite game of all time, even though it's not even my most-played game in terms of raw hour count. As many people have said, I always enjoy watching someone else's blind playthrough, just to sort of chase that original high of playing it for the first time. All the playthroughs are unique in their own way, just as unique as the game itself. I have, likewise, enjoyed your playthrough. In case you're curious, there is a behind-the-scenes documentary about making of the game on YT called "The Making of Outer Wilds - Documentary" - it might not be your typical content to react to, but I'd very much enjoy watching your reaction to that too.
I completely understand the mindset you had with this game. On the one hand, this isn't really my kind of game. I loved the exploring the universe aspect as well as having to unravel the mysteries. Some of the puzzles were too difficult for me to figure out but overall, it was really well put together. But I really disliked the whole 22-minute loop thing. I understand it's intrinsically part of the story, but gameplay-wise, it always made me feel like I was in a rush to get things done because I was always worried I would have to restart the loop and try again, which was annoying. (Not to mention that a lot of puzzles required you to come at a certain time which was also annoying to me). It made it harder for me to enjoy the moment as much and I glossed over many details. However, the story and message of this game are phenomenal. Absolutely incredible from beginning to end and I can't help but love this game even though I wasn't a fan of some of the gameplay aspects.
7:37 Don't know if you've played Subnautica, but when you get deep enough the game almost feels more terrifying because of the silence it just made me think of it
The reason I both love and hate Outer Wilds is that I can NEVER play it for the first time again. I'll never have that incredible feeling of discovery in this beautiful handcrafted space again. But you know what? That's kinda the point of the game. The end of the game resets the universe and shows you a beautiful image of the new universe with new people setting out on their own journey. The point IS that you can't do it for the first time again. When you're done, it becomes someone else's turn, their time to experience things.
I played this game last year. It was such a special experience. It might even be my favourite game of all time. It is difficult to say for certain, because there are many games that are very nostalgic to me. But Outer Wilds was just that special.
Outer Wilds is my #1 Game of all time. Maybe it’s because of when I played it, but it was so impactful to me. Also an incredibly unique game in so many ways.
I am emotionally stunted. I don't know why, I can't put my finger on it, it's just a fact of my life. Outer Wilds is not a perfect game, but it can make me feel emotions that very few other experiences can invoke in me. That's beautiful to me and why nothing else competes with Outer Wilds. Some games can come incredibly close, or can make me feel one specific emotion perfectly, but no game can make me feel such a wide range of intense emotions like Outer Wilds can. Outer Wilds completes me.
"It’s the kind of thing that makes you glad you stopped and smelled the pine trees along the way, you know?", gabbro says it at the end, and it has stuck with me ever since, become part of my philosophy. It's such a powerful line, coming from the only other character who has a clue what's going on besides you. He's not bothered by the end, he wasn't ever even bothered enough to go looking for something that could stop the loop. He's just happy about all the time he got to spend, because he made sure to cherish every single bit of it, no matter what.
I'm an hour in and looking for reasons to continue, i'm just reading stuff then getting reset, then going back and reading more stuff and getting reset, and i can't be bothered to go back, the mechanics of the game aren't rewarding it's easy until it's not, you're not in danger until it kills you anyway, i really don't want to go back to that purple planet with the black hole again i'm daunted by how boring it is, i'm going to eventually read more stuff and i'm not excited about what that stuff is, i went to the gas planet with the water in the middle, looked at a tree trying to figure out if i'm supposed to climb it but it's too dark, then everything gets whisked around by a tornado, my ship goes missing and it resets and i super don't want to go back. If i play for 5 more hours maybe i'll discover the thing that's blowing people's minds, but the suggested game time is 12-25 hours and man... i can't.
I understand your feeling. It really felt insurmountable and at times incredibly awful. But I also value that I went on the journey. Give yourself time. Try to remember that modern gaming is hand holdy and this is the opposite. Also no shame in a guide if you really need one!
Outer Wilds and UnderTale are two my favorite game . when i listen to they their music UnderTale tell me a story saying : when we feel lost and pain we are not alone . Outer Wilds tell me a story saying : In the whole 14.3 Billion Years we so tiny . but we are so real .
This was a beautiful meditation on your experience playing the game. In a very -early- stream, you twigged - partially because of your experiences with and reaction to the music before you even picked the game up - that this was a story about loss and existentialism and beauty within that framework, and it genuinely blew my mind a little because of how RIGHT you were with so little information, and then watching you play the rest of the game having had that understanding- it was a joy to watch you discover every moment of this game, when you loved it, when you hated it, every time you said "[quack] this game!
Really enjoyed seeing your live playthrough! I'm proud of you for conquering your dread of a game as challenging as The Outer Wilds, and for being the absolute *king* of crash landings! How nonchalant you were when your ship split apart had me laughing in tears! 😂 Fantastic work and great video review!
Just seeing this video, but I loved your analysis and review here. I played this game shortly after I lost my bulldog Olive. It helped me get through that grief. This game changed my view in a similar way it did for you, and I’m so grateful for it. 14.3 billion years means a lot to me. It helped me get through some dark times. And eventually, it played during my wedding ceremony. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
So glad you got alot out of your playthrough, even though it was hard and frustrating for you. Shows your commitment to the experience, even if not all of it was for you. At some point you might also want to face the DLC :D
As someone who enjoyed pretty much every aspect of the game I really appreciate your perspective here. Every playthrough of Outer Wilds is different, but even if the occasional aimlessness and the puzzles can be frustrating, that emotional journey is something that they all have in common. Thank you for sharing yours ::)
I'm so happy that you overcame the fear of space and played this game. It's really hard to face one's fear but as you overcome it you get to love what you had, what you learned and what you will experience in the future. Outer wilds wasn't a game that provoked me such feelings but I can clearly see that you had much more than what I wrote here. For me it was this war of mine, a game about war refugee. Its a long story. Anyways, thanks for playing such a nice game and giving your thoughts about that experience. Hope to see more game music reviews!
Hey Guys, just a heads up If you haven't played the game yet; PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Go play it for yourselves. This is a once in a lifetime experience that you can't get back. (Trust me, I've tried) Try to keep spoilers to an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM Better yet, don't look up ANYTHING. I know its a lot to ask of you for a little game, but i hope you can take some truth in my words and see this masterpiece through. You like exploration, space, mystery and some damn good puzzles; then i can not recommend a better game to you. Thanks for reading
This game is a great way to show how the scientific method works. By paying attention to what happens around you, you can get the info that the game gives you. Based on what you saw, you try to figure out the rules that run this world and test your guesses. If they don’t work out, you start over from the beginning. It’s a unique experience that shows how science really works and busts a lot of myths and hypes about it.
Outer Wilds is like a word search. Everything is there for you to find. And once you find something, it will be there never to be discovered again. It's so interesting that it balanced the joy of accomplishment and the sorrow of the loss of a form of innocence that comes with that accomplishment.
Wow. Ain't that one of the most human experiences I've seen. The ability and need to go through something so difficult so that you can come out better on the other side. Very biblical.
I would love to see Marco react to Outer Wilds Reprise. This song is masterpiece. It tells a story. I cannot express how much emotions it give. Definitely the best track, that not even a part of a game itself. This is something on another level for me... Before this game, i could name only two games that were on my TOP list, much higher than everything else. Mass Effect 2 and Portal 2. But since i played Outer Wilds, it became the most memorable thing i've ever played, and since i played it for the first time i cannot unthink about it. At this point i watched more than 10 different playthroughs, with completely different experience or playstyles, or different level of knowledge about space and stuff. And everytime this game story moments, especially final part, hits me like the first time. And everyone who i watched got emotional. In other words, the first two games i named are masterpiece, and barely any game can top that. But i'm completely obsessed with Outer Wilds. I was so happy when DLC finally came out, new experience. I was scared that it will dissapoint me or just wont be as interesting as main game. And yes, and no. Basically in some weird way same thing happened as Marco described. It is definitely different experience. Not what i expected at all. But when that ending hit, man, this game did it again, somehow. Just holy hell.
