Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar Retrospective | Reimagining the RPG @Majuular

Majuular After the release of Ultima III: Exodus, the members of Origin Systems would pack up and move across the country to the chilly town of North Andover, Massachusetts. Here, they would buckle down and create the follow-up to the much lauded Exodus. Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar would represent a sea change in the trajectory of both the Ultima series, and CRPGs in general. This video chronicles the story of Ultima IV's development, while also taking a close look at what makes the game so enduringly special.

This is the 4th video in my Ultima Retrospective series. Watching earlier parts isn't necessary to enjoy this video, but it is recommended. They can be found here:
Akalabeth & Ultima I: youtu.be/wIWyHd3FFFU
Ultima II: youtu.be/SCpkK25wfvw
Ultima III: youtu.be/N_m3u9MZ8NU

Thank you to Lazarus De Lis for creating the landscape used in the thumbnail! You can find Laz here:
twitter.com/LazarusDeLis

Links:
patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular

Music used in this video (with timestamps):
pastebin.com/8Tb4Hd18

Running list of sources used in the Ultima Retrospective:
pastebin.com/Nri8p0jy

00:00 - A Fresh Start
6:27 - Reimagining Ultima
9:50 - Collaborators & Concerns
13:50 - Ports & Preamble
16:16 - A Whole New World
22:27 - Character Creation
25:10 - Conversations
28:24 - Embodying the Avatar
32:05 - Halting the Minmax
34:26 - Virtues & Principles
39:34 - The Problem With Virtue
42:48 - Exploration
49:01 - Magic
53:01 - Companions
56:43 - Combat
1:00:34 - Runes, Mantras & Shrines
1:09:34 - Dungeons & Stones
1:20:08 - The Final Treasures
1:25:00 - The Stygian Abyss
1:27:19 - The Codex of Ultimate Wisdom
1:36:28 - The Impact of Ultima IV
1:39:48 - A Changing Industry
1:45:31 - Credits

Various Credits:
Hand Model - scribbletoad
Rose Model - Artem
Low Poly Sword - Fermin Morales
Key Sprites - BizmasterStudios
Large Key Sprite - CarmenMCS

updated 5 months ago

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar Retrospective | Reimagining the RPG

Majuular 2024-04-21 | After the release of Ultima III: Exodus, the members of Origin Systems would pack up and move across the country to the chilly town of North Andover, Massachusetts. Here, they would buckle down and create the follow-up to the much lauded Exodus. Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar would represent a sea change in the trajectory of both the Ultima series, and CRPGs in general. This video chronicles the story of Ultima IV's development, while also taking a close look at what makes the game so enduringly special.

This is the 4th video in my Ultima Retrospective series. Watching earlier parts isn't necessary to enjoy this video, but it is recommended. They can be found here:
Akalabeth & Ultima I: youtu.be/wIWyHd3FFFU
Ultima II: youtu.be/SCpkK25wfvw
Ultima III: youtu.be/N_m3u9MZ8NU

Thank you to Lazarus De Lis for creating the landscape used in the thumbnail! You can find Laz here:
twitter.com/LazarusDeLis

Links:
patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular

Music used in this video (with timestamps):
pastebin.com/8Tb4Hd18

Running list of sources used in the Ultima Retrospective:
pastebin.com/Nri8p0jy

00:00 - A Fresh Start
6:27 - Reimagining Ultima
9:50 - Collaborators & Concerns
13:50 - Ports & Preamble
16:16 - A Whole New World
22:27 - Character Creation
25:10 - Conversations
28:24 - Embodying the Avatar
32:05 - Halting the Minmax
34:26 - Virtues & Principles
39:34 - The Problem With Virtue
42:48 - Exploration
49:01 - Magic
53:01 - Companions
56:43 - Combat
1:00:34 - Runes, Mantras & Shrines
1:09:34 - Dungeons & Stones
1:20:08 - The Final Treasures
1:25:00 - The Stygian Abyss
1:27:19 - The Codex of Ultimate Wisdom
1:36:28 - The Impact of Ultima IV
1:39:48 - A Changing Industry
1:45:31 - Credits

Various Credits:
Hand Model - scribbletoad
Rose Model - Artem
Low Poly Sword - Fermin Morales
Key Sprites - BizmasterStudios
Large Key Sprite - CarmenMCS

Ultima VI: The False Prophet Retrospective | The Devil You Know

Majuular 2024-09-13 | Throughout the 1980s, Ultima had been a series of iteration. The developers at Origin Systems would expand on old ideas and experiment with new ones, but the roots of the series' identity stretched deep underground.

The 1990s marked a period of dramatic change in the technology sector. Graphics, sound, computing power - quality standards were changing every day, and Ultima would have to change with them. In the process, Origin would learn hard lessons, celebrate numerous victories, and establish the career of (yet another) industry legend.

