Psychonauts 2 and Addiction: Bob Zanotto
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- This video will analyze the psychological theme of addiction as it appears in Agent Zanotto's mind I Psychonauts 2. Doublefine have crafted a character and a level that is loaded with depth, metaphors and symbolism for understanding the mind of an alcoholic. Join me as I explore it to a pretty nauseating degree!
If you liked this analysis... get help. But maybe also consider sticking around for more deep dives. High chance I cover more of these wonderfully designed levels!
Credits:
Includes footage from Psychonauts, Psychonauts 2, and Psychonauts by Double Fine Productions. (And Her, Blades of Glory lol.)
Psychonauts 2 was written by Tim Schafer, and co-directed by Tim Schafer and Zak McClendon. Psychonauts 2 OST by Peter McConnell.
Everything about the way this level was made sold me on this being my game of the year. The depiction of alcoholism and spiraling out of control, the fact that it was triggered by grief as well as the latent issues with his mother. Also, their depiction of a non-stereotypical gay couple (and the fact that none of the characters in the game even acted like it was worth commenting on, just normal) was fantastic. I love this game so much.
unfortunate that it didn't even get an award this game deserved so much more than what it was given
So you also love the fact that all of that you just mentioned didn't matter when a 10-year-old acrobat with an enormous head tells you to stop whining so you can act like a normal person for 5 seconds all for the privilege of stopping a royal brat from making an old woman angry?
I'm surprised you didn't mention in the mind version of the motherlobe, he has fitments of himself (or friends?) drinking in the area, showing even more that he probably drank on the job which is probably what resulted in the firing ... thanks, this is an amazing analysis, there's a lot of things I missed as symbolism!
Thanks! Yeah I had a ton of notes on figments but I kept that section pretty short in the video to avoid it being too long (a possible mistake on my part lol). I wrote- "looks like people greeting him in the lobby of the motherlobe- figment of his imagination being more popular at work?" definitely interesting to think about! I also think you're right about the figments hinting at him drinking on the job. The broken tiles revealing that he's loosing his grip on work. The place being filled with water revealing that he's "drowned himself in alcohol at work". Thanks for the great comment!
Actually he did something that caused harm to others the dialogue in game if you wait long enough Bob will say I know people got hurt but nobody died
Something i personally dwelled on was the choice of a Moth.
The moth only initially appears when you near one of the seeds which are as bright as lamps. My thought is that the moth also symbolizes that despite you wanting to escape and avoid the causes of one's depression. Like a moth drawn to a light, you can't avoid getting drawn to it and be reminded why you are in the present state. Reinforcing the depression and feeding the addiction.
Nodded my head the whole way through reading this. Fascinating comment my guy! Love the symbolism there!
Something to note, might be a myth but regardless
Moths are attracted to alcohol
@@mrmcgee6026I know this is an old comment, but not just a myth! A study in 2008 showed that 35 species of moths were attracted to alcohol
also, something to point out about bob's bottles is that for as much as the moth is trying to hinder raz's progress in helping bob reclaim his old memories/relationships, it's only because of that meddling that we get to see both why those memories are so painful, and still so necessary to bob's fading psyche. so in a weird way, bob's addiction/fear of pain is what helps raz take steps to truly help him
I think it's also telling that bottles make up platforms for a lot of the level so you, like Bob, quite literally depend on the bottles to make it through. I found Pyschonauts 2 a bit more of a mixed bag than Psychonauts 1 but Bob's Brain was an absolute masterpiece in both mechanical and narrative level design.
While I agree that I liked Psychonauts 1 more overall as well, Psychonauts 2 does have its moments!
I played them back to back for the first time and I thought 2 was even better than the first one.
I think 2 was more cohesive overall.
I don't really think there were any option other than to fire Bob. In the memory it shows how he was becoming a danger to himself and others on missions and was refusing to getting help to solve his alcoholism. Speaking as someone who has alcoholics in the family his disease distorts his view of reality. So where we see Truman in his mind talking about how he just loves to fire people; that is Bob's disease distorting his view of reality. In the memory vault we see that Truman is crying over the fact that he had a fire is uncle and once again Bob is rejecting any means getting help. As we go deeper into the mind we hear a voiceover of Bob rejecting to go to what sounds like AA or rehabilitation; rationalizing the negative effects he disese is having om his loved ones so he does not have to admit he has a problem. They were trying to help, but he would not accept it.
Well not pleasant at a certain point with an alcoholic you need to protect yourself.
