The Splendor of the Mundane (Shenmue, Deadly Premonition, Persona 5)

[@Harril8265]

"A great video, don't you think, Zach?"

[@Banfrid]

I never, never write a comment under a video. But I need to write you this, even if maybe you will not see it: this is one of the best video about videogames I have ever seen. You captured a topic which is so important to me, that I want to watch this video again and again. Thank you!

[@MahDryBread]

It's awesome to see you speak so positively about Deadly Premonition! It's my second favourite game and it sucks that so many people just assume it's bad outright.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Yeah it's definitely janky and looked like last-gen even at the time, but I loved the unique gameplay aspects and Twin Peaks-like quirkiness of it all. Just nothing else like it out there!

[@enzinobombolini5369]

What’s your first favorite game? Just curiosity sorry (I’m playing deadly premonition and so far I’m loving it)

[@hemangchauhan2864]

This is also one thing that gamers should also realize when reading up one games or watching trailers. Because the marketing will sell you the "hype" parts of the game, but people should understand that that is NOT what ALL of the game is. Many people misunderstood *Yazuka games* as GTA clones or gangster action game, when it's quite the opposite most of the time.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

It's difficult to get across the feeling of living in a world in a 30 second trailer, I agree. They usually just show off a few landscape shots and some action, it's too bad. I was turned away from Yakuza for years thinking it was another GTA-like game, but I'm so glad I tried out Yakuza 3 back in the day. Love the series now!

[@Bizargh]

You ever meet anyone who you'd reckon needs an education on the Ryu ga Gotoku series, point them to this lad's Your Next Favourite vid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpyxaqKoqpKkebM He sold me on the series' personality in the first thirty seconds (What can I say? I'm easily sold on people getting the kinetically-intense crap beaten out of them with some incredible "Sax 'n' Roll"!) compared to the years it occasionally came up by mostly name to me (I am curious why 'Like a Dragon' couldn't/wasn't used internationally, which would've been the first communication hurdle to overcome), got me absolutely hooked on the incredible music across the franchise, has me eagerly putting these high on the list of the pile of games to pick up alongside a future PlayStation 4 or the next time I get an opportunity to set back up my PlayStation 3 (Although a PS4 Collection for the PlayStation 3 games would not be unwelcome, especially now Yakuza 3's cut-content could make it's comeback since Yakuza 0 brought over it's content with comfortable chuckles rather than uncomfortable fuss), and dearly hoping Hokuto ga Gotoku/Like a North Star & the historical spinoffs like Ryu ga Gotoku: Ishin/Like a Dragon: Restoration will see international releases.

[@galebanbollow]

Deadly Premonition and Shenmue are two of my favorite games.

[@tpotshax8703]

While you were talking about Shenmue I couldn't help but think of Majora's Mask. Every NPC had a schedule that often changed subtly across the three days the game takes place in. I spent so much time just running around town and observing NPC's go about their day. More involved quests like the wedding mask one required particularly involved interaction with several NPC's schedules for all three days to complete. Another game is Transistor from supergiant games. Most of the game is combat encounters with story narrated over the battles or in the brief walks between battles. There are nuggets of normalcy and mundane though. The game has a dedicated hum button. At any point, out if combat, you can have your character stop and hum along with the music in the background. The music in Transistor is fantastic and the hum button is a great way to relax for a minute or two and soak up the games atmosphere. Throughout the game you can vote in polling mechines even though it doesn't really do much, or order a pizza that you eat much later in the game when you take a brief stop at your appointment. This video got me thinking a lot about old, fond memories. Thank you for that.

[@Ludocriticism]

I get a smile on my face anytime a youtube games critic includes closed captions. Even though I hear ya fine, I know a lot of people don't.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

I'm glad you appreciate it. I put up captions for all the scripted videos I make, helps those who know English as a second language, too.

[@Ludocriticism]

Yeah, I do the same. As a bonus for our hard work, it helps KZbin's algorithms :)

[@creaturefeet3036]

Indigo Gaming Leave it to the smaller KZbinrs to think of the minority and do more to make sure they are included. Keep being awesome Indigo!

