There's just a special something about slavic art. I don't know how to explain it, but you see it in games, in films, in literature and in music. It's just special
True. Darkwood, Stalker, Metro, The Witcher, This War of Mine, Frostpunk, Pathologic, to name a few, are oppresive and awe inspiring games in its darkness and horror. I liked polish and russian cinema first, then when I knew about this series of games, I became depressingly happy lol
My family is Slovakian, and I wholeheartedly agree. There's an odd sort of...not sure what to call it, but you just know you're experiencing Slavic art when you see it. It's unmistakable. I love it so much. 💜
Not gonna lie, when RagnarRox said that the game developers tried to make you feel the very cold that the game portrays, he spoke absolute truths. I live in the Caribbean and I have never even seen real life snow, heck I feel cold at 25 degrees Celsius - but damn if just watching that game didn't make me shiver. ... ... Also my 5 year old brain refuses to let me ignore the fact that RagnarRox said "seamen".
@@targard.quantumfrack6854 I really do. My country is not the hottest in the world, of course, but in recent years you can really see the changes. The temperature used to have an average of 26-28 degrees on a given day. That's risen to 28-30 degrees (and seems to keep rising). Being used to that range, when it hits 23-25 degrees at nights or on rainy days, I do indeed start to feel very cold.
Fun fact I was mistakenly bought this game as a kid by my grandparents who mistook this for the game I actually wanted at the time, Crysis. Instead i got this, and at first i thought 'Wtf is this' but without the heart to correct my elders mistake I installed the game and ended up playing a game that stuck in my mind for years. I thought I was the only person who knew it existed, none of my friends had ever heard of it and there isn't much online about it. Nice to see it getting some recognition. Great video man. edit: I actually have a boxed copy of this somewhere if you want it, idk if you enjoy physical copies of hard to find things lol.
Same goes for the 2005 Area 51 FPS. I think it did the seeing the environment through your weapon scope before Cryostasis did. And that game was released on Xbox, PS2, and pc.
@@WobblesandBean Back in the day, I bought Bioshock and DL a crack because of their fucked up DRM. Sometimes, hackers are the solution to problems some companies create for themselves.
@@scotcheggable These days, I get a crack and then if I like the game, I buy it. People give CDPR a lot of crap but they have been ballsy enough to release Cyberpunk on GOG, which means that it doesn't even need a crack.
As always RagnarRox's ability to speak so poetically of a game has left me in awe. Cryostasis was a game that I haven't thought of in years and seeing this brought back a lot of love I had for the game as a kid.
It always brightens up my day when one of your videos comes out! I'm going to save it for later, when I can watch it calmly and enjoy it! I already said this in another video, but seeing you analyze Darkwood made me so happy! It's one of my favorite games ever, together with the Cat Lady and others you covered on this channel
DONT mind me, just using words the algorithm favors, like: great, life-changing, brilliant, insightful, and incredible. Thanks for the vid gonna try and post some smart and insightful comment but for now, I wanna feed the algorithm gods
@@WobblesandBean Really? I thought leaving a comment boosts the video stats within the algorithm. I still watch the ads since I'm to broke to help out on patroon
@@Brilchan ruclips.net/video/9V5dwuYaaIs/видео.html Don't know if you're familiar with The Spiffing Brit,if not I would recommend wholeheartedly.Link above should take you to rather interesting and hilarious vid. Enjoy.
Love someone finally giving this game some credit. It's one of my all time favorites, with one of the best video game stories ever, and the way it's told organically is fantastic. It's jank to end all jank though, the gameplay is fine, very smooth and modern, but I don't think I've ever seen such a technical disaster. In the last few chapters of the game I was crashing so often that essentially every time I did anything at all, like entering a new area or killing a single enemy encounter, I'd quicksave, because it'd crash to desktop like every 10-15 minutes. The fact that it was compelling enough for me to spend hours of gameplay like that speaks volumes.
I got this game when it came out and I didn't think anyone even knew it existed, everyone I spoke to had never heard of it. Amen to being compelled to work through the jank, I played that game through blocks of 10fps firefights and I enjoyed it dammit.
@@Stret173 чел, что ты тут забыл, если не знаешь английского? Slav = slavic = славянский. Собственно, почему у всяких Вячеславов и Светославов это в имени.
@@Readysetheal i know еnglish quite well oh indeed, but thanks for unneeded explanation anyway ля люблю постненько пошутить даи заодно отметить насколько неглубоко и мономерно эти англицкие господа понимают наш контекст собна и всё тут
I remember watching a lets play of this like ten years ago, even watching secondhand I still remember the bonkers spider enemies and the feeling of relief and comfort when finding a simple hot pipe in the wall. Great video, I never though i'd see this game again!
This is one of my favorite horror games. I was completely devastated when I tried to recommend it to a friend recently and found out it was pulled from stores.
I have the honor to say i enjoyed playing this gem back in the day a few months after it's release because i'm a PC gamer since i have memory and i was amazed by the graphics quality in environment effects and pshyx interaction with hot or cold things specially during every cutscene when activating the mental echoes where i was completely immersed into the desperate situations the crew experienced before their deaths and the transition to the new altered reality in the present after changing things in the past but also the jumpscares and the search for heat sources made it so memorable as if it was more of a survival horror game than an horror first person shooter. It's a fantastic new experience but gives familiar vibes as when you discover the dark secrets of Rapture in Bioshock or explore the intriguing and hopeless past in SOMA. I always got fascinated by these incredible games ahead of their time and i wish i had time to play them again now but i'm thankful youtubers like him make these nostalgic and interesting videos about our childhood iconic games that we all love so much 😊
I remember reading about this game back when I was much younger. I then played an hour of it and was too scared to continue. However, upon revisiting I really like the plot and the ideas that are in this game. Great video :)
Same, this video gave me the biggest sense of deja vu, back to when I was like 6 and played a level on my dad's Pentium 4 laptop. So weird to see something you recognize but could never quite put your finger on.
