How Audio Creates Horror: The Heilwald Loophole

[@Pastraspec]

I'm seeing a couple comments on here that misunderstood what I meant when I said this game's special gimmick was going back to previous locations, and I feel like that's because I explained it quite poorly here. What I meant is that you quite literally time travel back to previous locations after acquiring new items to use them in points in time where it wasn't possible. I just wanted to clear that up so there wasn't any misinformation about this game.

[@Pootisbird69]

Thats a whole genre called metroidvania

[@gamerdomain6618]

@@Pootisbird69 Metroidvanias are about backtracking, not time travelling with your new items like a flashback in a Batman Arkham game.

[@Pootisbird69]

oh ok i didnt know that was how it worked thanks

[@tomato-guy-roblox]

hey play roblox doors its a horror game

[@physicalnova2965]

Thanks for clearing that up, very professional of you !

[@whoiskomet]

I feel like the nurse’s section is especially interesting since it doesn’t involve finding an object or an exit, but instead it asks you to overcome the fear that it presents you instead of escaping from it, like every other game. It’s an unorthodox twist but an appreciated one nonetheless.

[@xdsmile5359]

Lovely

[@evthespineconfiscator8652]

We need more unorthodox twists in games, if done right they're very unique and interesting

[@godammichael]

Its basically making you be ready to accept your fate

[@invadernav3422]

And the 'WHERE ARE YOU GOING?' Randolph gave when I played startled me so bad I completely lost my bearings, only for him to immediately be calm again when he caught up to me since I didn't move. That high tension uneasiness didn't let up once after that.

[@Tomato3njoyer]

He said “ *C O M E B A C K H E R E N O W* ”

[@invadernav3422]

@@Tomato3njoyer I think he says them both, because I absolutely remember 'WHERE ARE YOU GOING?'. I might need to watch someone play through it again, but I do remember that.

[@invadernav3422]

@@Tomato3njoyer Yeah, I just checked ManlyBadassHero's demo play through! At 2:05, he immediately says the 'WHERE ARE YOU GOING?' line, so he does say both.

[@uncroppedsoop]

@@Tomato3njoyer "come back here now" is the 2nd time

[@lumaling]

oh god i got so freaked out hearing that-i never played this game but i watched izzzyzzz’s video about it as background noise; it caught me so off guard i had to pause it 😭

[@chatteringbox7583]

Personally, when I think of sound design in horror, my mind always goes to Iron Lung. It really does its damnest to make you feel like you're in a creaking submarine tanking the pressure of a deep blood ocean, with whatever the hell is lurking down there.

[@Greyedin]

Exactly iron lung is amazing it’s probably my favorite indie horror game

[@monsterfanatic5344]

Yeah man. Iron Lung is amazing. Tbh Pastra should probably do a review on it.

[@sparrowanon]

YEAHHHH LET'S GO IRON LUNG!!! omg once a wannabe Something Awful fandom gets ahold of a game it never sticks off their greasy cheeto dust-covered fingers

[@Greyedin]

@@sparrowanon i cant tell if this is an insult or not.. and also are you calling the fnaf fandom garbage im really not sure if your joking or not i dont know if your trying to insult something or be a jerk or just saying a harmless joke PLEASE HELP AND CLERIFY

[@sparrowanon]

@@Greyedin If you didn't know, it's a joke it's referring to how shitty fandoms will gob on indie games and projects until it's entirely milked of content and the only remedy is leaving it to die. also I used to really like FNaF but I lost all hope after security breach. I don't like how it's turned child-friendly and marketed toward early birds. i think the way Pastra covers games is really good but whenever he tries to be scary with all the teeth and that one weird arc where one of his OCs took over the channel for some reason? he really isn't. I agree with his opinions but his style is just unwarranted and trudged too hard. Like teeth = scary apparently.

[@hailmuse]

As my theatre teacher once said: "Don't go into audio work expecting to be praised. Most people won't notice it until you mess up"

[@millah_2326]

I actually loved how they used the theme, you mostly see the patients being demonized on horror media, not the cruel institution they're placed in. Already a breath of fresh air!