This is the 6th video in my Ultima Retrospective series. Watching earlier parts isn't necessary to enjoy this video, but it is recommended. They can be found here:
Akalabeth & Ultima I: youtu.be/wIWyHd3FFFU
Ultima II: youtu.be/SCpkK25wfvw
Ultima III: youtu.be/N_m3u9MZ8NU
Ultima IV: youtu.be/hkfBiIyJd7E
Ultima V: youtu.be/mGlNGo1kQXo

Thank you to Lazarus De Lis for creating the landscape used in the thumbnail! You can find Laz here:
twitter.com/LazarusDeLis

Links:
patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular
instagram.com/majuular
youtube.com/@Majuularcade (2nd channel)

Thanks to Treeky for lending his voice to this video. Treeky's channel can be found here:
youtube.com/c/Treekyboi
And thanks to Xe Dragon for hosting the High-Res Ultima Map Project, whose map scans were helpful in producing a section in this video.
Various clips were sourced with permission from Longplay Archive. Their channel can be found here:
youtube.com/@longplayarchive

Music used in this video (with timestamps):
pastebin.com/UeebxaGD

Running list of sources used in the Ultima Retrospective:
pastebin.com/Nri8p0jy

00:00 - PC Wins
5:55 - Branching Out
9:12 - Paging Dr. Spector
14:45 - A Look Inside Ultima VI
18:56 - Ports & Oddities
20:11 - Introduction to Ultima VI
24:36 - Reaching Towards Realism
35:50 - Sights & Sounds
49:06 - Retracing Steps
52:46 - The Value of Recycling
54:11 - Hunting for Runes
1:01:43 - Dungeon Differences
1:04:54 - Changing Combat
1:13:10 - Exploration
1:21:26 - Armageddon
1:25:14 - Hunt for the Map
1:28:30 - The Inventory System
1:33:12 - Fulfilling the Prophecy
1:40:14 - Far Reaching Consequences
1:45:02 - Receiving the Sacred Quest
1:53:34 - Learning to Share
1:57:50 - Reflecting on Ultima VI
2:04:43 - Fan Projects
2:06:28 - Origin Saves Itself
2:10:01 - Industry Entropy
2:13:07 - Credits

The Weird World of Saturn RPGs

Majuular 2024-07-27 | The console wars of the 1990s may not have been kind to the Sega Saturn, but time certainly has. Over the years, the console's oft-overlooked software library has gained a level of appreciation it never had in its heyday. Still, many of its best (and strangest) games remain celebrated by a relatively small group of enthusiasts.

Looking at an RPG library is a great way to get a sense of a console's personality. With an RPG, there's nowhere to hide. Today, we'll take a look at that RPG library - the good, the bad, and the truly strange. Who knows what buried treasures await?

Links:
patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular

Music used in this video (with timestamps):
pastebin.com/bQas8N54

Thumbnail by Lazarus De Lis:
https://x.com/LazarusDeLis

00:00 - Introduction
3:17 - Shining the Holy Ark
29:26 - Cyber Doll
46:39 - Albert Odyssey
57:32 - Dragon Force
1:06:54 - Druid
1:11:02 - Panzer Dragoon Saga
1:33:51 - Ronde
1:37:48 - Airs Adventure
1:43:02 - Virtual Hydlide
1:58:06 - Shining Force III
2:28:57 - Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner/Soul Hackers
2:38:02 - Omakase Savers
2:44:13 - Baroque
3:21:02 - Conclusion

IFinishedAVideoGame's Panzer Dragoon video:
youtu.be/tsjkAraZkco

Shining Force III game covers used in the 3D models by EnigmaCustoms.
Various clips of longplays used from GameCenter HD and World of Longplays.

The games in this video were played on a Saturn modded with a Fenrir ODE, and recorded with a Retrotink 5x scaler.

Games shown in intro (in order of appearance):
Bulk Slash
PowerSlave
Radiant Silvergun
Legend of Oasis
Dungeon Master Nexus
Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Linda3 Kanzenban
Moon Cradle
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Airs Adventure
Cyber Doll
Dragon Force
Baroque

Playing some Prey (2017)

Majuular 2024-06-17 | Pre-stream music medley features tunes from Jazz Jackrabbit 2 & Deus Ex

Twitter.com/majuular
Patreon.com/majuular

Ultima V Retrospective | The Tyranny of Virtue

Majuular 2024-05-28 | With Ultima IV's ambiguous goal of mastering the eight virtues, the game was a slow-paced and meditative experience. The Avatar's trial wasn't overcome with the defeat of a big bad villain, but through self-reflection. Rather than continuing down this path of optimism & philanthropy, Ultima V asks the question: what happens when virtue is made mandatory?

In this episode of the Ultima Retrospective, we take a look at Origin System's late 1980's growing pains, their competition, and of course, Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny.

This is the 4th video in my Ultima Retrospective series. Watching earlier parts isn't necessary to enjoy this video, but it is recommended. They can be found here:
Akalabeth & Ultima I: youtu.be/wIWyHd3FFFU
Ultima II: youtu.be/SCpkK25wfvw
Ultima III: youtu.be/N_m3u9MZ8NU
Ultima IV: youtu.be/hkfBiIyJd7E

Links:
patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular

Music used in this video (with timestamps):
pastebin.com/HBidYERK

Running list of sources used in the Ultima Retrospective:
pastebin.com/Nri8p0jy

00:00 - Origin Splits
4:12 - Personnel
11:09 - Brainstorming
14:53 - Ultima V: Introduction
20:50 - Cruel New World
30:44 - Music
33:12 - The Quest
38:50 - Old Friends, New Foes
50:45 - Exploring Britannia
55:13 - Presentation
58:55 - The Sceptre
1:02:28 - Subverting the Virtues
1:05:58 - The Crown & The Shrines
1:11:45 - The Underworld
1:19:47 - The Dungeons
1:23:36 - The Child Room
1:28:38 - The Shadowlords & Doom
1:35:27 - Ultima V: Conclusion
1:41:27 - Fierce Competition
1:46:30 - Huge in Japan
1:54:05 - Credits

A Dark Journey Through Shadow Tower | Series Retrospective

Majuular 2024-03-15 | Quietly standing in the shadow of King's Field are the Shadow Tower games. Their sales were low and they didn't find much love with the critics. Yet Shadow Tower's menacing dark ambience, wholly different from that of it's brethren, has become more potent - and more interesting - with age. In this video, we'll look into the history of these games, their mechanics, and dig into their hopelessly Stygian atmosphere.

