Eternal Darkness Retrospective | An Extremely Comprehensive Critique and History
Another lengthy retrospective! This time diving into the twisted, Lovecraft inspired world of Eternal Darkness - one of the finest survival horror games ever made.
We'll review, discuss and critique every single element of the game and also look at the disturbing history of it's developer Silicon Knights. Where else are you going to be able to watch a video that covers the Legacy of Kain, Metal Gear Solid, HP Lovecraft, Kickstarter and 90s Nintendo all in two hours?
It's part critique, part retrospective, part review and part history lesson - obviously full of spoilers and obviously full of my opinions.
Patreon - / ifinishedavideogame
Credit for the incredible thumbnail goes to the immensely talented - @MicahTheBrave
All media in this video is used for the purpose of review, commentary or criticism and is defined as fair use under US Copyright law.
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CHAPTERS
00:00:00 - The Lurking Fear (Introduction)
00:03:15 - In the Vault of Eryx (History)
00:09:25 - The Doom that came to Samarth (Development)
00:20:23 - Beyond the Walls of Sleep (Format)
00:26:10 - The Outsider (Premise)
00:36:31 - The Battle that Ended the Century (Combat)
00:46:36 - The Alchemist (Magic)
00:53:22 - The Man of Stone (Subversion)
00:57:43 - Rats in the Walls (Atmosphere)
01:06:13 - Collapsing Cosmoses (Sanity)
01:14:48 - Deaf, Dumb and Blind (Negatives)
01:21:32 - The Whisperer in the Darkness (Fear)
01:29:13 - History of the Necronomicon (Influences)
01:34:32 - The Nameless City (Finale)
01:46:15 - The Other Gods (Consequence)
01:53:20 - The Shunned House (Sequel)
01:59:11 - Ex Oblivione (Conclusion)
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#EternalDarkness #Lovecraft #SiliconKnights #Retrospective
Fun little fact I noticed some 15 years after I first played it: Roivas is also Savior backwards.
nt
No way 😂😂😂. Thanks
🤯
Who th f is Roivas?
@@techsoul5590 The main character of the game.
Mantarock pulling an I'm taking you with me is hilarious. Mantarock may not survive because its starving to death but they did screw over every other cosmic being as well. Saved humanity entirely out of "You didn't win!" levels of spite.
He's the douche bag humanity needed!
Well he might not "die" because of his divine nature, but he'll forever be trapped with his hunger.
Mantorok is awesome. I consider it humanity's bro.
From watching this, I got the impression that Mantorok's weakness was only because of the whole 5D chess game it was playing; after all, since all of the gods^D^D^D^D eldritch beings exist outside linear time, there's no one to seal it up since they were all destroyed and thus never existed. Unless the crunchies manage it on their own, I suppose. Or the power vacuum attracts another of Mantorok's peers.
@@boobah5643 It's implied very heavily that there's yet another Ancient (or some force) that is the "yellow magick" you see at several points in the game. (The force which possesses Anthony the most obvious) although all the damage floors in the game (in the Forgotten City, and in En'Gah). Dyack has more or less said over the years that the "King in Yellow" (See what I did there?) was intended to be explored in a sequel. The spiritual successor they almost (but-not-quite) Kickstarted 2 times also mentioned it in a round-about way.
I will always remember being one of those half-million to purchase Eternal Darkness. At summer camp I was the only one that was tall enough and looked old enough to pass for being 18, so I was tasked with being the point man of our operation to acquire this rated-M title lol
That's awesome - I'm sure that was a wicked summer playing through it!
To see the real ending, you have to put 'pargon' into a tower 36 times (6 places, twice in a playthrough, 3 playthroughs) in the cyclopian city. Yet I still had the desire to do so and felt it worthwhile.
I mean if you haven't grown to love Pargon by the end of the game have you really played Eternal Darkness?
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Every once in a while I imagine casting an eternal darkness spell in the real world. My favorite is: Tier Pargon Pargon Redgormor Pargon Pargon Mantorok
@@themidcentrist I always put the pargon all in the same row. I'd cast a spell and it would be "Pargon, pargon, pargon, pargon..." lmao
Pargon pargon pargon pargon pargon
I can never get enough Pargon. Tier Aretak Pargon Xel'lotath Pargon Pargon Pargon Pargon P...
Thank you for talking about this masterpiece. This game needs to be talked about a lot more.
Absolutely - it deserves so much more than to be left on the dusty shelves of history!
I remember buying the Gamecube in high school just for the REmake and finding this game somehow and being amazed. I wish it would get a sequel or reboot/remake in the future. Another top shelf vid.
It is amazing how many fantastic horror games the Gamecube actually had. It's so funny how it's legacy is so huge considering just how poorly it sold!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame I'd say it's the best era for horror games on a single console. We are looking really good lately on the great horror games, but that era is tough to beat.
Heh same things for me, also brought the GameCube for the Resident Evil games, knowing about the Capcom deal, and being blown away by Eternal Darkness.
Wow. Almost the exact same thing for me. Bought the Gamecube just for REmake, got offered a free game on purchase of the Gamecube. Told the guy that I didn't care what he gave me, so he gave me Eternal Darkness and recommended it. Top 3 Gamecube games ever, IMO
Luigi’s Mansion certainly scared the crap out of me! ;-)
The sanity effect is not a cherry on top. I'd say it's actually having a delcious cake over an already great cake. You get 2 cakes!!!
You're not wrong! I like the idea of Eternal Darkness as a tiered cake of fantastic gam design - cake on top of cake
Two cakes at once? This...can't be...happening!
@@wonderrob3225 You know I can see your original comment right? Hope you enjoyed your very brief time posting comments on this channel. Maybe actually bring some constructive points next time you try to critique a channel rob
But are the cakes lies ?
