How to Beat Sakuna of Rice and Ruin with CULTURE! - Gaijin Goombah

[@GaijinGoombah]

Thanks for all the kindness everyone! I absolutely love this game. Please come check it out on stream!

[@TheRezro]

Fun fact: Oni Isle and Oni Warships trope relate to Dejima Isle aka Spain Isle, which was trade factory inhabited by Spanish and later Dutch traders. Even during Japanese isolation period.

[@SilverFoxR]

Great video! Definitely an interesting game concept! I know you said you've been teaching things to people on stream and that you'd love to cover more things to the game (even considering uploading some of the streams to the channel), but maybe down the road, you can do further episodes if you're up to it... or even mini-episodes during dry spells.

[@ariflewar789]

Thank you to Japan my country can plant rice with the better way.

[@dragonsswarm1987]

Congrats on getting 1 Kouku of rice in-game!

[@Hanmacx]

She is rice (sake) powered xD

[@mr.leeleeleee7153]

I never knew a farming simulator and a beat-em-up could make such a good combination.

[@DirectorOfChaos9292]

A surprisingly deep farming simulator

[@whitewolf3051]

I wish it was just a beat'em up rather than a combo with a farming sim.

[@bthsr7113]

Battle Chef Brigade has hunting instead of farming, but it's a decent mix that could use a bigger game.

[@Ramsey276one]

@@bthsr7113 fully agree

[@Ramsey276one]

Rune Factory anyone ?

[@bloodcrusnik7418]

This is me interacting for the Almighty Algorithm-Sama.

[@someoneawesome8717]

Good for you and many thanks

[@FanOFTrueHeroes]

All hail the Algorithm! The Great Computer in the Sky!

[@Sully_22]

May the Almighty Algorithm-Sama bless us with more rice videos!

[@sieragagne532]

Does replying to another's comment appease Almighty Algorithm-Sama?

[@bloodcrusnik7418]

@@sieragagne532 It's interaction making Algorithm-Sama think that people enjoy said video enough to talk about it. Which in turn will make Algorithm-Sama want to make the video more visible.

[@coreymyers5321]

Never deny the power of a country’s major crop. Now, where is the Metroid-vania involving beer?

[@TakeMinamoto]

or a mesoamerican Dynasty Warriors involving corn!!

[@demi-fiendoftime3825]

Irish survial game staring potatos?

[@neptunestarprime]

Or maybe you should make yourself. I’m not being rude

[@sinteleon]

Why not do both, make rice wine. :v

[@ScarletRebel96]

*Homer Simpson has joined the chat*

[@jrrollins84]

I'm from Louisiana, and we also have a rice culture. I also thought it was cool that you talked about crayfish, we call them crawfish & we use them in several different dishes.

[@hrpang]

So we have a game on how to be a Samurai(Ghost of Tsushima), how to be a Ninja(Mark of the Ninja), how to be a Japanese Rice Farmer(Sakuna Rice and Ruin) and how to be a Kami(Okami). So when are we getting a game where we play as a Sake Brewer? I would love to know the process behind making various sake.

[@GaijinGoombah]

There's a game coming out soon that's about "how to be an Onsen Owner".

[@Fenris86]

@@GaijinGoombah Really? What's the name?

[@jasonulloa]

@@GaijinGoombah You have my attention.

[@rinlen002]

@@GaijinGoombah You had my curiosity. Now you have my full, undivided attention.

[@puppetmaster1420]

@@GaijinGoombah sounds steamy

[@KaedeLanyo]

Thank god for someone acknowledging Rune Factory exists, sigh...

[@yoanchristian2935]

Hell yeah!!

[@FriskyD.]

What is it?

[@ceresbane]

Hey we're getting a new game.

[@evelgent1847]

Yeah, underrated series

[@derekgaines7679]

I was hyped for the wii game. Then they stuck to 3ds and I was like... dangit.

