Games That Fully Embrace The Medium

[@d00glebear]

Never played Brothers, but i almost cried listening to you explain the swimming mechanic

[@GameTalesHQ]

It's very touching and beautifully delivered trough gameplay!

[@adoniscreed4031]

Holy shit I did not heed this comment's warning and now I'm crying too 😭 That was trully inspired. Beatifully done.

[@darellinares3956]

The way i literally teared up BAD, it was uncontrollable

[@jax099]

Yeah I broke down into tears....

[@billygabrielz]

I played this video in the background ehile I worked (I answer emails all day) and I had to payse just to deal with something as simple as using a different analog stick

[@3xodus]

For Nier Automata, I love that game to death but I'll never play it again because it just doesn't feel right after getting ending E. Absolute masterpiece of a game and story.

[@InsomniaticDeathWish]

I've been wanting to play it again ever since I got ending E, but you're right, every time I think of doing it, it just feels wrong. I probably will eventually, because it is one of my favorite games of all time, but it's gonna be so weird when I do

[@dylanwoods5944]

I'm currently replaying it, now armed with new knowledge after beating Nier Replicant, and while it's really eye-opening to understand all the callbacks....it just isn't the same.

[@deanchur]

@@dylanwoods5944 Emil, Devola and Popola hit a lot harder once you've played Replicant

[@onerandomguy4832]

bruh I've played the game like 4 times already wtf

[@sleepiexpanda]

I recently played it again, with a new file, after beating it back in 2017 when it came out. I also didn't have the courage to do it until recently and it's really worth it. I have more knowledge of the lore and it still hurts beautifully as it did 7/8 years ago.

[@salla8793]

Dropping in to say, that I've never played nor heard of the Brothers game, but here I am, weeping at the solution to the water "puzzle". That is incredibly powerful. Wow

[@jmgonzalez4]

Same. Never completed the game (played maybe 30 minutes). But the simple reveal that you could use the Left Trigger in that section .. I knew immediately what that meant. Powerful.

[@flyinggraysuns9620]

I will now offer this video essay to anyone who is passionate about gaming . This just encapsulates the medium perfectly .

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@flyinggraysuns9620 Awesome, thanks for such a lovely compliment!

[@matheuscifuentes3906]

This ending of Nier Automata is probably the only time that a game made me cry with something that wasn't a sad scene, it was at that moment where I realized that this game doesn't work in other media, it needs to be a game, that's the only way the weight of the final decision can be felt

[@thatguy1488]

So you’re saying I should try it? I’m a from soft fanatic who loves single player campaigns with addicting combat systems like god of war and Spider-Man and great stories like those and the last of us. Yea I get my taste is kinda basic lmao. I also really love the infamous series, fallout, evenstarfield. games along those lines. Would I like that game ?

[@matheuscifuentes3906]

@@thatguy1488 Yeah, considering the games you listed i think you will like Nier Automata, this game have everything you talked about.

[@devanshkmishra]

Yoko Taro is a genius at utilizing the medium to its fullest

[@GameTalesHQ]

One of the most unique directors we have!

[@pogethedoge]

Fr, I'm about 2/3 of the way through replicant, and I think it uses the medium BETTER than automata. The game itself is not better, automata has far better combat, movement, side quests, but the way playing through route B changes the context of the story is absolutely brilliant, and I don't think automata really captured the same feeling until route C when you cycle through everybody

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@pogethedoge I also think the OG NieR has a better story overall. But ending E of Automata was something else.

[@liamcurran5612]

In the early days of Cinema, films still largely resembled stage plays and vaudeville performances. Now that the medium has matured it is considered an art form. Computer games are still early as well, we’re just starting to leave the early era actually. Games borrowing a lot from movies for methods of storytelling is just a growing pain of the medium.

[@zacharytrosch3406]

Ironically I think films were better written, directed, and acted when still produced as if for the stage. Just my opinion, but nevertheless.

[@kaushalsuvarna5156]

That said, often cinema and some devs like Kojima overdo it As the other comment says here, it's better to focus on the heart which is the story and delivering the emotion well, without worrying if it is artsy or not Same for poetry etc, people obsess too much over form and often say nothing

[@liamcurran5612]

@@kaushalsuvarna5156 I think the story is the backbone of a film and the gameplay is the backbone of a computer game

[@kaushalsuvarna5156]

@@liamcurran5612 of course, and e.g. MGSV has outstanding gameplay mechanics Or for that matter any good platformer etc will live and die by mechanics alone. But in games that have any kind of story at all, especially in the AAA space, they also live and die by the story, dialogue, VA, performance capture etc, in fact much more than the gameplay

[@kaushalsuvarna5156]

@@liamcurran5612 also in that case story is not the backbone of a film, camera work and scene setting and, in general, direction is

[@zukinu12skinnyp4]

SOMA is probably the scariest game I’ve ever played because once that existential crisis happens, everything after that suddenly becomes more terrifying because your mind begins racing trying to come up with answers for what it really means to exist. And to this day even watching some random KZbin video on that game gives me some anxiety. That games plot was just. Terrifying on a cosmic level. They give you an excellent horror game that plays with your fears of the ocean and things running at you. And then when your mind is fragile they drop narrative bombs on you like the duplication scene. Excellent video mate well done! This was well crafted and put together. Everything you brought up I felt deserved to be discussed in a video like this. Can’t complain man. Checked all my boxes

[@GameTalesHQ]

Hell yeah, glad you liked it! And for sure, SOMA does has some amazing themes.