[@Bell_Matt]

Creature Feet oh, God, stfu. As a minority, this comment is just cringey. How about just make subtitles for everyone to enjoy. Jesus.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Before anyone asks, yes I looked up the pronunciation of Ryo, and if I had attempted to say it correctly, it would have sounded like "Yo", so I opted for the English-ized version a native speaker suggested, "Rio". If you want names pronounced properly, watch those Chinese cartoons, ya weebs!

[@Thuriazs]

I have discovered so many independent essay style video game channels on youtube in the last few days, I'm overjoyed. Happy to report that this one counts among the best. Keep it up!

[@supercomrade5050]

This has always been one of my favorite game mechanics since I was a kid, great video!

[@Rysskylt]

You summarised why I love these life simulator segments so much. It's the mundane that really sells you on the world because it's relatable.

[@MattyStoked]

Absolutely beautiful subject. I'm glad you mentioned The Darkness. I sat with Jenny for AGES in that scene, it really was a magical moment.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Such a great game, between touching scenes like with Jenny and Mike Patton's amazing demon voice, it was one of my favorites on the 360.

[@Rihcterwilker]

I miss playing deadly premonition for the first time. What a experience it was. And about shenmue, everytime that i remember that there's a third game in the making, that puts a smile in my face.

[@Grandmastergav86]

Nice use of the majestic Shenmue OST in this superb video. I've always loved Darts and QTE Title in the Shenmue games. Additionally they boasted some of Sega's greatest arcade titles - Hang On, Space Harrier, OutRun and Afterburner.

[@StoneArkCityRadio]

Love these vids, keep up the good work!

[@CultoftheCyberSkull]

Your work is sublime. Keep making stuff like this and I will not miss an upload!

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Thanks, I'm glad you appreciate my work!

[@nathanvattes6438]

Keep up the great content. Your videos are so well researched and entertaining!

[@SNK_Okami]

I very much like it when games put the mundane activity of generally taking care of yourself into them. It does help solidify that you're not just playing as another run of the mill character, it helps to form a bond.

[@Armaan8014]

I absolutely love mundane aspects in games too! As a solo dev I'm trying to put as much of that in my game as well. Great video :)

[@danmann861]

Weirdly enough, it was Shenmue II that really made me appreciate the mundane nature of Shenmue. I loved Shenmue from the first moment I played it, but Shenmue II made me appreciate what Yu Suzuki and his team were trying to achieve with the first game. It's such a leap going from the quiet mundane locale of Yokosuka to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. You go from a town where you have lived your whole life, where everyone has known you since childhood to a city where you are robbed within the first ten minutes of getting off the boat. It really sank in as to what exactly Yu Suzuki and team wanted to achieve with that first game. Still, you're right; caring for that kitten is a mundane task that I've weirdly remembered ever since first playing the game way back when. Other moments include that quiet moment early in the game where you look at the Cherry Blossom tree outside of the dojo and it cuts to a flash back of Ryu as a child training with his father. A mundane moment that is completely miss able if you don't look for it. But really establishes what that game was trying to achieve with the F(Full)R(reactive)E(eyes)E(entertainment) mantra that it took.

[@egoborder3203]

great video! I was surprised when the Shenmue 1 & 2 remake released recently so many people went so hard on it, saying it wastes so much of players' time. I know they're not for everyone, and you have to be in the mood for something like that, but those games are a treasure!

[@CrimRui]

I guess it's all about the atmosphere. I always love when there are side activities and quiet moments where people do everyday tasks in any kind of game. Like in Grandia where cast eats a meal when you rest at the inn and they chat a bit.

[@creaturefeet3036]

You are one of the best KZbinrs out there no matter what anyone says even despite the lower views, this video was spectacular and I cant wait to see more.

[@gordlord561]

Sometimes it's those little details that can be more impressive than the features of the game, that being said I'm not into those games with modern settings and such unless it's something like Deus Ex where it's not realistic but at the same time feels real... Basically I'm into sci fi or fantasy themes. Great video Indigo, I've never seen a well made video on this style of game which is nice, I love oddly specific game analysis videos like these so keep em coming!