THUMBNAIL BY:
Yuri Chuchmay - The Shadow Tower itself
Lazarus De Lis - The Text and background fill in
twitter.com/LazarusDeLis

Thanks to @AvalancheReviews for lending his voice to the video!

SOCIALS:
patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular

SECOND CHANNEL:
youtube.com/@Majuularcade
Ranking Every King's Field & Shadow Tower Game (video):
youtu.be/oXTnxF2wFss

VARIOUS PIECES OF SOULS/BLOODBORNE FOOTAGE SOURCED FROM:
SourceSpy91
youtube.com/@SourceSpy91
LongplaysArchive
youtube.com/@longplayarchive

LIST OF MUSIC USED IN THIS VIDEO:
pastebin.com/SF9fv3kN

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction
3:12 - Shadow Tower - Story
7:20 - Shadow Tower - Overview
13:17 - Survival Horror & Mechanics
20:57 - Shadow Tower - Combat
29:29 - Shadow Tower - Navigation
35:41 - Shadow Tower - Exploration & Atmosphere
37:42 - Shadow Tower - Sound
42:44 - Shadow Tower - Levels & Enemies
1:07:45 - Shadow Tower - MULTIPLAYER?
1:09:13 - Shadow Tower - Conclusion
1:13:08 - Abyss - Development
1:18:12 - Abyss - Introduction & Story
1:25:41 - Abyss - Overview
1:29:09 - Abyss - Ranged Combat
1:34:13 - Abyss - Shrines
1:37:51 - Abyss - Melee Combat
1:40:21 - Abyss - Atmosphere
1:49:21 - Abyss - Levels & Enemies Pt 2
2:12:00 - Abyss - Conclusion
2:15:14 - Conclusion
2:16:11 - Credits

Ultima III Retrospective | Origins & Exoduses

Majuular 2024-02-09 | In 1983 the Garriott brothers, dissatisfied with the state of the industry, took matters into their own hands, forming the now legendary Origin Systems. Within a year, the developer released Ultima III: Exodus - a game regarded as foundational not only within its own series, but for RPGs in general. This video chronicles the story of Richard Garriott's exodus from Sierra, and the origin of Origin Systems.

This is the 3rd video in my Ultima Retrospective series. Watching earlier parts isn't necessary to enjoy this video, but it is recommended. They can be found here:
Akalabeth & Ultima I: youtu.be/wIWyHd3FFFU
Ultima II: youtu.be/SCpkK25wfvw

Links:
patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular

Music used in this video (with timestamps):
pastebin.com/0UZRPuGR

Running list of sources used in the Ultima Retrospective:
pastebin.com/Nri8p0jy

00:00 - Introduction
5:13 - Release & Backlash
8:07 - Ports & Preamble
15:25 - Character Creation & Combat
27:08 - Humble Beginnings
33:28 - Exploration
38:06 - Ambrosia
42:34 - Dungeon Crawling
47:02 - Mythologizing Ultima
50:35 - Storming the Castle
54:45 - Ultima III Conclusion
57:14 - Origin After Exodus
1:01:22 - Credits + Q&A

Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress Retrospective | Spacetime & Sierra

Majuular 2024-01-17 | After the release of Ultima, Richard Garriott found himself looking for a publisher. In spite of his unique demands, he'd find a willing partner in Sierra On-Line. This video chronicles the story of Sierra up until (and including) their association with Richard Garriott, and Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress.

This is the 2nd video in my Ultima Retrospective series. Watching Part 1 isn't necessary to enjoy this video, but it is recommended. It can be found here:
youtu.be/wIWyHd3FFFU

I'd like to thank DanBlueDeer for allowing me to use his instrumental cover of Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Guinnevere" for this video. His channel can be found here:
youtube.com/@danbluedeer

Links:
patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular

Music used in this video (with timestamps):
pastebin.com/Z86f768G

Running list of sources used in the Ultima Retrospective:
pastebin.com/Nri8p0jy

00:00 - Introduction
7:50 - Sierra Strikes Gold
10:34 - Lord British & Sierra
14:26 - Assembling a Sequel
17:54 - Ports & Preamble
20:59 - Introduction to Ultima II
24:34 - Time Travel & Exploration
28:03 - Sequel Differences
33:26 - Structure & Quests
40:10 - Post-Apocalyptic Communist Space Travel
43:30 - Ultima II Finale
46:06 - Ultima II Conclusion
48:49 - A Post-Ultima II World
51:31 - The Origin of Something Great
53:56 - Credits

Lost Odyssey | Review & Retrospective

Majuular 2023-12-15 | Lost Odyssey is one of the Xbox 360's most beloved JRPGs... but in the grand scheme of things, that hasn't amounted to much. Trapped on a console that isn't known for it's selection of Japanese titles, its relevance in the world of RPGs has never exceeded the small number of devoted fans who sing it's praises. How did the concept for Lost Odyssey come about? How does it compare to contemporaries? Most importantly, does it *truly* stack up, or is the love for Lost Odyssey the product of rose-colored glasses? Please enjoy this review & retrospective where I attempt to answer these questions and many more.

patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular

Special Thanks:
Lazarus De Lis for the incredible thumbnail:
twitter.com/LazarusDeLis

