Strangeland | Chasing Shadows | Scarfulhu

[@MahNoseIsMelting]

By the way, Rotta is finnish for a rat. Makes sense, since he has split into different rats and what not.

[@Scarfulhu]

I love all these extra little details people have been able to fill in for me. That's rad!

[@regularshowman3208]

Something cool that you missed is that you can actually solve the Teratoma puzzle more than one way. I didn't realize it was a Simon Says puzzle, and instead I fed one of its mouths a piece of meat. Got stuck, went to phone, and the hint guy said something like "Do you think you only needed to feed *one* of Teratoma's mouths?" Turns out that if you feed all of its mouths meat, it'll give you the eye. The game even does something cool by automating the process past the second time you do it since by then you've obviously figured it out and there's no reason to make you do it one meat at a time.

[@WormwoodStudiosGames]

Thank you so much for covering Strangeland!

[@Scarfulhu]

Thank you guys for making it! I can't wait to play your next game. (I also can't wait to finally get around to Primordia.)

[@Saxdude26]

As weak as my constitution and stomach can be, this is definitely going on my backlog. Always in the market for more point-n-clicks, as are my parents (Mum loves Machinarium, for example)

[@WormwoodStudiosGames]

(Incidentally, replaying with annotations and commentary explains the various references/allusions/real-life bases for things in the game.)

[@Scarfulhu]

@@WormwoodStudiosGames Ooh, I ought to give that a look!

[@Powered1Buttercup]

@@Saxdude26 I remember playing Machinarium, it was so fun!

[@casanovafunkenstein5090]

It's interesting to see how much this game takes almost directly from Dark Seed 2 (the carnival, the dead girlfriend, the dark world, the hall of mirrors and the dark inversion of the self all directly map onto it) but rearranges those elements to tell a much more emotionally resonant story. I think that it's quite interesting to see flawed games with interesting ideas being reinterpreted like this, learning from the original's missteps and producing something distinctively different and worthy of standing on its own.

[@shadowrider9735]

The reason why Teratoma in Deadland becomes lots of little versions of the Stranger is, well...Teratomas in real life are tumours formed of multiple different types of tissue, like hair, bone or teeth, typically arising from germ cells - the cells that develop into egg or sperm cells. I figure it's an extraporlation of the cells that are the very progenitors of new life can also grow into something extremely groteseque, which is nice I suppose. Teratomas are gross and I would not recommend looking up images of them!

[@sarafontanini7051]

anothr possible interpretatin is the woman is the stranger's therapist, or someone trying to help guide the stranger through.....whatever's going on wth him (youcould make the arguement other characters like Mumur or the giant Bug could also be that, given the bug's verbose explanation behind what an imago is, but anyway). She dies constantly because the stranger is scared that he's hurting her by needing her to help him and so thinks he's burdening her. He IS told numerous times by his enemy that he destroys everything he touches, after all. When he finally finds her, she's very reassuring and tells himshe's not the light, the light was inside him. Could be seen as while she was helping him, ultimately he's the one who can choose his fate and its up to him whether to continue his therapy and his life or to give in to his darker thoughts. I dunno about that last bt though, could be read a bit too negatively than I intended.

[@pkartkat1306]

Wait, a Scarfthulu halloween video in time for halloween??? IT CAN HAPPEN

[@Saxdude26]

It's a Nightmare Before Christmas miracle!

[@MegaHasmat]

I actually got the phone number immediately, because Murmur calls you "wanton one" throughout the game and after he says the numbers you can talk to the bird and it'll say "what were those numbers about? 431 something?" And I remembered the missing person poster with those numbers on it

[@Scarfulhu]

Nicely observed!

[@Saxdude26]

"Oh no that was Dog Deletion Juice" Dammit, why does that tickle me so?

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

make it a thing internet

[@Numino0708]

There is also clearly some norse mythology references, like Valkyrie and murmur that is a wise talking head, Golden haired women, and a snake dripping proisen down

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

Wish the Earth ensnaring Snake son of Loki was used somehow too

[@Mother_boards]

Making the wings out of gold is also hinted to by Murmur, just before he dies. "You will need fire, and spirits, and golden wings." Very clearly hints for what you have to do immediately after that point in the game.

[@Scarfulhu]

Also true - that's why I made sure to include that line in the vid.

[@richmcgee434]

The golden hair and "Murmur" are both pretty clear Scandinavian myth references too. Mimir is the wisest of the gods of the Aesir, beheaded by the Vanir, and Sif is known for her artificial locks of literally golden hair.

