Not to be a that guy, but Lady Ethereal entire plotline revolves around Zhuang-zi's butterfly dream. I think you could see people telling about it, but in sci-fi setting it becomes really scarier, then hypothetical paradox stated by Zhuang-zi, because it feels a lot closer to the reality.
Lady etheral's original name is "Hu Die"--basically means butterfly. It's an allusion to Taoist philosopher Zhuang-zi's theory "the butterfly dream", which states that a man cannot distinguish between reality and a dream, and we might be living in a dream all the time. As for why the translation does not follow that...maybe the devs don't want her to be mixed with the "Lady Butterfly/Maboroshi no Ocho" from Sekiro. And all Lady etheral's test subjects are likely based on Baxian/Eight Immortals, Taoist devinities from different Dynasties. The three subject's names you can find in their dialogues ("He", "Cao", "Li") heavily implied that.
@@BS-ru6lp i think the devs didn't state anything about this certain side character or the dreamscape team, and i know the artist's nickname by watching an interview where other devs members calling her Xiaohe. so yeah, the theory still apply, and i like these characters infos you write. very cool! thank you.
Fun fact: Lady Ethereal section was completed early in the development since there is little change needs to be done compares to other Sols fights. Really show Red Candle expertise in making horror games before this.
I absolutely love how they give it a dream vibe but the way it's portrayed with the broken vocals and broken background instrumentals and the screams gives it a nightmarish dream style which matches the story tbh I love it
@@rafabuda0idk if it was just me but the second phase felt like eternity to bring her health down, like it felt I wasn't doing any damage at all only chip damage
Those screams aaaargh, I can see WHY she went mad too, CURSED indeed. Abolutely fantastic theme and presentation of the character anyway! Even that starting "peaceful" illusion was unsetling.
Hers was the most tragic one, imo. Slowly driven to madness trapped in a simulation with those she cared about. And all she wanted to do was help her people.
It's even evident in her own theme. You can hear that her singing has multiple meanings to it: Her vocals could be considered the concept of her own kindness that she had never truly lost, despite how cruel the world is. However, you can hear countless times that the voice often stutters, which can be a sign that she is truly broken free of the naive paradise that she placed herself in to not face the guilt, and the fact that said guilt is literally tearing her apart. Her stun animation proves this, when her own visage is almost a shaking haze as she tries to collect herself. Not only that, but you can hear the screams of the damned in the background in the second verse of the loop, condemning her for her own naive mistakes. I like to interpret that the melodious tone is a reflection of how perfect, how serene the Eternal Cauldron Project's Soulscape is meant to be, forming a duality with the discordant themes of the music. A song fitting for a woman who tried to do her best to help others, but ended up damning herself and countless others out of a desire to save people. That is why her Seal is Benevolence , because she truly sought to help people, and she was baying for punishment when her illusions stopped hiding her from the cruel truth that wasn't even truly her own fault. Unlike all of the other Sols, she is literally seen crying in her own Soulscape, filled with self-loathing and misery.
And the worst part is it's not even really her fault that the Soulscape failed. She literally just made it so perfect people didn't want to leave and then went insane when they were taken out.
absolute favorite boss and soundtrack, the music is such perfect description of the character's state of mind, the grief and guilt so heavy it drives her insane.
With it being a sort of Reference to Zhuangzi's Butterfly Dream, where he can't tell if he's a man dreaming of being a butterfly or vice versa, it's VERY fitting that her fight, especially the second phase, involves trying to figure out which of her copies is the real one.
Not yet done with Nine Sols, but I felt sad for Jiequan, Goumang, and Lady Ethereal. Especially Lady Ethereal... Also gosh, I love this theme, and the aesthetics of her VR. The horror roots of Red Candle Games is quite revealing from her segment of the game! I love how her section has been teased early on with a jumpscare! and I love how we get to see things unfold! I was left wondering why there was that.. and it now all makes sense! I believe that was a nice use of a jumpscare!
I had the same feeling about the jumpscare, at first I was just like "Ouch, that kind of hurted my eyes, that was so unnecessary." And right after we unlock her bossfight I finally understood why the jumpscare was there to begin with. Also, I can sort of understand why you felt bad for goumang and I can understand why you felt bad for lady ethereal but, WHY would you feel bad jiequan? Sure, he was an interesting character and a good villain, but WHY would you feel bad for him? Im genuinely curious
I feel really bad for her, and her colleagues knew the risks there doing but either not trying or dying to the virus. If it work (which it did but bad side effects) any vonateers that didn't make it their sacrifice would be meaningful, unfortunately the death of her colleagues, the virus and the pressure from the other Sol Lords, she had no choice but to go forward and she was hoping the cure for the virus is made before 30 days.
