Disco Elysium is not just about politics

[@danily11]

I just want to point out that while Dros' "relationship" with Klaasje is more important plot-wise, his infatuation with Rene is likely more tragic. In the entire conversation that you have with him, the only aspect of the outside world that Dros shows any interest in is what happened to Rene. Its really easy to see that if things had progressed even slightly differently, he would be out there lawn-bowling with the other tin soldiers, just as angry, bitter, and political as he currently is but part of the world, not separate from it.

[@GameBooAdvancePlus]

Disco Elysiums deep and multi-layered characters compellingly contextualizes the experience; making it truly memorable.

[@gustavvaip1600]

looking too deep into game that was about you getting stick bugged at the end

[@peppermillers8361]

LMAO, this is a top tier comment.

[@TheNatcon1]

I love this game. I have seen about a dozen Disco Elysium analysis videos, many three times the length of this one. This is the best one though. I feel like so many are distracted by the shiny political topics of the game that they miss the main thrust, the heart and humanity. Learning to live in the failed, fallen world we all reside in, after the most important parts of our lives are long over. Well done.

[@justindenton599]

Been watching you for a long time. I'm glad you're still making videos. Boy we sure have changed in all these years huh? Hope you're doing well. Fantastic analysis by the way. Disco Elysium invites us to seperate ourselves from our baggage and paints a realistic world where reality is harsh and individual worldviews seldom if ever result in any actual change (unless you're willing to be a crusading mass-murderer of course, which seems to not be "in" at the present moment). The game questions our tendancy to attach philosophies and "-isms" to our self-defined identity without calling it's wrongheaded, if anything Disco Elysium celebrates our individuality by making these decisions contextual as "fun strategic rpg character building" mechanics. It feels good to belong, even just abstractly, to a people or ideology, similarly learning and changing is emotional and cathartic. Disco Elysium has captured this feeling of self-definition, rigidity, and opportunity for change better than any fictional work I've experienced. You can tell a video is expressive and challenging when you see a rambly comment like this, so I'll leave it at that. Wonderful concept, wonderful game. Looking forward to seeing more.

[@Beeritk]

One of the best takes on the game on KZbin Looking forward to more of your videos

[@lastni]

Its always nice to see you're continueing to make new uploads.you give a fresh perspective with everyone you make

[@Vivec]

Awesome video man, one of the best analysis videos of this game I've seen. Love your channel

[@abrogate666]

So glad you made this video. I've been butting some heads with people who think this is *THE* political game and "not seeing this is a great disservice to this masterpiece". No question the game explores the political spectrum but for me it was more context and a vehicle for the great human condition it explores in it's brilliant quirky way.

[@arngrim9159]

Excellent video, and a refreshing perspective.

[@Revacholiere]

Man, I was just thinking about this the other day after seeing some of the people on the disco elysium subreddit and the way they all act. I thought a similar thing to you, that the final suspect is someone who had nothing in their lives other than politics, and who was incapable of seeing _anything_ outside the lens of politics, and then seeing the absolute ruin that putting politics above yourself leads to. The parts of this video about the ex-dream gave me some new stuff to consider too After my first playthrough (in which I missed the final dream/the phasmid talk) I was initially annoyed that it seemed none of my actions actually had an effect on the world, but after subsequent playthroughs and this video, I know that it's sort of the point that one person can't change the world around them no matter how much of a zealot they are, but Harry can change himself massively depending on your choices.

[@Firaxo]

When there was an option to sleep in the bunker I passed it thinking that Harry can manage without sleep being sober now. I'm glad I did that because your explanation and the whole Ex thing opened some wounds for me and I feel even more connect to Harry than I did before. Fuck me.

[@lieutenantpolo]

Thank you for this great video man. I think disco elysium is absolutely a beautiful game and work of art, which really resonated with me on many levels. And this video helped me enjoy it so much more, especially in regards to the ending. Thanks again, and best wishes :D

[@adampalmer3673]

Excellent analysis. You've sold me on the game :)

[@kurthirsch4529]

Awesome essay on the game!