I personally am really glad that you were able to come out the other end of things appreciating the game. When you feel willing to approach the game again, Echoes of the Eye is arguably an even richer aural experience than the base game. It's also just as heartfelt and raw, without subtracting anything from the base game, either.
I usually think of any game I play as either a story or a challenge, not often as immersive experiences, so Outer Wilds was weird. I don't play games to feel confused or find myself at a loss. Although I got impatient and felt I had to look things up to keep going, I'm glad I played it to experience a new way of connecting with games and the intentions of their creators.
Outer wilds really does change your life. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I played... Seconding on playing the DLC, it may be frustrating (I had to use a guide sometimes) but it adds a whole new layer of meaning and a whole new perspective... The ending music also changes when you complete the dlc. And, the songwriter wrote about 6? Ish songs that are retrospectives of the game and are hauntingly beautiful. The thing that always strikes me when I look back on the game, is maybe the new signal in the new universe's eye of the universe will be our traveler's theme. A song (signal) calling for the universe to be reborn, and a song to create a new one. What is most important in outer wilds is the acceptance of death and the cherishing of what you have. You cannot deny the end of the universe, the game makes you think that maybe you can stop the sun from exploding, but the reality is you and all you love will die. And facing that fact, your mission becomes to give to those who will come after you, to ensure there will be a tomorrow and that life will continue. That's the message that resonated with me, that gentle acceptance of death as something not so scary, but a part of the cycle of life and death, and that everything we do will remain and influence the future.
So interesting to hear this experience. And incredible that you GOT the game - you understood and experienced everything that the developers wanted you to, and you recognized its beauty. Incredible that all of that can happen even if your experience playing is so terrible. It shows that they created more than just a game, and while you may not have enjoyed the game, it sounds like you fell in love with the “more.”
Hello Marco, I really enjoy watching your videos where you delve into the depth of the characters from the Dark Souls world based on the music. I would love to see what you would draw for my favorite character in Dark Souls 2, the Ivory King, who for me is the epitome of many imposing characteristics.
I feel like this game took something from me. When I finished I felt empty somewhere deep down, it stayed for sometime, the game echoing inside that space. I like to think that what it took wasn't something bad but something I needed to loose. It gave me sense of peace in return, there is something warm in that space it made inside me. You said there was something meditative about this game and I can only concur. So glad to have found this game and hope I have learned because of it
So much waiting to have a window of 3 seconds. Wait 5 minutes for sand (to pass the cactus) ... wait 5 minutes for another sand (to door to open) ... wait 5 minutes for a teleport ... wait 5 minutes for a water and gravity (to read one text) ... wait 5 minutes for 40 dagrees...
Omg, I'm in the exact same position! Started the game a couple weeks ago, probably nearing the end now, and I both love this game to death and find it infuriating.
Just know that you're not stupid! I'm a total space nerd and thought I was good at unravelling mysteries (favorite show is Dark and favorite movie is Tenet...), but I got stuck many many times and had to look up subtle hints to progress, facepalming each time.
Thank you for beating this, once your ready please do the dlc echoes of the eye , its a must as it adds alot to the story as its the missing piece of the puzzle
I’ve been watching your videos for quite a while now. You’d probably enjoy music from Aion: the Tower of Eternity. Despite being well over a decade old, it still has a very active community, which owes a good part of its continued existence to a love of the game’s OST. Songs like “A fairy of the peace”, “Sprengeri”, and “raging strings” are very moving. And, of course I can’t go without mentioning “step to the next world”. Also, totally not an advertisement, but the Aion America private server (which is free to join btw) resets soon (September 2nd I believe), making that the perfect time to jump in.
I would not have had nearly as deep of an emotional connection to Outer Wilds if I didn't spend hours going through all the puzzles, learning how the world works, learning what came before and why things are happening the way they are. I'm so happy games like this exist and I wish there were a lot less games that insist on holding your hand, walking you from set-piece to set-piece. Just put me in a world and let me explore.
Random fact about the song timber hearth that I have no idea if it was said before but the song is synced up to the sun in comparison to the village. It starts with the sunrise and reaches it's peak at noon and fades out with the sunset
I've seen in an interview with the devs that the composer did that main song there to evoke different feelings based on where you were at the game: - If you were at the start, it's meant to be a country happy song to remind you of camping and urge you to go out. - If you're past halfway in, it should still be a happy melancholy sound, like a song about the end of the world in an upbeat melody. - When you're finished, it should be a good nostalgic happy song. I think it's brilliant if it truly was intentional. The game itself helps a lot with achieving all of these goals.
The first time I played this I was obsessed with the sun station and spent too many loops trying to get on it until I finally did... Yes, via the ship. Imagine my surprise later in the game.
Would love to see some sort of a "Highlights" video about your playthrough! Glad that you liked Outer Wilds despite all of the difficulties (that I also had with this game), now it's time to play the DLS, it's veeeery good👍
Man, I went in that game completely blind and I won't lie : the first time the sun exploded, I was deep inside some place and I heard the sound building up then the explosion. Everything went dark and silent except the sound of the coming end and I just managed to step outside to see that expanding ball of white fiery death coming at me. It fucking scared me on a level I didn't know it could... it wasn't the kind of fear like in horror games or movies, that something horrific is coming after you and trying to kill you... it wasn't the kind of fear of things like darkness that you know is harmless but you can't help be at least a bit nervous not knowing what's inside of it. No, it was utter fear of the unknown, that my brain didn't register yet what was happening and it was panicking. I actually grasped my desk when it happened and only once my character died did I have the clarity to understand that the sun had blown up. And then it started all over again... and while every time that end happened I had some apprehension deep in the back of my mind, I wanted to go at it again and find out what was happening. Outer Wilds is now easily one of my favorite games ever and I can't believe I slept on it for so long before giving it a shot. I feel I could have used that scare way before when it happened! XD
Outer wilds is probably one of my top 3 games of all time. A truly unique gaming experience not to mention I am a sucker for groundhogs day stories. I love the environmental problem solving that just feels like a natural part of the world. I like portal and talos principle and other puzzle games but this just feels like a solar system to explore and solve if you feel like it, it hits me just right as someone who has always wished I had been born late enough to explore the stars.
I don’t want to have emotional connections in my games anymore, not after Aeris died in FF7 when I was 11 years old in the 90’s. I did have a similar experience with Outer Wilds, and I found the best experience for me was just looking up the answers to some puzzles or questions I could not figure out after a decent amount of time, or if I felt like I was stuck. I would have to do the same in a game like Myst, Or I will get stuck for forever. I only ever haven’t done that for one game which was in Super Metroid, where I beat that entire game at age 7 or 8 without a guide (was none back then for it I had easily), so I felt super proud and still remember the day I beat that game during a Tornado warning. Outer Wilds is a fantastic game and one of my favorites now that I know everything about it and can appreciate it, but it was tough for me and I didn’t play the entire game legit. I didn’t even go to the Giant’s Deep core because I’m so unnerved by being deep underwater. I just can’t do it, so I looked up what was down there to beat the game lol. Works for me, I enjoyed the game and bought it twice! Once on Epic and once on Steam.