[@Pastraspec]

I agree, too often do I see media try to villainize those in the institution rather than understanding that oftentimes the real horror comes from how they were treated. This game, to me, is a breath of fresh air in many departments, and the overall theme you mentioned is one of the biggest reasons why

[@ethanotoroculus1060]

In a video made by Ilymation recently on the matter of psych hospitals, I think she put it perfectly when she said something to the effect of _"when people do this, the only horror here is the lack of empathy on display to make a site of historical oppression entirely about yourself. And while it's true that these places have improved for the better, it's also clear that our perceptions of it have not."_ You could argue this game still falls into the trap a little bit by again focusing exclusively on representing the nasty undebelly and leaving the modern improvement they've seen in the dust, but it does make me a bit happier knowing they at least went in the right direction in putting the blame exactly where it belonged with what they did go with.

[@Roman_the_black_cat]

​@@ethanotoroculus1060it also has a old timey feeling so it might take place before these modern improvement came to be, just a fun theory i thought of while i read this comment

[@ethanotoroculus1060]

@@Roman_the_black_cat Ofc it is. I never felt there was a problem with how the game chose to portray the institutions necessarily, moreso just the overarching tendency for medias to be a bit too overly preoccupied with the way they historically operated without bringing attention to the fact that this stuff has changed, which could have the effect of pushing people away from getting help if they need it.

[@yarrowyeen]

​​@@ethanotoroculus1060s a survivor struggling with the ripple of inpatient and many stays through my life, I would like to hope that many have improved- but would like to inform you that not all have come that far. of course, nothing like the last century shock therapy in the video but it can often be extremely dehumanizing and ineffective at helping their patients heal.

[@scoop3447]

I would like to point out that, to me, the rise and fall of the music in the Nurse's theme reminds me of breathing, as if the Nurse's presence terrifies the patients so much that they're struggling to breath in a futile attempt to get away, trapped in a body That's unresponsive.

[@invadernav3422]

Visuals can only go so far with horror. You really need good audio/ambience in horror media to compound those visuals. You could have a horrifying monster design, but if there's a lack of engaging, amplifying audio that compliments that visual, the visuals won't be able to carry the game/movie alone. Heliwald Loophole really did mix them together so perfectly! I wouldn't mind another video on this game honestly!

[@pepekovallin]

Yeah, silent hill's fog is amazing, but if it wasn't for the wind, the constant distorted sound the radio emits the game wouldn't be nearly as scary

[@medium9529]

Yes like if you put sneaky snitch over any horror movie it becomes a comedy

[@supersolomob422]

It's proved tha people are more reactive to sound than visual. Sound causes us to flinch faster and better than visual

[@SuperNerd9695]

Another thing is that visuals can be missed/ignored. However audio can't be missed/ignored because out of all of your senses, hearing is omnipresence.

[@melancholydarling3937]

I think it’s also important to mention the Faith series. Even the most mundane dialogue sounds so horrifying (at least to me, I’m a wuss). It’s such a striking and memorable aspect of the games

[@raxusveritas]

It's that fucking Windows 1990's tts program

[@awesomehazimex7410]

.....MORTIS

[@somegingerdude8110]

M O R T I S

[@acheron16]

M O R T I S

[@johannesjuhlnielsen9309]

the "YOU DIDN'T KILL THE SNAKE JOHN" segment might be my favorite moment in any horror game. i love faith

[@fivenineone6085]

Something I also really like is, for the doctor as example, that it switches to actual English instead of the sound bits that are supposed to be language (I assume it's just things played in reverse instead of mimicing anything in paticular). It kind of has that "the doctor is talking directly to you, the player" vibe I find.

