Are You Afraid of the Dork? | A Dark Seed Series Adventure

Dark Seed is often remembered for it's visual design, plucked straight from the canvas of H.R. Giger. Underneath it's grim exterior is something darker, more sinister, and far more grotesque than any biomechanical dreamscape: the mind of resident lunkhead - Mike Dawson.
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00:00 - Introduction
2:38 - Dark Seed
28:06 - Dark Seed II
Thank you to Uncle Willy for the sitcom introduction music!

[@jpsplat]

I thought if Scorn had a section where you were a little mustache guy who had to return a library book it would have been a sick Darkseed remake

[@lucascoval828]

Already sounds better.

[@BrickleYourFrickle]

Little mustache guy is probably the nicest way Mike Dawson has been described ever

[@LabTech41]

Then, at least the game would've had some kind of coherent story, instead of just being one of those Kubrick style 'experiences'.

[@lucascoval828]

@@LabTech41 It was all a dream.

[@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051]

It would have been a better game.

[@matthewwinter611]

I'm the Mike Dawson cosplayer holding Shrimp Baby at 47:46! Another fan had made and brought the plush to PAX. I did a few photos of me standing in the middle of convention hallways looking lost and about to cry to really sell the character. I also brought ring toss rings, which I think you can see in my pocket in the photo!

[@Noid]

Did anybody recognize your niche character? I love the commitment, did you try acting like the oddly descriptive dork from Dark Seed 1, or the bumbling doofus from the second one?

[@matthewwinter611]

Oh I was the bumbling doofus from 2 for sure. I remembered that the rings were in my inside suit jacket pocket. My biomechanical arm (a shitty toy gun) is what you can see in my pocket. This was right after Retsupurae had done their long play of it, so a handful of people absolutely got it, including Slowbeef and Diabeetus, the hosts of Retsupurae. I mostly looked like a deadbeat dad; lost and worrying about getting a splinter or a spider bite @@Noid

[@SchlubbyTomHanks]

that is fantastic. there's nothing that makes me happier at conventions than finding and recognizing lesser-known character cosplays.

[@BriahnAznable]

God tier

[@user-wy4sy2re8c]

Absolute king.

[@rastas_4221]

Darkseed one: Mike Dawson is weird but somewhat charming optimistic man, finds intrigue even in the small things Darkseed two: "Billy took my smiley sticker so I cry myself to sleep"

[@Noid]

Mike turns from nerdy connoisseur of fine detail into a redditor in the second game

[@HarleyLocal605]

Darkseed 2 Mike is absolutely the guy that BillyMC bullies.

[@guilhermehank4938]

Mike was a lovable socially awkward lead in 1. But 2... I really wonder what IRL Mike did to piss off Cyberdreams that badly

[@WobblesandBean]

Yeah, that's...yeah.

[@trustno173]

@@guilhermehank4938 I've heard that there was a really bad falling out between the IRL Dawson and the other guys at Cyber Dreams which led to him leaving (he went on to write a couple episodes of Family Matters' final season) and them turning game Mike into a pathetic, childish loser as a form of revenge.

[@metaleggman18]

I love the idea of an artist known for body horror, alien imagery, and surreal art, is actually just this fun, easy going, almost cute person who sends birthday cards and provides tea and cookies to his guest.

[@mikeJRthe2nd]

Jinji Ito is very similar to that vibe as well. Then you have the antithesis where Miyazaki's films are cute and beautiful, but Miyazaki is actually a jerk in real life.

[@BIacklce]

i mean you either do a post-ironic foil of your work, or you are Glenn Danzig

[@Just.Kidding]

@@BIacklce or or you're henry rollins

[@BIacklce]

@@Just.Kidding no Rollins is just political. Danzig is spooky for the sake of being spooky

[@julzsadventuresinmusic7492]

Corpsegrinder vibes lol

[@Mr.Mosquito89]

The mental image of Mike Dawson, dawdling paranatural dunderfuck, sifting through the ashes of an entire lineage and SOMEHOW managing to get them ALL on himself and just mildly complaining about his own clumsiness is the kind of faintly bleak humor I crave -- he's like that dude from Mystery of the Druids but less outright sociopathic and more, dangerously incompetent.

[@StarBlue42]

The dude from mystery of the druids is detective Halligan. Put some respect on his name or he'll poison you so he can borrow your office supplies!

[@Mr.Mosquito89]

@@StarBlue42 If I'm too cool for him to touch me and levitate a foot off this chair, the most he can do is steal my scissors. This is the best most people get off when near that -- thing of a person.