Outer Wilds ... A wild experience indeed. Each planet seems to touch on different types of human fears and existentialism. Everyone seems to have a different planet with which they struggle. For me, it was Brittle Hollow. Something about the idea that the Nomai had to live there, qnd the bleakness of the world crumbling around me. I got to a point where I was too scared to continue on my own. I stopped playing the game. And well, some people may say it isnt the same if you can't experience the whole game on your own. It is true that you miss out on the wonder of some revelations of your own. But me, when i was scared, I found a playthrough from one of my favorite youtubers, and i finished the journey with them. It wasnt the same, but it was still profound, and i wasnt as scared. Kind of like having your buddies at the end of the game, around the campfire with you, watching the universe begin anew. And thats my favorite part about new blind playthroughs. Its like I am observer, all over again. I'm not surprised you werent a huge fan of Myst with your struggles here. But i wonder if you have never finished it, if going back after having finished Outer Wilds would change anything about how you feel about that game. Myst was a game i couldnt finish on my own either, but it is one of my favorites thanks to let's plays as well. It's also one of the few positive memories i have of my father. I remember, as a child, I'd watch him explore, and make detailed, meticulous maps of the different ages. It was definitely a huge influence on me.
I saw a comment somewhere and for the life of me I cant find it but it went something like this: It took 14.3 Billion years for you to exist, and thats beautiful. For me I really took the sentiment of stopping to smell the roses to heart. My life might amount to little, but its my life, and thats all it needs to be.
I saw the title and it made me panic since this is my favorite game of all time. But I'm glad you enjoyed the experience even if it was frustrating!... So when are you doing the DLC? XD
I'm a bit late but I genuinely recommend a video on Outer Wild's sound design by Tetramorre (The Impeccable sound design of Outer Wilds). It is an insanely good video about that game from a unique perspective that you should like
This game destroyed me. I cried so much in the ending. I felt like I failed to save them, but they were able to move on anyway. I wish I could've sat with them for a little longer.
for me, the game is more an experience of life not games, the time we use with the ones we love, the conection with that we found in the trave and knowing that in the end, we have a limited time, and when runs out, we are going to lose that connection, forever, thats what struck me. when those 22 minutes runs out, you know the one that you found on your trip, its lost, forever. yes you went back in time, but in that loop he do not meet you, and when you solve everything. . . you know you are going to lose them, all of them. Its going to happen, those 22 minutes already past for my grandparents, all of them, those 22 minutes are ticking for my parents, for one of my friends those 22 minutes already expire. for them is not go to A to B, is those 22 minutes that you share.
You absolutely need to play Echoes of the Eye! Somehow they manage to take this cohesive game with a definitive ending... and add something brand new to it which is so good and so relevant to the story that something becomes missing without it.
I've always struggled a lot with feeling like I need to play a game perfectly (even when it didn't make it fun) Outer Wilds really helped with breaking out of that
Endings, and beginnings. Pain, and the joy of overcoming them. Loss, and finding meaning🖤 I’m so happy to hear that this has changed your perspective on our very existence, it’s a scary, but beautiful feeling. I know it was hard, but nothing good comes easy🖤 All that’s left is an echo:)
Outer Wilds is closer to real life than most games and I think that makes it very frustrating to many gamers, at least initially and later frustrations are different kinds 😆. We usually play games to escape reality. But here we are in a game where you actually have to do things by learning how the world works and navigating its rules. Just like real life, it makes you feel frustration, sadness, dread, fear and to move forward, you'll have to overcome those emotions 😄
I just finished the game and I feel the exact same way. I'm glad I played it but at times it felt like work or even torture. The most similar game I've played through is Riven, but I enjoyed that overall experience a lot more. Maybe that's because of the amount of time it takes in OW between a loop ending and you landing somewhere to start exploring again. I feel like I spent half of my play time dying unexpectedly and waiting to respawn and go back to where I was. But there might also be a little more payoff in OW than in Riven.
It's... it's almost like... hard work pays off. That's why this game was so rewarding, but also so heartbreaking, because of the intensely hopeless nihilism, combined with the hardwork of the nomai (and yourself) and the beauty of the game, both visually and musically.
Outer Wilds dlc "Echoes of the Eye" playthrough when? :D Jokes aside, that dlc literally transforms the game while keeping the base feel similar. It's genius design and music.
Outer wilds Is not about Saving universe but letting it go to create a thing not better or worse but just something else that Is gargantuous. (I recommend Minecraft story mode "order of thé stone" and "Minecraft moog City 2" Theres an Idea of calm and melancoly with a little bit of freedom and mystery)
What a beautiful review. I think you'd really appreciate the DLC, it takes more of a creative approach to story telling that I imagine you would like, and the music blows the base game out of the water imo
Marco, when you get back to play the DLC I think you will have a much, much better experience. You'll be in a different head space going in, and you'll find Echoes of the Eye is not more of the same. It is a whole new experience. I hope before too long you give it a chance. One thing I'll say is these games are most enjoyable when you take your time.
Coming back to this video after watching your playthrough of Outer Wilds. I think the main reason why you had such a tough time with the game is because you explored the game one planet at a time, rather than one story thread at a time. Exploring one planet at a time results in a ton of repetition and is way less satisfying because you restrict your self to having to come back to the same location over and over and over gain. If you instead play the game by exploring one story thread at a time, you rarely have to come revisit the same location in quick succession, and you get instant gratification of discoveries instantly making sense because they are leading one into each other. Regardless of which style you go with the end result is the same, but it's a much more rewarding experience playing the game the latter style imo.
Outer Wilds really is that special. You should give Artful Escape a shot sometime. Another Annapurna joint. Different to Outer Wilds but still very emotional and musical. If you are familiar with Bob Dylan's music you might also enjoy it. Oh... Carl Weathers in it.
I personally love this quote by one of the developers:
"I hope you may find bravery like Feldspar; bravery to break new ground and do what others won't.
I hope you may find peace like Esker; peace to be with yourself, because sometimes you're all you really have.
I hope you may find curiosity like Chert; curiosity to learn about the universe, even if it means discovering uncomfortable truths.
I hope you may find passion like Riebeck; passion that lets you overcome even your greatest of fears.
I hope you may find time to stop and smell the pine trees like Gabbro; time to take everything in, and simply be.
Most of all, I hope you may seek out and understand whatever it is you might be searching for in the universe like the Nomai
The universe can feel very scary, hopeless, and overwhelming at times - we're always dealing with something that feels like the end of everything. But it also comes with an infinite promise of beauty and wonder, and I hope that promise can help you overcome whatever challenges you may face.
I look forward to seeing you at the end of the universe. Don't be a stranger when you see me."
It was a joy and an honor to watch you play a game I adore. Here's to the next ones.
Why must you make me cry? I just woke up 😭😭
Where can I find this quote? It's so beautiful!
"Don't be a stranger when you see me."
Was the quote before Echoes Of The Eye?
replying so I can copy this comment for myself later. Thanks
It actually made me tear up
Please drop where I can find this quote, I need it for an inspirational poster
I love that the universe simply is, and you simply are. There's no hand holding, no catering to any specific playstyle.
The game is so chill ! ❤️
That's my favourite quote from the game, by Solanum. It made me meditate about life, luck, fate, and all those concepts some people cling to in order to find some meaning in existence. It made me realize that life in itself doesn't have a meaning... but because of that, it can have *any* meaning that we want. We get to decide our own destiny, because there's no grand scheme of the universe, no big picture painted by a god. Nothing orbits around oneself solely, but at the same time everything orbits around everyone, and by extension, ourselves. It is a very good therapy for paranoic people like me, to remember that "The Universe is, and we are". Nothing more. Nothing less.