You make an excellent point, at the end of the day it's Bob himself that needs to accept help and make an effort to change. I also couldn't agree more with protecting yourself, not enabling destructive behavior with a passive attitude toward it, and being mindful of how someone will distort reality. I think it's why I like the ending of this level so much- in a way he symbolically has to fight back against his own distortions (the plant monsters that he's created) in order to free himself. It's as though he can't let his lies take over. Powerful stuff. Also love that you've dealt with this personally and seem very aware of the scope of alcoholism. As a psych teacher I try to help all of my students understand the full picture of addiction and how important it is to truly understand how it happens/ what it looks like.
I definitely agree - though the fact he lets Raz into his mind suggests Bob might have been open to less traditional forms of mental management. I don't know - in a world with psychics, I feel like it's possible to go in and assist someone with their inner demons... especially if you're a successful psychic superagent. Idk.
@@3heads0thoughts Depends on the person and the approach for sure, but this strategy is definitely in line with 12 step/ alcoholics anon- those sponsors are heroes without capes.
@@misterdonlon Of course. It's just... Hm. It feels like there's an odd contrast. Raz is driven away the first attempt, but once he reenters, Bob is more willing to accept help - or at least, doesn't reject it. He was having emotional outbursts in line with expected behavior. I know all of this is in-line with real world solutions... I just wish we got a better answer for why "Help Bob" ended up being a mission only Raz could accomplish.
@@3heads0thoughts I feel like the time between his refusal of help before getting fired and how he is in the game is worth considering. Based on how he looks in the memory reel and how he looks now it's been a very long time and Raz was probably in the right place at the right time, and it's possible the fact that Raz was a third party helped.
When I started this level I thought "What weird or whacky level does the game have planned for me this time." And then it just ended up making me sad. It is my favorite level with how beautifully it tackles its environmental storytelling.
Couldn't agree more!!
“Man, I can’t wait for another wacky level-“
[2 Hours Later]
**Intense Crying**
Bob's Mind is fascinating...and as the son of a functioning alcoholic it resonated heavily with me. Bob's situation is really the inverse of Hollis' own problem: Instead of logic burying her emotions until they overflow Bob's own are pouring out erratically and ceaselessly due to his isolationism and loss of control due to the alcohol. Too much restraint vs. None.
This level is especially dark with its undertones, the destruction of Helmut's likeness in the third area being a very graphic way to show how his death affected poor Bob. One thing though that I only realized in hindsight was why the manifestation of his alcoholism was a moth: Moths and Butterflies are associated with illusions and dreams, sometimes even disorder/chaos (poison too with "toxic dust" from moths being a common game trope). What better way to show the source of a warped perception of reality and the retreat from issues/reality than a seemingly innocent moth with the voice of a child? It's devious, the perfect "most unexpected devil" with its knowledge of the problems while appearing to some part of Bob's mind attempting to shield him from harm.
I would have loved the Earth explanation so much if not for the fact that this comes from a game where you have to get a bunch of old people together to stop an old lady from getting angry about water by forcing there will to bend to your demands.
I was wondering why Bob's mental image of Lilith didn't sound like her. He didn't know what she sounded like because he never met her in person. Genius.
I've spent time in addiction recovery programs, and based on my experience I think Truman did everything right. Addiction is a disease, but it causes the addict to hurt people enough that an essential part of the recovery process involves making restitution to them. Many recovering addicts see things like probation laws as tools to help them get their heads screwed on straight, and the support program for loved ones of addicts explicitly emphasizes setting firm boundaries, including putting a distance between oneself and the addict if necessary, because letting them get away with bad behavior and shielding them from the consequences of their actions hinders their recovery. In Bob's case, we've seen how sensitive his job was, and there was no way he could do it safely in his condition, he probably hasn't met Lili because of the sort of behavior we saw meeting him, and yet Truman has kept track of his uncle at least enough to send him pictures of his daughter and apparently supports him when he comes back to the motherlode at the end. Props to Truman.
this was one of my favorite levels atmospherically. it just felt so different than most of the others. and when bob cried out "helmut would never say that!" during the boss fight... oof
I lost family members due to alcoholism. I know few people who currently are on a track of losing their lifes due to alcoholism. In these cases, people suffering are endlessly denying they have a problem, no matter how many times they are asked to seek help.
So when now i think about it, and think back to the Real Bob being harsh and screaming at Raz to get out, but Mind Bob asking him to stay, i realize that Raz could help Bob with his problem only because *Bob wanted that help.*
Like - the plants just placing the door on Bobs head and turning him around without his protests. He controls them, he could stop them from allowing Raz to get in.
Bob asked Raz to stay, but he didn't stop him from planting the seeds he knew he hid for some reason.
And during the boss fight, Raz did open the caccon, but the one who finally got Bob out of it was himself.
Raz didn't mess with any of Bobs mental connections like he did with Hollis. He didn't talk to Bob during the fight (probably because he was too busy trying not to die in a whirlwind, but still).
