Disco Elysium - A (Mainly) Spoiler Free Review

A number of people weren't able to watch my Disco Elysium video before of how spoiler heavy it was, so I re-cut it to make it watchable for those that have not yet played this incredible title. Enjoy.
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[@SkillUp]

Thanks to Displate for sponsoring this video. They make high-quality metal posters, so you can switch them around whenever you please. You can find the full range of stuff I recommend here: displate.com/skillup/collections?art=5bc5a8ccc88fd. Use their XMAS offer code or 'skillup' at check-out for a discount.

[@samyounes84]

1 hour....

[@GrizwoldFPV]

Should done this review first ... please learn from it hah 👍🏻 nice work . Yours sincerely one of your first division fan boys .

[@philliph.p.1985]

Hello Ralph i have been a long time fan of yours i absolutely love your content and it among young, AJ, and sir jim sterling has inspired me to try a go at the youtube game myself but thats not why im commenting the reason im leaving this is completely off topic and has nothing to do with this video for that i appologize the reason im here is because i want to reach out you and ask that you take a look, a critical look at warframe and railjack the release of it the content itself and good or bad give us your opinion thats all i ask i understand it can be hard to be critical of an amazing developer like DE and they are amazing but there are things about the state of the game that arent good for players or warframe. If you read this grammer shit show of a comment that alone is worth a thank you. And again thank you for all of the great content you and sam ...and thiq boy as well peace.

[@NattyDread011]

I found my works on Displate on multiple occasions. Their submission vetting process is a joke. They are completely covered for it of course, as long as it makes them money they don't care who is selling it. Very shady business. That being said, you and multiple other positive reviews convinced me to get this game. Starting journey right now...

[@Camdenandroid]

The only reason that I haven't bought the game yet is that I can't get into a game with a "helicopter with x-ray vision" viewpoint. I don't demand 4K graphics or photo-realistic characters but I have been playing true 3D games since Spyro for the Playstation so I can't go back to what came before that.

[@Inevitibility23]

The game isn't really about it external change. Games like Witcher 3 are about your decisions changing the world. The story of Disco Elysium is about identity. The internal change for your character IS the story. Everything is backdrop. Influences. What you choose to think and become is what it's actually about. The first and last scenes of the game are about finding yourself. THAT'S the point. The murder mystery is just a framework.

[@Inevitibility23]

@@EternalChampion1988 You play a pivotal role in the story. It is by definition a role playing game. Action clearly comes second.

[@wcw07]

This comment is what I was looking for. I'm playing it.

[@alixtron4000]

It’s the Twin Peaks of computer games

[@Inevitibility23]

@@alixtron4000 well, aside from Deadly Premonition

[@Andy-qf1kc]

I don't remember any important decisions in witcher 3 that altered the world

[@ladyvader3173]

Me: *approaching a woman on the streets* "Hello there Madam. Do you smoke by any chance?" Her: "No, sorry." Me: "I think you are lying. Give me a smoke." Her: "Excuse me? " *looksbaffled* Me: "Nevermind." Her: *staresindisbelief* Me: "So, I'm a police officer, are you in any need of my services?" Her: "Uhm, no." Me: "Perhaps your children are missing?" Her: "Are you a nanny now?" Me: "I might be a nanny. Where are your children, exactly?" Her: " Home." Me: " Yes, home SMOKING YOUR CIGARETTES PROBABLY!!!" Buy. This. Game.

[@michaeljoseph577]

Ahaha, I love it!

[@TheRealChrisLopez]

Me: Is your husband missing? Her: Excuse me? Me: Do you know where your cockatoo is right now? This is part of an ongoing investigation. Partner: *shakes head disapprovingly

[@TheRezaraki]

It made me laugh for a good amount of time that lady!

[@BibleStorm]

I chose the same options

[@billilililieee]

This all lead to the conclusion than I’m a fuckupatoo.

[@TheMaddJon]

I disagree with the whole, align yourself with the working class and end the strike sort of angle. The whole game isn't about changing the world, it's kind of the point, a static world you cannot really change, it's so much more personal, you're an individual, a brunt out cop trying to rebuild their life, everything else is just background. You aren't the hero of this world, you aren't fated to overcome the great evil, to uncover the great mystery of the world, it's just deeply human and personal, and that ties into the ending so well, which is why it felt more than fitting to me. SPOLIERS: I don't think it ended badly, it ended perfectly for the story it was telling, it wasn't some elaborate political hit, everything pointing to a conspiracy, but reality is much less elaborate, it's a story of jealousy, of pain, a lost cause and a man living in the relic of his old world. It's just another case, it's not your big break, some Poirot style grand mystery, it's just another body, in just another corner of the city. The real story is about a person struggling to find his place in the world, who burned out and drank himself into oblivion, like the deserter on the island, it's about entropy, about living in the past like the sniper, or building your own future like Harry/the player does over the course of the game

[@ariel-y-e-m]

I agree with this. The ending was very grounded in the world.

[@blueballedtech]

Yes, well said. I would also add, that the consequence of choice was one of the key aspects of the game, just not present in a traditional fashion. The consequence of choice happens within Harry's mind. The climax of this world already happened: "the Revolution," as you eloquently expressed, the world is meant to be static and unchanged; conversely, Harry's mind is the real journey, the real fight or adventure.

[@nodidog]

Who's Harry? I only know Tequila Sunset. Your description sums up my feelings too. I agree with everything he says in the review, but ultimately none of that stuff really mattered to me; the game was much more than just the story that was told, and I found the ending pretty perfect

[@chocolatekake6796]

This is kind of exactly what i was thinking. I agree that there was a lack of meaningful choice in how you approached the investigation, with things like the shivers-wall, and the game would have benefitted from a little more player agency in the way the particular pieces played out (I liked his idea about the gun) but the talk about ending the strike or god forbid installing rene as a dictator? That's not your role in the story. You're a cop who, whether or not you're a fascist, communist, centrist, or helpless mess, cannot meaningfully change the world no matter how grand your ideas. There was a lack of being able to act on that ideology though, I think the game would have benefitted from a bit more nonlinearity, at least in the middle.

[@maxducks2001]

I feel that the overlap in skills actually serves the game’s writing style really well. In my playthrough, I put my specialty skill as conceptualization, but since intellect was my highest stat, I would constantly get logic checks immediately afterwards to bring me back to reality and clarify the situation, almost like I was picking what information I needed to process out of a mess of ideas racing around my brain. And as someone who deals with that a lot in real life, it’s extremely engaging and surprisingly relatable.

[@benismann]

Volition can debate with basically everyone, especially after the first half of the game.

[@mackielunkey2205]

Fuck yes that’s my favourite part too, you could go for any build and you get different kinds of checks.

