The fetal position makes me think that he's trying to rebirth himself, to breath new life into himself, the milky fuel literally being fuel for life, it's so fascinating and sad at the same time, to feel like you need to be born again in order to be good
Surreal “journey into the mind to heal profound trauma” games with horror elements are a very specific niche, and I love it. I’m surprised I’ve never heard of this one before, but I’m absolutely sold.
These kinds of lost media revivals really hit home for me as and artist. Its really heartening and beautiful that people still care about art so much to dedicate time and effort to archiving things for future people to appreciate. Its an example of the good the internet can do
As someone who struggled with severe depression and was hospitalized after an attempt, I interpreted Shen (essentially the personification of Yang’s trauma, poor coping habits, and suicidal tendencies) saving you at the beginning as the fact that no matter how much you want to die or just fade away, your body (and your Id, if we’re keeping the Freudian theme) still will keep your heart pumping and your lungs breathing because it wants you to /live/. What a beautiful and nuanced narrative. I feel silly crying at a plot synopsis of a surrealist game about ugly robot people, but sometimes the little bobblehead dudes just hit you.
Also, calling it garage could be indicative of the healing nature Garage is supposed to have. When your car breaks down, you take it to a garage. Maybe it's supposed to be something like that? Idk. ^_^; Really loving this video, though!
The name Garage also makes me think of two other potential references: 1) Where I’m from, a garage is often synonymous with a gas station. This feels relevant to the themes of “fuel” and possibly even therapy as it allows us to “keep going” so to speak. 2) Garage is only one letter different from the word “Garbage.” You pointed this out to me when you noted how Lou “often uses the analogy that she is a garbage can” at 35:00 Love your vids btw!
I kinda teared up at the plot portion. This is probably a lot to drop for a yt comment, but I used to lucid dream and had for years. I could make my dreams from the ground up. It felt like being in direct conversation with my subconscious. Then something pretty traumatic happened to me and I started getting nightmares. They were variations or a replay of what had happened. A lot of the control I had was minimized. At first I was so angry at myself that I would put myself through all that again, but then, instead of doing the same thing I had done in reality, I reacted different. I started to say all the things I wish I had said, I eventually stood up for myself, fought back. I realized that my dreams had become an alternate way of living through what happened and changing my relationship with it. Kind of like garage. That opportunity to choose differently, I don't know if I want to call it closure, but to find a way to hold trauma in a way that's not so painful is really helpful. I think a lot of people would benefit from garage therapy.
@@maxohara1185 I've gone back and forth on how I want to respond to this. I can't stop you from writing what you want to write, but for context this was in regards to my SA. I was trying to be vague since YT doesn't like talking about SA, but the thought of someone else telling my story of recovery has made me feel really uncomfortable. I appreciate that this connected with you, but thinking about someone using my trauma for inspiration has felt pretty bad.
Super appreciate you reaching out and interviewing the actual people who create works like this. Way too often people treat these kinds of foreign games as if they just appears out of some void, rather than something that a human being dedicated time and thought towards.
sometimes it's not because they don't want to reach out. but it's the language barrier preventing that. or they just have no idea where to find the people involved
I know this game is somewhat hopeful at the end, with Yang finally taking the first steps towards healing, but I feel like a lot of the game just makes me so sad. Like the degrading way Yang talks about himself hit really close to home. And I can’t help but feel bad for Shen. Like, just the fact that he knows he’s stopping Yang from healing and he has to die in order for him to move on, that just hit really hard. And that whistle melody just pulls at my heart strings, I don’t know why. I feel like I got such an emotional experience from this game just by hearing you talk about it. I think video game preservation is so important. We need something like the National Film Registry, but for games. I hope maybe someday we can get something like that
Baroque is an absolutely fascinating game, I would love to see you cover it, especially its PS2 remake to some degree since not a lot of people talk about it. This game looks great, I genuinely love this era of pre-rendered graphics with avant garde artwork and story telling, it feels like so many small devs were interested in creating art rather than creating profit. We're lucky that the indie scene tries to carry the torch these days.
so glad I played the game in time for the vid!! your plot section especially really helped piece together a few things I was a little unsure about from Yang's real life, such a fantastic video as always
Got a bit teary eyed seeing Beyond Good & Evil shown as you say a game also captures the culture and context it was created in. That game resonates so well with the paranoia and uncertainty that was often felt in the early 2000s because of the geopolitical climate across the globe. Even as a really young kid this mood was felt and it was honestly cathartic at the time to see a game express that anxiety in a way that wasn't necessarily bleak but something you would have to navigate through
Thank you for not only covering such a hidden gem, but also including the story regarding the creator and the rerelease. Seeing all of these smaller teams of passionate people and fans working together on Garage is so satisfying knowing that the fruits of their labor also touch a farther audience. Both appreciate the art in game-making and media preservation
I really love the sentiment at the end, that videos like this not only help to preserve the memory of a piece of art, but that it can actually help it gain enough attention of potential re-releases, give a chance to the original artists to get the worldwide praise the always deserved but never got. It's just really beautiful to me!
Hi this is the person who was formerly Lightningman on the HG101 Forums. Thank you for Covering Garage. I helped come across a lot about it on 4chan and other places online a long time ago.