Bob took the Moth of his face by himself.
Bob could be helped because he desperately wanted it, but his issues prevented him from getting it untill someone just didn't let go and could get him on track to find the strength to fight his problem.
Long story short - Truman was right to fire him, he was wrong for allowing him to isolate himself like that.
The environmental storytelling of this entire level is absolutely stunning. But I think the best moment was when you enter the third bottle.
Every time you enter a bottle, you slide down it and reach the area at the bottom. But for the third bottle, the slide is much longer. As you slide down, you see a series of figments representing growing love, and then the loss of that love. Then you crash into the bottom of the bottle. It tells the entire story of exactly what went wrong, and when.
Another great take on this deep and serious level!
I personally interpreted the bottles of the stage to be metaphors not only for him trying to bottle up his feelings, but also the classic message in a bottle. Every sip he took was a cry for help from someone close to him. He knows he needs help, but he was clinging to the idea of getting it from someone close after losing loved ones. I bet that's why he makes such a big stink about the pamphlet that his nephew gave him. "I don't know these people!"
It finally got to the point where he *was* desperate enough to accept help from a stranger.
Thanks my guy! Excellent take too- it's interesting how many of these characters; when at their lowest and most vulnerable; reveal their desire to change the most
Something I thought of in relation to this video while rewatching was the specific scene with Helmut's statue reveal on the cake. Plant Bob lets out a massive burp, which we've attributed with him feeling like he drives everyone away (associated with the plant form effect on water) which leads to the cake cracking open to reveal "Helmut"s skeleton. Fast forward to the final boss, and Cactus Helmut's line to Raz. "If I loved him then why did I leave him all alone?" This would obviously imply that Bob was, again, obviously, upset that his husband had died and left him, but with these two scenes we also get the picture that Helmut's death was just another corpse to the pile for Bob. Another stack of trauma to fuel him. Hell based on the plant burp we just talked about, we could theorize that Bob had eventually internalized that he had driven Helmut away, or maybe in the moment of Maligula's battle, caused Helmut's death. Which would be a reasonable cycle of thought considering that Helmut dove into the torrent of water to protect Bob, as revealed via memory vault. With this internalization, it's almost like Bob is a walking, or I guess in this case, thinking contradiction. Not by choice obviously, but, well, he drowns himself in booze and isolation to avoid feeling things, yet due to his trauma his past is all he can ever think about when he isn't number than testes on ice. Bob refuses to leave the island because he's scared yes, but even still all that's left on that island are the graves (pots) of his former life. Former souls that mattered. And in all that time before Raz he can't revive them, or bury them, or even clean them up. Bob continues to deny and shun the past despite literally making home in it's tomb. He's been trying to shut it all out to free himself, but also let all the pain in to sit and never improve to torture himself. Over his failures, over his life. And toast them, with you guessed it, any number of bottles.
Something I actually recently noticed as I played through that wasn't mentioned, is how close the Emotion baggage tags are to the Emotional baggage itself.
Like as if to subtly say, Bob could easily sort it himself, he just chooses not to, and instead ignores it or drinks away his problems, the best example is the Purse and Purse tag in Tia's bottle, they're just a few hops away from each other
Nice find! I agree with you on this that it's absolutely intentional!
I'm gonna just add two more things I noticed here while looking for Figments;
In all of the fights there are No Judgements.
On the bottles in the water, a lot of them are generic in labeling, but one of them seemed to be an Excuse he'd probably say to himself, or- to others, I can't remember the exact name, but it said; "Stormy Weather". Like a "Saving it for a Rainy Day" jar.
Man, when i played the level, my mind instantly jumped to the botteling up feelings aspect of the mind, and while i still believe that was the main focus here, i hadnt even considered the alcoholic aspect of it also playing a role. Great video, would love to see more.
Thanks! And I think that's credit to the subliminal themes in this level. Most games would literally be like, "he is an alcoholic, here he is being an alcoholic... btw did we mention he is alcoholic?" But this level is much more intelligent than that. It has multiple double meanings and symbols that don't force players down a narrative path with just one take-away. Hopefully I'll have the next one up soon!
as we see at 11:40 there are figments of coworkers drinking, wich I need for my little point I saw noone talk about
drinking at first glance is seen as no big deal, from the moment you're legally allowed to drink it's treated like everyone will be responsible enough and you can just drink for fun and to celebrate
evry effect it has on you for a few cups is seen as good and you get encouraged, aftherall it's "time to stop being a child and to drink already" (I'm 23 so I've heard it)
this is definitly what gave Bob more room to get addicted, for a while it was a place where it didn't need to be hidden so there was more oppertunity to give into it
Nice detail! Possibly meaning he associates drinking as being mostly a socially acceptable thing.
