I really appreciated how you noticed very early on the existence of the one-antlered alien. It was easy to miss, your recognition of him after wondering where he was throughout the game was a unique aspect of your playthrough.
If I remember correctly, when you're standing on the Eye right after teleporting the Vessel, you can look up and see the machine that the people of the Stranger built to hide the Eye's signal. Fun little detail that's easy to miss.
Not sure you noticed, but the footprints walk into the water. He extinguished his flame, and invited you to journey on with him to the last big adventure.
@@SymbaLily A fact that many people overlook: He put his telescope on the raft in the last sequence before drifitng into sunset. The telescope which was used by the strangers to find the eye when they lived on their home planet. I guess it means that the prisioner wants to accompany you when you find the eye. (The player wouldnt have found the eye if the prisioner didnt stopped the signal blocking)
They were waiting an unfathomable amount of time, hoping that what they did wasn't for nothing. When the Hatchling shows up and tells the Prisoner about how somebody found the signal because of them, they know that it's finally okay to let go. They could have blown their own artifact out at any point but they chose not to.
@@SymbaLily To me, I think the invitation is to walk into the water with the prisoner. If you walk into the water and extinguish your own flame, the game shows the end title as well, not just waiting until the loop concludes. I get teary at the end as well. It's a powerful story.
This game was pure poetry, and the DLC only added to perfection. What I particularly loved about the design of the expansion was how much fear it evokes over nothing. There are no jumpscares, the ‘monsters’ can’t harm you, and the darkness is but a lantern from defeat. It trains the player to go from terrified to unflinching, and in return tells an amazing story of grief and perseverance. Your playthrough was fantastic, and a joy to watch. You earned yourself a new, permanent fan!
@@noahsabadish3812 Yeah I don't think the scariness is ever supposed to go away. It's like the existential fear of death, both personal and universal. It doesn't go away, you just learn to accept it.
And I love how this transition in the player's fear to understanding echoes the same sort of transition in the base game regarding the supernova. Players start out afraid, fighting against it, and even as they internalize the idea that they won't die, the supernova is still a terrifying time limit, until that grows and changes. When acceptance comes, and the player understands that this time limit doesn't actually limit you at all, that you have all the time you could ever need, that's when the game has really imparted it's lesson. To have that same sort of powerful effect on players int he DLC is nothing short of a masterstroke of game design. Thanks for the stream, @Symbalily . It was great watching you go on this journey and learn the lessons. To you, and anybody else who completed this game; "We don't have much connection, you and I. Still, this encounter feels special. I hope you don't mind if I think of you as a friend.
For sure, the entire thing is about fear of the unknown and the game makes you feel that in the dark areas. For me, as soon as I was able to see the simulation, even when I had to go back to the dark with my lantern, it felt less scary because I knew it was artificial and I could step out whenever I wanted, so I saw the big picture that the simulation couldn't really hurt me. If you want to tie this back to the owlks, they were unable to see the big picture of what the eye would do, they only saw the near future of the universe ending, the prisoner was the only one who saw the big picture and wasn't afraid of the eye.
No jumpscares? Tell that to the Owlks that jump out from the darkness in less than a second. A darkness you have to preserve to have any chance at progressing. But now I know why I could not enjoy the gameplay aspect: it could never train me to go unflinching.
36:51 You actually found the Prisoner's painting at "his house" in the dream world, which kinda builds from the "Eye of the Universe" slide reel. The slide really showed other inhabitants focusing on the "destruction" aspect, and really hating the EotU for it, while the Prisoner's painting really just showed the whole picture of the vision, and pictured the beauty of it. Every other inhabitant just _chose_ to focus on the negatives, and became hateful, somber, and selfish... just because they didn't want _their_ story to end. But the Prisoner _chose_ to see beauty in it, because they were selfless, and they were pleased by the fact that when they die, new life will emerge.
There's a somewhat more charitable view of the Owelk, which is that they surely viewed the EotU as an existential threat not just to themselves, but to the universe and everything in it. And so, having no world to return to and being deeply disillusioned and bitter at their discovery, they set themselves to a new purpose and began an eternal Vigil, to ensure that no-one would ever see the signal from the EotU and potentially destroy reality by contacting it. Thus the need for the Simulation, so that they could stay at their self-imposed Vigil forever. Of course by this point we know that the universe will end in cold and darkness regardless of whether the Eye is discovered - the Owelk's interpretation of the nature of the EotU was incomplete, save for the Prisoner who understood its nature more completely. So from that point of view, while the Owelk were driven by fear and bitterness, their *purpose* was not selfish. They likely viewed themselves as guardians of reality itself. The less charitable interpretation is that they were willing to ensure that the universe never 'reset' just to buy themselves a few hundred thousand more years of existence before the universe died regardless - but it's not clear whether they were aware of the ultimate fate of their universe back when they began the vigil.
I love how the Prisoner's Ancient Glade puzzle is a memorial. Not just for their own species, but to everyone you showed them - the Nomai, and your own people. And even then, it's not just the Hearthians as a collective, but individual people that the Hatchling clearly cared so much about. And by blowing out the candles, you get to say good-bye. It's a small bit of closure that the Hatchling never got to have before. That part moves me a lot. :')
Some really interesting details that I appreciated: *The middle and right prisoner towers do have actual passwords but they can only be determined from either blind-guessing or data-mining the game itself, much like how the protag essentially "hacks" the towers when their passwords have been intentionally burned away from the simulation *Also the tomb in the ring world does actually contain the prisoners corpse and his artifact which is still lit, but if you manage to exit the simulation after he learns of the protag, his artifact is extinguished :(
Fun fact, the coffin didn't open when the DLC first came out. But as people figured out the code and went in without the exploits (ie, alive) they were disappointed that the coffin in the ring world had all locks still on it. So they patched it in afterwards, and presumably added the lantern being lit/extinguished as appropriate at the same time. Oh, and there wasn't any footprints in the initial release. Making it a bit harder (but not that hard) to figure out where the prisoner went. And by looking into the game files you can also find out that the prisoner is named Kaepora. The race was never officially named though, in the game files they are named "ghosts", "ghostbirds", and "pursuers" depending on area.
Of all the playthroughs I've seen of this game, this is my favourite! Your insights, puzzle-solving abilities, commentary and enthusiasm/appreciation of the game(s on this channel) is amazing, and honestly quite infectious! Outer Wilds in particular just never gets old in its beauty - showing your journey to the prisoner never fails to get me. Thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us!
"did the Prisoner see the beauty of the eye of the universe?" Yes! So, in the vision the Strangers have when they scan the eye, they see all life in the universe end. Their species collapses onto the ground and becomes a skull, covered in moss. When you go to the Prisoner's house in the dream - the burnt shack you have to take a boat to with a stargazing telescope next to it - you can find a painting of that same image... But from the skull of the Strangers sprouts new life, a flower that resembles the Eye, and this new life scatters seeds of a universe of galaxies. The strangers saw the Eye would end the universe and their lives. The Prisoner saw that from this death, a new universe would be born, built from their minds and thoughts and experiences. :)
If you think about it, if the Strangers had not been afraid and instead used or tried the Eye, the Hearthians would never have came about. The Nomai may have not either, depending on the time frame.
Cool detail is when u get in touch of the stranger’s “glass windows” at any spot from inside the stranger.. u will instead see pixels. Explains how from the outside of the stranger there is metal with no glass.
Amber saying that fireworks looked like little supernovas is just a sign that she's one of us now. EVERYTHING is an Outer Wilds reference, and you're obligated to not explain why! Amazing playthrough, you were so perceptive throughout! I can't wait to see what else you end up playing!
I loved that you finagled the angle for the scout through the hole in the ceiling for the last forbidden reel trap, didn't even realise that was possible - I just jetpacked through the hole!
