A Journey Through PARATOPIC | Monsters of the Week

[@MandaloreGaming]

Wow this is one of your best videos, if not the best video yet. You're definitely right about the mundanity accenting the violence. I think the assassination reminded me of Brick not only because of the act itself, but because it's also the only moment of violence in a movie that's completely devoid of it outside one visceral moment. Really looking forward to the Darkwood video since I feel like it'll replicate a lot of elements you enjoy.

[@SomeHomesickAlien]

oh hey hey

[@JesseTurner]

always stoked when two of my favorite game guys just know each other.

[@docseuss5282]

I love Brick, but that wasn't where my head was at when conceiving the game. I designed the scene by thinking about what it would be like to be in a room when someone brings in a loaded gun. In a game, guns are often blunted by how prevalent they are. For that scene, I wanted to make the gun itself an object of horror; something dreadful that you couldn't look away from. For me it was a brutal punctuation.

[@RagnarRoxShow]

Ah thanks man! Yeah I don't know exactly why but your description "the gnarliest headshot since the movie brick" got stuck in my head ever since I saw the video a good while ago. I thought about it a lot. ^^

[@ryanedwards7487]

Ahhh, the Rust Belt. Yep...because our economy eats the past. It's why people harping on the Stock Market makes me want to go: Yeah...talk about how good the economy is in parts of Ohio...or Erie, Pennsylvania, or areas of Buffalo, New York. See where that gets you, and then you realize why these people voted for sentient garbage in a people suit with a bad haircut and a spray-on tan.

[@ALLCAPSKELL]

This game disturbed be because of how familiar the disassociation felt. I love it and it totally frightens me.

[@Robert-wf7xu]

I Just listened to the whole thing, while driving my bike as delivery men. I dont remember a thing. We are getting META.

[@RagnarRoxShow]

Art Imitating Life

[@Robert-wf7xu]

@@RagnarRoxShow so did I understand the whole thing, without actualy hearing your interpretation becouse i was participaiting in the expierence directly?

[@baburdombay8340]

Fun fact: the zone (Зона) is a russian slang term for prison or jail. Maybe Stalker comments on being imprisoned by our desires (chasing the Wish granter) or by the actions of our predecessors.

[@Fickji]

Our predecessors actions were based on their own wishes. Or their wishes for future generations. Road to hell and all that... maybe that's why there's so much driving in Paratopic.

[@danielschneiderbastos6179]

Video games used to be my favourite hobby when I was younger, but I haven't playing for a while since I started my PhD. I really like your channel and your approach on the potential around narrative in this media. I will soon return to video games and your work is a major influence for this decision. I also share your distaste for Thatcher

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

I'm very late but it tickles me to think you finished your doctorate by now! Hope you're thriving & gaming again. {+ me too with Thatcher; gives me the Big Ick in my morality-empathy-principles of decent governance Zone...is there a game where we can play striking miners & defeat her yet? "Corrective nostalgia"?}

[@Wildclaw07]

Thank you for the Margaret Thatcher content warning, as a Welshy I must always emotionally prepare myself so that I don't fall into a blood rage at any mention of the woman

[@tylerpatterson3328]

Fuck Margaret Thatcher! Me and my homie all hate Margaret Thatcher!

[@matthewcampbell3146]

@A.M Chadain as a northern irish person, i also support you

[@GuyParson]

Why is she bad ? Ive seen people hating her on pcm , but since everyone seems to know why , no one explains it

[@Wildclaw07]

@@GuyParson She promised safer mining conditions which she didn't follow through on and actually made mining more dangerous, following some terrible mining accidents and, instead of fixing it, decided to close all mines across Britain - which ruined both the Welsh, Irish and Scottish economy, as most people in those countries were employed by the mines and she never made new jobs to replace them. This created mass unemployment, and then she decided to go ahead and privatise the railways (a move which has led to the decline in railway safety, resulting in many terrible accidents in the decades following - re:the paddington rail disaster) and also started the trend of reducing benefits and welfare for the poor. tl;dr Margaret Thatcher willingly and methodically made living conditions for the poor terrible

[@GuyParson]

@@Wildclaw07 damn , what a bitch

[@alexp7016]

Your videos, despite their content (maybe because of it?), have always had this weird quality of comforting “home-ness” to me somehow. I have no idea how it took me this long to realize that it’s because your writing style is entirely intuitive to the adhd thought process. Everything you say flows together in the same way that my thoughts do when I can’t sleep at night because my brain won’t turn off. It’s brilliant.