[@Karlz1212]

I didn’t knew about the true value that audio and soundtrack had until I learned it on my school’s music class My teacher showed us the same scene on a movie, but without any sound attached to it It was a generic scene of a guy finding a suitcase on his closet and opening it, seeing a hidden object My teacher once again replayed the scene, but this time, he added audio to it The audio was a bunch of violins whose volume slowly, almost too slowly, started to sound louder and louder If reflected a feeling of dread, suspense and borderline terror That it makes you feel that when the guy opened the suitcase, he just found something terrifying on it When I heard that audio, I felt like if a worm was slowly crawling inside of my ear My teacher once again replayed the same scene, but with a different audio This time, it was a soft chime of bells accompanied by a joyful angelic choir The new audio reflected a sense of wonder, hopefulness and fantasy That makes you believe that the thing the guy found on the suitcase was something magical This time, the audio was pleasant for me and I even ended up humming it After that, my respect for audio in movies and video games grew Because even though you can have the visuals, the audio truly sets the atmosphere of it

[@amanofnoreputation2164]

The segment with the nurse has a very contradictory design choice: everything about the encounter is saying, "The nurse will end you -- stay away from the nurse," and yet, if you want to progress, the fastest way to do so is to go towards the nurse. So, in essence, the situation the game ends up engendering is that the player is led on a wild goose chase in total vain until they finally acclimatize to the nurse's presence and become so curious or bored they let her catch them. This might potentially be fun in practice and something that necessarily forces the player to confront danger, but on paper it sounds like a whole lot of confusion and wasting the player's time. If it's so critical to get caught, then why is getting caught made so difficult by setting the player against it? Wouldn't it be better to lead the player someplace they think is safe from the nurse only to become trapped and completely unable to escape? The result is the same but instead it's the player dictating the pace and not how long it takes an incompetent enemy to catch them? I don't know. The first situation sounds unusual but maybe not the most effective option.

[@Pastraspec]

You definitely have a good point. From a horror standpoint, the nurse encounter is extremely well made, however as an actual game there is a lot of flaw in how it's approached. The game in no way ever tells you that you need to be caught by her, so you run around trying to avoid her at all costs until you realize there's literally no other way to progress.

[@XBlueDiamondsX]

i'd personally disagree with the encounter being well-made from a horror standpoint, since as a horror game you can't really divorce the horror from the gameplay. If the gameplay/design choices detracts from how scary an encounter is i'd argue that it just isn't that scary as a whole.

[@Falkuzrules]

As soon as the "get caught by nurse" element was being explained I was like "well that's just terribly made." That's the kind of thing that brings you from terror to angry frustration in a few short moments.

[@uncroppedsoop]

@@Falkuzrules if you're at the point of being angry rather than terrified then you'd be more than willing to _try_ getting caught. If it happens that quickly for you then there's little time wasted and it's hardly a dealbreaker for the horror

[@Falkuzrules]

@@uncroppedsoop I mean I'm saying that once you found out that *was* the objective you'd get frustrated....... in which case you probably looked it up, saw that, and at that point you might as well just stop playing the game and find something designed better.

[@emilygordbort7300]

This analysis is particularly helpful for me, I've been revving up to make an ARG so having a good example of how important audio is gives me something to work with Maybe trying something like YTP to start out with would be useful

[@hwlo7891]

yooo!!! dude gl on the arg!!! let's go bro!!!

[@spencer2990]

Ooo sounds cool

[@emilygordbort7300]

Thanks It'll be a while before I can even attempt it so-

[@Gray-weeb]

Iron Lung also has great sound design. The creaking of the submarine, the sound of the blood as you commandeer the submarine, the sounds of the environment outside of it. You definitely need to check it out!

[@physicalnova2965]

I always found that Subnautica was a game where the horror aspect was greatly accentuated by its sound design. Not only the music, but also the ambiance, the distant roaring of creatures... I creates a constant tension that sticks even when you perfectly know the game and have replayed it.

[@uncroppedsoop]

Subnautica's sound design is top goddamn notch, it genuinely sounds like how it would to be underwater there

[@TheManWhoErasedHisNane]

Especially when it comes to the reaper leviathan because to put it simply “If you can hear the reaper it most likely already knows where you are.”

[@TheManWhoErasedHisNane]

Even when there is no major threats the sound still keeps you on edge.

[@Meep_Sheep]

I was thinking of Subnautica, too!! It takes a lot to scare me, personally, but when I hear even the distant roar of a Reaper, I immediately want to book it. The Aurora itself also terrified me due to it sounding and feeling so unstable that it could potentially fall apart while I'm exploring it.