What got me the most in this level was the very beginning. You get thrown on the island and just have no idea where to start. And while looking for the way you've time to sympathize with Bob for having no way out.
When you eventually find out that the solution is the door you created, this stresses this point of no escape even more, as it was you who spawned the door there. This shows better than anything that Bob could've never done it alone.
Interesting analysis my friend! There's great symbolism there with that door that you're hinting at really well. I think the doors and other things that are consistent with other minds (e.i. doors, half-minds, figments, vault locations) are used really well in this level and underused a bit in others. Thanks for the comment!
Psychonauts 2 is mainly about the exploration of the titular group’s failings. The psychonauts, as daring and “on the cutting edge” as they would like to see themselves, are extremely ignorant on how to help themselves, their friends and colleagues. Yes, Bob had gone too far at the point when he was asked to leave, but anyone who knows anything about helping people in crises of any kind ought to know that a support structure is one of the best indications of success in treatment and long term recovery. I’ve worked with people in recovery for many years and learned a lot of the terminology and the pathways to success. I love how you highlighted the sky. One cool thing about the sky in Bob’s mind…the pink clouds. Do a search for addiction/pink clouds and you’ll see 1 more point in the production team at Double Fine’s column. They really spent a lot of time researching their stuff and drawing from their own experiences. This level was absolute magic to me. Simply because it expressed in art design, collectibles, music, theme, and gameplay mechanics something so profound about something so taboo without beating you over the head with it. Great video.
Credit to Doublefine where credit is due! They really went all out researching and brining in experts to help them explore these topics. And thanks my guy!
The boss has only two heads whose attacks you can counter, the third, Truman’s, you can’t turn his attacks against him. Bob recognizes he was in the wrong deep down with Truman.
"Bing!"
- Ned Ryerson, Groundhog Day.
Actually, you can inflict more damage by hitting him as he breathes fire.
Maybe because Bob should face being fired head on as it was deserved?
One poignant moment for me is definitely when Bob starts fighting back once the Helmut monster says he never loved him. I've been in a similar situation, not with drinking, but with depression. It's so easy to have a feedback loop of negative thoughts that keep dragging you down with each new hyperbolic what if scenario or worry that the people who care about you actually don't. But, then there can be a point when you have the realization. That moment where you think something so horrible, your rational mind finally speaks up to knock you out of that stupor. Your friends don't hate you, you aren't a lost cause, there's more than one permanent solution to this temporary problem. And it makes sense that the thought of Helmut saying that would snap Bob out of it, he's the one person Bob loves most and hasn't (in his eyes) betrayed him or done him wrong.
Tbh, on first playthrough, thought this was about what happens if you keep your emotions and trauma bottled up, why it's through/connected to every tragic moment in his life, and that the projections of the six in his head talk about how much they don't care about him and verbally berate him.
And there's also the fact that he's also suffering survivor's guilt due to Helmut sacrificing himself to save him during their battle against Maligula
The other Worlds felt interesting and fun int heir own way but this one is very special, having lost friends to addictions it hit very hard, the care and sensitivity they brought to the subject while keeping it fun and engaging as a video game and also informative, its a testament of what can games are capable of doing
Couldn't agree more!
As someone who loves music in games, the part that helped me instantly got me knowing that addiction was the main theme right away was the music used being "what do you do with a drunken sailor"
Great find! And I couldn't agree more- music can be a great tool for expressing ideas in games
I honestly really loved this level and was one of my favorites for narrative reasons
The way I interpreted this stage was someone who struggled to deal with hardships and loss in his life and as a result, he did what he could to repress those memories and cope with alcoholism. The moth represents the mask he uses to hide from the hardships in his life and what is to come. Your perspective is really interesting and was a great watch.
The moth i think pretty clearly represents a concept in psychotherapy of a protector. This is a maladaptive force developed in childhood that protects the mind from anxiety inducing situations and stimulus. The moth having a childs voice and helping Bob avoid and hide his problems instead of dealing with them all enforce this.
Interesting analysis my friend! I like where your head is at here! The maladaptive influence being an escape from trauma makes sense from a ptsd standpoint as well. I think you're absolutely onto something with the development of this during childhood being symbolized by the younger voice and immature traits. Thanks for the comment!
i think a cool thing to note is how all of the islands look way off in the distance, but are actually really close, he could easily swim over to them but feels like its too far away to even be worth attempting
This was a fantastic video. I knew I was going to enjoy Psychonauts 2 from the moment it was announced, but was not expecting my long-awaited goofy brain-jumping game to deal so completely - and so compassionately - with the implications of its gimmick.