Always makes me sad, when there's an absolutely brilliant game, that didn't get enough attention in it's day. Eternal Darkness is a hidden gem, that still stands out in many ways, even 20 years later, because there's nothing quite like it.I wouldn't call it a personal favourite, but it's still a game that has a very special place in my heart
It's ever the way with this industry - generic shlock makes cash and real creative endeavour is left by the wayside. It's the sad reality of a creative industry driven by profits alone!
The GameCube library is just filled with games like that. Another example would be Geist. The single most unique and interesting FPS I've ever played, and I'm much more of an rpg and fighting game kind of guy.
And yet we have innumerable call of duty clones.
@@jeremycarnes1656 I didn't play Geist myself yet, but I've seen a couple of videos mentioning it. It seems to be a very interesting game and I think I would sooner or later check it out if I can get my hands on it.
@@vladderfehler1286 I really recommend it.
This is one of my favorite games of all time. It's a shame it never got the commercial success it deserved otherwise getting that sequel or remaster might not be such a difficult endeavor. Thanks for this video.
Thanks for watching! We can always hold out hope for that remaster!
Totally agree, I just shared this video on Twitter, and tagged Nintendo and Nightdive. I think a game like this could do really well today, especially if released on multiple modern platforms.
Gamecube was a 3rd place console in its generation. The result is lots of games the PS2 and Xbox-owning public never discovered .
Its a blessing in disguise. Things always downgrade when they become mainstream.
@@IllegallySighted I recommend Evil Tonight, It's basically a sprite based Horror game.
I just wanted to express my amazement that you've made and released 7 hours of high quality video essay review in a month and a half.
Honestly, it's more like 3 months as the LOTR video took quite a long time to produce! I'm quite happy that I managed to get this one done in just about a month though! Next video is a biggie as well so hopefully it won't be as long to wait haha
@@IFinishedAVideoGame oh well IN THAT CASE, I retract my comment and will now pronounce my imperial contempt upon you instead. 😝❤️🔥
@@River_StGrey haha! I should have taken the compliment!
Cocaines a helluva drug, but this guys slackin compared to Stephen King 😉 lol
@@C0wb0yBebop he doesn't even make video game retrospectives!
1:46:00 And that's how you do a Lovecraftian/eldritch horror story! Where no matter how triumphant it seems the human protagonist is, there are still forces beyond their comprehension achieving their own unknown goals.
That's why I truly believe they understood the influences! It's not just big old tentacle monsters from another dimension - it's the pitiful inability to really do anything that makes it truly lovecraftian!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Couldn't have said it better myself. 👍
The Elder Gods may have averted their gaze on humanity...for now.
I've noticed that you have two types of videos, lengthy series retrospectives and lengthy single game retrospectives. I just wanted to say how much I enjoy both styles of videos you make. Your writing voice lends itself to both styles and I thoroughly enjoy each of them. I know I'll watch anything you make! You're doing wonderfully 💜
Thanks so much Mr Mango! Yeah I like to switch it up between some that go really deep into one particularly interesting video game and other that tell more of a lengthy story! Got a couple of series ones coming up next!
Quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. Longform content like this is awesome.
That's really kind of you - hopefully this lives up to my others!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame it 100% does. You continue to improve and outdo yourself. Keep it up, you've got this 💜
@@MrMango-ll3nf Thanks my dude I really appreciate it!
I'm pretty sure I'll never forget my greatest sanity effect that hit me playing it when I was a kid. I rented a lot of games and didn't want to buy a bunch of memory cards so instead I bought a thick $40 boy with a ton of space. So when the game told me it was *deleting all memory card data* I literally jumped out of my bean bag chair and yelled NO!
That's incredible - it's so clever that this game can create moments like that which aren't even happening in the game. It's such a memorable mechanic and such a shame that it's never been seen since!
Omg I forgot about this one! I was freaking out, I had one of those interact memory cards with a bunch of blocks so I could fit all my game saves on one card.
This game is so memorable, even though it doesn't have the best core mechanics, there's something in Eternal Darkness that I have never felt in another game. I don't really play many games anymore but I would drop everything for a successor or even a remake. Also the voice acting by Maximillian in the enemies section of the Tome is incredible
It's just so creative and ambitious. There is something about these pre-HD games where developers just have the leeway to develop whatever idea came into their heads! It's why I love covering this generation - there is just so much good stuff to talk about!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame I recommend Evil Tonight, It's basically a sprite based Horror game.
I loved the spell making though. I would test every single combination because it was so fun to me.
Yeah, the voice acting was truly superb.
This game didn’t have as much of the “dude buy this game!” thing at the time. It was more like “I played this game and…you need to borrow it. Trust me!”. From my experience at the time, I think it clicked with people who were already passing around books and tapes, so one copy covered an entire friend group.
You're totally right. It's kinda the curse of shorter linear games - so easy to be shared between friends and don't exactly cause people to rush out to pick up their own copy.
That’s the same thing that happened with my Morrowind, until they all got their own copies because they couldn’t wait. 😅
The bathtub jump scare takes on a completely different context when compared to other character insanity effects foreshadowing future events.
I was honestly completely shocked at what became of silicon knights. I had no idea that there was even an eternal darkness spiritual successor on kickstarter. I'm also surprised at how no other developer has tried implementing a similar sanity sort of mechanic into their game. Only one that comes to mind is Amnesia but that is more like, bugs covering the screen and that's about it. Great video!
I believe it's because Nintendo holds a copyright claim on that particular mechanic that they have renewed at every single opportunity. It's why it's so annoying that they do nothing with the series - they're stopping anyone else from picking up the mantle as well!