It's impossible to learn from gameplay, but there is a code you can enter while still alive. This let's you open the casket without dying. Once you return to the vault outside of the simulation, you can see the Prisoner resting in peace in their tomb
Well, it *is* possible to learn from "gameplay," the code is fixed so you can just go through them one by one. The code is actually placed fairly close to the start of the sequence if you go from left to right (western reading direction) and is symmetrical so it won't matter if you go from bottom up or top down. It would take a few cycles before you guess it though so you have to show dedication. I did start cycling the codes after completing the game, but after one cycle I calculated it would take way too long if it doesn't have a real code to go through all the combinations so I went and looked it up at that point. It wouldn't have been too many cycles even at my pace, but you can go through the codes much faster since it reacts immediately to the code being entered. Which I didn't know ofc so I waited for a beat after turning the code wheel.
@@brunokingzWell, there's precedent, since the Nomai brute forced the search for the Eye in a time loop 😄 This is just doing the same thing with a combination lock. Now I'm tempted to do that, just so I can see if there's time to release the Prisoner in your final loop before going and grabbing the core from the ATP, so they actually get their closure in the version of the timeloop that isn't reset. You obviously can't do that if you use the simulation-glitch-based solution to the third(?) seal.
Outer Wilds is so beautiful, the fact that what makes me the most sad is being unable to play the game with the same experience again. You can however watch someone else go through the same things and love for the game that you did.
unfortunately i looked a few things up during my playthrough as i felt stuck, which i really regret. honestly one of my biggest regrets, lol… luckily i can fill in those gaps with videos like these
@@noahsabadish3812 At least you didn't make my mistake, and watched your favourite youtuber play it. Until you realise just what a gem this game is, and how you already know too much! 😣 At least I got to experience the DLC blind, and the fact that it was just as amazing made it worth it in the end. Still would have preferred to have known earlier. And yes, the youtuber warned about it, but I didn't have the opportunity to play it at the time so "I'll just watch a bit."
I really do need to say thank you for your playthrough Amber, for a couple of reasons! The first one is the one shared by most people I'm sure, you played with such a sense of being emotionally captivated and awestruck and terrified that it's the closest I've come to feeling like playing the game again for the first time. And that is the itch that all Outer Wilds addicts are trying to scratch. But my second reason is a lot more personal. For... well, reasons, I can't play horror games. Like, it gives me genuine anxiety and I have to turn them off because it's practically painful. And Outer Wilds being one of my all time favourites alongside Hollow Knight, when I found out the DLC was horror-based I was a bit upset. I -barely- made it through Dark Bramble, and well, Echoes of the Eye was genuinely too much for me. I had to play with my headphones off, lights on, basically had to destroy my own immersion because if I got immersed it made me anxious. So I really, really appreciate your Echoes playthrough. Because it embodied the fear I had, but you were able to push through and remain immersed and embrace that fear for the storytelling device that it is. And as a result, I actually feel I got to experience Echoes properly for the first time through your playthrough, even though I've played it myself. So thank you, for letting me have the emotional experience with the DLC to one of my favourite games that I wished I could have but couldn't, that means a lot to me.
Don't know if it was an inspiration to the developers, but there's a poem by Emma Lazarus called "Echoes", and I feel like the second half of it fits it perfectly: _But if thou ever in some lake-floored cave_ _O'erbrowed by rocks, a wild voice wooed and heard,_ _Answering at once from heaven and earth and wave,_ _Lending elf-music to thy harshest word,_ _Misprize thou not these echoes that belong_ _To one in love with solitude and song_ Wonderful playthrough Amber. Thank you for all the content ❤️
reduced frights basically changes how the strangers hunt. Rather than turn out their light then sprinting at you, their light stays on and they walk toward you the whole time
Thanks again for a wonderful playthrough! 💕 I wanted to explain the Eye-signal inhibitor, since you seemed confused. When the Owlks observed the Eye of the Universe, they figured out its quantum properties, and realized that if a living creature were to interact with it, it would cause the end of the universe. That's why they were so angry about it; they'd destroyed their homeworld and sacrificed everything to come find this object, only to find that its purpose was to destroy them and everything else. To make sure that no one ever interacted with the Eye, they built the inhibitor, which trapped the Eye's signal and prevented anyone else from finding out about it. However, the Prisoner disagreed with everyone else and thought it wasn't their place to try and prevent the inevitable. That's why he turned off the inhibitor, causing the other Owlks to get mad at him. Hope this was helpful!
When you cut away from the burning room in the lowlands I immediately tensed up worrying that you’d gone to the nearest flame lodge and would thus be vulnerable to the dam interrupting your moment with the Prisoner… glad that you found a good place to experience it safely ^^;
I think the timer stops during the sharing, but yeah that would be terrible. I think I saw a youtuber who had end times start just as they went down the lift, lol. They tried to speed through talking to Kaepora and thought they missed the reply after asking "Who are you?" It was quite funny, but it would be terrible if end times started just after the exchange of memories…
Reduced frights: - Removes some of the scarier sound effects - Reduces the speed when they charge at you - Speeds up the catching animation So it makes them easier to run from and less surprising as they do.
I played this games over a year ago and I fell absolutely in love with it. Ever since then I have tried watching other RUclipsrs play this game to recapture that feeling of when I first played. No one has come close to that except for you. You brought all those first discovery feelings that I miss so much. Thank you for playing this game and helping me relive it.
I feel like subnautica would be a great game for you to play after outer wilds. Even if it's not the next one I do hope you get around to playing it some day 👌
I haven't watched it yet, but I think I'm going to cry again with this game. If I cry I come back and edit this comment. Yes, I cried twice. i love this game. thx for playing my favorite game. looking forward to the next games, maybe Hades?
@@Potatezone It's the only way to see the amazing majesty of this game again with "fresh" eyes. To see someone else discover it on their own. We must find more small, promising youtubers and encourage them to play Outer Wilds blind!
Despite having seen the ending to both the base game and Echoes of the Eye several times now, I actually got quite misty eyed watching this. I think seeing the story have an emotional effect on you reminded me of just how much I was bawling myself when I first played the game. Outer Wilds is my second favorite game of all time, and Echoes of the Eye is a huge part of the reason for that. The base game was already phenomenal and told and excellent story that gave you a lot to think about. But in my opinion, the DLC adds so much that, despite being a completely new perspective, almost feels missing from the original conversation in retrospect. I don't think I've ever seen a DLC that is so well integrated into the core philosophy of the game that it feels inseparable after the fact. I like to look at each species as an exploration of what humanity is capable of when confronted with the unknown. I cannot overstate how much I love the dichotomy (trichotomy?) between the philosophies of the Owlks, Nomai, and Hearthians. Three species confronted with the vastness of the universe with three completely different reactions. The Owlks reacted with fear - fear of entropy, of change, and their own mortality. The Nomai reacted with curiosity - an unceasing desire to learn all that was presented. And the Hearthians reacted with acceptance - an understanding of the briefness of life and deciding to use that in persist of personal fulfillment. It's also notable that these reactions doomed each respective species. The Owlks fear led to them trapping themselves in an unchanging simulation for millennia. The Nomai's curiosity led them to getting caught by Dark Bramble, and later to them getting wiped out by the Interloper. And for all the acceptance the Hearthians displayed, their light flashed out the quickest - they got the least about of time of anyone to explore the universe. The thing that makes the Owlks so scary and compelling, in my opinion, is how deeply relatable they are. Their fear makes total sense - it's natural, even. A self defense mechanism. But it can also be, itself, a source of harm. I really enjoyed this playthough, Amber! It was very lovely to experience this game another time from the perspective of someone coming in blind. And I'm really happy you enjoyed the game so much. I have a recommendation for a future game if you are interested: Return of the Obra Dinn. Return of the Obra Dinn is very different from Outer Wilds in terms of actual gameplay. But it is the only game I have ever played that has captured the same "puzzle solving" feeling that Outer Wilds has. It has a great soundtrack, great voice acting, a really unique art style, and is really well suited to your attention to detail.
Obra Dinn is a great idea. I've beaten it and I doubt I would remember who did what with so many combinations so it would be a good watch even for those who have played it. 2nd favorite Outer Wilds...1st favorite?
We were the marshmallow all along. Really enjoyed watching your journey. ❤️ Loved the decompression and you talking out your feelings at the end of it all. Interesting idea about the other inhabitants living outside of the simulation. It's possible that happened, and ghost matter killed them too, but there were no bodies.