@@AmaiarAiramand Well, and what if my meaning is to live a carefree life without wasting my life on what i don't like and don't want to do? that's not possible in our world, you just die from starvation and homeless or being locked in psychoneurological hospital until you are dead
@@CamelliaFlingert you can be carefree. Doesn't mean you'll starve. You just have to do it in a responsible way lmfao. There's ways to do it.
@@CamelliaFlingert You're talking about your relationship with society, not with the universe itself. There's a big difference there. You sure can live a carefree life if you want (although calling it your 'meaning' is also a stretch). If other people don't feel like following your example, that's another issue, but the Universe will not do anything to stop you, or aid you. It simply is.
"It's time to move on" is the message this game conveys put into the simplest manner. But that message applies in so many different ways to life that everyone can connect with it. For me, it helped me with getting past the fear of moving away from my home town, and with the mourning of my grandmother.
"I learned a lot, by the end of everything. The past is past, now, but that's... you know, that's okay! It's never really gone completely. The future is always built on the past, even if we don't get to see it" -Riebeck
Riebeck, Tuff, and Gabbro were my favorite Hearthians. I'll miss them.
Poke, Pye, Clary, and Solanum will live on with me.
I am really hesitant to say this as you said that it was a terrible experience for you, but I really recommend checking the DLC, Echoes of the Eye, sometimes. I thought the creators couldn't possibly add anything great to the plot of Outer Wilds. I was wrong.
it's a dilemma for sure. the DLC is amazing and i would normally recommend it to anyone after beating the game, but its mysteries are more complex to solve than the ones in the base game. if he does decide to play it, i hope the experience isn't too frustrating for him so he can experience it to the fullest.
And theres barely any flying involved!!
I second this. Like, absolutely not immediately, but wait a while, let the game settle in your past, and when you feel ready revisit with the DLC that has honestly elevated the game from GOTY to what could be my favourite game ever.
Best DLC ever.
I know i'm late to this party, but i agree. What might make the DLC more interesting/approachable to him is that it's much more ocndensed into a smaller space, and you get a much more direct connection with the emotional aspect of the story. While imo it does make the puzzles more difficult it also reduces the overwhelming feelings of "you have 6 entire planets to scour and explore", and that might make it a lot easier for Marco.
I cried at the end of Outer Wilds. The music the themes the gameplay. They were all just so perfect. I then proceeded to beat the DLC… and cry again. But this time was different. It was me crying because I knew I could never play this game the same again.
The game is legendary ❤️
Saaame bro, I sat staring at the ceiling for an hour after both
i like to relive the experience by watching others ply it for the first time, there is a channel called eelis that does supercuts of outer wilds
I had this exact experience today. Finally finished the DLC after much procrastination then did the true ending with my new friend. Right as the credits began to roll I just sat and cried. I don't think I've cried quite like that in a while. I don't know when I will again. Much love, internet stranger
The DLC ending might honestly be the best piece of art I have ever seen, in any medium. It hurts that statistically speaking nothing as good will be made again.
I've never seen someone who had such a difficult time experiencing the detective style of the game. Very glad that you pushed through it despite it not being the kind of game you can enjoy, and that it brought out such strong emotions.
I just don’t really vibe with that style at all. But it was meaningful.
I also had some trouble with it, though I think maybe less than Marco. Since that style of puzzles was something I'd never experienced before, it wasn't intuitive for me to draw a line in my head between what I was seeing and what I was supposed to do with it. It often seemed like there were infinite possibilities for how to use any piece of information so it kind of left me with deductive paralysis.
@@melephs_cap that's kinda why games are the greatest form of art though, isn't it?
well, one of the reasons at least, but that's just my view...
"We do not have much connection, you and I. Still, this encounter feels special. I hope you won't mind if I think of you as a friend." - Solanum
that one hits hard
My joy when Solanum was included at the end was immeasurable. Literally cried out "Friend!" through tears when she appeared.
God damn this game.
And then in the eye, she says "I'm glad you remembered me" 😭
This is very interesting for me to hear, because of how different this experience was for me. The exploration and discovery came very naturally to me, and it was very rare for me to feel stuck or frustrated because of how cleverly the game points you at hints in the environment. The feeling of dread and feeling stupid that you described applies much more to traditional skill-based and grind-based games to me. Here, connecting the dots and learning to understand the beautiful way this fictional universe works, I feel more in my element than in any other game.
I'm glad that we can all take away our own things from different games, and that there are so many different games for all the different kinds of people in the world.
I just finished watching your playthrough through Ellis super cut.
Love your perspective and experience. Very interesting to get your explanation, thanks for that! Cheers!
It is incredible the depth to which Marco manages to verbalize how he experienced playing the outer wilds. How the song changed from the life and death of his father, to the life and death of the universe, with all beauty and sadness that goes with that.
I love this game because it almost always has it's hand outstetched, but never forcibly holds your hand. It gives you the option to go on a more guided path through the story in the form of the rumors, or lets you just wander until you think you've seen all there is.
The game doesn't hold your hand and pull you in one direction. It will only hold your hand when you reach out and come along with you to tell you more about what you found. The game won't stop you from leaving your ship without your suit, it won't stop you from crashing into a planet hundreds of km/h, and it certainly won't keep you from flying into the sun. Yet until you reach what the game WANTS to be mysterious, it's guiding hand will never retract itself.
Honestly, after completing Outer Wilds it didn’t really connect with me at first. I mean I loved searching around and putting the pieces together, learning what happened to the Nomai, but it wasn’t much more than that to me at the time. But after having the time to reflect on it, and especially after listening to your experience, it really just hit. I felt genuinely emotional by the end of your video.
Thank you for sharing this. It made me appreciate Outer Wilds and my own experience a whole lot more.
Ps. The DLC is worth it.
I really appreciate this
You may feel like you hated the game, but you've finished it and should be proud of that achievement. The game is about things that are *designed* to make you feel uncomfortable: witnessing the death of entire civilizations, feeling lost and lonely in the vastness of space, facing challenges your whole body tells you not to go into (zero G, for a start!), dealing with the pressure of tragic events unfolding quicker than you can understand them, and not being sure you're even able to fix them with what you have,... Without even noticing, you've embraced a mindset that is not easy to accept, and goes far beyond anyone's comfort zone. "Science compels us to explode the Sun", as the Nomai would say! Deep inside us all, we have that urge to answer the typical "what if...?" question, and it drives us into great things. No one said it would be easy, but oh boy does it feel great when things finally click...
Hello Marco, long time viewer/lurker here. I'd just like to say, thank you for making this video! You see, even though Outer Wilds is in my top 10 favorite games of all time, and its probably my favorite story game of all time, its not an experience that I can recommend to everyone, for all of the reasons that you discussed. It is an experience that really goes against modern (at least, AAA gaming rather than indie games) game design, which can be a huge turnoff for people. It's a concept that is very rarely talked about in reviews for this game, but I think that you described it perfectly!
I'll end off this comment with a recommendation. Not for another game or an OST, but a 17 min video. It's called "Outer Wilds: Death, Inevitability, and Ray Bradbury" by Jacob Geller. I think you'll enjoy it :)
I would definitely like to see more of this type of content/format.
that's the plan!!!!
I heard you mention that you struggled with the Myst games. I did too... until somebody told me HOW to play them. Here's what you do:
You sit down to Myst...
...on a nice overcast/rainy day...
...with a nice warm beverage...
...and a notepad.