[@someoneawesome8717]

So I gotta admit the actual farming parts make a LOT more sense to Louisiana's massive number of Rice farms! This is pretty darn interesting

[@Ozarka0]

So *that's* where America gets her rice.

[@someoneawesome8717]

@@Ozarka0 yeah, we have a really great environment for it :D

[@JMObyx]

@@someoneawesome8717 Sow here in the U.S. is the best environment for growing Wheat? And Beans? And other staple crops?

[@someoneawesome8717]

@@JMObyx heck I'm not sure about the other states but I do know that before the Europeans came most of the "wild" plant life was edible.

[@GaijinGoombah]

KZbin IS CURRENTLY NOT PLAYING VIDEOS! Weird I know, but please check back soon when the site is working again!

[@uzumakis2]

Another cultural lesson learned ❤️

[@JeannieLove]

It's still an Action RPG. I like how the rice harvesting integrates into your stats and learning combat abilities.

[@lwyhuyfee]

Man, where I first saw the trailer, I was like “damn, Gaijin’s gonna have a field day with this one!” I was not mistaken. Good video btw

[@GaijinGoombah]

Haha... field... day.

[@dragonsswarm1987]

@@GaijinGoombah ditto

[@lwyhuyfee]

@@GaijinGoombah godangit

[@dwreanchinotan]

@@lwyhuyfee you should have claimed that pun

[@puppetmaster1420]

Good one

[@ProfessionalNamielleLewder69]

Now I just imagine Sakuna as FilthyFrank yelling his signature "Welcome to the Rice Fields" battlecry.

[@Ramsey276one]

Now STAY OUT! XD

[@hyliandoctor]

I'm doing that.

[@mitchells.5862]

This has been a surprisingly interesting deep dive into Japan's relationship with rice! I never would've thought ancient farming would actually be interesting.

[@Areebiannight]

Bless your soul gaijin goomba, if only you could stop time and make all the beautiful videos you wanted ;u;

[@hyliandoctor]

"How do I get better at this harvesting video game?" RESEARCH

[@Mewseeker]

"How do I get better at designing this harvesting video game?" RESEARCH

[@Artista_Frustrado]

im so glad this game is getting all the attention it deserves, because oh boy they did their homework HARD! I'm adding it to my wishlist right now

[@jjenk911]

Tama and his mlem game is STRONK. I imagine that making rice as your economic sustenance and food. I can hear families say "You're eating too much of our money."

[@sinteleon]

Except it would just be them saying "You're eating too much of our rice" since they use the same name.

[@hrpang]

You know this would explain the reason why futakuchi-onna are so feared. They eat voraciously.

[@SlapNuts4Life]

WTF is a stronk???

[@bobalinx8762]

Talk about “money-hungry”!

[@MisokatsuPangolin]

0:24 "The subtle, chill gameplay loop of farm sims such as Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley." Me, a huge Rune Factory fan: I can't believe he didn't mention Rune Factory. *5 seconds later* "Like Rune Factory?" Me: YES! Name drop!

[@nicholaswhaling7233]

RF5 next year.😊

[@AnaxErik4ever]

Part Harvest Moon, part side-scrolling battle collect-a-thon, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin definitely gives me 'This will be a classic some day.' vibes. Especially with the title protagonist needing a serious attitude adjustment at the start of the game, similar to Viridi from Kid Icarus, I get the feeling I would grow to love her as rice was planted, grown, harvested, traded and eaten over the course of the game. Thanks for this cultural analysis, Gaijin; like A Hat in Time, this is an Indie game that has been anticipated for a long time, so I am very happy Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin has finally been released.

[@XxSoraMifunexX]

[smashes through the window] GG! Golden Sky Stories! TTRPG! Japanese! Play as Henge! Super chill and adorable! I absolutely guarantee that you'll love it! And I love to see you make a video on it! It's obscure too, so you'd be one of only a few people to make a review! Please!!!!!

