Genuinely the BEST Backrooms / Liminal Horror Game I've Ever Played - POOLS (Full Game)

[@DerekS-kq3zh]

The thing that makes liminal spaces creepy is that they are not designed for long-term human habitation. It's why we're fine walking through a hallway between two buildings, but if we were in nothing but a maze made out of hallways, we would not be able to be comfortable. There are no rooms we can back ourselves into, no walls to put around us, just transitional spaces which don't afford anything in the way of shelter. Think about any of the pool rooms from the first part of the vid. Yeah, technically you could survive there, but you'd always be looking over your shoulder. There's always an opening behind you, and no place you can truly retreat to feel safe. Imagine trying to sleep completely exposed on that tile floor. It's a kind of psychological horror.

[@Gondroval]

damn, such good words.. I'd probably lock myself into one of the toilet stalls and lose my sanity there

[@eddiehoney7166]

Good analysis dude never heard it put like that. It taps into that primal need for a familiar shelter and you can’t get that in these spaces. Everything is uncanny enough to feel as though you aren’t safe

[@warbacca1017]

Since humans are inherently social creatures, being alone would only compound the fear. There's no one to watch your back, so you might get attacked by something that isn't actually there; the stress making you start to see glimpses of said "thing" making you more certain that it actually exists. Which sucks because due to the internet and fast information, more people are exposed to the backrooms and similar games, so if this happened irl people would immediately assume there's some kind of monster and have stress jump instantly

[@kellywilliam3708]

Said another way, its essentially a strong "uncanny valley" instinct. You expect things to be there (furniture, people, doors, windows), you expect more causal/effect relationships between the arrangement of things, the sounds you hear, and what would precipitate them, but none of it is there. It triggers that "uncanny valley" *something is missing, something is wrong* instinct, to which the natural response is a fight or flight, but there is nothing to fight Edit, also, sounds. You're used to sound absorption from objects in the environment, but most these games (or real world liminal spaces) don't have *stuff* in them to absorb the sound, and so give very eerie sensations

[@deathboy68]

"I wonder if she had Dudley cut extra doors for her. I wonder how she likes working in a kitchen where a door in back of her might open without her knowing it. I wonder, actually, just what Mrs. Dudley is in the habit of meeting in her kitchen so that she wants to make sure that she'll find a way out no matter which direction she runs. I wonder..." Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House

[@FlabbyBro]

Adding the second sound track is brilliant, but 90% of why we all watch you is for your commentary :)

[@xxelitewolfxx1337]

Fr fr, love igp’s voice, no homo 😂😂

[@philamgaming]

Very true

[@PrivateForPersonalReasons]

his masculine manly man voice

[@Komodoensis]

..and the frenetic screeching.

[@gustavosantos106]

Me having it in spanish by default thinking when the commentary starts... 🤔

[@Poetria_Elysia]

"It's all in my head" That's exactly what makes games like this so brilliant. Rather than having a monster chase you down a long hallway, the scary bit is realizing you're truly alone in this empty space.

[@buildcraftgaming1548]

I personally feel like a game should have a mix of both things. Otherwise, once you come to understand that there isn’t a monster, you aren’t scared anymore and the game just becomes stale and boring

[@GalaxVerse]

But the statue chasing you in end doesn't make sense to 'It's all in my head"

[@Poetria_Elysia]

@@buildcraftgaming1548 you're part of a people that find "monster in a dark hallway" scary, which is probably a bit cliché at this point. But no matter how much it is used in today's world, such a situation would definitely be scary without a doubt if it were to happen in real life of course. I see your point, but games like "The Pool Rooms" have a whole new type of scary once you're in the right head space to understand it. It's kinda like the suspenseful moment you're slowly walking down the long hallway with no monster in sight, but you just can't shake the thought it might be right behind you. I personally like this kind of horror best, but of course everyone has their own likes and wants in life.

[@Poetria_Elysia]

@@GalaxVerse It might, if you consider at that point the character had been alone for days probably, and had past those statues many times. Perhaps their mind began playing tricks on them.

[@GalaxVerse]

@@Poetria_Elysia Is that even possible? That you see a literal statue chasing you but it's all in head I also don't Get the ending where hand opens the door our protag just puts the camera on the table then what happens next? It gets cut to someone or it could be our protag watching VHS tape 📼 of the pools

[@Anharie]

i like how he went from "ill be dissapointed if a monster shows up" to "SHOW YOURSELF! JUST SHOW YOURSELF!". incredibly well done game.

[@ThiemenDoppenberg]

Apparently no-one as far as I can tell has commented this, but let me say it is super cool you added your own reverb effects! It adds to the atmosphere greatly. In big rooms there is a big effect and in narrow rooms a less echo-y effect. Very cool and subtle!

[@joshuaturner349]

I was looking for this comment! Couldnt tell if it was some kind of effect in the game since some devs add features like this for streaming purposes and the effect seems accurate to the spaces he's in

[@ThiemenDoppenberg]

@@joshuaturner349 Yes! I think he added them by hand while editing and it really enhances the viewing experience of this video. It feels like he is actually there in those environments

[@ElysetheEevee]

I noticed this effect in a CallMeKevin video few years ago. Then I started seeing this in more videos. I still think about it randomly, including this video, haha. That's funny that so many of us noticed. I hope more KZbinrs do this.