I remember playing this after picking a copy up at a Staples or some office supply store and falling in love with it. Great sense of atmosphere and some clever health mechanics.
I can still remember the atmosphere, the feelings this game could awaken. I libed it, it was scary and erie due to it happening inside of a ship in a frozen waste land
After a couple minutes into the video I realised that I remember this game from a very long time ago when I was a kid. I remember how strongly it hit me with its incredibly sinister and blood-chilling environment and atmosphere. I was not prepared to delve into this kind of expirience at that time, having not fully immersed myself yet into STALKER universe and Lovecraftian horror, but now thanks to you I'm definitely going to catch up on that!
Exploring an hostile location but being on the lookout for pockets of replenishing environment agents is something I first experienced with Ecco the Dolphin (An undersea game where you play as something that breathes air. So yeah, you need to constantly find air pockets or air bubbles), and I have to say, nothing makes you more scared of going into a dark, winding tunnel and have you pace around mentally preparing, than knowing beforehand that while inside, you will have a timer hanging over your head. I like the idea of doing it with lights, because that sounds like something you just want to have in every environment regardless, without any players questioning its in-canon reasoning for being there.
Wow. I played this years ago and forgot what it was. I still recall goggling at the melting ice, freaking out being attacked with an axe while trying to stay warm, the flashback style story telling and the nuts finale. Not many games stick in my memory like that. On par with Butcher Bay and HL1/2 in that respect. Thumbs up and subbed for randomly helping me!
My god I found your channel on accident when I was looking for inspiration on how to make an audible essay for darkwood and I have become entrapped in a rabbit hole of these great videos
Very enjoyable video. Have you heard of The Shore? It's an Eldritch horror game made by a small dev team recently released. I'd love to hear you talk more about games with good Lovecraftian and Cosmic horror angles.
I'm glad you did this video. I've always been curious about cryostasis. One thing I have to say is I appreciate you putting your sponsor mention where you did. It was after a good bit of content and felt relevant. Too many channels put their sponsor at the beginning or the end as if they want to just get it out of the way even though they try to look happy. In this case it was more like a commercial where I'd give enough time to decide to continue the video, and was drawn in enough that the sponsor part felt more like it was the work to earn the next part making it more satisfying. I get the sponsor pays the bills so is often necessary, but you did it well and seemed to care.
Aaah this man's voice... when i'm not feeling ok, need to sleep but my mind wont let me, i like to put one of Ragnar's videos (always the one's i've already watched and payed enough attention to) and put it on, just focusing in his voice. It's so calming, so beautiful, so conforting. I've been in love with his voice for a few years now.
Agreed. My girlfriend always has me put several of his videos in a playlist (that I've already watched of course) to help her sleep. She's not a gamer, but has had to listen while I've watched his videos, and loves his voice and that amazing accent.
I always loved how cold this game feels. I really ever only saw the first hour or so cause my PC at the time ran it at 10fps tops, and even later my laptops were running it really poorly. At the time I kind of resorted to watching a let's play of it and I just loved a lot of its mechanics and ideas.
The inspiration seems so obvious, but it still only really hit me while watching this video breakdown of the mechanics. Gamedevs standing on the shoulders of innovators is what builds the industry.
I came to watch this video because as I was going through some boxes I haven't opened in many, many years I came across my copy of Cryostasis that I bought even longer ago. Installing now as I watch this to relive this gem.
My dear Ragnar, it's been a few days since i discovered you channel and i've learned so much about games i didn't know. Pathology, Void, Rule of Rose... This one is definitely entering in my list to play with. I'm a huge fan of the stalker series. I am thrilled by slavic melancholic atmosphere and enviroment storytelling. It reflects a lot of the pieces broken inside my soul and ushers how new life can be born from the ugliests and most desolate of places. I remember well the moments in Metro where children play and in Stalker the moment where in the camp there is a guy jamming the guitar. So much beauty. I don't have the money to support you on Patreon, i live in Brazil and as much as it pains me to say, the situation here is only getting worse. But i hope my words can reach your heart in the warmest of tones. Thank you for your content
I'm glad to see the video about my favorite game, which I play time by time. I would like to talk about story and enemy design, which depicts their "sins" or identity before the change. The protagonist probably is dead or close to it for the most part of the game. But not succumbed to it, whether because of the help of Kronos, the god of time, or thanks to his own strength of mind. Enemies are not mutated, they willingly changed to exist in new conditions. In my interpretation, the Cold or maybe the Death is a supernatural opposing entity. The people you can help are always strong-willed people who fought to the end and their bodies have radiating warm hearts(like in Danko's story). They didn't change, they just died. On the contrary, those, who succumbed to the hardships, embraced their fate, were embraced by the Cold and given new non-life in a dormant, thoughtless state. That's why they are hostile to the protagonist, bringer of heat/life/change. His mere presence threatens their non-life. Some of the people you saved, later may succumb and change. In some back trips, you see certain people as monsters, while other people see them as regular men. Their deeds influenced their new form. For example, there is an enemy in military form, with metal legs and a small prison cell in their head. They walk loudly and light pours from their lit cell. Another enemy is covered with pieces of metal, his face covered with a metal mask with two big nails in eye sockets. Cell keys weld to his hands like brass knuckles. Feels like both of them were treating prisoners badly. There are heavy parallels with the Danko story by Maxim Gorky, which excerpts are scattered around the game. In short, Danko led his tribe through the dangerous and hard-come forest. It's hard to walk, some people die from poisonous fumes. Big storm breaks out and terrified by it, deaths, and other hardships, people of the tribe began to blame Danko for everything. In a blind rage, they want to kill Danko and go back. In his desire to help his people Danko rips his heart and raises it in his hand like a lantern. Light from his burning heart chased away the darkness and cleared the way out of the forest. Led by his light, the tribe got out. Danko was left behind and died from a wound. Game does not show directly who is the Danko. I think it may be the protagonist, the Captain, and even the Ship. Alexander Nesterov brings life to the ship in spite of his denizens and the Cold. The Captain led his ship with his experience and intuition. And with help of the crew. When the crew lost faith in him, everything went south. The ship is an atomic icebreaker, perhaps, his heart is atomic reactor. Or it is the Captain because the reactor explodes when the Captain's body gets carried away in a helicopter.