[@karlkhalife2111]

L

[@yuehan6711]

i just finished the game and i also specialized in conceptualization :)

[@eXponentia]

I also want to point out something kinda cool. I cheated to give myself maximum stats so that I could experience more of the game in one playthrough, and it resulted in me getting bogged down in back and forths between so many of my skills that the whole day would get away from me from simple interactions. It was kinda balanced in a way as even though my skills were high I could never get out of my own head to actually accomplish anything in a timely manner.

[@ShadyLurker16]

DRAMA: Write "Tower of Babylon" into your script, that will make you sound *clever*. ENCYCLOPEDIA: It won't, I can assure you.

[@Mike23443]

It's not Tower of Babylon. It's literally just Estonia. Most Eastern European countries are like this. A mixture of extremes only allowed to coalesce in relative peace and unison due to the overbearing lack of enthusiasm on the part of the people experiencing it. We don't care. We've seen it all. My neighbor stabs another over the weed farm he runs in the basement of the apartment building we all share, but it doesn't change the price of bread, so I don't care. Not my problem. I have enough of my own to care about the problems of others. It is what it is.

[@Frogotron]

You can actually be a centrist-there's a centrist thought that unlocks more centrist dialogue options, you just missed it

[@stanettiels7367]

55:44. I hope you paid Sam for his cameo singing part here.

[@Morden97]

I disagree with many of your complaints but I still like this review. The story in my mind is really great, I think it's because you're focusing too much on the case and less on the character. This game is more about your character than about the case. For me, the ending was AMAZING, I absolutely loved the significance of the bug, and also loved how the killer just has a stupid motive but almost causes the collapse of the small society the game is set in, most things aren't as grandiose as you would have liked the ending to be, and that's really in line with the entire game. I thought it was perfect for the game. The game is also super tense in parts owing to the dice rolls like you mentioned.

[@jasontang3519]

And if you read the previous case files, they're all pretty mundane cases which I believe foreshadow the case your solving

[@incollectio]

I wholeheartedly agree. The metaphysics of the pale with its existential implications was very thought-provoking; the ending (I experienced) was philosophically extremely satisfying; and the dream of Dolores was psychologically cathartic. These three aspects in the end made it one of the best endings I've experienced in a video game. You could really tell that the writers are well tuned in their understanding of psychology and philosophy. In the end, the game was, for me and my character, an existential philosophical catharsis. Before playing the game, I would not have thought that a largely text-based game could ever accomplish that.

[@BDtetra]

In my opinion, the case was not important at all, to your character. Yes it was a motivation to repair your mess, but ultimately the case was just something on the side of what truly matters, reforming your identity. This is why I think the cryptid is crucial to encounter (I feel bad for people who actually failed the dice check) since ultimately, the encounter with it represents the only "hope" there is in this messed up world you live in. You even have dialog options to basically say "who cares about the case? We found a cryptid!!" and I 100% agree with this line of dialog. While you messed wrecked havoc on everything around you before you get control of the character, you can manage to repair the havoc you created, but mostly only to the point of if you haven't caused the havoc in the first place. The cryptid encounter is one of the very few things you can do in the game that actually you yourself accomplish, not just fix. This is a personal journey. Its extremely similar to Planescape:Torment in every single way, like how your previous identity before waking up is static and cannot be changed, while slowly uncovering your past and feel disdain for your old self. The way the ultimate fight against the "last boss" is just a part of your journey, and in someways not spectacular. The point of the whole game is not to build up to the ultimate reveal of what you are facing, but the character's development of acknowledging their pasts and moving on, whether you choose to make amends or continue on the path of destruction is ultimately up to the player. Do I wish there was a last night briefing after all the journey you went through with Kim before going separate ways? Definitely. I was hoping I can spend 1 last night with him smoking on the balcony, this time you also smoking, going over all the crazy shit you went through. I wish there was a small epilogue where you actually show the photo very excitedly to Lena to prove that all her years she wasn't dreaming, and see her happy and proud of you for doing this for her. But nonetheless, this game is really not about the mystery of the murder, but truly about the journey along the way.

[@mydemon]

Thanks for the spoilers.

[@ariel-y-e-m]

Did people not like the killer reveal? I loved it, personally.

[@mix1ro]

"I hate everything about this game... 10/10"

[@jasondp3546]

This or returnal

[@BenetbenetLive]

This is every game review tbh

[@Slowdough99]

@@BenetbenetLive well many games are long and made up on many parts. It's delusional to think because you love or like a game that you love every solitary second and aspect the game provides. Thats just not reality. No game is flawless front to back. No game is perfect, so calling out those aspects is good critique. You can think a game is a 10 and still have issues. 10 doesn't mean perfect

[@BenetbenetLive]

@@Slowdough99 This game is broken, the economy and online mechanics are trash. the devs dont care at all, ive played it for 20000 hours and its complete shit.

[@questionablereasoning1718]

@Miraak Damn bro, they should give you a pulitzer prize for noticing the joke.

[@1982Obsidian]

The ending I got by doing a specific side-quest (to be fair I hunted down and did pretty much all of them!) was straight-up one of the most beautiful moments I had in gaming.

[@ToriKo_]

Could you go into more detail about that moment?

[@1982Obsidian]

@@ToriKo_ I won't go into detail as that would spoil it, sufficed to say, the Cryptid side-quest is well worth the effort.

[@maolchiaran]

@@1982Obsidian I'm late, but can you actually miss that? It's one of the best moments of the game, I feel sorry for anyone who missed it

[@1982Obsidian]

@@maolchiaran Well you can't 'miss' it, but it does take a fair bit of effort to get the pay-off. Totally worth it, and it still sends shivers down my spine thinking about it. A truly beautiful gaming moment that elevates such games to 'art'.

[@HirohitoSyndrom]

I agree with most of the statements and really liked listening to this video, i heavily disagree with SkillUps focus on the idea that this game should have allowed for more choice and consequences or that the ending being non satisfying is a negative. Assuming you would be able to change anything significant about this world within a Week after previously announcing your self as a drug addled fuck up is exactly the kind of insane requirement people seem to have towards modern Video Games for them to be considered good, this game very very clearly is not interested in providing that power fantasy, as you yourself point out in the ending of your video. The ending itself then to me seemed absolutely coherent with the rest of the game, and also said something about detective work that i found interesting, which you yourself again pointed out.

[@user-yg9rl4sq1x]

I agree, it was refreshing to have a well-built world that the player character took part in, as opposed to most modern story experiences which seem to make the world revolve around the player character. Most games that do this also then fall into a trap of writing around a framework that limits choice anyways if they plan on having sequels, as any true choice or consequence would create too many variables to make coherent sequels.

[@jspekter8410]

Yeah but *spoilers* The Giant Stick Insect That Caused the Murder With It's Pheramones........... That's sorta what I think he's talking about when he says he didn't like the ending ....or at least that's why I didn't like the ending ....

[@Exilis]

@@jspekter8410 That certainly wasn't Skill Up's interpretation.