[@SolstafirAquilaria]

Giger's friendliness and openness toward the developer and their new/unique form of art tracks well enough with how, in the early 80s, Giger listened to and befriended a young extreme metal band from his country called Hellhammer, who (after a name change to Celtic Frost), were allowed use of his artwork, Satan I, for the cover of their new album, To Mega Therion. The band's frontman, Thomas Gabriel Fischer, ended up becoming lifelong friends with Giger, even acting as his personal assistant for the last so many years of his life.

[@AwesomeAutismHC]

That’s so nice! Giger sounds like a swell guy.

[@jumbobagginsjellogo4475]

That’s not even the best part, Celtic Frost, Giger, and the guitar brand Ibanez all collaborated to make limited edition guitars with Giger's artwork on them and the band use them to this day!

[@Clancyism]

I hope, one day, we get a Dark Seed III with Mike again, somehow, and he is once again a completely different character

[@Romanticoutlaw]

it's like how Link from tloz is never the _same_ Link, but he's always _Link_

[@Majuular]

I hope he's Mike from the Dark Seed II trailer.

[@Clancyism]

@@Romanticoutlaw Exactly

[@MysteryEzekude]

If there were to be a Dark Seed III, I imagine Mike Dawson becoming a purely immoral scumbag of a character.

[@1Hol1Tiger]

Sadly, I don't see it happening. A big reason for that is Dark Seed 1+2 were meant to come to Steam remastered for modern hardware just like I Have No Mouth did However the main reason it didn't was despite having the rights to the game, they didn't have the rights to the artwork by HR Geiger, and when they contacted the Geiger estate, they were basically laughed out of the room.

[@MrSkerpentine]

Darkseed 2 Mike is basically just a D&D character that somehow rolls Nat 1s on every single skill check

[@crookycumbles]

My only exposure to Dark Seed were those old Retsupurae videos, you've unlocked some ancient memories.

[@onomatopoeia7505]

Yes! The same for me! I replay those wrongpuraes once a year, just to cringe and laugh at the ridiculous things happening in the game.

[@Pooky1991]

Those videos were hilarious. Them losing it over the head exploding scene in the second game lives rent free in the head.

[@neurohack9038]

Long live Lowtax

[@darkjapan]

I still hope they will restart the podcast again someday. They had such great chemistry.

[@12ealDealOfficial]

RIP Retsupurae. It's kinda hard for me to go back to watching all those associated personalities these days but I do miss Betus.

[@ReverendLeRoux]

Dark seed is genuinely home to my favorite line of Dialogue in any game ever. "This will explain everything." [explodes] [proceeds to answer literally every question in the entire game]

[@LidiaVTuber]

LOL that scene

[@Zomby_Goast]

I'm personally a fan of: "Oh no! Not the Hall of Death again! The only way out of here is death!"

[@RancorousSea]

*random mouth in game opens up* Diabeetus : AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@popo0129]

@@RancorousSea Slowbeef: I've been waiting 6 hours for that

[@falconeshield]

​@@popo0129Classic

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

"What a quaint little general store with a little bit of everything for day to day existence." used to be my go-to password for my school's computer account.

[@Phoebe5448]

Me whenever I go to the shops.

[@traversingthedark]

I can't not immediately connect Darkseed with Retsupurae, but Majuular is a worthy successor!

[@Majuular]

A truly humbling comment!

[@ErrrorWayz]

Yep like Spoony and Ultima.

[@WTFisTingispingis]

@@Majuular Ya missed, pal!

[@skipperxiv9401]

"Compared to Dark Seed II, Dark Seed is an arthouse masterpiece" Uh oh

[@wheremedad]

I still show my friends the “This will explain everything” moment regardless of wether they know of Dark Seed or not

[@planescaped]

That the sequel turned a 30 something ad agency owner and writer into a seemingly fresh outta highschool, forever alone manchild, without actually addressing the change or doing any retconning, is hilarious. lol

[@HQ_Default]

Part of me almost wonders if Dark Seed 2 was originally meant to be a different game with a different protagonist, and they just wound up grafting Mike Dawson over top of some 20 year old they had already written dialogue for.

[@Glassandcandy]

It’s also very funny that he is named and modeled off of an actual real life person who had no say in any way over that portrayal I bet Mike irl was pissed when he played DS2.

[@Mordrevious]

1:02:29 Cruel Angel's Thesis over Mike Dawson's infamous ring toss is perfect. Just perfect. Thank you, Majuular.

[@darkjapan]

He choose the best bit as well, it's this line; "Young boy, become a legend!"

[@Sigh95]

Cruel Dawson’s Thesis

[@Silvarian]

*Steps out of bushes menacingly* Wait have you not received the Get out of Jail Free card I sent you??