I found this game on the Switch’s “new games this week” newsletter thing they put out, and immediately put it in my wishlist because the art style was like neuron activation for me, lol. I haven’t bought it yet, I’m trying to watch my spending, but this video really confirms it’s spot on the “to be played” list
I remember first coming across Garage by browsing through Hardcoregaming101 articles back in 2012 or so. Its always occupied a spot in the back of my mind since then, I was so giddy with the news of its re-release. Thanks so much for bringing attention to it with this video essay!
Worth pointing out that 'Shadow' is a technical term within Jungian Psychoanalysis which is very big in Japan to this day, it basically is the parts of your personality you dislike/are bad at/try to hide. Interesting that Guattari also shows up, considering schizoanalysis focus on talking about Machines and Desire.
2:37 for me, it was "Legacy of Kain" that awoke my love for the obscure, after experiencing "Kingdom Hearts 2". I never quite coped with what happened to Roxas, and how it was left unpunished. But Kain and Raziel helped restore my faith in humanity.
So excited to finally see the Garage video! I had no idea that the game was so accessible now... I'm really excited to know that I can play this too without needing any technical know how. I'm so glad that Garage could survive like this!
What a charming and special little game. Honestly unlike any ive seen before, it felt very personal. I appreciate all the effort that goes into all your videos, so cool that you got in touch with the composer
Great video as always Tango! Fantastic you were able to get an interview, that's amazing! I played a *lot* of adventure games back in Ye Olde Days and remember seeing this mentioned and looking interesting (H.R. Geiger without the horror element). But it not having an English translation meant I forgot about until you brought it up. Thanks for shining a spotlight on another obscure gem!
The concept of lost media is haunting and I hate we can't just press a button and have the lost media found and preserved. Glad this time fans and the author manage to bring this game from the Lost Media valley stronger than ever. I wishlisted the game on Steam.
As someone who experienced a traumatic childhood, I don’t agree that Yang shouldn’t be seen as a contributing factor. I don’t think we should pretend he didn’t have any agency in the harm he perpetuated. But blame isn’t really the point. What is done is done, no matter how he feels or intellectualises it. He can’t go back and choose differently. He has to keep going. That’s why he has to give his sneakers to his Shadow, who has no arms or feet - so he can take back the ability to move . It’s why his Psyche is bound and imprisoned by representations of a cruel world. By the way, while the shadow is a reference to Jungian psychology, it might be easier to miss the double meaning of Psyche from Greek mythology, a human who married the god Eros and became the goddess of the soul. If you know their story, it goes to show how Yang could believe giving in to toxicity was justifiable.
I love that this channel always manages to find some super obscure game I've never heard of but is absolute quality nonetheless, like a little treasure trove of games that just missed cult classic status but absolutely deserve to be
More often than not, upon trying to face the trauma and heal from it, usually by trying to change my physical enviroment, the first thing I'm always told is "Whenever you move somewhere, be it a different city or country, you'll always bring your home and troubles with you." Most of the time, my stubborn self brushed it off without a second thought, it backfired everytime. The fact that in this game, the MC has their shadow under his home, lonely and neglected, really hit me. What a masterpiece, and a beautifull video 🫶❤️✨️
I miss the weirdness of the late 90s/2000s games. Medevial is one of the games I think when I think of weird cute since the hero looks like Jack Skellington's brother.
This video. It means a lot to me. It scratches the itch in my brain in all the right places, as a Garage nerd. I’ve been a fan of the game for years now… and your video is excellent. Trust 'GARAGE'.
While it was only a few seconds, big ups for showing folklore during your lost media portion. I loved that game and glad you mentioned it visually. I think this is a great video with great direction about Garage. Thank you for making this, and I can't wait for more 🎉
When I saw you published a video - didn't even think what game or what content it is - I immediately gave it a like. Love your content, and thank you for letting us know about these kind of games. I am surely older than you but I never heard about this game.
What a fascinating game! I love the visual aesthetic and mood especially. I'd like to play it myself but I'll probably wait a couple of years so it'll be less fresh in my memory. Great job with this video, you really did Garage justice!
It's funny; I had been meaning to watch one of your videos for a while now. This one just happened to stumble into my feed, and I was absolutely not disappointed. Garage is a beautiful game, and this is a wonderful video celebrating it; even if Garage was saved from becoming lost media, this video is saving it from being an unknown game, like so many others that are out there still. I didn't even know it existed before watching this video. This is a deep dive into someone's passion project, a reflection of their heart and mind, and an amazing showing of the communities that can develop around these strange, passionate games. People want these things preserved, and they care about them a lot, whether or not the large corporations that run the industries that help produce them care. Thank you for making this video. Things like this mean a lot to me, and I'm sure to most of the other people watching. It's as important to talk about these games as it is to preserve and play them. If they just sit there, preserved but uncared for, they're not really art that's producing an impact, are they?
So cool to learn about this game! I was thinking this looked similar to Kowloon's Gate the whole time up til you mentioned it in the vid. Of the 3大奇ゲー, Baroque seems to be pretty well known as well, but I've never even heard of this one. What an awesome way to learn about it :)
It's great to see you back in action with another video, and what better way to start off is playing one of the most obscure Japanese point and click game that has been lost for 25 yrs. Great to see that it's been re-released on Switch. Definitely gonna try this surrealist game out, cause this game's art style is super fun to look at.