Since the prison is underwater I thought the prisoner might be alive on my first playthrough since that might afford protection from the ghost matter. So I wonder if they had a guard stationed inside the prison bell. If so it's possible the guard survived the ghost matter, found the bodies of everyone else and buried them. Driven to despair they took one of the ships (because there's also a missing ship) and left the stranger maybe in the hope of finding the eye
@@scaredscorpion According to a Hearthian child, ghost matter takes a _really_ long time to dissipate, so even if they survived the initial explosion, they'd still have to wait out the aftermath. They'd probably die from either starvation or just old age before that could happen.
This playthrough has been an absolute delight to binge over the past few days. Thank you so much for playing this. I'm really excited for whatever comes next!
Feldspar grew in my estimation with that vision. Sure you heard how he was the greatest but I always wondered if it was a bit of bravado. But seeing him find the ruins and bringing it back, yeah Feldspar is a legend!
Thank you so much for finishing this playthrough! I've watched several, and yours might be my favorite. You pick up on things so quickly. I know that youtube sucks sometimes, but remember that there are many of us who love your content!
I finally got to watch your playthrough after playing the game myself and I absolutely loved it!! Thank you sooo so so much for... yeah just playing games the way you do and giving us these chill and lovely playthroughs, I really appreciate it and I hope you can get through all the hard time you might be facing right now or in the future! Love ❤❤
Your playthrough here was excellent, Symbalily. Thank you for letting me cry at the ending of Outer Wilds for the... seventh time, now? It was awesome getting to see your clever puzzle solving skills mixed occasional derps. It was cool, seeing your fearful curiousity delve into all the hidden corners of the system. I can't find if anyone mentioned what Reduced Frights does, but as far as I can tell, it mostly just slows down the guys that chase you. You can actually outrun them and they don't lunge at you like they do otherwise.
Thank you so much for this entire playtrough... you made me experience Outer Wilds again across your sensitive vision, with such powerful feelings along the storyline. You brought me tears in the end, when encountered the prisoner... and I love how you got hitten so hard by the whole game, just as I did. I hope you feel great today, and moved on with life, now with the Outer Wilds' mark forever in it
@@SymbaLily you are a lovely human being :) the only person who made me appreciate it this way is Lukael, check out his lets play if you want to live those feelings again ;)
Sucks to hear that you're going through a rough patch. I am too, and I want you to know that this series has helped me to get through the weeks. You have helped me. Thank you
Return of the Obra Dinn is somewhat similar in the observation focused puzzling aspect, and is one of the most exceptional games of that type. Less story focused, but exceptional atmosphere.
I want more feeling is what really drives people to seek out playthroughs like yours. You can't experience it twice, but you can share and watch someone go through it too... and I think that's beautiful in its own way, too. Our own little rebirth cycle keeping the game alive.
And now to the real sad part, realizing that you can never experience this game for the first time ever again, and there is nothing else comparable out there.
The "Signal Blocker" the Strangers built? When you enter the code in the Vessel to go to the eye of the universe in the regular game, if you look outside of "the Vessel's window" to your left and zoom in with your Telescope... YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SIGNAL BLOCKER!!! It's still in orbit at the Eye of the Universe blocking it's frequency. Also if you look at the Sun from the Vessel's window... you can actually see it going Super Nova in the distance.
The DLC is surprisingly well-integrated into the game - it slips what amounts to another planet into the game, along with a seamless explanation for why, despite being there all along, you never noticed it. And it answers a question no-one expected an answer to - why did the Eye hide from the Nomai? There are still plenty of unanswered questions about the Eye, of course - an obvious one is when the signal originally started - if it was being sent the whole time, right from the start of the universe, it makes sense that the Strangers discovered it before they were really ready for space travel, and so, why they consumed their homeworld's resources in the process of creating something that could make the trip. The other question that jumps out at me is what would have happened if no-one ever entered the Eye? It's clear that the universe is ending, one way or another, by the time the Hatchling launches - the last stars are dying, and, while the Eye signal blocker would inevitably break down eventually, by that time there may have been no-one left to receive the signal... The Prisoner may have been a traitor to his people, but, ultimately, they were a hero - it's only because of them that the end of this universe isn't the end of everything - they didn't do much, but what they did proved to be enough.
Thank you for this wonderful playthrough. I played the game over a year ago, and I had forgotten the final vision you give to the prisoner. Such a beautifully superb combination of music and visuals to evoke the perfect "outer wild" emotions.
This game means so much to me, and it was really fun to see it through your eyes. I really appreciate how much you care about the world, the characters, the design; many plays I've seen of this game have been rushed, but you let yourself simmer in the details like I did. I won't stop coming back to Outer Wilds, especially when I'm scared or hurt, and people like you make it possible for me to do that in a way I otherwise wouldn't. So, thank you.
This playthrough has been giving me something to look forward to. I'm sad that I'll be watching the last episode, but so happy that you finished it! Been a joy watching. Favorite let's play of Outer Wilds by a long shot
This ending (all parts of it) makes me cry every time I watch them. It's been a real delight to watch your playthrough, thank you so much for sharing it with us!
At the end of the DLC I also ran around looking for the Prisoner. I want to say his lil footprints were added in a later patch cause I don't remember seeing them but I'm not sure. Anyway thank you for letting us explore with you! I loved it.
1:16:38 nonsense! 😤 but for real what an incredible playthrough of an incredible game. sadly i do believe Mobius has confirmed that they won't be adding anymore to the game 😔 but there is a modding community! i for one have a whole story outlined for a fanmade expansion if i ever get the opportunity to make it, and i know others are doing the same
I really really enjoyed your playtrough of the game, especially because of how fast you pick up on things and piece them together. I sometimes I got frustrated in the past with other people taking a very long time to do the puzzles, but I never had that feeling in this watch-trough!
The Prisoner must have sat in that room alone, playing chess with themself for like 200,000+ years 🤯 It's understandable they would dunk themself in the river after all that time. Though, I wonder if they couldn't just have blown out their own artifact 🤔 This was a great end to the series! Maybe one day we will see a Outer Wilds 2. The plot could just be set at the end of the next universe, where a new species of aliens once again has trouble finding the Eye. The sequel potential is infinite!
The Prisoner probably could have, but waited around anyways. When they met you, they get to know what happened to the universe, and I think that was the closure they needed to move on.
A game that gets me emotional for the characters is Disco Elysium. Beautiful characters and storytelling. The world is wonderful to explore but I don't how you'd feel about the gameplay.
You were asking why the Stranger released the Eye signal, if they had recognized the beauty of the eye. If you look at the slide reel where the strangers learn about the eye, it shows them dying, decaying until just a skull is laying on the ground. And that causes them to panic and tell the others. But if you remember the burned house in the 2nd dream world, this was the Prisoner's house. Inside is a painting you found with a flower growing out of the same skull from the vision, except the flower is the Eye, and it is giving birth to new galaxies. I think the Prisoner saw this part of the vision that the others refused to look past, and understood that it meant not just death, but renewal. Your playthrough of this game was incredible. Outer Wilds is by far my favorite game, and you did it such a service, and it's clear how much you appreciated what it was trying to do, and how much it resonated with you. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
Man, I cry _every_ time, I cannot with this game. Can you imagine? Being trapped like that, maybe not knowing if it was the right thing to do, if you even made a difference, and then have someone *hundreds of thousands of years later* tell you, "you mattered, I saw what you did, I _heard you."_ Fucking hell. How many people in the history of science, in the history of the world, labored not knowing for whom, for when or for what? Many were recognized in their time, or did all they did simply to satisfy their curiosity, but many did not. Some were even hurt or shamed for it. And many are alive now, today, working at their pursuits not knowing if they'll bear fruit. I don't know how one can feel both proud and humble at the same time but it's how I feel thinking about this.
I absolutely adored your playthrough, thank you for sharing it!! I was blown away by how emotional I got even at this finale (I was already sobbing the first time you did the finale, so I was surprised how much it touched me again). Outer wilds is simply such a beautiful, elegant game. Thank you for playing!