[@KennethCortez-e6g]

captured exactly how I felt while playing, well said mate.

[@adavies3]

I love your line of script where you say: “aligning the game’s protagonist, with the person holding the controller”. That really hits the nail on the head (for me) on what makes computer games such a special art form. Immersion at its finest.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Yes! Immersion is such a key ingredient for a memorable videogame.

[@ShortBanjos]

Major Journey spoiler: My first play through with journey I met a player but I didn’t know the game had multiplayer, I legitimately believed it was a computer. I kept wondering to myself how they made such a complicated AI, I remember at the top of the mountain, I hesitated before walking in and the other guy stopped. He gave one pulse, and waited for me as if to nudge me on, then we walked through together. It wasn’t until the username of the player was revealed to me at the very end of the credits did I realize that was a person! I’ve never had an experience like that ever again in a video game.

[@jonathangrant480]

That sounds so damn beautiful holy shit.....

[@parsazadeh3201]

A good chunk of these games wouldn’t exist without Ico, which I think is THE perfect example of a medium-specific story. Fumito Ueda is a video game auteur like no other.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Yes, ICO is so good! I felt like I had nothing more to add, so I linked Max Derrat's video on it.

[@AZAMA___]

Very true, many of these games creators actually mentionned ICO at some point, as an inspiration that led them to work in the industry 🤍

[@rodrigomaximo1034]

​@@AZAMA___The creator of the Souls series literally left his job at Oracle and decided to get into the games industry after playing Ico. That game is legendary

[@calummacritchie7840]

Ueda alongside others like Kojima have set the standards for Video Game Narrative Potential.

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@calummacritchie7840 I need to catch up on Kojima's stuff, haven't played anything by him yet.

[@gleam6370]

I’m so glad to see TLOU here. People often label it as a “movie game”, but after watching the HBO show, I had a whole new appreciation for the little interactions during gameplay between Joel and Ellie

[@GameTalesHQ]

Right!? TLOU has a lot of these subtle moments that just didn't translate to the small screen.

[@Emberblood]

It is a movie game 😂

[@gilgamesh310]

I’ve never understood what the term “movie game” meant with regards to that game at all. It’s such a selectively used term with no clear definition.

[@liamcurran5612]

Some argue that The Last of Us didn’t embrace the medium at all. But I disagree, and I think it’s actually underrated in what it does well when leveraging the strengths of being a computer game. Does it borrow heavily from cinema? Yes, but honestly, I like the game a lot better than the HBO show, in terms of writing, structure and most of all, ironically, the performances.

[@notfamous221]

@@EmberbloodIt’s a video game, genius. Look it up maybe 🤡👍.

[@stroiman.development]

When I first played Shadow of Colossus on the PS2, I was like, "this isn't a game; this is a piece of art".

[@hundvd_7]

You're not wrong. It was widely considered the first video game that is a gesamtkunstwerk. (lit. all-encompassing artwork) Aka a piece of art that successfully encompasses practically all forms of art. First used for certain operas, especially Wagner's. Then in architecture. Then movies. And now, for video games. And Shadow of the Colossus was the progenitor of that. The interesting thing is, all the other mediums are comparatively limited in terms of art forms used. They all have different forms of visual arts, for example, but they interactivity-as per the subject of this video. Except for architecture, which got to its status _because_ of interactivity, _despite_ how many other categories it misses out on: music, characters, and arguably even a story. Which makes video games, by default, _more_ of a gesamtkunstwerk than _any_ of its ancestors.

[@cussundriakneal9904]

That last loom Trico gives the boy just before he flies away always WRECKS me. So much tender emotion conveyed in a face that shouldn't be expressive at all. Sending Trico away always makes me cry.

[@mariusbrekka4506]

I think a great example of games as a medium is Disco Elysium. The different skills you level up are actually different aspects of your charcter's psyche. The skills pitch in during conversations, offering their perspective on situations and conversations, and the more you level certain skills up, the more they take an active part, meaning your experience of the game is shaped by the choices you make in how you want your character to be

[@SopapoPR]

The Brothers river moment made me sob when I played that game. The single most powerful mechanics-driven story moment I've played.

[@MD0K]

You’re the first creator to talk about brothers I’ve come across. It’s hard to describe how powerful that button press is, and how instant is the metaphor when you press it and feel it working. It literally is the button press that made me sob.

[@hundvd_7]

How??? That game was the essayist's favorite child for ~5 years after it came out. I saw dozens of videos about it.

