Detail Diatribe: The Brilliant Mythology of Stray Gods

Chef's Recommendation: For the spoiler-conscious, the first half of the video focuses on the starting hour or so of the game in Act 1. There's a clear marker at 30:25 where we tell you to go play the game yourself before we get into deeper spoilers.
And even then, we didn't touch on the endgame so you can experience it for yourself.
Our sincerest thanks to Composer Austin Wintory @awintory and Creative Director David Gaider for taking the time to discuss the game with us.
☀️🌙 PLUSH TIME - overlysarcastic.shop/collecti... -The Celestial Twins are here, and they are SOFT! ☀️🌙
Artemis and Apollo plushes are available at our merch store, bundle both and get $5 off!
Watch our first playthrough from the @Ludohistory channel HERE:
Part 1: • Ludohistory and OSP Pl...
Part 2: • Ludohistory and OSP Pl...
SOURCES & Further Reading:
How Austin Wintory's Interactive Musical Works by 8-Bit Music Theory • How Austin Wintory's I...
The Best Game Music of 2023 - A Breakdown by Alex Moukala Music
• The Best Game Music of...
Stray Gods - Complete Official Soundtrack (Pantheon Edition) with commentary by Austin Wintory
• Stray Gods - Complete ...
How to Write 2 Minutes of a Branching Musical | Stray Gods: Phantom Pains by Austin Wintory
• How we wrote 1 interac...
Tracklist from "Stray Gods (Pantheon Edition)" in order of appearance:
I Know How It Feels To Be Lost, A Muse Elicits, The Reliquary, Mount Olympus, I Am The Real Article, Prophecy Is The Last Thing You Need, Welcome To The Real Underworld, The Decision, End Credits (Pantheon)
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - This Is STRAY GODS
5:54 - A Role-Playing Musical
17:51 - We Love These Characters
31:17 - This World-Building Is Genius
45:42 - A Deeply Classical Story Structure
1:01:33 - It's Good Game Design
Our content is intended for teenage audiences and up.
PATREON: / osp
PODCAST: overlysarcasticpodcast.transi...
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OUR WEBSITE: www.OverlySarcasticProduction...
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Want this video in another language? Check out our guide to contributing translated captions: www.overlysarcasticproduction...

[@awintory]

Your stream with Ludohistory was the most wonderful stream I've ever watched. I LOVED your reactions, thoughts , enthusiasm... it was a massive privilege to watch and participate. I could never thank you enough. And likewise for your kind words here ❤

[@Ludohistory]

That's still so incredibly kind to hear, thank you so much!

[@TAP7a]

The mere existence of a delivered project of this nature is a testament to the unbelievable skill and effort of everyone involved. It makes me very happy just to know that it exists, let alone that it's so damn good

[@mitchm4992]

It's been forever since I played a game that felt truly New, and Stray Gods absolutely did. Magnificent work.

[@unknownentity4620]

Austin, I think you might have broken Blue XD

[@archivist_13]

Heavily agree, they were fantastic streams

[@dianagoenaga7263]

I love how they gave Apollo the "Cassandra" treatment. His own Oracle always gives him the same "cool story bro" answer. 😂

[@rhnirsilva652]

justice

[@joyflameball]

"My twin sister is the moon" "That's rough buddy"

[@vesperlord4342]

It's worth noting that Hephaestus didn't just make the atomic bomb, he's become the whole-ass American Military Industrial Complex- the ending I got mentioned that the government was considering letting the idols see him again, so he's still around and essentially being held captive by the US Government- meaning he's more or less put himself in the same situation he saved Aphrodite from, just with different captors.

[@basharic3162]

I got that ending too, and I suspect it's less that he's a prisoner, and more just a very well-sheltered asset. Admittedly a very fine line. But it may be he himself isn't ready to see the others, possibly out of shame. I mean if for no other reason how do you hold him against his will while also giving him the tools to work for you?

[@niccoloparker3548]

​@basharic3162 true essentially in world war 2 he was captured. So like I am surprised, he didn't make an iron man suit and eradicate the us.

[@alexdillahunt6908]

@@niccoloparker3548 Captured seems like a strong word. From what I can remember from the one play through I watched, Hephaestus approached the US government voluntarily. Yes, it does strongly suggest (if not outright say) that the US government won't let him leave, but those were part of the terms that he willingly agree to in order to free Aphrodite from the Nazis.

[@AnIdiotsLantern]

Aphrodite was being tortured and abused. I doubt Hephaestus is having a great time in government custody, but uh, I doubt he’s being tortured. He’s too valuable, for one. Also his confinement is voluntary. His captors have to know that, if he wanted to leave, he could’ve done it by now. He’s too important to treat too badly.

[@adamwu4565]

@@basharic3162 He made a deal where he agreed to stay and work for them. Presumably he doesn't try to leave because he is keeping his word.

[@tylerharrell9862]

My favorite lore interpretation is Persephone using her harvest grain powers to bootleg whiskey

[@the_senate8050]

That's fantastic

[@doc_witch]

Blue's Delivery of "Where was Aries in the 1940's?" had me cackling

[@AnIdiotsLantern]

Wheres Kratos when you need him?!

[@the_senate8050]

Jackboots Guys XD....