Really the best LP of this wonderful game on RUclips. Thank you Amber I will make sure to check out the rest of your channel. You are freakin Einstein when it comes to the puzzles in Outer Wilds lol
1:16:00 - I think we all want more of Outer Wilds, like a game set in the new universe. I don't know if we'll get it though, it seems that the DLC was planned for the original release, but they had to cut it to get the game released in a sensible timeframe. So it's more like the finishing touches that they wanted to put in, some fear and darkness to balance the discovery, science, and optimism. 26:30 - I believe the children grew up. Either during the trip to the Eye, or after they realised they destroyed their home world and have nowhere to go. And after they knew they had no home to return to, well I don't think they were in a "preserve the species" mood at that point. They just wanted to go home, and forget everything happened. 27:00 - Yeeeah. They've been in the simulation for over 300 000 years by the time you get there. And, well, it seems they are very stuck in their ways. Just walking around in the forest, playing music, or watching reels over and over. They all seem broken, even worse than the prisoner in many ways. And the prisoner spent all that time on their own, just waiting… There's at least one more "text on screen" ending remaining that you didn't see. If you remove the core, then stand on the fire with the artefact you quickly get another ending after getting in the simulation. I forget what I was trying to do there, but I remember being disappointed it ended so quickly because I didn't get to test my theory. Can't recall if you got the "broke spacetime" ending by the high energy lab either, it's not nearly as long as the version when you jump through the black hole in the ash twin though. Neither are really long enough to be worth a video, even together. But they are fun to see for yourself at least. Oh, and if you look out the window at the eye after teleporting there you can see the probe that's blocking the signal. And I believe you can see the stranger sail past as well after the last suns go out.
I’m glad I finally caught up on your play through. This was the best play through of the game I’ve seen. I loved watching it and I’m so glad you shared it with us!
You will never be able to experience this game again like the first time, but it is ok. You have the memories of it and it is better than not having anything. Don't you think?
sadly , i had to look some things up during my playthrough as i felt stuck. this “spoiled” a few key moments. those are experiences i didn’t have, nor can i ever. 😭
Think the meaning of the last projection is "carry me with you as you continue your adventure, I'm finally done. What I did made a difference, it all mattered, I can let go now and have peace, I don't have to die alone."
I've seen 100's of Outer Wilds Playthroughs. I really loved yours! You're so clever and I really appreciated all your funny edits and jokes! The cookie edit had me grinning ear to ear. A great playthrough through and through.
Amber you have no idea how much we love and appreciate you and what you do. I've been checking patreon hourly everyday for the new upload I was so excited. And it was so worth it, this game is something else I can't describe with words so I'm very happy you enjoyed it so much. Can't wait to see where the channel goes, I'll be here watching. Take care and keep being awesome!
Whenever the spooks were getting to me in this DLC, my trick was remembering that these guys make home movies of them watching their other home movies. It's a lot harder to be scared of them when you think of them in those terms.
I think that your ending ramble is maybe the perfect extension of this game- You want more! You don't want it to end! You want to go somewhere new, meet new people, just an hour or two more, anything! .. But you can't. That's the end. There's always going to be new games, and those will end too. Every time you dip into a new game, you become a part of that universe, and you don't want that universe to be over... But sometimes, you gotta get to the eye. You gotta remember what was, and accept that something new will come, there's always another sunrise (Until the sun goes supernova!)
The stranger-friend's body is in the sarcophagus in the real world, they put him there alive I'm sure, then let him die or lose consciousness in proximity to the fire so his consciousness would enter the simulation, and when it did he was put in the virtual cell. Enough time has passed on the stranger since they arrived that all of their physical bodies have died, that's why when their fires go out during the flood their consciousness is ripped from the sim and their minds finally die instead of them waking up like you do. It's also why they only become alerted to your presence in the simulation when you mess with the lights. They can't hear the bell alarms when you trigger them for the same reason you don't hear them when you enter the simulation through death instead of sleeping.
Loved hearing your thoughts at the end of the video! This game and DLC deeply affect so many who play it. A true piece of art that pulls on our hearts and tells a beautifully human story, despite not featuring a single human. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
I binged through your entire playthrough, it's wonderful to see someone put all the things together much like those before also have. You did also find some things I never realised to find in my own playthrough, which gave me quite the shock when I realised that. Thank you for sharing your playthrough! Your commentary was a wonderful addition to the experience.
I never thought I'd find watching someone else play games entertaining, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching you play what is now one of my fav games of all time. Thanks so much! Subscribed :)
Thank you for playing this. I'm always trying to recapture a smidge of that first-time experience secondhand and the sincere curiosity you ventured through this game with was exactly what I had hoped for and beyond.
I think the term you were searching for in your post-game analysis is "nihilism". The feeling that you're so small and insignificant compared to the universe that you are practically nothing. It's a bittersweet feeling, because it's upsetting but also liberating. Bit of a personal tangent now, but; I describe myself as an optimistic nihilist, because whenever I feel overwhelmed, I like to watch the stars or watch documentaries on the universe and its scale, and feel that pointlessness. It makes the panic go away. It has helped me remain calm in so many situations where I would have otherwise been out of control, because of that sense that nothing I do has an effect on the larger picture. Especially when I consider the potential beginnings and ends of the universe, and the utter limitlessness of it all. It really gives a physical reaction to me of a calm washing over, because suddenly it's as though reality can't possibly be real, which really brings me to a knife edge of feeling like if I embrace that feeling I could lose my mind haha but I always ground myself, and let the unanswerable questions just glide past me in wistful melancholy.
I played Outer Wilds last year and it remains probably my favorite game ever. I was keen to play Echoes of the Eye but to be honest I was too scared to play it. I watched your entire playthrough and it was a joy to see you explore, discover, realise, dread, and carry through with courage in the scary parts. Thanks for uploading this, it was truly enjoyable to watch!
I know another emotional game (not as emotional as this game, of course though), and its called Everhood. It's a rhythm-based linear RPG. Just like Outer Wilds, I can't say anything without spoiling it, just check it out and see if it's for you!
Other people have probably said this, but reduced frights basically removed the strangers being able to dash towards you, it makes a them little slower, it doesn’t change much
Omg FINALLY! I would say I’m happy to reach the end but it’s also kind of sad that it’s over… one of the best LPers I’ve seen of this game and have made me stay for other games like Bloodborne and God of War 👍 your attention to detail & problem solving skills are incredible and unparalleled.
![My first time playing Undertale! [1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AH2dfiC-iGY/mqdefault.jpg)
I really appreciated how you noticed very early on the existence of the one-antlered alien. It was easy to miss, your recognition of him after wondering where he was throughout the game was a unique aspect of your playthrough.
Where did he appear earlier?
@@JM-us3fr ruclips.net/video/Kae8rlEqMIM/видео.html
@@JM-us3fr First seen in the third reel, where they mourn their lost home.
@@dewhi100 Wow I never noticed
There also is a photograph of him with his face scratched
If I remember correctly, when you're standing on the Eye right after teleporting the Vessel, you can look up and see the machine that the people of the Stranger built to hide the Eye's signal. Fun little detail that's easy to miss.
You definitely can see it orbiting the eye.
that is so freakin cool
Not sure you noticed, but the footprints walk into the water. He extinguished his flame, and invited you to journey on with him to the last big adventure.
I saw!
@@SymbaLily A fact that many people overlook: He put his telescope on the raft in the last sequence before drifitng into sunset. The telescope which was used by the strangers to find the eye when they lived on their home planet. I guess it means that the prisioner wants to accompany you when you find the eye. (The player wouldnt have found the eye if the prisioner didnt stopped the signal blocking)
They were waiting an unfathomable amount of time, hoping that what they did wasn't for nothing. When the Hatchling shows up and tells the Prisoner about how somebody found the signal because of them, they know that it's finally okay to let go. They could have blown their own artifact out at any point but they chose not to.
@@sly1292 That's a beautiful point
@@SymbaLily To me, I think the invitation is to walk into the water with the prisoner. If you walk into the water and extinguish your own flame, the game shows the end title as well, not just waiting until the loop concludes.
I get teary at the end as well. It's a powerful story.
This game was pure poetry, and the DLC only added to perfection.
What I particularly loved about the design of the expansion was how much fear it evokes over nothing. There are no jumpscares, the ‘monsters’ can’t harm you, and the darkness is but a lantern from defeat. It trains the player to go from terrified to unflinching, and in return tells an amazing story of grief and perseverance.