And that's how you play the game. Take your time. Write down things. Look around. Jot down things that are interesting. Sip your beverage. Wander and observe.
Once you get it, Myst is a great experience, not unlike Outer Wilds, and the notepad you fill up during your adventures will be the trophy you have at the end of your journey. I highly recommend it. It's not played like other video games. Seriously. Warm beverage. Notepad.
Again, I never understood how to play Myst, Riven and Exile, until someone told me this, so I'm just passing it along. Hope you give it a try some day.
Fuck ya I’m
Gonna try
@@MarcoMeatball I do struggle with video games but I got recommended some truly great indie games that are puzzle based (Void Stranger for exemple). I did have some issues with Outer Wilds too, the way I did succeed in not having a bad experience is to take things VERY slow, I mean if I just start to get frustrated I stop before burning out.
I try to just disconnect this part of "progressing" in the game in Outer Wilds and I'm like "I'll just explore, go whatever, no need to discover anything". I take notes too and I try to stopped and wait until I feel better. The worst part of a puzzle game is you start accumulating frustration again and again to the point where it sucks your joy out of you and it's what you should avoid.
I haven't played Void Stranger in more than 3 weeks and it's okay, I'm on my pause to try and appreciate it because I got frustrated before with it, so I try to really take my time...Just wait to be ready to discover it again. I feel like if you pause often when you get frustrated and wait it makes it easier to appreciate what you would miss if you were frustrated, so taking your time, taking notes is very helpful.
I hated puzzle games but I start to appreciate it, I think it's a skill you have to learn, to temper your expectations to progress and just take your time.
You know... Watching this premiere made me think.....
You might also like Rain World. A lot of things you said for Outer Wilds are easily applicable for my experience with Rain World.
it's on my to do list
@MarcoMeatball i wish you luck, its an amazing experience but much like outer wilds.. its brutal, perhaps even more so
As much as I love Rain World and completed the DLC, I find that the difficulty can be very frustrating for many.
I feel like Marco talking about Outer Wilds difficulty being personally problematic for his enjoyment might be multiplied ten fold when playing with our scug friends.
If he ever does play it, I hope it's out of enjoyment and not peer pressure. 😅
@@MarcoMeatball
I think getting the "Jolly Coop" mod and playing with a friend might be a fun idea, but maybe not on the first playthrough
The other person doesn't need their own copy of Rain World, they can join through Steam's remote play system.
This may or may not make the game easier or harder but it definitely will make it more fun seeing each other get into, out of and helping with shenanigans.
I watched a 13 player playthrough once and it was so funny seeing a mass of players scrambling their way through the game.
@@MarcoMeatballwhen the game stopped being fun, the wiki and advanced guide made it fun again.
This game taught me a valuable lesson in evaluating myself and life in general. You aren’t a failure because you didn’t know how a puzzle works or weren’t fast enough to get across a planet, you were simply lacking information to help solve the problem or understand it. Something was missing that would crack the case wide open, and you can only do the best you know how with what information you know. Nothing is added to the game from start to finish, only the changes in your perspectives and understanding of things. And when you do understand things, when you understand the nature of the eye, your time travel, and the universe… you can finally embrace it for what it is, and let go.
Definitely don't forget to play the DLC (Echoes of the Eye) it's just as good if not better than base game and really adds to the story. Plus, the music is really amazing.
Although I would say that the gameplay has those three segments that can be absolute hell if you're too stubborn to turn on reduced frights.
I recently finished watching your playthrough after knowing you by Eelis super cut, and I found it fascinating how you have this conflicting feeling of connecting with the game and enjoying its story elements while also being frustrated with its unique progression style gameplay. It was really honest and refreshing to see your perspective because I absolutely LOVE this game, however when I tried to convince some friends and my fiancée to play it, they didn't seem as interested after a few runs, which made me feel completely incredulous: for me, it was perfect how curiosity drove me to seek and uncover everything, unlike them who simply lost interest and became frustrated with not understanding things. And it's just what you said in this video: I think the core issue is that they were bothered by the lack of a clear objective telling them where to go and what to do, which is how we've grown accustomed to playing video games. Outer Wilds breaks that paradigm by making us piece together the story through puzzles without direct guidance, with information being our primary tool, and that can be interesting but annoying at the same time, and that's ok.
It truly is a unique game, and certainly not for everyone. But ultimately, I think most agree it's immersive and profound. The ending really provokes reflection, and I enjoyed your take on it, even if the gameplay frustrated you.
Regarding the DLC: I won't push you to play it since I've seen your comments about not intending to play it, which I understand. However, I just want to highlight a few points: the soundtrack is AMAZING (even if you are not intending to play it, at least it would be great to see your reaction on its musics, but only if you'1re not gonna play it, 'cause the OST spoils the game), the story is WONDERFUL (and cleverly connects back to the main story, wrapping things up brilliantly), and it offers a different vibe from the base game (less text-based and more accessible in terms of understanding what to do, though still requiring gathering information non-linearly). It's also shorter. If you ever find yourself missing the game, it might be worth considering, but that ups to you.
Once again, great video and review! Thank you by your honesty! ::)
Thanks for the really kind comment!
I’m so glad you had such a profound reaction to this game. I had a feeling that you would (partially) enjoy it. Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us.
Outer Wilds is one of the only games that changed my visions about video games and it was for me a true experience that I think I will never experience again in other mediums like cinema for example. It is a pure real unique video game experience.
And a deep human and beautiful journey. I love this game even tho I was stuck many times, I think it is part of the process of the game and it is awesome when you overcome it and then everything make sens in your mind.
I love Outer Wilds and I hope you loved it too and you could enjoy the awesome musics
What a great video! My experience with outer wilds was very similar to yours. I love the concept of this game, the innovation, the deep themes, the lack of hand holding and especially the ending that is easily my favourite of any videogame I've played. It's really easy to forget that while playing this game 80% of the time I was extreamly frustrated, angry or even bored. I really cannot call this game fun despite the fact that it's one of my favourite games ever and I think of it constantly. But like I said the uniqness, the music, the ending and it's message make this game worth playing
Btw I also recently played the dlc and contrary to the experience that most people had I actually found it much less frustrainting. The puzzles are harder but imo it does a way better job of presenting information both the gameplay and lore related in a clear and engaging way
It’s funny to me because I experienced all the good things, and none of the bad, sure I got stuck sometimes but I didn’t get mad, I’m not above asking for hints, and the outer wilds discord understands how not to spoil perfectly, it’s great
This is my favorite video covering this game. For the most part from what i've seen with youtubers and streamers, people either just love it or just hate it. The nuance in your perspective I think is a lot more accurate to how a lot of people actually feel about this experience and I think thats what makes the game amazing. I feel like us painstakingly navigating these worlds has a stark contrast to the sense of discovery and just, the strong emotions we feel from learning more about the story and the way I personally took it, was that its a game that reminds us what the human condition feels like. Sure this game is about escaping a supernova through space travel and annoying puzzles but still. As you put it Marco, to digitally stop and smell the roses. To remind ourselves that life's journey is simply a point A to point B. Its the ups and downs and twists and turns along the way that make it all mean something. Now of course I have a bias to Marco's channel and everything its about being a musician myself and how much that matters to me in videogames but I think Marco makes an excellent perspective here. I feel like watching you get pissed off at the bramble sections then getting excited over the story progressions that followed them is a perfect testament to the point you're making. In that regard, as annoying as it is, its truly a beautiful game.
The DLC is worth a try even if it might be scarier than the base game, especially for that final meeting and theme.
