INSIDE - Shockwave Puzzle

One of my favorite parts from the game. -- Watch live at / jimmyblanka

[@DeadFishFactory]

The fact that the shockwave is of unknown origin and never explained makes it all the better.

[@Herobrine_Ace]

I think it's electromagnetic wave weapons, machines and antennas in the background. When the shock wave comes, it will generate electricity to form a perpetual motion machine, so this should be a large power plant

[@dogeshark204]

I always assumed that the shockwaves were used as a weapon by the fascist society to rise to power. That's how they dominated th entire world

[@Herobrine_Ace]

@@dogeshark204 Those machines are well founded. There is a lot of evidence that this electromagnetic wave weapon is a power plant, which forms a permanent motion machine, and then stores electricity after generating electricity

[@dogeshark204]

@@Herobrine_Ace Yeah that's not a bad theory either. What I said is just my interpretation.

[@joshsaunders7971]

I came here just for the noise.

[@K-o-R]

I love that you can hear the noise right from the very start of the previous section--even as far back as the beach if you listen very carefully, this perfectly regular but muffled thudding sound that gets louder and quieter as you move around the level.

[@isaacdeweese1353]

neildKoR the first time I played through that sound gave me an extremely eerie quality. It made me mad curious to see what was on the other side.

[@MrSlendyMannn]

K.o.R Yeah, the ambience in this game is next level.

[@casualbird7671]

I know I absolutely fucking love it >v

[@moradin84]

In fact, you begin to hear the detonations the moment you use the minisub to shut the door where the mermaid is - before you even emerge on the surface of the lake where the beach is ;)

[@LadyViscera]

Unseen horrors are always the scariest

[@ikagura]

Chernobyl proves it

[@Kris.G]

Cosmic horrors are the best

[@Longi1974]

The shockwave noise and ambient music sound cues that start to play at 1:36 to let you know you have timed the puzzle right are just awesome.

[@Logifanogi]

The music in this part gives me chills.

[@LovelylaceWHAAATXD]

Agreed!

[@tylerhellner1435]

Have you heard of The Haxan Cloak? Look up Excavation (Part II) from the album Excavation if you want to keep the shockwave rolling.

[@Gnarbus]

That is a fantastic album. Amazing when stoned. I really don't smoke that much at all, but sometimes I'll make an exception and get ripped while diving into this dark abyss of an album. Have you heard their collaboration w/The Body? Holy shit that is awesome.

[@Vexidus]

Thank you for this! You should check out the new Lawrence English album (Cruel Optimism), especially the track Object of Projection. You can listen on his Bandcamp page. That track gave me serious shockwave sequence vibes, and made me go back and watch this video to re-live the experience.

[@trev3d]

Absolutely the best moment in gaming I've ever had

[@TonalWorks]

Yeah, it really was breathtaking.

[@OhhhLucien]

Me too.

[@melsunday1991]

audio really plays such a big part in this game

[@OblivionGuard]

In the beginning you get killed a bunch of times before finding the way to shield yourself from the shockwave, but then you nail it once and right at this moment the peaceful hopeful ambiance starts. A simple yet genius way for the game designer to communicate to the player the "you did it" message.

[@carlosserradilla24]

I love when the music communicates so much without a single word

[@sonicrulez0830]

I was speechless this entire scene when I played. My mouth hung open in awe at the ambience and audio cues at 1:36 and I got chills at 3:28 . It was so visually and musically fantastic, I replayed the scene at least 15 times.

[@MrSlendyMannn]

Even though I've completed the game, got all the secrets (cheers for the secrets part, IGN), I still love replaying some specific parts of the game. This is definitely my favourite part to replay. The music, the sounds, the eerieness at the first part and just the general feel of this part of the game is just amazing.

[@mdav9609]

Oh my god me too! My wife was sleeping beside me when I got to this part and I was just like like trying not to make any noise while I was smiling and saying holy shit. Absolutely fantastic part.

