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There are so many interesting theories about the game, but the one really stuck out to me. I'd be interested in knowing more about what your bf feels about the game. I am always sharing it with others and watching analysis too.

I think it's impressive that you chose Jacob first, seems like most people didn't (at least at the time I played). I was actually surprised he was willing to go (in my first playthrough) but ultimately it made sense, for the reasons you mentioned. It really gave his life purpose.

@pixeljurnee I wasn't mean to him either I just ignored a lot of his small talk, which I found obnoxious, and focused on the mission. This included self disclosure for Riley as part of the theme of professionalism. I felt it actually fit her character more due to her past trauma and military experience. It felt a bit forced otherwise. There were moments of compassion though, mainly with the children and dog. I actually wish there was an option to select Alex as I felt she was culpable in this whole situation and her manipulation of the kids was an issue. Her entire dialogue around future outcomes was suspicious to me as a result.

I really, really, hated doing the playthrough where I had to be mean to Jacob (I felt the same way in the first one being mean to Jonas) but when I was mean to him, that is the playthrough where I selected to him. His small talk seemed like his last ditch effort to connect with someone, anyone besides his dog and with Riley being a jerk to him, to me it almost felt like he had nothing really left to look forward to and connect with. The sacrifice gave his life a purpose he wouldn't have otherwise had. But, yes, I totally agree that Alex should have been the one to go...I feel like she'd started to change as a result of being stuck in the loop for what likely felt like forever for her. It would have been a nice resolution.

@pixeljurnee That's a fair assessment about Jacob. Maybe I was just in a less charitable mood that day and didn't want to hear it :) Whats interesting is that Alex remembers everything in the end and still seems fine by it. I don't know how that maddness didn't follow her into the real world. On the one hand she's willing to sacrifice a kid to get out of thst horror show but on the other she's acting like it's another day to go shopping. Unless I missed something. They should have had a psychiatric tape for her as well or had her stay as a hermit on the island to try to figure out a way to save Olivia and possibly the others. I suspect they will do a 3rd one though.

The reason why I didn't ask Jacob to go through the portal is he will always be the guy he fixes things, and nothing else. That's not what he wanted.

Thank you! Just like you I got a bit curious and had to start looking things up and I was amazed at how much real history they included in this. Nice to need a fellow professional in the mental health field! I was a psychological associate, too, back in the day and it's so rewarding. Good to see us enjoying great games

I love how you always get my dad jokes and references! Yeah, I think this game really visualized the internal experience of PTSD and depression so well and I'm glad that it resonated with you. It definitely hit home in a lot of ways. (P.S. Glad to see you back )

@pixelpondering who doesn't love a good dad joke!?🤪 And thank you very much, it means a lot to have your support and kind wishes😊

Thanks! This game was definitely one where it's so hard to make sense of everything while you're playing it. And Edith Finch is one of my favorite games! I have a video on it as well, if you're interested...it's focused on Grandma Edie. If you want any other Annapurna suggestions, I have plenty. I've played at least 25 of their games!

Thank you so much! Yeah, the game was definitely darker than I knew going in, but really good.

I actually didn't make the connection that Mui was a robot, too, until a few others commented about it and it makes so many things make sense...particularly in the way the other robots actually cared for the other humans. I think that one holding the dead baby just sat there until it's power ran out...doing it's job until it just shut down. I think this was a fantastic spin on the idea of robots overrunning humanity. They did it not because they were corrupted but because they cared.

Yeah, I read about the ways in which Natalia's life was put into the game. It's heartbreaking knowing how much of this was based on someone's reality.

I agree. The fact that he didn't even want to try it again shows he genuinely cared for his patients.

Oh! I didn't notice the wildlife mimicking the mechanical devices, I think that makes a lot of sense and really adds the connectedness of the worlds to the creatures that travel within it.

Thank you! It's been motivating seeing so many people who found it difficult also finding it enjoyable enough to finish it.

Thank you. Yes! I actually plan to cover that one. I figured their shared universe would be a way to connect themes.

Aww thanks! 😊

@@pixeljurnee your welcome

Thank you so much! Yeah there was so much symbolism in this, I feel like every detail was intentional. It was also interesting reading about the experiences of the dev and how those shaped the game.

Awww thank you!!! Of course I remember you! It was nice getting to chat with you for a bit today. So glad you left a comment so that I can be sure to look out for your comments over here! 😊

I think that would be an interesting twist if it were the other way around...where she was, essentially, slowly awakening from a dream rather than going deeper into her nightmare. Honestly, it would make a lot of sense if it went this way...I think you might be on to something

@@pixeljurnee that is something I thought about, and I’d also be ok with that, having the nowhere be the dream world just sucks a lot of the fun out of it for me…but what if the “real world” was the nightmare world? Of course that still raises questions, but at least it keeps the majority of the horror/mystery unexplained

I like that it creates even additional mysteries: what is this world? Is this Earth? An alien planet? An alternate universe? Our own world where we are consumed by our own corruption? Where the only safe place is in our dreams? But we can't stay there forever, we have to wake up to confront a horrible reality. That's definitely scarier!