[@Scarfulhu]

@@richmcgee434 Fits well with the rollercoaster being the 'Valkyrie'.

[@richmcgee434]

@@Scarfulhu Whole thing's laden with myths by the look of it, mostly Scandinavian. Although Gershom's Hebraic, as you noted, the snake-thing in the tree is suggestive of both biblical Eden refs and Loki's imprisonment under a venom-dripping serpent. Given that Fimbulfambi is the Great Fool and Loki is a trickster, aka a fool, I'm leaning toward the latter.

[@Saxdude26]

@@Scarfulhu I'll admit, my brain thought golden hair and Valkyrie too. Great word association in this game.

[@doodledibob]

Within 24 hours, we've got Scarfulhu, Accursed Farms, and Mandaloregaming all put out Halloween themed videos. Truly, the best holiday.

[@Inquisidorcat]

Starfish is clearly a friend of AM

[@Wulff20ko]

I know this is late but some additional detail with the woman that further hints towards illness is her hair falling out with her finally being found bald before the LeChuck style fight with the dark one. That fallen out hair being used as symbolism for the light in the darkness and how as an illness progresses it takes more and more of the person that once was and leaves them hollower by some accounts. Finally the form the dark one takes to catch you is a giant crab… so Cancer.

[@animeator]

Right. Now I need to get this game. Wadjet Eye sure know how to find the bizarrely beautiful.

[@WormwoodStudiosGames]

Hope you like it! It's on sale at the moment!

[@animeator]

@@WormwoodStudiosGames ooooh. Well then. If it's half as amazing as it looks, I am a happy man.

[@richmcgee434]

Heh. I knew "fimbul" already from fimbulwinter, but "fambi" is a useful addition to my vocabulary. I await the opportunity to describe some nitwit as a fimbulfambi in the future.

[@romulusnuma116]

There are no bad dogs just good dogs in bad situations

[@UberMan5000]

As soon as I saw Wadjet Eye Games was involved, I turned this review off and went to play this game first, so it wouldn't be spoiled. Scarfulhu can make me interested in a game *before* he's reviewed it! Mad skills, there. I'm surprised he hadn't mentioned the various Norse mythology parallels in the game. Off the top of my head, I noticed: • An old, blind guy under a tree, who knows everything, who eventually has one good eye, • two talking ravens following you around, • a fortune-telling head in a box, • three women with "no faces" that tell you what to do, (I'm not sure about this one, though.) • a beautiful woman who loses her hair and has it replaced with finely crafted gold hair, • someone who's not allowed to die or be meaningfully harmed by anything, • in the second part of the game, the guy under the tree has a snake that drips poison into his eyes, and the only way to stop it is to catch it in a quickly-filling bottle, and empty it into a bowl, • there are a few mentions of the large black dog "eating the sun." There's also a handful of references to Wagner's Ring Cycle (the name Alberich, I think the mermaid is a "Rhinemaiden," the "Ride of the Valkyrie," etc.), as well, though I wouldn't have known that if not for MandaloreGaming's review of the PC game "Ring" the other day. 🤔

[@SergeantQuin]

"Mathew Pathew" is a new one, lol. I always call him "Matrick Patrick."

[@t0mbst0neyt]

I particularly enjoyed when the stranger said "wow this really is a Strange Land" and the entire audience applauded

[@lucas23453]

Spoilers. Eitri died, that Eight Three might live. Man is a multitude. Im beginning to suspect Eight Three and Eitri are representations of the strangers creativity, perhaps Eitri was a hobby that he left behind, and Eight-Three was a trade that grew from that hobby. Balm of Gilead is a reference to Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" Where the character asks the raven "Tell me is there balm in gilead? Is there that rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore?" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." Poe is asking the raven "Is my girl waiting for me in heaven?" Only for the Raven to cry "Nevermore." In reply. There is no balm in Gilead, twas a lie, a magnificent lie. No heaven lies beyond for thee or she. Its quite the depressing poem.

[@ChaosDuncan]

Ah yes, a Scarfulhu video on Halloween, truly I am blessed this day

[@FinalFantsia]

The main character sounds like the same VA as Sanitarium. Can anyone confirm if it is? If it's not, it's clearly doing an amazing impression and I think its perfect

[@CaitlynMellark101]

I know this is quite a bit later, but I just looked into it, and they are not the same voice actor! Max was voiced by Frank Shurter, while the Stranger is voiced by Abe Goldfarb.

[@ifgezroxy]

Awesome video! Thankfully I found you again. Lost my account, where I was subbed to you. Just out of the blue remembered your top 10 scary things video, and I can binge your videos for the whole weekend.