[@nolalookenbill7053]

@@ThiemenDoppenberg He does add it in In fact, this isn't the only vid of his to receive this treatment

[@DarthGTB]

He does this frequently in his videos. Very cool

[@matthewcalloway2406]

6:45 liminal space horror has been studied a lot in recent years and the reason why it's scary is due to a combination of emptiness, and the unnatural feeling of infinite space which leads to a lack of awareness and direction which causes discomfort and disorientation.

[@derekdrake8706]

Sounds very similar to thalassophobia, or at least why it's scary.

[@FrostmanJack]

Nothing compared to a hoarders clutter

[@556lilguy]

Spoken well💯

[@WarriorVII]

Not just that but also familiarity. Liminal spaces are often (if not always) manifestations of a familiar area or situation that we/you associate with by prior experience/memories. Think old office spaces, or in this case pools. But it could literally be anything, as you said, as long as it's seemingly void of anything else and infinite. The more disturbing liminal space stuff is almost always things that I distinctly remember from my childhood that are ALSO empty and endless , ie. shopping malls, parks, neighborhoods, etc. Anything that you associate with from the past or present but that you KNOW is off/not real/altered in some way. I think the fear lies in recognizing the familiar but realizing it's not the same, due to there being no people or other factors that become apparent. The liminal phenomena of late (Backrooms etc.) has always felt very much like a dream to me. A bad dream.

[@matthewcalloway2406]

@@WarriorVII indeed, but I just wanted to keep it short and simple on why, but very much true, it's very fascinating how horror was able to evolve into this masterpiece that truly can mess with people.

[@TOLOSKY]

The pools would probably be one of the most physically uncomfortable “safe” space to be stuck in

[@AnvilPictures]

I would probably go insane in a couple of hours if I was stuck in a place like this for real.

[@MelodicTurtleMetal]

Seems nice. I think I'd enjoy the feeling of solidarity, though with time would convince myself it isn't real and the only way to wake up would be to kill myself

[@Balgoriusis]

Also imagine the stench of chlorine in the water and bleach used to clean the tiles.

[@Nothing-1w3]

Really? seems like one of the more comfortable ones

[@catscanhavelittleasalami]

Yeah, I can't swim and hate the smell of chlorine because of bad childhood memories. The pools level would would be absolutely awful for me.

[@valiantwarrior4517]

The character’s shoes squeaking on the tile briefly after exiting the water is a really cool immersive touch.

[@kategoss5454]

I don't know if it sounded like shoes tbh, I totally came away feeling like you control the marble mannequins!

[@oren1305]

Made the mistake, (good decision?), to watch this before bed, fell asleep about 30 minutes in, and my dreams were so wonky and surreal, occasionally punctuated with your startled shouting. 10/10 would do it again.

[@Oleanderlullaby]

Dude I just did this last night ended up waking up to pause it and no I’m finishing it when I’m not going to sleep LOL

[@FIGHTER8max]

Your genuine scream of terror at the hour mark was priceless. Thank you.

[@chxrrry.]

the ladder going up 5:53 and the mechanical noises/shuffling in the vents 6:19 makes me think of the idea of there being an entity that exists in there that acts as a "maintenence man" to keep things running, among other things

[@exist4046]

that should sound freaky but for some reason the idea is very silly to me. freaky cryptid doesnt mean harm its just fixing shit up

[@charliehilbrant]

But he has no eyes

[@Sprinkleycakes]

@@charliehilbrantoh my god have I finally encountered another Knifepoint Horror/Soren Narnia fan?!

[@charliehilbrant]

@@Sprinkleycakes in the wild!

[@Twinkstarr]

Aw

[@TheAruruu]

1:00:10 i'm pretty sure that was a bug, but it also feels like the kind of bug that shows up during development that you know will get a reaction like we got from IGP, so it's just left in. either way, such a good scream.

[@calvinbarnes1721]

I seemed to me he stepped back off the edge into the pool, but yeah that was a good scream.

[@Rynergee]

wow now I realized I don't often see someone saying "a good scream"

[@brennahkentz6146]

The scream actually had me crying laughing

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

​@@Rynergee Monsters inc wants a word with you.

[@digitaltrekkie]

I genuinely choked on my food when it happened; would've been screaming with the best of them

[@derekdrake8706]

Never has a rubber ducky ever been so terrifying without actually trying.

[@HexagonalMan6]

Rubber ducky, you're the one... You make bath time lots of fun...

[@staypuft9994]

I thought it was cute

[@JoshyRB]

It’s most likely an oversight, but the fact that all the water is already moving before you ever go into it is unsettling. It means something else had moved through all that water shortly before you came. If it was real life and there was truly no life there, then all the water would be completely still before you ever move through it yourself.

[@neozes]

O think it was an esthetic design choice. Otherwise all the pools would be just flat surfaces. Not that bad for those pools where you can go in. But for those you can't, it would be just a waste.

[@JoshyRB]

@@nujtffdd7815 Perhaps. I didn’t see any though I don’t think. But definitely a possibility if this were a real life situation.

[@aleejjj]

I think making and designing a "moving all the time" water is much easier than a "moving as u move" water situation for devs. Cuz u can't just move the waters around the player, in reality if u touch corner of a big pool, all the surface is going to wave and thats too much for them to create. Specially in photo realistic games like this Same as why most characters have straight hair and not curly.