@__archermaster__8790 I know what genre it is, and I understood perfectly well that these two games are in the same genre. Before this Sol, the game did not impress me much, so I perceived it as another clone of Hollow Knight with an advanced combat system. But after Lady Etherial encounter, the game turned into a masterpiece for me
This part of the game went from fanservice to Shakespearean tragedy REAL quick
From horror (first room and first sol taking moment) thorugh fanservice (the pre-nightmare dream part) to tragedy (her full lore and plotline)
"Wow, they really put this in the game?"
30 minutes and 50 attempts later
"Wow, they really put this in the game?"
Not to be a that guy, but Lady Ethereal entire plotline revolves around Zhuang-zi's butterfly dream. I think you could see people telling about it, but in sci-fi setting it becomes really scarier, then hypothetical paradox stated by Zhuang-zi, because it feels a lot closer to the reality.
It isn't the same without hearing the laughing a dozen times every time you die and restart the fight lol
Lady etheral's original name is "Hu Die"--basically means butterfly. It's an allusion to Taoist philosopher Zhuang-zi's theory "the butterfly dream", which states that a man cannot distinguish between reality and a dream, and we might be living in a dream all the time. As for why the translation does not follow that...maybe the devs don't want her to be mixed with the "Lady Butterfly/Maboroshi no Ocho" from Sekiro.
And all Lady etheral's test subjects are likely based on Baxian/Eight Immortals, Taoist devinities from different Dynasties. The three subject's names you can find in their dialogues ("He", "Cao", "Li") heavily implied that.
in fact XiaoHe is the name of the artist from the developer team, who designed the characters in nine sols including lady ethereal.
@@fmhwdt lol did not expect that. Yet they do put 8 characters in that ethereal dream, so I guess the theory still stands?
@@BS-ru6lp i think the devs didn't state anything about this certain side character or the dreamscape team, and i know the artist's nickname by watching an interview where other devs members calling her Xiaohe. so yeah, the theory still apply, and i like these characters infos you write. very cool! thank you.
Hu Die? Yu die, Yu colleg die, I die 20 time and the game go die!
*"I have faced my sins... now its your turn"*
My favourite moment is when Lady Ethereal told Yi to face the fear and build the future.
@@unclekanethetiberiummain1994 Was that a pjm reference?! *SLEEPER AGENT ACTIVATED*
@@unclekanethetiberiummain1994 PM mentioned
PM MENTIONED
@@not_corin5376 I cannot escape PM... First in mili songs now in nine sols as well... It's haunting me send help...
Her whole section is just *chef's kiss*
Right? I love how it shows Red Candle Games's roots (for making Devotion, and Detention! Horror games!)
I wish it had been possible to save her somehow. She didn't deserve the cruel fate that she got.
At least her new dream is an eternally peaceful one, and she's really with her friends now. 😢
you know you're in for an incredible boss when the trailer music starts playing
Fun fact: Lady Ethereal section was completed early in the development since there is little change needs to be done compares to other Sols fights. Really show Red Candle expertise in making horror games before this.
also explains why it's one of the more refined fights. Like the only thing I can say is missing is that unbounded counter isn't really needed
I absolutely love how they give it a dream vibe but the way it's portrayed with the broken vocals and broken background instrumentals and the screams gives it a nightmarish dream style which matches the story tbh I love it
"Weird, that was way easier than most of the other bosses so far."
"...Wait. Why didn't the screen go black and white?"
"THERE'S SEVEN?!"
first phase was such a cakewalk i was already expecting a second phase, but when she summoned 7 versions of herself, I was sweating bullets.
qi enhence and max ammo azure bow :nah i would win
The third phase is easier than the second one tbh.
@@ShoppingCartReturner yeah, the biggest issue in phase 2 is her disguising herself as a clone. It's far easier to focus on her during phase 3.