10min Gameplay for various pieces of footage:
youtube.com/@10minGameplay1

World of Longplays for various pieces of footage:
youtube.com/@worldoflongplays

00:00 - Introduction
2:40 - Sakaguchi & Mistwalker
10:42 - Disc 1: Introduction
17:38 - Graphics
20:33 - Combat & Skills
29:45 - Bosses & Bogimoray
32:26 - Jank & Jansen
37:09 - Kaim's Character
43:09 - 1000 Years of Dreams
50:38 - Funerals & Foul Play
53:38 - Dungeons & Grinding
57:56 - Closure
59:28 - Disc 2: Introduction
1:02:19 - Seth's Character
1:05:33 - Finding Sarah
1:09:36 - Confronting Gongora
1:14:29 - Music
1:19:15 - Disc 3: Plots Upon Plots
1:26:24 - Presentation & Influence
1:28:52 - The Plot(s) Thicken(s)
1:34:01 - Breathing Room
1:37:58 - Lost Odyssey & War
1:40:54 - Side Content
1:43:58 - Ming's Character
1:46:52 - Gongora's Character
1:50:07 - Final Confrontations
1:53:34 - Ending
1:59:55 - Conclusion
2:02:11 - Credits & Q&A

Akalabeth & Ultima I Retrospective | The First Age of Darkness

Majuular 2023-11-15 | From the crowded University of Illinois computer labs to the visionaries at home on their Apple II computers, the mid to late 1970's were a formative time for the RPG video game genre. In this video, we'll take a look at one such focal point: The life of Richard Garriott, and the creation of his "Ultima" series - a work of imagination whose influence can still be easily felt today.

Thanks to:
vilsonpistori (Table & Chair models)
Klaas Nienhuis (Bicycle model)
maypassamon (Pizza box model)
Richard Garriott (For making Ultima)
Ultima Codex, Matt Barton, Andrea Contato (For cataloguing so much valuable history)

patreon.com/majuular

Music Used:
Queen of the Harpies - Uncle Willy (Original Video Music)
Giorgio Moroder - Chase (Cover by Rones)
Shadowgate 64 OST - Lakmir's Tower
Garriott's Theme - Uncle Willy (Original Video Music)
Fable OST - Summer Fields
Metal Gear Solid 2 OST - VR Intermission
Evil Islands OST - Kania
Kingdom Come Deliverance OST - Town Atmosphere (Various)
Chrono Cross OST - Earth Dragon Isle
Runescape 2007 OST - Baroque
Runescape 2007 OST - Book of Spells
Fate OST - Town (Various)
Starfox 64 OST - Menu
Panzer Dragoon Saga OST - Rest
Walking Away - Uncle Willy (Original Video Music)

00:00 - Introduction
2:12 - The Beginning of the CRPG
5:00 - Enter Lord British
11:00 - Akalabeth
24:40 - Everything Changes
28:16 - Ultima
46:37 - The Triumph of Ultima
50:20 - Credits

Are You Afraid of the Dork? | A Dark Seed Series Adventure

Majuular 2023-10-19 | Dark Seed is often remembered for it's visual design, plucked straight from the canvas of H.R. Giger. Underneath it's grim exterior is something darker, more sinister, and far more grotesque than any biomechanical dreamscape: the mind of resident lunkhead - Mike Dawson.

You can help support the channel here!
patreon.com/majuular

You can also find me here:
twitter.com/majuular

00:00 - Introduction
2:38 - Dark Seed
28:06 - Dark Seed II

Thank you to Uncle Willy for the sitcom introduction music!

A Dark Journey Through Kings Field | Series Retrospective

Majuular 2023-09-27 | King's Field has earned distant respect from many FromSoftware fans - a series that the studio cut their teeth on. Yet, due to it's chunky polygonal graphics and esoteric gameplay systems, many find the games unapproachable. What stories can be unearthed in these Stygian worlds? And just how did one man on (and off) a motorcycle result in the phenomenon that is the "Soulslike" subgenre?

Join me as we dig deep into the history of FromSoftware, and examine each game in their King's Field series. How do they differ? What makes them special? How have they influenced the games we play today?

Special Thanks to Jon Turcotte for making the thumbnail!

You can support the channel here:
patreon.com/majuular

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
6:53 - King's Field I
47:14 - King's Field II
1:33:51 - King's Field III
2:19:39 - FromSoftware Expands
2:24:14 - King's Field IV
3:09:12 - A Post-King's Field World
3:13:28 - Conclusion
3:18:07 - Credits

Music Used:
Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall OST - Various Tracks
Dark Souls OST - Souls of Fire
Dark Souls II OST - Majula
ActRaiser OST - Birth of the People
Demon's Souls OST - Souls of Mist
Lost Odyssey OST - Saman, Town of Merchants
Eye of the Beholder (SNES) OST - Various Tracks
Vagrant Story OST - Remembrance
Sword of the Berserk OST - Menu Theme
King's Field I - IV - Various Tracks
King's Field Additional - Various Tracks

PSP 3D Model by Ilya Ostrovsky
Moonlight Greatsword 3D Model by Christopher . campos

Shadow Hearts: Covenant Retrospective | A Little Weird, A Lot Wonderful

Majuular 2023-08-17 | Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a beloved PS2 RPG, and an entry that defines the Shadow Hearts saga for many. Mixing it's core JRPG gameplay with horror & comedy elements, the game is nothing if not unique. In this video, I explore Covenant's vast weirdness, analyzing the plot & seeing how the game stands the test of time.

patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular

Background music used is from Shadow Hearts 1 & 2, as well as original music by Majuular house composer 'Uncle Willy'!