I watched The Terror because of a friend's rec this year and I could NOT pinpoint why exactly it made me feel like I did. As in, I was oddly attracted to that atmosphere of being-stuck-in-the-pack-ice-we-must-do-everything-to-survive. Until I came across this video and holy shit you opened my eyes. I played this when I was 14 yo and even though my English was not good at that time, the story was incredibly comprehensive without me having to read or understand what was going on. And the feeling stuck. I can't believe this is a 10-hour campaign when I feel like I've played at least 50 hours when I was young. The sound of "warming up" is imprinted in my brain. The freezing patterns on all metals, I feel like I can see them behind my eyelids. Well done with this video, I am another person
I recently found out about this game and was pleasantly surprised. Despite the fact that this game was released in 2008, it still looks very nice. I was very pleased with the plot and aesthetics of this game.
"How I learned to stop worrying and love the jank" -Words spoken in the deep mind of anyone who really just decided they wanted something new and innovating over more and the same over and over and over... IE basically anyone into tactical shooters after the Tom Clancy franchise dropped us off a short cliff on it's way to get a pack of cigarettes in Vegas... (it didn't come back...).
i've watched playthroughs of cryostasis a couple times, and this game never fails to make me feel absolutely cold. you've know you've done a good job when you can make someone experience psychosomatic frostbite
Been avodiing all things stalker cos damn are my hype levels in danger of running away from me... and now you got me thinking about walking the zone again. Chort!
How serendipitous that I was trying to remember the name of this game for WEEKS and as soon as I give up trying to find it, this video gets released, so thanks!
Always love your content, but also especially love how you took elements of NIN's "Theme from Tetsuo: The Bullet Man" for your intro. Excellent choice. :)
I am very happy that I picked this one out of the 5€ bin in a game store on a school trip. Having no expectations from it, I came out with a deep fascination for the game and I sill hold some very outstanding moments of horror in my memory. Still got the copy but sadly - as many more games from pre 2010 - it stopped working on Win10... what a shame.
there is a number of different patches for this game, at least one official (from publisher 1C), some semi-official (the weird nvidia physx one). last time I saw a good description of those in a buccaneer forum topic... so sad that the game was basically shitcanned by the publisher
Hey Ragnar I would like to point out, at 14:37 you mention that it’s funny that you get colder when you get shot, I think the developers wanted to use and add the fact that blood loss does cause a drop in temperature, and nothing causes a quicker temperature drop than some lead injections.
It saddens me that this game never got the recognition it deserved. You can tell the devs put everything into the project. Thank you for covering this game.
It's great to see almost all of the games on this channel that I think no one else has played in the world and that was interesting to me for a reason I didn't know as a kid.
I've actually played this game for like 2 hours like 7-8 years ago I think? Now I really wanna replay it and can't wait to get my hands on it again. Great video as always!
13:03 - This reminded me of the frost system in Genshin Impact's Dragonspine. Unless you're standing next to a heat source, you're constantly raising your frost bar, and once that bar is full you start to lose health until you either die or find a source of heat. Going into water or getting hit with ice attacks raises this bar even faster. While this makes it harder to explore the Dragonspine environment because you're constantly clinging to any source of heat you can find, it definitely changes the way you think about the routes you need to take to navigate the mountain. You can't just climb any random point like you would in other places in the game, you need to plan your path so you can reach another hot spot. It's a bit annoying in the full context of the game, considering Dragonspine is currently the only area in the game where this happens, but it's still an interesting mechanic.
I still remember back in the day when a popular youtuber gave it a shot, out of the blue, started and finished this game. with issues, but he commited and man what a game indeed.
@@RagnarRoxShow That sounds lovely! Hope you're doing well, and just to let you know, I adore the content you make. It brings me a lot of joy and has been one of my constants throughout quarantine!
I'm lucky enough to have played this shortly after launch. I really enjoyed it and I appreciated it had a happy ending after all the misery you went through to get to it.
I played this game on my stepdads pc like 5 or so years ago. I remember how terrified ptsd riddled 13 year old me was of the psychological strategies employed by this game. Still my one of my favorite horror games to this day and I still play it to this day. The disc is starting to show wear, sadly
I still remember the illustrated intro of the game, from when i watched some gameplay of it years ago, and how beautiful and folkloric felt. Thank you for the in depth review, and specially for the really cool footage of the animated water/ice, it looks amazing! A shame that it's a bit of a hidden detail due to technology patenting. I didn't know that it's the same dev studio that made Carnivores, one of my favorite childhood games
always wanted to play this since i saw a physx demo. the water physics looked incredible and the atmosphere of the game was so intriguing. by the time i had a pc capable it had been deleted from distribution. great to see this vid
This is a great analysis of the game! Cryostasis is on my list of most underrated horror games for all of the reasons you listed. I hope the devs find a way to remake or re-release it so more people get to experience it.
Zone-Punk is definitely still a thing. Back before Covid, we used to run smaller scale post-apoc events with direct inspiration from STALKER and titles like Cryostasis. This one truly is a Forgotten Gem!
Great video, I subscribed to your channel. I played Cryostasis when it came out,. I remember trailers before the game came out showing PhysX engine stuff. So cool!!!
I've been binging your content for the last few days and I gotta say you're doing amazingly! About the mosin-nagant, I think part of the reason why the devs included it might have been because it was something that could theoretically have been found onboard a nuclear icebreaker, as if I remember right, all of your weapons are ones that could theoretically be fashioned out of stuff that would be on said ship. If you're hunting polar bears from the deck of the ship, the hugely-zoomed scope makes sense, since it wasn't meant to be used INSIDE the ship.