[@gregbrockman1586]

Absolutely your most insightful video to date.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Interesting, I'm glad you thought so. I don't do many "topical" essays like this covering a concept rather than a game, but one day the video title and concept hit me, so I decided to dig into it and see what I could come up with. Also a great excuse to finally play Shenmue. :)

[@gregbrockman1586]

Games like Shenmue definitely require a more patient disposition than most but as you stated, the immersive payoff is far greater. Super Bunnyhop did a similar video called "The Importance of Quiet Time" awhile back, but too few people shine a light on this aspect. I think this is an area where games and film could really benefit from exploring deeper.

[@vcdonovan5943]

Everyone said that about the last video! :-p

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Funnily enough, my last topical essay made reference to the term coined by Super Bunnyhop called the "Virgin Effect". Smart dude, that George.

[@RetroGamingJunction]

If you're a dev or what to be one, please, listen to this guy.

[@Armaan8014]

Yes. Even in the small game I'm making I've added stuff like choosing your outfit for the day and the option to drink coffee (in the cafe where each day starts) as it adds so much to the immersion and atmosphere of the experience :)

[@daringdolphin8238]

This was so good. Pretty surprised and impressed. Great work.

[@bijy91]

Great video man.

[@zumzoom6368]

Thank you for another great video!

[@JConnor0076]

Great video :) really interesting

[@arkham666]

Fantastic work mate. I'm just meal prepping and going over some of your old output. You've given me things to think about for my own game.

[@MrIronJustice]

You hit the nail on the head for sure.

[@Darkmageee]

Omg. All these are my favourite games!!

[@Indigo_Gaming]

It's a pretty eclectic set of games, but it looks like you have a style of games you enjoy!

[@fakenews6133]

Deadly premonition was good.

[@krystalfan]

i know what you meen when i first played yakuza 0 my total play time was like 120 hours 98% of that was from me faffing about with the side stuff in fact one weekend i did nothing but pocket racers for 9 hours

[@Indigo_Gaming]

I love how many time-sink activities are in the game. Sometimes I forget about the whole crime family drama and try to catch all the toys at the arcade!

[@danmann861]

Yeah, 110 hours for me and I loved every damn moment I spent with it. There were a good 4 or 5 nights where I did nothing more than build up my cabaret club and I loved every bloody moment of doing it. That game is one of the best of this generation, by far.

[@ganjaman59650]

GOLEM TIGER

[@trentmitchell1944]

Loved the video, I was pleasantly surprised to hear your video accompanied by whats possibly my favorite track from OCRemix (Amorelle), very good choice.

[@RougaSF]

I consider Deadly Premonition one of my favourite games. I share your points for why the mundane can be so splendid. Also huge respect for taking your time for making quality videos instead of just dumping them out and rushing them. That's a hard thing to do in modern day youtube. You earned my sub, I can learn a lot from you for improving my future videos. Cheers.

[@Wolfsheim23]

This game totally captured the feel of watching Twin Peaks. Much better at this than Alan Wake did. It's crazy and weird and not very good gameplay but the pacing and characters and getting into the story is just great! It just eases you into the world like watching Twin Peaks. It become comfortable eventually.

[@TM-dq5lr]

Bless you for mentioning the couch scene in The Darkness. Until I watched an LP of the game earlier this year, the only scene I vividly remembered about that game was the couch scene because of how genuine and real it felt.

[@deceaseda7x22]

I just finished watching your hour long vid on cyberpunk, never have I been so genuinely intrigued and entertained. The video just flew on by and ever minute was jam packed with informative details and significant historical moments which truly exhibited the Wikipedia of knowledge you posses (thus your credibility as a source to actually learn things from) and the research you do for whatever it is you are making a video for. But anybody can do that (copy wiki facts or borrow from other youtbe videos that did the research already) but YOUR script is very very solid, your ideas and thoughts do not repeat themselves and you keep the show moving forward and taking the audience along with you in a clear consistent pace that is easy to follow. Bravo sir, you deserve every sub you get and I CANNOT wait for when you reach 1 million subs because with talent and skills like yours, it’s only a matter of time. I’m a big fan and will be looking forward to your future videos, keep bringing the QUALITY of your work to the platform please. Very very awesome 👏

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Very kind words, thank you!