00:00 - Introduction
5:07 - Story Prologue
12:33 - Cutscenes
17:30 - Combat
25:52 - Designs & Vibe
30:32 - Aesthetic
32:56 - Story Cont'd (Part 1)
43:18 - Humor
46:14 - Story Cont'd (Part 2)
51:00 - Music
54:54 - Story Cont'd (Part 3)
58:59 - Characters & Mechanics
1:15:05 - Story Cont'd (Part 4)
1:30:25 - Side Quests
1:40:43 - Story Cont'd (Part 5 [ENDING])
1:48:43 - Conclusion

Golden Sun | Dawn of a Beloved Series (Retrospective)

Majuular 2023-06-27 | Golden Sun & its sequel are fondly remembered as terrific RPGs for the Game Boy Advance. In this video, I'll take a look at the first game in the series and see how it holds up to an outsider's scrutiny.

If you enjoyed this video and want to support the channel, please consider pledging to my Patreon:
patreon.com/majuular

You can follow me here:
twitter.com/majuular

00:00 - Introduction
6:29 - Prologue & Premise
13:15 - Visuals
17:46 - The Adventure Begins
21:57 - Djinns
25:52 - Ivan & Psynergy
32:51 - Music
35:54 - Progression & Mercury Lighthouse
41:40 - Pursuing Saturos & Menardi
47:17 - Gondowan & Colosso
52:17 - Various Gripes
55:33 - Crossbone Isle
58:10 - Mercury Lighthouse
1:01:00 - Story Finale
1:04:11 - Final Thoughts
1:06:29 - Credits

Music used in this video
---Shining Force 3 OST---
The Bustling Wilderness
Main Theme
Main Menu
City Theme
Sorrow
Flowing River, Light of the Moon
World of Mysteries
A Slightly Drunken Mood

---Shining The Holy Ark OST---
Desire Village

---Golden Sun OST---
Lunpa's Hideout
Vale & Vault
The Sanctums
Prox In Trouble
Sol Sanctum
Lama Temple
Babi's Lighthouse
Venus Lighthouse
Babi's Theme
Lighthouse Theme
Colosso
Tolbi-Bound Ship
Deserts
Contigo

---Various Other Tracks---
Metal Gear Solid OST - Warhead Storage
PREY - Everything Is Going To Be Okay
Various Original Tracks (Incl. Venus Lighthouse Cover)
Thanks to my brother for composing tracks for this video!

An Honest Review of the CD-i Zelda Games

Majuular 2023-05-27 | The video you've all been waiting for... will have to wait, because I decided to make a video on the CD-i Zelda games instead. If, like me, you've always wondered just what kind of games Wand of Gamelon, Faces of Evil & Zelda's Adventure are - wonder no longer!

Special Thanks to Orian who allowed me to use his Deadmau5 Remix 'I Remember (Orian Chillout Mix)'. Orian's work can be found here:
https://linktr.ee/callmeorian

...and also Jess for making me the King costume. I'll be looking for excuses to wear it for the rest of my life.

patreon.com/majuular
twitter.com/majuular

00:00 - Introduction
4:18 - Wand of Gamelon Introduction
8:56 - Wand of Gamelon Gameplay
16:45 - Wand of Gamelon Cutscenes
21:31 - Wand of Gamelon Visuals
24:41 - Wand of Gamelon Items/Progression
29:28 - Wand of Gamelon Music
31:26 - Wand of Gamelon Conclusion
32:49 - YouTube Poop
36:01 - Faces of Evil
42:18 - Faces of Evil & Wand of Gamelon Remastered
45:24 - Zelda's Adventure Introduction
49:20 - Zelda's Adventure Gameplay
1:00:17 - Zelda's Adventure Visuals
1:04:52 - Zelda's Adventure Sound Design
1:06:05 - Zelda's Adventure Progression
1:09:20 - Zelda's Adventure Game Boy
1:11:17 - Zelda's Adventure Conclusion
1:12:06 - Zelda CD-i Conclusion

Zelda's Adventure Game Boy:
john-lay.itch.io/zeldas-adventure

Faces of Evil & Wand of Gamelon Remastered:
archive.org/details/FOER-and-WOGR

Music Used:
Chrono Trigger OST - Robo Gang Johnny
Age of Empires OST - Gamelan
Ocarina of Time OST - Shadow Temple
Rugrats Theme Song
Mischief Makers OST - Esperance
Deadmau5 - I Remember (Orian Chillout Mix)
Symphony of Evangelion
A Link to the Past OST - Fortune Teller
Quest 64 OST - Melrode
Quest 64 OST - Melrode Monastery
Quest 64 OST - Holy Plains
Donkey Kong 64 OST - Crystal Caves (Igloo)
Donkey Kong 64 OST - Banana Fairy Isle
Castlevania 64 OST - Castle Center
Shining The Holy Ark OST - Enrich Well

Koudelka and Shadow Hearts | Two Flavors of Horror RPG (Retrospective)

Majuular 2023-04-28 | Same studio, VERY different games - Koudelka and Shadow Hearts have developed their own (largely independent) fanbases over the years. How does this late PSX RPG stack up against it's PS2 sequel? Join me and find out!

Special thanks to Jon Turc for the Gigachad picture of me.