[@RagnarRoxShow]

Oh wow, this is amazing to read and makes so much sense. Thank you!

[@nebojsazbidelj1791]

dont be fooled, ragnar is an asmr channel in disguise, and a very good one at that

[@nicholasgeere5125]

@@nebojsazbidelj1791 it might as well be, he spent the entire video somehow not actually saying anything of importance. this channel is infamous for rambling and managing to not actually talk about anything specific for 30 mins

[@NootalieWalf]

Alex P Oh my god it makes sense now thank you

[@Exigentable]

@@nicholasgeere5125 whatever, narc.

[@BakilAskamrim]

Paratopic gives the feeling of "Wait I wasn't paying attention, what happened?"

[@АлександрКривенков-й5д]

As an Eastern European, I found your discussion of "The Zone" fascinating. It's likely because roughly about 80% of all cities in the post-Soviet counties I've seen can accurately be described as decayed, old, rusted husks.

[@fakebulgarian8780]

I went to this town in bulgaria w my grandma that was pretty much abandoned-super creepy but also kinda tragic??

[@StarxLolita]

I feel like it goes to show how similar the US and Russia are, despite our perceived differences. Hell, you go to the Midwest in the Winter, and maybe you think you ARE in Russia.

[@krispalermo8133]

@@StarxLolita Illinois during winter time in a corn field with a fog bank, Is this Hoth ?

[@backupaccount1315]

What mildly amuses me is that Roadside Picnic is itself set in America, and purports to be, under the skin, a criticism of the american scientistic-capitalist system

[@alchemist678]

@@backupaccount1315 Not in the States, it is rather a collective image of the "the West".

[@Naterkix]

That "all of a sudden I'm at my destination even though I don't even remember all the stuff I did to get there" thing was always a little scary for me. Like, I _always_ got to where I needed to just fine it's just that idea of the "auto pilot" thing going awry one day was kinda spooky.

[@eveecco]

When he mentioned that he was going to talk about Dark Wood soon I literally jumped up and said “Yes!” with excitement. It’s one of the most interesting games to me currently and I’ll look forward to his dissection of it!

[@d_inkz]

I've been working on a personal project, mapping from memory the houses I lived in as a child. It's been a very odd experience. There are whole rooms I can't recall, I remember the windows on the outside, but cannot find the memory of what those rooms were, or ever entering them (i grew up in very small houses by the way). I'm ending up with some very strange architectural maps with voids between remembered spaces, and ever changing staircase positions. I'm also noticing how many of my 'memories' are actually shaped by family photographs rather than a true recall of the event.

[@ronaldfarber589]

Similarly I started mapping my old neighborhood strictly from my dreams and therefore my memories as well, it's sprawling now, huge and soon I will actually visit my old place to compare. It's interesting as an alternate universe of sorts, I totally get that 'windowy' feeling you speak of

[@namoosa3tshaan]

did you ever finish? would love to know how it went..

[@KemonoPriestessHazuki]

"Back in the days of Drive and Hotline Miami..." Omg... 2012 Feeling a lot older now.

[@zm1055]

No one: RagnorRox: Tarkovsky

[@lovaszaron3138]

Made my day. His movies are art.

[@lovaszaron3138]

@@nilbog972 Strange how someone, whose work barely could be seen, let alone released, beyond the Iron Curtain, gains respect they needed on the "other side" - and fitting to this video's topic of the Zona.