@@pixeljurnee I KNOW! That’s *so* much scarier! Obviously I don’t HATE the Nowhere being a dream realm in canon, but I do think it’s the least interesting route the story/lore could have taken…it’s much more interesting if the Nowhere IS the real world and, either the “real world” is the nightmare realm, or there’s no alternate dream worlds *whatsoever*

In my head now this is EXACTLY the way this world works! *this is the way*

In terms of things to do? If that's what you mean, after you finish the main game you can play through all of the special event seasons in the game. There are over 20 seasons to play through and many are tucked away in secret areas. But overall the gameplay is essential the game and it does get repetitive, especially between seasons. Also those graphical glitches don't improve over time...I've just learned to ignore them.

That is fair. The developers have expressed that they want people to interpret the game however they choose to, after all it is a work of art and art is left up to interpretation. They do state that the use of colors is an important element of the game (going from a grey world to one full of color) and they state that the game is about sorrow, dealing with a painful life experience, a hopeful young girl being lost in her own world, and that young girl growing emotionally as she learns to navigate her faded reality. How you interpret this (or choose not to interpret it) and what it means to you as a player can be different and equally impactful.

@@pixeljurnee Thanks for the explanation. Your analysis is solid, and apparently a lot of players find the same meaning. For me, it was a voyage in a world in disarray, and the girl is a pure soul in pain who's trying to give meaning to the world.

I think your interpretation is a perfect representation of the overall message of the game! I really think it sums things up beautifully!

Awww thank you so much! Yes, I have a couple of games in mind that might work well for a longer format and my plan is to have my first true long form video out within the next couple of months. I hope to see you in the comments there!

Thank you so much! Welcome aboard!!!

Thank you so much! I agree that those three characters really had such a level of depth to them that really sticks with you. I appreciate the kind words.

I really love this interpretation and thinking back on the environmental elements of the game this makes a lot of sense to me. Some people thought this game had very little depth but I think the story is cleverly woven into everything about the world.

EXO One I really tried to like but I struggled to enjoy that one. The concept was interesting but something lost me in the execution.

@@pixeljurnee Same. The gameplay is a BIT hard, like the power running out on one. That one planet with the lighting. I was stuck there for years. And I still am.

Ha! I know the exact planet you're referring too. Thinking about this almost makes me want to go back and try it again...almost.

Thank you for that correction!

I totally agree. They are the type of antagonists that you can actually relate to. I mean, at some point the desperation to get out of a never ending existence means many of us would put our morals to the side...or we'd at least consider it.

I think that makes a lot of sense, actually. Which might even explain while the teenagers she met hadn't changed. They didn't submit to the world, they were just trapped there.

@@pixeljurnee I think the whole situation with Monster Six and the Thin Man play into that theory as well; with monster six willingly being manipulated by her music box and Mono succumbing and giving up to the transmission. That’s probably the point, unless some kind of intervention happens, at which they get locked into the nowhere for good - so possibly Noone would have become some kind of monster herself.

That's interesting because I actually never thought about Six being willingly manipulated. I saw it more as the music box was her only form of comfort and she was drawn to it. But I guess, in a way, that is a form of submission to the world. I hope that they work Noone into the 3rd game in some form, just like they added some of the kids from the comics into the 2nd game (some of them were the shadow children Mono hugged). And see what has become of her/what is left of her after she stepped into the world for the last time.

Ha! It has it's tense moments but it's not TOO bad (not as bad as other games, that's for sure!)

@@pixeljurnee Yea, I agree - there's some tense moments and some body horror stuff with the mutations and growths around the rig, but it's really not as scary as other games. Last year I played Amnesia: the Bunker, and while I'm not usually one to get too scared by horror games, that game was so well done that I got anxiety even thinking about opening the game up. SWTD is nowhere near as bad as the Bunker, and every time I finished a play session of SWTD, I hated it because I just wanted to keep going.

Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it! I was really moved by the game. It was so good!

Oh yeah! King is so good at writing characters that you root for, so many people aren't able to translate his work to screen. But I gotta say the characters in Still Wakes the Deep did a great job in that manner. I appreciate you watching

Thank you so much! I've actually have Arise and Outer Wilds in my backlog, so I definitely need to look into playing and covering those.

I never considered that possibility but it's definitely an interesting take!

Thank you so much!