[@ipromiseyouiamnotadog5979]

No More Heroes (the first) definitely comes to mind. Travis only desire is to be the top killer in the UAA and to win over the affections of Sylvia. There is a catch though. In order for Travis to climb the ranks he must first pay an entry fee. Enemies don't reward you with enough money to buy your way to the next round. So what do you do? Like in real life you have to get a job and they aren't glamorous either. Pest control, lawn mowing, coconut catcher, pumping gas (yeah that's an actual job) What's more is as you go up in rank so does the difficulty. Tougher enemies means you'll need better training and stronger weapons all of which costs money. Very soon it becomes clear that you're alternating between high-adrenaline action and chore slogging, but all this gives the game a unique definition.

[@hirobeez]

One of my drawing teacher's most repeated lines is "it's all about contrast". And the more I think about art and creation in general, conceptually as well as in the physical world this phrase comes back to me all the time. Silence is also a part of music, light shines brightest amidst the dark, tragedy is even more bitter as you know happiness, peace is desirable because there is war. It's not about what is better or what is good, but that as creators, understanding and leveragin these concepts and their relationships are what defines the greatest.

[@boram1760]

I loved Shenmue for it's "mundane" elements.

[@Kydino]

I really liked your take on skyrim here. It's weird how these little immersive features are slightly lacking there for such a game, that's probably why my load order gets filled with stuff such as wet and cold and frostfall. Doing the mundane really helps accentuate the unreal.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

I agree. The sense of distance is disappearing more and more with open world games, I think you have to have that travel in there otherwise the world feels shallow and gamey.

[@kubeface115]

This is why I don't really enjoy most action or horror movies. They so often try to cram in as much action/gore/violence/sex as possible, without the context given by the contrasting quiet moments and character development. Put some violence in a film or series with lots of character development in it though and suddenly it has emotional weight to it. It's the same with anything really, on a basic level you need the contrast to appreciate the high points. In music many producers use compression to normalise the volume of whole tracks to the maximum they can get away with. What they don't realise is that they lose any quieter moments the music may have had, meaning any contrast is lost and the louder parts lose their context.

[@babyhear]

Hey bro I love you channel it's one the best gameing critique channels on KZbin and I'd say the best production value keep it up man. Don't let the algorithm discourage you that why your views are lower. KZbin is so hack meat, the company I mean. Anyway love the videos don't give up your extremely talented.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Thanks for the pep-talk! I knew this particular video wouldn't do as well as my prior vids since it's not attached to a currently popular title directly, and is instead about a concept present in many games (which doesn't jive with the algorithm as well). But I'm glad a small amount of people are enjoying this at least. Next video should reach a much wider audience.

[@FelixMage]

The more videos of yours I watch the more convinced I am that you would really like Gothic.

[@purgatoriprytania5382]

You're spot on. TV shows, movies, and games all seem to have forgotten the value of varying the pace of delivery and letting the material actually breathe once in a while.

[@keyzack]

Really well described using examples and very clear examples contrast.

[@tomstonemale]

About Shadow of the Collossus, two mundane events that stuck in my memory with the game were 1- spending time on the only beach with waves. 2- Seeing Agro drink from a pond while I was climbing a tree for fruit. In LA Noire, the mundane task of looking through papers to discover a real-state scam. And recently, in Uncharted 4 with Drake messing around in the attic.

[@ler74]

I might potentially get some flak on this because of the differing degree of control given, but this sort of aspect of mundanity used to prop up and make shocking and interesting the more unexpected the more plot and action-oriented aspects of something you see nigh universally it at least one presentation: Visual Novels. Sure it might seem pointless to have hours upon hours of the main character just living their normal, everyday life, but I can't think of any other game presentation that so regularly gets away with so much mundanity even in plot-heavy stories. It makes it all the more unexpected when an, indeed, unexpected development occurs that threatens to change their lives as they player knows it when the player does, in fact, know their life through experience. Plus it can take it a step further than most games can and actually pull the trigger on their life-changing forever somehow with little fear of upsetting the player by a massive marked change what the player can do going forward. This can also, when used to this effect, make the prospect of having to make a hard decision all the more important because you have some idea of not just what is stood to be gained, but what personally the main character stands to lose.