Your playthrough was fantastic, and a joy to watch. You earned yourself a new, permanent fan!
it is a perfect example of the stories that only video games can tell.
though i must say, I never stopped being afraid of the Owlks
@@noahsabadish3812 Yeah I don't think the scariness is ever supposed to go away. It's like the existential fear of death, both personal and universal. It doesn't go away, you just learn to accept it.
And I love how this transition in the player's fear to understanding echoes the same sort of transition in the base game regarding the supernova. Players start out afraid, fighting against it, and even as they internalize the idea that they won't die, the supernova is still a terrifying time limit, until that grows and changes. When acceptance comes, and the player understands that this time limit doesn't actually limit you at all, that you have all the time you could ever need, that's when the game has really imparted it's lesson. To have that same sort of powerful effect on players int he DLC is nothing short of a masterstroke of game design.
Thanks for the stream, @Symbalily . It was great watching you go on this journey and learn the lessons. To you, and anybody else who completed this game; "We don't have much connection, you and I. Still, this encounter feels special. I hope you don't mind if I think of you as a friend.
For sure, the entire thing is about fear of the unknown and the game makes you feel that in the dark areas. For me, as soon as I was able to see the simulation, even when I had to go back to the dark with my lantern, it felt less scary because I knew it was artificial and I could step out whenever I wanted, so I saw the big picture that the simulation couldn't really hurt me. If you want to tie this back to the owlks, they were unable to see the big picture of what the eye would do, they only saw the near future of the universe ending, the prisoner was the only one who saw the big picture and wasn't afraid of the eye.
No jumpscares? Tell that to the Owlks that jump out from the darkness in less than a second. A darkness you have to preserve to have any chance at progressing.
But now I know why I could not enjoy the gameplay aspect: it could never train me to go unflinching.
36:51 You actually found the Prisoner's painting at "his house" in the dream world, which kinda builds from the "Eye of the Universe" slide reel. The slide really showed other inhabitants focusing on the "destruction" aspect, and really hating the EotU for it, while the Prisoner's painting really just showed the whole picture of the vision, and pictured the beauty of it. Every other inhabitant just _chose_ to focus on the negatives, and became hateful, somber, and selfish... just because they didn't want _their_ story to end. But the Prisoner _chose_ to see beauty in it, because they were selfless, and they were pleased by the fact that when they die, new life will emerge.
There's a somewhat more charitable view of the Owelk, which is that they surely viewed the EotU as an existential threat not just to themselves, but to the universe and everything in it. And so, having no world to return to and being deeply disillusioned and bitter at their discovery, they set themselves to a new purpose and began an eternal Vigil, to ensure that no-one would ever see the signal from the EotU and potentially destroy reality by contacting it. Thus the need for the Simulation, so that they could stay at their self-imposed Vigil forever.
Of course by this point we know that the universe will end in cold and darkness regardless of whether the Eye is discovered - the Owelk's interpretation of the nature of the EotU was incomplete, save for the Prisoner who understood its nature more completely.
So from that point of view, while the Owelk were driven by fear and bitterness, their *purpose* was not selfish. They likely viewed themselves as guardians of reality itself.
The less charitable interpretation is that they were willing to ensure that the universe never 'reset' just to buy themselves a few hundred thousand more years of existence before the universe died regardless - but it's not clear whether they were aware of the ultimate fate of their universe back when they began the vigil.
I love how the Prisoner's Ancient Glade puzzle is a memorial. Not just for their own species, but to everyone you showed them - the Nomai, and your own people. And even then, it's not just the Hearthians as a collective, but individual people that the Hatchling clearly cared so much about.
And by blowing out the candles, you get to say good-bye.
It's a small bit of closure that the Hatchling never got to have before. That part moves me a lot. :')
The Prisoner leaving the mind stick at the edge of the pond with the footsteps into the water was Quirrel at the lake all over again. 🥺
Some really interesting details that I appreciated:
*The middle and right prisoner towers do have actual passwords but they can only be determined from either blind-guessing or data-mining the game itself, much like how the protag essentially "hacks" the towers when their passwords have been intentionally burned away from the simulation
*Also the tomb in the ring world does actually contain the prisoners corpse and his artifact which is still lit, but if you manage to exit the simulation after he learns of the protag, his artifact is extinguished :(
How do you actually exit? By blind guessing the bell tower password so you don't have to roast yourself?
@@wahlex841 Yeah, either knowing the actual bell-tower password or using game hacks
Fun fact, the coffin didn't open when the DLC first came out. But as people figured out the code and went in without the exploits (ie, alive) they were disappointed that the coffin in the ring world had all locks still on it. So they patched it in afterwards, and presumably added the lantern being lit/extinguished as appropriate at the same time.
Oh, and there wasn't any footprints in the initial release. Making it a bit harder (but not that hard) to figure out where the prisoner went.
And by looking into the game files you can also find out that the prisoner is named Kaepora. The race was never officially named though, in the game files they are named "ghosts", "ghostbirds", and "pursuers" depending on area.
The ending with the Prisoner makes me cry every time.
Hey, it's Indie Game Chris! :)
such a gorgeous game!! your playthrough really did it justice
Thank you so much!😊
I wasn't expecting you here Duncan, glad you enjoyed the outer wilds as much as me!
omg yoo Duncan watched this playthrough ❤
Of all the playthroughs I've seen of this game, this is my favourite! Your insights, puzzle-solving abilities, commentary and enthusiasm/appreciation of the game(s on this channel) is amazing, and honestly quite infectious! Outer Wilds in particular just never gets old in its beauty - showing your journey to the prisoner never fails to get me. Thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us!
"I want more" me too Symbalily, me too.
Lol that closing speech was so relatable. "Hey y'all got anymore of that Outer Wilds?"
"did the Prisoner see the beauty of the eye of the universe?"
Yes! So, in the vision the Strangers have when they scan the eye, they see all life in the universe end. Their species collapses onto the ground and becomes a skull, covered in moss.
When you go to the Prisoner's house in the dream - the burnt shack you have to take a boat to with a stargazing telescope next to it - you can find a painting of that same image... But from the skull of the Strangers sprouts new life, a flower that resembles the Eye, and this new life scatters seeds of a universe of galaxies.
The strangers saw the Eye would end the universe and their lives. The Prisoner saw that from this death, a new universe would be born, built from their minds and thoughts and experiences.
:)
If you think about it, if the Strangers had not been afraid and instead used or tried the Eye, the Hearthians would never have came about. The Nomai may have not either, depending on the time frame.
Cool detail is when u get in touch of the stranger’s “glass windows” at any spot from inside the stranger.. u will instead see pixels. Explains how from the outside of the stranger there is metal with no glass.
All except in the control room, which is actual one way glass.
I was amazed when I saw that detail in a playthrough.
Amber saying that fireworks looked like little supernovas is just a sign that she's one of us now. EVERYTHING is an Outer Wilds reference, and you're obligated to not explain why!
Amazing playthrough, you were so perceptive throughout! I can't wait to see what else you end up playing!
2:36 - this was the most profoundly haunting thing from this game for me when I couldn't hear the bells
Amber: "I'm a marshmallow 😌"
I loved that you finagled the angle for the scout through the hole in the ceiling for the last forbidden reel trap, didn't even realise that was possible - I just jetpacked through the hole!
Its even better because she jumped in the hole to get there, but forgot she could just jump through it.
It's impossible to learn from gameplay, but there is a code you can enter while still alive. This let's you open the casket without dying. Once you return to the vault outside of the simulation, you can see the Prisoner resting in peace in their tomb
Well, it *is* possible to learn from "gameplay," the code is fixed so you can just go through them one by one. The code is actually placed fairly close to the start of the sequence if you go from left to right (western reading direction) and is symmetrical so it won't matter if you go from bottom up or top down. It would take a few cycles before you guess it though so you have to show dedication.
I did start cycling the codes after completing the game, but after one cycle I calculated it would take way too long if it doesn't have a real code to go through all the combinations so I went and looked it up at that point. It wouldn't have been too many cycles even at my pace, but you can go through the codes much faster since it reacts immediately to the code being entered. Which I didn't know ofc so I waited for a beat after turning the code wheel.