[@user-zp8kj2cl9g]

@@lovaszaron3138 because real art trascends all human prejudices

[@wyattmartin9912]

I'm a simple man at heart, I see Ragnar has posted a new video. I press play.

[@44444444443333333222]

This made me realize just how little I remember about my time *playing* games as a kid. I remember the games themselves, but when I think about my surroundings, I just conjure up generic versions of what I remember my old living room looking like. Hell, even some of my most vivid memories, of going to my older sister's wedding, of going to my grandmother's funeral; I don't even remember what the places looked like, or even how old I was. It's scary to think just how little what we remember is real... If every aspect of a memory has changed, even if only slightly, then is it still the same memory?

[@PippaPasses]

Most Memories are reconstructed differently each time they are recalled. Your mind is a mental game of Telephone

[@cyborgchicken3502]

This is one of the reasons I sometimes go back and play old games via the use of emulators just to remember

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

@@imacg5 Action Button Tim syndrome &/or trauma both or either could lurk here.

[@wyndoellabridge6208]

Dissociation happens man. Usually when youre doing mundane shit. Your brain just went into autopilot during that drive.

[@umbaupause]

It's called "Highway Hypnosis" I believe? It's quite fascinating - almost like the brain wants to fight a lack of external stimuli.

[@zickbone]

@@umbaupause yes automaticity (subconscious and conscious focusing on different things, and not really remembering it while still doing it properly and attentively) while driving is called Highway hypnosis/white line hypnosis.

[@ronoc9]

Flashing Images? I'm not scared. Violence? Duh! Blood? Oh, no, not something so tame. Gore? Yawn. Margret Thatcher. OH JESUS! TURN IT OFF! JESUS, GIVE US A TRIGGER WARNING RAGNOR! YOU CAN'T JUST SPRING THAT ON US!

[@nsalegit9482]

I dunno. I'm kinda glad to know the world's first gender inclusive toilet is going to appear in this video.

[@Tooooooom]

Honk if Thatcher's dead!

[@nsalegit9482]

@@Tooooooom kzbin.info/www/bejne/baSlpGl7jLWdeMk

[@lovaszaron3138]

Well, living in Hungary, we got men with half Thatcher's skills and double her arrogance. So... That.

[@Rexodiak]

that name is blasphemy, she puts Voldemort to shame

[@oneinathousand2156]

I wonder if the use of the word “friendo” is a reference to Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men, which in itself is a movie that focuses a lot on mundanity punctuated by moments of strong violence.

[@heathkish6901]

You should read the novel by Cormac McCarthy! He also made the Road.

[@Homersimpsonitalian]

@@heathkish6901 also Blood Meridian which is great

[@matthew1882]

@@Homersimpsonitalian he never sleeps. He says he'll never die

[@elilass8410]

You and Jacob Geller are producing some of the most unique, mesmerizing, and personal video game writing on youtube right now. top-notch stuff.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

lol you pre-Cog! I stumbled over here from Geller's Orbital Laser vid after YT made it next-up, but I'm already subbed to Ragna via Codex Entry from her Pathologic Classic saga that Ragna VA'd a character in, which YT showed me bc I got obsessed from hbomb's Pathologic essay. Codex Entry introduced me to a bunch more games + channels, so did Super Eyepatch Wolf (used to watch only his culture commentaries but his gaming, anime, + combat sports vids turned out to be just as good). Love the thoughtful essays + personalities but much to my surprise I discovered I also love the genre of YT channels who deliberately play games in unintended ways. I don't think anything's made me laugh harder than footage of a guy + his pal deliberately failing all of the QTEs in a chase scene thru a market in Cage's "Heavy Rain". Yeah, your comment made me realize we're in a golden age of cultural conversation around video games -- as a maturing medium, as individual games/franchises, as divided into genres -- & there are so many different but good artists talking about games in their own ways, from Geller + Ragna & others mentioned above to NoahCG, Charlatan Wonder, Action Button, Scott's Game Asylum, tangomushi, Warlockracy, GrimBeard, & more....we're truly blessed with excellent video game explorers at the moment & in this dark timeline it's a real joy + comfort. Esp since I can't game due to chronic illness, but I love the stories + storytelling + am grateful for longform content to distract me when I'm really goin' thru it.