[@oliviah.5846]

I just assumed that since it was a game based on pools the choice to animate the water moving due to filtration/chlorination pumps, but maybe I’m too deep in the POOLS lore😂

[@scarletpanther2513]

In a dreamscape setting water is almost never still

[@hitlord]

Rubber duck in real life: calm, soothing, fun to play. Rubber duck in a pool: more horrifying than a shark.

[@staypuft9994]

No

[@dadnegan8184]

The bit at 12:05 where he turns and sees the duck is so good 😂

[@WiredPlanet]

22:24 funniest jumpscare I've seen his vocals went crazy on this one

[@Littleeblue2010]

Ive never heard him scream like that before😂. He probably has but i haven’t seen those yet

[@flyingpeanuts]

It was quite funny!

[@OkamiToge]

Actual true terror, lol

[@kingkaijuboygodjira3116]

😭🤣💀💀💀💀

[@hermes_job_observer144]

@1:00:04: 😂😭💀

[@Brainrage117]

This no commentary option is such a good idea!! Now I can watch the video twice with totally different experiences! Been loving the vids since the early subnautica days man!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@DerekS-kq3zh]

That really is genius, I can't believe I haven't seen more KZbinrs do that. Perfect for this long-play format with more atmospheric games.

[@7792pnaurfr]

@@JimJamTalks there are a lot of let's players who do no commentary.

[@SpicyMelonYT]

@@7792pnaurfr he said, lacks the atmosphere that fits no commentary, not lacks no commentary, bit eager to disagree with someone aren't you?

[@Howlhaveheart]

1:00:10 is such a visceral scream This is why IGP is the one horror game KZbinr I listen to consistently This man is Not jaded and he Is scared and I Would be to Thank you for giving yourself a heart attack for us

[@mohezzy2ez555]

The scream😭😭😭

[@wawa6711]

wow, it's almost like you're literally him!

[@dimensionalMystery]

it's the long silence where he's calming himself down for me 😂😂

[@jasminechan4705]

That part made me jump and I had tingles all over my body lol

[@dimensionalMystery]

@@BasedRoots why did you watch the version with him talking then? lol

[@lostinspace2899]

For me this would be the true definition of hell, stuck forever in that unknown space but you still got that little bit of hope left to escape. Its like this place knows exactly what you feel/want and drives you insane or worse

[@Naturally2Sexy]

Right?? Hell/Purgatory is the first thing I felt from this

[@vlr7368]

You explained it perfectly. Vivarium is kind of like this and it was the most terrifying and unsettling movies I've ever watched.

[@demonpunk9270]

The absolute coolest thing I've heard is someone making two audio tracks to let their viewers decide if they want the audio with or without commentary. earned a sub from that

[@KeterLordFR]

You know, seeing IGP being scared of the noises he's making gives me an idea. A liminal space game that records the noises you make and can randomly play them again later, maybe even coupled with mic detection. No jumpscare, no monster, just you and your own noises/voice thrown back at you. EDIT : if I had been told a few years ago that I would, in one-go, watch a 2 hours video of someone going through infinite pools without anything other than that, I would have dismissed it. I absolutely loved this.

[@justaghostinthesea]

That's an absolutely evil idea. I want to see it made real.

[@tomaszsikora6723]

like lethal company skinwalker mod

[@Bon_fyre]

And then it adds a myriad of different distortion affects to your own voice to the point that, you won’t know it’s your own voice from the get go but you’ll still be able to faintly recognize it

[@honeyvee4147]

There was a game markiplier was playing that uses there voices against them it was a mimic creature that could use there voice and trick them it was rly cool

[@honeyvee4147]

​@@tomaszsikora6723 yeah that's the game ! Lethal company.

[@fructosefather2231]

15:30 I love the way you edit dude, adding the subtle echo to your voice in that big empty room, you do it a lot with other games too, adding music, effects, anything to make the atmosphere so much more engaging, I dont know any other youtuber who puts in as much care and detail into their videos as you, its incredible man

[@Gunbird]

peak KZbinr content right here

[@halcyon_exb]

Especially considering that he HAD TO have recorded mic audio separately since he did the commentary option thing, meaning every time there’s an echo he’s done it manually.

[@Merczid]

@@halcyon_exb When recording, he likely has separate tracks for the in-game audio and his microphone in his recording software. They would be recorded in parallel, giving him the opportunity to render out audio files with- and without his voiceover.

[@neologicalgamer3437]

I'm real life of you ever get lost or kidnapped and find yourself in a labyrinth (like an abandoned building), *always* try and go upwards. Upwards is your friend. Downwards means you could get lost forever in the depths. Upwards means you'll either get out, or perhaps find a window to see how high up you are to work out where you need to go. Always go upwards, my friends.

[@juliemesser2053]

Thank you for the information, friend.😊

[@Hawk7886]

Height also helps if whatever is chasing you catches up and you need to yeet yourself into the void

[@eol251]

Neither, don't go up or down. Because upwards means you'll eventually end up falling down or the fear of heights.

[@Butmunch666]

If you're in a maze type deal, what about just sticking to the right or left. Should eventually lead you out.