@@IFinishedAVideoGameI don't _think_ that's copywrightable; it could have been under patent. Past tense there, because even a patent renewed to the full extant allowed (at least under US law) only lasts two decades, and you'd presumably file for patent protection before showing the game to the public. Mind, not an IP lawyer, just random internet commenter, so take that for what it's worth.
The closest things I can think to the sanity effects are the fourth wall breaking of Psycho Mantis in Metal Gear Solid, the hallucinations in Spec Ops: The Line, supposedly Dead Space 3 was supposed to have a mechanic in co-op where players would see things that the other player would not. The last couple examples aren't really fourth wall breaking but still similar in feel I would say.
I remember being completely blown away by the real ending to Eternal Darkness, I wasn’t expecting it at all. I’m probably rare in this opinion, but I really enjoyed the linearity of the game. Yes, the lack of meaningful changes to levels does get old, it wasn’t enough to drain my 14 year old enjoyment. I was just playing for love of the game, and was rewarded with the true ending. I imagined what Eternal Darkness 2 could be, and I’m still wondering 20 years later.
For sure - I totally get why it's gated behind multiple playthroughs but it's such a shame in a way as it's really very clever. I'm glad I pushed through to it!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame For sure. I’m willing to bet that adding more changes to the repeat levels would have made replaying the game two more times much less of a chore, or maybe even adding more differences between how choosing a relic changes the monsters/gameplay.
I had a similar experience when I played the game back in the day. I loved it so much that I played it through multiple times and got the true ending. Then played it through again with cheats for the fun of it. Though sadly one could only do the chapters and not Alex's in between sections with them. Still a fun thing to do after having done it so many times.
Sadly with Silicon Knights committing corporate suicide we will probably wonder forever. Unless someone else buys the name and makes a game. But not many people remember this game now so it's not very likely anyone would take that risk.
@@StormsparkPegasus It’s sad but true.
YES! I have been using your videos as background listening while foraging on the weekends, and I'm just about to set out on today's adventure, so this is perfect timing. I'll comment again when I've listened through!
That's awesome to hear my dude! Foraging is pretty awesome although I've only done it once with a lot of guidance! Hopefully you find good stuff and have an interesting listen to go along with it!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame whatever did he go foraging for, cigarettes?
I've been on the lookout for the definitive Eternal Darkness review, thank you for making it! Bonus points for Metal Gear Content.
Never miss a chance to talk about the weirdness that is Twin Snakes! Thanks for watching!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame metal gear retrospective when¿ *Jokes*
Wow, a KZhead video game retrospective that actually expresses an opinion on the game in question and puts it in the context of other games and other forms of media rather than regurgitating the plot in minute detail for several hours? You've earned an instant subscribe from me.
I know it sounds harsh but I just really can't stand long videos that just retell the plot and mechanics like some 4 hour long IGN video. I really try work quite hard to make sure my videos have a good dose of history and analysis alongside it!
One thing I like about this game is the attention to detail. Like the mansion. Also, the Roman centurions don't just carry run of the mill spears anyone could just stick in a game, but pilum, javelins with thin, soft iron necks that would bend after use to prevent the enemy from using them. Also, the attention to detail with science and physics, such as gold not being a reactive substance to acid, and a two-handed sword being too unwieldy to use effectively in narrow corridors, as it can hit the walls as often as it hits the enemy, requiring a shorter weapon to attack effectively, such as a mace.
Eternal Darkness was a beautiful, thrilling, and unsettling experience for me. I fell in love with it the moment it started. The Roivas mansion is one of my favorite video game areas ever. It’s so ambient, even with the scary whispers of the background music. If I ever win the lottery I would built my own version of the mansion (not extending to the underworld that exists in the videogame for obvious reasons).
I'll be the first to visit! Although yeah maybe skip building the demonic underground city haha
I played the game for the first time this year. I really enjoyed it despite some minor issues you mentioned in the video. Certainly one of the best horror games ever released. Well overdue a re-release.
Hopefully videos like this can help contribute to a swell of support for one! It's a pipe dream but goddamn Nintendo hear our pleas! It's free money at this point!
It makes me sick how underrated this game is. It is seriously one of my favorite games of all time. Sure, it might be laid back in terms of difficulty, but the creepy atmosphere and legitimate chills it can give me make up for that, in my opinion.
Completely agree - what it lacks in difficulty it more than makes up for in atmosphere and originality
I loved this game. EB Games in America sold me this game 3 months after it came out for $5 cause they said it wasn't selling. I was like 7 years old and was so excited they sold me a mature game since I was in the store at the mall alone
That's goddamn awesome - those EB guys and bending the rules to introduce kids to new games were an institution
I really appreciated your frank discussion on existential terror. I think it's a universal experience and it really set the tone for the video. Your writing is fantastic, it stays focused on the thesis of existential dread while exploring the game and its mechanics. Thanks for covering this game, it definitely went under my radar
Thanks so much. Yeah I was a bit unsure about that introduction just because it's quite intense and not really anything to do with the game itself (which often puts people off) but I just really enjoy going with my nose and talking about whatever I think fits with the video! Glad you enjoyed it!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame I think it was a good call. It makes the video personal and let's be honest, we've all felt that terror even if we don't talk about it. Provides appropriate context
Another cautionary tale for everyone to remember mismanagement is a studio's biggest enemy.
I generally find game critiques to be much more engaging than game histories. But there's something so interesting about the way you explain the context a game came out in that I'm never compelled to skip that part of the video. Thanks for getting me through work with yet another phenomenal video!
That's great to hear. I'm really conscious sometimes that I don't actually get into the "action" for quite a long time but I really feel like understanding the context and importance of these games makes the actual gameplay/narrative so much more interesting! Glad it's coming across in the videos well because it's a format I really love!