[@emilytopham5069]

As an eldest sister and recovering not-like-other-girls, I am thoroughly prepared to feel *so attacked* by this version of Athena 😅

[@amlus05]

Fellow eldest sister and Stan of Athena. "Recovering not-like-other-girls"? I don't think I have ever felt so seen before

[@stephaniekrutzler7895]

Same but youngest sibiling

[@hyrulehollowtitan9657]

@@stephaniekrutzler7895 👎

[@trzop2234]

Xb

[@alternimousdimension]

Same. Didn't expect to relate so much with her. At first I was mad at her, then there was that "oh shoot... I probably would have done the same thing..." 😂

[@Megminime]

In game potential to explain why artemis and appollo weren't originally twins in myth: their spirits once just happened to go into fraternal twins one time

[@Halo-lg7rq]

Dionysus appearing makes sense too, it fills an insane amount of plot holes but it does really challenge the creation story. I can get behind the titans just being there but then how were the gods born??

[@samfisher6606]

Headcanon accepted.

[@EBirchall1]

and why they all have about 8 origin stories minimum - as well as interchangeable parentage!

[@baggyyy]

There is a couple line if you bring Pan to Medusa, it's basically Pan asking Medusa if she knows what happened with Artemis and Medusa is immensely nervous and tells that she just left town, so there is a chance she ate Artemis

[@CindersSpot]

Yeah, Apollo also says Medusa told him something similar if you ask him to help Medusa.

[@RavenWolffe77]

"John Wick is an adaptation of the greek epics" is NOT a hot take I thought I'd hear today. And yet, it makes total sense and I agree wholeheartedly

[@kingskelett6265]

Two things I find interesting: 1. Apollo and Aphrodite are some of the gods that due the most weird stuff, especially with lovers, in the myths. And now, they are some of the most miserable. 2. Even for the gods, the Dark Ages are the *Dark* Ages, because they don't know what the hell happened.

[@CptCh4os]

The Dark Ages coincide with the Gods being "forgotten" they say the last thing they remember before is one of the Falls of Rome and the memories start back up in the Renaissance. Maybe belief/worship does affect them after all. Alternatively Athena is the one who "awoke" the others never explaining how or why she "woke up" knowing this Athena that may be a plot by her or one covered up by her.

[@lilymercy]

@@CptCh4osi didn’t even question why athena woke first, athens is the main source of our greek literary tradition she was worshipped by them while doing the things the renaissance later remixed. i feel like she would get hit with the renaissance stick first and hardest.

[@CptCh4os]

@@lilymercy Not a bad explanation. At the point I was told that part I was very suspicious of her though that is why I question her "just waking up" without any given reason

[@freman007]

Ironic that the "Dark Ages" were never actually a thing. The "early medieval period" was certainly a time of turmoil, as Western Rome collapsed, letting its satellites have to find their own way forward, but in terms of history it was a couple of hundred years until the pressure from invading Islamic armies brought us the "Holy Roman Empire" under Charlemagne. Of course Eastern Rome continued for almost a thousand years after the fall of Western Rome.

[@kingskelett6265]

@@freman007 Dark Age has less to do with how bad things were and more the lack of knowledge about them. Especially when it comes to actual sources from that time.

[@littleghost4686]

I really like how, for people doing multiple playthroughs, the game will let you skip cutscenes/dialogue and just go to the choices. *Except* for the song/musical portions, those you have to play and listen to all the way through. It makes the focus of the game abundantly clear and also, they put a lot of work into those songs, you don't get to ignore them.

[@lukasnovella9001]

How do you skip the dialogue? I’ve been trying to get all the achievements

[@seaturtleninjagaming4602]

Is there a way to pause dialogue? Couldnt figure it out. Was the one major complaint i had. Also felt like it took forever to reach saving points.

[@littleghost4686]

@@seaturtleninjagaming4602 On the Switch you press the X button to pause. The game saves before and after every song and every time you talk to someone or go to a new place, so it saves quite a lot even if you don't see it (you can actually see all the times the game has saved when you load a game instead of hit continue because it lets you load from any of those save points).

[@littleghost4686]

@@lukasnovella9001 On the Switch you can press the Y button to skip the dialogue.

[@seaturtleninjagaming4602]

@@littleghost4686 awesome, thanks! Appreciate the advice. Used to menus holding my hand, but with how finely crafted the game is, it makes sense they don't want UI notifications clouding things up. Thanks!

[@jeremyrossi2716]

My personal fan theory that I’ve made just from this video is that Zeus’ avatar where ever he/she is is WELL aware of the situation and is absolutely racked with self hatred for Zeus’ past actions in various myths and with fear of being discovered after so long-especially when Ares and Hephaestus have irreversibly changed the world in such a violent fashion-that he just doesn’t want to meet with anyone ever out of fear of either being tempted into being the same horrible god he once was or being tracked down and turned into some weapon by some malicious third party like a government or a terrorist organization and is just a mountain hermit somewhere avoiding people trying desperately to what any rational person thrusted with the responsibility of head god should do: stay in isolation for the safety and wellbeing of others.

[@thepineappelope6018]

Another theory i came up with after reading yours is that Zeus could still be 'sleeping' in whatever form their in, in a purposeful way, They know what they have done and are subconsciously keeping themselves bound, and asleep, But that's just my take on a possible theory

[@hatredlord]

MY theory would be that, it's Athena in charge of waking them up, and she was once prophetized to overthrow him and take over the crown of the gods, as her father once did, and his father before him, and so on. So, she did.