[@jspekter8410]

@@Exilis shit ending

[@mydemon]

I agree, let's only have games where the protagonist cannot change ANYTHING about the world, because who cares about feeling. If every customer was people like you, we would never have gotten a Mass Effect 2, or a Witcher 3, or a Detroit: Becoming Human, or the plot branches in the Fallout games, etc. All SkillUp did is give two examples of things that are rather silly - finding your gun can only be done in this very precise manner, and also when you beat Measurehead up you still cannot progress. Regardless of what you think about the game, it's a bad look. Compare to Divinity Original Sin 2 where you have 7 ways to escape Fort Joy.

[@Strahinjatronik]

I have to strongly disagree with the Disco Political part of the review. For example, the sexist thoughts that appear are an indirect consequence of Harrier's failed marriage, as men who were left for their inadequacies by women tend to develop a hatred for them if they dwell upon a such turn of events in an unhealthy way. The same applies to women. We do experience the world from our own skin and brain and form our opinions mostly by processing the outside stimulations. Unfortunately some people tend to wind up in rather dark places that way. The developers seem to be very well read, educated and aware of the human condition. This applies to the other political stuff which is in the game too and it looks like it's a very discrete critique of everything. Otherwise, even though I disagree with almost all of the complaints listed, this is a wonderful review. I've been binge watching SkillUp videos lately and they are very informative. Edit: for grammar.

[@benismann]

Ideologies were made so shitty coz game developers are centrists and they want to show us how absurd radical ideologies are. Or maybe not, im not a DE game developer, I can't know for sure

[@blueballedtech]

I agree with your breakdown, and though I strongly disagree with the review, it's still beautifully crafted by Skillup as per usual.

[@somebrokefella5522]

@@benismann The ideologies are shown in its extrimities, even the centrist one. Hell, even the centrist political quest is the scariest political quest in the game.

[@NoisieBastrdd]

this game has affected me emotionally in a level i didn't thought it was possible. Feelings of loneliness, depression, abandonment, isolation, heartbreak, even suicide. Man, this game makes you not just to think, but to feel in a profound and contemplative way. Also the mystical ending made it all worth.

[@disheveling]

I think the ending was pretty 'disco'. You aren't meant to have this grand catharsis over the meaning of life and the answer to the pale's expansion, simply because that isn't what this game is about. You're meant to see a reflection of yourself in the bitter old man, a path that could have been taken as an answer to all of the inner turmoil. The entire game is a metaphor for our modern struggle, the paths we walk in the face of looming dread, the choices we make to keep going on, even when the outcome is likely set. The old man was the embodiment of the disenfranchised dreamer, a reflection of our protagonist. Bitter and filled to his core with hatred of a society he once dreamed of changing. Offer up any ideology or solution and he would very cleanly swat them down. To him, the wheels were set in motion when his eyes laid upon carnage. In recognizing his own cowardice, futility, degeneracy, he became disillusioned and petty, twisting his belief system, eventually doing himself in with a fart in the wind, a thinly veiled act of jealousy. An act that would shame his former self, betray the ideologies he once held. Time, hatred, isolation and stagnancy stripped him of his former self, his reason to fight in the world. You're made to sympathize with his story, relate to his struggle, and feel disappointed at his conclusion, or even fear at the possibility of his outcome being within you. You're made to understand his hatred, and even agree with large part of his rhetoric. An extreme answer to the existential dilemma, and yet, a fatal implosion under the aching for a revolution that only really served to fuel hatred and his own ego. You're made to move on from him, to move past this town and to the next, in acceptance of the meaningless of it all, content that your version of 'winning' in this inherently flawed system is to exist with a broken smile and a willing spirit to effect positive change, one painful day at a time. Dancing to the theme of a revolution that will never come to be. That's Disco Elysium.

[@JxhnNichxlls]

Excellent analysis.

[@rafaela00002]

Beautifully said

[@BDtetra]

In my opinion, the case was not important at all, to your character. Yes it was a motivation to repair your mess, but ultimately the case was just something on the side of what truly matters, reforming your identity. This is why I think the cryptid is crucial to encounter (I feel bad for people who actually failed the dice check) since ultimately, the encounter with it represents the only "hope" there is in this messed up world you live in. You even have dialog options to basically say "who cares about the case? We found a cryptid!!" and I 100% agree with this line of dialog. While you messed wrecked havoc on everything around you before you get control of the character, you can manage to repair the havoc you created, but mostly only to the point of if you haven't caused the havoc in the first place. The cryptid encounter is one of the very few things you can do in the game that actually you yourself accomplish, not just fix. This is a personal journey. Its extremely similar to Planescape:Torment in every single way, like how your previous identity before waking up is static and cannot be changed, while slowly uncovering your past and feel disdain for your old self. The way the ultimate fight against the "last boss" is just a part of your journey, and in someways not spectacular. The point of the whole game is not to build up to the ultimate reveal of what you are facing, but the character's development of acknowledging their pasts and moving on, whether you choose to make amends or continue on the path of destruction is ultimately up to the player. Do I wish there was a last night briefing after all the journey you went through with Kim before going separate ways? Definitely. I was hoping I can spend 1 last night with him smoking on the balcony, this time you also smoking, going over all the crazy shit you went through. I wish there was a small epilogue where you actually show the photo very excitedly to Lena to prove that all her years she wasn't dreaming, and see her happy and proud of you for doing this for her. But nonetheless, this game is really not about the mystery of the murder, but truly about the journey along the way.

[@gtatielmehdi369]

I failed the cryptid dice check and missed out on one of the best parts of the game

[@BDtetra]

@@gtatielmehdi369 yeah that really sucks that there was a dice roll for that. It should at least be an automatic pass if you beat the side quest for it. It definitely is one of the best parts of the game, at least for me. Regardless, even if you do lose the check, if you can acknowledge some of the points I made about how the "mystery" wasn't that important, and all it is is the plot point to move the story forward to a conclusion, then it really shouldn't bother you as much about the arguably lackluster ending. In the end, even if you did fail the dice check, that was still part of your journey to reformation.

[@gtatielmehdi369]

@@BDtetra I wholeheartedly agree with your points, to me it was clear that the focus was on a personal journey rather than solving a greater problem

[@Agiranto]

A good DM knows how to create a realistic and believable illusion of choice.

[@stanners1714]

Agiranto with pen and paper you don’t need an illusion of choice, since you actually can do whatever you want within the very wide scope of the rule book

[@Getreidekeks]

Stanners in a campaign it’s really fucking bad tho if you just let your players do whatever, you’ll still need to subtlety guide them towards your story/during it from time to time.

[@dakotadean1057]

Or you know, give you a choice, thats always an option besides railroading people.

[@Getreidekeks]

Dakota Dean I never talked about railroading but if you think sometimes guiding your players back in the direction the campaign is going is railroading I really can’t help you

[@alexbunge6168]

@@stanners1714 I think hes referring to the narrative choices in the story and plotline of campaigns as opposed to the physical actions you can take

[@kurdtcoben]

Seeing the very first dialogue choice around 3:50 actually made me buy the game. I'll watch your review later.