You've given a great account of one of the levels that affected me the most - good stuff!
Thanks so much! I too am blown away by har far they take such a simple concept. Makes me wish a 3rd game was already in development lol
The endless empty bottles emerging from the greenhouse plants was really eerie, an image that stuck with me.
im really really glad you made a whole video about bob’s mind, its one of my favorite minds of all the game and i really think that they portrayed bob’s recovery in a beautiful and respectful way
This is some amazing content. I have just finished this game and its the best game i’ve played this (so far) this year. I wonder if you will do a video on Lucrecia, Ford or Gristol.
Keep up the good work man, you earned yourself a subscriber.
Thanks my guy! Really appreciate it and I couldn't agree more- there's so much depth in the character's and level design. It's hard editing these videos down! I think my plan right now is to tackle anxiety with Compton next, then synesthesia with Helmut, archetypes with Cassie, and then hopefully I can finally get to Narcissism with Gristol and identity with Lucrecia! It'll be long road but hopefully an interesting one!
I love Bob's Bottles so much, due to all the depth and seriousness about it. Something I've found that most don't seem to notice: When Lili asks Raz to find a 'very special fungus', the fungus he picks up appears to be an inkcap-- also known as Tippler's Bane. They're used for curing alcohol addiction (Or can kill you if you have too much alcohol with them). To add to that (and possibly explain why Bob drinks mushroom liquor exclusively), Fungi are neither plant nor animal. Herbaphony -which the Zanottos are famous for- shouldn't work on them.
The misunderstanding of addiction as a disease in general is fucking terrible. I’ve been using on and off for over half my life (gotten really bad over the past decade), and if I could listen to the people who say “why don’t you just stop?” I fucking would. This shit has ruined my life and relationships that I truly cared for will never be fixed. I’m only around 30 years old but I’m so fucking lonely. Even though I’m not using currently I’m still going to be a junkie forever and I’m sober now but the damage to my life has been done. This video is amazing and I’m going to play this game ASAP. Things are looking up a bit for me in my life but mentally I’m just still pretty broken.
Stay strong, friend. Going through the same shit atm.
Your videos are quality is far too underrated and you need 1000% more recognition. I’m excited to see you grow!
That means so much!! Thank you!
i love how deep this level gets, and i love how you explained it so thoroughly in such a short amount of time.
even the flowers that lead to the bottles have meaning-
the pink carnations that lead to his moms kitchen represent familial, or specifically motherly love (and also a nice gift for mothers day, i guess!)
the black dahlias that lead to truman are usually used symbolize feelings of betrayal, maybe what bob felt- that truman had betrayed him when he was fired. i heard in a server that these meant a love for others and a want for them to succeed, but i cant find any sources.
and the marigolds that lead to the wedding with helmut and bob (which was such a powerful moment to me in game, never expected it on my first way through) symbolizes a despaired love for those youve lost.
i love how everyone who worked on this game made it a truly amazing adventure. it really shouldve gotten game of the year. shame on you, game awards. shame on you.
and also honestly? this video made me cry. you explaining it made it so much clearer and it clicked in me? i guess? this made me love bobs bottles even more than i already have. best level in the game.
Thank you for the insights and the support! I hope to have another video up soon! (Couldn't agree more about the game of the year snub too**)
This video is a wonderful work of art, it is the most beautiful story telling, and explaining the story of one's issues. Truly magnificent with the explanation you have given here. While also showing just how emotional Psychonauts 2 can get...
If these two videos were already this magnificent... Then what else could you elaborate on if you spoke of the rest of the mental worlds of the remaining characters in Psychonauts?...
**Blushing** !! Just a teacher with an unhealthy obsession with video games and Adobe After Effects I assure you. Glad you liked it though! I'm hoping to have a video coverin Anxiety and Compton's level up next month though. And after that, well, we'll see. My goal is to cover at least three or four more levels. There's so much to explore! If you noticed anything you think deserves a mention let me know! I'd greatly appreciate it and would absolutely look into it!
It really goes to show how deeply effected Bob is in psychonauts 2, man lost his mother at in early age, and the man he loved was taken from him believing he was gone forever, and his own nephew firing him but even Truman in the other memory vault showed his reaction after it which I think says if firing his own uncle was even the right call.
In the end Bob lost alot of people he cared about
I thought it was sweet that even in his deepest pit of self loathing, Bob fully believes in Helmut.
I really like your last line, of memories being seeds the mind needs to be able to grow.
Thanks my friend! I'm good for a decent line every 15 minutes or so
IIRC the Memory Vault of Truman firing Bob shows Truman handing Bob a pamphlet for what's basically AA. I don't think Truman meant any malice behind firing him but felt it was necessary considering from what we saw he was violent when drunk, considering he (through the plants) attacked Raz when he first approached Bob. But Truman truly did want Bob to get help, but knew he couldn't be part of the Psychonauts until he did.