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00:00 - Introduction
4:22 - Koudelka - Intro & Premise
8:58 - Koudelka - Visuals & Music
16:21 - Koudelka - Gameplay
26:01 - Koudelka - Story & Characters
42:39 - Koudelka - Ending(s)
48:00 - Koudelka - Conclusion
50:45 - Shadow Hearts - Intro & Premise
1:04:05 - Shadow Hearts - Gameplay
1:15:09 - Shadow Hearts - Visuals
1:19:15 - Shadow Hearts - Yuri & Characters
1:26:08 - Shadow Hearts - Music
1:30:24 - Shadow Hearts - Story & Koudelka
1:40:04 - Shadow Hearts - Endgame
1:43:58 - Shadow Hearts - Conclusion
1:47:25 - Credits

Music used:
Castlevania 64 - Castle Center
Kings Field IV - City Ruins
Secret of Mana - Into the Thick of it
Shining The Holy Ark - Enrich Well Dungeon
Diddy Kong Racing - Walrus Cove
Orlandus Lassus Lagrimi Di San Pietro - Giovane Donna Il Suo Bel Volto In Specchio

I Played Every RPG on the 3DO

Majuular 2023-03-17 | For those intrepid enough to explore the depths of the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, MANY wild adventures await. Let's explore those depths.

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00:00 - Intro
5:00 - Immercenary
14:12 - Battle Blues
20:17 - Oukoku No Grand Chef
24:10 - AD&D: Slayer
28:42 - AD&D: DeathKeep
36:23 - Blue Forest Story
40:44 - Robinson's Requiem
48:09 - Seal of the Pharaoh
56:21 - Guardian War
1:03:31 - Dragon Lore
1:13:52 - Neo Organic Bioform
1:18:05 - Kurokishi no Kamen
1:22:17 - Lucienne's Quest
1:28:17 - Dragon Tycoon Edge
1:35:30 - Conclusion

MUSIC USED:
Mischief Makers OST - Esperance, Hurry, Volcanic
Legend of Dragoon OST - City of Commerce
Chrono Trigger OST - Underground Sewer
Final Fantasy VI OST - The Phantom Forest
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue OST - Construction Yard

FOOTAGE FROM:
Grooveraider - 3DO 1995 Press Conference
DigitalNeohuman - 3DO Booth 1993 Summer CES

Skies of Arcadia | Review & Retrospective

Majuular 2023-02-10 | Released on the Dreamcast in 2000, Skies of Arcadia is the definition of 'cult classic'. A 2003 GameCube re-release failed to expand the game's popularity outside of a small but loyal fanbase - and 'loyal' is the operative word here. Decades may have passed, but Skies of Arcadia is still considered to be an underappreciated treasure by many. Let's dive in and see how it stacks up.

Your support is appreciated!
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This video was recorded on the Dolphin & Redream emulators at close to native settings as possible for the sake of visual & audio clarity. Any time objective statements are made in regards to video/audio, said statements were verified by me on the authentic hardware. I've played through the intro to this game about 10 times in order to catch the differences and make comparisons. If I even SUSPECTED a difference in quality was the result of emulator-related imperfections, I chose to not include it in my script.

00:00 - A Brief History of the Dreamcast
4:00 - A Brief History of Arcadia
9:53 - Version Differences
15:27 - Introduction to Arcadia
23:59 - World & Characters
33:36 - Exploration
40:36 - Combat & Dungeons
55:52 - Presentation
1:01:45 - SPOILER SECTION BEGINS
1:02:11 - Marooned
1:09:24 - Home Base, Crew & Side Activities
1:21:58 - Facing the Unknown
1:34:02 - Countdown to Extinction
1:44:43 - Conclusion
1:46:37 - Credits/Patron Q&A

Yakuza 5 Review | A Jack of All Trades

Majuular 2022-12-31 | This video contains SPOILERS for Yakuza 1 - 5.

Yakuza 5 is often seen as the series' most ambitious title. Let's explore the heart of this weird, wonderful, chaotic mess of a game from beginning to end.

Special thanks to @AvalancheReviews for his voice work & FenrirLives (twitter.com/fenrir_lives) for the awesome thumbnail!

You can find & support me at:
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00:00 - Introduction
2:56 - Historical Context
9:29 - Series Recap
15:14 - Kiryu's Section
1:04:18 - Saejima's Section
1:40:54 - Haruka & Akiyama's Section(s)
2:10:28 - Shinada's Section
2:39:29 - Return to Kamurocho
3:10:21 - Conclusion & Credits

MUSIC USED:
Yakuza 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 OST - Various (mostly unnamed bar tracks)
Ocarina of Time OST - Shadow Temple
1080 Snowboarding OST - Work Your Body
ExciteBike 64 OST - Mountain Quarry
Karoshi 2 Theme
ReVolt OST - Out of Control
Strapping Young Lad - AAA
Sonatine OST - Various

Reviewing a Bunch of RPG Maker Games

Majuular 2022-11-24 | Join me as I take a look at 10 different games made with RPG Maker. From cult classics like Yume Nikki, to surprise hits like OneShot, and even some modern takes on the classic RPG formula, like Lawmage Academy, let's see what these developers can do!

NOTE: Due to a copyright claim, there's a weird hard-cut in the Space Funeral section. I knew I was playing with fire including 5 seconds of a licensed song. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Special thanks to Jon Turcotte for the awesome thumbnail!