[@EBirchall1]

I headcanon that he may be sleeping still, and the war he was preparing his kin for was between two pantheons of Idols. Not sure who they were fighting, but I think the Greeks lost ... (the gap) but also the greek idols got the last laugh by waking up one thousand years later.

[@templarw20]

Personally, I question whether the idols can permanently die. We just have their own experiences when it comes to “what if an idol dies and there’s no acceptable host around.” What if it just… wanders? Like maybe that’s what the 1000 year gap was.

[@ravenoferin500]

​@@templarw20Considering he gave into his carnal nature as a being with solidity he either voluntary or was cursed to be in a nature without sensation or being. How he comes out the other side that's a question.

[@amanofnoreputation2164]

The concept of Eidolons basically turns all of the Greek gods into timelords so they can regeenrate like the Doctor and have their personalities reshaped in whatever wya in convenient for the plot.

[@ebonyvoigt7257]

As an Australian I feel super proud that this game was the product of an Australian game studio. Makes me so proud 😊

[@lucarvee]

You all have the Sydney Opera House, I almost question what you excpeted

[@kyle_mk17]

Hell yeah man, love kangaroos

[@ebonyvoigt7257]

@@lucarvee That’s true. I’ve personally never been though so it kinda escapes my brain 😂

[@Jessie_Helms]

You should look up Mic Gordon, one of the best composers of our time and is Australian

[@user-zf2ph3yd4f]

Wasn't hollow knight Australian? I loved that game.

[@sonoftanavast8916]

This maybe the OSP video that has most altered my brain chemistry. I got to the point where blue said "seriously, go play this", and i went "what the hell? let's do it". Lo and behold THAT WAS AWESOME!!! I just finished my first playthrough and the first thing I did was come here to say: good gods it is 100% worth it, those OSP fellas weren't lying.

[@Syurtpiutha]

Same, except I waited until my 3rd playthrough. Only to discover I apparently have only scratched the surface with my 'it's probably 3 color-coded 7-hour musicals'-approach.

[@beretperson]

Just want to point out that while yes, everyone singing has a rational explanation in-universe, there's two songs where "it's the muse powers" actually doesn't work, which means Grace must just be breaking into song spontaneously by herself, like a dork. One is the very first song, the other one is a big spoiler.

[@eclecticlv]

I'm a big fan of when cool characters also get to act like huge dorks so I love this interpretation! However, I think its possible that Calliope's muse-presence in/around the theatre at the beginning is what inspired Grace to start singing her feelings out. On the other hand, I'm only a couple hours in myself, don't have all the info, and probably haven't reached the other song you alluded to, so I may yet learn something that makes her Dork Moments canon lol. We'll see how my week goes

[@n4l9bx]

The first song reads to me as directly under the influence of Calliope. Grace even questions 'what was that?' at the end of their duet. She might have been humming or fiddling around with the melody/words and then Calliope kickstarted it into full blown song by surprise appearance. ymmv.

[@beretperson]

@@n4l9bx I get it, but the reason why I don't think that's the case is that Calliope says that she heard Grace singing and that's what brought her there. THEN, when they sang together, Calliope's power was in play, and that prompted the "What was that?", but when Grace sings by herself before Calliope shows up there are no signs that the muse's power is in effect, it's just Grace singing, no "special effects"

[@slinelol]

i'm in camp dork here. I got both songs and in both songs there is no instruments. Laura motherfucking Bailey just hits it out of the park

[@juanp7691]

wait I just finished the game. what song is the spoilery one? I'm trying to remember one like that and it doesn't ring a bell :(

[@WildFyreful]

I like this. I like this a lot. Beings that exist for thousands of years *can* change from their "original" state from the mythology based on events that happen - some we know about via mythology, others we don't - and that's literally the premise I'm going with for my urban fantasy Celtic mythology books.

[@belindaluna2067]

I mean it makes sense. More information means the context changes means the perception of the things they're the gods _of_ change. Once you know disease isn't caused because some godly figure was having a bad day, that can change the game in terms of godly personification.

[@HighlandHellboy]

Your books sound awesome! What are they called? As a Scot who’s obsessed with mythology I really love learning about my own mythology, I hope they turn out as you hope they do!

[@yimtheduck]

I cried my eyes out when I managed to help Aphrodite move on in my first playthrough

[@basharic3162]

Yeah, hit close to home for me too.

[@bulgna]

When eros described caring for her I had to take a break cause it was so intense, it's the only time i cried

[@paulschumacher4308]

Me too! I cried a lot in this game!

[@sheevpalpatine1105]

the aphrodite arc was my absolute favourite in this game

[@EvilOverlord1662]

I panicked and sent her into her new body last second. It was my biggest regret.

[@traxathon4464]

I watched 5 minutes of this, turned it off, and went and played the entire thing in 1 sitting. Just came back to say, holy shit thank you guys for showing me this wonderful expression of creative story-telling. Easily top 5 games ever, can't wait to go replay it a dozen more times

[@floataway3]

I actually did stop at the spoiler break, went and bought it, and then returned once I was done with my first playthrough. I am actually floored, and came up with a lot of the realizations you guys had. When I heard Apollo bring back "Cause and Effect" during (my) Trial, I jumped out of my seat from the reprises. Holy hell, what a fantastic game, and thank you so much for the rec. This is going to live in my brain space for a long while.