[@Wolfsheim23]

The things you describe in games like these is what makes watching playthroughs from someone like MathasGames so incredibly addictive. He ads context to minor events and mechanics. He immerses you in the world hes playing through by giving reason to little things we normally take for granted in games. His recent playthrough of Outward is really great in this way.

[@Th4tsUp]

great video!

[@creaturefeet3036]

Come to think of it I don't think I've ever seen a video about this subject, Damn Indigo, you smart!

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Awesome news! Just a few days after this video came out, SEGA announced that they're remastering Shenmue 1 & 2 for PC and consoles! twitter.com/SEGA/status/984974525245747200?s=19

[@carlmang3643]

Indigo Gaming Great! I’ll have to give them a go at some point

[@UtushoReiuji]

As someone who'd done a bit of tabletop over the years, I always liked getting bogged down in the trivial and mundane details of stuff from time-to-time. I had a good instance in a 1930s campaign where the PCs were unaware that an elite interdimensional bounty hunter was closing in on them while they were sitting down at a restaurant and arguing about the menu and who should really pay due to most of the PCs having blown all their money and guns, ammo, and bomb. You get this mundane awkwardness leading to a bit of tension and aggravation between the players without knowing some maniac is just waiting to get a shot at them, it's beautiful.

[@TisTheWay]

Just discovering your channel. Thx for all this content

[@NewSaint]

Every time I hear the Persona 5 day BGM I get hit right with the feels.

[@AlienInvasionDefenceSystem]

Shenmue is one of my favorite games ever. Happy to see it get respect.

[@ytubeanon]

I was looking for any recent videos related to Deadly Premonition and this showed up... it must take a special understanding of "gamification" for developers to turn mundane activities into memorable moments, wish there were more of them like SWERY... after spending some time in VR I think this secretly a huge unexplored key area, people who play Skyrim VR often talk about the experiences between events being fun... I want something like 'Deadly Premonition 2 VR'

[@DemienC.]

"I wish they still made roleplaying games like they used to. These days it's all 'big choices' and 'visceral combat.' I miss those old games where you had to remember to drink water, and *it took you five hours real time to fly somewhere!*" - Mass Effect, Game Shop at Citadel.

[@Armaan8014]

Try Kingdom Come Deliverance! :)

[@Riippa_]

Good points. Great video!

[@analoglee]

I was wondering what was lacking in Road Redemption, compared to my memories of Road Rash, and that's it : the moments of calm in the bar talking with the other riders, and in the shop, admiring the cool bike I wanted to buy but couldn't afford yet, not before breaking some more skulls in demented races ! Road Redemption is a little too much non stop.

[@Nocturn3]

I liked getting drunk in yakuza. The liquor descriptions and presentation of the bottle and your glass were awesome. Woulda loved that for food. ...too bad it was gimped in 6.

[@Bizargh]