Please please please, give the DLC a try, you won't regret it, it's more "spiritual" and also has some horror elements. Great review of the experience that OW is btw, sending hugs from Italy :)
I got used to playing games pretty fast, reading fast, doing things fast, barely reading things, and hitting myself against the wall until I got through. Outer Wilds reminds me that sometimes it's just nice to stop and smell the pine trees.
Outer Wilds is my favorite game of all time, even though it's not even my most-played game in terms of raw hour count. As many people have said, I always enjoy watching someone else's blind playthrough, just to sort of chase that original high of playing it for the first time. All the playthroughs are unique in their own way, just as unique as the game itself. I have, likewise, enjoyed your playthrough.
In case you're curious, there is a behind-the-scenes documentary about making of the game on YT called "The Making of Outer Wilds - Documentary" - it might not be your typical content to react to, but I'd very much enjoy watching your reaction to that too.
I completely understand the mindset you had with this game.
On the one hand, this isn't really my kind of game. I loved the exploring the universe aspect as well as having to unravel the mysteries. Some of the puzzles were too difficult for me to figure out but overall, it was really well put together. But I really disliked the whole 22-minute loop thing. I understand it's intrinsically part of the story, but gameplay-wise, it always made me feel like I was in a rush to get things done because I was always worried I would have to restart the loop and try again, which was annoying. (Not to mention that a lot of puzzles required you to come at a certain time which was also annoying to me). It made it harder for me to enjoy the moment as much and I glossed over many details.
However, the story and message of this game are phenomenal. Absolutely incredible from beginning to end and I can't help but love this game even though I wasn't a fan of some of the gameplay aspects.
7:37 Don't know if you've played Subnautica, but when you get deep enough the game almost feels more terrifying because of the silence
it just made me think of it
The reason I both love and hate Outer Wilds is that I can NEVER play it for the first time again.
I'll never have that incredible feeling of discovery in this beautiful handcrafted space again.
But you know what? That's kinda the point of the game. The end of the game resets the universe and shows you a beautiful image of the new universe with new people setting out on their own journey.
The point IS that you can't do it for the first time again. When you're done, it becomes someone else's turn, their time to experience things.
I played this game last year. It was such a special experience. It might even be my favourite game of all time. It is difficult to say for certain, because there are many games that are very nostalgic to me. But Outer Wilds was just that special.
Outer Wilds is my #1 Game of all time. Maybe it’s because of when I played it, but it was so impactful to me. Also an incredibly unique game in so many ways.
This is such an excellent and thoughtful analysis of what this game truly is.
Thank you for sharing
I am emotionally stunted. I don't know why, I can't put my finger on it, it's just a fact of my life. Outer Wilds is not a perfect game, but it can make me feel emotions that very few other experiences can invoke in me. That's beautiful to me and why nothing else competes with Outer Wilds. Some games can come incredibly close, or can make me feel one specific emotion perfectly, but no game can make me feel such a wide range of intense emotions like Outer Wilds can.
Outer Wilds completes me.
"It’s the kind of thing that makes you glad you stopped and smelled the pine trees along the way, you know?", gabbro says it at the end, and it has stuck with me ever since, become part of my philosophy.
It's such a powerful line, coming from the only other character who has a clue what's going on besides you. He's not bothered by the end, he wasn't ever even bothered enough to go looking for something that could stop the loop. He's just happy about all the time he got to spend, because he made sure to cherish every single bit of it, no matter what.
I'm an hour in and looking for reasons to continue, i'm just reading stuff then getting reset, then going back and reading more stuff and getting reset, and i can't be bothered to go back, the mechanics of the game aren't rewarding it's easy until it's not, you're not in danger until it kills you anyway, i really don't want to go back to that purple planet with the black hole again i'm daunted by how boring it is, i'm going to eventually read more stuff and i'm not excited about what that stuff is, i went to the gas planet with the water in the middle, looked at a tree trying to figure out if i'm supposed to climb it but it's too dark, then everything gets whisked around by a tornado, my ship goes missing and it resets and i super don't want to go back.
If i play for 5 more hours maybe i'll discover the thing that's blowing people's minds, but the suggested game time is 12-25 hours and man... i can't.
I understand your feeling. It really felt insurmountable and at times incredibly awful. But I also value that I went on the journey. Give yourself time. Try to remember that modern gaming is hand holdy and this is the opposite. Also no shame in a guide if you really need one!
Outer Wilds and UnderTale are two my favorite game .
when i listen to they their music
UnderTale tell me a story saying : when we feel lost and pain we are not alone .
Outer Wilds tell me a story saying : In the whole 14.3 Billion Years we so tiny . but we are so real .
This was a beautiful meditation on your experience playing the game. In a very -early- stream, you twigged - partially because of your experiences with and reaction to the music before you even picked the game up - that this was a story about loss and existentialism and beauty within that framework, and it genuinely blew my mind a little because of how RIGHT you were with so little information, and then watching you play the rest of the game having had that understanding- it was a joy to watch you discover every moment of this game, when you loved it, when you hated it, every time you said "[quack] this game!
Really enjoyed seeing your live playthrough! I'm proud of you for conquering your dread of a game as challenging as The Outer Wilds, and for being the absolute *king* of crash landings! How nonchalant you were when your ship split apart had me laughing in tears! 😂
Fantastic work and great video review!
Just seeing this video, but I loved your analysis and review here. I played this game shortly after I lost my bulldog Olive. It helped me get through that grief.
This game changed my view in a similar way it did for you, and I’m so grateful for it. 14.3 billion years means a lot to me. It helped me get through some dark times. And eventually, it played during my wedding ceremony. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
So glad you got alot out of your playthrough, even though it was hard and frustrating for you.
Shows your commitment to the experience, even if not all of it was for you.
At some point you might also want to face the DLC :D
As someone who enjoyed pretty much every aspect of the game I really appreciate your perspective here.
Every playthrough of Outer Wilds is different, but even if the occasional aimlessness and the puzzles can be frustrating, that emotional journey is something that they all have in common.
Thank you for sharing yours ::)
I'm so happy that you overcame the fear of space and played this game. It's really hard to face one's fear but as you overcome it you get to love what you had, what you learned and what you will experience in the future. Outer wilds wasn't a game that provoked me such feelings but I can clearly see that you had much more than what I wrote here. For me it was this war of mine, a game about war refugee. Its a long story. Anyways, thanks for playing such a nice game and giving your thoughts about that experience. Hope to see more game music reviews!
Hey Guys, just a heads up
If you haven't played the game yet;
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
Go play it for yourselves.
This is a once in a lifetime experience that you can't get back.
(Trust me, I've tried)
Try to keep spoilers to an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM
Better yet, don't look up ANYTHING.
I know its a lot to ask of you for a little game, but i hope you can take some truth in my words and see this masterpiece through. You like exploration, space, mystery and some damn good puzzles; then i can not recommend a better game to you.
Thanks for reading
This game is a great way to show how the scientific method works. By paying attention to what happens around you, you can get the info that the game gives you. Based on what you saw, you try to figure out the rules that run this world and test your guesses. If they don’t work out, you start over from the beginning. It’s a unique experience that shows how science really works and busts a lot of myths and hypes about it.
Outer Wilds is like a word search. Everything is there for you to find. And once you find something, it will be there never to be discovered again. It's so interesting that it balanced the joy of accomplishment and the sorrow of the loss of a form of innocence that comes with that accomplishment.
First time I saw the game explained in that way, but it’s surprisingly accurate
Wow. Ain't that one of the most human experiences I've seen. The ability and need to go through something so difficult so that you can come out better on the other side. Very biblical.