[@arcuslux516]

When you had a bad day and are about to fall asleep and notice the notification on youtube saying Ragnar uploaded a video. Life is good.

[@joestack1921]

I bought this from the Nintendo online store a month ago, knowing nothing about it and it’s SO creepy and cool. Then, the day I decided to see if anyone’s done a video essay about it, you released this. Then I saw your channel is full of awesome horror content AND you’re friends with Innuendo studios!! I’m stoked I found your channel. Thanks for the good work.

[@Bealzabub]

30:23 Just to let you know, that music piece is probably a direct reference to A Clockwork Orange. It's titled "Carlos AM" and the score composer for A Clockwork Orange is NAMED Wendy Carlos.

[@PurposelessRabbitholes]

Damn, only 2:50 in, but what a great intro. Love your style. EDIT: 18:59. Hannibal clip. A man after my own heart. EDIT 2: 33:19 I was waiting for Hotline Miami to rear its masked head! Got so excited when I heard that music kick up haha EDIT 3: 43:20 "The scenery is the medium, nostalgia the playback device." PHEW, shit, what a line! Final edit: Man, this was phenomenal. Felt like a rambling discussion between me and friend after watching a Lynch film, just like the one you described. Wonderful, evocative stuff

[@TimeIsOfThe3ssence]

Reading this made me chuckle

[@tsarXadam]

It's nice seeing you here

[@Mizarriz]

This video reminds me of Silent Hill 2's best moment-- 'there was a hole here. It's gone now'. There was a world here, it's gone now; there were people here, they are gone now; there was meaning here; it's gone now. Paratopic looks like ghosts of ourselves, wandering around long after we die, and these little parts of us remain behind, unaware that they were meant to end

[@kryptych]

"I like to remember things my own way." "How do you mean?" "How I remember them... not necessarily the way they happened." - Lost Highway

[@modestqueens]

Paratopic feels like my dreams lately. I've been trying to lucid dream but havent quite reached the point where I can control them, I am aware but not aware enough (if that makes any sense.) They feel similarly surreal and borderline real. This video dropped at a weird time for me or maybe the right time I'm not sure lol. Awesome video, monsters of the week are some of my favorite videos. They always leave me with something to think about.

[@Monorat]

Dude this video was one of your best by far, the dialogue you had was some of the best innermonologue retrospection noise ive ever heard.

[@swimmyswim417]

Man, this game tripped me up. As soon as I started the forest sequence, all I could think was “I know this place.”

[@AmeNyappy]

I feel like sharing this for some reason; but I find your voice so calm and soothing. Since I found your channel I find myself waiting impatiently for your next video and rewatching the old ones until the notification pops up. Thank you for taking the time creating this amazing videos and I hope you keep on creating them for many years to come.

[@RagnarRoxShow]

Wow, thank you!

[@Dr.UldenWascht]

As it is the usual custom with your videos, I watched the first 2 minutes, stopped, went and played the game 3 times, came back and watched this video. I am always fascinated by how you manage to explain the settings and the ideas behind and around a game without actually giving away your own interpretations of the events; even when you give us the spoiler warning. Prior to your video, I hadn't heard about a game focusing on paratopic space. Thank you.

[@dorememe8548]

19:04 Immediately recognized the Hannibal scene. Interesting show to give a clip from, as it also explores the strange desensitization that audiences often have to violence.

[@tekmentor]

Probably won't be able to play it because time, but I really like this narrative you create, thanks!

[@Tablis0]

Well, this game is around hour long, so listening to RagnarRox takes around the same time as finishing it...

[@Smilephile]

This video is as long as playing it

[@Stitico1269]

Maybe you could play and finish the game while playing this video in the background

[@TayTayMakesBeats]

@Tekno Pathetic I don't understand your name but I love it.

[@markgregory2746]

It's like 40mins long 😂

[@blimp..]

