Prepare to Meet My Final Form

[@Aliensrock]

**VIDEO SPOILERS BELOW** How long should you spend on a puzzle you’re stuck on before giving up? 5 minutes? 10? Never give up, never surrender? If you’re of the last type, Isles of Sea and Sky has an unpleasant lesson to teach you: find the path of least resistance. Knowing when to give up is not just a coping method, but also a valuable skill to keep in your arsenal. Solving puzzles is less pleasant when you don’t have that skill, I learned that the hard way a few years ago. Nowadays, I enter open world puzzle games not with the mindset of “how do I solve this?”, but instead “is this solvable?” There’s satisfaction that comes with proving that a level is currently impossible, but you have to first trust that the developer’s logic is fair and consistent. Thankfully, Isles of Sea and Sky provides plenty of tools to communicate mechanics and properly set expectations. The animations and visuals could not have done a better job at teaching the game's many mechanics. Not once was I confused about an action I had just witnessed. I was surprised at times, but every puzzle game needs its surprises. No words were needed, but it helped that it drew from familiar mechanics like sokoban (box pushing). I believe that if you push one box, you’ve pushed them all, but Sea and Sky expands on the formula by introducing elementals. Those funny little guys added so much variety and charm that I even forgot this was a sokoban game for a while. The further Sea and Sky strayed from sokoban, the more fun I had. The secrets denoted by the corner snake’s red eyes were a glorious brain high and possibly the game's pinnacle. I got spoiled that ‘red eye = secret’, so I can’t accurately gauge how well taught it was, but knowing that a secret was present did wonders for setting expectations. It’s never fun not knowing how deep you should look into something, and I know that the secrets would be less satisfying if the red eye did not exist. The repeated structure of the four major islands also set expectations as well as you could hope for. First you find the powerup to break through the colored blocks, then you unlock the elementals, then you find the hidden superpower. Recognizing that pattern made moving on from an unsolvable puzzle more satisfying, because you can theorize what the solution entails. It also helps that doubling back in Sea and Sky is streamlined and surprisingly fun. You only need to check the map for collectables and check the snake eye on each screen, no need to waste time on dead ends. That’s all I really want, for games to not waste my time, but instead to let me play at a speed dictated by my current brain power. The beauty of puzzle solving is that you get to set your own pace, and that pace is different for every player. If you know when to give up on a puzzle, you exert even more control over the pace, and pacing is one of the most important deciders of fun. Taking a combat game and replacing the twitchy combat with puzzle solving so far has an excellent track record. You can see this in Your Only Move Is Hustle, Animal Well, and now Isles of Sea and Sky. I welcome any new additions to this mini trend. Maybe they’ll find a way to turn DOOM into a puzzle game. Overall Rating: 9/10 (Excellent)

[@PotofGlue]

Man now I really want to see you play yomi hustle

[@Professional_Amikisser]

We return from the x/3.75 rating (Seriously what was up) with that

[@mauvemus5810]

I definitely agree on the rating but not quite grasp what exactly made it not a 10/10 for you. Personally it's the 'bloat' done by the bells and 'inelegancy' in needing undo button to proceed in most puzzles. Curious about your tiny gripe on this game.

[@mapron1]

I did not discover red eyes hint myself, so I don't think it is very obvious. Still a minor thing, it is mentioned in guides on steam, so was not a big deal for my secret cleanup

[@dzaki8331]

wait YOMI is a puzzle game?

[@PotofGlue]

I think the ending is connected to the idea of humans being made of clay The earth god created the raw material The water god shaped it into a man The fire god fired the clay The wind god cooled it And then the other two gave it life I'm not sure there were ever humans before the events of the game, this seems more like a creation myth

[@NetAnon]

I thought so too, as in the first ending cinematic they create the islands that the humans populate in this cinematic.

[@aembattledturtle8562]

This is what I was saying

[@demonark3391]

I don't think there was human life on this world to start with. In the flashbacks, the planet was entirely water, so there wasn't even land to live on until they all went there

[@Michallosxd]

the game itself is based on south-east asian mythology, especially world/human creation myths

[@rune_ined]

NOOOO NOT THE LAST VIDEO this was a great series mr aliensrock, i will forever see your lil guy dancing in my head

[@Jacob-qv7zv]

Fr this series was one of the best in my opinion

[@Haraldiniosaurus]

Why you gotta say it like that?