[@BerenFairchild]

Great video man.

[@Odesence]

brutalc upload and i missed it by four days wtf

[@superastral1]

Good video, great to see you growth from nitpicking MGSV crap to this. Cograts from Argentina.

[@SwedishTiger86]

Great video! This guy deserves much more views.

[@disguyovaheere8140]

yes it is or rhetoric wouldn't be part of gameplay/ability score. rhetoric isn't something you strengthen its a cop out for actually being intelligent

[@tee_toes]

wrong

[@EugenethePhilostopher]

I entirely agree with the message of this video. Thanks.

[@luksgar97]

Again another video of a great game, top tier taste bru.

[@SanderKivi]

Amazing review, truly great work! Just one point - estonians, wether left or right - are not communist friendly. Same for the whole baltics. Same for most post-soviet countries. It seems now a (I think) American amalgamation that left -> communism. Not an expert on political leanings, maybe it is a valid connection in the extreme, and the mentioned countries history with communism keeps them sane - all I can say is that it would be considered real inflammatory by post soviets, after what was done to them. Anyhow, glad i could see the story through your analysis , as i havent and probably wont play it myself.. actually now i might play.

[@Revacholiere]

I think ZAUM are at least sympathetic to communism since they thanked Marx in their acceptance speech at the BAFTAs (I think it was the BAFTAS, anyway). Maybe they just thanked him because they thought it was some interesting political analysis and not because they necessarily agreed with him on all of it, but that would be a bit of a strange thing to do.

[@DarkPotatoRus]

some people from the baltic states differentiate between USSR and communism as a whole :)

[@zeta280]

The problem with this game, beside the fact that freaking chapo trap house voiced some of the characters (a sub that is now banned from reddit, along with 50+ ban evasion mirrors for it), is that it criticizes every political ideology but communism. It might appear at first glance like communism is also being criticized, but its only a facet of it, or only the people that were instituting it. "Man weren't those guys in the past wacky when they tried communism out huh. If only we had a shot at it. Would have been totally different." That's this game main problem with communism. They did it wrong before, but the ideology itself is considered fine.

[@EugenethePhilostopher]

When you accept the communist ideology in the game, it is quite clear that the [whatever the trait that proposes it to you] is being heavily sarcastic - exactly in this sense ("it never worked, but SURELY it would work this time!").

[@jimbot1955]

@@EugenethePhilostopher yeah and I really don't think it's partisan. As i chose moralist way (centrist?) I felt really rewarded by game but I think with every replay feelings can be different. I know for sure that main character is written so he is really heavy on confirmation bias - it can be another source of illusion.

[@Ithidet]

it is political tho

[@jonnysac77]

I mean he doesn't deny that, he's just saying it's not about politics even if it comments on it a lot, there's a difference between something being a political and something being about politics

[@luksgar97]

Games are political

[@fluffy9071]

Everything's political you just didn't care as much before Edit: To clarify, I do agree with the video and I do think you did a great job as usual, even if this comment initially was incredibly mean-spirited. I just get very sick of the idea that there's nothing political about.. most video games, most media. It was political when you were an army soldier shooting brown people, you just didn't care as much.

[@phineasmurph9539]

Do you really know the implications of that username?

[@ECHtoplasm]

but guys the phasmid's right there :(

[@arngrim9159]

Nah

[@fluffy9071]

@@phineasmurph9539 Absolutely. I'm hairy and I wanna kill myself

[@fluffy9071]

@@stinnetbennet Was not my intention to be antagonistic? Also I'm not in college. Apologies if I came off rude, I didn't realize until a bit later.

[@fw2345]

"from communism to fascism to everything in between" Communism is fascism.

[@Canadish]

Incorrect. At least SOME people get to eat under facism. Subtle difference but I respect the communists unyielding commitment to the universal starvation policy in spite of 100 years of political failure.