That corpse in the bed scene that is in mulholland drive haunted me for weeks ugh.... And david lynch continuously shows scenes after that of somebody lying in bed, just from behind, slowly panning across the room and you don't know whether it is the protagonist or that corpse lying there. very eerie stuff. and symbolically meaningful

[@bahamut5608]

Shoot I'm over here using your podcasts while I work and drive. Helping me skip through some shifts going down rabbit holes

[@WhiteBudWidows]

Out of all of your works, the "A Journey Through" series always really left a mark on me. It's such an interesting style, the way you weave things together. The fact that you complete chapters without knowing what will come next, only connecting everything with a loose general idea, that's immaculate. It's like following a neuron's path through the synapses of the brain in written form.

[@RagnarRoxShow]

I like that allegory!

[@BobLogical]

"My go-to stimulus would be either listening to music or audiobooks...which is the perfect opportunity for us to talk about today's sponsor, Audible."

[@zisaletter4602]

ah yes every time i see rust bowl aesthetics i feel nostalgic but that's 'cause i grew up there im like ah..... the train tracks.... the abandoned buildings... that feels familiar unrelated but every time i hear 'wobbles and bean the wonder ducks' it brings me joy. i like to believe that's someone on patreon who just named their account after their pet ducks. i hope that's the case.

[@watarukasai4104]

Love the use of Patlabor 2 soundtrack as an accent to the contemplation of rust and ruin.

[@stadbab]

i just knew when you were going to invoke jarmusch! man knows how to make even a vampire romance feel quiet and mundane.

[@sofaking8646]

I'm going through a manic cycle rn, and trying to get the most done before it wears off. I liked this video before the first minute was over cause I'm getting the meditative state you talk about by organizing literally everything in my apartment.

[@anactualbear5683]

I love videos that you've seen but when it pops up you realize are worth rewatching. I think I've watched this one 3 separate times that way.

[@EmeraldLavigne]

Fuck, calling the rust belt the zone is an unsettling point to make.

[@jesterlogic6886]

This will really take me at least a couple more views to really grasp this… thank you for your works man wow your thoughts really keeps me company

[@Dragoodranite]

i'm so glad you covered this! I loved paratopic and could tell that there was more to the game than what i could see on the surface but didn't know how to dig to find it. Thank you for covering it.

[@binkusbonkus]

I think the odd and specific things that are cut to as if they are memories is very reminiscent of how my ADHD functions, however the jumpcuts remind me of dissociation. In most circumstances it feels like my body goes on auto pilot while I'm looking down at it completely helpless, but sometimes it can feel like a jumpcut in my life where one second I'm slowly getting more and more anxious and then suddenly I'm in a completely different place doing something I don't remember. I think there is something genuinely terrifying about dissociation that they captured in this game, either consciously or subconsciously

[@xeonblue007]

The most detail and thoughtful analysis of Paratopic that I've seen (and I've seen several) very good!

[@TempestuousInquiry]

Every time one of your videos pops up in my subscription list, I get excited. Your videos provide so much thought-provoking content for my day and are surprisingly a source of relaxation for me. Your Journey videos have to be some of my favorite content on your channel. ♥

[@ErinJeanette]

This is seriously one of my favorite channels. Your rule of rose video made me obsessed. I just finished a six hour video of watching the game being played and I'm excited for this one of a game I've never heard of 😍

[@TheSpectator64]

I'm REALLY looking forward to your Darkwood video, an excellent example on how to make a horror game that still scary from beginning to end without jump scares or a bogeyman.

[@Grandmaster-Kush]

Yes, been waiting for you to conquer the Darkwood, looking forward to more Stalker references

[@Werewolf914]

Always love getting new Ragnar videos, the high quality makes this one of the best channels out there, easily top 3 at the very least. Can't wait for the next one, and for another game to get ages to my long list of ones I need to play.