[@zenatrical]

Oh

[@casualbird7671]

I come back every so often to watch it on youtube again

[@johnlarsson5576]

i wish this part of the game was longer

[@furiousfinch1587]

I think it's power transfer. That distant flash of light before the shockwave hits is the transfer process, every five seconds. More than enough energy to power all of the appliances and light bulbs in America all at once, for a decade straight, being run through that facility every five seconds. The power requirements for the entire facility are absolutely off the charts, and thus the need for such an absurdly massive chamber and such an absurdly potent shockwave-generating system; despite the massive loss of kinetic and magnetic energy every pulse, it's still worth it apparently. Which means that whatever is GENERATING all that energy must be even more mind-fuckingly powerful, and probably even deeper below the surface.

[@GZA036]

The way the music kicks in when you have that eureka moment and solve the timing puzzle is so perfect. Perfect!

[@FirstLast-ur6xt]

Opening that door and hearing the immense shockwave, not knowing what is causing it or what was on the other side was put a different kind of fear in me

[@samikalastaja]

This is so enigmatic part of the game. The threat comes from somewhere, has unknown origin. And then suddenly it sounds like you've become deaf from the blasts. I love the entire game so much. I am really happy there are studios like Playdead.

[@opedromagico]

this game is wonderful

[@GraxS]

Totally agree

[@amitkulkarni3922]

​@Hunter Noe haha so cool bro. thanks for spamming.

[@meli8392]

agreed

[@isaacdeweese1353]

My jaw was dropped during the entire sequence. So beautiful.

[@Longi1974]

2:36 - those bodies or dummies in their seats, coupled with the shockwave and that SOUND makes for one incredible moment. I am in awe of what Playdead brought to us here. It's intense, eerie, mysterious, haunting, disturbing, thrilling. Not enough superlatives to describe it.

[@blank5237]

for anyone wondering the sounds are actually just a type of rolling thunder coming off of static towers

[@chyra451]

SERIOUSLY?! That's awesome

[@CharlotteSWeb-oh7ou]

My theory is that someone was trying to create a perpetual motion machine...and they succeeded.

[@vincentlaw1415]

Perpetual Mobile detected!

[@HeyKevinYT]

Somewhere in the background and near the source, the carcass of the inventor still vibrates with the trembling, perpetual wave as he could not make it out

[@Science759]

I personally think the shock wave area was some sort of mining operation to mine some sort of substance in the earth. Notice the part before looked like mine equipment, carts, chutes, tracks, etc. Also notice in the part right before you open the doors to the shock wave, on the upper level, there seems to be some sort of pressure meter measuring the blast connected to the observation windows, showing it was probably controlled. Then, in the actual shock wave area, there are those giant arms with claws that look like they would grab material from a track below. So, I think that this was an old mining operation using some sort of generated shock wave to actually mine. Maybe to replace the need for one use dynamite? Probably an invention that was used to replace dynamite, except on a huge scale. When the mine was abandoned, as was the rest of the flooded experimentation facility underground, they simply left the machine running.

[@bigfoxki]

I have two thought, one is the shock wave is created be something they either invented or dug up from the mine. It went haywire when they experimented on it. All the electronics fried when exposed to the shockware like the "controlling helmet" when the character exit the building. The city was ruined. They have been using the mind control technology since before the crisis, and they want to create a lifeform like the blob, has its "own mind", large enough to withstand and maybe shut down the shockwave without electronics control. I got this idea from the jumping and turning in yellow boxes stage, the people were mind controlled by more or less retain some of their own mind to follow the task, unlike the old model controlled with the helmets. Another one is the shockwave is actually a mind control signal generator, it has to be this powerful in order to control everyone. They put those dummy in the building there to test how much damage it will output before deploying in other regions. Since its damage output is too high, they developed the blob as a living signal generator.

[@lukasi.v4269]

​@@bigfoxki I think that they were found in middle of a energy crysis for whatever reason so they decided to use the shockwave machine as a energy generator. Did you notice all these poles in the background? Their purpouse maybe is to generate energy from the shockwave, very Nicolas Tesla stuff. Also in 3:48 can you see these giant energy cables? Probaly they're utilized to provide energy for the facility.