This madman named the chapters after lovecraft stories. Very fun Easter egg!! I’ve been diving into all the lovecraftian games and movies lately so this video was an instant click.
I always try to keep the chapter names fresh in all the smaller retrospectives - nothing bothers me more than seeing GRAPHICS STORY GAMEPLAY CONCLUSION If you're going to ask people to watch a three hour video at least through some little nuggets in there!
Absolutely brilliant retrospective and perfect tie in with the more recent attempts to bring it back. If I had to pick one thing I felt you left out, it's that in the entire game there are only 4 non-boss enemies. This feeds the feeling of repetition. I would hope that any remake would up the environments and up the number of enemies while maintaining the balance the original developers delivered in spades. Thank you again!
Damn yeah that would have been a nice point to make! Glad you enjoyed it anyway!
Anyone else noticed how “ I finished a video game” and “YourFavoriteSon” posted a video 10 seconds apart ? X))
This was meant to go live about 3 days ago haha! It's sheer coincidence!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame what in the mathematical anomaly is this x) it’s a sign then, binging you both. Honestly i thought “damn, your favorite son posted, cool, now i hope I finished a video game post’s something soon, and there you were, made me feel like a god for second, thanks!
@@peaceprinceshaxi5978 who is to say you aren't god? Now grant me favour on this new video!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Anything you wish for making more of these amazing in-depth videos! C:
Silicon Knights story is an example of "you need to pair the creative with a pencilneck who are on equal terms", one to push tech and creativity and the other to rein in insanity.
Absolutely - they were ideas guys with no concept of delivery
Finished catching up to your videos over the last few weeks yesterday, and a new one is out, perfect timing, i will enjoy this !
Same here. Discovered this channel through the lotr video and just finished it. And right in time there is a new one. Nice. Guess, i have to do the catching up a bit later.
That's awesome to hear - which has been your favourite? I know it's probably recency bias but I honestly believe this is the best one I've made so far!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame I am almost done with this one and yeah i would agree it's your best, while i really love the two retrospective and i hope to see more,, i had never heard of this game right here and you really did a fantastic job at selling it, it's hard to believe it's 20 years old, feels like with it's systems and idea it outclass the majority of modern games !
Just want to say I really appreciate that you showed footage of the memorial, instead of the actual crashes/aftermath, when you talked about 9/11 in this video. You managed to be respectful and accurate without re-traumatizing those of us who still tend to risk anxiety attacks/ptsd flashbacks when confronted with actual footage from the day itself, even 20+ years on. Much appreciated, thank you.
I mean putting full-blown footage of it into a video retrospective about a video game seemed pretty tasteless so this was the best way to approach it! Glad it didn't go unnoticed as it was something I actually thought a lot about while editing!
I can't believe it's taken me so long to discover this channel, I love super long and dense video essays analyzing lesser known series and of course series that I personally adore. Finished your Dino Crisis retrospective and now I'm all in. Fantastic work man, can't wait for more and I hope you get the subscriber count you deserve for how much effort and thought you put into writing, recording, and editing these.
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the last few videos - got plenty more planned and I'll actually be going full time for a few months so should hopefully be putting things out at a slightly faster rate! Who knows where we'll get to by the end of the year!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Hell yeah man, glad you're at a point where you can do this stuff full time. I'll be followin along
I couldn't tell you how many essay reviews I've watched on this game over the years, but imma do it again!
Well, I hope I could contribute something original to the discussion of it! I've tried to lean away from the LOVECRAFT/SANITY angle too much and talk about its brilliant writing and gameplay design - fingers crossed it's interesting!
this feeling of anxiousness/existential dread you talk about in the beginning of the video - i remember so vividly when that feeling hit me like a Semi-truck. i was 16, sitting in astrology class watching a rather generic video about space, and the video panned out from earth and simulated panning out all the way outside the milky way. in that moment i felt so viscerally small and insignificant i became dizzy and felt like i was going to throw up. from that moment on until i was probably 18 i would sometimes just get hit with that emotion randomly, and in the beginning i even lost my balance a few times when i was walking or at my first job. very happy thats in the past. thanks for letting me share, and thanks to anyone that read this!
Thanks for that! It was a really dark part of my life and I'm really happy it's now over - but it was certainly cathartic to talk about it in this video!
I genuinely love your videos so much. I often used to find myself staring at my library of games to play, clicking in and out of random tabs, and ultimately ended up landing on KZhead as my default for my pastime. Thankfully I discovered your channel and not only did I find EXCELLENT videos to watch, but I find really great games to give a go at thanks to you. I can't wait to see what you cover next!
Thanks so much Austin - it's great to know my videos are helping point you in the direction of some interesting games! Working on a couple of really cool ones at the moment which should be out soon!
You’ve got some absolutely fantastic perspectives and it’s great to see a fresh face in the retrospective space. Can’t wait for your next video!
Thanks very much! Really appreciate it!
So grateful that you covered this game, psychological horror games seem to be regulated to the indie scene as big developers don’t find money in the genre. Side note your alpha protocol vid inspired me to get the platinum trophy on the ps3. Beautiful buggy fun mess. Anyway as always much respect and appreciation for your work! Cheers.
That's wicked to hear that you enjoyed Alpha Protocol! It's always great to hear someone has enjoyed my strange recommendations! As for Eternal Darkness? I just hope this video can help contribute to interest in it and that mythical Nightdive remaster happens
@@IFinishedAVideoGame I’m confident many a people were inspired to check out your recommendations due to your thoughtful videos. While playing Alpha Protocol many of your insights ringed through my head from the broken but fun gameplay mechanics to the absurdly deep dialogue system that eclipses most modern RPGs. So if anything thank you for all you do. I know I’ve commented this before but I must repeat it. The quality of your insight and personality is definitely valued
@@projektEnigma That's awesome to hear my friend! Long may our fruitful relationship of me making recommendations and you enjoying them continue!