I needed this videos so BAD, your content is immaculate. There's no single human I wish to listen to more than you, I truly learn with these topics and the way you lay your thoughts out. Thank you so much.
I love that Klonoa got a mention at the beginning omg :D and I appreciated the conclusion so much, with your plea on behalf of fans and game developers alike. The games we play can have such an impact on us, and there's no need for any of them to become lost media, it's true!
Glad you made this video to give this game some more love and attention. There are so many cool games that have been lost to obscurity or being locked to the region they released in that make them hard or impossible to play without the dedication of fans. I do really love to see that the creator had a hand in making it available to everyone, thats lovely. I one day hope Mizzurna falls can get a similar rerelease treatment, that one is also pretty cool.
Great video as always Tango! I love watching essays from people who really care about not only the games they are covering but games as a medium (and art) in general.
First, what a wonderful job you've done! I knew nothing about this game going in, and now would love to support not just Garage, but the developer as well. I struggle with the same things Lou did, and I'm extremely happy to say my hubby exudes patience with me trying my best to not let my past affect me. On a second note, d-did I hear Umineko's soundtrack? I adore that VN. Got hubby into it. He now pressures everyone he's friendly with to play it 😅
And now I really wish for a sequel about a game I never played ( and definately I will after this ) but I think that Garage is as good at it is. Glad that it was saved from being forgotten. Games are art, and as such, they must be preserved!
i don't have anything profound to add, but thank you for this video! your outro was beautiful & very touching. im gonna check out garage when i get the chance 💕
I’m going through a divorce right now with a man who I love to death, but who I simply cannot be with anymore. He thinks nothing of himself and does not have the capacity to give me what I need. I give up myself to keep him afloat, and it’s awful for both of us. Lou’s “there is no failure between you and me” dialogue was too much for me. Now I’m sitting here crying lol All these good memories and all of our experiences together, knowing it can’t go on.
@@shortking-vp9vv it's sad needs get in the way of your love. But you are right, commitment is necessary on both ends. I hope everything works out for the two of you, even if you're apart.
How many stories and books have been lost to time? I think this story made me walk away more asking...how many stories are like Garage that were lost? Wonderful video, as always.
👍Thumbs up for Americans getting a little extra dopamine bump every time Tango says "gah-redge" and your brain barks back "gar-rodge." (But for real, what a great video essay)
I think the issue of the female robots clearly show how Yang sees women, as sex objects. Notice how milky foel or in this case sex, isn's used for making more robots for for bonding for male and female robots, it's for the male robots enjoyment.
I’ve suffered from debilitating depression and anxiety for over a decade. Somehow games like these make me feel comfort. Like I’m not alone and that others know how i feel, know what ive kept to myself for years and years
i adore your videos! this was yet another game id never heard of that you covered fantastically. thank you for your work! the plot portion with the field with that same whistled melody really touched my heart :’)
Late to the party, but this game reminds me of another weird Japanese Point and Click called „Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong-Nou“ which was released in 1994 by the artist Osamu Sato. I never played it myself because it is abandonware and I didn’t know how to access such games when I lernt about this game but I did watch a let’s play of it about 9 - 10 years ago and it never left my mind completely because of how strange and different it was compared to every other game I had played up to this point.
P.T. had a group of people make a remake using the Doom Engine. So even if the original is lost to time... people will find a way to try and preserve what will be someday lost. So there is always a way! : )
Wow. What a video. Thanks so much for sharing this amazing game that, of course, I'd never heard of but instantly felt a strong connection with because of your incredible narrative and deep dive. Wonderful work Tango! Sorry I was two weeks late but definitely happy I took the time to finally watch this!
This video made me buy the game to support the team. I hope more artists unique games like this can be preserved, and given opportunities to take risks again 🙏
The message at the end touched me and made me feel kinda anxious about the digital age... We as humans *create* so much! the thoughts of it getting just... lost is so terrifying. I mean, the developer of a game not having access to the code of his own art piece. How? Its quite sad.
Fantastic video, Mushi. What a fascinating - and dare I say profound? - work of art this game is. I look forward to seeing you cover Baroque and Kowloon's Gate one day.
Just found your channel thanks to the Siren video! Your obvious love for games, particularly the somewhat obscure, forgotten and secretive japanese ones, is infectious. Some of them I'd never heard about (Haunting Ground, Hungry ghosts), Clock Tower I just assumed inaccessible due to the language barrier, never considered looking for a translated ROM. Now I know of the impending western release. I have two recommendations you might find interesting, though you may quite likely be aware of them already, in which case they might appeal to others in the comments: - Baroque, 1998, a Japan only first dungeon crawler/roguelike. I dunno if I'd call it a horror game, but the visuals and general aesthetics are some of the strangest and uncomfortable I've seen. You explore a structure called "The Nerve Tower" in pursuit of an entity known as Absolute God. The humans that remain after the apocalypse have been twisted into bizarre grotesques that mill about the dungeons. - Fear & Hunger 1/2, 2018/2022, made by some psycho Finnish guy. I've yet only played the first one and let me tell you it's one of the tensest, most gut-turning horror experiences I've had. You play as one of four characters in an alternate history version of 1590, who for different reasons are drawn to the infamous Dungeon of Fear & Hunger. The dungeon is a prison and torture chamber used by the kingdom, but recently unnatural forces are at work there. It's so relentlessly brutal and gruesome it's honestly exhausting. I recommend not looking it up too much before trying it the first time, it's a shocking experience. It does contain a fair bit of explicit s**ual violence though, on top of the generous explicit regular violence, so it's definitely not for everyone.