You can purchase/download the games here:

YUME NIKKI:
store.steampowered.com/app/650700/Yume_Nikki

HYLICS:
mason-lindroth.itch.io/hylics
store.steampowered.com/app/397740/Hylics

LAWMAGE ACADEMY:
store.steampowered.com/app/1377710/Lawmage_Academy

TOILET IN WONDERLAND:
memoriesoffear.tumblr.com/post/72682203855/toilet-in-wonderland-toilet-in-wonderland-is-an

ONESHOT:
store.steampowered.com/app/420530/OneShot

SUITS:
store.steampowered.com/app/410670/Suits_A_Business_RPG

FEAR & HUNGER:
store.steampowered.com/app/1002300/Fear__Hunger

SPACE FUNERAL:
thecatamites.itch.io/space-funeral

TO THE MOON:
gog.com/en/game/to_the_moon
store.steampowered.com/app/206440/To_the_Moon

THE WITCH'S HOUSE MV
gog.com/en/game/the_witchs_house_mv
store.steampowered.com/app/885810/The_Witchs_House_MV

SOCIAL:
twitter.com/majuular
instagram.com/majuular
patreon.com/majuular

00:00 - Introduction
4:00 - Yume Nikki
9:25 - Hylics
15:18 - Lawmage Academy (Demo)
22:42 - Toilet in Wonderland
29:06 - OneShot
35:46 - Suits: A Business RPG
40:33 - Fear & Hunger
48:28 - Space Funeral
54:29 - To The Moon
59:56 - The Witch's House MV
1:07:30 - Conclusion

The Evil Within 2 | Can Open-World Survival Horror Work?

Majuular 2022-10-22 | As a survival horror game with an emphasis on semi-open-world exploration, The Evil Within 2 is in a unique position among it's peers. Yet, with so many of the survival horror genre's qualities depending on linear or heavily scripted level design, the question is: does it work? Join me as I explore that question and more!

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All music is from The Evil Within 1 + 2 Soundtracks.
Footage used from 'World of Longplays':
The Evil Within - played by Spazbo4
Resident Evil 4 - played by Spazbo4
Resident Evil 3 Nemesis - played by Spazbo4

Xenogears Review | You Dont Mess with the Zohar

Majuular 2022-10-03 | Xenogears is a Japanese role-playing game in which God wakes up in some loser's basement and arranges a ride home. Please enjoy this review/analysis/retrospective/whatever this ultimately became, and be sure to like/subscribe for more videos!

SPOILERY THINGS (in the 'Digging Deeper' section):
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Soylent Green
- (obviously) Xenogears

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00:00 - Intro
3:16 - Disc 1 (The Beginning)
32:18 - Disc 1 (Enter Bart)
58:11 - Disc 1 (Into Nortune)
1:15:15 - Disc 1 (Meeting Billy)
1:30:20 - Disc 1 (Babel Tower)
1:44:30 - Disc 1 (Solaris)
2:03:12 - Disc 2 (Welcome to Disc 2)
2:16:55 - Disc 2 (Mahanon)
2:25:26 - Disc 2 (Id's Nature)
2:36:25 - Disc 2 (Shevat & Side Content)
2:40:07 - Disc 2 (Final Confrontation)
2:44:06 - Digging Deeper
3:07:19 - Conclusion

Songs Used:
Xenogears OST - Various
Xenosaga OST - Opening
Xenosaga III OST - Abel's Ark
Wiz Khalifa - Never Been
Creid - Creid, Babel
Chrono Cross OST - Chronopolis

Gloomwood (Early Access) Review | Majuularcade

Majuular 2022-09-10 | Gloomwood has been teased as the lovechild of immersive sim & survival horror for years now. Well, the early access build is finally upon us - how does it stack up? Watch this (a)rousing episode of Majuularcade and find out!

SOCIAL & SUPPORT:
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All background music used in this video was from either the Deus Ex or Thief 1/2 Original Soundtracks.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World Review | YES ACTUALLY IT IS THAT BAD

Majuular 2022-08-13 | Join me in this analysis of Tales of Symphonia's ill-fated sequel, as I recount my miserable experience. Great game, BAD sequel.

SOCIAL:
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00:00 - Introduction
05:55 - Story Premise
10:00 - Visuals
13:25 - Game Structure
18:35 - Battle System
26:12 - Towns
31:17 - Music
36:13 - Dungeons
39:45 - Monsters
42:37 - Minigames
44:03 - Side Quests
47:22 - Main Story/Characters

Vanquish | Earning Adrenaline

Majuular 2022-07-22 | Join me on an extended ramble as I talk about Vanquish, it's relationship to other fast-paced games such as Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Doom: Eternal, and what makes for that adrenaline-pumping "cool" feeling one gets from action games.

Majuularcade videos are shorter form content than I usually produce, meant to focus on games that aren't as suitable for long videos & analysis. If you have any suggestions that might fit the bill, share them with me in the comments!

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Tales of Symphonia Review | Local Pinhead Saves World(s)

Majuular 2022-07-09 | Tales of Symphonia was an introduction to the Tales series for many of us - myself included. It's considered by most to be a classic, but does it still hold up after all these years? Join me as we find out just what it is about this game that managed to kickstart the Tales series popularity!

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00:00 - Introduction
5:47 - Sylverant - Part 1
24:45 - Sylverant - Part 2
53:12 - Tethe'alla - Part 1
1:08:36 - Tethe'alla - Part 2
1:32:50 - Saving Colette - Part 1
1:42:35 - Saving Colette - Part 2
1:46:47 - Final Stretch - Part 1
2:02:15 - Final Stretch - Part 1.5 (Side Content)
2:12:21 - Final Stretch - Part 2
2:17:40 - Conclusion

Harvester Review | The Wacky Adventures of Sigma Steve

Majuular 2022-06-13 | Harvester is a strange relic of video game history. This bizarre point-and-click horror adventure was released to controversy and has developed quite a reputation since then. How does it hold up after all of these years? Let's find out!