[@S0meCrazyIdiot]

@rune_ined Don't worry just wait for a super cut.

[@MrCarrot04]

Yeah don't say it like that

[@v1haan476]

Ayo???

[@brutusthebear9050]

I think this is a creation story, on how the gods created the world and humanity. It has many references to creation myths, including the death of one god and their body being used to help create the world. Though it also brings in somewhat unique elements. My guess would be that it is inspired by Polynesian myths, though I'm unsure on that.

[@ThinkingPutty-yi3zm]

I was also thinking of that, and I think it went like this; An extraterrestrial invader came and approached the world (Giant Snake), the Goddess and the other Elemental Guardians went and fought it and barely won with the Goddess being injured. After their battle, they came back to recuperate and created islands for themselves to rest in, from the Serpent's corpse then came a stranger (Player Character) who then went around the world with no knowledge and guidance. As he went around the islands, he encountered the Goddess' unconscious "Spirit" that was wary of him as he came from the Invader, sort of probing and guiding him. As you solve the puzzles and collected the various stars and gems, you slowly recovered each Guardian's strength and received their blessings until you reach the Goddess and awakened her. It was then that he ascended alongside her to become a God and created various islands. The purple mist and gem is likely a remnant of the Giant Serpent's "Alien" Power. The "True Ending" is when the Guardians full gained their powers and with their cooperation, created the "Human Specie" or similar which populated the world.

[@brutusthebear9050]

@@ThinkingPutty-yi3zm I disagree on one part, I think the snake is more the snake of chaos seen in some mythologies, like Egyptian. So primordial rather than alien. I also think the stars are somewhat literal stars in the sky.

[@Starhawke_Gaming]

@brutus - it definitely seems inspired by the Japanese creation myth where Izanami and Izanagi worked together to create all the islands of Japan

[@ThinkingPutty-yi3zm]

@@brutusthebear9050 Ain't that the same thing as how the Infinity Stones are alien? Not everything revolves around Earth and I separated the stars and gems purposefully.

[@brutusthebear9050]

@@ThinkingPutty-yi3zm I don't think alien is the correct word because, at the very least, it's anachronistic. It might be correct on some literal level, but I think verbiage is important in these sorts of stories. Alien is much more a modern kind of concept. I don't see the snake as coming from another world, but rather being a personification of the chaos that surrounds them. So primordial would be the most correct word. Of course, I don't believe in death of the author, so if the author were to use that word I would accept that.

[@dzaki8331]

i cant wait to see how this puzzle game referenced in the end card

[@EwariDiaz]

Thats when he updates it with all the other games he completed I hope; Animal well, N Step steve etc are still kind of missing.

[@dnddude9652]

If he keeps the current games, I’d like to imagine that the Snakebird moves back a little, the Can of Wormholes sits directly on top of the I, and the E is changed to look like the phoenix fast travel points

[@thetiredladdy]

@@dnddude9652 the phoenix would be a tad weird maybe the gems surround a star and that becomes the sun

[@GenTheFurredArtist]

I said this before, but it's no less true; I genuinely hope this gets added to the end card somehow.

[@thetiredladdy]

@@GenTheFurredArtist agreed

[@lordfluff2394]

Getting 3 keys at 16:20 without the cape but with the flippers is one of the most devilish and most rewarding puzzles I did in this game. It's probably not worth a whole video to do that one puzzle, but I would recommend trying to do that one puzzle without the cape.

[@Snow4Leopards]

Yeah! Do it without cape, it felt so good when I finally solved it.

[@dabrainfan5949]

@@Snow4Leopards It was the same for me, it felt great :D

[@AJMansfield1]

As Tyler said in his review, it's important to dig at both the 'solve the puzzle' and 'prove the puzzle impossible' angles to have fun in a game like this -- but that was one puzzle where deriving possibility was enough easier than actually doing it to convince me to stick to it. And was rewarded by being able to spend not just one but two solving sessions on it, plus a work-day in-between just turning over ideas in the back of my head to find that one step I was missing. Absolutely ideal puzzle difficulty, if you ask me.