[@josephradley3160]

"It's not caffinated" I almost expected Blue to say "Are you under duress?"

[@AmatMN]

The red version of The Ritual is my favorite song because of the "EVERYBODY" motive it uses. It gave me the feeling of a group conversation to help Aphrodite break the cycle she is stuck in. It is the song that truly cemented the other songs in my head as back and forth conversations. It feels like throughout the song the crowd let's the cycle continue because it's the only thing that seems to help her if only temporary. Grace slowly starts to convince them that now is the time to put your foot down and truly be there for Aphrodite instead of just standing to the side and looking on.

[@AnonymousXeno]

51:51 worth noting that Challenging A Queen isn’t the first ‘lost little girl’ In the first song with the chorus Athena calls grace a lost little girl and one of the versions of Pan and Freddie’s song is ‘lost girl’

[@sapphis_lazuli]

athena introduces a bunch of motifs in that song! she starts the "hiding from reality" motif as well, just to name one more

[@alenor210]

I had no idea that this game existed but after hearing this and literally one song, I’m gonna buy it immediately. This is that insane type of creativity that only comes around once in a blue moon

[@mesektet5776]

If there are no Elder Gods around, I think I can guess what Persephone is peeved about. Seriously though, why have I not heard of this. I am going to buy this right now.

[@austinhall8153]

I think this is my first exposure to Blue singing, and I must say: he has a decent voice! If he's comfortable with it, he could potentially do a little duet with Red sometime. trying hard not to spoil the ending even by a little bit, but does anyone else think there's a sense of hubris through how Athena is portrayed in the story?

[@srig3649]

Definitely.

[@senittoaoflightning4404]

It surely works with hubris. There is a lot of stuff that makes it work. In the end she breaks down over the possibility that she was wrong. That makes sense to me, she is not used to being wrong, it must feel impossible, considering that she was the idol representing knowledge. Through the idea that she can't be wrong she jumps to her first interpretation of the prophecy, being that it means that either the idols die or the last muse does. But in the end we find a better interpretation, being that it meant that the idols should change their way of life. During the trial, she must've realised that. (Also nice to have her in a judge position, considering her connection to the justice system through the Orestia)

[@owenwhite4241]

Y'know, I found OSP through their discussion of mythology and Shakespeare, but now I have to say that detail diatribes are some of my favorite content that y'all make!

[@aroalexace946]

I JUST did a presentation about this game in my Music Censorship class! This game has been taking up so much of my brain for weeks

[@anabsolutebuffoon]

Literally just woke up let’s go

[@irisking8739]

Awesome! 🎉😂

[@Odd_Designz]

Same let’s do this

[@juliapechcin8918]

David Gaider is a genius, he had also written the story for Dragon Age, which is like the most complex and interesting game lore I’ve ever seen

[@ringsofmars29]

Having seen Austin go into how the score was made and developed on his KZbin channel, this entire project is a goddamn miracle and I’m so glad it worked out.

[@TheNaldiin]

Bought already, saving it for when my Greek mythology nerd sister studying music has time for a couch coop.

[@Mediados]

I'm glad the game is being talked about. This piece of artwork deserves far more recognition, they spent all their budget on artists and a cast of great actors for an outstanding performance of a game.

[@sheevpalpatine1105]

i really dont wanna know how much it costed them to have Laura fucking Bailey as their lead lmao

[@cryofpaine]

I backed this when it was first announced as "Chorus". This hits every button of what I love - musicals, mythology, deep RP. Plus Laura Bailey and Mary McGlynn singing. I think they announced the crowdfunding campaign on an episode of Critical Role, and I immediately signed up. And I could not be more thrilled with the outcome. It's everything I imagined and more. I've only played through once, and having seen other playthroughs, I'm so surprised at how well the story I got fit me. I love that you don't have time to think about your choices, so you just have to kind of go with what you feel, and playing like that, I got what I consider the best ending. In fact, I was really tired and ended up playing Medusa's level half asleep for the first part, and still ended up with the outcome I would have wanted just panic-picking something when I realized the game had started another song. And then I got a commercial for fucking Hero Wars. 😡Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum. I think the only way it would be possible for me to hate a game more is if when you bought it, it came delivered in a flaming bag of dog shit.

[@Shellybean9105]

What a strong no-spoilers review, nice job. As soon as I hit the spoiler break, I bought the game, and binge-played it. Thank you.

[@TAP7a]

Spectacular reference to Peter And The Wolf, I don't know why I'm surprised Red is familiar enough with it to casually drop it in like that. Perfection

[@mikailaturkleson7472]

This might be my favorite portrayal of Persephone and has ruined any other iteration of the character for me. The way her myth was handled, how it informs her characterization, how it leans into the fact that her name literally means Bringer of Destruction. It's all just... yes

[@marocat4749]

She is the best, and really cool.

[@warriorscholar41]

I liked how they did her in the game Hades. I really like how they did Demeter in that game.

