Let's Play Outer Wilds #42: The End... but also the Beginning

This video is the second part of what was originally a much larger video. I decided to split it due to its length and also because I felt the two parts were distinctly different.
We've made it to the Eye of the Universe.
The cost of this achievement was great, for without the Ash Twin Project the time loop is broken. Our sun will go supernova in a matter of minutes, destroying all the planets in our solar system and killing everyone we know. What few stars remain will shortly follow, leaving us in a blank, empty void of nothingness.
Our only path is forward to the Eye, to gaze upon it and see just what effect that has. Whatever happens, one thing is certain: there will be tears, plenty of tears.
It's time to end this story.
What started off as a game with a curious premise has become one of my all-time favourite games ever. Few are the video games that stick with my forever, but I knew not far into playing this one that it would be joining the ranks of Phantasy Star IV, Albion and Mystic Quest. The game is indescribable in its simplicity and complexity, the music is both beautiful and key and the story, the story...
It's a story about grief, about loss and what people do when faced with the end of something. It's about learning from the past to build a better future. It's about living in the now with those you care about, making music and enjoying every moment, for it won't come again. It's a powerful tale that I am happy I have experienced and one I will encourage everyone else I know to play themselves. It's a game like no other that still makes me cry when I think about certain parts of it and that's the sign of a masterpiece.
So, what's next? There's one more video of Outer Wilds left to go - one covering some of the alternate endings you can get - but after that, it'll be time to play the final game voted on in the last poll. That game is a 90s point and click adventure game that is a classic of the genre, one I've never played before. It's time to ready our adventuring hat and whip for a journey like no other!
See you next let's play!
Twitter: / kikoskia
Patreon: / kikoskia
Discord: discordapp.com...

[@KarateLars]

You know a game succeeded at its purpose when the player becomes as emotionally invested in the game as Kiko became with this game.

[@ICountFrom0]

Kiko finding the ZOOM function, only here at the end of all things, at the start of all things, is oddly fitting. Thank you for giving me something to smile about, in a song that always hits so sadly to play us out. I love what Solanum and The Stranger add to the music piece, harmonies that don't quite seem to fit at first, but play so well with them, that you learn to need them.

[@meneldil6474]

Just wow ! End of the Universe, time to create a new one ! Thanks Kikoskia for this wonderful LP and game !

[@dunderminnet]

What an enjoyable playthrough! Don't be sorry that it's over, now you get to enjoy watching others play it and discover things you never saw ::) Well, when you have the time that is (not like our sun's going to nova anytime soon)

[@Gabino-zk9ov]

Darn... for a few moments there, I had flashbacks of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Particularly of Bowman entering the Monolith and turning into the Starchild. And when everybody was playing, I just remembered Nikola Tesla's and Einstein's theories about "Matter is just energy vibrating in different frequencies". And of course, there are the philosophical considerations that you very well pointed out Kiko. In the final count, this has been a marvellous game, and with just the way it manages these philosophical issues, personaly I would consider this a Gaming Benchmark kind of game. My good sir, Thank You for playing and posting this great game. And now, if you excuse me, I have to go and buy it.

[@42Genius42]

Indeed - Reminded me a bit about 2001: A Space Odyssey in some ways - just as that is a film everyone should see - thi sis a game everyone should play - or experience - in their life - as Kiko says it's all about existentialism and making the most of your timebound experience of the tiny bit of the universe we can experience and making the most of our lives by making our own meaning 🙂

[@nuclear_rose]

one of my favorite games played by my favorite lets player and every time i see this games end i cry ugly tears im a mess this game is amazing thank you for taking us along for your journey

[@CaptainSpanky96]

A beautiful end to a beautiful game. It's games like this that feel more like an experience than something you merely play, and while I might not have gotten to experience it first hand, it still had an impact on me. One of the things you should do (if you haven't already) is fly far enough out of the solar system to line up all the outer wilds astronauts and their instruments into one song. In spite of the sun exploding, in spite of the cold darkness of space, in spite of one of them being in dark bramble, the travelers all play their instruments as one. In true hearthian spirit, they look at the uncaring vastness of space and think 'huh... neat.' I think it would be a poignant send off to the series.