[@robo_the_duck]

Truly a shame to see this game go this has to be the best open world puzzle game i have ever seen. Its just meta enough to feel like even at the end we have only seen 1% of the content even after getting 100% I hope to god a dlc is made

[@ej7052]

_*Loud distant voice resembling Kylo Ren "more More MORE !!"_

[@AJOlaks]

I truly enjoyed watching this Animal Well was a very good series, but the hints of frustration that Tyler had in the final episodes made me glad when it was over but this game Tyler clearly enjoyed the full way through and I am glad that he was able to be rewarded for his patience of waiting also I do enjoy seeing someone's Final Form

[@eSparty]

Apparently there's an even more insane amount of stuff in animal well than what Tyler even got to.

[@daviddegirolamo7062]

At 16:15 you can definitely solve it without flying. You just need to push 2 water blocks up there. Its quite a challenging puzzle.

[@directrix777shinyshinyamyt4]

I feel like the 4 gods creating life is a fitting ending. Earth god provided clay, shaped by water goddess, baked by fire god, and cooled by wind goddess. Then given the gift of life by the goddess of life, and presumably mortality by the god of death. Yes, you play as the death god. All the main islands have a God that floats around until you have enough gems to unlock their elementals. Who reigns over the black diamond island? No one. When you have enough of them, YOU take the God’s place in the circle of gems. The goddess of life has a domain too; the Great Sanctuary. I’m not sure why the god of death lost his memories and needed to be reminded of the world’s history, maybe he’s a new god? But hey, that’s just a theory, a GAME Theory! Thanks for reading!

[@orchidscion]

i mean in the cutscenes that play when you activate the crystals in the sanctum, you see that the remains of the snake death god were combined with the life god's power creating the player. the other gods seem to be the exact same, but you are the reborn form of the original death god and awoke as a blank slate and have to be reminded of what you are by the life god

[@directrix777shinyshinyamyt4]

@@orchidscion Ohhhh the snake was the *old* death god. Didn’t catch that. Nifty!

[@selfselected]

This series has been really amazing to follow, seeing its videos really brightened my day a little. Thanks a lot for the great content and great edits :) it'll be hard to find a new hardcore puzzler to replace this one

[@Aliensrock]

Oh I have a ton of candidates, the hard part will be finding one that’s as interesting to watch as it is to play

[@fight4day]

I'm so glad you did all gems and keys as well. Really satisfying

[@eugorov13]

Well done ! This game is definitely above my skill level beyond a certain point but figuring out what is possible to solve is the most fun part even for myself with less puzzle solving skills and knowledge. Great series Tyler!

[@yeti1315]

The reason I love to watch this channel and you is because you simply could have stretched this out into a bunch of videos but you don’t. You care about viewing experience over content quantity.

[@Qeisama]

This series is such a blast. Though I still have questions since it seems like there's still unsolved puzzle there. Can't wait what other series you had for us!

[@NIMPAK1]

What about the last screen on the cloud island? I don't think Tyler even properly entered that map/compass room. I also don't think there's an additional post-game layer either. Hopefully this means we're getting future dlc.

[@Aliensrock]

I’m anticipating a DLC, but not anytime soon.

[@lordfluff2394]

That is one of the puzzles that got cut from the final game so the game could get shipped. Hopefully a future update does something with that area. The producer and game designer both experienced some major family hardships recently, so I don't see the update occurring anytime soon.

[@mathisolive6313]

Also 1) there red snake in this room, and second and 2) there still a fog tile in the ancient isle which we can see at 14:25.

[@MrBlinky10101]

Glad you went for 100%! This game was such a treat to play and watch

[@lgpen999]

I absolutely loved this series. I got so excited every time I'd open KZbin and see a new video uploaded. Thanks for the good time!

[@MartianBlobfish]

Congrats on 100% This was a fun watch.

[@settogvoid9407]

I really hope this gets additional content. I had a blast playing and watching it

[@austinsager912]

One of your best series by far! I knew I'd love this once you got through the first few islands, so I bought it, finished it, then looked forward to each release of the rest of your play through. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@idklol309]

21:35 "Do I need to plug the hole with the wood?"

[@MandySanJuan]

Great game, It is lovely to see you playing puzzle games. Every time I simply can't stop watching!