[@crzyces1693]

This video had me dying. Legit laughing and commenting at my monitor. When I heard... _"you broke into his house and stabbed him"_ I shook my head saying _"but the register is a bridge to far."_ Then you said it. That's when it hit me. You're obviously the dark world version of me, forced to play weird video games to then make videos for the amusement of others for the rest of eternity.

[@Majuular]

If you see a large fellow with a beard, neckbrace and a 3-frame walk cycle come up your driveway accompanied by midi blues rock guitar, do NOT tell him all of your deepest secrets!

[@discipleofdagon8195]

@@Majuular If Darkseed Majuular put me in a self-defence situation, well golly! I'm not sure just what means I would resort to!

[@NobleAbsinthe]

What's the lore reason for the neck brace?

[@Poco64]

mike dawson fucking rules fella. the retsupurae riff on darkseed 2 is still one of my favorite longplays 15 years later.

[@onomatopoeia7505]

I thought I was the only one, I still watch those wrongpuraes once in a while 🥳

[@Mateus_Carvalho]

Hey, you missed pal!

[@codexofoverthinking]

But will we ever get an answer to the eternal question: Majuular, did you kill Rita?

[@Majuular]

@@codexofoverthinking (Closes door in Codex's face)

[@WTFisTingispingis]

I'm getting flashbacks to that LP holy cow.

[@callmebeef338]

I remember being introduced to Darkseed through Retsupurae, and Diabeetus absolutely losing his shit at the "This will explain everything" part. Awesome retrospective video, these games are hilarious

[@onomatopoeia7505]

Same for me, and I still watch those wrongpuraes once in a while, they're just too good at being bad 🥳

[@darkjapan]

I still hope they will restart the podcast again someday...

[@patryksg]

@@darkjapan S-surely they will pick up their Dungeon World game again... right?

[@bigjohnsbreakfastlog5819]

"This will explain everything." BOOM! Suddenly, "Scanners".

[@Majuular]

My all-time favorite moment from that playthrough is when Mike asks Hank for a cherry ice cream soda, and Diabeetus in Hank's voice says "Sorry Mike, that's for children!"

[@crazykirsch]

59:05 I was already getting huge Halligan vibes from Mike but stealing change for a payphone seals the deal. What I wouldn't give for a story where these two are forced to work together or are working against one another. Both have absolutely zero social skills or emotional awareness, both are simultaneously dumbfounded and impressed by the most mundane things, and both have near-zero survival instincts or fear when it comes to the supernatural. It would be glorious.

[@Romanticoutlaw]

I do feel Halligan has a shred of malice in his soul, while Mike is just a himbo. I would absolutely die to see them together though

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

Melanie was foregrounded but Halligan was lurking in the tower door in a brief shot 13:45

[@cienkitv2854]

Mike's skeletonised body was found later that day

[@redblueandgray]

@@RomanticoutlawMike Dawson has NO muscle, and is therefore not a himbo.

[@lam2142]

Pitza

[@12ealDealOfficial]

Without being on the nose or a signal, Darkseed II seems to be an excellent depiction of how mental illness must feel. Despite, in your own mind, being well-dressed, polite, and well-meaning, everyone in your town absolutely hates you and has to exert visible effort just being nice towards you. He has his "cool altar ego" which isn't even real, his "uniform" (albeit a limitation in game assets), a weird proclivity of visiting the same few stores without buying anything, and a mental fixation/ short-out/ regression to the mind of a teenager. It's all very deep and probably unintentionally so. Either that, or it's the best addition to the Jeff Foxworthy cinematic universe of all time.

[@1Hol1Tiger]

I agree and believe DS2 to be a master piece for this reason, he reminds me of Chris Chan, of modern incels who see themselves as "nice guys", thinking themselves the hero despite being the villain. It's just amazing how Dawson white knights Rita the whole game, but then considers her a bitch when he realizes she was never gonna sleep with him. If released today it would be considered genius satire, I legitimately beleive it may be one of the most.... brilliant subversive narratives of all time

[@FelisImpurrator]

​@@1Hol1TigerTo be fair, apparently Rita slept with literally every other guy in town, so at that point it might make a bit more sense.

[@BulyssesBwachowski]

@@1Hol1TigerI hate to break it to you, but men making games in the 90s were 99% incel losers. None of it is intentional, or unintentional. Be grateful that as a kid in 2023 you’re already a lot smarter than those nerds. People who worked at McDonalds were smarter than those nerds thirty years ago, and they’re smarter than those nerds now. Having a CS degree and being a white Californian in the 80s and 90s was not the high level intellectual lifestyle you seem to be implying.

[@tac-floor1330]

I heard main character suppose to be high schooler. So you can see some remnants of old script

[@ErrrorWayz]

​@@1Hol1TigerEveryone thinks they're the hero!

[@Ashamaxa]

Mike looks like "middle age crisis" pass through an AI program and put into a videogame. I love him.