[@squeethemog213]

What a strange journey, no pun intended but just wow. Thanks for covering this man 😃

[@donnatello3906]

Somehow I got unsubbed from you like a year ago and didn't realize, I'm so glad I got this video recommended to me, your content is phenomenal and I'm looking forward to watching all your videos that I missed!

[@Powered1Buttercup]

How much did you laugh trying to do the Mike Pollock joke? 😂😂

[@TheGamingBeehive]

I bought it on release day and never regret a single moment. I love the game! Great video as always.

[@davidhylton7528]

Never heard of this game before and the art style looks awesome! Great video as always

[@pagodrink]

I love these types of games, had such a fun time watching you stream and talk about Sanitarium, so I'll def play this

[@fantynoacaso2429]

This is more an intellectual coment than anything, so i've been watching youre video ever since 2017 and i quit don't relly know why, nor even how i stumbled in this channel in the first place, this is not really the kind of content i used to watch back than and yet it has been 7 years were i was allways a silent watcher, so here i am now. I just want to say that i enjoy your video and the way you explain thing, time to time i come to this channel and it cheers up my day

[@FearMonarch]

Damn bro, i never thought id see uploads from you again, welcome back king

[@RyanBeardy]

Wow what a cool looking game! Thank you for covering it!

[@Esitaro3670]

You could sat that...this game was a rollercoaster of emotions!

[@JerichoDeath]

Never really liked the whole "it was all a dream" type endings, or "the monster was mental health issues", but that dialogue, those visuals, and BGM tracks... it really sets this game apart.

[@jamesfoster1583]

It’s always a good day when we have a fresh Scarfulhu video

[@thesilverw0lf]

This was a very interesting game, great video! You also reminded me I own Primordia... I tried to play it years ago but it would crash endlessly so I gave up trying, but I should try again.

[@MRDLT00]

20:39 "That's a good call back." 🤣🤣🤣

[@WannabeMarysue]

6:25 Hey, you missed pal!

[@konoikurozora5851]

Never heard of it before, but it looks nice! I didn't play it myself, but judging by this vid, I don't like it as much as I loved Unavowed, but that would be strange, it's one of my favorite point & clicks - if not THE favorite.

[@BrandonCroker]

Certainly strange and Landy.

[@EnordAreven]

Have you heard of Noctropolis?

[@Scarfulhu]

Heard of, not played it.

[@TheTogoRojo]

The main protagonisy sounds EXACTLY like the guy from SANITARIUM.

[@Scarfulhu]

They do have a similar way of speaking.

[@adamvancleave9200]

I got the metal with the meat, so you don't really need to die to the dog. Don't think it changes anything though.

[@huhneat8908]

This game is pretty cool! Thanks for sharing it with us. I'd give it a go but I'm not big on point and clicks.

[@Scarfulhu]

That's why I do these vids! I know the genre isn't for everyone, but people still get curious about the stories they tell.

[@Zenlore6499]

Oh hell yeah, this looks cool!

[@mugenfightnight1934]

The stranger almost sounds like Adam West

[@robinbrowne5419]

Thanks for the review. Looks like an awesome game with so many things to try and ways to die. And Happy Halloween, Scarfulhu 🎃😱😈💀👻👺👹🤡👽👾🤖

[@NikoPikoo]

Rotta means rat in finnish

[@KanaevM]

This is a great game.

[@zintosion]

What a strange land

[@richmcgee434]

39:25 Real Gates of Moria vibe going on there. What's that password again?

[@ArcRay20]

the voice acting IS good in the game. im just not sure about The Stranger. his acting isnt bad per-se, it just isnt what i was expecting from what i thought was gonna be a depressed, formerly insane, man. he comes off as a less energetic version of your usual quippy point and click protag.

[@TheDeadCobraTheDeadCobra]

This is really cool

[@richmcgee434]

Huh. Black dogs are a symbol of death to me, not depression. Or more accurately an omen of death. They show up as such under many names in European mythology.

[@Scarfulhu]

I suppose there can be more than one meaning. Both of those work here!

[@richmcgee434]

@@Scarfulhu The feral human that replaces it in Deadland probably means something too, but I'm not clear what. The fact that you have to poison it with a tiny copy of yourself is worrisome, whatever it implies.

[@ShadeMeadows]

YESS!!~🎊🎉

[@Jakepearl13]

This dosent look like Disney…

[@patrykzukowski7471]

All I can think of when looking at this game is: Scorn.

[@Scarfulhu]

There are a fair few similarities in the visual department, aye.