Interesting coincidence that I just watched Grim Beard's review of this game posted in 2017, and then youtobe recommend your version of review. You guys really makes me appreciate this game. Thank you for your good work!
don't know why but i've recently been craving for these kinds of lonesome, chilling horror experiences... gotta say my thanks to mr ragnar for always shedding light on those games! (also accepting any suggestions you people may have)
I've also had thought about highlighting lesser known creators or indie titles in the after credits in certain videos. So I certainly certainly think you should keep it up! Great way to get some word of mouth out there. And it could be a good way of spotlighting titles which might not warrant a full video for one reason or another.
I saw gameplay of this game years ago and have always struggled to find anything about it until now ! THANK YOU This game was such an influence on me. Glad to hear I'm not the only one
This is literally the first time that I have heard about this game! And the first video I have seen by this channel! Big double whammy, and a hell of a first introduction to you, RagnarRox. New subscriber instantly. XD
Really glad you've drawn people's attention to this game. It's so underrated even in Post-Soviet states for which it was initially designed. I just wish you had mentioned extracts from The Flaming Heart of Danko story by Maxim Gorky: these pieces scattered around the ship play an important role in the game's narrative, linking the protagonist with Danko himself.
Every video you make my list of games increases, I really need to retire so I'll have the time to get to them all, that being said this still remains my favorite channel on RUclips, can't wait for the next video.
all these forgotten games and specifically forgotten horror games are so fun to learn about! there's probably a ton of work and love put into these games only for them to get lost to time... which is perhaps the true horror??
I feel like this is what every I’ve level should be like ! Love these videos bee binging them especially since I haven’t had access to a decent desktop for years so I really appreciate these. Videos one day I’ll play this , pathologic etc etc Thank you for the essays and your presentation is brilliant I have no troupes. Well done brilliant work even as I go backwards to episodes the quality consistency is unbelievable the newer videos are obvious more crisp and fresh but they all hold the test of time. Brilliant work basically ahah
It is so sad that I have to miss all these gems because I suffer of (First-person) game sickness. I cannot stand for 5 min without getting headaches, dizzy or feeling like puking. But they are so beautiful. Thanks for the review, because thanks to it I can get some idea of the game and feel the atmosphere by your dialog.
An articulate and appreciative review of a near forgotten game. Cryostasis was brilliant in its own unique way, and I'm glad to hear you give the game its due.
I think there is a meta aspect to this game that helps explain both its entire story and the weirdness of the health system. Your character was the researcher who had died upon discovering the wreck. For the entirety of the game until the ending your dead. You are fighting against time itself (quite literally with the Chronos boss fight) to reverse the damage to the ship, undo the disaster, and save the crew, to save yourself.
Awesome review of this title! But I think you might be wrong on PhysX not working I had it running just fine on my 1080Ti when I made a water physics video. I think you may just need to have the PhysX runtime installed from a more modern title on your machine?
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
So excellent as always. No kidding in that it's still some of the best conveyed freezing feelings in games.
Thank you Mandy! 🙏
I am fanboying in my chair so hard reading you two interact. Makes my day! Thank you!
I like how just seeing this comment was enough to get me to subscribe to this channel I've never been to before
I concur. This and The Long Dark convey the cold better than I’ve seen other games do.
Hey Mandy!
There's just a special something about slavic art. I don't know how to explain it, but you see it in games, in films, in literature and in music. It's just special
It has this depressing, melancholy erie aura surrounding it.
It is one born of hardship.
True. Darkwood, Stalker, Metro, The Witcher, This War of Mine, Frostpunk, Pathologic, to name a few, are oppresive and awe inspiring games in its darkness and horror. I liked polish and russian cinema first, then when I knew about this series of games, I became depressingly happy lol
те прост показалось
My family is Slovakian, and I wholeheartedly agree. There's an odd sort of...not sure what to call it, but you just know you're experiencing Slavic art when you see it. It's unmistakable. I love it so much. 💜
Not gonna lie, when RagnarRox said that the game developers tried to make you feel the very cold that the game portrays, he spoke absolute truths. I live in the Caribbean and I have never even seen real life snow, heck I feel cold at 25 degrees Celsius - but damn if just watching that game didn't make me shiver.
...
...
Also my 5 year old brain refuses to let me ignore the fact that RagnarRox said "seamen".
I knew that people would comment on the sea-men ^^
@@RagnarRoxShow You couldnt wait to get the "seamen" out of your mouth?
Do you really feel cold at 25 C? I live in france and at this temperature, we kinda walk around naked
@@RagnarRoxShow I appreciate how meticulously
you pronounced it to not make it sound like a semen.
@@targard.quantumfrack6854 I really do. My country is not the hottest in the world, of course, but in recent years you can really see the changes.
The temperature used to have an average of 26-28 degrees on a given day. That's risen to 28-30 degrees (and seems to keep rising). Being used to that range, when it hits 23-25 degrees at nights or on rainy days, I do indeed start to feel very cold.
Fun fact I was mistakenly bought this game as a kid by my grandparents who mistook this for the game I actually wanted at the time, Crysis. Instead i got this, and at first i thought 'Wtf is this' but without the heart to correct my elders mistake I installed the game and ended up playing a game that stuck in my mind for years. I thought I was the only person who knew it existed, none of my friends had ever heard of it and there isn't much online about it. Nice to see it getting some recognition. Great video man.
edit: I actually have a boxed copy of this somewhere if you want it, idk if you enjoy physical copies of hard to find things lol.
Hey if he hasn't claimed it yet, can I have it?
There was a GOG version still floating around, if'n ye be willin' to brave the scurvy seas.
Also it's available on abandonware sites, arrr.
@@RagnarRoxShow s-senpai noticed me :
Same goes for the 2005 Area 51 FPS. I think it did the seeing the environment through your weapon scope before Cryostasis did.
And that game was released on Xbox, PS2, and pc.