[@quantumtabbylargo7457]

The ghost tree song is also pretty neat.

[@gizmo9133]

Sound design can let you make a spooky environment feel like a cartoon and make a kids game feel like a creepypasta straight out of the uncanny valley

[@swaglessbeast655]

The thing that interests me about the sound design in this game is the fact that since your playing as a mental patient that perhaps the sounds and maybe some of the sights aren't nearly as horrifying as the game makes them out to be. To a person with disturbed mental health a nurse coming through the sick bay to check on her patients could appear as a monster pursuing you, hunting you when in reality its just your sickly mind warping events and your perception to make otherwise mundane things unspeakably terrifying. Schitzophrenia comes to mind. Its honestly horrifying in of itself that the game might not even be this hellish nightmarish experience and that the reality is your character only sees it that way because their mind is broken. I haven't played the game so don't take my word for it but it seems like when Doctor Randolph catches you he just tells you to calm down or possibly sedates you which...is actually all that bad. He's not some scary horror monster...he's a Doctor, but to a mental patient being chased through the halls by him the difference might be negligable.

[@nintendold]

To me, the calm music when you are very clearly in danger feels like the game is betraying you, like it is trying to tell you "everything is okay, let your guard down" just for whatever threat is there to catch me unprepared

[@chaosbeam4654]

I feel like audio is one of those things that can make or break the atmosphere of any game

[@tarsis5933]

To me, Little Nightmares has some of the best audio design I've seen in a horror game, while the game doesn't usually require you to listen as a mechanic, to me it takes the cake in terms of theme, the sound not only the monsters, but everything around you produces makes you feel even smaller and hopeless than you are, combined with the gorgeous and disturbing soundtrack the game offers.

[@mysteriam9679]

My favourite thing that developers do for their horror games is when they require you to have the sound up to be able to progress. Especially in games like FNAF 4, where you have to put the volume on loud to merely hear the animatronics and in turn when you get jumpscared it scares you shitless. It also requires you to have the full horror experience :)

[@leekspinner]

I found your video while searching for this game's music because it is so good! The characters' "voices" (animal crossing concept turned upside down) surprising us with coherent lines is haunting. Sound design in this game is simply great. It is truly an indie gem because there's so much more to this game, like character design and story, both of which deserve their own video. If you like this atmosphere, I recommend playing American McGee's Alice (2000).

[@perropequeno]

As someone who is studying game development and audio engineering (which I love), Its nice to see audio get love.

[@shshyie]

Ooh, I remember this from one of the haunted ps1 demo disk (would highly recommend checking them along with the various Dread X collections out) Also good sound design is honestly just as important, and in some cases more so, than visuals in not only horror, but media as a whole, glad more people are exploring just how effective it can be

[@shshyie]

Not to downplay visuals at all, both audio and visuals provide unique aspects that can convey concepts incredibly effectively with only one or the other, but when you combine em, ooomf

[@queenofnarnia1011]

One of the things that scared me about this game (but was also really cool) was that it set its precedent with characters speaking with text + audio going blablablah but then the moment you piss off the first guy you meet, he's not only yelling but SPEAKING WITH NORMAL WORDS. That moment was great because it tells you then that any 'rules' it sets up for how the game is presented to you can be broken or changed at any time, and thus for the rest of the game you never know what to expect.

[@OGPepsiman]

Yeah! It’d be like if you were playing Animal Crossing and Tom Nook or Isabelle are giving you a tutorial with the normal AC language, and then if you mess up like 3 or more times (probably on purpose) they immediately starting whispering dark things about you in full blown English like they hate your guts for toying with them or something

[@GHOSTYChoco]

Me at 12pm about to sleep: Pastra uploads a new video: *SLEEPN’T* No but seriously, I totally agree with this video. Sometimes the audio in horror games scare me even more than the actual jumpscares 💀

[@ILikesKarz]

@@The_Artist_Official truth

[@hwlo7891]

my guy you're going to sleep at *12 in the afternoon-?*

[@jedi_cat_l4976]

You know, I'm not usually that into horror, but Pastra just makes it _different._ Easily and quickly earned my subscription.