[@bulgna]

Fucking finally a retelling of this story that treats it like the horror show it is

[@Evelyn-rb1zj]

Yeah I seriously struggled to do the Apollo playthrough it absolutely killed me to not choose Persephone I've even done playthroughs with other people and they've been like "Oh ok I get why you don't like Apollo now I thought it was just your usual disliking men thing but he really is mopey and annoying" "I'm staying with Persephone she's actually interesting"

[@makeshiftparadox]

@@Evelyn-rb1zj Lmao, I have the exact opposite. I'm currently doing the Persephone playthrough and it just completely hurt to not follow Apollo outside. Persephone is just too abrasive and frustrating for me, and I kinda sympathize with Apollo on a personal level. Also, the love song between Grace and Apollo is just the best.

[@purpleshutin]

I got 10 minutes into this video and immediately grabbed my switch and downloaded this game. I love Laura Bailey and Ashley Johnson in critical role, so I really wanted to see their other work, and I love games that revolve around music. I know this is gonna be a good game, I'll come back to this video when I'm done with my first playthrough, cause I'm pretty sure this is something I'm gonna want to play multiple times Edit: I just got to act three and this has surpassed undertale to be my new favorite game. I really look for games that can make me feel things and the fact I was full on crying during Aphrodite's song is proof enough of that. I can't wait to see the end of this playthrough and see what's going to happen in my future ones. Thank you for introducing me to this game, it's fantastic.

[@Jikkuryuu]

My favourite aspect of Katawa Shoujo is how the main character differs on each path. Every romance story is effectively a single linear narrative with one or two fail states, but the MC in each of those paths is shaped by the actions you took to reach each path. In one you're a competitive over-achiever who learns sign language in like a week, in another you can't even remember to take your own meds and your love confession is basically just having an episode and passing out at her feet. It's really neat to see the choices you've made affect not just the story but your agent within the story.

[@the_senate8050]

And then you've got the Emi ending where you essentially agree to keep eachother in check to live as long of a healthy life as possible. I was not expecting Hisao to be nearly as much of a character as he is going in. I was expecting a bland self-insertable thing, yet as most things about that game, they went above and beyond.

[@Jikkuryuu]

@@the_senate8050 It's not every game where the default/catchall romantic partner is the best, and I don't like claiming that any partner is the best, but Emi sure as heck is the best _for_ you. :D

[@GlitchDX]

"Where was Ares in the 1940s?" I had to pause the video because I could not stop laughing for 3 minutes straight

[@Nova-tr4fd]

after you two were guests when ludohistory played this game i was SO hoping for more content about it!! i’ve never clicked a notification so fast

[@Ishma3l]

Link?

[@foxfire9320]

@@Ishma3l The vod is on ludohistory's YT and Twitch

[@keroessa3079]

Interestingly, I tried to take the throne of Hades and then sacrifice my eidolon for Freddie and it broke the game a bit 😂

[@Spyrotastic141]

Oh? How so?

[@belfire86]

I find it interesting that they've changed and grown (or not) and the idea that they can 'die'. Like even if it's only the human shell and how that impacts on them as well. Definitely going to be getting this!

[@ruven300]

Minor super early spoiler, after very first song with Colliape, you can ask her to join your band. What comes to mind is two things, one is enticing a muse before the epic begins as said but also she kinda does doesn't she? Given how all that works?

[@MagmaRiver]

According to Hecate, she was supposed to, too!

[@ruven300]

I know! The fact that she was completely thrown off by you showing up weeks early was something I wondered if I could exploit more

[@FriscoFlame]

I absolutely LOVED THIS GAME! Played through in a single sitting, listened to all four albums afterward, need to buy it again for the bleep bloop achievables... Also I popped so much when I heard Anthony Rapp!!!

[@Raximus3000]

I just have to ask isn't it just a visual novel?

[@FriscoFlame]

@@Raximus3000 to the grand scheme of things, yes. I describe it as a choose your own adventure musical. But it's just incredible how the choices you make also affect the songs. But in the grand scheme I would not disagree about it being a visual novel

[@FriscoFlame]

@@Raximus3000 Also, there were three scenes where I legitimately cried. And a game's ability to affect me emotionally is one of the ways I judge it

[@Raximus3000]

@@FriscoFlame Ok because the role playing was misleading a bit.

[@FriscoFlame]

@@Raximus3000 Well, there are Roleplay ELEMENTS, here I'm primarily thinking the romance. But visual novels are, by their nature, also roleplaying, so I guess it depends on your definition.

[@Happyisboss]

I love that this game forces you to understand your actions from the perspective of the ancient Greeks view of fate/destiny insanely meta

[@BipolarKitten]

I bought the game yesterday and started playing at 8pm, ADHD brain was so engaged by it I suddenly realized it was 2:30am, I had completed the game and also had no idea where the time went. 10/10 will do again.

[@anthonybaird1]

The description of this game gives me The Wicked and The Divine vibes. It looks amazing!

[@gokbay3057]

Yeah it made me immediately think of it as well.