[@bigfoxki]

@@lukasi.v4269 Sounds reasonable, why let the energy go unused. I don't think they intentionally built the shockwave machine in the open though.

[@lukasi.v4269]

​@@bigfoxki some says that's an EMP machine tower just like the rain machine you can find in Limbo. The shockwaves are generated by that tower and they go back and forth the facility walls. Also there's a theory that the whole room in the shockwave level is shaped as your typical particle accelerator (donut shape but way larger) so when the shockwave passes by you it's the same one from minutes ago. That process is repeated ad infinitum.

[@burtpanzer]

@@lukasi.v4269 I'm assuming the poles that run along the path of the blasts, are measuring the strength and speed the impact has across the distance.

[@westminsterabbey.6916]

This. This is what perfection looks like.

[@iBloby]

2:55 I laughed so hard man I though you gonna to this without any death but seriously, Limbo was awesome, this game is awesome, Playdead studios are awesome, I really hope they'll not stop doing great games

[@WhirlingMusic]

Was gonna comment the same thing. I can't wait for their next game if they ever do one. They need a trilogy I think

[@man_on_wheelz]

The whole puzzle before this and then the big reveal of what was causing that pulsation in the building all that time was just magnificent! Whole time I was gathering the guys and going to the different floors to figure out what to do, stuff kept shaking keeping me wondering "What the heck is causing this violent sound? Where is it? When will I know? How scary will it be? Will I have to battle it? How will I get this helmet off?" Then when that big door opens and I see what the sound was, most of my questions get answered and I am just as terrified as I should be!

[@ADVERSE04]

Exactly

[@ArcienPlaysGames]

Everything about this segment is absolutely beautiful, in all sorts of ways. It's one of my favourite levels ever. It's hard for me to put into words how much it has impacted me, but I can try. If this is somehow gonna ruin your perception of the segment, don't read beyond this point. I completely understand. I just had to get this off my chest, because I have no one else to gush over this game with. ----- Something I truly appreciated about both Limbo and Inside is the sound design and, especially, the dynamic soundtrack. It lets you know when you're doing something right or wrong, without insulting your intelligence or breaking the flow, feel and atmosphere of the moment. The way the ambience evolves as you progress throughout the level and the way it let's you know that you've gone through all four stages of the section is absolutely incomparable: - "You're screwed", the introduction to the level. The door opens, you see what you've only faintly heard, the mind control hat goes away and the first box is immediately destroyed. It is danger in the form of a shockwave that repeats with a five second delay, there's no turning back, the only way is forward, and the danger refuses to halt. What now? - "You did something right", figuring out the rotating puzzle. The music goes from this eerie, ominous tone, to a more hopeful, positive feel. You tried something and you succeeded. You got this. Keep moving. - "You're getting closer", getting past the sliding door puzzle. You're adapting, overcoming and understanding the situation you're in, and the game makes sure you know that *it* knows, by adding three new chords to the droning ambience. - "You're safe", making it out of the shockwave zone. The reward is a moment of calm in the middle of madness. You deserve a break. The fluorescent lamp in the ceiling is also in key with the soundtrack, whenever it blinks, which further instills the feeling of peace without breaking the simultaneous tension towards what's to come. The moment you leap down towards the elevator, the music fade out. In some occasions, it goes from a chord, to a single, last C note. The peace is over, and the only thing you hear now, is the continued thumps from the shockwave. It's a reminder that even though you beat the segment, the dangers of this mysterious place are still around, and you can predict nothing ... ... which is immediately proven as you ride the elevator down. And this is just about the soundtrack and the sound design. I could keep on going for a very very long time. That's how much I love this level.

[@vespine1749]

That is a great interpretation on the matter. Playdead has the most brilliant video game devs I have ever seen. This game tells a story that we have to sit and think about in order to get the full message. Even then, there are countless theories we come up with, that could be correct. This and limbo will always have a place in my heart.