[@Ramsey276one]

Now Googling it XD

[@Hc2p3n4t4rp]

something I noticed of the scene with Kamihitsuki, during that scene with the different art style, only she was able to move, the mortals remained in one position at all times and Sakuna was shown as in different still pose from time to time, but Kamihitsuki was moving freely during that time

[@animediaya3098]

Thank you for taking your time for making this video

[@kylepeters8690]

seeing Gaijin so excited and happy is oddly pure and enjoyable

[@dragonsswarm1987]

Rice game? Cool. Edit: First: This is making me hungry for rice. Second: He got 1 Kouku in game!?

[@maxwaspace5348]

Should he have more or less?

[@dragonsswarm1987]

@@maxwaspace5348 I just thought that that was super cool that he had gotten 1 Kouku of rice.

[@Kswitchem]

My most anticipated game waiting for me at home, and my favorite KZbinr uploads a video on it?! Thank you for this amazing video!

[@jasonulloa]

I had a good feeling about this game when I played the rice harvesting demo at E3 2018, and it's good to know that there's so much more put into this game than I previously expected. Definitely glad that I put in an order for this game when it came out.

[@Munchkin.Of.Pern09]

Me, a *Kimi no Na Wa* Nut - “Oh hey, those little wooden boxes that the white rice is stored in, that looks like the boxes Mitsuha and Yotsuha used to make Kuchikamizake. I wonder if they’re specifically made for divine offerings?” The Video at 14:03 - “KUCHIKAMIZAKE”. Me - Oh hey!

[@joew1237]

Would never have expected a game go that deep into rice farming

[@CassiusStelar]

Wow. I learned a lot about rice farming. On a side note, can't wait to see speedruns of this game

[@dragonsswarm1987]

That would be interesting.

[@TechNMusic]

I picked this game up on release only having seen the trailer vid on the nintendo eshop. Something about Muramasa/Odin Sphere aesthetics just appeals to me like no other side scroller. I have to agree, do not sleep on this game if you have any interest in Japanese Culture.

[@joshuana5132]

Heh, hope you continue to have fun with this. And good luck with unlocking all of Impa's skills when that game comes out too. XD

[@akirajotaro]

I'm really hoping this game does well. I love games that combine combine action with slife-of-life, so I get to either play a nice and relaxing simulator or go and beat up enemies whenever I feel like it.

[@IffyJottere]

This is an amazing game, and I love your video about it! I already had it digitally preordered before, but I'm really quite happy to see it get such praise from you and others! Hope to see more of this game on your Twitch, and I give this offering of a like and commentary. Long may the kami of youtube views bless you with prosperity!

[@solidskullz5736]

Has it really been 3 years? God time flies, I might pick this one up but I’ve been saving for age of calamity

[@someoneawesome8717]

I already knew part of where this was going with the rice but I'm still going to watch so I can learn more

[@brianmellema109]

こんにちは、外人。日本語を勉強しています and that's about all I know how to type of what I wanted to say in Japanese. Your videos and personal stories about your time in Japan, as well as what my dad has talked about from when he was homeported in Japan when he was in the navy in the 70's have inspired me to want to see it for myself. I'm currently studying Japanese as much as I can whole working 40+ hours a week, and I intend to make the trip when things open back up enough to. Do you have any advice for me relating to culture or language aside from simply keep studying that'll help me during the time I intend to spend living abroad?

[@kamodyss8690]

This might be selfish to ask, but please do upload the streams here. My parents won't let me have Twitch and I know for a fact that they won't buy me this game for two reasons. 1. It costs money. 2. Yokai. My family is very Christian, specifically being Jehovah's Witnesses, and deplore anything regarding spirits. I am deeply interested in the folklore of every culture I can find that made mythical beings up to explain natural phenomenons and want to continue learning more. I know you already said that you might upload them here and addressed the cost of doing so, but I really want to know more! So, please, do upload the streams here if you think it is worth the cost, you have one person who would greatly appreciate it! Your fan of 3ish years, Kamody.

[@dragonsswarm1987]

To be restricted from playing a game because it has Youkai in it sounds like it sucks. Sorry if that came off as rude.