[@Avsalom13]

I don't normally comment, but I am absolutely devouring this game in my free time. It's an amazing game and I'm so happy you guys are talking about it

[@TrueJunebug]

Saw this game on Steam a while back and it seemed 100% up my alley but i haven't had a chance to play it yet. Watched the first 30 minutes of this and I'm officially completely sold. Imma hafta dip out for a bit, but I will be back for the spoiler section soon. Edit: And I'm back! That may be one of the best games I have played in a while. Anyone reading this who hasn't checked it out, please do. I find it so interesting the roleplay aspect of this. I found it so easy to slip into the character of Grace and naturally go through a whole character arc with her. I would think that it was just one very well written plotline, but based on some of Red's comments in this video it almost sounds like she experienced a completely different character. My Grace started out as a hotheaded and lost soul who didn't know her place in the world, but due to the events in the game had to quickly learn how to take a more tactful approach to everything. She ultimately wanted what was best for everyone but would be the first to call out the Idols on their Astarion-crap when they kept falling back into old habits. Things didn't end up going perfectly, there were a few bumps and tragedies along the way, but I cannot imagine the story going any other way. I'm a bit terrified to try another playthrough because I have no idea how things will change.

[@Pro_Butcher_Amateur_Human]

I've finished the game twice (once intelligent Freddie romance, once courageous Persephone romance). I absolutely loved both playthroughs. The story is excellent, the characters are delightful and charming, the music is fantastic, the mythology has a creative twist, and the cast is incredible. For a game like this to get such a star studded cast is insane. For a Critical Role fan, to have Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson, Felicia Day, Mary Elizabeth McGlinn and Khary Payton in the game was joyous. It surprised me, it made me sing and laugh and cry. 10/10 would recommend.

[@MagmaRiver]

Ha it sounds like my playthroughs are going exactly like yours did! Halfway through my Kickass Persephone playthrough atm

[@WD_Gaster66]

Don't forget Eriks Ishii, she too has been in CR!

[@thatsmuggamer]

@@WD_Gaster66 sorry to be that person, but *they

[@WD_Gaster66]

@@thatsmuggamer Um, actually, Erika is gender fluid, so everything works. They/she/anything

[@thatsmuggamer]

@@WD_Gaster66 Shit, fair point. My bad

[@artful_alicat]

I watched half this video this morning, proceeded to buy and play Stray Gods, and now just finished it and am returning to the video to fully enjoy it, 10/10 game by the way, 100% recommend

[@HeyLookASquirrl]

28:04 ...oh my god, the pattern on the floor that Asterius is standing on is a *labyrinth*. Like, the modern(?) version that I've mostly seen made out of pebbles. Those clever bastards.

[@gabrielabatista6016]

The interactiveness of Stray Gods here kinda reminds me a bit of Songs for a Hero, which is a brazilian videogame that's an interactive musical. It's not NEARLY as complex as Stray Gods (and it also came out almost a decade ago too), the music doesn't just change styles based on your choices or anything and it doesn't have branching paths (it's actually a plataformer with a straight storyline), but it has the same basic idea of the music responding to the player's actions. There are certain lines that only play in certain sequences of the level or when you do certain things (such as staying still for too long), and it basically responds to what you're doing right now. The whole game the Hero is singing the adventure for you about what's happening right now. (It's out on english too, btw) I really love when games, specially musical games, do these sorts of interactive mechanics into the game where the music, ambient, character's, etc react to the choices you make and you get a different story and/or more pieces of informatiom, and it's specially fun in musical games because it makes the track super unique and tailored to your experience; though it's difficult as heck to pull off because you need to blend these tracks together. (Which is already a pain with instrumental music, but voiced? Ooooh boi...) I loved the concept on an interactive musical game when I first saw it in songs for a hero years ago, and I'm absolutely loving it in the way Stray Gods made an even more complex version of this concept and it's so magnificent.

[@MagmaRiver]

Well this channel has been on my "I should watch this" for months now but seen as Stray Gods has overtaken my brain for the past month it seems like a sign!

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

Welcome aboard, its a fun channel... And you had better like Domes 😛😛

[@EternityKingdomsHeadHoncho]

And Twilight Princess.

[@webkinzgirlist]

This game is so ambitious in their music, big props to the composers of the game as it so amazing seeing how each section of the songs can have such different versions in different ways, where lyrics and theme of songs can change so much, as well how these difference can be reprised later in the story where it make multiple playthroughs such an interesting experience by exploring different musical beats and patterns

[@parkerdixon-word6295]

Just for a comparison point of a game with a few songs that are modular with player choice, y'all should also play Pyre, by Supergiant Games. Yes, before they made Hades into the internet's favorite thirst trap for awhile there, the same studio also made a game that experimented with a few things like this, including a final boss theme that came in almost a dozen versions based on your opponents, and an ending song that changes based on your in-game choices.

[@Nasser851000]

0:00 What about a Cerberus plushie?

[@hobbiefox-pastrycat4568]

...you know, you've got a point.

[@mangagor]

Yep, you convinced me in no time at all, this is one I'm getting as soon as I can. While greek mythology adaptations are slightly overdone this is new and fresh and relevant enough to my interests that it is worth it. Excellent diatribe/review.

[@monochrome_mouse]

i played this game the week it came out and was utterly blown away but couldn’t explain why i loved it so much. you guys put all my thoughts into words effortlessly and it’s so cool to see that everything that made the game amazing for me also made it amazing for other people

[@zackanderson7440]

This game goes to show that creativity is what makes game great, not graphics, not ‘realism’, just really strong ideas.

[@johannv8156]

I love greek mythology, I love musicals, i love video games, how in hades have I never heard of this before!