[@danielkean8180]

How is Disco Elysium?

[@NoisieBastrdd]

@@danielkean8180 an unforgettable journey, man. Buy it

[@thefitnessgeek8700]

Bro same

[@swoosh26]

I think you kinda missing the point of the game. It's more about going through this personal experience rather then changing the world around you

[@Mike23443]

It's ok, he failed the Inland Empire check. His is only at 2 at best. This game wasn't really aimed at him.

[@ssaberwolf]

The idea that "the personal is political" is the spine of the game, though -- right down to the crime and the motive behind it. There is no separating the two.

[@MrJagermeister]

The most frustrating bit in this entire hour is your omission of Sierra’s games when describing point-and-click as either Lucasfilm or Telltale. They may be a few years before your time, but series like Police Quest, King’s Quest, Space Quest, Hero’s Quest/Quest for Glory, The Colonel’s Bequest, etc. all set the stage for Lucasfilm and Telltale alike. They’re a precursor to an entire genre of games and they’re sorely missed now, with all but a King’s Quest reboot and somehow the pervasiveness of Leisure Suit Larry, due to their IP being locked up and forgotten. All that said, loved this review, and am enjoying the game on the PS5. Note to those with troubles - HOLD the X button, don’t tap it. It will move you to where you need to be to inspect or interact with items and people.

[@mydemon]

I was born in the early 80s, grew up on the games you mention, and I disagree. A reviewer doesnt 'owe' us a complete history of the genre in a review.

[@Lewdology]

Gotta drop in and say thank you for doing this. Really appreciate the spoiler free (ish?) version!

[@TheGerudan]

Yeah, I didn't wanted to watch the other version, since I'm strongly pondering about buying it after Christmas, so a mostly spoiler free review is very much appreciated.

[@Sandul666]

23:25 my first playthrough i had 2 HP. i lost one due to turning the light on in my apartment, and then I died when i failed skipping the bill. It was game over 30 minutes in. I was so shocked that it honestly impressed me.

[@youtubeaccount3829]

"Hugely disappointing ending" mate are you taking the piss? This is like watching True Detective and complaining the case was boring. It was never about the case, the ending of Disco Elysium is absolutely perfect, it provides resolution for the case (and more accurately the political backdrop), then for the surreal elements and finally for the protagonists past. It's absolutely a masterclass of an ending, even if it is railroady.

[@svo47]

And it is railroady, because you did detectives job - excluded all possibilities but one. Solid casework and a lot of running around.

[@thesii213]

Yep. Strongly agree and well stated.

[@iy42]

It's subjective, of course. I really enjoyed playing the game but felt incredibly let down by the last 30 minutes. Might as well be one big cut scene, considering how irrelevant I felt as a player once I got to the island. Railroaded is one thing, but if you specifically feel that you're being railroaded into choices that wouldn't make sense for the character you've spent dozens of hours building then that's another thing. But it's very personal, everyone's playthrough looks a bit different. For me the murder investigation was the least interesting thread in the narrative (which I felt wasn't accidental) so when the game immediately ended on that note it felt jarring and unsatisfactory.

[@thesii213]

@@iy42 Hmmm. I'd have to disagree. They crafted an ending that addressed the murder, the political complexities of Revachol, and the supernatural (via the Phasmid) all at once. It tied the game's theme's together in quite clever fashion. As for railroading or choices that wouldn't make sense for your character... maybe? I mean, maybe your Harry would have thrown it all away and done something else with his life. There were ample in game opportunities to do that. And the events at the end game Tribunal with the RCM do play differently depending on how you played your game. How would you have liked the game to have ended? What other choices would you have liked to see?

[@iy42]

@@thesii213 @thesii213 Yeah, again I think it's very personal which is always the tough thing with this sort of game. I absolutely agree that the ending is very neat at tying up threads, which is also why I personally didn't like it that much. What I enjoyed about my playthru up to that point was how messy it felt in comparison to other detective stories. I liked that my character wasn't really the focus or that significant, I liked that there were all these weird side missions that didn't feel the need to connect to the main story every time, and I liked that the main story wasn't that exciting. So with all that, when the last few minutes suddenly started tying things up nicely it felt kind of wrong to me, and the very end being all about me and how well (or not) I did felt incredibly off in a game that does such a good job up until that point of not over-focusing on the player character. I guess it all felt very normal, tidy, clean to me. I wasn't really hoping for resolution or feedback so the whole tribunal bit seemed like a weirdly straightforward final event for a game that had been so quirky and delightfully off-beat up until that point. As far as in-game opportunities I could have taken, I've only played it once so far so I obviously only saw my narrow portion of it. I'm sure I missed a lot, but I definitely felt like I was a lot happier with my options up until the island. That's just my gut feeling after finishing it yesterday though, I'm definitely going to play again and focus a lot more on building the character and worry less about advancing the story, which I think will probably make me feel better about the ending.

[@Argo.nautica]

I really appreciate the whole video, but especially how you wrapped around to the nihilist/existential themes. A lot of the complaints you were elucidating, to me, strengthened those themes and I enjoyed that. The world is the world, you as an individual can't do much to change anything about that. The only thing you control is you, and that only barely and arguably not even that. Even the same insect stuff played into the game world to me, given the whole Pale subplot/lore building in the game. A lot of people seemed to miss the Pale stuff. You get a whole lot more of this with high Shivers and Inland Empire. I don't think it undermines the existential themes, but just plays into the world being the world, and you sure are in the world, if only that.

[@NoisieBastrdd]

Ancient Reptilian Brain voice actor is also Sikth band singer, i recognized him immediatly. Great voice work from him.

[@okinawa1312]

Didn't knew this band. thx Listened to "Scent of the Obscene"...wow, holy shit.

[@Heyoka86]

2019 has been a stellar year for games. Disco Elysium, Outer Wilds, Pathologic 2...

[@RM22201]

Heyoka 2019 was an extremely slow year for games. Compare it to any other year and ya got far far less quality games

[@alexandermaxwell2919]

yes, omg. I haven't played pathologic yet, but disco elysium and outer wilds are fighting for the game of the decade spot. What else can come even close? Talos principle? Maybe.

[@RM22201]

Xander Walker as much as I love Disco Elysium, I think that Return of the Obra Dinn is a better mystery experience. That’s my favorite game of 2018.

[@alexandermaxwell2919]

@@RM22201 i'll def check it. I liked talos principle, the witness, antichamber, original sin 2, disco elysium, planescape torment. what's the change i'll enjoy the game? I don't like games such as myst or riven.

[@ItsSomeDeadGuy]

@@RM22201 Depends on the kinds of games you play. If you only play AAA crap, then yeah, it's gonna seem mediocre. It was a pretty incredible year for Japanese and indie games though.

[@TheMarcHicks]

I went into this game entirely blind, with one of the 3 pre-made characters. Best decision I ever made. 40 hours into the game, & I am LOVING it. I also love the main case. It has undergone wonderful twists & turns......but I think I am about to blow the whole thing wide open.....or am I?!?!