[@ElieHaykal]

Finished Nier Automata a few weeks ago and I still can't comprehend the impact it had on me. It is not a game IMO, it an experience everyone should have. That is not to forget the exceptional music that lives rent-free in my head. I had the privilege of also watching the Nier orchestra and highly recommend you attempt that if you get the chance. Thank you for the video and for some truly jaw-dropping experiences.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Oof, I'm jealous! I'd love to hear that orchestra live. And thank you for commenting :)

[@scottnisbet6455]

I have heard of SOMA before but I had no idea what it was about but watching that segment of the video truly terrified me and made me tear up. What a phenomenal way to fill you with dread and feel true sadness for the main character. I'm not sure if I'll ever play it since I don't like horror but that short segment was one of the most terrifying uses of gameplay I may have ever seen

[@GameTalesHQ]

For a horror game, it isn't too scary. There's even an easy mode wich will trivialize the encounters. So on a brave day, you might be able to get trough! But yeah, that game gives you a different flavour of horror alongside the traditional scares: Existential horror.

[@tylercafe1260]

So many people misunderstood Last Guardians nuanced controls and AI. They were complaining how hard it was to command him what to do. They entirely missed the point it was like training a pet. Videogames can tell such unique stories and it's a shame people fail to see the special things it's trying to do. Players don't "immerse" themselves. They just grind competitive games. Good video.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Yeah, it's the commercial aspect of making it fun for as many players as possible vs the artistic vision. Sadly the commercial aspect usually wins, that's why we must cherish the games made by visionaries like Ueda and Taro.

[@yeahiagree1070]

i anticipated the last guardian for years.. it sucked. playing that game was constantly questioning whether it was completely glitched or deliberately not doing anything. my character got stuck in a tree at one point for so long i had to reboot the whole thing. huge tutorial prompts were still popping up in the final minutes of the game. and beyond basic stuff like the game actually working - the narrative was dated and obvious.

[@GameTalesHQ]

​@@yeahiagree1070 The boy's controls felt very floaty, no doubt about that. As for the tutorial prompts? Totally unnecessary. That said, my experience was different. Trico generally listened as long as I didn’t overload it with commands. Ueda's stories have always been simple, it's the way they are told that make them special. And that ending? I did not see it coming. SPOILERS: I fully thought Trico would die at the end.

[@yeahiagree1070]

@@GameTalesHQ i'm not even talking about interacting with the creature - i mean the game's camera controls barely functioned. the glaring technical issues ruined any potential emotional connection. it's the same narrative as ico - just worse.

[@Ihavethehighground69]

Still pretty annoying

[@thmistrapillay1811]

Team Ico's can't be expressed better in any other form of media other than games. There's something beautifully tranquil and tactile that gives breath to those masterpieces

[@GameTalesHQ]

Ueda's philosophy of design through subtraction has always worked wonders. There is absolutely no fluff in his games. Everything is there for a reason.

[@NeverHard]

A masterfully created 42 minute epic.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@calummacritchie7840]

Agreed

[@felipetorres50]

I love subtle changes on gameplay depending on history, like Halo 3 odst, when you get all recordings and replay a mission where you help a guy, instead of helping, the reticle turns red, bc now we know he's an enemy thanks to the recordings

[@NerotheGame]

Excellent work my man. Watched a friend play through SotC the other day and they ALMOST didn't grab during the ending. I was thinking "ah that's a shame" but then at the last possible second he grabbed on to the side of the well and held on until he couldn't anymore. Perfection.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks dude, and thanks for bouncing idea's around with me! And yeah, it would be a shame if he didn't grab the ledge, good thing he did :)

[@jukebox1411]

This video was beautiful - teared up twice, thank you for making it.

[@agraciotti]

Yes! I’m always mentioning the twist in Brothers as a great example of how to build drama and storytelling through gameplay, and not cinematics. Journey and Ueda’s games are also already classics examples of this as well.

[@f-drive]

Brothers is a game that stuck with me because of this single moment. I was thinking that maybe the game has glitched out or maybe I've missed something, when I came to the same realization you had and tried the older brother controls. I won't lie, when the younger brother swam alone, struggling, yet powered through, I cried. Heck, it still makes me cry whenever I remember that moment. What a beautiful, bittersweet, moment. Never have I experienced something like that before in video games. I was mostly playing action and FPS games back then. After playing Brothers, I resolved myself to try every genre in gaming even though I don't vibe with that genre. All in search for a moment like that again.

[@Ruins21]

How lucky I am to have stumbled upon this video, it's right up my alley. Your voice is really nice as well.

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

Your*

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

[@nhanhaflofis]

Batman arkham knight for me is one of these games. There is the theme about madness and joker's passive influence which changes the statues, ads, posters and gargoyles decorating the city to the jokers face. If you look again it changes back to normal, took me hours playing to notice the first time.

[@jtothepizzle]

I remember reading something about Alan Moore’s Watchmen. He said he wanted to write the story in such a way that it could only be properly portrayed in the form of a comic book. I think more games that are designed such that they could only be games will be what truly elevates gaming to the same level as other art forms

[@GameTalesHQ]

I feel like games are already on the same level as other artforms, but there is still is so much untapped potential.