[@weirdotzero7065]

Okay. I had to come back here to dump two random facts about these games I learned. 1. Mike's voice actor in the first game is Deem Bristow(aka Dr. Eggman from Sonic Adventure) and 2. Dark Seed 2 was written by Raymond Benson, who wrote Ultima 7 and just TWO YEARS after Dark Seed 2 would become the main author for Ian Fleming's James Bond Books until 2002. My brain imploded learning these two facts.

[@WTFisTingispingis]

DOCTOR EGGMAN!?

[@ConcreteUnending]

The voice acting is at odds with the creepy atmosphere yes but the almost sitcom voicelines have been stuck in my head nonetheless. Dunno. Gives the games a unique vibe. Like Giger mixed with full house. "That's the last bottle of scotch. Boy, Delbert's gonna be mad!" (Del immidiately saunters in) I mean the only thing missing is the laugh track xD

[@WTFisTingispingis]

I am in awe at the power of Delbert.

[@elkcrossing799]

Every day a Majuular video comes out is the best day of my life.

[@ml8443]

First time here your comment got me hyped tho.

[@spencerdokes6056]

Maybe you need to do more fulfilling things?

[@ZachareyQuintana-qi4td]

​@@spencerdokes6056you're worse

[@evilredflame]

🤖

[@TannerHartgrove]

You and me both my friend!

[@TheJaranuJanic]

As someone who discovered these game through Retsupuraes years and years ago, I love seeing more and more people discover these absurd relics from the past. I watch the Darkseed and Darkseed 2 retsupuraes almost every year at least once. They are just THE Iconic narmy games to me.

[@RIlianP]

Giger loved working on media projects, but for him it was all about the art, and did little to concern himself with such things as age ratings or budgets, it went so far as for him to invest his own money into creating props that have been rejected in order to pitch them again, see the train from Species. The guy was absolutely passional for his art and the projects he was involved in. Absolute legend.

[@mothersbasement]

TIL HR Geiger’s got that Junji Ito gap moe thing going on where he draws the most nightmarish shit imaginable but you actually talk to him and he’s a total cinnamon roll

[@poncut5074]

So…. You’re buds with Mother’s Basement…

[@theonlybilge]

Hey, it's the crunchyroll shill who said "piracy is unforgivable", even though crunchyroll started as a piracy service. You type like a weirdo, Geoff.

[@rigorgrynn4469]

​@@theonlybilgewasn't that like a decade ago? Get over it dude. His opinion can't do you harm.

[@ShinParisu]

Hi Geoff you like Majuular too? Love when 2 of my fave content creators follow eachother. Stuff like this gives me life.

[@trustytrest]

is this 2015 tumblr? lol

[@lvl5Vaporeon]

Mike couldn't accept that the Aliens were going to take over. In a casual manner while nobody was looking, he stole a gun after describing the police station for the 5th time. Questioning his own sanity; he puts the gun on his right temple and fires to prevent the alien from escaping. Nothing happens. Mike hears a faint voice from his ear; as if calling to him... EY YOU MISSED

[@ongogablogian4396]

Retsuprae could have shattered all illusions about this game. Also, "Oh no! Not the Hall of Death! The only way out is death!"

[@timothymclean]

I like the _idea_ of the prison pillow puzzle. It uses the two-linked-worlds idea more than most of the game, and having to figure out what items you want to send yourself in the other world is theoretically an interesting puzzle component. In practice, you need to stick three random items under a pillow when you're sent to jail or you lose the game. I hope another adventure game figures out a way to use these ideas.

[@alaundo1088]

"Gonna go for a triple word score here"

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

I remember watching Slowbeef and Diabetus doing an LP of both games several years ago. Watching this felt like something deep within me reawakened and went "OH YEAH, FUCK, DARK SEED 2 IS NUTS" Thanks for the trip down memory lane, you absolutely rule dude, a true inspiration and I do mean that sincerely.

[@therudegentleman4928]

From the day I've seen anything about Dark Seed 2 I've been unable to stop quoting "I think I'll stand here watering my lawn for the next 2 or 3 days". I never even knew the guy was a cultist with his mind being messed with, I just assumed he was really into lawn care.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

tbf Lawn Care is a cult

[@Phoebe5448]

Tbh I think Paul was like that before he got brainwashed by aliens from another dimension. It was just a bonus. Also I think its backstory its mentioned he got into cult stuff because his parents died. I liked Paul as a character, he seemed like the quirky dude who lived across the street and was pretty chill. Before the aliens got to him. I'd like to think he and Mike got along.

[@d.aardent9382]

​@@picahudsoniaunflocked5426yes, im surrounded by cult members of mowing obsessed. One guy mows like as soon as the poor grass grows 1/4" hes out scalping to the ground like hes running a professional golf course.