[@adilmzese5346]

and I just got food. This gonna be a great video

[@Ava11350]

A great series, looking forward to rewatching in a few years

[@_Bumby_]

End of a fantastic series which was as much fun to watch as I’m sure it was to play! I can’t wait to see what’s next!

[@marcflaps]

Absolutely stellar series, have had a blast watching it.

[@stefanherald7480]

I am having a tummyache, but seeing this lets me relax fir a bit. Thanks for another great video!

[@Rubbly]

Wow! Loved this series! It's always nice that you write up a review as well, the part about how to make puzzles work in an open-world type of a game is a great point to touch on. Looking forward to more, so far 2024 has had some great series!

[@Sintanity]

Aww man, sad to see this series go. Absolutely loved it so much. On to the next!!

[@רועיג]

Am I the only one who saw that there was still a redeye on the tiny island when Tyler solved the last puzzle there?

[@michielhorikx9863]

This was definitely a series I looked forward to every week, and it feels very satisfying to see the game completed fully even though I am sad to see it go.

[@icethornstar]

sad that the series is ending but a really enjoyable watch as a whole! really made my day when there was a new upload! looking forward to what you have next

[@JeSuisNerd]

Sad to see the series end, this was one of the top games of the year for me!

[@nagliskisielius3643]

Yet another great series has come to an end, and heres to many more 🍻

[@kitthekat6844]

I love series like this. Excited to see what the next one will be!

[@simplegeometry9475]

Just binge watched the entire series over a couple of hours.

[@ShinySwalot]

I'll thoroughly miss waiting for Sunday and another episode of this series... can't wait to see what you pick next Tyler!

[@ArtThingies]

I swear some of these locations look like the basis for meta puzzles, like the grid+compass on the Frozen Spire or the spirals on the various islands.

[@theominouspigeon]

Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope

[@krazykowboi]

That might be my favorite series of yours now, been watching since a little bit before Baba is you for context

[@mdqmatias]

This was a hell of a journey, amazing game!

[@SamLabbato]

I hadn't actually bothered to 100% the game, so i never got to see the true ending. very cool the dev took the time and care for the additional cutscene. also, apparently there's a dlc in the works, so you definitely gotta revisit that when it drops

[@LegoCowManZ]

13:08 what is that? Id actually like to know.

[@dawiddulian2403]

Probably some meta puzzle he didn't know how to approach at all/forgot about

[@loucantnot]

​@@dawiddulian2403It is a puzzle bit that is not usable for the moment, the dev said they had to finish the game without including everything, and so this room and a few other things are leftovers and may be used in a potential update or DLC.

[@Mike-oc6vs]

Im still at like episode 4, but love watching it, I wanna play it in the future and yes I am getting spoiled by watching tyler's series, but to be honest im so dumb i would prolly forget everything besides this being a good puzzle game.

[@MrMiguelangelteran]

i would wait other three years just to play more of this

[@ronanh.9261]

Sad to see this series go!

[@doce3609]

Damn this game was a BANGER. Absolutely amazing

[@codesymphony]

1:20 to the editor: try blend mode multiply :)

[@remz94]

great series

[@LexiLex421]

I spend five seconds looking, five minutes trying, and ping my friends for help.

[@tombotr]

I bet there are yet more secrets to be discovered in the game, but for now I guess you've done everything you needed to do.

[@ellipsispenn]

If you're down for it. You could try Void Stranger. A game with deep lore and even DEEPER Gameplay.

[@sonan333]

At 11:48 did we ever see what was under that fog in the bottom middle? That floating yellow thing?

[@Kurisu420Osama]

Best I've seen from you. Thanks Tyler

[@rath-and-shield]

Very cool creation myth

[@floppabunger5705]

I have been waiting for this video

[@Kallyn]

This game definitely needs a dlc from the perspective of the girl

[@chbou1313]

Love this game so much. Favorite in a while

[@flockofwingeddoors]

Great series!

[@jafsrob]

I do think the last fire island star not having the symbol was dumb

[@Calixto_XD]

rip to the puzzle at 13:04

[@LenzyeAlexander]

I have a cool puzzle game on steam for $14.99 called Gorogoa. Its kinda like moncage but with sliding screens.