[@FunnySun1212]

I've been somewhat of a long time watcher. I just wanted to say after lurking and never commenting for so long that your videos are so high quality and it just keeps getting better. This is probably one of my favourites of yours. I really like the allusions to ruins and even Stalker and even hauntological pasts. I really just wanted to express how amazed I am.

[@Tayasha]

It should be a crime that your videos are free to begin with. They're incredible and shows so much passion how much work you've put into them. I can't thank you enough for them, especially since you're still applying subtitles as well. Thank you for letting folks like me appreciate your videos to the fullest. Keep up the amazing work, Ragnar!

[@valentimnes]

i can count on my hand the amount of youtubers that genuinely make my day and make me excited when they post a video.. youre one of them. your content is so much fun to learn about, its so satisfying watching a video from you. im really thankful that you take time out of your day to make such great content. stay safe

[@ericlinkevicius8564]

This video is longer than the game. I already love it.

[@davidhasselhoff1634]

I've learned a lot during this video, thanks a lot! Also, this might be the best theoretical analysis of Paratopic on YT to this date. You elaborating on humans creating the zone in chernobyl rather than aliens doing it reminded me of the ingame dialogue at the gas station, where on Steam you can get the achievement "I'm saying it's not aliens" for denying any conspiracy theories. Love how complex the game and history concerning it are.

[@danjenkinson696]

Thanks for the content warning, now I know this video isn’t suitable for miners

[@RagnarRoxShow]

nice one

[@ceresta1732]

This was really engrossing. Every layer peeled back, every image and concept of meditative mystery, all of it fascinating. And finally given a clear and compelling voice through RagnaRox's no-doubt tediously scripted contemplation. This definitely was a journey, and you have my respect sir.

[@HiddenLunarWings]

The only saving grace for 2020 is Ragnar uploading a new video.

[@gio_ordanno]

still don't know why your videos keep making me - feel - and - think - more than usual but I guess I'll keep coming back, huh? thank you a lot!

[@kaninekodiak]

haven't finished the video yet, apologies if he coverwd this already - but one of the hidden meanings im getting from the scene where you play the tape and relive the man's death is the "instant gratification" of drug abuse. people take drugs to feel good, obviously, and the tapes are very clearly a metaphor for a hard narcotic. the shooting initially has a strong buildup. the anticipation and adrenaline as you load the gun, make your way to the back, bust the door down, aim and pull the trigger. the man dying a bloody death is the climax, the payoff, the thing you were working towards and the gratification from putting in that preparation and work beforehand is evident as you stand over his body. however, when you play the tape, the only part you get to see is that aftermath, that climax, that instant gratification without putting the work in. and this is why most people take drugs - for one reason or another, putting the work into getting that feeling of gratification is impossible, so they turn to the easier solution, and at first it's just as good. but then the more you play the tape, the less impact it has on you, until you finally feel nothing. you are desensitized to the gratification. thats probably not what its meant to represent, but i found the parallel really interesting, plus fitting with the themes of drug abuse, mundanity, and desensitisation. ..i was also going to make a joke about "shooting up", but i couldn't fit it into my pretentious rant without it sounding silly.

[@ncrranger6327]

I just love your videos. It brings a flow of thoughts, transpiring smart writing that's it's conscise, makes sense, beautiful. It was one joyful, cheerful journey, and I loved it, and I must endorse the compliment; your writing, your friend editing, they're a golden shower on modern KZbin, and for that i'm grateful.

[@awkwardity5615]

What a brilliant video again from you. I kept thinking of Roadside Picnic and then actually cheered when you brought it up. It's always a treat to watch and learn from your videos, they have this unique essayistic quality while having so much substance that I keep thinking about the points you connect for many weeks later. Paratopic isn't the type of game I'd pick up myself, but this was a great way to catch a glimpse of what looks like a seriously unique game.

[@ImpishCreations]

The Drive comparison is so apt here. I know Hotline Miami was supposed to a love letter to what you remember from that movie but this game feels like a homage to the parts you forgot.

[@shramp5994]

wow ragnar, thanks again for a great video! Paratopic is one of the few games that really stuck with me even after I finished it, a relief to see others felt that pull as well!