This video about this obscure title from japan originally released decades ago sparked something in me, it's funny how that happens. I guess that's the beauty of art huh, something that can't be replicated, an dialogue between the creator and the viewer. I think overtime idk why or how I've lost a lot of passion, i draw less and the things I draw are less me. I think the existence of AI generation has exasebrated that loss of passion for me. "Why lose blood, sweat and tears if a machine can just do what you can in but a second ?" Because now I can confidently answer, I like to make art. It's something honest and beautiful, something which has those blood and tears embedded in it, something that can speak without any physical speech needed to be had, something that inspires not monetary gain but passion itself in the viewer. I am but a sailor on my small wooden canou, but my art is the river I sail on.
Holy crap, this was reminding me so much of Kowloon's Gate and (to a slightly lesser extent) Baroque, and now I find out the three games are linked lol that's awesome
WIld 9 was another amazing, quirky and underappreciated PS1 game. Games like Wild 9 and Guitaroo Man were gems that I never hear about, and it makes me question my sanity.
I’ve loved this video so much Tango! You can express your ideas and feelings about games so well! This vid was simply perfect, emotional but also really professional. I’ve never heard about Garage before but now i’m so intrigued 😮
*Spoilers* From your analysis and such, as well as based on my own experiences, my interpretation of Lu is she took her own life. Like Yang said she couldnt escape her own thoughts and self loathing. Lu killing herself made Yang feel like he failed, he killed her himself. Survivors Guilt is something I've experienced myself after a friend took their own life. You question if you could have saved them, get angry they didnt come to you and so much more.
1:06:48 Oh my God yes, thank you for articulating what I’ve been thinking for years! This is why I’m really starting to hate everything being remade in gaming. It’s not just the publishers but the vast majority of “consumers” who don’t care about this and it makes me feel like I’ve been taking crazy pills! I miss the experimentalism of the mid to late 90’s mainstream gaming too. What foolish summer children we were to think that would be the norm forever. At least, me anyway. I’m a fool.
This is adorable I chuckled when you said you had to roll away with your tail between your legs and how cute the little machines are despite being a bit off putting at first
I always love your video essays so much breaking things piece by piece it really brings the story to a full completion that if. I played myself I might have missed out
I don't think Sanaetsuki's interpretation is wrong but I think it's called garage because that's where you put the stuff that you don't use that much or don't want to put in the house proper. The house being your "normal" mind, the garage being the place where you put all the memories and feelings that you don't want in your "house". Essentially repressed memories, and ones you just don't want to think about, so you throw it in the garage so you don't have to see/deal with it. Sanaetsuki's interpretation makes a lot of sense too, so it could be that. Or both. Or neither. I dunno, but it's fun to think about.
I really want to watch this but definitely have to come back later due to spoilers - this has sat in my library for months for when I have time to devote a weekend to it. Great to see this super weird game getting some love though!
The fetal position makes me think that he's trying to rebirth himself, to breath new life into himself, the milky fuel literally being fuel for life, it's so fascinating and sad at the same time, to feel like you need to be born again in order to be good
Surreal “journey into the mind to heal profound trauma” games with horror elements are a very specific niche, and I love it. I’m surprised I’ve never heard of this one before, but I’m absolutely sold.
I always crave for these ever since i played Silent Hill 2 for the first time. But in that case depending on the ending it's not exactly "healing" lol
These kinds of lost media revivals really hit home for me as and artist. Its really heartening and beautiful that people still care about art so much to dedicate time and effort to archiving things for future people to appreciate. Its an example of the good the internet can do
Likewise. I can only hope I make something one day that registers with people in this capacity.
As someone who struggled with severe depression and was hospitalized after an attempt, I interpreted Shen (essentially the personification of Yang’s trauma, poor coping habits, and suicidal tendencies) saving you at the beginning as the fact that no matter how much you want to die or just fade away, your body (and your Id, if we’re keeping the Freudian theme) still will keep your heart pumping and your lungs breathing because it wants you to /live/. What a beautiful and nuanced narrative. I feel silly crying at a plot synopsis of a surrealist game about ugly robot people, but sometimes the little bobblehead dudes just hit you.
Hope you’re doing good and staying safe. If you need to talk to someone or need help, there are people who care. Sending support and hearts. ❤️❤️❤️
Also, calling it garage could be indicative of the healing nature Garage is supposed to have. When your car breaks down, you take it to a garage. Maybe it's supposed to be something like that? Idk. ^_^; Really loving this video, though!
that makes a lot of sense
I just think of it as the name for the character's home. Since they're all mechanical, the safest place for them to be would be a "garage".
@@unknown6390 XD Haha! That's very fair, and maybe it's as simple as that?
That's an awesome way of looking at it, I like that!
The name Garage also makes me think of two other potential references:
1) Where I’m from, a garage is often synonymous with a gas station. This feels relevant to the themes of “fuel” and possibly even therapy as it allows us to “keep going” so to speak.
2) Garage is only one letter different from the word “Garbage.” You pointed this out to me when you noted how Lou “often uses the analogy that she is a garbage can” at 35:00
Love your vids btw!