[@hemig2869]

Journeys mp was so interesting. It was such a welcome surprise when someone would just show up when you were playing. You wouldn't see their name and could only see if you checked your recent players list You wouldn't even know how long they'd be with you. It was quite poignant

[@GameTalesHQ]

A beautiful title that doesn't lose its power on subsequent playthroughs!

[@TheFawz]

There's also the layer of meta games like Inscription and Doki Doki that rely on file snooping & manipulation to influence the game directly

[@GameTalesHQ]

I wasn't too impressed by Doki Doki myself, but that's probably because it was hyped up so much online. I haven't played Inscryption yet though!

[@saykoya2260]

Doki Doki really gets that aspect once you get into digging into the game files. It's asking a little much (probably intended as a communuty riddle) but makes for nice theory videos.

[@JAMllostthegame]

If I had to describe DDLC in relation to this video, it would be that it shows the possibility of what can be done with the medium. Especially since it is a visual novel, a genre of games that people used to say wasn't actual gaming.

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@JAMllostthegame For sure, it's a valid pick. I personally did not care for it though.

[@barskabdagl7701]

17:33 Dishonored has a similar type of player tracking. You can beat the game without killing anyone. And you choosing to kill or not to kill not only determines the ending but it also determines how enemies react to you.

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@barskabdagl7701 True, I love that game! But Dishonored is up front about it's morality system, that's why I didn't mention it here.

[@Mossontrees]

the only reason why I would not label it as a hidden dynamic is because at the end of each level you see your chaos level

[@caderade1742]

I’d highly suggest giving 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim a try. It’s the epitome of a story that only works in the format of the game and gameplay that only makes sense in the context of the story. A genuine master class in using gaming as an art form

[@GameTalesHQ]

I like vanillaware as a developer, will have to check that game out in the future.

[@YellowNotThe]

i remember i got journey for free during some holiday sale on the playstation 4 and being stuck at one point just for another person to pop up for the first time in my playthrough and go through it like they've done it before, and during the last few sequences going through them all with another person. it really was a magic experience like no other. also this made me really want to play more games so i'm looking through the timeline avoiding spoilers and noting them to see which game i'll play next

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@YellowNotThe Awesome, all of them are worth playing!

[@zenoafro]

40:02 the music changes from a single person singing to multiple voices echoing when other players joins you was such an experience compared to just before which seems to be just an slightly altered version of previous ending songs, it provided the feeling of you truly aren't alone and there are countless other people who is helping you.(recently completed Nier Automata and I had such a fun experience with it)

[@samy29987]

Clicking on this video because of curiosity and recognizing part of the ost from The Last Guardian as the video started immediately caught my attention as I thought: "this guy has great taste" and right after that hit the like button and subscribed. I knew I was going to like the video because anyone who appreciates that game has my utmost respect. Keep up the great work!

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thank you, I really appreciate that. The Last Guardian is a special game.

[@GamingHarry]

Amazing video. Thank you so much! I'm still blown away by Soma's ending even though it's been years since I've played it...

[@JoelRosP]

Didn't know about Nier Automata ending as I have never played it, but it sounds exactly like humanity most basic sacrifice: be saved and save others, even at the cost of our own life. It's like helping our parents when they get old, after everything they sacrificed for us, and us sacrificing for our children. Sacrifice is one of the most inspiring moves. And maybe, it's the reason why Warhammer 40k is not as crazy as it sounds in a futuristic intergalactic permanent war situation where people helps each other with anything to lose except its species.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Yes, when games can tap into these universal and human themes, they can be really powerful.

[@Pat43489]

The ending also goes back to the very beginning, when 2B quotes Nietzsche's "God is Dead". A theme carried through the entire game, to ironically be concluded by defeating the game's true "god" or creator : Square Enix.

[@Curt_Randall]

Jusant is a great indie game which released in the past year. It's a game basically about climbing. But the controls make you feel like you are experiencing the act of climbing throughout the whole game. It's far different than something like Assassin's Creed games where you simply push single button to automatically scale any surface. With Jusant you have to coordinate your climbing movements with various controller actions. And the game gives a sense of achievement as you progress.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Sounds awesome, added it to my wishlist!

[@AZAMA___]

Yeah, Jusant is totally in the line here : direct descendant of Journey, minimalistic and calm as an Ueda game, an eco-fable supported by a beautifully crafted science-fictionnal world. Less words, more emotions 😇

[@guyinapandasuit2691]

Brother, This video was fantastic. It was like you were there in the room with me when I experienced some of these moments myself. I felt the exact way you described multiple times. Specially with Brothers and Metro. Excellent video!

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks dude! Really appreciate the comment.

[@JoyceW-Art]

I figured I'd check this out for a bit before going on with my day, but suddenly I got sucked into the video and finished it before I knew it! Amazing work on the writing and editing! And thank you so much for adding subtitles as well!

[@GameTalesHQ]

I appreciate it! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video.