It was one of the things I absolutely adored about Wolfenstein: The New Order. When settled into the new 1960, the action could find a break when returning to the Kreisau Circle's hideout, where you're given a simple objective that players keen to resume to the adventure could usually quickly complete, but granted the opportunity to overhear conversations from your comrades if not Berlin's residents if sent into the city's waterworks, check in with the residents from Max to J or Tekla or the Konzentration Prisoners you freed or observe the many details of the homely environment from pinned up newspaper articles detailing events that occurred as the New Order established itself across the world to the little things characters did to make their hideout their home. Not everybody was too big a fan of the game applying a not-always-optional brake on the intensity (And the lack of The New Colossus' quick-save system probably made it a little more tricky to enjoy it at a thorough yet controlled pace), but it was these more mundane moments that gave the game opportunity to provide humanity, character exploration & world building the adventure in action may not otherwise have provided an opportunity for (Certainly far more than I expected a Wolfenstein game could ever have), and gave said extreme carnage and the moments of horror all the more intensity & thrill. The Old Blood wouldn't feature such a similar thing, but in it's more continuous adventure, would still walk that balance between outrageous silliness & grounding heartbreak surprisingly well (And boy did Mick Gordon's take on 'The Partisan' perfectly encapsulate the blood-boilingly vengeful rage & hopeless sorrow I felt during the expandalone). I am somewhat less enthusiastic about how much Wolfenstein: The New Colossus embraced this with the Eva's Hammer, but I nonetheless was very fond of how every crew member significant or not had a name & voice entirely of their own, making meeting them at the very least meaningful to those who took the time to explore the homely environment (And potentially poignant if they had a story to tell or sadly didn't make it back home), still granting that humanity & grounding to the extraordinary (And The New Colossus certainly was keen to become far less grounded, if not throw it's hardest punches as quickly as it could). After all, we may remember the most action-intense moments scripted or otherwise from games such as Mass Effect, S.T.A.L.KER, Final Fantasy, Ryu ga Gotoku/Like a Dragon (Yakuza), DOOM [2016], Deus Ex, etc. But it's often thanks to the moments of the downtime, the quiet, the mundane or even social that ensures those moments of intensity or the characters that join the player character don't pass us by in a blur, but remain vivid & maybe even beloved in our memory.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

I like when games subtly let you explore more about the story, characters and universe without shoving it into your face. Really enhances the sense of discovery, where you feel you peeked behind the curtain of what was meant for you to see.

[@vcdonovan5943]

Tell me what you know about sailors. I'm looking for sailors. Do you know where I can find any sailors?

[@Indigo_Gaming]

[INVESTIGATION OF CHINESE SAILORS INTENSIFIES]

[@AsianTheDomination]

Excuse me. I am looking for somebody who knows about chinese people. Do you know any chinese?

[@ipointmistakes]

I just became naturalised Chinese

[@Kinos141]

Man, you are on point with this one. However, I wounder why I didn't feel the same way playing GTA's yoga or golf. I think it's because it didn't feel genuine.

[@dusanmeseldzija3882]

Yeah, they just feel tacked on - like the places with mini-games (bowling alley, gym, golf court, yoga class, etc.) and shops are just there because a checkbox had to be ticked about what a GTA game should have, and not what the city the game is set in would naturally have as a distraction or a job for the people that live there, or what kind of historical/cultural significance said place would have, no matter how mundane it is - or what the character(s) you play as might naturally do in their spare time between main quests or if they might unexpectedly progress their main quest through a seemingly mundane side activity. That's why Shenmue and the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series are superior to GTA and similar games that more strictly copy the GTA formula - they know when to focus more on simple world building than the plot, and when to prioritize the story, while giving players a lot of varied and interesting things to do that the character(s) they are playing as might naturally do, thus immersing them a lot more in the game's world and the story.

[@harryyang7928]

This is very interesting, is this lost of mundane activities that in a way explore character personalities the reason why I feel the newest Twin Peak series kinda lost it's maigc?

[@xmen123ist]

5:03 Is that a Zeppeli I see?

[@Maggerama]

Oh, I remember living through Quest For Glory 1&3, best days of my life.

[@Brunoki22]

This video is so intriging yet so underrated! I need to share this with my friends, because thie has no right to be as good as it is! I mean, look a the topic: mundane stuff in video games. Who would care about that? I personally do, and that's what hooks me about it. Someone actually made a video about this topic. Who'd have known? It got me even more curious about the whole need for daily activities in entertaiment media. Who came up with this concept thinking it was a good idea? And why is it so crucial? Tell me @Indigo Gaming, what made you want to look this info up? And what sources did you use?