@@rafabuda0idk if it was just me but the second phase felt like eternity to bring her health down, like it felt I wasn't doing any damage at all only chip damage
Music so good it helps me *not* shatter my keyboard when she throws that big ball
I struggled a lot with that attack too but it's actually the attacks that lets you do the most dammage to her
@@terofale733 once you figure out the third phase, it is basically a victory lap
@@terofale733 i just parry on the ground then dash when she throws it so i didn't get that much damage in
@@hansdiep2029 yeah right after you dash you can turn around and hit her while she stays in place for a pretty long time
@@terofale733 oohhh. I just shoot her with the bow and then dip cause i thought she has short stagger time
Those screams aaaargh, I can see WHY she went mad too, CURSED indeed. Abolutely fantastic theme and presentation of the character anyway! Even that starting "peaceful" illusion was unsetling.
Her brain is literally ripped from her to be kept "alive" [if u can even call it that], of course she'll gone mad [on top of her guilt]
@@YuanCrossXIIIReminds me of… certain someone named Prushka….
@@phrei9 why did you have to remind me D:
Hers was the most tragic one, imo.
Slowly driven to madness trapped in a simulation with those she cared about.
And all she wanted to do was help her people.
It's even evident in her own theme. You can hear that her singing has multiple meanings to it: Her vocals could be considered the concept of her own kindness that she had never truly lost, despite how cruel the world is. However, you can hear countless times that the voice often stutters, which can be a sign that she is truly broken free of the naive paradise that she placed herself in to not face the guilt, and the fact that said guilt is literally tearing her apart. Her stun animation proves this, when her own visage is almost a shaking haze as she tries to collect herself.
Not only that, but you can hear the screams of the damned in the background in the second verse of the loop, condemning her for her own naive mistakes. I like to interpret that the melodious tone is a reflection of how perfect, how serene the Eternal Cauldron Project's Soulscape is meant to be, forming a duality with the discordant themes of the music.
A song fitting for a woman who tried to do her best to help others, but ended up damning herself and countless others out of a desire to save people. That is why her Seal is Benevolence , because she truly sought to help people, and she was baying for punishment when her illusions stopped hiding her from the cruel truth that wasn't even truly her own fault. Unlike all of the other Sols, she is literally seen crying in her own Soulscape, filled with self-loathing and misery.
@@richardliu5339 As the saying goes, "hell is paved with good intentions".
Poor Lady.
And the worst part is it's not even really her fault that the Soulscape failed. She literally just made it so perfect people didn't want to leave and then went insane when they were taken out.
absolute favorite character. So heartbreaking
"Are you a man dream of becoming a butterfly, or a butterfly dream of becoming a man?"
A song literally made by sadness and regret.
I felt so so sad when I heard this song while I was first encountering this fight.
I just now realized that Fuxi and Nuwa's theme female vocals seem to folow the same melody as the piano here briefly throughout their piece!
absolute favorite boss and soundtrack, the music is such perfect description of the character's state of mind, the grief and guilt so heavy it drives her insane.
Best area, best boss, best theme. Ethereal was my single favourite moment of the game, even more than the final boss. INCREDIBLE, incredible stuff.
I can still hear her laugh...
Its not the same without her laugh but I can still hear it nonetheless
Probably one of, if not, my favorite boss in the game.
the complete unbelievable shock i had when you thought you defeated her in second phase to find out she has a third phase
That then getting a red spirit bomb to the face, I was in disbelief and processing what happened for a good few minutes.
Ok i've beaten phase two, there's no way it gets craz-
*SEVEN!?*
So far, she's the only one of the Sols I felt bad killing. Edit: Ji's death was pretty sad too, but the rest can rot.
No. You don't kill her. She's already dead. You just help her. Give her RIP.
1. She was technically already dead.
2. I kinda felt bad for Ji, but that was only because the game barely said anything about what he did.
@@gearscore349
Yi tectnically start this whole project, this whole mess.
Edit. I mean the MC. The name is similar so it's confuse me a lot.
@@SGalliver Not that he did it willingly though
@SGalliver OK, yeah, I might have skipped dialog or something. I still have two more Sols left, so I don't know the whole story yet.
Man, what a tragic character being perfectly developed. Well done, Red Candle Games, you guys have done it again!
They really just had to make a banger theme for every Sol huh? Well more power to them!
With it being a sort of Reference to Zhuangzi's Butterfly Dream, where he can't tell if he's a man dreaming of being a butterfly or vice versa, it's VERY fitting that her fight, especially the second phase, involves trying to figure out which of her copies is the real one.