@@Sylfa Brute forcing isn`t learning
@@brunokingzWell, there's precedent, since the Nomai brute forced the search for the Eye in a time loop 😄 This is just doing the same thing with a combination lock.
Now I'm tempted to do that, just so I can see if there's time to release the Prisoner in your final loop before going and grabbing the core from the ATP, so they actually get their closure in the version of the timeloop that isn't reset. You obviously can't do that if you use the simulation-glitch-based solution to the third(?) seal.
Outer Wilds is so beautiful, the fact that what makes me the most sad is being unable to play the game with the same experience again. You can however watch someone else go through the same things and love for the game that you did.
unfortunately i looked a few things up during my playthrough as i felt stuck, which i really regret. honestly one of my biggest regrets, lol…
luckily i can fill in those gaps with videos like these
Just like the Hearthian ends their journey to pass the torch to the next universe :^3
@@noahsabadish3812 At least you didn't make my mistake, and watched your favourite youtuber play it. Until you realise just what a gem this game is, and how you already know too much! 😣 At least I got to experience the DLC blind, and the fact that it was just as amazing made it worth it in the end. Still would have preferred to have known earlier.
And yes, the youtuber warned about it, but I didn't have the opportunity to play it at the time so "I'll just watch a bit."
I really do need to say thank you for your playthrough Amber, for a couple of reasons! The first one is the one shared by most people I'm sure, you played with such a sense of being emotionally captivated and awestruck and terrified that it's the closest I've come to feeling like playing the game again for the first time. And that is the itch that all Outer Wilds addicts are trying to scratch.
But my second reason is a lot more personal. For... well, reasons, I can't play horror games. Like, it gives me genuine anxiety and I have to turn them off because it's practically painful. And Outer Wilds being one of my all time favourites alongside Hollow Knight, when I found out the DLC was horror-based I was a bit upset. I -barely- made it through Dark Bramble, and well, Echoes of the Eye was genuinely too much for me. I had to play with my headphones off, lights on, basically had to destroy my own immersion because if I got immersed it made me anxious.
So I really, really appreciate your Echoes playthrough. Because it embodied the fear I had, but you were able to push through and remain immersed and embrace that fear for the storytelling device that it is. And as a result, I actually feel I got to experience Echoes properly for the first time through your playthrough, even though I've played it myself. So thank you, for letting me have the emotional experience with the DLC to one of my favourite games that I wished I could have but couldn't, that means a lot to me.
Don't know if it was an inspiration to the developers, but there's a poem by Emma Lazarus called "Echoes", and I feel like the second half of it fits it perfectly:
_But if thou ever in some lake-floored cave_
_O'erbrowed by rocks, a wild voice wooed and heard,_
_Answering at once from heaven and earth and wave,_
_Lending elf-music to thy harshest word,_
_Misprize thou not these echoes that belong_
_To one in love with solitude and song_
Wonderful playthrough Amber. Thank you for all the content ❤️
reduced frights basically changes how the strangers hunt. Rather than turn out their light then sprinting at you, their light stays on and they walk toward you the whole time
Thanks again for a wonderful playthrough! 💕
I wanted to explain the Eye-signal inhibitor, since you seemed confused.
When the Owlks observed the Eye of the Universe, they figured out its quantum properties, and realized that if a living creature were to interact with it, it would cause the end of the universe. That's why they were so angry about it; they'd destroyed their homeworld and sacrificed everything to come find this object, only to find that its purpose was to destroy them and everything else. To make sure that no one ever interacted with the Eye, they built the inhibitor, which trapped the Eye's signal and prevented anyone else from finding out about it. However, the Prisoner disagreed with everyone else and thought it wasn't their place to try and prevent the inevitable. That's why he turned off the inhibitor, causing the other Owlks to get mad at him.
Hope this was helpful!
When you cut away from the burning room in the lowlands I immediately tensed up worrying that you’d gone to the nearest flame lodge and would thus be vulnerable to the dam interrupting your moment with the Prisoner… glad that you found a good place to experience it safely ^^;
I think the timer stops during the sharing, but yeah that would be terrible. I think I saw a youtuber who had end times start just as they went down the lift, lol. They tried to speed through talking to Kaepora and thought they missed the reply after asking "Who are you?" It was quite funny, but it would be terrible if end times started just after the exchange of memories…
8:00
I love how you just _had to_ use the scout to open the door, and not just like.. fly out through the hole yourself 😁
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone else do it that way, I was baffled
@@bluethan806 I did it with my scout... and then flew out the hole after i got the door open...
Reduced frights:
- Removes some of the scarier sound effects
- Reduces the speed when they charge at you
- Speeds up the catching animation
So it makes them easier to run from and less surprising as they do.
I played this games over a year ago and I fell absolutely in love with it. Ever since then I have tried watching other RUclipsrs play this game to recapture that feeling of when I first played. No one has come close to that except for you. You brought all those first discovery feelings that I miss so much. Thank you for playing this game and helping me relive it.
I feel like subnautica would be a great game for you to play after outer wilds. Even if it's not the next one I do hope you get around to playing it some day 👌
I haven't watched it yet, but I think I'm going to cry again with this game. If I cry I come back and edit this comment.
Yes, I cried twice. i love this game. thx for playing my favorite game.
looking forward to the next games, maybe Hades?
Ive watched at least 7 or 8 playthroughs of this game, so I know these endings pretty well.
The crying never stops.
@@Potatezone It's the only way to see the amazing majesty of this game again with "fresh" eyes. To see someone else discover it on their own. We must find more small, promising youtubers and encourage them to play Outer Wilds blind!
Despite having seen the ending to both the base game and Echoes of the Eye several times now, I actually got quite misty eyed watching this. I think seeing the story have an emotional effect on you reminded me of just how much I was bawling myself when I first played the game.
Outer Wilds is my second favorite game of all time, and Echoes of the Eye is a huge part of the reason for that. The base game was already phenomenal and told and excellent story that gave you a lot to think about. But in my opinion, the DLC adds so much that, despite being a completely new perspective, almost feels missing from the original conversation in retrospect. I don't think I've ever seen a DLC that is so well integrated into the core philosophy of the game that it feels inseparable after the fact.
I like to look at each species as an exploration of what humanity is capable of when confronted with the unknown.
I cannot overstate how much I love the dichotomy (trichotomy?) between the philosophies of the Owlks, Nomai, and Hearthians. Three species confronted with the vastness of the universe with three completely different reactions. The Owlks reacted with fear - fear of entropy, of change, and their own mortality. The Nomai reacted with curiosity - an unceasing desire to learn all that was presented. And the Hearthians reacted with acceptance - an understanding of the briefness of life and deciding to use that in persist of personal fulfillment.
It's also notable that these reactions doomed each respective species. The Owlks fear led to them trapping themselves in an unchanging simulation for millennia. The Nomai's curiosity led them to getting caught by Dark Bramble, and later to them getting wiped out by the Interloper. And for all the acceptance the Hearthians displayed, their light flashed out the quickest - they got the least about of time of anyone to explore the universe.
The thing that makes the Owlks so scary and compelling, in my opinion, is how deeply relatable they are. Their fear makes total sense - it's natural, even. A self defense mechanism. But it can also be, itself, a source of harm.
I really enjoyed this playthough, Amber! It was very lovely to experience this game another time from the perspective of someone coming in blind. And I'm really happy you enjoyed the game so much.
I have a recommendation for a future game if you are interested: Return of the Obra Dinn.
Return of the Obra Dinn is very different from Outer Wilds in terms of actual gameplay. But it is the only game I have ever played that has captured the same "puzzle solving" feeling that Outer Wilds has. It has a great soundtrack, great voice acting, a really unique art style, and is really well suited to your attention to detail.
Obra Dinn is a great idea. I've beaten it and I doubt I would remember who did what with so many combinations so it would be a good watch even for those who have played it. 2nd favorite Outer Wilds...1st favorite?
@@patrickvanhouse6542 My 1st favorite is Celeste
Beautiful comment
We were the marshmallow all along. Really enjoyed watching your journey. ❤️ Loved the decompression and you talking out your feelings at the end of it all.