[@ArcienPlaysGames]

@@vespine1749 Exactly, and completely agreed. Such good game design. People tend to knock the games for their short length, but the beauty and detail becomes more and more apparent, the more you play through it. You start to notice things you never noticed before. I've played Limbo for so many years. Three years ago, I found out that Limbo had a secret level. This year, I noticed that the rain before the gravity puzzle was going up, not down. There are so many small things, and it just makes you wanna keep on play them.

[@starpicnic]

The hopeful ambiance towards is the best part. INSIDE has managed to turn its soundtrack into a /feeling/, instead of Telling you how to feel.

[@riddheshzaveri8103]

This effect is one of the greatest shock wave effect I have ever seen in games. Its just incredible.

[@TheFizio]

I like how the kid has to catch his breath after such a sequence. When i played for the first time i stayed there until he got back in his default position

[@DaydreamingCrow]

This is my favorite part of the game. There's just something so powerful and beautiful about how there's a killing shock wave ripping through everything, yet the music is so serene. The part at 1:38 makes me tear up and shiver.

[@lukasi.v4269]

Definitely the most unique gaming experience I've ever had. Looking forward for the new Playdead's Project 3!

[@luckyizzac]

It takes 1 second for the shockwave to reach the player after the flash, so the shockwave generator must be 350 metres away from us

[@MrSlendyMannn]

0:17 Sounds like something I'd expect in a war. Parts like 0:23 and 0:38 always terrified me when this game launched. When the wind gets super loud before you get blasted away. Then at 3:36, the ambience is just so good. Love this game.

[@shinocide]

Definitely the best part of the game! The ambience is beautiful and the puzzle itself is brilliant! INSIDE is just a masterpiece, 11/10

[@monkeyboy007007]

One of the greatest set pieces in video game history. Just utter perfection.

[@brownsplat5552]

This is how I imagined walking to the gas station at night to be like as a kid.

[@hectormeneses9930]

So glad to see a lot of people feeling the same way I did when I played this part for the first time. One thing to add is that this a little past the middle point of the game, when a story is supposed to be at its climax.

[@ussser666]

Hands down the best sequence in the game for me. From the get-go just thinking about what could possibly cause such shockwave was pretty surreal and awesome as well. The utterly sad vibes of that abandoned place really sold it, not to mention how to OST progresses as you keep going on, was the cherry on top.

[@casualbird7671]

Best part of the game, all the buildup to this area and all the way to the end, just perfection

[@Herobrine_Ace]

This is an electromagnetic wave weapon. Those antenna machines in the background are omnidirectional antennas. When the shock wave comes, the omnidirectional antennas will generate electricity. By the way, this paragraph shocked me and made me feel that this game is worth buying

[@JesseBonales]

First time playing this, I honestly had no idea what to expect to encounter behind those doors... this game was an absolute masterpiece!

[@Komnen0s]

Although I was disappointed that the game's run time is so brief, it had an impeccable atmosphere the entire time. This scene in particular is pretty and ethereal in spite of everything violently shaking and the debris flying around. I also like how there's this vast, foggy void where you can vaguely see those antenna towers but not the generator that's creating these pulses. It's unexpected tranquility in chaos.

[@rafaelortega854]

the soundtrack is emotional and perfect, like a really good movie moment

[@mr.hashundredsofprivatepla3711]

This game proves that masterpieces aren’t a thing of the past, they can still be made today.

[@marsone-ek4xr]

Def bro. Quality over quantity

[@AtexPhwin]

I was really hoping we will get a closer glimpse of the shockwave machine in later part of the game.

[@vespine1749]

From what I’ve heard, the best conclusion to what it is, is that it could be a industrialized electric power plant that fell, and caused electromagnetic pulses to occur causing the shockwave to happen. Since the game is in a dystopian world, a catastrophe probably caused the power plant to fall. The poles are most likely used as a source of power from the shockwave, and is the root to what powers the facility. They’ve tested on the shockwave to see if it was safe for them to work in. You get a better glimpse of this when you see the Test dummies seated in the room.

