Sable is an (Almost) Perfect Game | Static Canvas

Sable is one of the best games noone is talking about right now. A powerful, introspective adventure in the desert that bucks a lot of design conventions found in contemporary open world games. This video looks at some of the ways it shuns certain design philosophies and how those decisions overall made a better game.
Music is from the Sable soundtrack by Japanese Breakfast, and can be found on most streaming sites.
Static Canvas is written, recorded and produced by Thomas Ife

[@f16madlion]

This is one of my all time favourite games, i’m so in agreement about your comment on the climbing upgrades trivialising, i also did not find it until late in the game and some of the climbing feats were incredibly rewarding, even without the floating like at the start I could have played it like that as well (admittedly it would limit the environment design a bit)

[@GeneralCanada]

Nice video, couple points I wanted to make based on some of your comments. 1. I think another issue alongside the vehicles and chum eggs upgrades (which is find funny because that was one of the first things I found) is the currency system which serves little purpose or meaning 2. The masks serve an interesting reward as each player will enjoy different aspects of the game. It gives the player a sort of physical manifestation of the activities they enjoy. I choose the climbing mask because it was my passion in this game, whereas others may connect to something I didn't such as collecting scrap. This of course connects to your video and vibing in the desert. 3. This game challenging the colonialist gaze was a quick point but is something important to consider when thinking about game design 4. The one thing I do have to disagree with however is this games challenges. I felt for the most part they were really simple and only on rare occasions did I feel challenged. As much as I wish I did, this also wasn't completely detrimental as it tied in with the introspective themes of the game. Overall great video though, love your narrative style and I wish more people would talk about sable

[@WhiteEagle8888]

There is no other game like Sable. It is literally a liquid painting, a novel, and a video game in one. Sable IS in itself, what has been missing from every video game in the history of gaming. There is no other game in which the day/night cycle and the color shift it brings so perfectly encompasses the sheer beauty of the whole world. A Masterpiece without equal.

[@SuperHuman37]

If you haven't already, then I must recommend: Okami

[@WhiteEagle8888]

@@SuperHuman37 Played it, wasn't my thing tho, but thanks for the recommend :)

[@dertyp3463]

I also really liked the game. It's simple, refreshing and doesn't tryhard to please the masses. I liked the complete lack of combat and violence for a change. Albeit glitchy here and there the cellshading artstyle is timeless and will always look gorgeous. The glider physics could have used a bit more attention though. All in all a beautiful work of art and I'm glad that I gave it a try

[@nuggetsschumaker4371]

2:15 seals the deal. Look at that sun and the shadows. Holy freaking hell, it's astonishing.

[@ehkoin]

This is the best video on Sable that I've watched. Maybe it's because your words most closely captured my feelings on the game. Maybe your analysis is just the best. Whatever the reason I'm glad to have stumbled upon this channel like Sable stumbling upon ancient ruins. As far as the bike goes I agree with the idea that the stat changes definitely made the bike feel less like my own. I had the look I wanted with the stats I wanted but it no longer felt like the same bike that I started out with. The stamina increases however i think are a little more mixed. You're right when you say it cheapens the experience of climbing a bit but it also opens up the freedom I have as a player. Suddenly I can climb just about anywhere I want and my reward for exploring and collecting eggs is the ability to explore more. That's something I really liked and sacrificing the catharsis of barely-made climb was worth it to me. The game just got an update yesterday as of writing this so it's a great time to revisit the game.

[@randombrony5434]

I know this is a year old but what's the fun of an essay without engaging with it as a reader / listener? I agreed and loved all of your points and perspectives except one- The bike cosmetics. For me finding the perfect cosmetic that felt like it matched my personality was critical. As much as I loved the basic design I enjoyed very much growing with my bike, each vendor having a piece I wanted to see and experience, to discover if it felt right or not. Eventually I found the perfect combination of parts, and absolutely fell in love with Simoon. The connection between Sable and Simoon the game constantly spoke of I finally began to realize in my final hours with the game as I rode over the dunes with a bike that felt like my own. I felt bad when Simoon would yelp in pain from a sharp turn and a crash, I'd feel joy seeing her appear over the sands as I exited a ruined tower from a different angle, and I felt utter sadness knowing that she wouldn't always be mine. And for me, that's a rather big aspect.