[@benismann]

With 40 hours in - probably yes also premade characters are cool but can you really roleplay if u don't made your own character?

[@thorgran3]

Another thoughtful, deep, review, which is exactly what I have come to expect from you. Bravo :) That said, this time's different. This time you reviewed one of my favorite games of all time. I fucking LOVE this game. I was, of course, trepidatious. This time you were reviewing something I really care about. What if you didn't get what makes this special to me? I needn't have worried at all. You are a great reviewer. You have obviously spent the time to try to get what this game is about. Both the highs *and* the lows, which isn't always expressed clearly. Again, thank you. Your reviews are some of my very favorite, anywhere. Stay the course man. You're killing it :D The game. Man oh man. This game. I have *never* had so many unique and unusual experiences in a single video game. It's deeply, powerfully immersing in a way I have never experienced before, but is strangely one dimensional at the same time. Still and all this is in my top 5 of all time. Cheers mate, thanks for reviewing my favorite game. :D

[@BlacJack22]

It was a thorough review but I'm confused on how he says the game forces you to be extreme. My playthrough I was a centralist and got though ideas of something along the lines of boring cop and someone who is very neutral to the polars of communism, libertarian, etc. You can absolutely be in the middle and the game even gives you though ideas you can cement in your skill build for doing exactly that, as it does for any other character choice.

[@restinginn9906]

One of the coolest parts about the game was when a thought bubble appears that makes you question your own beliefs and views on society. For example, there was one about social change and whether slow, progressive change or radical revolution is the best course of action for meaningful positive change. On one hand, if you desire change above all else, you may have to be willing to sacrifice lives to attain it. That's not inherently obvious so the game helps you realize it. When you desire change from the status quo, generally revolutions occur and this leads to bloodshed as the opposing sides fight for their respective interests. This leads to great social change but requires a sacrifice. On the other hand, if you are okay with slow, progressive change in small steps and value peace above all else, it may feel like no change is happening at all. Indeed, the game tries to show that promoting this type of "change" is sometimes the same as standing by the current system. One could argue that some of these views might be misrepresented or that there might be a false dichotomy. That too is possible. But I found these ideas some of the most interesting and profound and they really made me question what I believe in and what is better for society. Crazy that a video game can do that.

[@Andy-qf1kc]

You sound like a communist. This game feels like a coping pill for little wanna be communist

[@adachezero]

Thanks for doing this, I really wanted to watch the original review, but couldn't bare to see any spoilers, as I won't be able to play it until January!

[@Mike23443]

"Most of it is so polar, so extreme, that it can only be read as caricature." Welcome to Eastern Europe. This is literally how our daily lives are. There's no caricature about it. America isn't that far behind. You're uniquely poised to utter this sentence solely because you're Australian.

[@MrDavidRosca]

@50:13 - "I go over there. I pull it out. Done" Exactly what I said to the judge.

[@pneumonoultramicroscopicsi4065]

What lol what do you pull out

[@MrHash911]

For all the depth that you have found in the game but there are certain level amounts of nuances that you have missed. When you said that players that want to be the straight laced character that wouldnt want to work for a corrupt official can't get the gun back, that is the point. Some of your choices will be detrimental to you but you do them because they are the right thing to do. The choice you make there is keeping your morals but you decide to take the punishment of losing your gun for the sake of your morality. As for shivers the reason the check gets easier is that shivers is your streetwise or how much you know the city, as you do quests on the riverside you get to know the city more and more which is translated by the check becoming easier. Great review captured alot of the nuances of the game but I didn't want the ideas behind the mechanics to be lost.

[@lemonlazer5687]

Revachol was the most addictive, educational and immersive city i have ever stepped foot in. Anything ZA/UM produce now is on the same bar as a from software game.

[@TimmacTR]

This game is Art

[@timmy3822]

I just bought this, it's been on my watch list for a long time. The thought system seems like genius in terms of allowing you to roleplay an identity, even if the main story progression is somewhat linear. Thanks for this long review Ralph, a great video.

[@Q101-k4p]

I personally think Disco Elysium has the best ending in all video games I've played aside from maybe The Last of Us. The conversation with the "unexpected character"(for sake of spoiler) was the most beautiful conversation I've seen in a video game. If you don't look at at for a murder mystery but a absurdism existentialism experience, it makes much more sense.

[@aschelocke5287]

This guy spoiled the unexpected character in his video as if it was no big deal at all

[@Severian1]

Thanks a lot for this Ralph, I'm deep in the game but I still want to hear your thoughts on this one, absent spoilers. I love this game so much, the writing is devilishly clever! The Shivers part though was a letdown.

[@ThePvPDestiny]

I feel like all your complaints come from you coming in expecting a different game than what it is.

[@paulevans6076]

'"Dreams in waking life' Okay... what the fuck is that?" The way you said that so casually absolutely cracked me up.

[@maximilian3394]

It's now on PS4, I can't wait to check it out

[@steffithemad8327]

I played it, it blew my mind. I chose electrochemistry as my beginning skill, I won't tell you what it does but I went through this in my life personally, it was surreal.**** does Cuno care?

[@ahmedamine24]

Shit man, sorry to hear that. Stay strong.

[@rodavlasdtgeirke387]

Cuno doesn't fucking care.

[@jonnyfavors7585]

Cuno dont give a fuck son!!

[@kevinuribe318]

😵‍💫

[@Wraiven22]

7 years sober and same 🙏🏻 I am playing through the game now and am actively avoiding every addict behaviors the game offers like the plague

[@Macapta]

HUH!?!? Why haven't i seen this review until now? Been watching this channel for ages.

[@TupDigital]

Im on Day 5 rn. I love that my thought cabinet is totally different than yours (except of course for Volumetric Shit Compressor) this game rules and ive never played anything like it.

[@NickHunter]

"Get your shit together"

[@MartialLoreNZ]

I think Disco Elysium is an absolute triumph given that the developers got so much right, handled such enormous complexity so adroitly, and exercised such mastery of art, invention, and gameplay in just their first game, on what must have been an extraordinarily tight budget compared to some much bigger developers who achieve so much less.

[@philjohn2649]

This is a wonderful review of a challenging game. I have long admired your concise review skill. 1UP to you!

[@BravoShield]

I appreciate the edit.

[@DV-ou1yu]

Yea your first review was an instant skip. Hate spoilers. Also I thought the story and dialogue of Vampyr lifted it above a lot of RPGs even the Outer Worlds. Something like Vampyr kept me more interested than flow of Fallen Order, but both are good. Look forward to Disco if its that damn good.

[@knavenformed9436]

Vampyr wasn't THAT good. Sure the indivitual people were interesting, but the story was generic and ended hastily. Also you could screw up a good ending a little too easy.

[@DV-ou1yu]

@@knavenformed9436 I will agree the main story falls off towards the end.