[@MrFrussel]

I think this has to be my favorite part in any game I've ever played (and I've played plenty of good ones). I can't even start to describe how incredible this felt playing. The sounddesign was so damn amazing here.

[@federic0_s505]

probably my favorite scene in gaming, ever

[@hugofromthewijk2007]

this is my comfort game, and this is my comfort comfort level

[@marsone-ek4xr]

❤

[@CassadyBrooks95]

this scene gives me chills cause they would need a pretty big cannon to do all that damage annnnnnnd you cant see it.

[@kennyalwaysdies1]

Only thing is, a cannon wouldn't have that much force. Also, the fact that it goes off at an interval means that whoever operating it would've been long gone. Based off of the equipment there, I'd say it's a mining experiment gone wrong. (I apologize for the late reply)

[@CassadyBrooks95]

@@kennyalwaysdies1 no youre fine. I actually dont know what it is. Cannon was the first thing that came to mind. Like a pulse.

[@jakesprincess]

the shockwave and the mystery of it makes it more terrifying i love ittttt

[@arame6110]

This level is just epic. I just love the barren wasteland setting and the ominous threat that are the soundwaves.

[@DavisonIncorp]

Actual masterclass of videogame design

[@DG6985]

Strange, eerie and surreal, this game kind of has a Half Life feel to it.

[@spaceawesome22]

Beautiful scene from a beautiful game. I'm getting emotionally devastated all over again just WATCHING you play this.

[@skadze_znowu2649]

That kind of ambient, similar to the music from The Book of Eli movie gives me a sense of divinity, lightness.

[@ANGEL-ux4lw]

Omg I remember playing this game years back and this music gave me a good and sad feeling. So beautiful ❤️ Nostalgia

[@GameFactoryGQ]

Shockwave is a heartbeat. We are inside.

[@EnergYbomB]

1:35 this is my all time favorite

[@BONELYNCH]

I had to take a break after this puzzle. Complete mental rush. Loved it though but couldn't wait for it to be over.

[@StephNuggs]

GOTY but got snubbed by that OW trash.... EDIT: Ok maybe not trash BUT GOD DAMMIT I WAS ANGRY BACK THEN!

[@GTPollux]

10 out of 10

[@gopherthegold8722]

for a five minute section i must have spent like half an hour in this area just observing the scenery and wondering what’s even going on

[@zombieman4782]

The shockwave level is my favorite because when the relaxing music hits it means it’s like saying that you’re doing great

[@eviloutlaw-9-1-17]

Babe: hey sweetie, come over to my house. Me: but babe your house is across from a dangerous science experiment gone wrong in which it's a magnifying electronic pulse that will destroy anything in its path. Babe: I'm home alone Me: this entire video

[@zenatrical]

Y

[@nan_euro]

He die once

[@jadeblades]

@@zenatrical Y

[@kennyalwaysdies1]

Y

[@ryanhorwood50]

this moment was so beautiful for some reason

[@creativegamer_03]

P.s. The pulses came from the pipes which you can observe from the room you take the dead corpse for the pressure platform.

[@solanin6516]

my favorite part

[@notbob701]

It’s hard to enjoy the amazingly crafted ambient soundtrack with that loud “WOOMP”

[@kennyalwaysdies1]

It is part of the soundtrack though

[@MachoMan_Vert]

My favourite part of the whole game. The ambience is other worldly and eerie.

[@paulweaver2779]

This sequence somehow reminds me the very last moments ant puzzles from their Limbo game

[@ikagura]

That's why I loved it.

[@jaydamalley3398]

Marriage between gameplay and music. Beautiful!

[@Arttective]

The best part of the entire game!

[@pericajunkovic7923]

Its amazing how you cant stop listening to shockwave i listened this for about 2 hours

[@youreadthisinyourmindright2604]

This is my favorite part of the game. The sound, ambience, and tension is perfect. The shockwave itself is a unique and mystery thing that just happens in this world, we dont even know what's causing it or what went wrong, that now all it does is just keep exploding and slowly destroying the entire area around it and killing people trying to cross it.