[@GribbleGob]

two things to note 1. the carnival strongman had a blonde mustache but brown hair 2. you can totally see the orange tip of the gun they used as a prop.

[@nathanhoffmeyer9931]

Best opening animation. Didn't expect to laugh the entire time! You're a freaking champion.

[@Everdistance]

I died laughing at the cherry ice cream soda gag with the widow. Great video! You're one of my favorite youtubers I've discovered recently.

[@katelen3610]

you were always such a kidder, mike dawson

[@iamjustkiwi]

This game is just peak comedy. I dont think it was intentional, but everything about ot had me rolling on the floor. Great stuff Majuular

[@acomingextinction]

In retrospect, it's kinda weird how many 90s horror games are about an awkward incel protagonist being a giant goober in some David Lynchian small town.

[@imiaze5546]

I don't think you know what incel means

[@jorts_master69]

So what you're saying is that we have "literally me" games

[@NatonJolyBotogoske]

Majuular, dude. Your voice is soothing. Your scripts are funny. The pictures of you in the videos are hilarious. Your content is really relaxing and entertaining. You deserve success.

[@Majuular]

Thank you Naton, such a kind comment.

[@stinkystink9830]

​@Majuular how much money do I have to give you for you to play Granstream Saga

[@NatonJolyBotogoske]

@@Majuular you deserve it, and much more.

[@sjh9812]

remember to work the shaft

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

Success*

[@cako666]

That keeper of the light sound effect sounded like it was Dawson himself going "pew pew pepew pew pew pew"

[@lets3]

Mike in Dark Seed 2 feels like a PilotRedSun character.

[@kevindavidson8281]

A PilotRedSun reference in a comment on a video about a video game I only know about because of a decade old retsupurae video... I've been on this site too much

[@lconfig2117]

I still remember seeing this game on the shelf. It was always a mystery to me, but the cover art was unforgettable.

[@Alucitary]

Hearing the Gametrailers narration was a sledgehammer of nostalgia straight to the dome.

[@andrewkos5560]

The narrator (Brandon Jones) actually launched a new channel called "Easy Allies" that he was with until last year and still does the VA for all of their reviews. He also just released a book a week or so ago.

[@whodatninja439]

@@andrewkos5560i still wanna know why he thought darkseed was so scary

[@MmeCShadow]

Probably based on memory rather than recent play. You remember how surreal it was and the art sticks with you and the timer adds to the tension... might not hold up now but I can see how it would stick with sonebody.

[@gvulture1277]

Brandon Jones rarely wrote anything he read out loud, he's a voice actor first before anything else when it comes to video production. At Gametrailers and Easy Allies (before he left) he would do the voice over for all reviews and videos written by others. When you realise this fact it makes sense how so many videos from Gametrailers flowed so well, the voice actor had no personal involvement in what was being read so he did a great job selling the words like it all came from himself. @@whodatninja439

[@uamdbro]

I am not sure what his justification would have been but I recall a lot of those late 2000s top 10 lists, while being very nostalgic, being very poorly justified in hindsight. Might have just gotten onto the list because of hearsay of hearsay/"Darkseed is super scary" just kind of being the accepted narrative. Kind of true about 2000s gamer culture in general though tbh@@whodatninja439

[@user-wy4sy2re8c]

It's amazing how Mike went from the 1950's nerd in the monster movie who ends up saving the town to the 1950's nerd in the delinquent movie who gets stabbed and literally nobody's upset about it.

[@andrewlavigne44]

Another amazing video, Maj, but I do want to admit I'm sad you left out the actual ludicrous line of Mike's where he figures out the killer is the hardware store owner: "Ugh, my head is killing me, it's like being hit by a sledgehammer...sledgehammer?...hardware store...PAUL COOPER!!!" It wouldn't be out of place being said by the Adam West Batman but there it would be intentionally funny.

[@Colddirector]

I've watched the Dark Seed 2 retsupurae more times than I care to mention, but the Dark Seed 2 part of this review still left me rolling. Especially Mike talking about missing the clown and asking the twins to help with Pauls water faucet.

[@Gridiron992]

The head explosion out of nowhere legitimately had me laughing for several minutes out of the sheer insanity of it all. Thank you for showing us all the insanity that is both of these games.

[@WobblesandBean]

The 90s sitcom opening was brilliant 😂

[@Phoebe5448]

Now I wish we had Full House Dark Seed with Mike Dawson and friends with eldritch hijinks along the way. Jack: "Mike! The Ancients are trying to take over the town!" Mike's Mom: "You're a lazy bum, Mike! I don't like you hanging out with Jack! He's a bad influence!" Mike: "But Mooooom!!" *laugh track*

[@lassikinnunen]

​@@Phoebe5448the mom should refer to the character alternatively as jack and mike

[@trumangraham2602]

16:04 Each time he says it he sounds less like he's annoyed and more like he's genuinely pleased.