I’m so glad I came across your channel, these long retrospectives are getting me through my workday. Keep up the good work! I can’t wait to see more.
Thanks Jackson! Glad you enjoyed it! I've got many more planned!
Not only does this guy make amazing videos but I can see that he's super active in his community because there's a response on almost every comment! Your channel rocks man glad I found you!
I mean my dude that's only fair enough! You've taken the time to watch my video and leave a comment - it would be pretty lame of me to not read it and reply! Glad you enjoyed the video and hope you enjoy my others too!
What an awesome video! I had never heard of this game before. I appreciate you covering the historical impact of potentially lesser known games ❤️
My dude, it's very fun to put together and get people learning about and interested in some of these weirder lesser-known titles! Obviously, the big series retrospectives get people over to the channel but videos like this are my true passion projects!
I have played through Eternal Darkness multiple times, and I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I even learned some things I didn't know about the developers and what they did after. With a dedicated fan base, who knows what might happen? Twin Peaks got a third season exactly 25 years later... maybe we'll get the remake or sequel we deserve some time, also.
If a potential Eternal Darkness sequel could be half as good as Twin Peaks season 3 I'll be a very happy man indeed!
I always loved that bit where the hanging body says "The Darkness is coming"
Pure spooky energy
@@IFinishedAVideoGame at that point in the game the darkness is indeed on its way to say hello. Great video on one of my favorite games. Appreciate your work.
Oh man, getting recommended your parasite eve video, checking your channel and seeing you've covered my absolute favourite horror game of all time in another long form video essay? You sir, are an absolute gift and I have to tha l you for catering to me personally
To this day Shadow of the Eternals is the only project I've ever supported on Kickstarter. Apart from that, great video. You have such a nice, calm voice to listen to.
It's such a shame that it never worked out but it's also one of those failed projects which is not massively surprising - so much went wrong for the project. Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
The news of another game of this kind was going to be in the works had me interested. Sadly developers seem content people don't want these games, so we are force fed micotransactions, lootboxes, tech demos, broken messes, clones of clones that do less than the previous versions... Well, I am happy to still own a working copy of Eternal Darkness.
What is really annoying is that if Neogaf didn't have a vendetta against Denis Dyack after the Too Human debacle, they probably wouldn't have gone after the crowdfunding so strongly.
@@Kindlesmith70 I recommend Evil Tonight and Lamentum, they're basically a sprite based Horror games.
Your content is a cut above the rest. Wishing you continued views and subs.
That's really nice of you to say. I'm really enjoying making these videos and hopefully, I'm shining a light on some interesting weird games for people!
I've been binging your videos for the past couple of days since i've discovered you. Fantastic quality! You're really becoming on of my favourite video essayists on KZhead. Keep it up!
Thanks so much Devin! I'm really enjoying this at the moment and I've got some really big plans for the future! Hopefully everyone continues to enjoy them as much as I do!
This retrospectives always make my week better. Thank you for the hard work and passion! :)
Excellent essay, and well worth the lengthy viewing time; narration is smoothly delivered and paced. I really appreciate your deep dive into this spectacular game, and that you did not simply boil it down to a Lovecraftian horror game with cool fourth-wall breaks. It can be quite unfortunate when a unique gameplay mechanic overshadows the broad brilliance of a game. Eternal Darkness deserves to be remembered for much more than its trickery.
That's absolutely the take I wanted! There is so much clever design going on in this game - it's a crime for it to be only remembered for the sanity system!
You deserve more subs. You do a great job. Love these long retrospectives.
Thanks very much! Honestly I feel like the channel has grown so much this year already - I'm sure it'll carry on if I keep going!
You've truly become one of my favorite video essayists; your cadence, writing, editing, and formatting set you apart by making your content easily digestible and intriguing. Such a delight to see any of your new videos on my homepage.
Thanks so much! Yeah I'm really happy with how this video turned out and I think I'm really settling into my groove with how I produce these! Glad you enjoyed it!
This was wildly in depth and fantastic to listen to while working. I’ll look at your other videos while I’m working, because I had a much better experience just listening to you than any podcast I have lately tuned in to. Thank you for all your hard work, and I look forward to your next upload. Cheers!
That's awesome to hear. Thanks for leaving such a nice comment and hopefully you enjoyed my others too!
I remember playing this game and beating it 3 times in a row (to get the real ending) with my college friends exactly 20 years ago. Great times. It was also the same year that we beat Silent Hill 2. The 6th console generation (PS2, GameCube, Xbox and Dreamcast) was my favorite of all time. That era was peak gaming for me. I still play games on and off as I own a PS5, Switch and PC (Steam+Gamepass)but as a gamer I'm a mere shadow of my former self. I used to clock in at least 30 hours of gaming a week in my highschool and college days, but now it's more like 30 hours over the course of 6 to 8 weeks and often times I start games that I never finish.
Unfortunately I think that's a big part of growing up for some people. I really want to make sure it's something I never fall out of love with!
I just spent two hours watching a game I didn’t even know existed and was hanging on to every word. I feel like I could talk about it in casual conversation without people knowing I’ve never played it
That's awesome to hear. I always tell everyone that this is the video I'm the most proud of so it's always amazing to hear that it's still resonating with people (especially if they didn't know what it was before hand)
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Awww, you replied! Now I’m going to watch all your videos!
Gamecube was a 3rd place console in its generation. The result is lots of games the PS2 and Xbox-owning public never discovered .