[@vickiewaller8682]

Welp. Time to add Akurra to the end card!

[@gingeral253]

This game was great

[@jemy044]

That's all? It doesn't feel like it. Isn't there like a meta puzzle hidden in the game?

[@dawiddulian2403]

13:08

[@jemy044]

​@@dawiddulian2403 Exactly, what is this? What are the spirals, the missing spots on the island maps?

[@magalax5740]

There are still places that you can't get to, like multiple other islands, but they probably going to be a part of an update or dlc

[@draconian5414]

But what about the path in the water that leads down from the start of the water island????

[@thomasmeslin8399]

Super cool!

[@chaninakosovske6567]

Is there a use for those 13 keys still? Great series!

[@EMoneyH]

Excellent

[@Zorgdub]

Such a great journey.

[@chickentendies5215]

are there any meta puzzles related to the seashells or diamond symbols on the ground?

[@Afroman260]

Finally the end of this series ! Hyped for the next puzzle game ! (Day 7 of asking Tyler if he plays magic)

[@Aliensrock]

I do not

[@PaulyPop]

Ha ha, editors brought back the desktop files

[@tuxat_]

amazing game

[@Angel33Demon666]

I didn’t get the reference at 11:48 what symbol was there in Tchaikovsky 4?

[@Egg-yb9xy]

I love your videos, and I should watch this too

[@benlavine6259]

Was the room at 13:05 from a previous puzzle?

[@notsomeoneyoudontknow1750]

lets gooooooo! are you playing the DLC's when they come out?

[@bensoncheung2801]

*DLC???*

[@notsomeoneyoudontknow1750]

@@bensoncheung2801 yeah, the game dev confirmed they wanted to add a DLCclater on

[@Aliensrock]

Yeah, though I would be surprised if it was particularly long

[@maxhaibara8828]

Noooo I wish there were more 😢

[@bijivarughese5601]

Another Aliensrock puzzle-solving chapter has come to an end. I wonder whats next?

[@Aliensrock]

Come back next Sunday to find out!

[@bijivarughese5601]

@@Aliensrock Will do! :D

[@omegahaxors9-11]

21:49 did he just shout out of his forehead? Creepy. Yeah he is. Weird. Only on that screen though.

[@Kevin-di4qk]

27:45 Achievement unlocked: The gay ending

[@kurayami4759]

What is the puzzle at 13:08 supposed to be?

[@QuirkyView]

I've been conditioned by the editor every time I hear Tyler pause and then say something I imagine his facecam photoshopped onto a fitting meme

[@Maklop-102]

Imagine if you played Outer Wilds (not the shooter rpg game)

[@Leorenauld]

Did Tyler try outer wilds yet? just played and i would love to see him try it.

[@pianoforte611]

But what about the room at 13:09?

[@damie9412]

Nice

[@williamr5618]

0:35 what are these filenames

[@bensoncheung2801]

🔥🔥🔥

[@Solar_Glyph]

21:35 ummmm . . . 😳😳😳😳🥹

[@Solar_Glyph]

22:24 and 22:43 the next few sentences 🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭

[@egg-1863]

Hi Tyler❤️

[@KillidanHots]

Please more emberward

[@BaconNuke]

I'm sad this is over and confused why there were leftovers.. you'd think true 100% would use up all resources instead of there being a buffer.. Also there was a room on the ice island you never did.. like.. you just ignored it to walk to that one black diamond

[@nathansos8480]

What, like the keys? Because apart from keys, everything is kept.

[@Hamburger-xk5ds]

Sea and pie yummy

[@scooterpilot]

7h after post

[@potatojones4464]

I had fun with this game but it left a bad taste in my mouth. The only real issue I had with it is how easily you can cheese so many of the puzzles whether it’s by gaining the ability to fly over holes or the abilities of the Fire and Water islands and coming back later, or just straight up using an alternate solution. The final four puzzles felt so unsatisfying to solve because they all felt completely incorrect. Three of them I just abused the wind sprite and the last one I didn’t even open all of the permanent gates. There are also just additional puzzle elements added in so many puzzles that aren’t needed in any way whatsoever. While I had fun with it, I’m not sure if it was worth the wait.

[@jaboomc180]

under an hour gang!

[@ilovehumongoushonkers]

gamies