[@robinvuorinen9402]

What a fantastic video, you've hit the nail on the head of exactly what needs to be highlighted right now. Thank you for putting this together, I will definetely be using it to explain my obsessions in the future to people lmao

[@GameTalesHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@Emberblood]

Brothers A tale of two son...this game and the soundtrack will always stay with me. The emotional journey was too overwhelming

[@gabozo4924]

Late to this vid but i would add Before Your Eyes, its central gimmick of progressing time when you blink is one of the most unique ive ever seen and elevates its central themes. The irresistibility of blinking progresses memories quicker than you intend, you only see a snippet of them like actual memories. And with the little snippets you have, the game asks you to answer if the main character had 'a happy or a lonely childhood'. This game embraces the medium like no other.

[@dormens_mortem]

Oh dam the Nier: automata ending E I just about cried. Really cool to see and appreciate the unique ways video games as a medium can impact the player

[@ShadowMasterT]

This is an absolutely fantastic idea for a video, and excellently executed. Some of the games on this list are definitely on my mind and I think about them quite a lot because moments such as these just leave a very strong impression that no other medium can. I hope you make more volumes with more examples in the future, as there are definitely more of them. For example, you mentioned TLoU, but the second game has a moment like that at around its halfway point that no matter what camp you’re on regarding your opinion of the game (I’m on the side of people who loved it) - it garners a reaction out of the player that’s heavily tied to your perception of the story. Another example is Undertale. There are just too many moments to list, as the game does an excellent job of tracking your actions and letting you know that it does. It’s absolutely best to play it blind for that reason. I’ll mention one example in the next paragraph, but attempt to still be vague: Early on in the game, there’s a specific encounter that you have multiple ways of tackling, just like the game tells you - either peacefully, or not. But for that encounter, it’s not immediately clear how you can do it peacefully. The game knows that, because it goads you into what you might think leads to it, only to subvert it and lead to an unwanted conclusion. Shocked by this, I immediately went online to see how, and even IF at all, I can choose another outcome. Turns out, you can. But after doing that, going to the next save point, I suddenly encounter an antagonist. And it tells me it knows I loaded the game to change the outcome, and laughs. And the other example I sadly didn’t notice in the comments, but is definitely up there on my list of best moments of games used as a medium to tell their story is the “Zero Escape” trilogy. It’s a visual novel with “Escape room” puzzles in-between, with both story and gameplay being good at what they do. All 3 games have a late-game twist that heavily relies on it being a game. Ironically, they get worse at it with each title (Second game is still good, improves upon the actual story and puzzles, and the twist is great, but not as well executed as the first game, and… the third game is a huge disappointment), but the first game’s twist… It not only uses the game as a medium, but also the platform itself being a Nintendo DS with dual screens is used, making you do something completely unexpected. Anyone that played the game will immediately know what I mean when they think of THAT ONE SUDOKU PUZZLE. Highly recommended.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thank you! I might do a part two in the future as I've got a ton of great recommendations in the comments. Undertale, Pathalogic 2, Disco Elysium, 1000xResist, OMORI and tons more (I still have to play all of these). If everything goes according to plan I'll feature TLOU2 in my next video which you'll probably enjoy. I still have a Nintendo DS lying around so maybe i'll look into Zero Escape, no promises though haha.

[@Marmighty]

​@@GameTalesHQprobably already been said but arkham knight is a master in immersion

[@Geoxje]

Thank you for this beautiful video. It encaptures exactly how I feel about videogames, my favorite medium and greatest passion. I hope more people see this video, because you did an amazing job. Keep it up!

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@Geoxje Thank you for the lovely comment :)

[@StaraX95]

Beautiful video! If you ever do a part 2 I'd like to suggest another beautiful small game called "Before your eyes" which uses blink detection from your webcam as the principal mean of gameplay. I don't want to spoil the story in case you want to play it

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thank you! I haven't heard of that game before, sounds really interesting, added it to my wishlist!

[@eeeeeeeeee.]

​​@@GameTalesHQ It is free on Netflix. It's really great game

[@comradestannis]

Sounds up my alley. Any other games?

[@sarcasticricecooker7242]

it's actually kinda amazing how this channel barely has any subscribers. The production quality, writing, story-telling aspect of the video is phenomenal. It reminds me of early days discovery channel shows where it takes you through a topic that'd otherwise be uninteresting but creating a narrative around it to make it so appealing and present a bigger picture to the audience.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Ahh thank you, these kind of comments keep me going. 23K subs might not look like much, but last February I had 500 of them. So hopefully I can keep it going :)

[@austin0_bandit05]

Great video. Its so weird how we fight the pull in Shadow of the Collosus. Like as a gamer it's clearly progression but as Wanderer I fight it for a while despite knowing its futile before eventually letting go. And I've done this every playthrough. 🤔

[@GameTalesHQ]

Yep, the game does such a great job of aligning the player with the protagonist. Masterful stuff.

[@comradestannis]

Great game, truly.

[@jessynamira2479]

Awesome video! I love how you manage to explain the entire game's medium, whether or not you've played it. I got teary-eyed again when you showcased the brothers-it truly is an absolute masterpiece.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thank you!