[@WinglessMoonstone]

I remember watching a clip of the minotaur trying to woo hecate a while back. I always thought that it was just a proof-of-concept KZbin series that a small channel made that eventually would (and did) explode into popularity. I had no idea that it was a full-fledged ACTUAL GAME. I definitely have to check this out at some point! :D

[@allenN349]

Soooo how many people bought the game while watching/after watching this video? ‘Cuz damn OSP sold it so well I just had to get it mid-way. Props to R/B (can you guys stream Stray Gods separately and pick options corresponding to your color lol), and the game’s studio!

[@just__here3574]

Vaguely wanted this game and now *of course* I’m getting it

[@Nethar6]

I actually stoped half way through before the spoiler section, got the game and played it twice. This needs to become a genre, there need to be more games like this, I need them.

[@mini3mayhem]

Something I love about this game is the eyes glowing thing. So Grace/Calliope's eyes glow whenever they start songs, use their powers, etc. We see Apollo bring up his powers momentarily in the fight with Persephone, but what about Aphrodite? If you check her eyes at any point, especially during her party, they seem to glow slightly. If she feels love of some kind at all times, then she's technically always using her powers. It's one of those little character design details that I love.

[@charlescooper1219]

Can we declare Apollo not liking phone ringtones "because they're loud" canon?

[@SteffenskyXD]

I started watching this, and by the spoiler cut off the game was about finished downloading. I finished it in one sitting and am now back to watch the rest. Highly recommended

[@strawberriandromeda]

i actually paused this video like a month ago and went to play it and i just finished it and watched the rest of this video. this is so flames i loved it so much thank you for covering it ;w;

[@fingerboxes]

I had a dream where I was unnaturally compelled to go to a certain location. When I (Arab/Jewish mixed ethnic background) arrived, there was an African-descended woman already there and pretty soon after I showed up, a Hispanic woman arrived. Once the three of us were assembled we discovered that we had been given the power of the Furies. As soon as our powers were activated, we immediately started receiving prayers of the oppressed (mostly minority women and children) whose victimization wasn't being treated with respect by the authorities. That really made me re-think who the Furies were and the role they played in the ancient world because think about it--in ancient Greece, if you were a woman or girl and your father beat you, sold you into slavery, married you off against your will, or even killed you, you had no legal recourse, and if you were a slave it was that and worse. I bet women, girls, and slaves were the primary worshipers of the Furies: the people who couldn't get help anywhere else.

[@lindafreeman7030]

I would like to hear this novel / graphic novel!

[@tadijastankovic4350]

-Casually puts some dream in the comments -Refuses to elaborate any further -Leaves

[@fingerboxes]

@@tadijastankovic4350 I thought it was a good hook for a novel or something but didn't ever spend the time to WRITE that novel or something. I literally don't care about royalties or anything, I have enough of these short story leads cooked up by my PTSD brain to keep me going indefinitely so if you want to take it and make it a more satisfying story out of it go for it. I'd love to read it.

[@MommaGart]

Watched the first half, ran tripping over myself to play the game over the course of two very enraptured evenings, and just came back to finish the video. Truly a unprecedented artistic experience from a video game. Loved your breakdown and I CANNOT WAIT to experience more playthroughs!!

[@nit11]

I watched 10 minutes of this detail diatribe.Stopped. Bought the game. Played. Enjoyed. Came back to listen de detail diatribe. No way! And replayed. The story looked that cohesive that i didn't even though it can have a different outcome! I had not an idea this game existed. Thank you.

[@Syurtpiutha]

I played through 3 times (3 pure color paths) and thought I'd gone through it all. Of those, it was generally Green>Red>Blue with what songs I liked best. Now I feel I'm gonna replay it regularly and try different things (but not romancing Freddie just feels wrong. She's an absolute delight).

[@graces9158]

i had this video sitting in my watch later playlist so I could play the game first when I have some extra cash to spend AND MAN IT WAS SO WORTH IT

[@VashdaCrash]

Same! Gotta play more runs yet

[@silvermagpie1071]

Ten minutes in and I'm already convinced to buy this game

[@DelphinusZero]

It’d be great if you could get Austin Wintory on the podcast sometime! He does podcasts, you do podcasts, you have so much in common! And blue will be adorably starstruck the entire time, which will be fun.

[@bulgna]

A little piece of worldbuilding and storytelling I really like (and just noticed in my second playthrough with my sibling when they pointed it out) is in Apollo's design. His belt looks like a moon, which is a common shape but it seems to match in style and material his golden pendant of a sun. I don't know if I'm saying something really obvious or already adressed but it really seems to imply not only that Artemis is gone, but that he keeps a memento in her memory

[@skopde]

It was the most amazing gaming experience in a long time (and we had BG3). Not surprised David Gaider had his hands in this, but amazing work to all involved.

[@the_senate8050]

BG3 is an amazing RPG, but it is still an CRPG, it does the formula exceptionally well and sticks to the world of the Forgotten Realms incredibly faithfully.... but it isn't nearly as creative as Stray Gods, their completely different games, but I have to agree this one is even more of a surprise.

[@evanbutler1396]

Thank you for telling me to not be dumb and go play the game!!! I hit a wall at first and put it down for like a month, but on a rainy day, I got bored and said why not. Literally five minutes after I came back, I was completely hooked, and I loved every second of the story since. Like you said, I'm here, so this was totally my jam. Thanks, guys, for all that you do. It's really special, and all of us are lucky that you do it. If you ever read this, just know that we all are incredibly grateful.