[@smithmcsmithy2645]

It’s a fetish.

[@bobdude7111]

To this day I mostly remember the game cuz of the retsupurae commentary from what seems like a lifetime ago. That, Cyberdragon, and Harvester.

[@JoeyLamontagne]

That’s how I remember Phantasmagoria

[@MiniTick]

Majuular has fulfilled the promise of covering Dark Seed from the Harvester review, and there was much rejoicing.

[@RetroSmiles]

Totally with you on being conflicted between giving Mike a wedgie or a hug. Him lamenting lowering his father's coffin at his funeral at one point hit me kinda different from how sudden it was.

[@CassianStone]

This became my comfort video to listen to at work, when life was bad, thank you so very much for it!

[@Randalor]

I like to believe that during Dark Seed 2, the actual Mike Dawson is still living in California with his hot Librarian girlfriend, and the Mike Dawson in Texas is just a copy made by the Ancients, but they only had his 12-year-old self to base his personality off of.

[@kendromeda42]

I'm fully willing to accept this headcanon

[@hivehum]

47:46 hey that's my buddy matt! we split a hotel room together for that year at pax iirc. i had no idea what darkseed was but i did meet diabetus who told me to play battletoads

[@Majuular]

Everything in your story checks out. Matt is a legend!

[@tobiasschenkel5760]

I completely lost it at "casual friday hitler" 😂 Great stuff!

[@GhostSilk]

I put Mike Dawson in the same tier of video game character as James Sunderland or Harry DuBois in terms of characters I can't stop thinking about. Except instead of being really deep, fascinating or conflicted, I've spent years wondering if he has some severe brain damage from the alien egg incident or is really just THAT incompetent in Darkseed 2.

[@katycat5852]

I too have spent many moons debating this very question. the conclusion I've come to is: "Yes."

[@mindshuffler3332]

God, imagine if Mike had Harry's skill checks throughout the games.

[@awesomechao]

You always were a kidder, Steve.

[@Majuular]

I love that despite being from the wrong game, it somehow still suits the spirit of the video.

[@awesomechao]

@@Majuular I watched Retsupurae when I was younger and these two series have intertwined in my memories as the same entity. I can't think about one without thinking about the other.

[@jakedizzle]

I’m assuming when Mike left the studio all of the creativity of describing things left with him.

[@albinoitj]

58:45 "in case it's not obvious, Rita slept with almost every non Mike Dawson character in this entire game". 😆

[@AnvilPro100]

The Retsupurae Dark Seed 2 series is so iconic KZbin to me. Like I watch it every few months. That idiot longplayer just standing around and needlessly walking back and forth for literal hours really just adds to the Dark Seed 2 experience

[@DrSlackr]

A few days ago I remembered these games seemingly out of nowhere since having played them during my early teens. Then I felt an urge to search for a video to relive some memories about it, and found this gem of a channel. I guess this was Mike Dawson reaching out from the Dark World to put me on to Majuular's channel. Thank you Mike!

[@agni-kai132]

Mike went from a charming goober poet to an actual incel in second game wild shit.

[@agni-kai132]

Still seems like an absolute riot of a game! Glad you covered it

[@goldsteed8832]

You don't even know what a incel is

[@agni-kai132]

@@goldsteed8832 sorry I was employing a radical new technique called "exaggeration for comedic effect" hope that helps!

[@implord4197]

​@@agni-kai132Well, you failed horribly.

[@2fortcow]

@@implord4197idk it was pretty amusing to me

[@andyeccentric]

If I ever get arrested... the first thing I'm going to do is shout "This is the inside of a police station!"

[@onomatopoeia7505]

Omg, the Retsupurae of these games, by Slowbeef and Diabetus, are two of my favorites. To have another hour of Darkseed by you is as if Christmas came early this year. Oh and that sitcom intro was so very well done, simply amazing 🥳

[@bobbinsthethird]

Retsupurae made these games for me Hey, ya missed pal. The bathroom of contemplation

[@Chadley7805]

Thanks for the spectacular videos you create. I immediately get in a great mood when I see a new video.

[@Majuular]

Holy smokes, thank YOU for the super thanks Chadley. May future videos continue to elevate your mood!

[@CrazyxEnigma]

"This will explain everything." *Head explodes* Truly a work of art. Great review as always, hell this might be the best one you've done yet the humor in particular was great.