[@MediKlip]

41:49 I know that building. It’s in South Buffalo. I used to row along the Niagara River for my school crew team a few years back. Let me tell you those rotting grain mills are strewn across the entire river I used to row on every single day. Nothing like seeing the husk of a once vibrant industry everyday when you’re spending most of your hours mulling over your post-academic future. That forgotten rust belt vibe is probably an unconscious part of why this game kinda clings to my memory. Those car rides mimic the ones I took in and out of the city every day. I know the game is trying to make you feel uneasy there but that vibe is actually kind of comforting to me, as sad as that may be. I don’t really know what I’m on about anymore so I’ll just stop myself before I have a whole essay on my hands.

[@JesusGarcia-yr9wg]

Ahhh I really do admire your insight. Your scripts are so well written out and the production of your videos is something that I cannot find anywhere else. I sincerely thank you for what you do, I get so much pleasure out you sharing your thoughts and sharing new creations that I might have missed. I really do look forward to what you create next, you are amazing Ragnar and I also appreciate those who help you to create such amazing content!

[@patrickhiggins3304]

I just have to take a second and tell you that your writing and narration are spectacular. They improve with every release and may be what I look forward to most. I love your analytical approach to the video topics, but instead of just spewing your claims and evidence, you weave a beautiful poem that is pleasant to experience and supports your opinion. It’s because there is so much substance to your thesis and the time and effort you take shows. There is such a good flow throughout your videos, and while the excellent editing helps the flow, it is your writing that really excels your content. I look forward to each release and cannot wait to see what you have in store for the future! Thank you for all of the quality content.

[@tkcreus730]

It's always a treat to listen to your interpretations. Great video as always.

[@amazemek]

I never heard of this game, and to be perfectly honest, I would never have thought of anything of what you brought up in this video. Which is exactly why I love hearing your analysis, it's such a refreshing take on things, thank you for taking the time to share!

[@joshy-noha]

Quality content oozing man. Love your writing and narration. OH, and since you talked about the zone and stalker, could you make a video about the stalker series of video games someday?

[@zaratustra00]

Love The Cinematic Orchestra music at the beginning :) love your productions, especially the recent ones!

[@xyz7572]

These are my favourite videos of yours, I’ve watched them several times. They feel profound in a way that few things I’ve found on KZbin do. I really do appreciate you for sharing your thought with us; you’re very well-spoken.

[@LiminalMan777]

Wow, this was incredible. Your writing has always stood out as exceptional, but this video was something else. It was an absolutely joy listening to this dissection of humanity.

[@odedil87]

Iv'e been following your content for a while and you, good sir, are inspiring. I just nerded out to my gf about what an awesome thing it is when games invoke a feeling usually explored in other mediums, but in ways only games can, because of this piece. Your videos just explore so much of that and it always fills me this with a glee I cherish, not to mention your editing (as spontanous as it is in what you described in the end) is getting better and better. Thank you so much for this masterpiece.

[@GardenBoat]

I'm so happy I have a new video from you to get completely entranced in

[@rockbottom7041]

I love the journey through games you do and I love listening to them and falling into the experience as you describe it. BUT!! Im especially excited about the Darkwood video you mentioned, I’d love if you made a video on it

[@KyNiDo]

The best part of this game AND your video is after playing through the game and watching your video, much like your experience with Lynch films, I feel like I now somehow know less about everything. I'm going to replay Paratopic a few more times, as there were scenes in your video here I hadn't seen yet an dI look forward to working out how to find them. Thank you for the incredible content :)

[@rvfiasco]

Good Job, Bud. I like the way you broke everything down. It def was a meditation. Looking forward for your new work. I dig it.

[@MrMetalforever5]

It’s still shocking that this game got a Switch port, but hey, it finally let me buy and play it, so I’m definitely not complaining.

[@acadia5898]

you make an hour fly away so effortlessly. your channel helps so much with my studies

[@17vmrivas]

Darkwood next!