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

This makes me want to see a horror game in a perfectly mundane setting, but with deeply unsettling music and sound design. I feel like that would be a good way of expressing that feeling when you're just going about your everyday life, working or shopping, and then something starts setting off this horrible gut feeling and you have to figure out how to get your work done and keep yourself safe without looking like a crazy person.

[@TheOverArchiver]

The sound design of Alien Isolation is perhaps some of the best out there. The vents sliding open, the clunking of things moving out of sight, the beeps of different electronics, even just the station shifting and settling. The sound of the save points in particular stands out, since while they’re used to help signal that you’re near a save spot, they’re also loud, distracting, and insistent.

[@saltyermilk8995]

(Spoilers) My favroite part of this game is the scene with the iron lung patient we are so used to fearing everything we see before trying everything else first we emidiantly think they are a threat only to hand us the item that we were looking for and when we do get the item it just makes you feel bad about assuming they are a threat

[@denysvision]

And even worst is that the person in the iron lung is nurse astrid

[@syntheticant8172]

I think Subnautica, despite not really being intended to be a horror game, does audio design immensely well. The vast roars of huge monsters that lurk just out of sight actually showed me I have thallasophobia - or caused it. Unbelievably terrifying.

[@draconicfeline6177]

the constant threat of running out of oxygen, the whole 'at the precipice before going down where there is no light' thing... The first time I went down to the Sparse Reef (I think) I had a gut-churning moment. And the sulfur fish... The fucking sulfur fish. I think the best horror has something beautiful in it.

[@DetectiveJones]

3:33 Talk about sound design! The developers left a nifty trick to figuring out the Doctor is a bad guy. where if you listen closely, you'll hear the Imperial March soundtrack from Star Wars, a soundtrack notorious for representing the bad guys.

[@afrostacheb8228]

One game that always comes to mind when I think about sound design and ambience that really adds to the horror is the original postal. The levels are dead silent filled only with gunshots screams and the occasional strangely placed and uncanny sounding ambience. The loading screens and main title screen are an audio visual nightmare, nothing but pure unadulterated insanity with some of the most unnatural and unsettling audio. The ending is this taken to an extreme. I'd definitely recommend it if your looking for more horror games with strong sound design. It's free on steam too so that's a plus. Much love Pastra!

[@Burning_Marshmallow]

For me, I feel more scared when ambience is used constantly even when nothing is going to happen. Then all of a sudden, you just cut it for no reason… you’ll feel like something is just about to happen, and feel more scared than a violin suddenly making a sharp note. At least for me it feels more scary, I’m not sure what scares others however.

[@Iconic_Zoot]

When the Dr. first chased you, to me it sounded like he said "Come back here, now!".

[@ignightroad]

I know this has nothing to do with the video (mostly) BUT I love how I can see dozens of thumbnails on my subscription tab and yours always sticks out the most. It's never clickbait-y or showing arrows everywhere or super exaggerated screaming faces. It's just Pastra and I know whenever a new video's there. As an artist, I just wanna say thank you for your hard work because it definitely makes you stick out from the crowd, and i LOVE how passionate you are in every video.

[@cjgetsuspended]

For anyone who still not understand about the ending, the protagonist actually is dr Randolph, stuck in hellish loop after his death, falling from the building (dental clinic i think) that still under construction. It is his punishment. Wake up with no memory about his identity and forced to feels every horrible treatment he was give to his patients.

[@Notanegg.]

I'm not much of a horror fan, but the quality of your videos are phenomenal. Keep it up!

[@Daggz]

2:34 wow pastra describes KZbin poops

[@FletcherGaddy]

As someone who's starting college for Sound Design a week from now, thanks for this. One of my favorite examples of audio like this is SuperHot: MCD, the sequel to the game you're probably thinking of. I won't say too much, but I absolutely suggest checking it out if you havent

[@MetalMockingjay]

Absolutely! When the jackal shows up it is very unsettling.

[@BincentFifth]

What scares me so much about Dr. Randolph is his voice. It’s something so foreign yet so familiar. I could swear I’ve heard the exact same robotic, almost human mimicking voice in some of the most notable nightmares I’ve had in my life.