[@MaybeBroken]

ima use this next time im kidnapped 👍

[@Breadman2478]

I love the fact that. You dug down into the deeper purpose of the statues. You didn't just walk past them. You genuinely explored the reason why they were there and the reason why they looked like that. Which is why I'm rewatching this again and again. This is a beautiful thing

[@robotomo4249]

This can't even be considered a game, it's art! The way it makes you feel through the amazing visuals and sound design is purely amazing, it really makes you feel like you're there and on edge the entire time. Even though a very large portion of it was the pool rooms, it never got boring or repetitive. Just as you being to feel like a room is stretching on for a little too long, a new thing shows up that completely throws off your sense of direction and safety. I was also never even aware of the ability to completely remove commentary, that was a very clever and welcomed addition! Also the editing of the reverb on your voice to match the rooms you entered is a nice touch!

[@stevelucky7579]

This, this is what the backrooms is supposed to be. Are you going crazy from being here, are those ducks, chairs and statues real? Beautiful. 10/10

[@GregBroDudeMan]

YES. Dude I've been waiting for this game for a while, was playing it last night and BRO it was HORRIFYING. So glad to see you playing it, it deserves the attention!

[@IGP]

Hell yeah! About time we got a proper liminal space horror game. Others have been great, but this one having no monsters or jumpscares and being this terrifying is literally perfect to the idea of liminal spaces and the backrooms.

[@YungFoulPlayuh]

Love you both 🫡

[@PatrickWentzell-jd9gq]

​@@IGP my advice stay in the pleasent areas well I would ya know . 👍👍

[@ashleymartin3260]

Hoping this gets uploaded!

[@SlingerMarshall]

24:30 Anatidaephobia: The phobia of a duck watching you.

[@DGneoseeker1]

Somewhere, somewhere nearby. Somewhere unseen. "Quack"

[@halcyon_exb]

Holy shit that’s totally it lmao.

[@Misha_Katsuki]

🦆

[@codexstudios]

Welcome to the Federal Bureau of Control.

[@PunmasterSTP]

I had no idea that was a real term!

[@RyuuHou22]

The fact this is only 1 of 6 levels is insane. The amount of work that went into this is WOW. Like obvs if you play it long enough you notice repeating room types sure, but there's so many creepy and genuinely disturbing ideas and huge rooms. The insanely high board into the abyss for example triggers my acrophobia bad.

[@vetchlovernios]

Up to 1 hour 11 minutes in, he has gone through at least 3 to 4 levels, very lucky with his choices!

[@annabanana7152]

This is my first time watching a liminal spaces/backrooms game and it was so great! I was going to watch without the commentary but I’m glad I watched with your commentary! You are funny and energetic without being over the top! Loved it. I was waiting for a jump scare too!!

[@Shad0wC0mpany2]

Same here, Anna. First for me too, and this was great!

[@gammatheprotobean1541]

22:26 the pure FEAR in that scream is amazing lol

[@justaghostinthesea]

It's cause the tension buildup is so high, with no inherent release. So any sudden occurrence would be the equivalent of a jumpscare in a traditional horror game

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

​​@@justaghostinthesea I did not like that part. The chills I kept getting were so visceral and painful. Like falling from a cliff jump and trying to get the feeling of being on stable ground not realizing that you are also about to drop into something that doesn't stop you either, you sink into it at full speed and you're submerged in cold water.

[@lordzerks2813]

Interesting fact. U can survive from 8-21 ish days before u succumb to death from starvation. U might be able to even go longer but depends on physical health condition going in to a situation like this. Also depends on activity and physical exertion durring the time of starvation will reduce time as well. U might live that long without food, but it don’t mean u won’t be so miserable that u can’t even walk when this happens. Weakness sets in after just the first couple days of no food. And everything will seem 10x harder than it was before. So climbing long flights of stairs, walking for hours down endless corridors and having to take small swims is enough of a physical stress that u be lucky if u could survive 3-4 days before exhaustion and starvation set it.

[@juliemesser2053]

Starvation isn't fun. Trust me.

[@finpin2622]

Idk if other people experience this, but personally weakness sets in after a *single* day without food for me. Especially if I’m moving around a lot, if I go for an entire day without food I will find my hands notably begin to shake and just feel completely exhausted. I’m sure in a survival situation there would be more adrenaline but starvation plus the cloying chlorine smell and constant moving, it sounds like a hellish time.

[@verfos]

That’s only if you have water to drink. Without water you’d only last about 3 days. You’d die of dehydration long before you died of starvation.

[@maximeleninja4029]

@@verfos those pools are made of water. But yeah it depends if this liminal space is taking example of real pools or the poolrooms. If it's a real pool then yeah, drinking it isn't gonna be a good idea. If it's the poolrooms' water, well apparently it contains Magnesium Sulfate (I'm not a biologist, scientist nor doctor so I don't know if that's dangerous to drink) and there's no bacterias nor viruses inside of it (only one that lives inside of it is the Hydraulotis Plague (it's a backrooms entity, it's not real) but it only resides in water that are in the darker areas)

[@natoskull2]

It's supposed to be another dimension, where physics, hunger, thirst or tiredness don't seem to matter, and where you actually can't even die.