Not yet done with Nine Sols, but I felt sad for Jiequan, Goumang, and Lady Ethereal.
Especially Lady Ethereal...
Also gosh, I love this theme, and the aesthetics of her VR.
The horror roots of Red Candle Games is quite revealing from her segment of the game!
I love how her section has been teased early on with a jumpscare! and I love how we get to see things unfold!
I was left wondering why there was that.. and it now all makes sense! I believe that was a nice use of a jumpscare!
May I ask why you felt bad for Jiequan? I liked him as a character & found him interesting, but I wasn't particularly moved by his death.
@@monolithsyndrome Yeah, he is a bastard, but a lovable bastard at that
I had the same feeling about the jumpscare, at first I was just like
"Ouch, that kind of hurted my eyes, that was so unnecessary."
And right after we unlock her bossfight I finally understood why the jumpscare was there to begin with.
Also, I can sort of understand why you felt bad for goumang and I can understand why you felt bad for lady ethereal but, WHY would you feel bad jiequan?
Sure, he was an interesting character and a good villain, but WHY would you feel bad for him? Im genuinely curious
What do you mean there´s a THIRD PHASE???
Hauntingly beautiful, have this stuck in my head still.
Goes to my top 10 most fun bossfights EVER
The boss battle will be giving me **Nightmares** 🗣️ good thing I will be pulling an all nighter
This segment was for me was the iconic scene in Final Fantasy VII was for players back then.
Masterpiece game
beat is fantastic
I couldn’t put my finger on it then i realised this has bits of FFXIV Ramuh Theme Thunder Rolls
One of the best soundtrack that i have ever listened in my life tbh
This bossfight is peak
Easily my favorite boss in the game. And easily the best game I've played since Hollow Knight
I love this genre they have in the game...
Very fun boss, bat-shit insane environment, kickass music. This is by far my favorite.
AHHHHH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
FINALLY
We are slaying with this one!!!!!!🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🗣🗣🔥🧨🧨🗣🗣🗣🔥🧨🔥🔥
I just reached Lady Ethereal and this music fucking slaps!!! I was hooked in it since i watched the trailer of the game.
I fcking love this boss, The best platforming section, The best theme, the best boss design😉, The best backstory, auggh i love this boss.
took me 204 attempts to get her, but at least this banger was playing
I feel really bad for her, and her colleagues knew the risks there doing but either not trying or dying to the virus. If it work (which it did but bad side effects) any vonateers that didn't make it their sacrifice would be meaningful, unfortunately the death of her colleagues, the virus and the pressure from the other Sol Lords, she had no choice but to go forward and she was hoping the cure for the virus is made before 30 days.
When fighting this boss I couldnt get final fantasy 14's "The Striking Tree" out of my head
She’s a smash, anyone agree?
Say what we're all thinking why don't ya.
@@Doodle_DudI mean… someone has to say it
@@uwot225 True.
It feels really weird not hearing her laugh at the beginning
Reminds me of Dariusburst "the world of spirit".
*Warning! Thicc battra "Haunted Metamorph" is approaching fast!*
I loved this sun and boss fight. I didn't complain that I died a couple of times
So this is what it’s like to only hear this song once
Damn why didn't they make more songs like this for all the other bosses?
Lady Ethereal is my favorite character next to Yi and ShuanShuan.
Eden Ramuh is that you?
I can fix her though
She has nothing to fix. She’s a depressed barely alive brain in a jar
💀
thought this was death note for a sec 💀
Do you plan to upload the rest of the OST?
Once I find a way to quickly put mp3 tracks on youtube I will, for now I will do the major bosses.
@@Sunlessphoenix Nice! Any plans for the credits theme? (The vocal part specifically since its so good)
@@selka1661 It's the first track on the soundtrack, im uploading them now, here you go: th-cam.com/video/YDpJzpqzUlc/w-d-xo.html
Can someone tell me which song was used for the platforming section of the Soulscape? Before the boss fight.
Its called "Falling down"
man.
by far my favorite boss in the game aside from ji.
i can fix her
This game was just a clone of Hollow Knight for me before this sol...
just wait until this guy hears about the metroidvania genre
@__archermaster__8790 I know what genre it is, and I understood perfectly well that these two games are in the same genre. Before this Sol, the game did not impress me much, so I perceived it as another clone of Hollow Knight with an advanced combat system. But after Lady Etherial encounter, the game turned into a masterpiece for me
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