Yeah this connects with the whole selective memory part of Bob's psyche. He chooses only to remember the firing aspect of Truman. And you're right, there's actually a figment of an AA meeting pamphlet too!
Also, look at Truman's face in that mind vault. He REALLY didn't want to fire Bob...but he had to.
I'm very happy this video popped up on my feed , you talking about this helped me learn about more about this level since I made I kind a forced my self to not watch or play this level since It was too hard for me play it without feeling horrible because I've experienced a lot of this when growing up.
After talking about this level with many people and students; my friend you should know you're absolutely not alone. I too had pretty strong emotional reaction hearing him call out to him mother in the first shrine. My personal feeling is that understanding media like this can really help people see the scope and impact of addiction, and maybe find something meaningful. Glad you liked what I had to say about it! Again I think it's something like this that could lead to an important conversation for people like you who this topic hits pretty close to home with.
@@misterdonlon that is true , I'm glad you did talk about this topic the level and more because it truely is something that's not really talked about in world especially in my country where is a common staple to drink too point of blacking out or worse just to have " fun " or fit in too the point where is almost a coming of age thing in my town for when someone turns 16 it's ment to be there first night of drinking and it tends too end badly , So in a way I'm kinda happy that you and phyconaught did something on such a unspoken topic.
As someone raised by alcoholic parents, this level really hits in the feels
Usually, I would say that it makes sense to fire Bob due to the alcoholism, making him unable to do his job, but their job is literally literally helping people with their mental illness, and in the first game, the villain was basically the same thing having mental issues that they fixed and he’s still working there after kidnapping children for their brains
I’m so glad to see this analysis of Bob’s Bottles. This is easily my favorite level in the game and was beautifully written.
Instant thought when I entered this level was how lonely Bob is and how long he must've been alone for. He's literally stranded on his own small island. This level actually made me feel rly sad bc it showed his story so well
Nicely done I can't wait for you to do these for every level.
Thanks! That's the plan!
As a recovering alcoholic this level was especially compelling for me as I could somewhat relate to what Bob was going through.
Glad you're getting help my guy and that this resonates so strongly with you!
@@misterdonlon I'm not in rehab or anything and I haven't gone cold turkey I just limited my drinking and have made a conscious effort to never buy hard liquor again. I'll still have a beer here and there or an occasional glass of wine but I'm never going to drink as much as I used to ever again.
@@MysteriumArcanum I hope you've been able to keep that resolution to the best of your ability. Remember, The hardest part of removing the control addictive substances has on an individual is relapses; relapses are seen as failings of one's devotion, but are a natural course in recovery. It will never be easy to "just quit", but the real proof of commitment and change is a growing spacing of relapse and weakened relapse "spirals". The dawning ability for a recovering addict to self-correct and maintain vigilance, despite failings, is the true sign of growing recovery from an addiction.
I just discovered this video and it's really great! Well presented with actual grounding in psychology and neurology as well as showing a lot of really cool theming that I never would have noticed without your video like with the suicidal ideation. Good shit, you earned yourself a sub and I can't wait to see what you make next
Always my goal to research these topics as thoroughly as I can! Thank you so much my guy- as a humble teacher I really appreciate it! More and better to come soon!
Great analysis and editing! Youve done it again mr. Donlon
Thanks my guy! Glad you've been into these- hopefully more to come!
Thanks for clearing that up, while I could still pick up on the overarching themes of alcohol addiction and bottled up feelings I did struggle with inturupting the roots of his issues.
Roots* incredible pun work there my guy
This interpretation actually helped me.
Thank you :)
Lol didn't realize he was alcoholic until this video. These things really go over my head
"That's why I'm here" *Obi-wan Kenobi voice*
@@misterdonlon 😂
I love this series. Thanks so much for the deep dive on my GotY.
The moth, being the addiction, actually has the behaviour of a toxic friend. It impedes Raz and Bob himself in the name of Bob's own good, cooperates with the boss and merely blames Raz since it's not benevolent, and also says it's Bob's only friend and nobody else can be. A massive red flag.
Well said! That friend that says they're looking out for someone when in reality they're actually causing them harm.
Great video but there’s a couple word play metaphors here that I loved that I think you missed. 1. The bottles you’re finding the solutions in the bottom of and 2. The seeds representing “root causes” of alcoholism. The many, many sad events that might grow into a problem but when identified and nurtured can turn into something positive.
Thanks for the findings! Big fan of the seeds symbolizing root causes.
