(Reupload) Souls Porpoise: How Dark Souls Presents the Heros Journey SolePorpoise 2021-08-27 | **REUPLOAD OF THE 2016 VIDEO. YOUTUBE FORCED ME TO CUT OUT AUDIO (INCLUDING VOICE OVER) AND NOW I'M REUPLOADING WITH MODIFIED AUDIO FOR PRESERVATION PURPOSES***The modified audio is not verbatim what was missing but I think it closely resembles the thesis I originally had.*Dark Souls is notorious for its difficulty. In fact, some might know it from its alternate title: Masochism Simulator. But it's not just difficult without good reason. There's something it's tapping into in our psychology, and it pairs wonderfully with the Hero's Journey. Find out how! You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseFollow me on Twitter: @SolePorpoise twitter.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
Saying Goodbye to Souls Games SolePorpoise 2022-08-22 | Elden Ring's transition to Open World seems to be something that a lot agree was a move that detracts from the traditional Souls experience. But I haven't seen a discussion that encapsulates *why* that is for me. The Internet squabbles have made this a more difficult discussion than it needs to be. Join me while I painfully unpack that discussion.Be the water beneath my fins on Patreon: patreon.com/SolePorpoise Watch me say stuff I quickly regret on Twitter!: twitter.com/SolePorpoise See how terrible I am at talking and walking (in games) on Twitch: twitch.tv/soleporpoise Hang out with us on Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaHMusic Creditsby Karl Casey @ White Bat Audioby Gamechops0:00 Intro1:35 Part I: Narrative Genre Vs Gameplay Genre8:29 Part II: The Emotion of Metroidvanias20:13 Part III: Dark Souls Isn't a Metroidvania: It's THE Metroidvania32:36 Part IV: Downgrading to Elden Ring44:07 Part V: Apology Portion of the VideoFor everyone asking about the Elf-girl-in-a-cape game, it's this: Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth-. I'm not recommending it or recommending against it. If you want my one-sentence review I'll say this: it wasn't anything special.
The Problem with Nostalgia SolePorpoise 2021-12-30 | Nostalgia is all over the place lately. From console remakes to Final Fantasy 7: Remake, you can't avoid it. But here I try to identify what's valuable about nostalgia that all these other pieces of media are missing. Spoilers for What Remains of Edith Finch, A Christmas Story, and 8-Bit Christmas.Be the water beneath my fins on Patreon: patreon.com/SolePorpoise Watch me say stuff I quickly regret on Twitter!: twitter.com/SolePorpoise See how terrible I am at talking and walking (in games) on Twitch: twitch.tv/soleporpoise Hang out with us on Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
The Meaning of Life (As Told Through Mass Effect) SolePorpoise 2021-08-20 | My first video posted to YouTube was called Mass Effect on the Meaning of Life. It sucked.Here is my more nuanced take on the same subject. Because it turns out this isn't just a game about the end of days as according to Christian eschatology. It's an Existentialist myth. 00:00 - Introduction 02:22 - Part I: The Book of Revelation in Mass Effect 11:09 - Part II: A War with Our Creators 18:33 - Part III: God Is Dead 27:24 - Part IV: Existentialism and Mythology Be the water beneath my fins on Patreon: patreon.com/SolePorpoise Watch me say stuff I quickly regret on Twitter!: twitter.com/SolePorpoise See how terrible I am at talking and walking (in games) on Twitch: twitch.tv/soleporpoise Hang out with us on Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
God of War (2018) Tells a Terrible Story and Tells It Terribly SolePorpoise 2021-02-01 | God of War 2018 is called a lot of things. Game of the Year. 10/10. The best PS4 game ever made. But rarely is it called what it is: a terrible story. 00:00:00 - Introduction00:02:56 - Part I-1: You'll Stunt the Boy's Growth01:08:29 - Part I-2: Fighting Kratos' Past01:31:43 - Part II: One Shot to Get it Right (Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Spoilers)02:01:29 - Part III: Medium Difficulty: Moral Ambiguity 02:24:18 - Part III-2: Medium Difficulty: The Boss Key02:43:53 - Part IV: The Gaming Press or Gaming the Press?02:45:20 - Part V: Closing ThoughtsBe the water beneath my fins on Patreon: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseWatch me say stuff I quickly regret on Twitter!: twitter.com/SolePorpoiseSee how terrible I am at talking and walking (in games) on Twitch: twitch.tv/soleporpoiseHang out with us on Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaHSome of these excellent background tracks are thanks to GameChops: youtube.com/gamechops/live