This channel is great. I'm so glad I came upon it. Really appreciate the great work. Video essays are the best part of this platform
That's awesome to hear - I'm really proud of this video so it's great whenever I get to see someone else enjoying it!
You could write an endless novel about how great you think tank controls are in any game and you'd never be right. But! I love the series. Please keep up the great work.
Haha that won't stop me from defending them! Thanks for the comment and glad you enjoyed it!
Instant subscribe. This game is incredible I kept waiting for the part where you would bring up the 4th true god. The way they made it so re playable with all the stories intertwining truly beyond its time. You covered every part of this game beautifully I even learned a few new things. Thank you for taking the time to give this game some new life.
That's awesome to hear - it's the ultimate compliment to hear that people who already know this game well got something fresh out of my video! Thanks for your kind words!
I know this took a lot. Excited to dive into it as this is one of my all time favourites. Keep rocking
@@Robert-tl2vg I know the guy?
Thanks man - appreciate it as ever
It probably sounds ridiculous, but your review brought me to tears. The years of playing this game with friends and family that I’ll never get to experience again, has created in me a core memory. You gave it back to me in full force and made me realize how much of myself was created with the memories of this game. I’ll never forget the times I had playing it. Thank you for the loving review you’ve given it❤
That's not ridiculous in the slightest - I'm so pleased it could move you in that way and so happy that this game meant that much to you.
Just want to say I just recently stumbled across your channel, and I’m glad that I did as you make some of the best game analysis I have ever had the pleasure of watching. I hope that others can experience the same things I did, and that your quality content can reach the eyes and ears of many others. Keep up the fantastic work 😁
Thank you so much KT! It's a huge motivation to read comments like yours - I promise you'll love the next few videos I've got planned!
I've never heard of this game but I'm always in the mood for some horror jank so thanks for this!
I'm sure you'll enjoy it - lots of interesting stuff to talk about here!
I was there back then, playing Eternal darkness when it was released. None of my friends knew about it or cared. My friends were busy thinking on well known franchises. They just didn't buy Game cube to play dark horror games. For that, some of them bought the ps2. I think that the Nintendo community back then just didn't want games like Eternal Darkness. That was the first time I noticed that I didn't below to that community.
I hear you my dude - I was a bit Gamecube guy when I was younger and was the only person I knew with one. Between this and Resi 1 Remake it felt like the console had so many incredible horror games but nobody seemed to care!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame RE remake was amazing, and then we got RE4, and RE0 (which I liked even if I think it was a misstep compared to the other games on its franchise). And Tales of Symphonia or Baten Kaitos, Naruto Gektou NInja taisen 4 (only japan and my house). I enjoyed my Game cube so much, but most of the games I loved were commercial failures. Or relative commercial failures. It felt so weird.
I also think it wasn't well advertised. Loved Nintendo and had a GameCube at the time. Eternal Darkness and REmake quickly became 13 year old me's favorite games on the system. I got it for Christmas the year it released, but I only knew about it because of a preview from a very short lived magazine called "Video Games Underground." It was years before I heard about it anywhere else except for fan forums. I used to do a weekly check on a long running ign thread for news on a sequel because I didn't expect any main outlets to talk about it lol.
@@LaughingBat I read about the game on the equivalent to Nintendo power in my country. But, I mean, how many kids our age would have bought those magazines back then? I know I was the only one in my classroom. Most of the time we discovered new games when we went to the shop. It was pretty thrilling actually.
Thank you for this. I can only imagine how much time and effort goes into a documentary like this. I had a GameCube back when this was released and bloody loved this game. A first in many Lovecraftian games, in my view, which came since, Sinking City being another favourite of mine. Keep up the good fight.
Thanks! It was a lot of work but honestly very enjoyable. It's one of my favourite games and I think the video turned out great!
I really enjoyed watching this, thank you so much. The structure as well as the researched, on which this video is based, are just so well made. I found your channel yesterday and I have to admit that I haven't seen videos about videogames quite like that, chapeau!
That's really cool to hear! Love that it's coming across as original!
Something that does hold up about this game is how the main characters meet with horrible fates. It's tricky to handle game sections where you control characters who die at the end. If you do it too often, it loses its impact. But Eternal Darkness allows just enough of your characters to survive their chapters that it creates suspense as to whether or not the character in the chapter will survive, as opposed to killing the audience investment with characters we know in advance won't make it. Some more evidence to your theory about Michael Edwards not being in the original game before the rework is that, unlike the other playable character, he is not mentioned in the manual.
That's extremely interesting about Michael Edwards - I wonder if it was done SO late in development that they couldn't even adjust the manual. You're very right about how they mix up who lives and who dies - I love that about this game
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Sounds likely. A strategy guide I read to Super Smash Bros. Melee states that one of the Pokemon that can appear from a Pokeball is a Ditto, which turns into a copy of your fighter to attack the enemy. Ditto doesn't appear in the game, so it was likely cut so last minute that the publishers of the guide weren't informed.