[@Voxyld]

I hope you get to watch that content, it does seem like an interesting game, though a little expensive for me too =s

[@SlapNuts4Life]

Jehovah’s Witnesses have nothing to do with Christianity

[@Maninawig]

Now I understand a couple of things: 1. I read that the Japanese bamboo fountain (iconic in anime) was popular as it kept the wildlife quiet at night. Now I understand why that was important. 2. In some anime, it seemed like a whole town would be built around a single farm of rice, with travellers heeding the fields with immense respect, considering even slipping your foot into the field as disgraceful. Now I understand why that respect was given.

[@dragonsswarm1987]

Yeah you don't really want to ruin your yearly pay, food, and physical prayer to the gods.

[@Maninawig]

@@dragonsswarm1987 you don't, but even the evil guys seem to avoid harming the fields too.

[@bun4501]

I really liked the JP VA and bought it just for that. It's the same voice actor for Jahy-sama and Uzaki-chan.

[@kagamisan9952]

Hey gaijin read this please I was studying shinto since its my religion and found this In one version, Harisaijo, Amaterasu's daughter, is exiled to the island of Awashima for having a woman's ailment. She encounters Sukuna hino's shrine and vows to help women. Sounds like a origin for her along with other mythology is the origin of her perhaps

[@crcoghill]

can't wait to see him gush over this since his tweet.

[@luketeddymh]

I might eventually pick this game up just to learn more about rice cultivation. I've always been curious about that, mostly because of how rice fields usually look so unique compared to other agricultural products.

[@coreymyers5321]

I was going to suggest you look into this game. Turns out, you beat me to it.

[@hexbox2182]

I love spiders. They are cute and impressive on what they can do naturally.

[@someoneawesome8717]

They also keep mosquitoes away :3

[@Mewseeker]

You might want to keep an eye for the incoming spider isekai anime coming at the beginning of 2021. :D

[@someoneawesome8717]

@@Mewseeker YESSS!

[@Tamashikiri]

I actually laughed during the part where Gaijin explained how samurai where paid in rice, because in Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, it's an explicit plot point that most samurai consider it beneath them to defend the farmers' village in exchange for rice (even samurai who are starving themselves). Maybe it has to do with whatever period of Japan's history the film is set it? That might be interesting to research some time, come to think of it.

[@T3nch1]

口噛み酒(Kuchikamizake) can achieve up to 76% ABV after seven years of fermentation. No wonder Sakuna is a 酔っ払い.

[@sammyramirez8243]

I Am Truly Impressed By The Content, Not For the quality but the way you approached played this game I just picked up the divine edition and Ima do the same thing before I crack it open! You earned a Sub! Keep striving!

[@charlestrudel8308]

that collector edition must be the best special edition of the last 8 years... i mean, just 20 us more for triple cds, big art book, a booklet and a little bag...

[@Kefkaesque13]

I preordered the "Divine Edition" of this game for Switch through XSeed's own website, and my copy actually arrived a few days ago. Definitely agree about how great this game is, and the music is a amazing too!

[@aiedle007]

I'm interested in this game now dispite never having heard of it. Thank you for the very basic walkthrough in this video.

[@olivinecityjasmine]

Thank you for bringing this one back to my attention, I have NO idea why I passed on it when I first saw it. This is so much my style that it's insane. Going to pick it up.

[@chrissyofhailfire]

I had to get it after your vid... im a huge fan of HM and ive been having an awsome time.. and god i was tearing up at the rice planting song this brings such background to the life of japan and mythos

[@pineapplepearjuice6717]

Finally i have something to get for christmas this year! Bless the rice kamis for this great looking game!

[@shawnheatherly]

I love this video. I only first heard of this game a week or so ago, and now it is firmly on my radar.

[@FelixHelixihare]

As an interesting sidenote: in my language, Filipino, "sakuna" means disaster and usually does not mean good harvest or plentiful rice.