[@Etaanaru]

My father passed away earlier this year from dementia. For those unfamiliar, it's a very slow and cruel way to lose yourself. Another unfortunate thing is that even when you know it's coming, early signs of dementia, you can't really do anything about it. There's medications to attempt to slow it, or attempt to make the symptoms not as severe but...at this point in what medicine we're capable of, it is incurable. I played Outer Wilds in 2019 and at that point in time I'm not sure if I'd truly come to terms with my dad's fate, but similarly in Outer Wilds: you are thrust into a problem, you don't understand why it's happening, but it seems bad! It seems like I should do everything I can to stop it. But sometimes there just isn't fixing a problem. The conclusion of the problem is inevitable, but the story still goes on. So reflecting upon those you know, those you honor by remembering and sharing stories of, you can write a better story even if those who shaped us are no longer able to take the pen themselves. Thanks for the ride, Kiko!

[@Kikoskia]

I'm glad I could entertain.

[@CrowTRobo]

So glad you played this and I got to experience the game again through new eyes. I've played a lot of games, this is one of the best.

[@AchikochiAlex]

It might be a game you could only play once, but the ending sure makes me cry every time. Wasn't an exception this time around. Once you gathered everyone by the campfire, it was like Solanum said: We do not have much connection, you and I. Still, this encounter feels special. I hope you won't mind if I think of you as a friend. Thank you for letting yourself be emotional. Many of us here were too, and it was beautiful.

[@corsaircarl9582]

Glad you got to experience like I did, Kiko. I cried at the end too, and I wanted to give the Prisoner a big ol' hug with how he was so brave in the end. And Solanum, she got to FINALLY see something a true scientist like her would love. Can't wait to hear your Indiana Jones voice! XD

[@jeradpaulson771]

whats next after this?

[@saragandey8625]

Loved playing this along with you thank you for your wonderful cometary allowed me to truly enjoy watching you playing. What a clever game

[@DooM75x]

Wow, what a voyage. A wonderful one indeed. Thank you deeply for showing this to all of us.

[@BlackScythertainment]

Good game and best implementation of the Groundhog say the principle

[@DrakeAurum]

Many thanks for taking us through the wonderful experience that is this game.

[@Alemiha]

As great as this game is you managed to make it greater...keep playing games and we'll play alongside you.

[@Luhood90]

What a wonderful little game. Thank you for taking me on this journey Kiko.

[@generrosity]

Just hearing the music now invokes all the feelings 😭💚 such as good meaningful game - awesome playthough, thank you for sharing your particular style and adventures 💚💚

[@the_snakelicious]

Great ending to a great let's play. The slabs of text in the bizarro home planet room with all the things from the start of the game are all different, might be worth looking into it if you're curious.

[@animex75]

I wonder if that's why the Eye sent out a signal in the first place. If it's the place where new universes are forged, perhaps it was calling out for someone to help that along because it knew the end was near.

[@phillosmaster393]

This is by far one of my most memorable gaming experiences. I get a little bummed when one of my friends starts but doesn't finish Outer Wilds.

[@phillosmaster393]

It's so fulfilling to execute the whole loop and get to the finale and then the finale hits pretty hard if you bought into the whole journey.

[@DrIngo1980]

This was a wonderful journey. Thank you so much. Thank you.

[@geeko55]

This is absolutely one of my favorite games, and I was thrilled to see that you'd be playing it, Kiko. This let's play had tons of surprises with how you learned and improved, and after some time you finally became quite the pilot, too! I just knew you'd love it, and I lived quite vicariously through watching you play it blindly

[@Thrythlind]

I was wondering if it would be a new universe... but didn't expect that little concert. Very beautiful.

[@davidg4288]

The concert that you'd already heard all the parts of. I should have expected it, but I didn't.

[@uraby]

Great game. Great playthrough. Thank you so much.

[@zhujik]

thank you for letting me experience this game again kiko. great job. I have to say this game has remarkable everything. plot, mechanics, leveldesign, music, etc... i just noticed the cracks in the helmet when the big bang happens. also you might want to replay the bit at 3:54 and look around to the left and right, you got to see a breathtaking, yet anxiety-inducing view while falling. if you fire the scout launcher into the eye fluctuation the scout vanishes. You then see it again in the ending scene.