Shame, i was hoping to pick this up on Steam or something ;w;
GOG is in no way pirating but you tried
I played this game on harsh winter, when my house was literally freezing, that was quite an experience.
😅
Please, cover more of the forgotten and obscure games! It's always fun to find something cool that went under the radar.
Obscure 1 and 2 😎
Y'all should raise the Skull and Crossbones for this one. Pretty easy to find out on them seas.
Ahoy!
I find it hilarious that game companies hate piracy so much, but then do stuff like this so gamers have no choice BUT to pirate these games!
@@WobblesandBean Back in the day, I bought Bioshock and DL a crack because of their fucked up DRM. Sometimes, hackers are the solution to problems some companies create for themselves.
@@scotcheggable These days, I get a crack and then if I like the game, I buy it. People give CDPR a lot of crap but they have been ballsy enough to release Cyberpunk on GOG, which means that it doesn't even need a crack.
@@targard.quantumfrack6854 CDPR are the owners of GOG, of course they'd release it there! 😆
As always RagnarRox's ability to speak so poetically of a game has left me in awe. Cryostasis was a game that I haven't thought of in years and seeing this brought back a lot of love I had for the game as a kid.
Agreed. His use of the English language is sublime. He uses the language far more effectively than most native English-speakers.
I love learning about these games I would have never personally found
It always brightens up my day when one of your videos comes out! I'm going to save it for later, when I can watch it calmly and enjoy it! I already said this in another video, but seeing you analyze Darkwood made me so happy! It's one of my favorite games ever, together with the Cat Lady and others you covered on this channel
Thank you so much
DONT mind me, just using words the algorithm favors, like: great, life-changing, brilliant, insightful, and incredible.
Thanks for the vid gonna try and post some smart and insightful comment but for now, I wanna feed the algorithm gods
That trick doesn't actually work, but it's the thought that counts. 💜
@@WobblesandBean Really? I thought leaving a comment boosts the video stats within the algorithm. I still watch the ads since I'm to broke to help out on patroon
@@Brilchan ruclips.net/video/9V5dwuYaaIs/видео.html
Don't know if you're familiar with The Spiffing Brit,if not I would recommend wholeheartedly.Link above should take you to rather interesting and hilarious vid.
Enjoy.
Love someone finally giving this game some credit. It's one of my all time favorites, with one of the best video game stories ever, and the way it's told organically is fantastic. It's jank to end all jank though, the gameplay is fine, very smooth and modern, but I don't think I've ever seen such a technical disaster.
In the last few chapters of the game I was crashing so often that essentially every time I did anything at all, like entering a new area or killing a single enemy encounter, I'd quicksave, because it'd crash to desktop like every 10-15 minutes. The fact that it was compelling enough for me to spend hours of gameplay like that speaks volumes.
I got this game when it came out and I didn't think anyone even knew it existed, everyone I spoke to had never heard of it. Amen to being compelled to work through the jank, I played that game through blocks of 10fps firefights and I enjoyed it dammit.
This makes my Slav heart happy 💜 Oh, also Ragnar, Bean laid an egg! We're gonna have baby Wobbeans soon!
Славик? Это ты ,Славик, Слава?!?!
@@Stret173 Jiný druh Slovana, já jsem Čech 💜
@@Stret173 чел, что ты тут забыл, если не знаешь английского? Slav = slavic = славянский. Собственно, почему у всяких Вячеславов и Светославов это в имени.
@@Readysetheal i know еnglish quite well oh indeed, but thanks for unneeded explanation anyway ля люблю постненько пошутить даи заодно отметить насколько неглубоко и мономерно эти англицкие господа понимают наш контекст собна и всё тут
@Readysetheal бред 😸
Just realized that the memory system reminds me of Obra Dinn where you see the last moments of a corpse.
I genuinely wondered if Lucas Pope took some inspiration from this game for Obra Dinn
@@RagnarRoxShow Probably a coincidence but who knows. Unless asked from the man himself.
I was trying to find someone else who thought that cause 100%
I remember watching a lets play of this like ten years ago, even watching secondhand I still remember the bonkers spider enemies and the feeling of relief and comfort when finding a simple hot pipe in the wall. Great video, I never though i'd see this game again!
This is one of my favorite horror games. I was completely devastated when I tried to recommend it to a friend recently and found out it was pulled from stores.
I don't know what to say to this Masterpiece. This comment is just for the Algorithm!
You could say you’re motivated?
Papa Rox is spoiling us with spooky content this week
we are so lucky
....uhjjhgh...jhggjk. Por favor seNor: no petnames for the Rox-Man. Oh shoot. I did it to-
I have the honor to say i enjoyed playing this gem back in the day a few months after it's release because i'm a PC gamer since i have memory and i was amazed by the graphics quality in environment effects and pshyx interaction with hot or cold things specially during every cutscene when activating the mental echoes where i was completely immersed into the desperate situations the crew experienced before their deaths and the transition to the new altered reality in the present after changing things in the past but also the jumpscares and the search for heat sources made it so memorable as if it was more of a survival horror game than an horror first person shooter. It's a fantastic new experience but gives familiar vibes as when you discover the dark secrets of Rapture in Bioshock or explore the intriguing and hopeless past in SOMA.
I always got fascinated by these incredible games ahead of their time and i wish i had time to play them again now but i'm thankful youtubers like him make these nostalgic and interesting videos about our childhood iconic games that we all love so much 😊
Finally someone talked about this masterpiece!
One thing to add: as the story progresses you uncover this old legend (from Basarabia) "The Flaming Heart of Danko".
I remember reading about this game back when I was much younger. I then played an hour of it and was too scared to continue. However, upon revisiting I really like the plot and the ideas that are in this game. Great video :)
Same, this video gave me the biggest sense of deja vu, back to when I was like 6 and played a level on my dad's Pentium 4 laptop. So weird to see something you recognize but could never quite put your finger on.