[@redrumcoke2363]

This game, in and of itself, is a masterpiece. But right here, 01:40, let's focus on how amazing the audio is. alove the reverb and everytyibf that gors into direction. The whole game gives me a wieerd nostalgia for something none of us have felt, but many sympothoze with. Also, a 10/10 hame for me, as a solo, mystery, exlorer type of person.

[@billcipher4935]

The creepy part I love it

[@tmayne220]

Masterpiece

[@sam23696]

Why were there so many shockwaves? What was their source? Was there some group that kept nuking this giant complex? Or is there some fancy EMP/pulse power generator?

[@sam23696]

***** Ah, like some kind of neuron sonar. Considering the rest of the game that's not too ridiculous.

[@Maysha6bona]

10% Visuals + 90% Timing audio cues = 100% Solution.

[@stakankompota341]

I just noticed that in the part with elevator the Shockwave thingy sparks lower than before.

[@applausitivity8784]

The things i would give to be able to be one of the people who worked on this masterpiece

[@Sagadali523]

While playing the game, I can still hear the beautiful music.

[@mortemicrorreactor8851]

The best part

[@pa4o93ir49]

this game is awesome!

[@karmaindustrie]

This is so f*cking cool

[@Th3-Subj3ct]

5:07 "WAIT NO I WANNA DO IT AGAIN"

[@Mike-ku8iz]

I’m literally standing next to the crate that is supposed to break from the shockwave, and there’s no shockwaves… think the game glitched. There’s no shockwaves happening. Anyone experience that?

[@coke2k140]

This reminds of the d2 eater of words shockwave part

[@phonehome8425]

The soundtrack is amazing

[@19Otaku94]

3:35 you can see it closer the white light but still not sure what it is.

[@eviloutlaw-9-1-17]

It's an electromagnetic pulse device

[@DjSygnus]

Dubstep Shockwave

[@raccoonavi]

I wish I could jump forward in time and play the next Playdead game.

[@alexagomez111]

Best part of the game!!!!

[@360G1]

Excellent game

[@EnergYbomB]

Playdead are Geniuses!

[@dudetheman06]

Playdead and Martin Stig Anderson

[@greasyswalls7807]

Is there a name for that type of pulse sound? I search up pulse or shockwave and cant find anything.

[@tylerhellner1435]

The first sounds like an artillery cannon, and then the same sound reversed to give the buildup. After the switch puzzle with the orbiting shield, it shifts to what sounds like the same sound amplified and raised up an octave or so and run through a phaser, played forwards and backwards. That latter sound is straight out of The Haxan Cloak's repertoire. Look up "Excavation (pt 2)" off of the album of the same name.

[@greasyswalls7807]

+Tyler Hellner noice

[@greasyswalls7807]

+Tyler Hellner that sound in excavation is pretty terrifying lol but its close.

[@unslept_em]

also check out eric holm's work, some of the contact micing work + processing feels similar to this as well

[@dudetheman06]

the background music is called ambient music and the shockwave sound effect is a genre called Industrial Ambient.... But so far I havent found any industrial music as good as this game.

[@yonblolb4026]

I will put this theme of success skip from shock wave when i get out from this country

[@MisterJohnDoe]

Probably one of the most frustrating parts of the game, but this game is still a work of art nonetheless.

[@kentbenedict2005]

My most favorite part of the game.

[@helloworld-sl2lw]

Chills

[@luisiana1121]

I don't get it, why is their a seemingly perpetual shockwaves outside or "outside"? Is it a some sort of Mining tool that uses the shockwave's vibration to slowly crack the stone walls? What is outside?

[@blank5237]

its static towers used to generate electricity causing some sort of malfunction

[@eviloutlaw-9-1-17]

Perhaps, with all the machinery but who is abandoned because they figured out its just far to dangerous to do any work in there

[@ezyne_]

If I am to have a favourite sound this has to be up there if not it, especially 1:36 and on, I could listen to this for hours