[@michaelcinelli4120]

Fits her at the beginning and what keeps happening to her

[@darienb1127]

i always wondered why Inari was both the Kami of Agriculture and Economics. i figured it was just like that farmers would trade their goods for cash, or maybe the Kami just had multiple roles. but seeing that the rice WAS currency, that makes so much more sense.

[@DragonTKzilla]

Fun fact: rice was originally native to what be America and was bought over to China by Chinese adventurers. I enjoyed and think this games is interesting, I may look it up.

[@HybridAngelZero]

This game is so freaking COOL! Definitely near the top of my most wanted list

[@SpiritOfTheWanderer]

Well, now I want this game. They were right to come to you with this, I had literally forgotten all about it over the years.

[@lukestarkiller441]

I love games that pay so much attention to detail like this. It shows they don't just want to make a great game, but pay respect to the culture as well.

[@CobaltGale]

Huh. A review of sorts for the game that also holds some historical and cultural facts? Not gonna lie, I think this type of video's got me intrigued. If you end up doing more videos like this, I'm definitely gonna be gluing my face to the screen.

[@Orrenn]

I was already sold on this by an ad I saw for it last week. Advertising dollars work if the product is compelling enough.

[@Tzen03]

This video made me want to play the game, and I recently finally got the chance. I just finished it today, and had to come back to re-watch this video to hear GG gushing about how culturally accurate it is.

[@pwnyboy9714]

Wait... so you're telling me a economics system was developed in which the currency was only as good as how much it could feed an individual? Fantastic.

[@Manyfist]

Now I’m hungry after watching this.

[@DarkDesertRose]

The fact that he referenced Rune Factory made me happy. Most people dont even know what it is

[@carlynz]

I love this game but never knew how connected it was to Japan's history. Wonder how many rice bundles a PS5 would cost hahaha

[@TheNillaman]

I just thought this looked like a cool game. Had no idea it was so detailed about Japanese history and folklore. O-o

[@sieragagne532]

The game is so beautiful. And the creatures remind me of this old DS game, can't remember the name but there was this red lion-dog with rounded ears and I loved him and called him Apple because he was like a candy apple.

[@DirectorOfChaos9292]

Spectrobes?

[@RedRaikou]

Fighting in game: A basic beat'em up Farming in game: You gotta learn history and culture, both old and modern methods of agriculture in Japan, religious believes of old Japan, etc.. WOW I really like that the developers made their homework

[@RAPTOR948]

That is an insane agricultural lesson! I never knew it took so much to grow and harvest rice! Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning on 3DS made growing and harvesting rice seem so easy!

[@miscalotastuff733]

ahh like the irish and potatoes. they used them for everything.

[@OmniGSage]

At first I though the game was interesting. Now I really want this game. Never underestimate the power of culture and folklore to make a game or other media so much more appealing.

[@Larper64]

I would watch all of those vods on here if posted. Possibly multiple times. I'm obsessed with world culture and having that on in the background while I work would be great.

[@personwhotalks2049]

When I first heard of this game it didn't seem that interesting, but now that I've seen the video I definitely want to try it out.

[@mr.lonelyhill5480]

So Sakuna is basically Mars? 🤔 I’m not talking the helenized version which is just Ares with a different name, the original Mars of Ancient Rome was a war god but he was also the god of land and agriculture.

[@brianrauch2770]

in summer time the moisture never goes away and the temperature never drops below 80 even at night sounds alot like the climate of Alabama from May - July. (in mid July we suddenly go to no rain untill huricane season)

[@xidjav1836]

This a really fun game me and my Grandparents are playing this and funnilly enough my granmas a farmer and while my granpa plays the fights doing good enough combos to fight bosses when his under leveled and occasionally tell stories about his travels to SEA (South East Asia), CentralA and EastA cause his a soldier and realestate agent, where from the Philippines. Then passed it down to granma who will pick up her chair get her glasses and look intentlly at the screen when planting amd would occacionally cus when it's not on the grid andtake the longest to play she also tells stories about when she was poor and funny stories in the fields like when she used a shot gun to hunt a Karabaw missed and the recoil sent her flying, then The Karabaw chased her to the tree, her sister got revenge 3 years later Edit: Can you do a videos about astral body eaters from our myth, cause their essentially planetary kaijus whos only job is Eating the sun and mainly moon but failing like a loonytunes villain

[@johnsonbaroncaveler6634]

Oh? Your grandparents sure messed up for shooting a Carabao. Well, they're not like bulls, they're farm animals, helping the farmers till the soil.