Hey, I just wanna say thank you so much for making this vid (yes I'm getting emotional because of the nostalgia haha! ;v; ) Every year or so I go looking for Shadow of the Eternals updates (I refuse to believe it'll never be), and I was so thrilled to see such a comprehensive vid on one of my favourite games of all time! So many vids on it are just walkthroughs and let's plays, but the gaming is only a part of what makes this story so fascinating. You've done yourself and all the Eternal Darkness fans proud! (Yes, we exist! ♡) I understand you consider yourself a small channel, but have you thought to reach out to other gaming KZheadrs that could also do their bit in bringing the game back into the light? If remade today it would be incredible for old and new fans alike. There is so much more that can be done with it now (Eternal Darkness VR??? Imagine the sanity effects on that bad boy!) I'm just a nobody without a platform, but imagine if every viewer pledged £5 towards a new spiritual successor! A new company, a new start! Someone go poke Markiplier, Pewdiepie and Mr Beast for it to gain serious traction! ~And Dennis Dyack please let all the fans contribute their talents to bring Eternal Darkness back to life lol. On that note I'm out, before I get way too passionate about wanting the sequel! ✌🏻
You're more than welcome - it was a joy to put together and honestly I think this is my best video. There is just something special about the work Silicon Knights did here that tickles my love for creative video games and Lovecraft in all the right ways! As for a remake - we can only hope that Nintendo sees the light one day. Unfortunately given all the controversy around the series and Denis Dyack - I'm not so sure...
These video essays are such a blessing. A real discussion of a game that I'll probably never play, but should know about. Also, looking at other Eternal Darkness videos, yours is the longest, most in-depth of them all. The only videos longer than yours are just straight gameplay.
Well that's my style really! Despite all my videos being pretty insanely long for the platform I think that's the subject matter they cover is done quite quickly! This is history, development, the game in every aspect and what happened next! Glad it made for a good video that stands out!
I recently came across your channel and have been thoroughly enjoying your lengthy retrospectives on some of my childhood favorites. Thank you sir
That's really cool to hear! Glad we've both got good taste haha!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Maybe if you have the time. I would love to hear your take on the Fear Effect series. It's been often forgotten but had really interesting mechanics that are right up your alley. Cheers!
This is lovely. I really enjoy these extensive and well-paced videos. I did chuckle a bit at you misquoting Edgar Allan Poe twice within the first couple of minutes, saying "Wondering, doubting, fearing" instead of "Wondering, fearing, doubting". But that's just a minor mistake within an excellent video about one of my all-time favorite horror games. Cheers!
Thanks so much! Yeah shame about the quote but I don't think any of the meaning is lot luckily!
THIS ISN'T REALLY HAPPENING! Oh, or is it? Well I'm watching this... and I really enjoy it. Really amazing, well detailed review and history of the game! Congratulations!
That's awesome to hear you enjoyed it so much!
''Deep into that darkness peering, long i stood there, wondering... Fearing ... Doubting...'' mantorok
All of these videos are awesome! Super informative, and I finally found someone I can listen to that isn't annoying while I'm at work!!
I randomly got this recommended to me just now and glory be
Fingers crossed it lives up to the mighty algorithm
No sé cómo lo haces, pero cada análisis me atrapa a cada paso. Disfruto mucho tu trabajo y te deseo mucho éxito 😊
Thank you!
Very fun video! I can't believe this game is 21 years old. My first every playthrough of it was in college in 2011 and I couldn't believe how much it scared me lol! I hope someone makes a sequel to this. Nintendo has such an opportunity for a sanity meter that affects the Switch - like your home page being corrupted or your controllers being possessed. It could be so scary!
I'm just hoping for Nintendo to re-release this one and remind everyone how clever and engaging it is!
IFAVG you rock man. You're video essays are my favorite on youtube. You're keen and intentional with you're diction. You go above and beyond with your research. You care about the subject and about you're viewers. Keep up the good work man. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Thanks so much Robo - that's really kind of you to say and I really appreciate it. I always try to make videos about things that I'm genuinely passionate about and hopefully that comes through! Really excited about the next few - I think you're all going to seriously enjoy them!
Do you see yourself covering more Lovecraft-esque games? I love this video and would really enjoy hearing you talk about similar topics. Keep up the phenomenal work man👍🏻
Quite possibly! It's a mythos I'm very passionate about but honestly I think ED really is the peak of that in how it delivers on not just the ideas but also the tone! I'd really like to put together a video about Clive Barker's game as that's an interesting study in writing vs functional gameplay! Same for Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time game which is surprisingly great! Lots of potential literary video games to cover!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame when it comes to literary based games, I think the Metro series really exceeds in the (niche)sub-genre
My true terrifying fear was the opposite. Not that I'd one day die, but the possibility of an afterlife that is infinite. Trying to conceptualize an infinite existence made me more scared than anything else I've ever experienced.
I mean that's totally fair enough. The concept of just infinitely stretching into the distance, aging forever, sounds utterly horrible
I had a Christian upbringing, as a kid, living forever in heaven wasn't any more comforting than living in hell. I'd fixate on how there's always going to be another day... That a billion years was just a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. To me, pure hell was an eternal existence. I've since became agnostic and it doesn't really bother me anymore. There is a thought experiment called The Quantum Suic*d* Experiment, that suggests death is just your consciousness transitioning from one universe to another and that no one actually ever dies. Supposedly it led to a redditor having an existential crisis that ended in his suic*d*, despite people telling him it was just a fictional thought experiment with no scientific basis. I doubt it's true but hearing about it did bring back memories of my childhood and me trying to contemplate eternity, something our finite mortal minds were never meant to comprehend.
@@kalt7990 But that's the thing, isn't it? The remedy for this might be another poison though, so if you read what I've written here, tread carefully. If there's an afterlife, we won't experience it like how we experience life here and now. We won't have brains or parasympathetic nervous systems with which to feel anxiety or boredom; it will be a completely different perception of a completely different reality. Everything we are is a combo of bio-electrical current and neurotransmitters, and spirits, ghosts, etc, don't have those (and if they somehow do, it's nothing like the living's), so I don't think an afterlife will be too incomprehensible, because our modes of comprehension will be completely different. This is why I think ghost-shows are bullpoop, because "ghosts" can't get "angry" or anything like that. It's just not how things work. But in all intellectual honesty, death just means our electrons are free to become one with the rest of the universe again, so all those "Sages of Old" talking about "Intergalactic One-ness" were probably correct. At any rate, sorry about this weird rant; I just felt a strong need to share it. (And don't get me started on "quantum immortallity". As crazy-difficult as learning quantum mechanics is, even "Page 1, Book 1" studies will show that quantum immortallity is a brazen misunderstanding about how things really are) Have a great evening, and I mean that!