[@jinbe_of_the_sea4577]

2:46 his sudden run towards you scared the shit out of me

[@nightfury1602]

I have never seen your channel before but I'm glad I have now. I am a huge horror fan but when things get intense I never close my eyes, instead I cover my ears. Done this my whole life. I think it's because (at least in my opinion) it's easier to unsee something than to unhear it.

[@strayorion2031]

I think there is something prima about how we are scared by sounds, humans never had the best eyesight, and before civilization, a sharp ear might had been the only tool agaisnt an unseen predator

[@althea2114]

Considering its sound design and visual aspects, i would highly recommend Darkwood. Its a 2D horror game but its visual design, sound design and unnerving elements makes you feel more cornered, stressed and tense than most 3D horror games i personally have seen in a long time, tho that is my personal opinion so i would like to hear yours on it.

[@novemberbravo6194]

Another excellent video! I love the way that instead of a straight-up review, you tied it into a treatise on a particular aspect of game design and used the game to highlight the way in which it’s effective in the genre you’re discussing. Great writing as always. Also, I just wanna say that sad Clyde really tugged at my heartstrings and made me long for a Clyde plushie that I could clutch to my chest and tell that everything was going to be okay. Just, yanno, lil food for thought.

[@rojochronos1004]

For me, I reluctantly turn to one game for audio horror, Subnautica. The various noises of the sea creatures, and even your own ships, terrify me into a comatose state. It also amplified by the fact that most of the more haunting can be heard in the shallows where you first land, making sure you know what exactly. Gives me a tingle down my spine thinking. Even in creative mode, which is where I spend of my time, you aren't safe from the noises. This is why I can't bring myself to watch footage of it, even when it's muted. It stays in your brain and keeps you up at just to hear them loop over and over again.

[@desertbus2034]

The juxtaposition thing was done really well in Spooky's Jumpscare Mansion. I've always really loved how strange it is that calming music plays whenever Specimen 4 chases you.

[@BenTheMelon]

Seeing this in my notifications lifted my crappy mood. Thanks Pastra for always making amazing content!

[@Sqluorby]

I love these videos because they feel like someone just having a conversation with me telling me about something they're really interested in and I just love feeling like I could just join in talking.

[@ihatetrollingGaming]

the first thing you really have to figure out with this game is that dying is mandatory except technically you aren't dying after all, *nobody dies at heilwald*

[@meadowsinfernocompany1482]

Pastra, I've been watching your videos for about a few months now, and I must say: You are fucking amazing. (excuse my language) I haven't been this hooked on a KZbinr or their videos for years, and you've brought me back the horror side of the internet

[@Stranger247]

The sound in dark wood is perfection, I’m always feeling almost nervous, it keeps me alert and makes me patient, cautious, it makes me respect the woods.

[@Youhadabadday2021]

I never saw this game as a horror game, I always saw it as "That one game where a crawling patient took a massive fucking shit in a toilet so bad the entire toilet stall got clogged"

[@billycheezmonny]

The way the characters speak super strongly reminds me of how Fi and Midna speak in the Legend of Zelda games

[@CrochetWithMe365]

I really liked the sound design of Outlast and Whistleblower. They’re bigger games, but they’re close to my heart, and having the enemies having different music accompanying them is a really great touch. Also with some sections, the variants making unexpected noises that are unnatural yet natural cause of what happened to them is oh so good when you’re running away! Great video as usual Pastra, take care of yourself!

[@akiraigarashi2874]

I guess you already played them but imo Amnesia and SOMA have definitely some of the best horror sound design. They were able to make me afraid to progress just through the sound design and overall atmosphere even if actually there were no threats in the level at times.

[@3zr4l4nc3l0t]

I’m not incredibly literate right now but I’m so happy you’re talking about the audio in horror. It’s so powerful in the experience and I also love sound design so this made me more than ecstatic!

[@Space_Prince]

Screaming, I love music and sound design. This game from how you’ve described does such a respect to the genres. And you’re my favorite content creators and people to throw rocks at so I love that you’re talking abt it.

[@abbyroads6991]

The way you speak about things is so engaging and makes me care about what you’re talking about. Keep up the great videos dude!