[@lord_voldemort44]

vampyr was absolute garbage

[@thesii213]

Did you try this one? It's so so good.

[@mattiasandersson2709]

Haven’t seen what you’ve been up to since the division, but remembered you and came in to drop a like for my favourite Ozzie :) Great to see you’re still doing well.

[@PlebCentre]

when a review is so good you watch it twice

[@pneumonoultramicroscopicsi4065]

Rerorerorerorerorerorerorerorero

[@rogue4340]

Rero rero candy

[@TheChannel1978]

Really liked your review of the skill tree in the game and the meaning behind it. Your review of the game is as intelligent as the game itself. If there was such a thing as a game review club, you might be the host of it!

[@BarisYener]

After finishing this game and playing many of other games before, I must say that this was the deepest experience I've ever had playing a game, watching a series / movie. It got under my skin. Cudos to the game developers for taking us on such an epic journey. BTW: You can read what each skillpoint means, when you just click on that "info" - which will explain every skill in detail and even tells you what difference the outcome of putting too many points or too less into it can make. Nothing there is overlapping and every skillpoint is truely unique!

[@dragonflight2468]

I love the skills so much. They are like party members that have your back, but their own agenda. The pyche skills are some of my favorites. Violion is pure willpower and will keep you on the case. Empathy is my favorite, gives you a look into other people. Inland empire is a riot. No, grandpa, startup companies didn't fail cause a curseeeee. Espirits de corp IS THE BEST. Not only it gives you random looks into your pricent, but it also tells you what kim is thinking at times. It really makes you feel like you have this empathic bond with each other.

[@Grim_Pinata]

Yesss, of all the amazing things Disco Elysium does and every unique idea it brings to the RPG genre, the way the skills are basically written as actual characters in dialogue with their own personalities and goals, who argue with one another and all try to push you in different directions, sometimes helping you and sometimes hindering you... It's just so creative and entertaining, and it creates this feeling no other RPG I've played has achieved; where I want to invest in skills not only because of their mechanical value, but because I loved reading what they had to say and conversing with them. Electrochemistry and Shivers were two of my faves!

[@michaeloconnor1281]

Only 5 hours in. So fucking good. Amazing. And funny. And....relatable, the writers seemingly captured my life of former debauchery fuckin fantastically. It's hilarious, in a very painful way.

[@DurvalLacerda]

The skills aren't tools, they are YOU. They are your inner voices.

[@Errol246]

Dude, even mentioning the stick insect is a huge fucking spoiler

[@aschelocke5287]

He didn't seem to understand that AT ALL 😁

[@TheDethBringer666]

The stick bug is the sweet end note to an absurd journey but much more than I could ramble about. After wading through an impossibly miserable/extreme world, this fantastical creature affirms the world's absurdity and refutes the skepticism. Every mad thought is validated, every cause justified in hope because the impossible dream is real. Yet what you dream is almost certainly impossible to someone else. Who's dream is True? Your existence is absurd, freewill is an illusion, and the only one who can determine meaning is you. Good luck.

[@TheNickster1212]

This is such a beautiful synopsis

[@John-gy3lj]

Thanks for redoing this for us Skill

[@deyensi]

Just played this game for the first time and absolutely adore it. One notable thing, as has probably been mentioned, the shivers check at 30:28 is made possible by doing side missions which add bonuses to that check. There are like 5. So it certainly seems at first blush that you are soft locked, but it’s a (rather rough I think) way of the game telling you to do some of the side stuff.

[@awesomesquares7023]

originally heard about this game because i heard the chapo guys were in it but then it completely fell off my radar. so cool to hear how impactful it is, i’ll definitely be checking it out now

[@ijustsawthat]

The Church quest line itself is enough fun to justify the whole game. Egghead did nothing wrong.

[@JxhnNichxlls]

(Says nothing)

[@hyrel668]

Amazing review and all, but I'm still waiting for your FFXIV review in order to have my friends watch it and convince them to get on the game! :P

[@malxmusician212]

during all complaints of the story ending, i was saying "yes, but" and then repeated all the points about existentialism that SkillUp discussed at the end of this video. i loved the ending because of its existentialism, i found it extremely satisfying.

[@kensmusic1134]

30:28 I get your point, and I had similar feelings when I first played the game. But after subsequent playthroughs, I think the modifiers make up for it. There are a lot of modifiers you can get on this check (one for going on a date e.g.), and so many that you don't have to save scum it. Just pursuing other leads, and exploring the world will most likely lead to a modifier, and I think this deliberate design choice shouldn't be ignored in this instance.

[@revengeofthesynth5430]

"To play a game is to impress our will on its potential outcomes." Your reviews are typically well-written but this stood out to me. One of those sentences that is so concise and well-crafted, it almost makes the concept it's illustrating seem more profound than it really is. Excellent

[@seansherman327]

Relax

[@Mike23443]

I would argue that it many ways it is the opposite. Looking at every game in this way severely limits your ability to perceive stories that games sometimes try to impress upon you. Sometimes, it's not about being Trevor being you on a killing spree in gta V. Sometimes it's about YOU becoming Arthur in RDR2. The best games are not the ones that allow us to impress our will on their potential outcomes. The best games are the ones whose potential outcomes can impress their will upon ours. It's a far greater achievement for a video game to change your mind, than for you to change the ending of a game.

[@gustavohuehue7460]

@@Mike23443 i'm late, but i couldn't agree more with you, i mean, even when a game tries to let you guide your playthrough, you're still being guided by the set of rules that the devs have put into the in game choices, after all it's THEM the ones who craft these games, i think that giving too much freedom to the player hurts a lot of the impactful moments that could've happen if the devs efforts went into a more restricted and realized world.

[@Mike23443]