[@deaconblue-aja4864]

I love this review! I personally found great enjoyment in the upgrades to my stamina, less so in the search I made to find the chum eggs. For me, long after I had finished every quest the game had to offer; I would turn on an audio book and wander the desert. I'd find some big rock or cliff, and push myself to climb it somehow, using up my stamina and playing with small glitches that allowed me to rest at intervals. With this I was able to conquer nearly every rock in the map; even climbing the great barrier wall around the map's edge. I understand your criticism of the ability to upgrade stamina, but still I am at least glad it was present for me to have those moments of conquest over the map and my own self made challenges and climbing puzzles.

[@Beryllahawk]

Lovely, and very eloquent too. I just finished Sable a week ago myself, and though there were points at which I was greatly dismayed (the Wyrm) and others where I was intensely frustrated (my first hour in the game as I failed to read LOL) the overall experience was extremely thought provoking, fascinating, and most importantly fun! I really didn't want to return from the Gliding at all, honestly. I will disagree on a single point. I really liked the Chum Eggs, hehe. It scratched my "collect all the things" itch, honestly, and I did not at all mind the upgrades. Not everyone plays the same of course, and for myself there's just a line beyond which "challenging" becomes "infuriating" and stops being fun; a point beyond which completing the puzzle isn't even satisfying anymore, it just makes me roll my eyes and go "finally I can stop." So for my own skill and patience, those upgrades opened up more of the world. Great video nonetheless, glad I found this!

[@lyinginertia]

Great video! Amazing narration that's very immersive and pleasant on the ears. The beginning part gave me VaatiVidya or MyelinGames lore-esque vibes which I absolutely loved. Definitely subbing!

[@benivory3258]

Perfectly made video man, can’t believe it’s not more popular.

[@MattCiccarelli]

Magnificent narration and great points, as always! Keep up the great work :)

[@arachnedoesnotknit]

Oh, I am finding your take on the ludonarrative significance of the bike part swapping interesting! I had had a different experience of that element; I saw in it something similar to your caveat that it works "hand in hand" with some of the central ideas of the game--but instead of going too far for me, it felt like it completely harmonized. For me, I saw in the game a thread of trying on new identities, seeing what new experiences fit. The notion that we as players couldn't change the name of our characters, "Sable" and "Simoon," was all I needed narratively to have that key idea that there IS something core, central, a keystone to identity, but that so much else about our experience of self and our relationship to the world is open to change. That Simoon, too, is trying on identities on this Gliding, and that they are just as deep (or superficial?) as Sable's. I am fascinated that this element landed so differently for us. Thank you for that perspective!

[@leya6063]

Such a perfect video. One can tell how much you love this game. I played it two times already and both times it meant so much to me.

[@alien5589]

I bought this game a few days ago and 100% it on my first play through in 19 hours. The pacing was amazing. as soon as I was getting tired of the game loops, I’d finished everything. Highly recommended

[@malachyclendenning6389]

This was wonderful!

[@BongoBaggins]

What an extraordinary review.

[@glitchygoose2492]

This is such a great video about this wonderfull game! good stuff

[@ThePowerRanger]

This game is beautiful, I loved every second of it.

[@datamouth]

anyone having issues fishing? in some areas the framerate is so bad i get stuck in the fishing mini-game without being able to exit. also the merchants seem to stop having items, but i read online that is a bug in the game.

[@RolSinIdentificar]

A wonderful video :) Thank you for sharing! In the end, I was wondering how the experience would have been if we had encountered other gliders like us in the desert... It may have enriched the experience or it may have made it more ambiguous. I really don't know.

[@LilayM]

Awww, lovely

[@warrenbadial2838]

Almsot perfect except for the fucking frame rate , still platinumed it

[@davidsabillon5182]

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