[@Indigo_Gaming]

This was a more personal topic that had been brewing in my mind for a few months, especially after replaying Shenmue and Deadly Premonition. I just wanted to make a love letter to the quieter moments in games. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@violetnop4345]

it's super noble to hide it at the bottom but I firmly believe if you put your patreon link in the first chunk of the description (before having to click "show more") you'll start to net some more $ per month. you've got an interesting channel in your hands, stay consistent with it and you'll probably be pretty surprised where it can go even within a year or 2 thanks for all effort you put into your content

[@the_vintage_feeling]

The port town of Anvil, Cyrodiil. The Great Chapel of Dibella, where followers of the Nine Divines come to seek her blessing. The large stone buildings with the splendidly decorative facades and stylish shutters house . The vibrant market, meeting place for friends and customers. Suddenly, a storm hits. My character manages to find shelter under a house's veranda. First, the clouds produced thunderous music. The raindrops followed; falling upon the rough surface of cobblestone streets. Just before the storm ended, the wind joined it in a spiral dance. And then, silence. The last sun rays. The sea surface painted orange and purple, paving the way for the coming of the night. Only gaming can highlight the allure of the mundane. Thank you for this video, Indigo Gaming.

[@Armaan8014]

[@KingDaveth]

*DAMN* FINE CUP OF COFFEE!! ^_^

[@tyfyghtr]

This is something I always appreciate in games, and is something I think Cyberpunk could really benefit from. I can only hope that patches and DLC or at the very least mods can add a bit of that in and up the immersion.

[@prowlingmonkey]

I always want the most out of the setting, be it a video game or any other form of entertainment (maybe even life in general). Some will call it filler, but it is my favorite part sometimes. Take Dragonball Z/Super for example. The episodes that gave me the most feels, aren't actually when they are fighting, I like Gohan's first day in public high school, and the start of 'Super' where Goku is a farmer and Goten and Trunks pick out a wedding gift for Videl. The longer you are with a character the more you want to know the mundane aspects about them.

[@Wade.K.Savage]

Incredible video and one of the core things many modern games don't focus on. Also, I'd love to know what you thought of RDR2, given that this game uses mundane tasking to buff the player character.

[@mordaciousfilms]

I wish more games were mundane, well-paced and immersive. I like Shenmue for that reason. I am not that great at combat or fast-paced shoot-em-ups as my hand-eye coordination is shit. But I love the more exploratory nature of some of these games that makes it feel more real and enjoyable. I literally cheered when Ryo found the location of Warehouse 8 and hopped a bus... because the buildup was so paced-out and intricate. It's not about constant action for me, that just becomes tedious and stressful and takes me out of the experience - there's no emotional connection there.

[@sync232]

Holy smokes make a series about Yakuza!

[@smurfsareoppressed9584]

I’m kind of surprised that Bully didn’t get mentioned.

[@Noder]

8:22 The Darkness was highly under-rated! and that scene where you watch TV with your girlfriend was one of very few things I remember about it! I was upset about the sequel - a stock standard... videogame.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

I liked them both, but far prefer The Darkness 1.

[@Noder]

@@Indigo_Gaming well I am being a bit hyperbolic, D2 is a fairly good game on its own merits. Really enjoying your videos. Great work.

[@stalkerlohh]

Please tell me that the deus ex series video is coming soon ???

[@stalkerlohh]

on topic, downtime is so important...like look at the new far cry game...that game has 0 downtime...you cant even ride along the road for minute and relax and take in the scenery...always some shit happening...to much imo. great video once again , thanks.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

I am planning to do a video that will feature Deus Ex 1 & 2 more prominently this year. Not my next video but in the near future. Probably as part of an overall retrospective of Ion Storm. Thanks for watching, I agree, downtime is very important.

[@muzboz]

Loooooooove me some Twin Peaks.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Indeed! Grew up in Washington, so it holds a special place in my heart as well.

[@vcdonovan5943]

The splendor of the mundane mechanics in video games is a welcome touch in a great many titles, but it is difficult to pull off effectively. For every example in this video, there are a million more "mundane" tasks in video games that aren't so splendid. Selling loot in ar-pee-gees, fetch quests, crafting systems, min/maxing equipment loadouts, repetitive minigames, "dating" and "romance" simulations and countless more examples amount to nothing more than inane b*tchwork. Given how trendy the video game business is, I suspect we might see developers try to adopt their own ways of selling these sorts of mundanities in future titles as their way of trying to hop onto the "me-too" band wagon, especially after Squeenix might have gone and made it mainstream in FFXV. I foresee many games utterly failing at this, which will put a swift end to the novelty. It's also an ironic 180 reversal from the obsessive focus on ZOMG 'SPLOSION!! set pieces and over-the-top scripted theme park ride action of the Call of Dooty and Uncharted variety.