[@ashpettigrew2110]

This is fascinating. I love the idea of games that couldn't exist as anything other than a game. As an aspiring developer, this is exactly what I want to accomplish: to create a game that takes full advantage of all the strengths of the medium

[@asfandope]

Video was well worth the wait! It's amazing how the medium of videogames allow for these truly unique and engaging moments.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks mate!

[@linagaeb2601]

Lovely video that made me both nostalgic for games I have played and intensely interested in the ones I haven't! Great job! Lovely examples by the games presented. Kinda reminds me of this game I got to play couple years ago named Gris. The gameplay mechanics of it are heavily interwoven with the story and combined with everything tell a very impactful and emotional story. Would straight up call the experience therapeutic lol. Heavily recomend, and any other games from the studio that made it

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks! I heard lots of great things about Gris. Will definitely play it sometime!

[@MrSiloterio]

6:53 - it is not just one button press, but the game's actual mechanic. It was not just an arbitrary interaction to trigger the punchline, but the entire gameplay itself building up to it. That's why Brothers is the best video game as an artform to me.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Yep, it's definitely up there as one of the very best.

[@AmazingOwnage]

Fantastic video. Gaming is one of the best art forms out there because of the amount of immersion it is capable of achieving. Some notable examples I believe also deserve to be included in this discussion are the following: • Doki Doki Literature Club • Inscryption • Lisa: The Painful • Undertale • Hotline Miami • Fear & Hunger • Before Your Eyes • What Remains of Edith Finch • The Stanley Parable All of these titles break conventions and use video game tropes and expectations to either mess with the player or add to the story / gameplay.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Added them all to the list. I did play Doki Doki, Hotline Miami and Stanley Parable. I didn't care much for Doki but I really liked the other two games.

[@ardijandzambazoski9394]

What a video, you left me speechless as well as with the need to talk further about the topic. :)

[@GameTalesHQ]

Hell yeah, that's awesome!

[@MatthiasAI]

fahk even in just a video essay the nier ending always has me tearing up... shit hit so hard in a dark moment of my life. The fact that I could help someone by giving up my save was so much more impactful then id ever thought it could be.

[@geolbaker]

Absolutely fascinating video! Really enjoyable from both a gamer perspective and a game dev perspective on incredible story telling and mechanics! Thanks for this one!

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks brother!

[@treyhandley6676]

I feel like another game that fits really well in this category is before your eyes, which is a story based game but every time you blink you skip ahead in time. It’s a really cool concept that is impossible to replicate in any other media.

[@GameTalesHQ]

That's a really cool concept, somebody else already recommended it to me. So it's on the wishlist!

[@treyhandley6676]

@@GameTalesHQdefinitely a must play imo

[@chitynelu99]

Damn man this is one of the best gaming video essays. I think this topic you're talking about is the most important reason why I love games so much and why it's such a special medium of telling stories. Breaking "the 4th wall" of interaction in games is what make them unforgettable

[@GameTalesHQ]

High praise! I appreciate that a lot :)

[@drgonzo123]

Brothers really got me. Great game. And I know there’s no shortage of people gushing about RDR2 online, but it really shook me to the core. I lived as Arthur, and bonded with members of the gang. It’s a long game, but I think the length is what makes it feel so personal and epic. A tv series can be long, but doesn’t hit in the same way a game does. The Last of Us also starts the game with the player controlling Sarah. It just hits that much harder when she dies. I love video games. lol. Great video!

[@GameTalesHQ]

RDR2 is an amazing title for sure! And yeah TLOU does some cool character switches, just like the winter section with Ellie. And thanks alot :)

[@willytjr1]

Well… I’m subscribed now lol Unreal work in the video. So well done, G ❤

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks broski!

[@ghost_asçldkfj]

Amazing video bro, amazing, and thank you for bringing back all my memories of playing shadow of the colossus, such a good video, liked and subscribed.

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@ghost_asçldkfj Thanks man, glad you enjoyed!

[@emmajenson1010]

beautiful video, I loved watching it and hearing your insights

[@plebasaurus2970]

You have just spoken about two of my favourite games and I will now subscribe

[@GameTalesHQ]

@plebasaurus2970 Glad to have you! Which two games are your favorite?

[@plebasaurus2970]

@@GameTalesHQ Bloodborne and SOMA.

[@ZachAttackReviews]

Fantastic video. As someone who loves video games as a medium, I love how you talked about how no matter how hard other mediums try, they cant replicate it. I'll say one of my fav games of all time is Hellblade Senua Sacrifice, and it does something in its mechanics and story that you describe in the first half of the video

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks, dude! I played Hellblade when it was first released, so it's been a while. What exactly are you referring to? I remember the binaural audio being really trippy and adding to the immersion.

[@ZachAttackReviews]

@GameTalesHQ the final fight you have to fight your way to the antagonist but the waves never stops but the game doesn't tell you that. So eventually you have to let them defeat you

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@ZachAttackReviews Ah yes, I remember that. If I remember correctly, eventually the voices in your head start telling you to give up right? That's a really cool in-universe way of telling the player what to do, without resorting to text prompts or other immersion breaking tools. Good pick.