[@johnsonbaroncaveler6634]

Oh crap, you're a filipino too! How's it going Kababayan? Your grandpa and grandma loving the game!

[@supersmily5811]

I like how one of your points of proof of the weasel yokai being the weasel yokai is that they are, in fact, weasels.

[@jessicafrisbie2079]

Just bought this game today. So excited to play it thanks to this video!

[@ForeverKite42]

I happen to put this game on my wish-list, as a look into later, and surprise surprise! GG did a video on it!

[@kagamisan9952]

Happy shinto Thanksgiving gaijin

[@TheGreatCheshiresmile]

the algorithm is already broken, give us all your awesome content, let us fight the metrics with our appreciation!

[@SariaSchala]

I've started playing this again and I'm so glad I found a neat video about it! One of the best games.

[@pickleeggs3340]

Is there and frame drops or is it smooth

[@SariaSchala]

@@pickleeggs3340 I have the Switch version and play it with a Switch Lite. For me there are no framerate issues.

[@gozillabk]

Just popping in since Sakuna is soon gonna get an anime

[@nathancarter8239]

My favorite modern rice-farming fact is that they use ducks as a source of pest control: the ducks eat the bugs and stuff that feed on rice, and at the end of the season they're fattened up, so the farmers sell the ducks!

[@TheLunarLegend]

Never heard of this game, but now I really want it.

[@juliomanuel2242]

I'm dying to play the game. Its taking its time to ship but once I get my hands on it, I'll view the video. Good to know you're loving it!

[@jawllypop1750]

I had to rewatch this video, Sensei! As Wednesday, I am finally buying this game and playing it! I can't wait to farm some rice and slay some demons!

[@Exzelled]

You know I've never even heard of this nor have I ever been interested in side strollers or farming games, but I think I'll make an exception for this game

[@DiceMan69420]

OH MY GOD!!! This was amazing! I didn't know this game even existed and it probably would have never been on my radar otherwise! Thank you so much Gaijin!

[@W4iteFlame]

Wow, this rice is legit. I mean game. And rice. And...I have to see vods

[@Spyder3107]

Is Sakuna voiced by emergency food? No.... it couldn't be

[@curtischriscoe5383]

as soon as i watched the trailer i knew you would make a video. thank you for the information

[@leonardosephas4757]

It's sad that the Vods weren't saved, I would like to watch them again.

[@STARS048]

I got this game on pre-order and I am BURNING to play it! and Goombah thanks for the info this will be really helpful

[@drunkardhu6517]

This adorable child's VA is no other than Ms Ohzora Naomi. AKA... Uzaki Hana. I lover her adorably obnoxious voice line!

[@Ozarka0]

So I got this game and... I really like it! It's really chill despite it's combat. I actually find far more investment in keeping my 5 wayward humans fed and happy than I do in fighting monsters and demons. when I hear "I do not like this..." my heart breaks. When they starve, I feel shame. I want them to be happy and well fed and am doing what I can to make sure they stay safe and well fed.

[@gothnerd887]

1:05 THE CHILD IS AN ALCOHOLIC?!

[@Kartoffelkamm]

I'm no rice expert, but I read somewhere that rice didn't actually need that much water. It just could survive higher water levels than most weeds that would outcompete it for nutrients and sunlight, so farmers flooded their fields to make them inaccessible to most of the plants that threatened their rice. A majority of the weeds either drowned or didn't take root at all, and the rice just chilled in the water. I could be wrong, though. Like I said, I read it somewhere, but I don't know where, so I can't check the sources on that.