Interesting idea about the other inhabitants living outside of the simulation. It's possible that happened, and ghost matter killed them too, but there were no bodies.
Since the prison is underwater I thought the prisoner might be alive on my first playthrough since that might afford protection from the ghost matter. So I wonder if they had a guard stationed inside the prison bell. If so it's possible the guard survived the ghost matter, found the bodies of everyone else and buried them. Driven to despair they took one of the ships (because there's also a missing ship) and left the stranger maybe in the hope of finding the eye
@@scaredscorpion According to a Hearthian child, ghost matter takes a _really_ long time to dissipate, so even if they survived the initial explosion, they'd still have to wait out the aftermath. They'd probably die from either starvation or just old age before that could happen.
This playthrough has been an absolute delight to binge over the past few days. Thank you so much for playing this. I'm really excited for whatever comes next!
Feldspar grew in my estimation with that vision. Sure you heard how he was the greatest but I always wondered if it was a bit of bravado. But seeing him find the ruins and bringing it back, yeah Feldspar is a legend!
Thank you so much for finishing this playthrough! I've watched several, and yours might be my favorite. You pick up on things so quickly.
I know that youtube sucks sometimes, but remember that there are many of us who love your content!
I finally got to watch your playthrough after playing the game myself and I absolutely loved it!! Thank you sooo so so much for... yeah just playing games the way you do and giving us these chill and lovely playthroughs, I really appreciate it and I hope you can get through all the hard time you might be facing right now or in the future! Love ❤❤
Your playthrough here was excellent, Symbalily. Thank you for letting me cry at the ending of Outer Wilds for the... seventh time, now? It was awesome getting to see your clever puzzle solving skills mixed occasional derps. It was cool, seeing your fearful curiousity delve into all the hidden corners of the system.
I can't find if anyone mentioned what Reduced Frights does, but as far as I can tell, it mostly just slows down the guys that chase you. You can actually outrun them and they don't lunge at you like they do otherwise.
Thank you so much for this entire playtrough... you made me experience Outer Wilds again across your sensitive vision, with such powerful feelings along the storyline. You brought me tears in the end, when encountered the prisoner... and I love how you got hitten so hard by the whole game, just as I did. I hope you feel great today, and moved on with life, now with the Outer Wilds' mark forever in it
Thank you so much! 😭 Hearing that people liked the playthrough so much makes my experience of the game so much sweeter! 😭
@@SymbaLily you are a lovely human being :) the only person who made me appreciate it this way is Lukael, check out his lets play if you want to live those feelings again ;)
Sucks to hear that you're going through a rough patch.
I am too, and I want you to know that this series has helped me to get through the weeks.
You have helped me. Thank you
Return of the Obra Dinn is somewhat similar in the observation focused puzzling aspect, and is one of the most exceptional games of that type. Less story focused, but exceptional atmosphere.
I want more feeling is what really drives people to seek out playthroughs like yours.
You can't experience it twice, but you can share and watch someone go through it too... and I think that's beautiful in its own way, too.
Our own little rebirth cycle keeping the game alive.
And now to the real sad part, realizing that you can never experience this game for the first time ever again, and there is nothing else comparable out there.
The "Signal Blocker" the Strangers built? When you enter the code in the Vessel to go to the eye of the universe in the regular game, if you look outside of "the Vessel's window" to your left and zoom in with your Telescope... YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SIGNAL BLOCKER!!! It's still in orbit at the Eye of the Universe blocking it's frequency.
Also if you look at the Sun from the Vessel's window... you can actually see it going Super Nova in the distance.
The DLC is surprisingly well-integrated into the game - it slips what amounts to another planet into the game, along with a seamless explanation for why, despite being there all along, you never noticed it. And it answers a question no-one expected an answer to - why did the Eye hide from the Nomai?
There are still plenty of unanswered questions about the Eye, of course - an obvious one is when the signal originally started - if it was being sent the whole time, right from the start of the universe, it makes sense that the Strangers discovered it before they were really ready for space travel, and so, why they consumed their homeworld's resources in the process of creating something that could make the trip.
The other question that jumps out at me is what would have happened if no-one ever entered the Eye? It's clear that the universe is ending, one way or another, by the time the Hatchling launches - the last stars are dying, and, while the Eye signal blocker would inevitably break down eventually, by that time there may have been no-one left to receive the signal...
The Prisoner may have been a traitor to his people, but, ultimately, they were a hero - it's only because of them that the end of this universe isn't the end of everything - they didn't do much, but what they did proved to be enough.
Thank you for this wonderful playthrough. I played the game over a year ago, and I had forgotten the final vision you give to the prisoner. Such a beautifully superb combination of music and visuals to evoke the perfect "outer wild" emotions.
This game means so much to me, and it was really fun to see it through your eyes. I really appreciate how much you care about the world, the characters, the design; many plays I've seen of this game have been rushed, but you let yourself simmer in the details like I did. I won't stop coming back to Outer Wilds, especially when I'm scared or hurt, and people like you make it possible for me to do that in a way I otherwise wouldn't. So, thank you.
This playthrough has been giving me something to look forward to. I'm sad that I'll be watching the last episode, but so happy that you finished it! Been a joy watching. Favorite let's play of Outer Wilds by a long shot
I just want to say that this play through has been a real joy to watch. Thank you
This ending (all parts of it) makes me cry every time I watch them. It's been a real delight to watch your playthrough, thank you so much for sharing it with us!
At the end of the DLC I also ran around looking for the Prisoner. I want to say his lil footprints were added in a later patch cause I don't remember seeing them but I'm not sure. Anyway thank you for letting us explore with you! I loved it.
Thank you for granting us the privilege of accompanying you on this journey. 💚💚💚
1:16:38 nonsense! 😤 but for real what an incredible playthrough of an incredible game. sadly i do believe Mobius has confirmed that they won't be adding anymore to the game 😔 but there is a modding community! i for one have a whole story outlined for a fanmade expansion if i ever get the opportunity to make it, and i know others are doing the same
I really really enjoyed your playtrough of the game, especially because of how fast you pick up on things and piece them together. I sometimes I got frustrated in the past with other people taking a very long time to do the puzzles, but I never had that feeling in this watch-trough!
this was a beautiful journey, thank you for sharing it :)
The Prisoner must have sat in that room alone, playing chess with themself for like 200,000+ years 🤯 It's understandable they would dunk themself in the river after all that time. Though, I wonder if they couldn't just have blown out their own artifact 🤔
This was a great end to the series! Maybe one day we will see a Outer Wilds 2. The plot could just be set at the end of the next universe, where a new species of aliens once again has trouble finding the Eye. The sequel potential is infinite!
The Prisoner probably could have, but waited around anyways.
When they met you, they get to know what happened to the universe, and I think that was the closure they needed to move on.
A game that gets me emotional for the characters is Disco Elysium. Beautiful characters and storytelling. The world is wonderful to explore but I don't how you'd feel about the gameplay.
It was such an amazing journey and a lovely exploration by you. I'm so glad you decided to play it so I could enjoy the game another time.
You were asking why the Stranger released the Eye signal, if they had recognized the beauty of the eye. If you look at the slide reel where the strangers learn about the eye, it shows them dying, decaying until just a skull is laying on the ground. And that causes them to panic and tell the others. But if you remember the burned house in the 2nd dream world, this was the Prisoner's house. Inside is a painting you found with a flower growing out of the same skull from the vision, except the flower is the Eye, and it is giving birth to new galaxies. I think the Prisoner saw this part of the vision that the others refused to look past, and understood that it meant not just death, but renewal.
Your playthrough of this game was incredible. Outer Wilds is by far my favorite game, and you did it such a service, and it's clear how much you appreciated what it was trying to do, and how much it resonated with you. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
This was really one of the best Outer Wilds let's plays I've ever seen. Hands down.
You were so quick figuring everything too!
Loved it!