[@warbacca1017]

5:00 the music after going in the hole gave me a great idea. Have a horror game with thatll randomly play music like youre being chased or getting close to a dangerous section, but finding and hiding in "safe spots" is the only thing that makes the monster appear. But it's only an animation of it passing by or investigating the immediate area within your sight before leaving. People will feel like they just barely avoided the monster, or be paranoid that it could actually show up during one of the music segments; so they'd use the hiding spots just in case, triggering (and possibly the music) the monster appearance, only feeding their own paranoia, and thus continuing the cycle

[@twilightparanormalresearch186]

That’s great

[@ImageRedacted]

So it's like it was really behind or in front of you, it just wasn't loaded in the game (metaphorically). That's awesome.

[@warbacca1017]

@ImageRedacted yeah, so in theory if you just ignore the music and hiding spots and keep going, the monster would never spawn.

[@Dolfa_LPH]

This gave me another idea. When someone tries to hide in a safe space like a locker, say "It's occupied" and force the player to find another one.

[@neotronextrem]

This is how a lot of horror games are scripted

[@tanzingtu]

Having the second audio track with no commentary is genius. I love just listening to the ambiance of this place and getting lost in it but then can switch over if there’s a moment I want to hear the commentary about.

[@blueplague5911]

My headcanon is that every mannequin/statue is what remains of people who were previously trapped in the space.

[@neotronextrem]

It's a limbo for all the souls who drowned in pools

[@_alleycat_]

i like this idea because at the end you hear multiple beings wading in the water. i wonder what that last door was and why the cameraman put the camera down edit nvm its just the sound of the cameraman wading. not multiple

[@ArturVeralius]

I thouhgt it was a combination of that and the Pools trying to mimic what it watched. It almost felt like the layer itself was talking to the player, inviting them in, mirroring it.

[@WKR-wo7et]

adding a second audio track just technically gave me 4hrs of footage to just watch and experience, thanks igp :D

[@SamwiseTheUnwise]

This was the most uneasy I have ever been watching you play a game. This game is perfection, it perfectly captures what is terrifying about the concept of the backrooms. Hope this dev comes out with more and I hope you play them all!

[@toatlycreative8882]

One of the few content creators who makes consistently interesting and engaging content and I can still understand the reason I subscribed. Thanks man keep up the work you have been for years.

[@dootytood2643]

The anticipation build was insane. The shadows dancing in the water and the audio ques played on our expectations for a jump scare and was multiplied when none came. I was thinking "Weeping Angel" were going to be a thing due to the marble human statues. Using them in the finish was awesome. Great game.

[@JoshyRB]

I think those human sized statues that are all throughout the game are the people (or a symbolisation of the people) that came before you, but never found their way out. The fact they block the way backwards at the end of the game tells me they are trying to help you, because they know you are one of them. But hey, that’s just a theory, A GAME THEORY.

[@stricklandpropane4075]

That light chuckle of "holy shit I survived" slight trauma going on in his mind xD

[@riphopfer5816]

I think you’re dead-on about the ‘hyperfocus mechanic’. (That’s a great name for it, too.) When you’rejust sitting and resting, you’re not thinking about where you’re going next, what might be around the next corner, whether you can play with the giant creepy rubber duck, etc., and you don’t hear the sounds of your own footfalls, your own breath, the sound of blood fishing through your arteries to feed your brain and other parts…so you just kind of settle in and ‘send your awareness out’-letting it insinuate itself into all the myriad corridors , ventilation ductwork and the shafts that feed them. I think it’s very realistic-possibly the most lifelike mechanic in the game script, and is an innovative stroke of genius I’ve never encountered in any other game. It adds greatly to the game’s realism, and truly enhances the sense of loneliness…OR the impression that you just might NOT be alone. Both options are very unsettling.

[@magicksilver4444]

I thought it was to keep you on edge too, so you are never truly confortable.

[@PierceArner]

The only thing that throws me off about it is that the game's singular reused wooden chair creak sound is _completely_ wrong for those plastic chairs when you sit down, which makes the following audio hyperfocal emphasis feel a bit strange after an audio cue that's so off.

[@magicksilver4444]

@@PierceArner maybe it’s to throw the player off

[@PierceArner]

@@magicksilver4444 It feels more like just using a generic stock sound rather than an intentional design choice.

[@magicksilver4444]

@@PierceArner maybe, it’s weird how this is the only time where the sound is really off…

[@smashy_smasherton]

Genuinely terrified at times. The quickly darting shadows and the whispering.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Everytime he zoomed in I held my breath.

[@brandtheman92]

adding reverb to your voice was such a subtle detail. **chef's kiss** really added to the immersion. thank you for the fine attention to detail.

[@internetspookies]

omg i am so happy you posted with a no commentary version. i enjoy both but it’s always so difficult to find good videos without the commentary as well!!! I appreciate it greatly.

[@EcoSamurai]

What I love about the Pool Rooms is that in a real life scenario, every ripple of water would have you on edge, thinking you're seeing stuff out of the corner of your eyes... That very much is conveyed in the way this game's water works and I love it so much!

[@Heyitsoj]

Hey man, your videos are awesome it's so dope that you add your own ambiance at times and give options for just gameplay or not, and again, the wide expanse of games you play.

[@IGP]

Did you changed your name? Here I was thinking it was a different OJ LOL Thanks for the tip and for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoy my little efforts in the videos. Means a lot for them to be noticed haha

[@Heyitsoj]

@@IGP Same OJ 😂

[@2goblinsinatrenchcoat]

I genuinely appreciate you giving us the option for no commentary; not because I don’t want to hear your voice, but it’s a WHOLE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE when it’s quiet haha

[@niza.toshpulatov]

Matching the reverb effect on your voice with the game environment you’re in - is genius.