For more Harvest-y goodness:
youtube.com/LodgeLevel4

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00:00 - Introduction/Premise
4:27 - Graphics
6:30 - Gameplay/Story Overview
11:35 - Sound/Music
14:08 - Chapter 1: Applying to the Lodge
20:17 - Chapter 2: Lodge Pranks
33:20 - Chapter 3: Into the Lodge
38:43 - Ending/Truman Show Comparison
42:20 - Conclusion

The Legend of Dragoon Review | its basically a playable 90s anime

Majuular 2022-06-01 | The Legend of Dragoon is a beloved RPG classic among a small but dedicated group of fans. It isn't obvious why the game was denied mainstream success, but I hope you enjoy this review/analysis of the game where I do my best to find out.

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00:00 - Introduction
3:00 - Chapter 1
33:00 - Chapter 2
47:00 - Chapter 3
1:03:00 - Chapter 4
1:17:50 - Ending/Conclusion

Thief Gold Review | High IQ Stealth for Sneaky Boyz

Majuular 2022-05-13 | With EIDOS leaving the cold, unfeeling grasp of Square Enix, I figured it was a good time to make a review/analysis for Thief: The Dark Project. Please enjoy this look back at one of the all-time greats!

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00:00 - Introduction
2:40 - Premise/Narrative Style
9:28 - Presentation
12:50 - Gameplay
26:41 - Level By Level: Bafford's Manor
28:30 - Level By Level: Break from Cragscleft Prison
32:00 - Level By Level: Down in the Bonehoard
34:33 - Level By Level: Assassins
36:35 - Level By Level: Thieve's Guild
38:37 - Level By Level: The Sword
41:30 - Level By Level: The Haunted Cathedral
43:58 - Level By Level: The Mage Towers
47:13 - Level By Level: The Lost City
49:38 - Level By Level: Song of the Caverns
52:02 - Level By Level: Undercover
54:24 - Level By Level: Return to the Cathedral
57:35 - Level By Level: Escape
58:55 - Level By Level: Strange Bedfellows
1:01:28 - Level By Level: The Maw of Chaos
1:02:44 - Conclusion

A Quick, Light Review of The Long Dark

Majuular 2022-05-02 | Thanks for checking out this review/analysis of The Long Dark! If you enjoyed this video and want to support further work, liking/subscribing goes a long way. You can also follow me here:
twitter.com/majuular
patreon.com/majuular
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If you're interested in purchasing The Long Dark on PC, you can do so through Steam or the Epic Games Store.

Tracks used in the background of this video are from The Long Dark Original Soundtrack which I purchased through this link:
hinterlandstudio.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-the-long-dark-volume-one
If you enjoyed the music, I recommend doing the same. It's great work/study music!

00:00 - Introduction
3:09 - Survival Mode/Core Gameplay
17:03 - Atmosphere/Presentation
23:13 - Survival Mode Conclusion
23:55 - Story Mode (POTENTIAL SPOILERS)
48:12 - Story Mode Conclusion

Tribute to Comfy Video Games

Majuular 2022-04-19 | A tribute to those games that exude pleasantness. What's your comfy game??

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A Big Ol Review of Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition

Majuular 2022-04-15 | !! This video contains Spoilers !!

Thanks for checking out this analysis of Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition.

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00:00 - Introduction
2:17 - Act I
9:10 - Presentation
14:35 - Act II (pt 1)
18:24 - Combat Explanation/Critique
23:52 - Act II (pt 2)
27:25 - Characters
35:36 - Act II (pt 3)
42:37 - Act III/Trying to make sense of the story
56:19 - Story Conclusion
58:20 - Epilogue
58:57 - Critique of the Remaster

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Radical Dreamers - Full Game & True Ending (Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition) [1080p]

Majuular 2022-04-11 | A full playthrough of Radical Dreamers with the included version from Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition with no commentary.

I plan on doing a full, comprehensive review of Chrono Cross as well as Radical Dreamers. If this interests you, please check my channel for updates and consider subscribing!

00:00 - Introduction
1:26 - Outside The Manor
5:27 - Attacked By Wildcats
9:48 - On The Terrace
11:16 - Inside The Manor
13:02 - Lady Riddel's Room
17:15 - Lynx's Room/The Spirit Mirror
22:40 - The Study
31:11 - The Clocktower/Meeting The Crone
39:27 - The Execution Chamber
44:40 - Lynx's Room Pt. 2
47:43 - The Key In The Study
50:05 - The Treasure Room/Frozen Flame?
56:49 - Goblin Gang
1:01:53 - The Gargoyle Hall
1:04:49 - The Bearded Sculpture
1:11:28 - The Bookworm Goblin
1:17:53 - The Rat In The Kitchen
1:24:03 - The Traumatized Prisoner
1:29:46 - Meeting Riddel
1:36:31 - Finding The Einlanzer
1:38:34 - Return To The Execution Chamber
1:42:10 - The Grand Hall
1:46:50 - The Prisoner's Secret
1:50:51 - Death Of The Mirror (Optional Scene)
1:56:04 - The Grand Hall Descends/Kid Opens Up
2:00:45 - Kid's Motives
2:03:18 - The Magic Snare
2:06:00 - The Frozen Flame/Lynx's Reveal
2:09:05 - Battle With Lynx
2:16:53 - Near Death Experience
2:20:13 - Kid Awakens/The Crone Returns
2:23:18 - Escape From The Manor
2:26:24 - Conclusion
2:28:05 - Credits

Weird West Review

Majuular 2022-04-06 | Thanks for watching this review. Consider liking &/or subscribing for further delectable content. You will NOT regret it!

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This is a review of the PC version.

A Nice Review Of Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire (N64, PC)

Majuular 2022-04-01 | How useful is a sincere critique of a 25 year old game? Not very, so have a largerly insincere one instead.

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You can check me out on Twitter - hot take free!
twitter.com/majuular