Also, garage music. But I agree! I definitely get a lot of industrial HR Giger influence, too.
I kinda teared up at the plot portion. This is probably a lot to drop for a yt comment, but I used to lucid dream and had for years. I could make my dreams from the ground up. It felt like being in direct conversation with my subconscious. Then something pretty traumatic happened to me and I started getting nightmares. They were variations or a replay of what had happened. A lot of the control I had was minimized. At first I was so angry at myself that I would put myself through all that again, but then, instead of doing the same thing I had done in reality, I reacted different. I started to say all the things I wish I had said, I eventually stood up for myself, fought back. I realized that my dreams had become an alternate way of living through what happened and changing my relationship with it. Kind of like garage. That opportunity to choose differently, I don't know if I want to call it closure, but to find a way to hold trauma in a way that's not so painful is really helpful. I think a lot of people would benefit from garage therapy.
If I ever get the motivation I should turn this into a story of some sort. That alright?
@@maxohara1185I think so. Many people do it, always giving credit to the original source.
That's beautiful, actually.
@@maxohara1185 you asking means you will not
@@maxohara1185 I've gone back and forth on how I want to respond to this. I can't stop you from writing what you want to write, but for context this was in regards to my SA. I was trying to be vague since YT doesn't like talking about SA, but the thought of someone else telling my story of recovery has made me feel really uncomfortable. I appreciate that this connected with you, but thinking about someone using my trauma for inspiration has felt pretty bad.
Super appreciate you reaching out and interviewing the actual people who create works like this. Way too often people treat these kinds of foreign games as if they just appears out of some void, rather than something that a human being dedicated time and thought towards.
I agree, totally improved my understanding of the game.
sometimes it's not because they don't want to reach out. but it's the language barrier preventing that. or they just have no idea where to find the people involved
I know this game is somewhat hopeful at the end, with Yang finally taking the first steps towards healing, but I feel like a lot of the game just makes me so sad. Like the degrading way Yang talks about himself hit really close to home. And I can’t help but feel bad for Shen. Like, just the fact that he knows he’s stopping Yang from healing and he has to die in order for him to move on, that just hit really hard. And that whistle melody just pulls at my heart strings, I don’t know why. I feel like I got such an emotional experience from this game just by hearing you talk about it.
I think video game preservation is so important. We need something like the National Film Registry, but for games. I hope maybe someday we can get something like that
Sorry I can’t come into work today, the new tango vid just dropped :(
REAL
God I'm so tempted. But quids are quids.
It's a one hour video
@@wallacyryan8211yeah I can watch it 8 times instead
Baroque is an absolutely fascinating game, I would love to see you cover it, especially its PS2 remake to some degree since not a lot of people talk about it.
This game looks great, I genuinely love this era of pre-rendered graphics with avant garde artwork and story telling, it feels like so many small devs were interested in creating art rather than creating profit. We're lucky that the indie scene tries to carry the torch these days.
The games is such a gem i hope she cover it😢
YES PLEASE!! This game gave me Baroque vibes, actually
The nineties was a legendary era for games, I think.
Agreed. 100%.
Certainly the best era for point n click and heavy text/dialogue RPG games
@@Sebastian_RabbitThat's all I need in life anyway
Ever seen game called BAD MOJO. I think TOOL and their videos were influential in the art for alot of stuff
DOS games are so cool
so glad I played the game in time for the vid!! your plot section especially really helped piece together a few things I was a little unsure about from Yang's real life, such a fantastic video as always
Got a bit teary eyed seeing Beyond Good & Evil shown as you say a game also captures the culture and context it was created in.
That game resonates so well with the paranoia and uncertainty that was often felt in the early 2000s because of the geopolitical climate across the globe. Even as a really young kid this mood was felt and it was honestly cathartic at the time to see a game express that anxiety in a way that wasn't necessarily bleak but something you would have to navigate through
Thank you for not only covering such a hidden gem, but also including the story regarding the creator and the rerelease. Seeing all of these smaller teams of passionate people and fans working together on Garage is so satisfying knowing that the fruits of their labor also touch a farther audience. Both appreciate the art in game-making and media preservation
The most reliable protagonist. What do you desire? I want my dope kicks obviously.
I really love the sentiment at the end, that videos like this not only help to preserve the memory of a piece of art, but that it can actually help it gain enough attention of potential re-releases, give a chance to the original artists to get the worldwide praise the always deserved but never got. It's just really beautiful to me!
Hi this is the person who was formerly Lightningman on the HG101 Forums. Thank you for Covering Garage. I helped come across a lot about it on 4chan and other places online a long time ago.
I found this game on the Switch’s “new games this week” newsletter thing they put out, and immediately put it in my wishlist because the art style was like neuron activation for me, lol. I haven’t bought it yet, I’m trying to watch my spending, but this video really confirms it’s spot on the “to be played” list
I remember first coming across Garage by browsing through Hardcoregaming101 articles back in 2012 or so. Its always occupied a spot in the back of my mind since then, I was so giddy with the news of its re-release. Thanks so much for bringing attention to it with this video essay!
Worth pointing out that 'Shadow' is a technical term within Jungian Psychoanalysis which is very big in Japan to this day, it basically is the parts of your personality you dislike/are bad at/try to hide.
Interesting that Guattari also shows up, considering schizoanalysis focus on talking about Machines and Desire.