[@arisperwinanya9641]

Ha! Without commentary. Dude, I've been trying to get through this game on my own and it freaks me out. I came here for a hug.😅

[@dajku4526]

Remember that circle symbol you stumbled upon? It looked like multiple circles, all of them were dark except one that was colored. There was also a part where you saw a yellow circle on a wall that dissapeared once you looked at it. That may be the reason why one of those circles were colored, and the rest was dark... Maybe there is a way to find all of the ring symbols and unlock a secret passage. Or it might just be me overthinking stuff.

[@MichaelSteltzer]

I thought this as well. There was certainly a puzzle in the circles and the triangles

[@zzzhya]

Logged in just to comment THANK YOU FOR HAVING PROPER AUDIO DUDE at least the past 10 videos ive watched their audio is awful either the game is too loud or their mic is too loud, and I just wanted to say you were spot on with everything. Also the immersion you did really well made me feel like I was watching a movie of someone walking through the unknown and not some random dude on KZbin screaming 24/7, thank you and cheers to more proper audio

[@IGP]

Really appreciate the feedback and kind words!

[@FallenAsylumSanityFallen]

25:32 just want you all to know that I have been watching horror game playthroughs for nearly eight years and a game has yet to make me scared shitless like this one

[@Raii_Chu]

have you played through the game called Outlast at night in a room with no lights?

[@suthishofficial]

​@@Raii_Chuoutlast is not scary it's just sounds makes jumpscares and fun but some games really just make u feel uncomfortable.

[@Raii_Chu]

@@suthishofficial Didn’t realize you were the overseeing authority on the matter. I’ll adjust my recommendations next time. /s

[@suthishofficial]

@@Raii_Chusorry not trying to be rude. Outlast has lot of jumpscares but u never feel uncomfortable it becomes addictive i like it a lot. Once completed you want more of it expecting next version but some games really push u to limits and stop playing. It's not jumscare the way they designed the world knowing how players mentally affect.

[@Raii_Chu]

@@suthishofficial for sure, for sure. 10s of thousands of positive Steam reviews explaining how it provides the scare factor. But what do I know, it’s not scaring for you therefore I’m wrong for recommending it /s

[@SoloKyoto]

Although i watched with commentary the opinion of being able to watch without it and just game audio is absolutely AMAZING and a incredible feature that i hope other implement in game play walkthroughs soon. Great job.

[@mirkyUG]

I physically cannot explain how great this game is. The atmosphere is truly dreading and creepy itself, the thoughts like "did i made the right choice to go here", "it feels like i'm at the beginning" are so good. Cheers for the content more like that! It's hard to make the atmosphere like this and it's great that they succeeded

[@husklightdrinker487]

This was so intense, gave me lots of anxiety. They did this so well. The environmental storytelling, hinting at previous people. The sounds hinting at something lurking, without ever showing anything other than the ducks, mannequins, and of course the sheep. And the mannequins stopping you from going back/following you was tense as well. Hope more games like this get released

[@FrostMan678]

28:15 when the game stutter like that it genuinely gave me goosebumps I hate that I know how games work if you’re in a open space game like this and your game stutter that means something spawned in

[@justaghostinthesea]

That's genuinely terrifying

[@GalaxVerse]

It means the games is just loading or struggling to load next stage/ area/ platforms whatever you call it

[@FrostMan678]

That too but playing monster hunter has traumatized me

[@daptor1427]

Tears of the Kingdom made me scared of the "Saving Game" icon popping up, especially if it happened in a wide open space. In that case it was unintentional, but I LOVE this specific kind of psychological horror, if I can call it that. The game also managed to get me scared/paranoid of trees, and made me spend long stretches of time just watching ducks. Strange game.

[@SilverKappa]

Including a just game audio option is a super interesting idea. Not gonna do it first go 'round because I'm here for commentary as much as gameplay, but definitely gonna come back and give it a shot..

[@hfcred5242]

Havent seen anyone else point this out yet, but I can not believe you went through the effort of matching your voices reverb to the size of the room youre currently in at all times! It makes it feel so much more like youre actually there

[@herrDOS]

Oh, we know why, it has been studied. Humans are afraid of the unknown and something you cannot explain. Inability to answer “why?” is a key to every horror. In this case, you are in something that looks like a swimming pool, but there’re no people there, and the place has meaningless architecture. Who would go through those narrow passages? Why would there be clean water without circulation? Who keeps this place clean? For what purpose was it built? In the background, your brain desperately tries to build some sort of world model that explains where you are and what is the right mode of behavior in this place, but cannot. That’s where the fear comes from.

[@herrDOS]

Human mind is not fact driven, it’s story driven. It is crucial to you to build some kind of coherent story of what is happening and why. Doesn’t matter how correct the story is.

[@norfolkdash9]

I'd like to hear more from you man. Your words are intriguing

[@vivipotato3004]

You know, now that I've read your comment, as I'm listening and watching IGP play, I realize how much he's actually questioning, "Why this?" and "Why that?" And some "what is this? " as well. It makes me realize just how inquisitive we as humans naturally are and why we need to ask these big questions. "Who put us on this earth? How did life come to be in the universe? What happens when we die?" That's why so many people like space exploration or deep ocean, or even the concept of religion. I can keep rambling on, but in a nutshell, your comment was amazing and made me think more. Conscience is a beautiful thing.