I remember playing this after picking a copy up at a Staples or some office supply store and falling in love with it. Great sense of atmosphere and some clever health mechanics.
I can still remember the atmosphere, the feelings this game could awaken.
I libed it, it was scary and erie due to it happening inside of a ship in a frozen waste land
After a couple minutes into the video I realised that I remember this game from a very long time ago when I was a kid. I remember how strongly it hit me with its incredibly sinister and blood-chilling environment and atmosphere. I was not prepared to delve into this kind of expirience at that time, having not fully immersed myself yet into STALKER universe and Lovecraftian horror, but now thanks to you I'm definitely going to catch up on that!
Exploring an hostile location but being on the lookout for pockets of replenishing environment agents is something I first experienced with Ecco the Dolphin (An undersea game where you play as something that breathes air. So yeah, you need to constantly find air pockets or air bubbles), and I have to say, nothing makes you more scared of going into a dark, winding tunnel and have you pace around mentally preparing, than knowing beforehand that while inside, you will have a timer hanging over your head. I like the idea of doing it with lights, because that sounds like something you just want to have in every environment regardless, without any players questioning its in-canon reasoning for being there.
Wow. I played this years ago and forgot what it was. I still recall goggling at the melting ice, freaking out being attacked with an axe while trying to stay warm, the flashback style story telling and the nuts finale. Not many games stick in my memory like that. On par with Butcher Bay and HL1/2 in that respect. Thumbs up and subbed for randomly helping me!
As a slav I enjoy these types of videos a lot.
Same 💜 Jste také Slovák?
Pozdrav ,jel toplo more?
Feed us more existential dread zaddy
Zone punk. Have you officially coined this phrase ?!!? I’ve been searching for this genre name forever.
My god I found your channel on accident when I was looking for inspiration on how to make an audible essay for darkwood and I have become entrapped in a rabbit hole of these great videos
Very enjoyable video. Have you heard of The Shore? It's an Eldritch horror game made by a small dev team recently released. I'd love to hear you talk more about games with good Lovecraftian and Cosmic horror angles.
Seeing you've uploaded a video fills me with joy. The videos themselves are always worth watching immediately (and probably watching again later).
I'm glad you did this video. I've always been curious about cryostasis.
One thing I have to say is I appreciate you putting your sponsor mention where you did. It was after a good bit of content and felt relevant. Too many channels put their sponsor at the beginning or the end as if they want to just get it out of the way even though they try to look happy. In this case it was more like a commercial where I'd give enough time to decide to continue the video, and was drawn in enough that the sponsor part felt more like it was the work to earn the next part making it more satisfying.
I get the sponsor pays the bills so is often necessary, but you did it well and seemed to care.
Aaah this man's voice... when i'm not feeling ok, need to sleep but my mind wont let me, i like to put one of Ragnar's videos (always the one's i've already watched and payed enough attention to) and put it on, just focusing in his voice.
It's so calming, so beautiful, so conforting. I've been in love with his voice for a few years now.
Agreed. My girlfriend always has me put several of his videos in a playlist (that I've already watched of course) to help her sleep. She's not a gamer, but has had to listen while I've watched his videos, and loves his voice and that amazing accent.
I always loved how cold this game feels. I really ever only saw the first hour or so cause my PC at the time ran it at 10fps tops, and even later my laptops were running it really poorly. At the time I kind of resorted to watching a let's play of it and I just loved a lot of its mechanics and ideas.
Would there have been a Return of the Obra Dinn without Cryostasis? (probably, but there are parallels)
The inspiration seems so obvious, but it still only really hit me while watching this video breakdown of the mechanics.
Gamedevs standing on the shoulders of innovators is what builds the industry.
@@HCBYRD i mean, people can also just come up with similar ideas independent of eachother too sometimes. it happens
I came to watch this video because as I was going through some boxes I haven't opened in many, many years I came across my copy of Cryostasis that I bought even longer ago. Installing now as I watch this to relive this gem.
My dear Ragnar, it's been a few days since i discovered you channel and i've learned so much about games i didn't know. Pathology, Void, Rule of Rose... This one is definitely entering in my list to play with. I'm a huge fan of the stalker series. I am thrilled by slavic melancholic atmosphere and enviroment storytelling. It reflects a lot of the pieces broken inside my soul and ushers how new life can be born from the ugliests and most desolate of places. I remember well the moments in Metro where children play and in Stalker the moment where in the camp there is a guy jamming the guitar. So much beauty. I don't have the money to support you on Patreon, i live in Brazil and as much as it pains me to say, the situation here is only getting worse. But i hope my words can reach your heart in the warmest of tones. Thank you for your content
I'm glad to see the video about my favorite game, which I play time by time.
I would like to talk about story and enemy design, which depicts their "sins" or identity before the change. The protagonist probably is dead or close to it for the most part of the game. But not succumbed to it, whether because of the help of Kronos, the god of time, or thanks to his own strength of mind.
Enemies are not mutated, they willingly changed to exist in new conditions. In my interpretation, the Cold or maybe the Death is a supernatural opposing entity. The people you can help are always strong-willed people who fought to the end and their bodies have radiating warm hearts(like in Danko's story). They didn't change, they just died.
On the contrary, those, who succumbed to the hardships, embraced their fate, were embraced by the Cold and given new non-life in a dormant, thoughtless state. That's why they are hostile to the protagonist, bringer of heat/life/change. His mere presence threatens their non-life. Some of the people you saved, later may succumb and change. In some back trips, you see certain people as monsters, while other people see them as regular men.
Their deeds influenced their new form. For example, there is an enemy in military form, with metal legs and a small prison cell in their head. They walk loudly and light pours from their lit cell.
Another enemy is covered with pieces of metal, his face covered with a metal mask with two big nails in eye sockets. Cell keys weld to his hands like brass knuckles. Feels like both of them were treating prisoners badly.