2:37 for me, it was "Legacy of Kain" that awoke my love for the obscure, after experiencing "Kingdom Hearts 2". I never quite coped with what happened to Roxas, and how it was left unpunished. But Kain and Raziel helped restore my faith in humanity.
So excited to finally see the Garage video! I had no idea that the game was so accessible now... I'm really excited to know that I can play this too without needing any technical know how. I'm so glad that Garage could survive like this!
What a charming and special little game. Honestly unlike any ive seen before, it felt very personal. I appreciate all the effort that goes into all your videos, so cool that you got in touch with the composer
I feel like this game is a lovechild between Yoko Taro and David Lynch
Great video as always Tango! Fantastic you were able to get an interview, that's amazing! I played a *lot* of adventure games back in Ye Olde Days and remember seeing this mentioned and looking interesting (H.R. Geiger without the horror element). But it not having an English translation meant I forgot about until you brought it up. Thanks for shining a spotlight on another obscure gem!
Babe wake up another tango video on some game I've never heard of just dropped
The concept of lost media is haunting and I hate we can't just press a button and have the lost media found and preserved. Glad this time fans and the author manage to bring this game from the Lost Media valley stronger than ever. I wishlisted the game on Steam.
As someone who experienced a traumatic childhood, I don’t agree that Yang shouldn’t be seen as a contributing factor. I don’t think we should pretend he didn’t have any agency in the harm he perpetuated.
But blame isn’t really the point. What is done is done, no matter how he feels or intellectualises it. He can’t go back and choose differently. He has to keep going.
That’s why he has to give his sneakers to his Shadow, who has no arms or feet - so he can take back the ability to move . It’s why his Psyche is bound and imprisoned by representations of a cruel world.
By the way, while the shadow is a reference to Jungian psychology, it might be easier to miss the double meaning of Psyche from Greek mythology, a human who married the god Eros and became the goddess of the soul. If you know their story, it goes to show how Yang could believe giving in to toxicity was justifiable.
I love that this channel always manages to find some super obscure game I've never heard of but is absolute quality nonetheless, like a little treasure trove of games that just missed cult classic status but absolutely deserve to be
Tokyo Jungle is always my first thought when I think of lost media from the PS3, so I appreciate the shot of that so much. XD
I love H. R. Garage
game i haven’t heard about? ☑️
cool ass youtuber? ☑️
lost media? ☑️
passion? ☑️ ☑️ ☑️
love ur vids so much
The creator being the that Alice in Wonderland's illustrator makes so much sense now. I'd seen the book but never heard of the game.
More often than not, upon trying to face the trauma and heal from it, usually by trying to change my physical enviroment, the first thing I'm always told is "Whenever you move somewhere, be it a different city or country, you'll always bring your home and troubles with you." Most of the time, my stubborn self brushed it off without a second thought, it backfired everytime. The fact that in this game, the MC has their shadow under his home, lonely and neglected, really hit me. What a masterpiece, and a beautifull video 🫶❤️✨️
1999 was a good year for dark strange fantasy games. Silent Hill, Planescape Torment, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
I miss the weirdness of the late 90s/2000s games. Medevial is one of the games I think when I think of weird cute since the hero looks like Jack Skellington's brother.
I remember that game. I think there was more that could have been told about that universe. I don't think Morgrim is truly gone.
This video. It means a lot to me. It scratches the itch in my brain in all the right places, as a Garage nerd. I’ve been a fan of the game for years now… and your video is excellent.
Trust 'GARAGE'.
Thank you for making another video to add to the other 10 videos about garage on this platform I absolutely adore this game
While it was only a few seconds, big ups for showing folklore during your lost media portion. I loved that game and glad you mentioned it visually. I think this is a great video with great direction about Garage. Thank you for making this, and I can't wait for more 🎉
When I saw you published a video - didn't even think what game or what content it is - I immediately gave it a like. Love your content, and thank you for letting us know about these kind of games. I am surely older than you but I never heard about this game.
These videos are some of my favorite gaming essays on RUclips. Thanks so much!
What a fascinating game! I love the visual aesthetic and mood especially. I'd like to play it myself but I'll probably wait a couple of years so it'll be less fresh in my memory. Great job with this video, you really did Garage justice!
A fascinating case, both in terms of the game as well as its revival.
It's funny; I had been meaning to watch one of your videos for a while now. This one just happened to stumble into my feed, and I was absolutely not disappointed. Garage is a beautiful game, and this is a wonderful video celebrating it; even if Garage was saved from becoming lost media, this video is saving it from being an unknown game, like so many others that are out there still. I didn't even know it existed before watching this video. This is a deep dive into someone's passion project, a reflection of their heart and mind, and an amazing showing of the communities that can develop around these strange, passionate games. People want these things preserved, and they care about them a lot, whether or not the large corporations that run the industries that help produce them care.
Thank you for making this video. Things like this mean a lot to me, and I'm sure to most of the other people watching. It's as important to talk about these games as it is to preserve and play them. If they just sit there, preserved but uncared for, they're not really art that's producing an impact, are they?