[@Krutamuzyka]

Yep, this would be great.

[@17vmrivas]

@@Krutamuzyka would be awesome!!

[@zerotwo6814]

Having recently watched a playthrough of it, I'm definitely very excited for that video to come out.

[@kukicu]

While i agree with you mentionning chernobile in this context, the thing was not that they played with something (nuclear fission) dangerous in itself, but that their terrible engineering fueled by political greed bypassed very basic security checkpoint. Fukushima has a similar story. Nuclear reactors if properly managed are fundamentally the safest option to produce energy, and media constantly pushes forward the idea that anything nuclear is dangerous (green radioactivity symbol etc., MRI literally had to change name cause people are scared of the name NMR), and it annoying cause the way things are going we're all going to die if we don't use cleaner energy sources.

[@barlotardy]

I don't even play video games, but your presentation is so good that I watch these anyway.

[@Frenchfraeis]

Awesome video as always! I did also enjoy these not quite "blackout" moments while driving as well. I'd be able to pay attention as usual, but I knew I was letting my brain drift away in thoughts while driving, which definitely made the drives faster. I do the same when riding the train and even walk as well, since I'm not a fan of distracting myself with music while out in the world. I rather be aware of my surroundings all the time, lest I fall victim to someone more aware and willing to rob something of mine.

[@anishinaabae]

words can't explain how excited i get when a new video of yours gets released! not only is your content great on a technical level, but the way it's delivered is so soothing and relaxing that it helps my ADHD brain calm down and focus. thank you for all of your hard work, ragnar! it's very much appreciated. :)

[@prabhdeepsingh5642]

Ragnar, plz plz make such video like "Top 10 games to play before you die." 20 would be even better. Just the names will do. No explanations needed because you always suggest the most interesting games.

[@darkcat282]

I would love to see more "Journey through" videos.

[@DeyanStrikes]

I can't even begin to describe how much your videos bring comfort to me, no matter the subject matter. Regardless of the topics discussed within, they always feel like a warm hug.

[@QuantumTelephone]

YES! I was hoping you'd mention drive as SOON as I saw the headshot. Man I love this guy

[@Hargrovius]

I wish i could get a Ragnarox brain when writing assigned essays.

[@hushthecipher]

MARGARET THATCHER

[@entropino9928]

Oh MT I wish you were here

[@staubig]

DING DONG THE WICKED BITCH IS DEAD

[@RagnarRoxShow]

TOO BAD, TOO BAD

[@jasonfenton8250]

Too bad she won't live, but then again who does?

[@Rinoscope]

Yay, another hour to spend in the company of your buttery smooth voice, I'm a happy camper. Thanks for the content RagnarRox, always appreciated!

[@rextgun2613]

bought it! i had already gone 27 minutes in the video though and i regret not going in blind. i dont regret paying for it though since i supported the developers behind that amazing experience! to anyone watching this thinking if they can get away watching the video and experiencing the game with the same impact i would suggest just buying it. this video presents some amazing ideas i would love to play around with in my own interactive experiences, keep up the good work!

[@firstechelon]

Stopped at 7:18 to play the game, brb after. Edit: Bought the game for $2.74 on Switch and played through it. WTF. Continuing video. Edit: Thanks for providing some perspective on it. I can appreciate what it seemed to be trying to do.

[@Goblin4Coin]

I've played through Paratopic multiple times and I've been waiting for someone to make a video on it. I love this game!

[@ZyroidX]

You had my full attention and interest the whole way thorugh, didn't even feel like almost an entire hour long, you were engaging and I actually really liked the splitting up of chapter so it doesn't feel like a mindless information dumb

[@heroina707]

I love your passion for art and games. You speak so eloquently and clearly know your stuff. You also know how to express your opinions on work and while you aren't speaking objectively, you speak in such a way that clearly shows that you have your own taste and style, the opinion clearly comes well informed. Don't change (:

[@bubblybubblegum9209]

Heya! Hope things are good! Excited for the new upload.