There are heavy parallels with the Danko story by Maxim Gorky, which excerpts are scattered around the game. In short, Danko led his tribe through the dangerous and hard-come forest. It's hard to walk, some people die from poisonous fumes. Big storm breaks out and terrified by it, deaths, and other hardships, people of the tribe began to blame Danko for everything. In a blind rage, they want to kill Danko and go back. In his desire to help his people Danko rips his heart and raises it in his hand like a lantern. Light from his burning heart chased away the darkness and cleared the way out of the forest. Led by his light, the tribe got out. Danko was left behind and died from a wound.
Game does not show directly who is the Danko. I think it may be the protagonist, the Captain, and even the Ship.
Alexander Nesterov brings life to the ship in spite of his denizens and the Cold.
The Captain led his ship with his experience and intuition. And with help of the crew. When the crew lost faith in him, everything went south.
The ship is an atomic icebreaker, perhaps, his heart is atomic reactor. Or it is the Captain because the reactor explodes when the Captain's body gets carried away in a helicopter.
I remember this from when I was a kid. Destroyed my computer, but it was still an amazing play. I'm happy someone is giving light to this gem.
Great video. Thank you. I really enjoyed it.
I watched The Terror because of a friend's rec this year and I could NOT pinpoint why exactly it made me feel like I did. As in, I was oddly attracted to that atmosphere of being-stuck-in-the-pack-ice-we-must-do-everything-to-survive. Until I came across this video and holy shit you opened my eyes. I played this when I was 14 yo and even though my English was not good at that time, the story was incredibly comprehensive without me having to read or understand what was going on. And the feeling stuck. I can't believe this is a 10-hour campaign when I feel like I've played at least 50 hours when I was young. The sound of "warming up" is imprinted in my brain. The freezing patterns on all metals, I feel like I can see them behind my eyelids. Well done with this video, I am another person
"ok, but can it run cry(osta)sis?"
I recently found out about this game and was pleasantly surprised. Despite the fact that this game was released in 2008, it still looks very nice. I was very pleased with the plot and aesthetics of this game.
"How I learned to stop worrying and love the jank" -Words spoken in the deep mind of anyone who really just decided they wanted something new and innovating over more and the same over and over and over... IE basically anyone into tactical shooters after the Tom Clancy franchise dropped us off a short cliff on it's way to get a pack of cigarettes in Vegas... (it didn't come back...).
i've watched playthroughs of cryostasis a couple times, and this game never fails to make me feel absolutely cold. you've know you've done a good job when you can make someone experience psychosomatic frostbite
Been avodiing all things stalker cos damn are my hype levels in danger of running away from me... and now you got me thinking about walking the zone again. Chort!
This game is 12 years old? I remember watching this with TheRadBrad in 2014.
How serendipitous that I was trying to remember the name of this game for WEEKS and as soon as I give up trying to find it, this video gets released, so thanks!
You made the exact same joke about Die Hard on a ship in the video about Resident Evil 7. I just watched it, and new I'd heard that before! XD
A true connoisseur! :D
@@RagnarRoxShow Thank you! I love your work!
(Also, I misspelled knew)
Not sure how RUclips recommended your channel but I’m thankful they did something right finally. Subbed
Always love your content, but also especially love how you took elements of NIN's "Theme from Tetsuo: The Bullet Man" for your intro. Excellent choice. :)
God I love this track so much.
I never heard of this until I saw a Let's Play on Something Awful years ago. It was such a trip watching it. Felt like a John Carpenter directed game.
I am very happy that I picked this one out of the 5€ bin in a game store on a school trip.
Having no expectations from it, I came out with a deep fascination for the game and I sill hold some very outstanding moments of horror in my memory.
Still got the copy but sadly - as many more games from pre 2010 - it stopped working on Win10... what a shame.
there is a number of different patches for this game, at least one official (from publisher 1C), some semi-official (the weird nvidia physx one). last time I saw a good description of those in a buccaneer forum topic... so sad that the game was basically shitcanned by the publisher
Hey Ragnar I would like to point out, at 14:37 you mention that it’s funny that you get colder when you get shot, I think the developers wanted to use and add the fact that blood loss does cause a drop in temperature, and nothing causes a quicker temperature drop than some lead injections.
I was always taught that ''slavic'' refers to a language group, but it looks like it apparently means ''freezing'' and ''shithole''
*despair*
ага, а ещё "па ешь га вна"
Hey c'mon now, it's more than just that. It's also very, very rainy.
I loved this game when I played it years ago. Thank you for an excellent analysis.
It saddens me that this game never got the recognition it deserved. You can tell the devs put everything into the project. Thank you for covering this game.
Can never get enough of STALKER and Cryostasis. Inject that atmosphere and world directly into my veins.
I wish this game has had a remaster, not gonna lie
It's great to see almost all of the games on this channel that I think no one else has played in the world and that was interesting to me for a reason I didn't know as a kid.
I've actually played this game for like 2 hours like 7-8 years ago I think? Now I really wanna replay it and can't wait to get my hands on it again. Great video as always!
13:03 - This reminded me of the frost system in Genshin Impact's Dragonspine. Unless you're standing next to a heat source, you're constantly raising your frost bar, and once that bar is full you start to lose health until you either die or find a source of heat. Going into water or getting hit with ice attacks raises this bar even faster. While this makes it harder to explore the Dragonspine environment because you're constantly clinging to any source of heat you can find, it definitely changes the way you think about the routes you need to take to navigate the mountain. You can't just climb any random point like you would in other places in the game, you need to plan your path so you can reach another hot spot. It's a bit annoying in the full context of the game, considering Dragonspine is currently the only area in the game where this happens, but it's still an interesting mechanic.
I still remember back in the day when a popular youtuber gave it a shot, out of the blue, started and finished this game. with issues, but he commited and man what a game indeed.
Radbrad
@@lukeism2 Lol you got it straight!
Another video after a week? Hella rad! I am looking forward to watching it!
Heck yes! I want to make 2-video months happen more often in 2021!