So cool to learn about this game! I was thinking this looked similar to Kowloon's Gate the whole time up til you mentioned it in the vid. Of the 3大奇ゲー, Baroque seems to be pretty well known as well, but I've never even heard of this one. What an awesome way to learn about it :)
It's great to see you back in action with another video, and what better way to start off is playing one of the most obscure Japanese point and click game that has been lost for 25 yrs. Great to see that it's been re-released on Switch. Definitely gonna try this surrealist game out, cause this game's art style is super fun to look at.
It's hard to imagine this game was almost lost.
I needed this videos so BAD, your content is immaculate. There's no single human I wish to listen to more than you, I truly learn with these topics and the way you lay your thoughts out. Thank you so much.
I love that Klonoa got a mention at the beginning omg :D and I appreciated the conclusion so much, with your plea on behalf of fans and game developers alike. The games we play can have such an impact on us, and there's no need for any of them to become lost media, it's true!
Glad you made this video to give this game some more love and attention. There are so many cool games that have been lost to obscurity or being locked to the region they released in that make them hard or impossible to play without the dedication of fans. I do really love to see that the creator had a hand in making it available to everyone, thats lovely. I one day hope Mizzurna falls can get a similar rerelease treatment, that one is also pretty cool.
Great video as always Tango! I love watching essays from people who really care about not only the games they are covering but games as a medium (and art) in general.
First, what a wonderful job you've done! I knew nothing about this game going in, and now would love to support not just Garage, but the developer as well. I struggle with the same things Lou did, and I'm extremely happy to say my hubby exudes patience with me trying my best to not let my past affect me.
On a second note, d-did I hear Umineko's soundtrack? I adore that VN. Got hubby into it. He now pressures everyone he's friendly with to play it 😅
And now I really wish for a sequel about a game I never played ( and definately I will after this ) but I think that Garage is as good at it is. Glad that it was saved from being forgotten. Games are art, and as such, they must be preserved!
So happy to find a detailed video of Garage, and posted the day of my birthday? heck yeah!!! ❤️
i don't have anything profound to add, but thank you for this video! your outro was beautiful & very touching. im gonna check out garage when i get the chance 💕
I’m going through a divorce right now with a man who I love to death, but who I simply cannot be with anymore. He thinks nothing of himself and does not have the capacity to give me what I need. I give up myself to keep him afloat, and it’s awful for both of us. Lou’s “there is no failure between you and me” dialogue was too much for me. Now I’m sitting here crying lol
All these good memories and all of our experiences together, knowing it can’t go on.
@@shortking-vp9vv it's sad needs get in the way of your love. But you are right, commitment is necessary on both ends. I hope everything works out for the two of you, even if you're apart.
We are very close to Tango covering Osamu Sato games
What are those about ?
@@JabamiLain He is a surrealist artist active in 80s/90s/00s. He worked on many games, most know being LSD in PS1 and Eastern Mind on PC.
@@hemangchauhan2864thank you.
They named it that because the developers were big fans of the UK garage music scene in the 90s.
I love your passion when you discover and explain lost video game media. Always ready for your videos!
How many stories and books have been lost to time? I think this story made me walk away more asking...how many stories are like Garage that were lost?
Wonderful video, as always.
👍Thumbs up for Americans getting a little extra dopamine bump every time Tango says "gah-redge" and your brain barks back "gar-rodge." (But for real, what a great video essay)
Your channel is one of those that leaves you like "man, wish i'd found it earlier"
I think the issue of the female robots clearly show how Yang sees women, as sex objects. Notice how milky foel or in this case sex, isn's used for making more robots for for bonding for male and female robots, it's for the male robots enjoyment.
I’ve suffered from debilitating depression and anxiety for over a decade. Somehow games like these make me feel comfort. Like I’m not alone and that others know how i feel, know what ive kept to myself for years and years
i adore your videos! this was yet another game id never heard of that you covered fantastically. thank you for your work! the plot portion with the field with that same whistled melody really touched my heart :’)
Late to the party, but this game reminds me of another weird Japanese Point and Click called „Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong-Nou“ which was released in 1994 by the artist Osamu Sato.
I never played it myself because it is abandonware and I didn’t know how to access such games when I lernt about this game but I did watch a let’s play of it about 9 - 10 years ago and it never left my mind completely because of how strange and different it was compared to every other game I had played up to this point.
Just got this game and i'm saving this video to watch once i finish. Absolutely love it so far, thank you for sharing it! ❤❤
P.T. had a group of people make a remake using the Doom Engine.
So even if the original is lost to time... people will find a way to try and preserve what will be someday lost. So there is always a way! : )
You're right, I didn't need to sleep yet.
Another fantastic video Tango. Keep up the good work, without overworking yourself.
Wow. What a video. Thanks so much for sharing this amazing game that, of course, I'd never heard of but instantly felt a strong connection with because of your incredible narrative and deep dive. Wonderful work Tango! Sorry I was two weeks late but definitely happy I took the time to finally watch this!
This video made me buy the game to support the team. I hope more artists unique games like this can be preserved, and given opportunities to take risks again 🙏
What an excellent video!
Your channel is my comfort zone, thank you
OMG the way I squealed when I saw you uploaded a new video! I absolutely love your content!
The message at the end touched me and made me feel kinda anxious about the digital age... We as humans *create* so much! the thoughts of it getting just... lost is so terrifying. I mean, the developer of a game not having access to the code of his own art piece. How? Its quite sad.
Fantastic video, Mushi. What a fascinating - and dare I say profound? - work of art this game is. I look forward to seeing you cover Baroque and Kowloon's Gate one day.