I feel like the use of the moth as a mask is also significant here. Bob is using this unhealthy coping mechanism (alcohol, isolation, etc.) to block himself from viewing the truth of his condition - that it’s up to him to make things better. In some way, the removal of the mask is Bob removing his own ideas of learned helplessness and resolving to do better.
This is an excellent example of good analysis! Love where you're going with this one my friend. Thanks for adding this. I'd have to agree that the symbolism behind him removing the mask himself is a pretty important one for the theme of addiction.
This deserves more views
Psychonauts 2 deserves more sales
The theme music of bobs mind is probably my favorite.
I've randomly stumbled upon your channel, and I'm not sure how you have less than 1k subscribers. Your videos are very well made, you have deep themes explained in an eloquent manner, and you seem to have experience in the field you're discussing. If you are looking for any kind of suggestions, however, I would merely suggest linking to further studies on the topics discussed in the description, for a curated deeper dive for those interested. Here's to more deep dives!
Thanks my friend! And I couldn't agree more with your tip. Originally these videos were intended to be just a spiced up homework assignment for my students while they were stuck in quarantine, but nearly a year later now and it's become a much bigger platform for me. I've made some great connections on here and am much more committed to turning out some well researched analysis with each project. My next biggest step then is to have a list of annotated sources! Hopefully this adds to the discussion, while still showing my students the value of citing! Thanks again! And of course, more and better to come!
Yesss yesss do them all do them all
That's the move my guy!
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I love this game thank you for covering it!
Man I loved your video. I was really looking forward to an explanation of that level.
Thanks my guy! The bowtie combo is lookn OUTSTANDING in that photo btw. Always tip my hat to good style when I see it!
honestly the best level in the game
Absolutely wonderful. Would love more of these on this series
Thanks! More to come soon for sure!
@@misterdonlon Hell yes, Can't wait!
"Agent Zanotto, is this you or the liquor talking?"
"Raz... I am the liquor."
Excellent analysis
Thanks!
Bobs bottles is my favorite pshyconauts level
When you got to the Truman part, I thought the real reason that Bob was fired by his nephew was because he was overreacting to people, even though they didn't do anything wrong to him because in his past he lost someone (besides Helmut) near and dear to him and Truman saw his uncle being stressed out and it was worrying him that he's not himself and it scared him, so he called his uncle in his office and told him that he needed to be let go and it upsetted him and Bob and Truman were arguing with each other until Bob yelled the last horrible things to his own nephew that he wished that he never said and he realized that he went too far, so he packed his things up and left the Motherlobe for good, and finally, once he was on his way to the exit, he kept hearing his nephews voice saying painful stuff to him that he would say once he finally left the Motherlobe. But I feel like my theory doesn't sound like it was fitting well
I'd say your theory fits really well! It connects nicely to the constant echoing voices throughout the level as well. Great find my friend!
@@misterdonlon Really? Because I saw something similar to this and nobody knows why Bob was fired by Truman, so I had to make a theory like anybody else. (Boy, mine feels more heartbreaking than anybody’s theory.)
Honestly, your content is amazing.
Really enjoyed your perspective on this. Very well done
The bottles in the sarcophagus part should have become a mini game shoot [insert counter here] before time runs out like 30 or something
Dude this video was so great I'd love to see you analyze the other minds if you have the time
I plan on doing most of em!
I can't help but find skepticism in consulting with someone over this sort of thing. An overwhelming feeling of being irredeemably lost. Permanently broken. So then, I numb with drink and digital merriment in the hope I forget.
Loved this analysis!
Thanks so much! :')
This is a great video. I hope you become sucsesfull.
Thanks my guy! I hope so too! Teacher's gotta have retirement plans in their back pocket of course lol
Honestly I didn't know Bob was an alcoholic. But then again i only watched the playthrough.
let’s go
Hmm... RUclips marked this as unwatched. Two minutes in I realised I had watched it before.
Thankfully, I'm binging your videos on this, so I won't mess up your retention stats by clicking away.
Far too kind !
Thank you for this
DONLON gaming part 2
mista donlon 😲😮😮😮
I have had addictions unrelated to alcohol however I did have family members who where alcoholics, when I was about 12 years old one of my uncle's had been hospitalized for kidney failure caused by the addiction.
My addiction, towards erotism, I've been addicted to since a month before I turned age 12, back in 2011, a very dysfunctional household I grew up in; and it didn't help that one of my parent was Christian holding a belief that's ultimately harmful for a person like myself who wasn't religious even in my younger years. To me religion wasn't the thing made to help me, my mind just isn't wired to find any meaning in such a belief system.