[@bitnev]

Хорошо.

[@whabmedia9288]

Do you know name of game like shenmue style ?in ps4

[@Indigo_Gaming]

Shenmue 3 came out on the PS4. That's an option.

[@crozraven]

- Witcher 3: taking a stroll riding with roach, goes into the village, into a local tavern for a cup of drink, interact with local NPCs & play another round of gwent. - Trails of Cold Steel Series: School & free weekend time between each chapters that full of actions. Exploring school & town, interact with friends & other NPCs. helping some totally mundane stuffs that normal high school students do, even sometime a special awkward dates with your waifus LOL. Not only you felt living in, but you're more than likely very invested with the characters as this everyday scenes lives actually improve in knowing their life's story & etc. I think the problem with FFXV mundane stuffs felt like a chore & undeserving to me are because it's feels artificial & nothing really developed. It lacks of details as you felt de javu feelings with every stations & camps feels so alike, even down to NPCs assets & radio musics, etc. It's just awful imo in world building as its lost the uniqueness of random little details & almost non existent lore.

[@DennisMHenderson]

8:01 Da Bounsoh was originally meant to be more like shenmue + FF including destructible environments etc but if anyone remembers the PlayStation 2's reputation at the time for being the shittiest console to develop for since the saturn, it was scaled back to being a playable alpha of what turnt into kangdump hortz

[@BraTheEle]

You would love FF15 lol. I did. I bet you would make a bad ass RPG man.

[@BraTheEle]

Okay nevermind you played it lmao

[@АннаШипек-к1ц]

Just show this vid to CDProjekt

[@bryal7811]

Harvest Moon

[@danielscott70x7]

I love this video, and it absolutely inspired me to set out to create my own episode on my podcast about the mundane in video games - why I’ve always been so fascinated by it and why I think it’s so important. If anyone is interested, I’d be honored if you’d check out my episode on this subject as well: you can find it in your podcast listener of choice under The Gaming Journal. *If this is not okay for me to share this on here, please let me know and I’ll delete it promptly!*

[@northsouth1256]

You should review Detroit Become Human

[@XxXVideoVeiwerXxX]

premonition and persona are not as mundane as shenmue.....

[@Elgar337]

So you're saying karaoke in Yakuza is a mundane activity? BLASPHEMY!

[@MrBerndderboss]

What's a spoler?

[@MidlifeCrisisJoe]

The Yakuza/Like A Dragon series is the one that to me, strikes the right balance between mundane every day activities and extreme video game-ness. Shenmue dwelt just a bit too much on the boring parts of life and got bogged down by them, while the wild lives of the former gangsters with extreme martial arts ability in the Yakuza games adds that much needed contrast. It's absolutely no surprise that a lot of the people who started the Ryu Ga Gotoku team that makes the Yakuza games had worked on Shenmue 1 & 2.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

When playing Shenmue for the first time after only playing the Yakuza games, I was amazed at how similar their DNA were. But you're right, Yakuza is a lot more "fun" and exciting, whereas there's a lot of downtime in Shenmue. Still, it has one of the most lively and interesting virtual worlds of the Dreamcast generation.

[@ganjaman59650]

It's funny how people never talk about the bad sides of shenmue, like that real time hours long trek you are forced to do, yakuza is so much better for the activities ans sub missions. Shenmue is ruined by problems.

[@alluvialedaempfer962]

Shenmue was great but the forklifting job as well as taking care of crates was awful. It was the result of devs flexing muscles to show what can be done with the tech available at the time, it added nothing to the game.

[@N.A.M.LazyCloud]

Lol dude are you seriously talking-up Deadly Premonition. Was this video a week-late April Fool's joke?