Just found your channel thanks to the Siren video! Your obvious love for games, particularly the somewhat obscure, forgotten and secretive japanese ones, is infectious. Some of them I'd never heard about (Haunting Ground, Hungry ghosts), Clock Tower I just assumed inaccessible due to the language barrier, never considered looking for a translated ROM. Now I know of the impending western release.
I have two recommendations you might find interesting, though you may quite likely be aware of them already, in which case they might appeal to others in the comments:
- Baroque, 1998, a Japan only first dungeon crawler/roguelike. I dunno if I'd call it a horror game, but the visuals and general aesthetics are some of the strangest and uncomfortable I've seen. You explore a structure called "The Nerve Tower" in pursuit of an entity known as Absolute God. The humans that remain after the apocalypse have been twisted into bizarre grotesques that mill about the dungeons.
- Fear & Hunger 1/2, 2018/2022, made by some psycho Finnish guy. I've yet only played the first one and let me tell you it's one of the tensest, most gut-turning horror experiences I've had. You play as one of four characters in an alternate history version of 1590, who for different reasons are drawn to the infamous Dungeon of Fear & Hunger. The dungeon is a prison and torture chamber used by the kingdom, but recently unnatural forces are at work there. It's so relentlessly brutal and gruesome it's honestly exhausting. I recommend not looking it up too much before trying it the first time, it's a shocking experience. It does contain a fair bit of explicit s**ual violence though, on top of the generous explicit regular violence, so it's definitely not for everyone.
This video about this obscure title from japan originally released decades ago sparked something in me, it's funny how that happens. I guess that's the beauty of art huh, something that can't be replicated, an dialogue between the creator and the viewer. I think overtime idk why or how I've lost a lot of passion, i draw less and the things I draw are less me. I think the existence of AI generation has exasebrated that loss of passion for me. "Why lose blood, sweat and tears if a machine can just do what you can in but a second ?" Because now I can confidently answer, I like to make art. It's something honest and beautiful, something which has those blood and tears embedded in it, something that can speak without any physical speech needed to be had, something that inspires not monetary gain but passion itself in the viewer. I am but a sailor on my small wooden canou, but my art is the river I sail on.
Holy crap, this was reminding me so much of Kowloon's Gate and (to a slightly lesser extent) Baroque, and now I find out the three games are linked lol that's awesome
Garage video instant subscribe not enough people talk about this game I know it's obscure but god it's got mood and atmosphere
For a game that was made in 1999, it looks fantastic.
tango vid dropped thank fucking god
Thanks for the new video !! and also for showing Murasaki Baby !
It was a banger Vita game! One of the first that came to mind when I was coming up with obscure older titles for that section 😊
When I learned you interviewed Tomonori Tanaka and brought us his process and intentions you earned my respect and of course sub.
WIld 9 was another amazing, quirky and underappreciated PS1 game.
Games like Wild 9 and Guitaroo Man were gems that I never hear about, and it makes me question my sanity.
I’ve loved this video so much Tango! You can express your ideas and feelings about games so well! This vid was simply perfect, emotional but also really professional. I’ve never heard about Garage before but now i’m so intrigued 😮
*Spoilers*
From your analysis and such, as well as based on my own experiences, my interpretation of Lu is she took her own life. Like Yang said she couldnt escape her own thoughts and self loathing. Lu killing herself made Yang feel like he failed, he killed her himself.
Survivors Guilt is something I've experienced myself after a friend took their own life. You question if you could have saved them, get angry they didnt come to you and so much more.
HELL YEAH TANGO LET'S GOOOOOOOO!
Awesome vid! Thank you!
1:06:48 Oh my God yes, thank you for articulating what I’ve been thinking for years! This is why I’m really starting to hate everything being remade in gaming. It’s not just the publishers but the vast majority of “consumers” who don’t care about this and it makes me feel like I’ve been taking crazy pills!
I miss the experimentalism of the mid to late 90’s mainstream gaming too. What foolish summer children we were to think that would be the norm forever. At least, me anyway. I’m a fool.
Barely started this, and subscribed. To know people still care about obscure point-and-click games has me fully invested.
This is adorable I chuckled when you said you had to roll away with your tail between your legs and how cute the little machines are despite being a bit off putting at first
Been waiting for this one 😤
I always love your video essays so much breaking things piece by piece it really brings the story to a full completion that if. I played myself I might have missed out
This game was so interesting and your commentary was amazing as always! thank you for your work!
Yay another Tango video!! Your videos are so comforting
I don't think Sanaetsuki's interpretation is wrong but I think it's called garage because that's where you put the stuff that you don't use that much or don't want to put in the house proper. The house being your "normal" mind, the garage being the place where you put all the memories and feelings that you don't want in your "house". Essentially repressed memories, and ones you just don't want to think about, so you throw it in the garage so you don't have to see/deal with it. Sanaetsuki's interpretation makes a lot of sense too, so it could be that. Or both. Or neither. I dunno, but it's fun to think about.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful game. I never would have found it, and now I love the story so dearly. Thank you!
When transmitting heavy psychological damage through still imagery is the best.
I really want to watch this but definitely have to come back later due to spoilers - this has sat in my library for months for when I have time to devote a weekend to it. Great to see this super weird game getting some love though!