I would love to see Marco react to Outer Wilds Reprise. This song is masterpiece. It tells a story. I cannot express how much emotions it give. Definitely the best track, that not even a part of a game itself. This is something on another level for me...
Before this game, i could name only two games that were on my TOP list, much higher than everything else. Mass Effect 2 and Portal 2. But since i played Outer Wilds, it became the most memorable thing i've ever played, and since i played it for the first time i cannot unthink about it. At this point i watched more than 10 different playthroughs, with completely different experience or playstyles, or different level of knowledge about space and stuff. And everytime this game story moments, especially final part, hits me like the first time. And everyone who i watched got emotional.
In other words, the first two games i named are masterpiece, and barely any game can top that. But i'm completely obsessed with Outer Wilds. I was so happy when DLC finally came out, new experience. I was scared that it will dissapoint me or just wont be as interesting as main game. And yes, and no. Basically in some weird way same thing happened as Marco described. It is definitely different experience. Not what i expected at all. But when that ending hit, man, this game did it again, somehow. Just holy hell.
I personally am really glad that you were able to come out the other end of things appreciating the game. When you feel willing to approach the game again, Echoes of the Eye is arguably an even richer aural experience than the base game. It's also just as heartfelt and raw, without subtracting anything from the base game, either.
it was a joy to see outer wilds through your eyes. thank you for sharing your very own space voyage
I usually think of any game I play as either a story or a challenge, not often as immersive experiences, so Outer Wilds was weird. I don't play games to feel confused or find myself at a loss. Although I got impatient and felt I had to look things up to keep going, I'm glad I played it to experience a new way of connecting with games and the intentions of their creators.
"It’s the kind of thing that makes you glad you stopped and smelled the pine trees along the way, you know?” - Gabbro
Outer wilds really does change your life. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I played...
Seconding on playing the DLC, it may be frustrating (I had to use a guide sometimes) but it adds a whole new layer of meaning and a whole new perspective... The ending music also changes when you complete the dlc. And, the songwriter wrote about 6? Ish songs that are retrospectives of the game and are hauntingly beautiful.
The thing that always strikes me when I look back on the game, is maybe the new signal in the new universe's eye of the universe will be our traveler's theme. A song (signal) calling for the universe to be reborn, and a song to create a new one.
What is most important in outer wilds is the acceptance of death and the cherishing of what you have. You cannot deny the end of the universe, the game makes you think that maybe you can stop the sun from exploding, but the reality is you and all you love will die. And facing that fact, your mission becomes to give to those who will come after you, to ensure there will be a tomorrow and that life will continue.
That's the message that resonated with me, that gentle acceptance of death as something not so scary, but a part of the cycle of life and death, and that everything we do will remain and influence the future.
So interesting to hear this experience. And incredible that you GOT the game - you understood and experienced everything that the developers wanted you to, and you recognized its beauty. Incredible that all of that can happen even if your experience playing is so terrible. It shows that they created more than just a game, and while you may not have enjoyed the game, it sounds like you fell in love with the “more.”
Thanks for this! Yup! I appreciate the game so much. But also wow that sucked 😂
Hello Marco, I really enjoy watching your videos where you delve into the depth of the characters from the Dark Souls world based on the music. I would love to see what you would draw for my favorite character in Dark Souls 2, the Ivory King, who for me is the epitome of many imposing characteristics.
Thank you for this video and sincerity. Cheers
I feel like this game took something from me. When I finished I felt empty somewhere deep down, it stayed for sometime, the game echoing inside that space. I like to think that what it took wasn't something bad but something I needed to loose. It gave me sense of peace in return, there is something warm in that space it made inside me. You said there was something meditative about this game and I can only concur. So glad to have found this game and hope I have learned because of it
So much waiting to have a window of 3 seconds. Wait 5 minutes for sand (to pass the cactus) ... wait 5 minutes for another sand (to door to open) ... wait 5 minutes for a teleport ... wait 5 minutes for a water and gravity (to read one text) ... wait 5 minutes for 40 dagrees...
Omg, I'm in the exact same position! Started the game a couple weeks ago, probably nearing the end now, and I both love this game to death and find it infuriating.
Just know that you're not stupid! I'm a total space nerd and thought I was good at unravelling mysteries (favorite show is Dark and favorite movie is Tenet...), but I got stuck many many times and had to look up subtle hints to progress, facepalming each time.
I didnt even expect it but the game jump to top 5 of my list.. gotta love when that happen out of dark.
Thank you for beating this, once your ready please do the dlc echoes of the eye , its a must as it adds alot to the story as its the missing piece of the puzzle
I’ve been watching your videos for quite a while now. You’d probably enjoy music from Aion: the Tower of Eternity. Despite being well over a decade old, it still has a very active community, which owes a good part of its continued existence to a love of the game’s OST. Songs like “A fairy of the peace”, “Sprengeri”, and “raging strings” are very moving. And, of course I can’t go without mentioning “step to the next world”.
Also, totally not an advertisement, but the Aion America private server (which is free to join btw) resets soon (September 2nd I believe), making that the perfect time to jump in.
I would not have had nearly as deep of an emotional connection to Outer Wilds if I didn't spend hours going through all the puzzles, learning how the world works, learning what came before and why things are happening the way they are. I'm so happy games like this exist and I wish there were a lot less games that insist on holding your hand, walking you from set-piece to set-piece. Just put me in a world and let me explore.
I respect looking up spoilers if you've tried and tried and just stop having a good time.
Random fact about the song timber hearth that I have no idea if it was said before but the song is synced up to the sun in comparison to the village. It starts with the sunrise and reaches it's peak at noon and fades out with the sunset
Man I hope to one day find the Nomai escape vessel in the Tangled Shore, must be a very special place in Outer Wilds.
I've seen in an interview with the devs that the composer did that main song there to evoke different feelings based on where you were at the game:
- If you were at the start, it's meant to be a country happy song to remind you of camping and urge you to go out.
- If you're past halfway in, it should still be a happy melancholy sound, like a song about the end of the world in an upbeat melody.
- When you're finished, it should be a good nostalgic happy song.
I think it's brilliant if it truly was intentional. The game itself helps a lot with achieving all of these goals.
The first time I played this I was obsessed with the sun station and spent too many loops trying to get on it until I finally did... Yes, via the ship. Imagine my surprise later in the game.
Would love to see some sort of a "Highlights" video about your playthrough!
Glad that you liked Outer Wilds despite all of the difficulties (that I also had with this game), now it's time to play the DLS, it's veeeery good👍
Man, I went in that game completely blind and I won't lie : the first time the sun exploded, I was deep inside some place and I heard the sound building up then the explosion. Everything went dark and silent except the sound of the coming end and I just managed to step outside to see that expanding ball of white fiery death coming at me.
It fucking scared me on a level I didn't know it could... it wasn't the kind of fear like in horror games or movies, that something horrific is coming after you and trying to kill you... it wasn't the kind of fear of things like darkness that you know is harmless but you can't help be at least a bit nervous not knowing what's inside of it.
No, it was utter fear of the unknown, that my brain didn't register yet what was happening and it was panicking. I actually grasped my desk when it happened and only once my character died did I have the clarity to understand that the sun had blown up. And then it started all over again... and while every time that end happened I had some apprehension deep in the back of my mind, I wanted to go at it again and find out what was happening.
Outer Wilds is now easily one of my favorite games ever and I can't believe I slept on it for so long before giving it a shot. I feel I could have used that scare way before when it happened! XD
Outer wilds is probably one of my top 3 games of all time. A truly unique gaming experience not to mention I am a sucker for groundhogs day stories. I love the environmental problem solving that just feels like a natural part of the world. I like portal and talos principle and other puzzle games but this just feels like a solar system to explore and solve if you feel like it, it hits me just right as someone who has always wished I had been born late enough to explore the stars.