I can say prolonged addiction is exactly like this level's premise no matter the context of what kind of addiction that you have, it can be used to apply towards what kind of addiction I have. And it doesn't even help one bit that I have exclusive paraphilias and fetishes; paraphilias are more hardwired while fetishes are more softwired as I can gather from my personal intuition.
Though that's not the core issue since I've always kept that stuff purely in the fantasy realm, never anything real I supported, only drawings if anything. But I know my issues stem somewhere from abuse, either it be unintentional or intentional abuse.
I never been sexually abused from everything I recall but only emotional and physical abused, as much my mother wants to believe she taught us all well she clearly caused my own sister to develop PTSD as confirmed by her own counselor. For me I haven't been diagnosed with PTSD but the possibility is very high; I also consider consulting a professional to see if I have dissociative Identity disorder, I've only ever been formally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
So already my mind is just born to be neurologically different from the start.
Anyways, I can apply this towards my own situation: I just have atypical interests in even the sense of romantic attraction as well, I know the fact my desires can never be the reality also been what had been eating me up for so many years.
It's not like I cannot tell fantasy from reality, that's not the issue, and whenever I even thought to tell someone about this problem it's as if they see me in a more negative way just simply for the fact I have this atypical desire. Internet vigilantes ruining your life by saying false things they're only discussing out of assumptions and nother more has been the absolute worst.
I've been through two house evictions without even a discussed reason, only they said everyone had to be kicked out; and I know internet vigilantism had played a part in it, they do these things all the time, they're outside the realm of justice allowing all that power go to their heads.
I cannot say for sure that's the case but what other factors are ar play? That's the only conclusion I could come up with based on the research looked at about vigilantes. They've misjudged multiple times before and even caused people to off themselves, they aren't afraid one bit to give you a bad report at the place you live at just to cause you to be fired from your job or to cause yourself to be evicted from your home. I just don't know where my life had gone, all I have is merely hypotheticals.
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@@i_am_abdon 👍👍
i would love to see more psychonauts videos from you if you have thoughts on other levels!
Got one on Compton and Anxiety coming soon!
To e fair I dont blame Trueman fore firing Bob. As Bob's rambling hints somthing REALY bad happend on his last mission. Alcoholism plus powerfull Psychic abilitys just cant mech well. While no one died, most likley poeple got injured and with Bob back then already having bein deep in alcoholism there was no way getting through too him. It was honestly heartbreaking hearing him go from angry too just....broken and sad.
Awesome vid!
Wow this was fantastic. Definitely subbing :)
Appreciate it my guy! More to come!
Maybe I'm a dunce who doesn't pick up on symbolism very often, but would you believe the whole alcoholism angle didn't really strike me while playing this level? Even though there are bottles everywhere, I don't even know what I thought they meant, but I didn't think it was alcoholism.
I wouldn't be too hard on yourself! Instead I'd probably credit DoubleFine for being so good at subliminal imagery. And you might not have noticed, but your subconscious brain may have.
"in a kids game" pprreettyyy sure this game is more oriented towards young adults. Yeah the artstyle is stylized but it basically requires some knowledge of mental to actually understand it. A kid could play it and come out only mildly traumatized, but this game always felt like it was more of a young adult game that COULD be played by kid. And hell some of the shit probably couldn't be figured out by a kid (like idfk the 1st level of psychonauts with the static TV, a lot of kids would get stuck on that)
The tv static still gets me
So are planning on making a video on the big twist concerning the identity of the mole?
Absolutely! Tons of psychology to unpack there!
@@misterdonlon ok thanks.
woah thanks for this!!! I subbed for more pretty please :)
Thanks so much!! As a humble teacher I really appreciate it- more and better to come!
Man. The only time we explore addiction in media seems like its Gambling and Beer.
well, you're not wrong lol
Uhh dude I think you missed a stage of bob,s mind what about Helmut you completely skipped that part
Do more mined scapes
Coming out with another soon! Possibly by the beginning of next week!
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Hi, I'm a Hare Krishna, in or holy scriptures, yhe Bhagavad-Gita as it is, severe intocitation is ayrbuted with the mode of ignorance, which is also linked to self destruction.
To ine 5hat it vause brain shrinkage blew my mind, literally.
Oh hey, I just beat this level. I give a 7.8/10 too much alcohol.
What is the music you used for your background
All music is from Bob's level my friend!
@@misterdonlon thank you
What’s the clip at 6:05 from?
Far Cry 3 !
Well you sure took a different message from Her then I did..
Her is one of those movies I'll bring up at a party... "Such a good movie..." only to hear, "wait isn't that the one where..." and I immediately regret it.
@@misterdonlon huh, well maybe you're the one with the wrong impression of the meaning if no one else seems to agree with you lol.
@@zesty2023 I think it's more because of a few awkward scenes lol