[@domhanson9167]

Fantastic work man, I really loved the longer length to be able to hit more games that have done it well. I also cant find a way to claim that XIII should have been included.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it! XIII is a first person shooter right? I think I saw a video on that game once, it's a game you don't hear many people talk about.

[@domhanson9167]

@ yeah it is. You’re not wrong that it’s oft forgotten about. I feel it was a major part of my life for a short sliver of time, and in the moment felt like it could last forever as a series. Now that I’ve gotten older I see that it was just a naive age and one of my first experiences with a “cliff hanger” ending that never got resolved with a sequel.

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@domhanson9167 Those couple of games that were your 'first' will always remain special, even though they're objectively not even that great. So I feel you. Sad that it never got that sequel.

[@سليمسلمان-د1ف]

Brooo this is my type of video best thing i watched all day. Good job man

[@GameTalesHQ]

Hell yeah, I appreciate that bro!

[@ReplicaBacklogs]

I couldn’t have said it better myself for NieR:Automata. That’s why it’s my favorite game of all time to this day ever since 2017, and it’s not even close. Amazing video!

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@CoopHawke]

I think there's one writer who embraced the medium in a way I haven't seen much of which is Chris Avellone. He wrote choice based RPGs like Torment, Kotor 2 and Fallout New Vegas. His games wouldn't just ask you to make choices but asked you to think of why your character would make the choice and why you as a player are following the path you are. In Kotor 2 Keira would question the main character's choices to basically ask them if they believe in free will or is the force controlling them but also asking the player if they're just choosing the good options because past games have always rewarded them for blindly picking the "good" option and never showing you the harm blind choices can have. With Torment we got one of the most quoted questions from a game up there with "Would you kindly?" Which was "What can change the nature of a man?" This isn't a question that has a right answer something that fundamental goes against game design. Games are at a base level puzzles to solve. But he wrote a game around a puzzle that you aren't meant to solve but simply meant to think about.

[@bradknock3035]

Never resonated with a games list like this. Appreciate your knowledge brother

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@bradknock3035 Thank you, much appreciated.

[@farhanmuzaki6364]

what a great video to watch, and when you explain the Nier section, it always bring me a tears whenever i heard that song, thank you for this video an dkeep up the great work you have done

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks mate!

[@CinnaMK]

Road 96 is a very underrated game, loved playing it

[@DanielHernandez-pk4vu]

i would put Undertale in this list as well, its so genius how it leads you in different directions just to show you that you have free will. if you play it conventionally, you will end up thinking of all of the different decisions you couldve made, all the paths you didnt take. it also plays with your savedata on the fight against flowey, and you have to reopen the game several times in order to keep fighting. You go through so much, and put the characters through so much, you break and you forgive, you fight and you laugh, and despite everything, its still you...

[@saltedtaffy5191]

An absolute masterpiece of a video man. You make a point that a lot of people surprisingly miss about video games. I would recommend Persona 3 FES (dear god, not the remake), it beautifully utilizes the medium to tell an impactful story.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks man :) The Persona series is always a bit daunting for me, because the games take so long to complete. I'll give them a shot someday though!

[@elliebee8971]

How is this 4 minutes video 42 minutes ?! Thank you for a great video essay, even if I knew most of the games and their stories it was still a pleasant trip.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tsunrmi]

Great video, was invested every minute 👏

[@GameTalesHQ]

Hell yeah, thanks!

[@Rachen1992]

Brothers a tale of two sons is still to this day my favorite games of all time. Has a special place in my heart since I played it with my older brother.

[@amayensis1261]

Amazing video! I especially loved the Bloodborne section because you put into words what I wasn't able to describe when experiencing the game (even though I never played it myself, I LOVED watching playthroughs). I don't know if "Detroit: Become Human" has been suggested already, but I think its main menu system would surprise you, not unlike Nier Automata's from what I can gather. In "Detroit", taking place in the near future, humanity is helped by robotic androids that are created to serve them. So naturally, the developers put an android on the main menu of the game, as a helpful companion who welcomes the player and interacts with you whenever you log into the game. But as the story unfolds, the androids start to break out of their program. They feel consciousness, feel emotions, gain free will... And so does the android on the main menu screen, even though she's not part of the story at all! She even ends up asking you for permission to definitively leave your game to find her own life purpose! Truly a great use of the medium imo.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it so much! Honestly, any excuse to talk about Bloodborne is good enough for me haha. I played Detroit back in 2018, so it’s been a while. Your description really helped jog my memory, though. I completely agree-it’s such a clever moment.

[@Lulu-iq9ll]

I haven't played the game, but I heard Dishonored applies similar "implicit choices" mechanics. If you kill guards too often throughout the game, you'll have a more difficult boss fight because more guards will attack you, and vice versa. I was surprised not to see Dishonored here. Anyway, I love this video a lot!