@@RagnarRoxShow That sounds lovely! Hope you're doing well, and just to let you know, I adore the content you make. It brings me a lot of joy and has been one of my constants throughout quarantine!
I'm lucky enough to have played this shortly after launch. I really enjoyed it and I appreciated it had a happy ending after all the misery you went through to get to it.
I played this game on my stepdads pc like 5 or so years ago. I remember how terrified ptsd riddled 13 year old me was of the psychological strategies employed by this game. Still my one of my favorite horror games to this day and I still play it to this day. The disc is starting to show wear, sadly
I still remember the illustrated intro of the game, from when i watched some gameplay of it years ago, and how beautiful and folkloric felt. Thank you for the in depth review, and specially for the really cool footage of the animated water/ice, it looks amazing! A shame that it's a bit of a hidden detail due to technology patenting.
I didn't know that it's the same dev studio that made Carnivores, one of my favorite childhood games
always wanted to play this since i saw a physx demo. the water physics looked incredible and the atmosphere of the game was so intriguing.
by the time i had a pc capable it had been deleted from distribution.
great to see this vid
This is a great analysis of the game! Cryostasis is on my list of most underrated horror games for all of the reasons you listed. I hope the devs find a way to remake or re-release it so more people get to experience it.
Zone-Punk is definitely still a thing. Back before Covid, we used to run smaller scale post-apoc events with direct inspiration from STALKER and titles like Cryostasis. This one truly is a Forgotten Gem!
Great video, I subscribed to your channel. I played Cryostasis when it came out,. I remember trailers before the game came out showing PhysX engine stuff. So cool!!!
I've been binging your content for the last few days and I gotta say you're doing amazingly! About the mosin-nagant, I think part of the reason why the devs included it might have been because it was something that could theoretically have been found onboard a nuclear icebreaker, as if I remember right, all of your weapons are ones that could theoretically be fashioned out of stuff that would be on said ship. If you're hunting polar bears from the deck of the ship, the hugely-zoomed scope makes sense, since it wasn't meant to be used INSIDE the ship.
Interesting coincidence that I just watched Grim Beard's review of this game posted in 2017, and then youtobe recommend your version of review. You guys really makes me appreciate this game. Thank you for your good work!
don't know why but i've recently been craving for these kinds of lonesome, chilling horror experiences... gotta say my thanks to mr ragnar for always shedding light on those games! (also accepting any suggestions you people may have)
Wow I remember when Cryotic was popular and I want some playlists that was years ago so it was super neat to see this come back in your video
I've also had thought about highlighting lesser known creators or indie titles in the after credits in certain videos.
So I certainly certainly think you should keep it up! Great way to get some word of mouth out there.
And it could be a good way of spotlighting titles which might not warrant a full video for one reason or another.
I saw gameplay of this game years ago and have always struggled to find anything about it until now ! THANK YOU This game was such an influence on me. Glad to hear I'm not the only one
What a pleasant surprise, I am happy to understand English to enjoy content like yours, greetings from Bolivia
This is literally the first time that I have heard about this game! And the first video I have seen by this channel! Big double whammy, and a hell of a first introduction to you, RagnarRox.
New subscriber instantly. XD
And not a word about "Danko" and "Old Izergil"?
Really glad you've drawn people's attention to this game. It's so underrated even in Post-Soviet states for which it was initially designed. I just wish you had mentioned extracts from The Flaming Heart of Danko story by Maxim Gorky: these pieces scattered around the ship play an important role in the game's narrative, linking the protagonist with Danko himself.
3:13 as a man who trying to find a easier visual platform this is much appreciated
Every video you make my list of games increases, I really need to retire so I'll have the time to get to them all, that being said this still remains my favorite channel on RUclips, can't wait for the next video.
all these forgotten games and specifically forgotten horror games are so fun to learn about! there's probably a ton of work and love put into these games only for them to get lost to time... which is perhaps the true horror??
Cryostasis was a true gem. So glad I played it before it literally vanished.
I feel like this is what every I’ve level should be like !
Love these videos bee binging them especially since I haven’t had access to a decent desktop for years so I really appreciate these. Videos one day I’ll play this , pathologic etc etc
Thank you for the essays and your presentation is brilliant I have no troupes. Well done brilliant work even as I go backwards to episodes the quality consistency is unbelievable the newer videos are obvious more crisp and fresh but they all hold the test of time. Brilliant work basically ahah
A fitting video to watch after a couple weeks’ worth of a bunch of ice and snow in Tennessee where I live.
It is so sad that I have to miss all these gems because I suffer of (First-person) game sickness. I cannot stand for 5 min without getting headaches, dizzy or feeling like puking. But they are so beautiful. Thanks for the review, because thanks to it I can get some idea of the game and feel the atmosphere by your dialog.
Name more iconic trio: Junk, slavic and underknown.
An articulate and appreciative review of a near forgotten game. Cryostasis was brilliant in its own unique way, and I'm glad to hear you give the game its due.
I think there is a meta aspect to this game that helps explain both its entire story and the weirdness of the health system. Your character was the researcher who had died upon discovering the wreck. For the entirety of the game until the ending your dead. You are fighting against time itself (quite literally with the Chronos boss fight) to reverse the damage to the ship, undo the disaster, and save the crew, to save yourself.
Watched this video again, fell in love with the idea again, and bought the physical game to give it a try
Awesome review of this title! But I think you might be wrong on PhysX not working I had it running just fine on my 1080Ti when I made a water physics video. I think you may just need to have the PhysX runtime installed from a more modern title on your machine?
Came here from your comment on a Mandalore vid. I'm not disappointed, keep up the great vids!
Leaving a comment so that the algorithm doesn't condemn this excellent video to the frozen depths.
Played this game many years ago but never actually finished it because frustration of awful optimization on top of my potato PC LOL
The only thing I need in my life, is a YIIK review by Mandalore and RagnarRox to complete my holy collection of YIIK reviews.