@@gustavohuehue7460 that's not necessarily exactly what I meant to say. I look at it more from a persuasion perspective. It's usually pretty easy for you as a player, and by extension your player character, to persuade the npcs and characters around you to follow your direction, to ally with you, to help you, or even to drastically change a character's ideological position, usually in order to pacify them and lead them away from the path of evil, etc. I'm not really talking about shifting a game's direction to be more linear in order to introduce more nuance or concise storytelling. I'm talking about crafting stories and characters in games, open world or linear, that challenge a player's ideology or preconceived notions for example and persuading them to change their mind or position on a subject. Or by leveraging a player's investment in their character or other characters in scenarios which, instead of harnessing a player's emotional state, choose rather to project an emotional state onto the player. Two examples, one mild and one strong. In th first walking dead telltale game, by the end of the season, you engage in a fist fight with a guy who kidnaps Clementine and holds you at gunpoint. After some severe shit talking, and some serious vitriol, you catch a break and mange to struggle against him. Near the end of the fight, you end up grabbing the guy by the throat and proceed to choke him out a prompted by a button mash qte icon. Eventually that icon disappears, you lose the grip, the guy fights back, and Clementine saves you by shooting him while he's on top of you. However, there is an alternate course of action. If it is the case that your investment in those characters grows to such an extent, and your hate towards the guy is so strong that you would lose yourself in anger and continue to mash the button after the prompt vanishes, you do, in fact choke him to death. The game may throw you into a state of heightened rage and anger that extends your actions beyond the games instruction. I find that fascinating. Another example and one which I personally took really hard, as it affected me severely, was in The Last Of Us. Discounting the fact that despot being quite a clever guy able to often forsee a plethora of upcoming plot twists in most conventional stories, that game got me so comfy and drunk on escapism, that I completely didn't see the most obvious outcome coming. Ellie, the girl you take car of, is immune to a zombie disease. She wants to find the fireflies so they can use her to make a vaccine. You spend the whole game looking for these guys and when you find them, they take her away and knock you out. When you wake up, you learn that in order to make you feel vaccine, she has to die. Pretty obvious. You could surmise as much way earlier in the game's playtime. But I was so entranced by it, that I didn't even think about the future. I was just enjoying the now. Much like Joel was, able to have a surrogate relationship with a pretend daughter that he was never able to have. As soon as I woke up in the hospital I knew Ellie was about to die and that hit me like a ton of bricks. And Joel was having none of it. Im not a father, I hate kids, I'm a sociopath and generally a misanthrope, but Joel has so convincingly taken over my emotional state, that it felt to me like, rather than Joel being my character, I became his. He had the reigns, and I was being ridden. I have never experienced such unconditional hatred and rage than in the final hour of the last of us. I slaughtered everybody, no questions asked. It's like I was in a war trance. This has never happend to me in my life. I'm a pretty non violent guy b and nature. I would rather talk things out than fight. But that's me. Joel doesn't do that. It was surreal and fascinating. That's more of what I mean. That kind of profound usage of the medium of video games. Getting a player invested into a world, it's characters and their stories, and then using that to cast a player as a character in that world, rather than letting him be a god of it.

[@gustavohuehue7460]

@@Mike23443 I think that my view still apply to what you're saying though, but now i understand the lenght of what you said. Like, in tlou that you mentioned, i cannot imagine you having the choice of letting ellie die or not killing marlene, because it would rip off the feeling of selfishness yet relief of saving the one person that holds you onto this world on top of killing a bunch of people and ruining a possible cure for the infection, simply because you want to protect that person, and in order of protecting her, you lie, ignoring her desire to kill the infection that have been killing everyone she loves just to not have her feeling betrayed and seeking for death again, i'm glad to see how you mentioned tlou, since it's one of my favorite games/endings of all time. Oh, and i haven't even played disco yet, so if i have the time and will to do it someday maybe my view on multiple choice games would chance, i still like games like detroit tho, but i can't force myself to play them more than once, if i have to make my own path, i'll make just one that i'll remember, even if i could feel bad for some of them (THE WITCHER 3 SPOILER//////////////like ciri dying in my playthrough mainly because i accepted the payment from her father by finding her).

[@shadowpleaser8312]

"The bookshop owner shows us a picture of optimism and hope in a town that no longer has any." Did we play the same game?

[@colmcorbec7031]

Thanks for the good review! Love the strange strange game.

[@TheCivildecay]

I love how the skill "portraits" all look like terrifyng monsters from Silent Hill :D

[@benismann]

A U T H O R I T Y

[@virgosruler]

how much work he puts in to his reviews...deserves respect and makes other reviewers look like amateurs...

[@alexandermaxwell2919]

neverknobest makes reviews of similar and sometimes even higher quality. Sadly, he deleted his planescape torment review:(.

[@JarvisSensei]

Cannot wait to play this when it comes to PS4 in the new year. Thanks for the review man also Happy Xmas to you and yours

[@incollectio]

I strongly, STRONGLY encourage that people who are interested in the game DO NOT view this review on the spots with spoiler warnings. There are major spoilers there that I think would have significantly hindered my experience of the ending of the game.

[@Mario_bland]

I died in the first room by turning on the light and having a con of 1. lol

[@DashingPunkSamurai]

I dig your reviews for the same reason I dig the game, it doesn’t talk down to you. It speaks to you with a respect that you understand the concepts and information presented. There is more thought put into your reviews than a thousand of any other “journalist” site. I get infinitely more out of your reviews than any other

[@XLR8Games]

I actually knew what Savoir Faire was before this game haha. But I also love Skill Up's Elegant Verbal Savoir Faire!

[@seatheparade]

I'm on the earlier part of the game, and I love it so far but it's good to know more about what the stakes of different choices and internalised thoughts are and I appreciated your thorough analysis! I might revisit your other spoiler heavy video on this after I finish it, but I do intend to do at least 1 more playthrough yo know how a vastly different character would play out. Right now my character has high intellect and good psyche, but will die if someone looks at him wrong and is a little slow on motorics, was thinking of making a buff meathead with high empathy and inland empire next

[@PlayerJackPL]

(Spoilery): If you don't like the ending it means you didn't really pay attention to all the worldbuilding. The culprit is a perfect product of the era he lives in. It makes sense, you just have to take a holistic approach. The trigger pull was just the icing on the cake. His motive is as good as any other. That's what makes him feel human and not like a character that's been written solely for the detective's pleasure of 'having solved' the crime.

[@aaronconnell2152]

*spoilers* Thats exactly what he is. Unfortunately my mind made a story more satisfying and better than the actual reveals which were (likely intentionally) uninteresting and unfulfilling. Klasse was the 3rd merc(nope they are revealed deus ex machina style to be strangers you never met and one extra were never even hinted at) the ultimate killer was the communist student you never meet but find much evidence of(no hes a softie you can meet locked behind a skill check) the killer is again another randomer not even hinted at. The door that leads to the fort that you know is important being perma locked is nonsense. The phasmid is insane and breaks the world, the little cop meeting at the end is awful stilted

[@aaronconnell2152]

I think its a typical case of devs and writers slinging too many plates at once that are fantastic and engaging then open up a world of possibilities but then the 3rd act absolutely collapses, they come crashing down and they wrote resolutions into tiny nonsensical conclusions that were deus ex machina, hidden characters not hinted at, and a fantastical creature that goes against everything else in the game. Until then logic eventually pulls back the midleading lynch-esque goings on in the reveals of these distractions, its not ghosts in the intercom its literally a prerecorded message, its not a dead woman on the pay phone its just calling your ex, crab man is an atheltic insane guy etc. The phasmid breaks the realism, that was supposed to be all encompassing in this brutal shithole ghetto, its not hope its poor writing. They couldn't bring it home

[@itsaUSBline]

​@@aaronconnell2152sounds like you really missed a lot of the themes and world-building, my guy.