[@ICountFrom0]

This is why we try to hard to keep quiet about things in this game. How could we take anything away from this moment? It's just too valuable to ruin.

[@BigGator5]

I knew you would love this game. 😎 👍

[@bongodoug]

Loved this play through!

[@Samsaptaka]

Yes, indeed. A truly beautiful game.

[@GuukanKitsune]

As a very wise woman once said: "The Great Conjunction is the END OF THE WORLD! Or the beginning. End! Begin! All the same. Big change! Sometimes good... sometimes bad."

[@mrstaceyjackson]

ithink we were all right there with you.

[@BahamutZerodragon]

okay that got me crying.

[@rotareneg]

No, I just got some star dust in my eyes, I'm not crying a bit...

[@viteav208]

Congratulation! ::) You create a new Big Bang! At finish you a bit run in last voyage and missed some unnecessary content at Eye planet, Eye tornado, Eye museum. By the way - if you push your Scout into smoke ball or to the Eye from Eye planet - it also survives in Next Universe. Game has 6 alternative (to canonical) endings including DLC

[@bryanbradford2829]

Well done!

[@iabervon]

I like to consider that, if the Elk had entered the Eye, the universe would have ended long before the Hearthians became sentient, and even long before the Nomai came to the solar system. Almost all of the stories you brought with you wouldn't have happened, and the next universe wouldn't have been inspired by roasting marshmallows around a campfire. When the Elk found the Eye, the universe was still young and healthy and had thousands of years to go, and there was no reason to think it wouldn't go on for millions or billions of years more. They saw how much the story would be cut short if they went in, or if a contemporary species did. When the Nomai came to the solar system, they were reckless in their exploration, and they certainly would have entered the Eye, had they been able to find it. The universe still had many thousands of years, long enough for the Hearthians to evolve and have experiences. They were exactly the sort of people the Elk wanted to keep away from the Eye. If they'd known what would happen if they were to enter, they wouldn't have gone in, but it's unlikely they would have been careful enough to realize before they did it. Your perspective is from the very end of the universe, when there's nothing left to do but collect the final experiences and send them on to influence the next one. The Hearthians evolved too late to live out their species' natural existence, but you come to the Eye when the time is right to enter it. The action that would not have been right for the Nomai or the Elk is right for you, because the situation is different when it's your turn. Circumstances matter to morality; there isn't one thing that's right for all time, no matter what. In order for this game to be possible, the Elk have to discover the Eye, come to the solar system, but then turn back from it and hide it. The Prisoner has to rebel and reveal the Eye, but the rest of the Elk need to stop them and conceal it again. Any outcome they agreed on wouldn't enable the story to happen. The Nomai have to try their best to reach the Eye, but ultimately fail. They need to build the Ash Twin project to be powered by the Sun Station, but the Sun Station has to not work; they need to record their attempts to get to the Eye, but they can't get succeed. Nobody's plans worked out quite how they intended, but I think the final outcome is one that everyone would have liked, even better than what would have come from what they were trying to do. The game is a reminder that nothing lasts forever, and that sometimes all that's left is to record the experience for posterity. But looking at the whole arc is a reminder that sometimes things aren't over yet and there are things you can still hold onto. Everything ends eventually, but we should consider whether it really needs to end right now, and if it doesn't end yet, what could still happen before it does.

[@JohnPorter4096]

So we do become god - become the creator going through the eye.

[@Kikoskia]

We do not survive the creation of the new universe. We simply help steer aspects of it in a certain direction.

[@JohnPorter4096]

Yes it is quite fascinating. With the friends we made through the journey I am sure the next universe will be a good one.

[@gleaming999]

Just letting you know, I was here

[@MisuVir]

Oh, you skipped all the texts at the museum. Nothing important, but some interesting flavour to the journey.

[@Kikoskia]

I didn't know there was more text to be had there. Ah well, that's flavour text for oethers to find.

[@uraby]

14:10 You're talking?!

[@ayontole9320]

This is unfair! Don't Anglerfish get a say in forming this new universe?

[@Kikoskia]

No.

[@davidg4288]

Anglerfish form the Plutonia universe, or one like it.

[@GrenDrake]

The game just had to throw in one last anglerfish for the road.

[@KilluaTheGrouch]

🥲