[@Btobebone]

I still quote 'Hey you missed pal' when one of my friends screws something up. But yeah, I remember seeing darkseed on the sa forums back when they were good in the LP subforum. It was an old school screenshot LP, seeing diabetus and slowbeef take it apart a few years later in video format was pretty fun too.

[@nicolass155]

The speed in which you are pumping out these videos is insane! Will make some choccy milk and enjoy the kino

[@Majuular]

I went a little HAM because I wanted the video out before Halloween... slightly overestimated how long it would take 😅 Hope you enjoy!

[@silokhawk]

It's crazy to see reference to GT's top 10 horror games all these years later. That video is also how I first heard of this game and is also what introduced me to my favorite horror game Clock Tower. Regardless, this is a great in-depth look on Dark Seed! Awesome work man!

[@-EndlessHorizon]

"you disappoint me michael." - the keeper of the scrolls

[@kingdisasterdracula2017]

You know I watched this a while ago, and it dawned on me how the second game is… bizarrely bipolar. Like, I think they trying to go with Mike becoming more disillusioned the more he hears of Rita’s actions. But there’s this noticeable flip flopping with him being upset, flabbergasted, dismissive, and outright hateful. However it’s never expressed consistently, so Mike comes across as an total Dunce every step of the way. Heck the whole town is like this, but I think that’s explained with the Ancients influencing the populous.

[@Phoebe5448]

Yeah, I think that was partly due to not knowing where they were going with the story, so it does seem like a mess. It's a shame, because it had more potential to be more interesting than what we got. And I think Maj is right. They could have incorporated Giger's art more into world building, instead of it just being there.

[@JoeyLamontagne]

This video is like Retsupurae’s greatest hits: Phantasmagoria, Harvester, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream and these two masterpieces

[@Jen_X]

I cannot believe that, so many years later, lines from the Dark Seed 2 Retsupurae videos are still lodged so deeply in my head that I can speak them alongside Mike "hey, you missed pal!" Dawson. Great video!

[@EarthLordCJ]

So glad I was able to find another retsu-fan in the comment section of these bizarre and ridiculous games.

[@LunaTulpa]

shame beef and beetus don't do it anymore, definitely grew up on it

[@gaminggoddess85]

Didn't they edit the video so even when Mike "won" the ring toss, he still missed (pal)? Or was that someone else's playthrough

[@EarthLordCJ]

@@gaminggoddess85 yeah, that was explicitly edited in their wrongpurae because the idea of Mike winning the ring-toss was totally unrealistic.

[@Whomobile]

I love how everyone is briging up Retsupurae in the comments, good memories

[@Phoebe5448]

I still go back to that playlist every once in a while. Memories.

[@Lenoh]

21:31 Ooh, scary, cookies and tea! Next you're going to tell me he did something horrifying like... like... _show hospitality._ Great heavens! I couldn't bear to look!

[@ShyDeathKitten666]

It's funny that I only know about Darkseed through Retsupuae. Both Slowbeef and Diabeetus had a few more positive things to say about the 1st game, but were bored to tears with the 2nd game, only really finding joy whenever Mike whines about his life and the wackier stuff in the late game. Again, it's insane how drastic his voice and personality is from game to game. DS1 Mike is a weirdo, but not an awful person. But DS2 Mike is a fricking burden to himself, and everyone around, with his whining. Like, I know he is going through some rough times, but damn, he plays it up too much.

[@Virtzus]

To be fair, they were bored to tears mostly by the longplayer and how he kept wandering around without the use of the fast travel map, would repeat dialogues 12 times just to make sure he didn't miss anything, and got lost in the mirror maze multiple times. It kind of added to the feeling of Mike being a moron, but was also really taxing to anyone watching. Beef would later play through the Japanese version in a fraction of the time.

[@panthekirb7561]

I learned of the games from peanutbuttergamer back in 2010 or so. I've seen a walkthrough of it years later but its nice to see a deeper review and analysis of the series now. This ytber seems real good, defo a sub from me.

[@Katjon89]

Dark Seed 1 fascinates me, Dark Seed 2 make me laugh

[@wayside9493]

A small note on Giger being general easy going and friendly. It's that tried and true observation that most people who make "disturbing" and "scary" things are usually some of the nicest people and most who make overly family friendly things are JUST the wooooorst.

[@Phoebe5448]

Yeah, Junji Ito is a super nice guy and he wrote fricking Gyo and Uzumaki.

[@wayside9493]

@@Phoebe5448 I read Gyo while I was super sick and some of the scenes in it actually made it like impossible for me to eat. But yeah Junji ito is a really nice guy and there's some videos out there of him being very encouraging and kind when viewing smaller or independent horror creators artwork.