[@SouperWy]

Another amazing horror game that uses audio incredibly well is Alien: Isolation. The ambient sounds of the station, the sound of the Alien entering and exiting vents, and the loud stomping sounds it makes when it walks around, especially when it chases you, are terrifying. The most recent example of this I've seen as well is with the trailer for Routine, which also seems to utilize audio very well, but it's just a trailer so idk

[@medium9529]

Wow you dropped this just after i finished playing this myself very exited to see your takes

[@Angel-bz5jm]

This channel is quite interesting. I more often then not completely disagree with you, but your delivery is so good natured and passionate that I love hearing you out. :)

[@stopmrsaturn]

If you like this game, you’re definitely gonna love the haunted ps1 demo disc 2021!! It has some demos for AMAZING horror games, including this game!

[@julispears4949]

One memorable bit of audio enhancing horror is in Nun Massacre, whenever she comes close there is this ominous droning static, that combined with her tall, intimidating stature and sudden appearances makes it terrifying. And once she starts chasing you, well look at it for yourself, my favorite content creator WolfyPlayz made a video on it months ago and I feel like it captured the horror in the early game pretty well. And if Pastra reads this I wonder if you can make a video on... Any game by Puppet Combo, including Nun Massacre, because they make some real nightmares

[@hamishthehero6872]

Even watching hearing this scared me, or something close to complete terror

[@namelesscreator2108]

I could listen to Pastras content like a podcast, they have the perfect voice for it, but I also want to watch the video because of how creative it can be

[@hollowknightfan5938]

Yooo a new pastra vid! Thank you man!

[@milkcappy]

i think the heilwald loophole is, and i don't say this as an exaggeration, my favorite indie horror game of all time. it was captivating enough for me to complete the entire game, all secrets, all achievements, despite being literally terrified the entire time. i don't play many horror games because i'm a wuss, but i couldn't stop with this one. such an amazing, put together soundtrack. i love this game man

[@GHOSTLYGUNK]

average pastra banger video. i can't word it that well myself but i think audio design in games is so damn cool, you described it really well! :]

[@megablaziken8572]

For me audio is some of the only stuff that really spooks me. Like don’t get me wrong specific images can really get me. But I just have a weakness to audio, whenever watching something spooky my telltale sign I’m getting scared is if I start to turn down the volume. It makes me happy to see other people talk about how powerful sound can really be so thank you.

[@Pepstep_07]

Can I just say, i love your videos. Very rarely do I see channels present truly obscure indie horror and you do it with such style and finesse, from your amazing art and illustrations to the editing. I'm so excited to see your channel grow.

[@majorghoul9017]

Asylum horror works best when the staff are the monsters, not the patients

[@mayhare9754]

It's crazy that this game was made and tested by one person. Such an underrated gem.

[@jordanrodriguez4126]

I haven’t played the game, but the music and sound design is unsettling in how it’s used. As a composer, I appreciate when music and audio that complements with the mood of scenes in a game or film.

[@Zadanoire]

*That “GET BACK HERE NOW” almost made me throw my phone you bastard!*

[@cjthefox]

As an animator and artist, I too n completely agree with the power of visuals but music is also something truly special. I'm currently studying audio in order to make my video editing sound better and even make covers of songs soon so learning what elements make something work or fall flat has given me a whole new appreciation for the world of sound. The best example of horror I can think of off the top of my head with sound is the poppy playtime trailer for chapter 3. The way that cheering just transitioned into screams gave me such genuine chills and it's such a SIMPLE idea but man does it work hard. Films also can be made even better through their soundtrack in my opinion. The how to train your dragon soundtrack in particular REALLY sticks out to me. The story, characters, and universe are phenomenal of course but it is amplified TEN-FOLD through the use of bagpipes, heavy drums, and trumpets creating some of the most iconic songs in the film. Fantastic job Pastra! Not really embarrassed to admit I jumped a few times watching this... it just proves the whole point of the video! Sound is power!

[@dvijkotadia6242]

Took me 27 seconds to get here Pastras here thts all we need

[@b0b_ross694]

All I'm saying, if you want to experience true dread through sound effects alone, play Darkwood. I played it once, got fucking spooked on the first night and damn neat shit myself. It was awesome.