[@Hawk7886]

​@@vivipotato3004it's nothing so abstract, the brain actively needs to connect dots. In the absence of a logical connection from A to B, the brain will simply make something up. It's how creation stories started with ancient humans and what makes liminal spaces so horrifying. Sanity is a very fragile thing.

[@wowplayer160]

Sounds just like my ex

[@animaker95]

I'm not one to typically comment on KZbin, but please IGP. You found a great formula here, don't lose it! Being able to watch it first on my own and then go through some of the same moments with your commentary grants your videos replayability (at least twice) and I think that's a genius move. Cheers and votes to keep grinding the KZbin algorithm!

[@Eazyrun]

I have a problem with water in liminal space games, and I hope someone of relevance will see this: If left untouched, water won't show ripples. It looks like a solid, reflecting surface with minor irregularities. Only if you step in it, you'll have ripples. I don't need a perfect water engine, by God no. But the most eary image for me is when I worked as a life guard and had the a last look at the pool area. You were gone for like 10min after all guests left. And this untouched surface... It hits different. I want everyone else to experience this stillness. Like I said, I hope it reaches the right person, and it definetely isn't mandatory to add... But god it'd be so cool to have you all see it

[@tazymomo9394]

I think the reason it ripples, and I could be extremely wrong it's just my experience, is ventilation, because we see vents that are working so it's making the water ripple

[@finpin2622]

I used to go to this indoor pool in the evenings that not a lot of people used, and my favorite thing was getting there and seeing it perfectly still. It looks like a sheet of glass, not something you should be able to step into. The best part is when you jump into that perfectly still water and the illusion instantly breaks. Sometimes when I see very clear glass I imagine being able to jump into it like water 😅

[@Hawk7886]

Taking a trip on open water super early in the morning on perfectly calm days was the same way. It's fun feeling like you're the only craft in existence, carving a path across an ocean of glass.

[@seemyptayt0]

The lore for the actual place you see in this video is that the water isn’t stagnant and no one can figure out why. As you said, it shouldn’t have ripples but for some odd/other worldly reason, it does.

[@mjesensky2760]

As @seemyptayt0 says, and also because the the original Poolrooms artwork had this rippling water in the pools.

[@Santusknowsyourlocation]

the being able to mute voice is a really cool way to let different types of people watch the video, great!

[@metalqueen237]

really love the commentary free audio option. This was perfect for unwinding after work & being overstimulated all day. Definitely gonna rewatch w/ commentary soon

[@player_none]

There’s something oddly comforting about those pools. Like a warm childhood memory just out of reach. But at the same time utterly terrifying…

[@SeraphicPhantasm]

It is similar to childhood trauma. Glimpses of forgotten painful memories and a longing for a past which never happened.

[@player_none]

⁠@@SeraphicPhantasmMaybe that’s why I identify with it so strongly

[@jeanneann3545]

Feels so peaceful and yet so eerie. I would probably first truly enjoy being there, swimming and exploring and then i start to freak out slowly and ended up sleeping on the cold floor wishing it all is just a dream. Very specific but that what i feel looking at these space.

[@Jojomojo300]

For me it’s really a childhood memory. My father worked in a retirement home and he showed me around. There was an old pool they weren’t using anymore and the sight of this place haunted me for weeks. So when I learned about the backrooms and read about different levels I stumbled across level 37 and had such a weid feeling and it reminded me of the abandoned pool at my dads work place 🥲

[@GalaxVerse]

29:16 Angels singing, basically wind passing through the gaps which made that gigantic echoing sounds in that huge structure

[@engagingweirdo]

Backrooms always feel so dreamy to me, the party rooms give more uneasyness vibes for me, also the no commentary option is just insane to me. I really wish this happened way earlier, but thx for it indie!

[@SavingPrivateBob]

Whoa, that is super cool. That you can have two audio tracks now in a KZbin video, one with commentary and one with just gameplay audio. Thanks for opening up my mind to that

[@emmasmith1363]

The ending felt like a strange catharsis. I don't really know why, but it felt like a finality and acceptance.

[@TheRealNerve]

59:57 The scream got me on that one XD

[@w3t_wlpes]

This no commentary switch concept is amazing! Sadly I’m too much of a scary cat to watch without your commentary but I love the option anyways!

[@Guys._.]

The poolrooms need more love, they're normally super calm. I want more pure terror with the Poolrooms.

[@Squatz1235]

Facts its so boring like is there smth no is there something here n no oh ok is there smth here no there’s nothing here totall

[@LordDragox412]

Shame this game is about Bathrooms. Goddamn Skibidi toilet takeover! /s

[@issacclarke624]

Being chased down slides, desperately trying to run through water to try and get away

[@randomexeter3627]

Not having an actual monster while at the same time giving hints that there may be a monster seems to work better.

[@rick-deckard]

No!