I don’t want to have emotional connections in my games anymore, not after Aeris died in FF7 when I was 11 years old in the 90’s.
I did have a similar experience with Outer Wilds, and I found the best experience for me was just looking up the answers to some puzzles or questions I could not figure out after a decent amount of time, or if I felt like I was stuck.
I would have to do the same in a game like Myst,
Or I will get stuck for forever.
I only ever haven’t done that for one game which was in Super Metroid, where I beat that entire game at age 7 or 8 without a guide (was none back then for it I had easily), so I felt super proud and still remember the day I beat that game during a Tornado warning.
Outer Wilds is a fantastic game and one of my favorites now that I know everything about it and can appreciate it, but it was tough for me and I didn’t play the entire game legit. I didn’t even go to the Giant’s Deep core because I’m so unnerved by being deep underwater. I just can’t do it, so I looked up what was down there to beat the game lol. Works for me, I enjoyed the game and bought it twice! Once on Epic and once on Steam.
I too formed an emotional connection with the Nomai, and I started feeling big things about the universe.
thank you for playing it i was really hoping you would lol
Outer Wilds ... A wild experience indeed. Each planet seems to touch on different types of human fears and existentialism. Everyone seems to have a different planet with which they struggle. For me, it was Brittle Hollow. Something about the idea that the Nomai had to live there, qnd the bleakness of the world crumbling around me. I got to a point where I was too scared to continue on my own. I stopped playing the game.
And well, some people may say it isnt the same if you can't experience the whole game on your own. It is true that you miss out on the wonder of some revelations of your own. But me, when i was scared, I found a playthrough from one of my favorite youtubers, and i finished the journey with them. It wasnt the same, but it was still profound, and i wasnt as scared.
Kind of like having your buddies at the end of the game, around the campfire with you, watching the universe begin anew. And thats my favorite part about new blind playthroughs. Its like I am observer, all over again.
I'm not surprised you werent a huge fan of Myst with your struggles here. But i wonder if you have never finished it, if going back after having finished Outer Wilds would change anything about how you feel about that game. Myst was a game i couldnt finish on my own either, but it is one of my favorites thanks to let's plays as well. It's also one of the few positive memories i have of my father. I remember, as a child, I'd watch him explore, and make detailed, meticulous maps of the different ages. It was definitely a huge influence on me.
Mmmmmm carcinogens
I saw a comment somewhere and for the life of me I cant find it but it went something like this: It took 14.3 Billion years for you to exist, and thats beautiful.
For me I really took the sentiment of stopping to smell the roses to heart. My life might amount to little, but its my life, and thats all it needs to be.
I saw the title and it made me panic since this is my favorite game of all time. But I'm glad you enjoyed the experience even if it was frustrating!...
So when are you doing the DLC? XD
I'm a bit late but I genuinely recommend a video on Outer Wild's sound design by Tetramorre (The Impeccable sound design of Outer Wilds). It is an insanely good video about that game from a unique perspective that you should like
Goddammit man. Now I'm crying about this game AGAIN.
This game destroyed me. I cried so much in the ending. I felt like I failed to save them, but they were able to move on anyway. I wish I could've sat with them for a little longer.
stop and smell the pine trees
:D
for me, the game is more an experience of life not games, the time we use with the ones we love, the conection with that we found in the trave and knowing that in the end, we have a limited time, and when runs out, we are going to lose that connection, forever, thats what struck me. when those 22 minutes runs out, you know the one that you found on your trip, its lost, forever. yes you went back in time, but in that loop he do not meet you, and when you solve everything. . . you know you are going to lose them, all of them.
Its going to happen, those 22 minutes already past for my grandparents, all of them, those 22 minutes are ticking for my parents, for one of my friends those 22 minutes already expire. for them is not go to A to B, is those 22 minutes that you share.
You absolutely need to play Echoes of the Eye! Somehow they manage to take this cohesive game with a definitive ending... and add something brand new to it which is so good and so relevant to the story that something becomes missing without it.
I've always struggled a lot with feeling like I need to play a game perfectly (even when it didn't make it fun) Outer Wilds really helped with breaking out of that
Endings, and beginnings.
Pain, and the joy of overcoming them.
Loss, and finding meaning🖤
I’m so happy to hear that this has changed your perspective on our very existence, it’s a scary, but beautiful feeling. I know it was hard, but nothing good comes easy🖤
All that’s left is an echo:)
Outer Wilds is closer to real life than most games and I think that makes it very frustrating to many gamers, at least initially and later frustrations are different kinds 😆. We usually play games to escape reality. But here we are in a game where you actually have to do things by learning how the world works and navigating its rules. Just like real life, it makes you feel frustration, sadness, dread, fear and to move forward, you'll have to overcome those emotions 😄
I just finished the game and I feel the exact same way. I'm glad I played it but at times it felt like work or even torture. The most similar game I've played through is Riven, but I enjoyed that overall experience a lot more. Maybe that's because of the amount of time it takes in OW between a loop ending and you landing somewhere to start exploring again. I feel like I spent half of my play time dying unexpectedly and waiting to respawn and go back to where I was. But there might also be a little more payoff in OW than in Riven.
The moment when Final Voyage plays is some of the biggest tension I ever felt while playing a game.
It's... it's almost like... hard work pays off.
That's why this game was so rewarding, but also so heartbreaking, because of the intensely hopeless nihilism, combined with the hardwork of the nomai (and yourself) and the beauty of the game, both visually and musically.
Outer Wilds dlc "Echoes of the Eye" playthrough when? :D
Jokes aside, that dlc literally transforms the game while keeping the base feel similar. It's genius design and music.
can we expect a dlc play through / soundtrack reaction eventually? it is personally my favorite part of the game, sad it doesn't get as much attention
Outer wilds Is not about Saving universe but letting it go to create a thing not better or worse but just something else that Is gargantuous. (I recommend Minecraft story mode "order of thé stone" and "Minecraft moog City 2" Theres an Idea of calm and melancoly with a little bit of freedom and mystery)
Outer Wilds should get into the MoMA video game collection, it DEFINITELY qualifies as art, by sheer virtue of its gameplay alone.
What a beautiful review. I think you'd really appreciate the DLC, it takes more of a creative approach to story telling that I imagine you would like, and the music blows the base game out of the water imo
Marco, when you get back to play the DLC I think you will have a much, much better experience. You'll be in a different head space going in, and you'll find Echoes of the Eye is not more of the same. It is a whole new experience.
I hope before too long you give it a chance.
One thing I'll say is these games are most enjoyable when you take your time.
Coming back to this video after watching your playthrough of Outer Wilds. I think the main reason why you had such a tough time with the game is because you explored the game one planet at a time, rather than one story thread at a time. Exploring one planet at a time results in a ton of repetition and is way less satisfying because you restrict your self to having to come back to the same location over and over and over gain. If you instead play the game by exploring one story thread at a time, you rarely have to come revisit the same location in quick succession, and you get instant gratification of discoveries instantly making sense because they are leading one into each other.
Regardless of which style you go with the end result is the same, but it's a much more rewarding experience playing the game the latter style imo.
Outer Wilds really is that special. You should give Artful Escape a shot sometime. Another Annapurna joint. Different to Outer Wilds but still very emotional and musical. If you are familiar with Bob Dylan's music you might also enjoy it.
Oh... Carl Weathers in it.