[@adjsmith]

I watched the first half, was convinced, bought the game, played it out, and now here I am watching the second half. Excellent recommendation. 10/10, great game, no notes. I'm not sure I could play it through a second time, though, at least not anytime soon. *However,* I'm strongly tempted to watch the Ludohistory playthrough, just to see what different choices got made... I got a glimpse of what other ways the story can go just by looking at the achievements. There's some interesting possibilities in there.

[@madgizmo2212]

I have a feeling that you two would also enjoy King of Dragon Pass and Six Ages given the interplay between the mortal and divine realms those games have. Not to mention the sheer depth and variety of story you can out of them.

[@jacobadams9876]

This is the first time I’ve ever seen a video that tells me to stop and go watch or play something halfway through the video, and I’ve actually done it. And holy hell that was a good game.

[@nickward70]

So this was a game I just hadn't gotten around to, with Marvel Midnight Sons, Jedi Survivor, Baldurs Gate, and Starfield but I am thrilled you guys made this video. When you guys said stop and go play it, I paused the video, bought the game, played through my "true" playthrough, then came back and finished the video. It was spectacular, and I'm super excited to play it a few more times with different choices in the next few days to see what all I can uncover. Thanks OSP!

[@kurorielfanreader3296]

Thirty minutes in and I was convinced I needed to play this game. Seven hours later I have played through the game once and came back to finish the video. This game is truly a unique gem ❤

[@foxskirata]

I watched the first half of the video, went and bought then played the game, and came back. It was a wonderful experience, and has turned into my current hyperfixation. Tinfoil hat theory I'm not sure has been said elsewhere: the Idols tell us that they can barely remember their "original" versions back in classical Greece, and have no memories from before. We also know that, with every passing of the eidelon, their oldest memories fade. My personal theory is that the Idols/eidelons didn't *start* in classical Greece, that's just the earliest significant memories they have left. Like you guys said, this mirrors how we're not sure where a lot of these cults and stories originated in real life. What if the origins of the eidelons go back to the origins of the even older myths beyond classical Greece? Like, maybe Aphrodite actually used to *literally* be Ishtar?! The far-reaching implications of the lore that the Stray Gods team has put together here are *staggering*, and I love it so much!

[@OverlySarcasticProductions]

☀🌙 PLUSH TIME - overlysarcastic.shop/collections/plushies -The Celestial Twins are here, and they are SOFT! ☀🌙 Artemis and Apollo plushes are available at our merch store, bundle both and get $5 off! -B

[@sluperslonic8624]

blue you forgot to pin this! soon no one will see the plushies.

[@snababo3914]

... a red and blue plush you say... of god's, not gonna read into this 😜

[@insectostrich4407]

Hey, sorry to ask this, but since we’re talking about stories being reimagined, could you do a video on The Black Knight? I would love to know about where the legend truly came from, especially depicted with your cool illustrations.

[@abrarnoorani8385]

So, now that I've played it I can say it may very well be my favourite game ever (I did kick-ass/charming btw)

[@_argent]

I had this game in my wishlist for a long time and only played it a couple of weeks ago, and I've been OBSESSED with it, it's just... inspired. I need this and all the content, and commentary, and reactions, and everything!

[@paulschumacher4308]

I only found this game because of Red & Blue. Now I just finished my first Playthrough and I cannot wait to do it again!

[@danielgibson490]

One thing this game explores that not many other media involving gods does is exploring what it’s like to live thousands of years. Just how much a human style mind cracks and strays to archetypes over millennia

[@templarw20]

1:02:24 Jean-Marc Giffin did something similar, but way less intense when scoring the Sentinels of the Multiverse digital game. There’s a “team” mode where 3-5 villains are fought as one, and for the loss screen he composed a modular set of themes where shorter parts of the themes of each can be assembled into a coherent piece.

[@goldsberrie9448]

so glad you guys talked about this game! I have been so obsessed with this game recently and was extremly excited when my favourite mythology channel talked about it.

[@horuspines9924]

I absolutely love this game and the way I was physically shaking with hype to watch this when I saw you posted it could not be understated

[@CynUnion-ji9uj]

I've only done one playthrough, very excited to do more, but I didn't know David Gaiter was the lead narrative guy for this game. He used to work at bioware, wrote on the first Knights of the Old Republic game and based the Sith code in that game on nazi ideology.

[@adamhachimi1476]

Watched this and immediately picked it up on steam. I just finished my first playthrough, and man, was that money well spent.

[@kadebrockhausen]

Okay so when this video came up I got to the point where you said to go play it. I have now finally played it. Time to watch the rest, 4 months later

[@jasonutty52]

As someone who adores this game and has 24+ hours in it already I am very happy to see worlds collide with one of my favorite KZbin channels talking about it. Good times.

[@skem9622]

Oh nice new diatribe

[@shrimpisdelicious]

This video was the first time I'd ever heard about Stray Gods. I paused it halfway through to buy the game and complete a play through before coming back. I'm really glad I did.

[@brady376YT]

I freaking love this game and was joking about how it was made for specifically my interests. And now my favorite youtube channel put out an hour long video on it.