[@Wisteria3-m7e]

Thank you so much for the option of just the game audio I haven’t seen a gamer ever give that option before! Instant subscribe

[@User-g2c7t]

To me, that one of the first 'encounters' you have, where you enter the the dark archway/tunnel and you hear those whale like colossal sounds is one of the most important and memorable parts of the game. It just brings feelings and thoughts of creatures deep in an underwater abyss which connects to the waters of the pools. I also love how the marble statues feel alive in away (even when they're not obviously moving) and feel as some sort of civilization of this odd world

[@manavsharma9263]

Your voice and commentary was so relaxing that not even half way i fell asleep. I was juat straight up gone into oblivion. Love your videos man i usually don't get to watch these videos very often but it is always a good day when i get to

[@kt_-]

That's a pretty cool audio feature, never seen that before on youtube. Too bad I won't try it out because I'd miss your great commentary

[@theCherryontop26]

I feel it could maybe also be someone lost in their own mind... wandering alone forever... in disassociation... what a hauntingly beautiful and terrifyingly calm game. one that's left me in awe and hoping for more. I feel this dev deserves some awards definitely.

[@Cheeseybeeens]

As a Person who loves commentary and liminal spaces I love this, my brother, who loves liminal spaces but doesn’t particularly like commentary, also loves this

[@freddie8610]

dude audio track without commentary is a fantastic idea but i am NOT about to sit in silence with this game

[@grimceevods5707]

i watched the video twice, one time with each track. the trackless was oddly satisfying, pretty awesome! but your screams and commentary can’t be beat. ❤️

[@TheeActualKeyboardWarrior]

Your voice is a beacon of charisma and information about these experiences we go through with you. I wouldnt trade your current format of content for anything man, your talented, intellegent, dedicated and trustworthy. Hope you keep making hitters because this channel is one i come back to more often than most.

[@jadecrusher1066]

Feels like the entire game is just teasing you with phantoms of your own creations. Like anything you come up with is far worse than any monster the game can come up with. It just lets that fear and anticipation of "what could be there" is the essence of this horror.

[@jadecrusher1066]

@I.G.P5. scam

[@missdire]

I somehow didn't watch the full video when this first came out and I'm so sad that I initially missed it. This was so beautiful and so damn tense. Between the sounds, shadows, ducks, mannequins, I was so on edge! I hope they make another one.

[@Pifo_WhereGamingHappens]

For the scene at 49:43 where he falls down the slide if you pay attention to how the camera moves you can tell that its you yourself picking up the camera... These kinds of details make this game extraordinary.

[@standard-carrier-wo-chan]

Thank you for giving us the option to either watch it with or without commentary. The option is extremely appreciated.

[@mothwings8795]

I haven't really "gotten" Liminal Spaces as a whole but went with Dad to do a quick IT thing at his work today and the empty offices with motion-activated lights, the quietness of it all... corridors that could turn into a maze, were they not so simple. A random diagonal wall with the doors to a conference room, lights off. It finally felt like I was standing in one of these spaces. Then the warehouse itself was tremendous in size, and set up so perfectly. Without workings moving around it was quiet, and massive. Really enjoyed it.

[@inventgineer]

I just wanna say: your idea and realization of as much in creating a second, selectable audio track using the different language option? Just brilliant, man. I imagine countless people have countlessly created videos with either one or the other, or created an entire 2nd video, but YOU with THIS method.....*chefs kiss * just gorgeous in its creativity, simplicity, and utility 👌💯. I salute you, good sir, for being a competent pioneer of sorts 😊👍.

[@ChunkyChungus]

The detail that he edited his voice to echo in certain rooms makes the atmosphere so much better. Very nice work!!

[@greekceltic]

The clickable links in the credits is very cool. Great video! I enjoyed running it in the background while I work. The screams always get me. I always laugh.

[@chillspice]

Its so funny that one of the few gaming youtubers that actually has interesting and entertaining commentary adds a non-commentary option.

[@octane613]

While idea of the second audio track is neat, we're all here because we like your voice fam. You got that relaxing dad voice.

[@twilightparanormalresearch186]

And the best screams

[@disgust4941]

This is the first time I’ve immediately wanted to buy a game someone has played. This is exactly the type of ‘Backrooms’ like games I’ve always dreamed of

[@arucarddimples1944]

I love this, good job! I had almost completed the game myself when I started watching your vid. I had to stop when I realized that I did not complete the last level yet so I did that and then came back to watch your reactions!

[@Oxzou]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the option for no commentary genuinely such an amazing idea for such a great game like this, but i watch to hear igp such an harmonic voice.

[@arium7846]

Though the no commentary option seems great, i prefer some commentary when it's on these games, it feels safer compared to just the game sound. Also IGP's comments are great to hear.

[@cadepreble2909]

When you said “I’m doing this just to fuck with you guys too” was the most immersed I’ve ever felt. gg

[@SereneTropicalSailboat-lk6ej]

That scream at 1.00.13 was so funny bro I didn’t think you could scream like that

[@zelly4914]

I once had a dream exactly like this: a series of pools and waterslides, all connected inside a giant mountain complex (I think it was like choose your path waterpark, with hundreds of different paths to the bottom). Some rooms were simple like a pool and two slides leading out, some had restaurants or gathering places, others had an extra water feature like a lazy river or a themed room like pirates.

[@geoffreyrichards6079]

It’s strange how a lot of people have reported experiencing this sort of dream in their youths, yet I can’t ever recall having one myself - unless maybe I I forgot?

[@E-0n-exe]

Never before have i seen a video with 2 audio uploaded tracks that can be switched between. Thats AWESOME

[@ktankinfinity]

Man, your voice is the reason why I watched 4 of your videos today, your make the best comentary.