[@aaronconnell2152]

@@itsaUSBline how did you read my 2 comments and get that. The phasmid broke the games internal logic and realism

[@gankhef5564]

Looks like a pretty fascinating game. I personally find much of existential philosophy to be barely disguised nihilism, and detest it. I feel it has contributed to a general surrender of philosophy. We are living in an era in which philosophy has largely been reduced to mere academic curiosity, and it is not pretty. We are racing toward the brink of extinction as a result of the short-sighted materialism that has sprung up in the absence of philosophical thought. I am not claiming that the great existentialist thinkers were proponents of materialism, only that their impact on the study of philosophy has made a great deal of room for it. Wonderful review, especially your thoughts on the ending. It makes me very happy to see these ideas being discussed.

[@tilly3702]

Cringe

[@itsaUSBline]

I'm sure you think classical Greek philosophers were "great men." Gag.

[@odell191]

Man, your reviews are SO damn good. Please do 'Boneworks' soon, I would really dig that.

[@Tommy-TwigFan]

I think Skillup didn't understood that what the game is trying to tell us is that some things are out of our hands and we just have to accept them. The final npc is basically what Harry could be if he is still into his whole past. Not everything has a clear answer or is easy, I think the ending is perfect and this game is obviously not a detective game, more like a game where we play as someone who is a cop. The ending fits perfectly with the whole world DE show us and is trying to tell us, and there are MULTIPLE hits of the ending across the town, so is not that cheap at all. The whole political sides are very well done, what you said that you can't be neutral is a lie basically because i was literally neutral my first run. Also, the whole locked on one skill check is just a way the game tells you to keep playing and getting more points or even use the correct clothes and drugs. I agree with some things you said but I think overall you missed the point of the game (again) imo...

[@stanettiels7367]

I’m a console peasant but I can’t wait for this to come to console. It’s not even a genre I’m usually interested in but this just looks and sounds like a perfect entry point into this genre.

[@vladdracul2379]

The creators just praised Marx and Engels in their acceptance speech for their Indei award they just got.

[@stanettiels7367]

Vlad Dracul Well although I disagree with Marx’ and Engels’ ideology, I still find the subject matter fascinating. Particularly in a video game.

[@khoroshoorange]

You should also give Planescape torment a Look. Even though it has fairly boring Combat which the game did not need.

[@mduckernz]

@@vladdracul2379 And? Is that supposed to be a reason to not support its development? Seems rather petty.

[@WorldinRooView]

34:37 - Such an uncommon discovery that another review literally criticized that you could not sleep outside with the hobocop unlocked.

[@majikku-chan]

Thanks for the effort to re-cut it, Ralph. Appreciate you ❤️

[@yescommander2458]

+1 I like to hear Ralph's take on things so I was a little bummed that the first version of this review was a hard pass for me. I already own the game but haven't had time to get into it. Spoiler timestamps for the win.

[@tijgerlil]

This is beautifully reviewed. Thank you.

[@chalamets]

i haven’t played it yet so i’m watching this 4 years later, but the jedi fallen order shade is so funny 😂

[@connorhawkins3509]

I liked a lot of your earlier videos. I'm not sure if I watched your first Disco Elysium video, or it was this one I watched. But your script felt over indulgent while missing many the interesting aspects of the game completely. Your analysis felt shallow as if you did not take the time to play the bulk of it. Idk, I probably saw your first one. I had a similar ending experience of not enjoying the ending. However, I think the larger draw of this game is that it causes you (as a person, not the player character) to stop to think about your available actions, what additional actions you'd like to take, and what's comparable to modern/semi-modern philosophy. This studio actually took a stab at trying to define (or rather enact) something like socialism as more than the textbook definition of "the means of production shall be owned by the workers." Their interpretations are not ground breaking - it's no Nietzsche or Kant. But they, as a studio, took the risk to put forward strong and intellectual points of view that demand your attention. Your focus on the skill systems and some specific writing samples that weren't perfect (there was a lot of writing in this game) made me dislike this review. You could've just posted the last 5 minutes and it would have been just as good.

[@restinginn9906]

I think there is some level of pseudo-choice in Disco, but there are also examples of very real consequences to your actions too. Warning, spoilers below don't read if you haven't played. For example - if you don't end up saying the right things to the woman in the cave she ends up killing herself. I guess one could argue that it doesn't really matter plot wise if she does kill herself or not. But it's the feeling that I did the right thing that mattered to me in that moment, not necessarily that I drove the plot in a certain direction. If you don't find the bullet in the autopsy, you don't realize early whats going on. That discovery shapes how you play the rest of the game for sure. I mean in the end you discover it anyway but again, the feeling that I discovered something that others may have just brushed aside as not important, makes you feel like this awesome super cop detective. Also, I agree with the part about measurehead. The crowd should have reacted and did something different. But man, it felt amazing to kick his racist ass and a 360 spin kick at that, I mean, it doesn't get funnier or more badass. I guess even if some of the choices don't impact the plot long term, they still impact how you play the game, what you know, the reward of doing the right thing, etc. That part makes it so much more immersive. I guess I'm a little conflicted about this haha but I still loved the game overall.

[@TT3R0o]

Phenomenal analysis! Very good work my friend.

[@DajuOnYoutube]

I want to get to this game one day because I really believe that it's impossible to appreciate it this way without experiencing it yourself. It's kinda strange to feel like I can't see what's special about it as an outsider while also being so certain that it is there and that I'm going to love it when I play it myself. So I'm kinda lacking in hype about jumping into it while it also feels like a shame that I'm missing out on it's hidden greatness. Like I said, it's a strange feeling.

[@jimmyramos1989]

feels like a David Lynch film. cant wait to play it on PS5

[@benklein8802]

Brilliant work as always Ralph. So, When’s the destiny 2 review

[@kanjiNaem]

still waiting for sekiro...

[@lazygenie5616]

Was very interested in this game But decided I would wait and see and after 2:10 seconds I am sold. Going to steam right now.

[@adamlantos2319]

Man, I'm 45 minutes into the video and he's shitting all over it :D

[@Dingus7696]

Finally. Planning on buying the game so I didn't watch the previous one. Thanks Ralph !

[@Hudson316]

SkillUp: "Lucasarts and Telltale" Sierra: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@robotempire]

Dude wow there is still so much spoiler in here lol

[@aschelocke5287]

You can also go inside the feld building via the pipe/entrance below it, if you fail the shivers check.

[@Russtick92]

Cheers for doing this Skill Up. I really enjoy your reviews but naturally spoilers for a game like this aren't ideal.

[@AZRogue]

I'm always looking for great games to play, and I trust Skill Up when he says a game is good--even if I don't agree when he thinks a game is bad. I trust him so much that after listening to his intro I paused the video and bought this game. His intro about its quality was all I needed.

[@xXSuReaLXx]

make sure to come back to this comment once you finished the game

[@PlayerJackPL]

I believe Disco Elysium treats racist, facist and misogynist stances properly. It knows their ludicrousness and laughs them off.

[@benismann]

And everyone else is too

[@agustintoro597]

I take that you already know that you can see the description of the skills by clicking on the info that's just beside the overview that shows you the basic description.