[@Alice1apple]

I should not be watching this before bed but I really like your videos so I’m willing to sacrifice some sleep

[@WildSquirtle2]

I honestly think a lot of people don’t even notice how important music and sound is in horror games, but I’m glad you’re talking about it!

[@exsolid5339]

The first thing that caught my eye was the cam movement, so damn well done

[@mimicball-q6u]

i love the comedy of how when he covers the text and it looks like he being insulted like "could be useful" becomes "be useful"

[@plsstopsoph5632]

Even though life is getting a lot busier thank you for the high quality content, means a lot!

[@dainsleifsanders3627]

I’ve been in love with this game since ManlyBadassHero introduced it to me

[@tiredwatcher6338]

Pastra! I have a recommendation if you like horror in sound the game is called Iron Lung it takes the horror of silence and transforms it into a game you feel almost trapped in as well as the story in Iron Lung is so enthralling and is very different from regular horror media now adays

[@sneezy4211]

i love your analysis videos keep it up bro bro!

[@ALE199-ita]

HO MY GOD YES! I'm glad someone did a Review on Heilwald Loophole! It's such a great game, audio wise and even how the Enemies act (which is to say like normal doctors but they are weird) I love how the Music in this game sounds like music you'd hear in a real hospital like Dr. Randolph theme is a distorted classical song which reflects the fact that he uses Sedatives and the music sound like something you'd hear as you go under and his hiding theme is the same song but unaltred, a calm song, after all this is a hospital and he's just another doctor, why should you hear some spooky music? I love this game soo much, it's so well made and a breeze of freshair in the indie horror market

[@MarsMakes]

how funny, i was just checking out your community post and then i see this! havent even watched the video yet but i know its gonna be good :)

[@CeaselessEntertainment8468]

The more horror videos i watch, the more info I get to make the perfect Horror character, Imma start surfing this channel more

[@noobyfguyguy1222]

God, I love this style of video so much. I miss all the documentary style videos you made on horror indie games that relatively go under the radar, and this one is pretty reminiscent of those videos. I really hope you bring those videos back, as it always gets me super interested in these small games. p.s. your art is super cool

[@mariamartin2768]

I can recommand the last door too. The music is truly chef kiss

[@waffler-yz3gw]

audio is one reason i used to love phasmophobia is because the sound design is impeccable, which amplified the amazing gameplay

[@therussiancomicbookgeek]

Audio is the greatest tool in the horror toolbox

[@nicomom9534]

One of my personal favorite examples of audio in horror games is Do You Copy. The audio is the main thing that's scary about it due to the gameplay revolving around an isolated setting where pretty much all you can do is talk to someone on a radio. It's a really cool game, you should check it out if you haven't already.

[@bluehairedemon]

the thing that really started my horror appriciation wa s the magnus archives, which is a podcast, and it really shows how audio can be used for horror. obviously the main horror comes from the actual things being said, but the way the audio distorts at times is so unnerving

[@Not_Fish]

I LOVE this game! I play it almost everyday! I’m so glad people are finding this gem and actually making a detailed analysis about it :D

[@yamala6343]

Pastra, you should review a roblox game called doors, it is a horror game with challenging (but fun) environments and bunch of monsters for you to meet. Each death in the game explains the monster you died to and some tips to help you combat it, making every death a learning point. This also makes it very hard to feel stuck, so the game won’t feel frustrating.

[@Mark_Heathcliff_is_safe]

Dr. Randolph (Distorted): Why are you running? Me: ¡Déjame sola por Cristo Saque! Dr. Randolph (Still distorted): I only want to help!

[@doctorsoysauce9731]

The uncanny speech audio technique is also used quite a lot in the game CONTROL: when "The Board" talks, which is also enhanced by two optional and simultaneous meanings of whatever it says. It makes sense since "The Board" itself is a paranatural entity of unknown origin. In most of the map you can also hear clearly human voices, chanting or reciting something intelligible. In general CONTROL does have amazing sound design that enhances the whole uncanny vibes of the game (it is basically a SCP game)