Why Paradise Killer is a Perfect Vaporwave Game

It’s time to breathe life back into paradise. #vaporwave #paradisekiller
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(Mild location spoilers for Paradise Killer included, but the game is pretty much unspoilable)
“Comment: Vaporwave and the pop-art of the virtual plaza” by Charlie Jones (Robin Burnett quoted): www.dummymag.com/news/adam-ha...
“Is Seapunk the Next Vaporwave?” by Michelle Lhooq: www.vice.com/en/article/3de8m...
Visual Media Used: The Last of Us, San Andreas (2015) trailer, Meteor (1979) trailer, This is the End (2013) trailer, Paradise Killer, くるかな (Especia), Kick-Ass (2010), Boys of Paradise (Unicorn Kid), Step Into Light (Ultrademon), ll nøthing ll - ＭＯＤＥＲＮ ＬＩＶＩＮＧ, Ａｅｓｔｈｅｔｉｃ Ｖｉｂｅｓ Future Funk Vaporwave Mixtape, Iblard Laputa no Kaeru Machi, lrigrevocsserpxetb (Music Video), Mornin’ (Al Jarreau), Secrets (Your Fire) (Magdalena Bay), Lost But Never Alone (Oneohtrix Point Never), Java Clouds (Blank Banshee), crush (Planet 1999), Man Scrolling Through Phone - Video by Artem Podrez, Debut 21 Trailer, Neon (Magdalena Bay), Smoke Detector Chirp - State of Charge, Plastiglomerate & Co. - Human Story 3 (James Ferraro)
Music Used (Chronologically): Under Red Skies (Paradise Killer), Headlights on the Shore (Paradise Killer), Paradise (Stay Forever) (Paradise Killer), Leaving (Paradise Killer), くるかな (Especia), By Design (Internet Club), lrigrevocsserpxetb (Abdersta), Eco Zones (Blank Banshee), Lost But Never Alone (Oneohtrix Point Never), Java Clouds (Blank Banshee), crush (Planet 1999), Plastiglomerate & Co. (James Ferraro), Lady Blue (Paradise Killer), Sunset Song (Paradise Killer)
Thumbnail image courtesy Kaizen Game Works

[@ami4705]

Glad to see this game talked about. Legitimately one of the best games to come out in the last five or so years tbh. Gives me heavy Flower, Sun and Rain vibes

[@wolfm33]

What a game. When i first started it my initial thought was "What the hell is this travesty". Thankfully i stuck with it and by the end it was a great gaming experience. Loved the soundtrack.

[@gioiacobucci]

Really glad I found this video buried in my “Watch Later.” I’m gonna have to play this game now. Almost every other vaporwave-inspired game I’ve seen feels like it appreciated the aesthetic on a glossy level but at best only pays lip service to the tension between a critique of capitalism and sincere nostalgia for 80s optimism that’s at the heart of it. This game looks to not only get that, but to weave it into the very foundation of the world and narrative. Excellent breakdown of it all!

[@SUPERCULTUREvideo]

Definitely give it a shot! Hypnospace Outlaw I think also did a pretty good job of capturing that vibe, although it's a bit more late-'90s inspired aesthetically. Thanks for watching!

[@ArmourBlanche]

Glad this game is getting the attention it deserves. You really have given us a new deeper perspective on this game and vaporwave in general.

[@cmd5789]

Thank you for bringing in all of that information about vaporwave I had no idea how tightly it tied into the theming

[@osakanone]

The algorithm sent me here. Seems you're getting recommended.

[@igiari_objection]

What an amazing piece! I can’t wait to explore more of your content! 😃

[@Sh1ken]

Such a killer first Bad End video essay, Josh! Keep 'em going.

[@eleanorsfate445]

I am so glad you're giving Paradise Killer the love it deserves! ❤️

[@mind_bahn]

nice video! I had this game on my backlog but now I think i’m going to play it soon

[@nocapsbb]

def in my top 3 game soundtracks of all time. loved learning about the lore through conversations/collectibles

[@Saint_Wolf_]

Glad I found your channel and extremely happy to know you spoke about this game, a man of quality! This, without even realizing, became one of my favorite games, but with so many permutations and iterations on endings I just stayed with the first one I got!

[@MarcJayS]

This is great quality content, please keep 'em coming!

[@SUPERCULTUREvideo]

Thank you! Next one is already in the works 🎮

[@T-Jex]

This game deserves to be more well known

[@NeovanGoth]

I'm born in 1982 and I find this world strangely comforting. I like to be there.

[@KrazyShark]

Banger of a vid, stellar work 👏

[@Awaken122112]

Wow this is an amazing take, I know I'm late to the party, but I'm happy I watched this, thanks

[@jasonblalock4429]

Yeah, recently played this - really enjoyed it, although the ending felt a bit anticlimactic. Still, this is definitely a game that's more about the journey than the destination. And the soundtrack is pure awesome. It instantly entered my work music rotation.

[@369TurtleMan]

Don’t think I missed that Mag Bay clip :P

[@dervishcandela6696]

There is an 'apocalyptic' work that has genuinely positive eschatologic vibes: Yokohama shopping trip. It manages to paint humanity's sunset as something both nostalgic and hopeful and almost a happy ending

[@willem2242]

Found this on r/pradisekiller. Great video!

[@SUPERCULTUREvideo]

Heck yeah - Thanks for watching!

[@Deadforge]

A really damn good essay. I just started checking out this game today afyer seeing a few videos on it. I was lucky to stumble upon it on game pass. It definitely never looked luke something I'd like basebon visuals etc but overall Imreslly enjoying it. Everything feels so upbeat and happy yet every inch of the island is filled with death and corruption.

[@MrNutz001]

The ost sounds great

[@catboomer3332]

this vid is rad

[@patgrondin5358]

First time ever hearing the term "vaporwave" but I can say Paradise Killer is one of the best games I've played so far

[@kylelo306774]

This game looks Poggers!

[@beanieweenie1349]

This game looks really cool, but I believe the best Vaporwave game is Broken Reality, that might be the most obvious, but the gameplay is so fun and it's the closest to the aesthetic

[@FragileBitch]

This game is weird. I mean, yeah, The plot is strange but understandable. But the overall setting. It feel so unique, LIke very cluster kind of unique. But once you get into the lore and try to fill in a shoe of "someone" whom use to be on the 25th cycle island. Walking along the strange neon color beach or walk into that small urban area that seem straight out of 80s Japan. The experience will simply overwhelming you.

[@nicklarocco4178]

You didn't even mention that YOU choose what truth is in this game. No one can tell you who is at fault, except yourself. The Judge will accept any explanation, allow you to let everyone go free despite their guilt, or to kill them in spite of their innocence. In that way the game is extremely punk, because even the game itself will not tell you what the right choices to make are. You find the seedy underbelly of this world, and you get to decide who goes to paradise, and who dies.

[@mrsergam1237]

Broken reality has more canon vibes dudes