The Most Abused Term in Videogame Criticism SolePorpoise 2018-07-01 | Ludonarrative dissonance is a term that's frequently thrown around, but is it really as useful—or useless—as critics are making it out to be? An exploration of the term has had me going into a blogpost on the topic where I argued it's useless, to discovering it's excruciatingly specific in its usage, and damn useful as well. Find out how we've all been using it wrong since its invention.Be the water beneath my fins on Patreon: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseWatch me say stuff I quickly regret on Twitter!: twitter.com/SolePorpoiseSee how terrible I am at talking and walking (in games) on Twitch: twitch.tv/soleporpoiseHang out with us on Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaHClint Hocking's original argument: http://clicknothing.typepad.com/click_nothing/2007/10/ludonarrative-d.html
OTH: Bloodborne vs. Gothic Horror — Reanimating a Genre SolePorpoise 2018-06-01 | Bloodborne has long been credited for using Gothic Horror as a way to hide the true, Lovecraftian horrors of the game. But dismissing this aspect of the game includes dismissing the importance of Byrgenwerth and the kinds of horrors it represents. In my last video, I analyzed the importance of the myth, in this video, I analyze the importance of science in the world of Bloodborne.Original Video: youtu.be/glP-gH_n3YcWatch me type short sentences on Twitter!: twitter.com/SolePorpoiseSupport me on Patreon: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseHang out with us on Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaHMusic Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBpDdOog8YvMYbaRav48WSGkaFcF4JVUESources:Gothic (The New Critical Idiom) - Fred BottingThe Routledge Companion to Gothic - Catherine Spooner and Emma McEvoyReasoning through madness: the detective inGothic crime fiction - Michelle MirandaDOCUMENTS OF CULTURE, DOCUMENTS OF BARBARISM:GOTHIC LITERATURE, EMPIRICISM, AND THE RISE OF PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE - Andrew Biorn Grace Frankenstein: Defining the Monster: youtu.be/DzTgn4NU3pQ
Narrative vs Gameplay—Evoking Player Reaction SolePorpoise 2017-10-08 | Okay—*now* I'm done talking about Mass Effect: Andromeda. But it did give me a lot to talk about! Here we look at how games can evoke, not just action, but emotional reactions in players through the story. Here's a brief survey of these moments.Become a patron! patreon.com/SolePorpoiseWatch me type short sentences on Twitter! twitter.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
Ryders Block: An Autopsy of Mass Effect: Andromeda (Part 2) SolePorpoise 2017-08-24 | Mass Effect: Andromeda is a game that's supposed to be about exploration but players should feel awfully cramped by its lack of imagination.This is the conclusion to a two-part series and this video focuses on how Andromeda's story contradicted the very message that made it meaningful in the first place.Become a patron! patreon.com/SolePorpoiseWatch me type short sentences on Twitter! twitter.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaHWatch Part 1 here: youtube.com/watch?v=MZEzsEkwy2QMusic Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBpDdOog8YvMYbaRav48WSGkaFcF4JVUEThis video was used the following sources:Going Cultural: Star Trek, State Action, and Popular Culture (1999) by Jutta WeldesCold War Pop Culture and the Image of US Foreign Policy (2005) by Nicholas Evan SarantakesCorrection*: At 5:11 I identify Leonard McCoy as the Scottish character when I meant to show Scotty . Sorry for the error.
Ryders Block: An Autopsy of Mass Effect: Andromeda (Part 1) SolePorpoise 2017-08-06 | Mass Effect: Andromeda is a game that's supposed to be about exploration but players should feel awfully cramped by its lack of imagination. Learn how they dropped the ball in this two-part series—starting with how they ignored their own playbook and ended up telling a story that kept players at arm's length from its world.Become a patron! patreon.com/SolePorpoiseWatch me type short sentences on Twitter! twitter.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
Taking the Sole out of SolePorpoise (Patreon Announcement) SolePorpoise 2017-02-02 | Pledge here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseI'm thrilled to announce my new Patreon page for those of you who would like to support my channel with a financial contribution as well as get rewards in the process. Thank you all for getting me to the point where I can comfortably start one of these, and an extra thanks to any of you who will consider pledging.