Hey dude, just wanted to say this is an amazing video. Fantastically edited and well written. You're well spoken and articulate, which is incredibly important with these longform essay-type reviews. Between you and YourFavoriteSon it's a great time to be a fan of hours-long deep-dive videos.
Thanks so much my friend - that's really nice of you to say! I'll have to pass it along to YFS as me and him chat every now and then! Hopefully it's not too long until the next video and you'll get another big dose to work through!
I was not prepared for that intro, I have to say, it is a huge anxiety, one which ironically keeps me asleep a lot of nights, it is truly a complete source of terror for me. Still is, I've never gotten over it.
I'm pleased to say that it can get better but it's one of the few things I still find genuinely terrifying!
Your videos are so good, thanks mate
Thanks for watching!
Eldritch horror really is something else.
Loved this! Brought back memories of my television turning off as well as my save being deleted! The sanity mechanic as well as TV mechanics were AMAZING and, ahead of its time!
It's such a shame that we've not seen it used anywhere else! Nintendo neither to either commission a remake or give up the patent!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame animal crossing did kind of the same thing with the save being deleted prank and and the console fake rebooting.
I played Eternal Darkness at the time and while I remember loving it, until I watched this I remembered almost nothing about the game. So it was brilliant to be taken through it again. What a fantastic video.
Thanks very much! This video is one of my favourites so it's always nice to see people enjoying it!
Fun fact, ancestor Maximilian Roivas (I love that it's "savior" spelled backwards, by the way) is voiced by William Hootkins, famous for playing Porkins in the original Star Wars (he was also in Flash Gordon and in Raiders of the Lost Ark). That frantic "MAY THE RATS EAT YOUR EYES!!!", that is him!
That's an incredible little nugget! He did a great job and is easily my favourite character!
Another cracking video mate. Very well done, never played the game myself but I can see you've covered it well and fairly. Lovely to see some older games getting the spotlight, I've been PC gaming for over 20 years and there's some hidden gems out there which newer gamers know nothing about. Normally I have videos on in the background while I'm painting my warhammer mini's but this video was so good I had to keep looking up lol
Haha that's awesome to hear! Yeah I'm really pleased with how this video turned out - I think it's easily my best in terms of writing and production! Glad you enjoyed it!
honestly crazy to see the rather small list of patreon subs given the incredible high calibre of your work, no doubt that list will grow! I can’t wait to see what you do next, great work :D
Well I've had a few people join since this video went out which is pretty cool! Honestly I'm not trying to cream this channel for money so anything is always appreciated :)
I AM SO HAPPY YOU ARE GETTING YOUR FLOWERS honestly and in love with ur videos. All of the retrospectives are up there with some of the best content on KZhead for me. The Prince of Persia retrospective was SO GOOD I’m just gassed ur getting the views to back the quality
Thanks so much - that's extremely nice of you to say! Yeah it's been a real rollercoaster this year so far and the channel has already gone well beyond where I ever thought it would! I'm hard at work on the next retrospective so hopefully it should be out soon!
Amazingly in-depth video.....thanx for this
You're welcome - glad you enjoyed it! I'd say that this and Vagrant Story are my two favorite videos!
One of the reason why I never purchased it back then was as a kid I had a very limited amount of games my parents would buy for me and weighing other games vs this it was so unknown very weird and strange looking gameplay (to a kid that is) I always ended up getting something else and never played it until recently it's such a great game though.
Yeah I think that's the case for most people! Survival horror was a bit of a niche genre even at the time so an attempt to do a totally new take on it AND a new IP all on a failing console with a huge delay really just were a perfect storm. I really think it would do fantastically if it were to be remastered though - I hope Nintendo hear my pleas!
Finally was able to give this a listen; ive been trying to fit this in all week. Phenomenal work as always on a great i really love.
Thanks so much Chic! Really glad to hear you enjoyed it!
brilliantly captured, condesned, and communicated. i'm speechless
Thanks very much my friend. That's really nice of you to say
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Of course! Can't wait for the next one. Metroid was freaking epic! One thing I wanted to mention: you'd touched on how magic almost "breaks" the game. But I always felt that had a story angle. The tome-holders get so powerful and proficient with magic that you're summoning and sealing Eldritch Gods from beyond time and space. So I kinda dug the feeling of magic empowerment. Anywho, that's my 2¢. Doesn't negate your criticism at all.
Thanks for your amazing work!
Thank you for watching! Hope you enjoyed it!
that game was a masterpiece... after all those i still remember it... and if somebody asks me for the best horror games ever made this game will be in the top 5 hands down
I completely agree - I was so desperate to make a video about it so I could do my bit to share the love!
I just want to say that this is my second video that Ive watched of yours even though I still need to finish your castlevania epic and your content is so supremely polished and well done, bravo. Before this video I had never heard this game and as I sat, sick with covid, I paused your video and downloaded Eternal Darkness because of your work. Thank you for shining a spotlight like this on a game which I have immensely enjoyed and having now finished your video, I think that you do it justice.
Well I'm sorry you had covid my friend but I'm also pleased I could help you through some of it and introduce you to an extremely special little game! Hope you're feeling much better now!
Excellent videos, really love your channel! Always excited every time you release something!
Thanks so much Omar! Yeah I was really stoked to get this one out as I really feel like it's a great video! Glad you enjoyed it!