[@GameTalesHQ]

Dishonored is awesome, one of my favorites. But the mechanic you are refering to is called "Chaos". It would be a perfect fit for this video but it is explicitly stated at the end of each level! And thank you :)

[@bh-w2297]

Not sure if IMMORTALITY meets your criteria for fully embracing the medium, but this video reminded me of it

[@Odisseia-hh2td]

I'd wager that fully embracing the medium is being more branching instead of cinematic. Thus, story generators like Kenshi are the "gamiest games" imho where each player will experience a completely different story unfold: something only a game can provide.

[@GameTalesHQ]

I haven't played it yet, looks super interesting!

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@Odisseia-hh2td This video was more focussed on more traditionally narrative driven games, but for sure; Kenshi is a true sandbox.

[@comradestannis]

What's the game about?

[@BexMcInulty]

Another one I can think of is Gris. It is a beautiful 2D platformer about Grief and the abilities you gain throughout the game mirror the process of grief. It's been a very long time since I have played it but I think at first you have to go through a sandstorm and you gain the ability to turn yourself into a block and stay in one spot so you don't get swept away. You still have to let the storm blow over to continue on but at least you are not at the storm's mercy anymore.

[@mildpanicmp4782]

Having played TLoU for the first time in 2021, I can look at it without any "new" and "hype" glasses. And from what I saw was that the only thing the game shines at is the in-between moments. There have been better VIDEOgames before TLoU that outshines it in ever regard and the story is extremely basic, but the moments in-between (that is, when you are not super frustrated by contextual shit and "wait for NPC to do this for you" and the Loading Screen corridors) are the the one aspect this game does phenomenally and was "ahead of its time". Not really, it just made more focus on that kind of character building method.

[@GameTalesHQ]

I think the acting is top-notch, and the simple story is well-executed, but the gameplay is just okay. For me, the in-between moments are what make the game truly worthwhile. While the game hasn’t aged super gracefully, it definitely deserved the praise it received at the time.

[@aleksandrtsyganov7770]

amazing content man! subscribed

[@GameTalesHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@abhraneelborah1754]

Amazing video! I'd also like mention that Far Cry 3 might also fit this category. It's story can surely be adapted to different media but I think it really only works the best as a game

[@GameTalesHQ]

Thanks! I haven't played Far Cry 3, will get to it someday.

[@chrismaxie2864]

Amazing video really enjoyed this! 💜

[@TheRealJaySway]

I rarely feel this thankful for a list of game recommendations

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@TheRealJaySway I hope you enjoy the games :)

[@blackmambafan24]

Thank you for this video. Gaming is not all about graphics and visual fidelity. Playing tetris or pacman floods us with fun childhood memories.

[@potofbees]

felt incredible watching this video and hearing u talk about a lot of games i assumed were going to be on the list, but id also like to add alan wake 2 (in a similar vein to the last of us, its very inspired by cinema but uses the video game medium to further enhance the story). as excited as i am for annapurna's adaptations, its something that couldn't have been anything other than a video game and i love it for it.

[@MaazQureshi12]

What a beautifully well-made video. Really appreciate all the spoiler warnings you put in too ♥

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@MaazQureshi12 Thank you!

[@hollowficate]

Shadow Of The 🐐 The Last 🐐 I'm glad to see people brought up these 2 games. Shout-out to ICO as well because it's also the 🐐

[@kevingabriel8642]

Beautiful video. Truly, truly beautiful.

[@ArtVandelay592]

Fantastic video and could not agree more on the choices here. It’s so refreshing to come across a video on KZbin that celebrates games as opposed to the constant rage baiting and grifting that you see all too often these days in the gaming KZbin sphere. Great video, you earned a like and a subscription from me.

[@GameTalesHQ]

Hell yeah! The negativity is becoming way too common. While there are definitely things that need improving, they make it seem like there's nothing left to celebrate anymore.

[@dustin_echoes]

I think Halo Reach's final mission objective is also a good example.

[@DreyfusLagoon]

Halo in general, while I think it could work well on tv or in a movie, in fantastic because even though the chief and noble 6 are real characters with real backstories you become them as the player.

[@firstorderblade4432]

Nier automata is the greatest story ever written

[@tangerinelemonn]

am still recovering from the outer wilds post game depression and being hit with a section from outerwilds makes me want to cry all over again i love that game so much its such a life changer and as a game design student it makes me appreciate game devs that put in so much love and UGH im crying as i write this i love that game so much. also loved this video , thanks for making it and bringing attention to other games that i should look into :> cheers!

[@GameTalesHQ]

Cheers :)

[@YTPremiumWatch]

Love this video and this channel. Thank you mate. Subscribed.

[@GameTalesHQ]

@@YTPremiumWatch Glad to have ya!

[@unomaster6828]

Hellblade 1 does a fantastic job displaying trauma, schizophrenia, and inner/mental turmoil that would otherwise not work in any other medium

[@GameTalesHQ]

It was a great game, would love to see more of that kind of stuff from the AA scene. That binaural gives me goosebumbs every time.