[@mywifesboyfriend5558]

Joel Osteen

[@trustytrest]

It's kinda a balancing act. If you're making something very taboo, you want to appear very sociable to not get shunned too much. Meanwhile if you're shown as very kind and loving despite not being so, you feel like you can get away with a lot more nastiness.

[@ravenvalentine9823]

Jesus this explains my ex so much.

[@jordanetherington1922]

The Retsupurae of Darkseed 2 is one of the best things I've ever seen on KZbin!

[@Spookybluelights]

Majular is truly the apex of Good Boyfriend™ in his timing. I just recently rewatched his Harvester video and was hankering for something just like it and then this uploaded a few minutes later!

[@Majuular]

I've seen several Harvester related comments. This was just fate.

[@RedSpade37]

​@@Majuular You have a Harvester video!? How did I miss that? Well, looks like I have some more content to eat haha

[@betterretromess]

Do you think you could get me a cherry ice cream soda?

[@CommanderWiggins]

So most people remember Darkseed from Retsuprae, but I remember it from the videos PeanutButterGamer did on them. Because of those videos, I still quote "What a quaint little general store with a little bit of everything for day to day existence!" And no one ever knows what I'm referencing. In fact I forgot where the quote even came from until 3:04 where the memories came flooding back.

[@Halucygeno]

Finally found someone else coming from PeanutButterGamer. I used to watch him so much when I was a child, and I found the Darkseed videos particularly weird and memorable. In fact, a few months ago, I rewatched those videos and then looked at some Darkseed longplays. What a nostalgia trip.

[@Phoebe5448]

I think I learnt about this game on Wikipedia first when I was in secondary school, then watched a long play on the long plays channel. Then I found Retsupare. Good times.

[@Alsritt]

As someone's whose hometown is literally Crowley, Texas, this video was an absolute RIDE.

[@AvalancheReviews]

I want you to know there were several moments in this video where I genuinely laughed out loud.

[@Noid]

Ah, it's you! Liked you talking about Resident Evil ports.

[@AvalancheReviews]

@@Noid Hi there!

[@0002pA]

Damn, Mike was kinda awkward in part 1, but in part 2 he turned into an incel.

[@ALocalClown]

Incel is a hilariously accurate way to describe Dark Seed 2 Mike.

[@Stoonk]

Did not expect the Dark Seed 2 portion to make me laugh the entire time. The "we both saw other people part" made me lose it

[@The24thWight]

These videos are how I compensate for being garbage at adventure games. I appreciate the shit out of it.

[@lukahcasshe6197]

I can feel the love for the Retsupurae adventure in this. Takes me back a good decade. Thanks for this, man. Hey, you nailed it, pal.

[@SentinalhMC]

Now I would absolutely love to see you do Phantasmagoria and its sequel especially. The way you explain and riff off these old 90s point and clicks is hilarious and I could watch you forever.

[@JoeyLamontagne]

Yes! I miss my favorite antagonist Don and his drain cleaner

[@rebelyell1983x]

ahh memories of watching the "Terrible Sequel Headaches" playthroughs and commentary :) :)

[@statiksea]

I was literally, just now, thinking about these games and how few deep dives there are on them. Thank GOD Majuular lives in my walls

[@jesse.qua.]

Remember to leave out milk and cookies for him to refuel!

[@nomadjensen8276]

If you like these old, odd and slightly macabre point and clicks then you should check out " I have no mouth and I must scream for the PC. It's directly based off Harlan Elisons novel of the same name. Quite creepy and very intriguing.

[@Belmont-69]

I knew it - Majuular killed Rita.

[@Sheepy007]

Fun fact on "I have no mouth and I must scream". Due to the subject matter of the Nimdoc chapter of the game, it couldnt be released in Germany in that state. But since Germany always was one of the biggest and most lucrative markets for Point and Click especially at that golden era of the genre, the publisher didnot want to miss out on the profit. But instead of spending money on rewriting parts of the game solely for the german market, they instead simply cut out that entire chapter from the game without any trace of it left. The only problem was, that they did forget change the winning condition of the game, meaning that the game still expects to finish all of the chapters to reach the good ending of the game. The german retail version of the game was therfore rendered impossible to win.

[@skeevy_nyx]

Just finished your thoughtful Ultima IV review, and going back and re-watching some older videos for fun. Your stuff always has the perfect blend of information and humor. My favorite little edits were: Mike continuously getting ashes on himself, the slow pan of dragging the gun to the shopkeeper, Mike just hanging up the phone, and Delbert "emerging menacingly from the bushes" XD And then in Dark Seed II, your impression of the sheriff, and A Cruel Angel's Ring Toss. Thanks for doing what you do, keep it up, man!

[@GAoftheBlackFlames]

hey you missed pal

[@21stcenturyrambo16]

Did you kill Rita

[@Quitu1849]

this will explain everything