OTH: How Bloodborne Transforms the Myth SolePorpoise 2017-01-12 | Bloodborne and Dark Souls both prove themselves as being adept at telling the story of a myth. But by inverting the most powerful motifs of the myth, Bloodborne demoralizes us rather than uplifts us.How Dark Souls Presents the Hero's Journey: youtu.be/VCvfgxDzGhAMusic used: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBpDdOog8YvMYbaRav48WSGkaFcF4JVUEBecome a patron! patreon.com/SolePorpoiseFollow me on Twitter! twitter.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
Souls Porpoise: How Dark Souls Presents the Heros Journey SolePorpoise 2016-05-23 | ***Reupload with fixed audio is here: youtu.be/N5Fonv7HGns ***Dark Souls is notorious for its difficulty. In fact, some might know it from its alternate title: Masochism Simulator. But it's not just difficult without good reason. There's something it's tapping into in our psychology, and it pairs wonderfully with the Hero's Journey. Find out how! You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseFollow me on Twitter: @SolePorpoise twitter.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
OTH: A Detailed Analysis of Ex Machina SolePorpoise 2016-02-10 | *This video contains spoilers!* Ex Machina offers one of the most sophisticated thought experiments on the subject of the ethics of AI. More impressively, its last 8 minutes only had one word of spoken dialogue and it still managed to wrap up all of its themes and motifs through its visuals! So let's dive in an explore why it was one of the most impressive movies of last year!You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
Device-ive Issue: Homage in Video Games SolePorpoise 2015-09-18 | Final Fantasy VII, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Spec Ops: The Line, and Hotline Miami all have one thing in common—they're all games that pay homage to earlier works of art. Here is a breakdown of how they fared! Enjoy!You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaHCheck out Sean Bouchard's channel here!: youtube.com/channel/UCp9eR8FKezaq-6N9nHHZYqg
OTH: Detailed Analysis of Interstellar (Feat. Grant Voegtle) SolePorpoise 2015-06-01 | Interstellar had an *extremely* complex plot but it was also rich with themes that structure a prediction for our future. I’ve partnered with Grant Voegtle yet again and am proud to present how Interstellar offers an answer to what our new place in the universe will be after we lose our current one. (This is going up on both of our channels so that's why it sounds like it's written for different audiences!)You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaHMake sure to check out Grant Voegtle's channel if you haven't already! youtube.com/c/grantvoegtle
OTH: Detailed Analysis of Ori and the Blind Forest SolePorpoise 2015-03-18 | It's hard for me to put into words just how much I love Ori and the Blind Forest. The best I could come up with was this video. Ori and the Blind Forest has one of the purest messages of any game and its emotional toll was almost overwhelming. Find out how it can help us all to lead a more positive life in this video!You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
OTH: How Gamers Lost the Defining Video Game Epic SolePorpoise 2015-03-07 | This is the story of how Castlevania: Lords of Shadow could have been the defining video game epic, but fell short—really short. Find out how gamers almost got the best of the best, but instead, got mediocrity.You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
OTH: A Detailed Analysis of The Last of Us: Left Behind SolePorpoise 2015-01-18 | The Last of Us: Left Behind was one of the best experiences I've had with a game and it led me on a quest to find its inspirations and unlock its hidden messages. You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseLet me know if you guys are interested in a video on a comparison of Children of Men and The Waste Land in the comments below. I have a lot more to say!
OTH: A Detailed Analysis of To The Moon SolePorpoise 2014-09-09 | Hey all! Welcome to Oh The Humanities! This is a shorter format than the other episodes of Oh The Humanities but the game has a great message! As I say in my intro, please play the game before watching this. It's too good an experience to spoil. You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaH
OTH: The Last of Us on Human Nature (Feat. Grant Voegtle) SolePorpoise 2014-08-17 | On this episode of Oh The Humanities I take on the critically acclaimed game The Last of Us. And even if you just played The Last of Us Remastered you're still in luck! This analysis works for that, too! You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaHHUGE thanks to Grant Voegtle for his contribution to this video. His video link: youtube.com/watch?v=3sJA-C1yrtkFollow us on Twitter!SolePorpoise: @SolePorpoiseGrant Voegtle: @GrantVoegtle
OTH: Mass Effect on the Meaning of Life SolePorpoise 2014-04-13 | THIS VIDEO CONTAINS SPOILERS! On this episode of of Oh The Humanities I reexamine Mass Effect and offer a new take from the well-accepted Indoctrination Theory. If you're not satisfied with the indoctrination theory or if you're interested in all this game could possibly offer then give this video a look! You can pledge to be a patron here: patreon.com/SolePorpoiseJoin the Discord: discord.gg/ThqceaHAnd balza, balza balza, follow me on twitter @SolePorpoise or whatever, too! :D