Man, I cry _every_ time, I cannot with this game. Can you imagine? Being trapped like that, maybe not knowing if it was the right thing to do, if you even made a difference, and then have someone *hundreds of thousands of years later* tell you, "you mattered, I saw what you did, I _heard you."_
Fucking hell. How many people in the history of science, in the history of the world, labored not knowing for whom, for when or for what? Many were recognized in their time, or did all they did simply to satisfy their curiosity, but many did not. Some were even hurt or shamed for it. And many are alive now, today, working at their pursuits not knowing if they'll bear fruit. I don't know how one can feel both proud and humble at the same time but it's how I feel thinking about this.
The only let's play that made me cry with the host. this game is special to me and I'm happy you enjoyed it!
Just when I started being able to play the ending to the base game without crying, basically everything the Prisoner says makes me tear up
I absolutely adored your playthrough, thank you for sharing it!! I was blown away by how emotional I got even at this finale (I was already sobbing the first time you did the finale, so I was surprised how much it touched me again). Outer wilds is simply such a beautiful, elegant game. Thank you for playing!
Really the best LP of this wonderful game on RUclips. Thank you Amber I will make sure to check out the rest of your channel. You are freakin Einstein when it comes to the puzzles in Outer Wilds lol
1:16:00 - I think we all want more of Outer Wilds, like a game set in the new universe. I don't know if we'll get it though, it seems that the DLC was planned for the original release, but they had to cut it to get the game released in a sensible timeframe. So it's more like the finishing touches that they wanted to put in, some fear and darkness to balance the discovery, science, and optimism.
26:30 - I believe the children grew up. Either during the trip to the Eye, or after they realised they destroyed their home world and have nowhere to go. And after they knew they had no home to return to, well I don't think they were in a "preserve the species" mood at that point. They just wanted to go home, and forget everything happened.
27:00 - Yeeeah. They've been in the simulation for over 300 000 years by the time you get there. And, well, it seems they are very stuck in their ways. Just walking around in the forest, playing music, or watching reels over and over. They all seem broken, even worse than the prisoner in many ways. And the prisoner spent all that time on their own, just waiting…
There's at least one more "text on screen" ending remaining that you didn't see. If you remove the core, then stand on the fire with the artefact you quickly get another ending after getting in the simulation. I forget what I was trying to do there, but I remember being disappointed it ended so quickly because I didn't get to test my theory. Can't recall if you got the "broke spacetime" ending by the high energy lab either, it's not nearly as long as the version when you jump through the black hole in the ash twin though. Neither are really long enough to be worth a video, even together. But they are fun to see for yourself at least.
Oh, and if you look out the window at the eye after teleporting there you can see the probe that's blocking the signal. And I believe you can see the stranger sail past as well after the last suns go out.
AHHH such a great game, thank you for uplading your experience i enjoyed it a lot!
i cried soooo much with this dlc, i'm crying again watching this lol
I’m glad I finally caught up on your play through. This was the best play through of the game I’ve seen. I loved watching it and I’m so glad you shared it with us!
You will never be able to experience this game again like the first time, but it is ok. You have the memories of it and it is better than not having anything. Don't you think?
sadly , i had to look some things up during my playthrough as i felt stuck. this “spoiled” a few key moments. those are experiences i didn’t have, nor can i ever. 😭
What a great playthrough it was! Really glad I found your content through my love of Outer Wilds and looking forward to the Subnautica playthrough :)
I can't wait for myself to finish this so I can watch your videos!
Think the meaning of the last projection is "carry me with you as you continue your adventure, I'm finally done. What I did made a difference, it all mattered, I can let go now and have peace, I don't have to die alone."
...i am just now realizing you are sitting in the exact same chair as I am.
I've seen 100's of Outer Wilds Playthroughs. I really loved yours! You're so clever and I really appreciated all your funny edits and jokes! The cookie edit had me grinning ear to ear. A great playthrough through and through.
Just wanted to say thanks for the playthrough. You said exactly what I said when I beat it all; "I'm gonna miss this game".
Amber you have no idea how much we love and appreciate you and what you do. I've been checking patreon hourly everyday for the new upload I was so excited. And it was so worth it, this game is something else I can't describe with words so I'm very happy you enjoyed it so much. Can't wait to see where the channel goes, I'll be here watching. Take care and keep being awesome!
Whenever the spooks were getting to me in this DLC, my trick was remembering that these guys make home movies of them watching their other home movies. It's a lot harder to be scared of them when you think of them in those terms.
This might be the nicest community of viewers on youtube besides Stardee Valley
Thanks so much for such a wonderful play through ❤ really enjoyed it
I'm gonna miss this playthrough and Hollow Knight's - can't wait to see what comes next!
The Forgotten City is another good timeloop mystery game if you're looking for suggestions
If you ever want to do a similar game The Forgotten City is very close with its time loop/ collecting information to solve the story element.
Seconded! It’s an amazing game.
I think that your ending ramble is maybe the perfect extension of this game- You want more! You don't want it to end! You want to go somewhere new, meet new people, just an hour or two more, anything! .. But you can't. That's the end. There's always going to be new games, and those will end too. Every time you dip into a new game, you become a part of that universe, and you don't want that universe to be over... But sometimes, you gotta get to the eye. You gotta remember what was, and accept that something new will come, there's always another sunrise (Until the sun goes supernova!)
The stranger-friend's body is in the sarcophagus in the real world, they put him there alive I'm sure, then let him die or lose consciousness in proximity to the fire so his consciousness would enter the simulation, and when it did he was put in the virtual cell. Enough time has passed on the stranger since they arrived that all of their physical bodies have died, that's why when their fires go out during the flood their consciousness is ripped from the sim and their minds finally die instead of them waking up like you do. It's also why they only become alerted to your presence in the simulation when you mess with the lights. They can't hear the bell alarms when you trigger them for the same reason you don't hear them when you enter the simulation through death instead of sleeping.
Loved hearing your thoughts at the end of the video! This game and DLC deeply affect so many who play it. A true piece of art that pulls on our hearts and tells a beautifully human story, despite not featuring a single human.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
I binged through your entire playthrough, it's wonderful to see someone put all the things together much like those before also have. You did also find some things I never realised to find in my own playthrough, which gave me quite the shock when I realised that.
Thank you for sharing your playthrough! Your commentary was a wonderful addition to the experience.
I never thought I'd find watching someone else play games entertaining, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching you play what is now one of my fav games of all time. Thanks so much! Subscribed :)
Holy shit, I just realized that Masi Oka, from Heroes, is the Executive Producer for this game.
Thank you for playing this. I'm always trying to recapture a smidge of that first-time experience secondhand and the sincere curiosity you ventured through this game with was exactly what I had hoped for and beyond.
This was such a fun playthrough. Haunting and beautiful the whole way through. Absolutely loved it. Thanks for sharing your journey with us!
I think the term you were searching for in your post-game analysis is "nihilism". The feeling that you're so small and insignificant compared to the universe that you are practically nothing. It's a bittersweet feeling, because it's upsetting but also liberating.
Bit of a personal tangent now, but;
I describe myself as an optimistic nihilist, because whenever I feel overwhelmed, I like to watch the stars or watch documentaries on the universe and its scale, and feel that pointlessness. It makes the panic go away. It has helped me remain calm in so many situations where I would have otherwise been out of control, because of that sense that nothing I do has an effect on the larger picture. Especially when I consider the potential beginnings and ends of the universe, and the utter limitlessness of it all. It really gives a physical reaction to me of a calm washing over, because suddenly it's as though reality can't possibly be real, which really brings me to a knife edge of feeling like if I embrace that feeling I could lose my mind haha but I always ground myself, and let the unanswerable questions just glide past me in wistful melancholy.
I agree the ending could use a bit to show the player that the prisoner sudoku-ed.
Absolutely loved your playthrough. Excited to see where we go next
I played Outer Wilds last year and it remains probably my favorite game ever. I was keen to play Echoes of the Eye but to be honest I was too scared to play it. I watched your entire playthrough and it was a joy to see you explore, discover, realise, dread, and carry through with courage in the scary parts. Thanks for uploading this, it was truly enjoyable to watch!
beautiful
Thank you. That was a wonderful playthrough and really helped while I was laid up injured.
This was a wonderful series.
I know another emotional game (not as emotional as this game, of course though), and its called Everhood. It's a rhythm-based linear RPG. Just like Outer Wilds, I can't say anything without spoiling it, just check it out and see if it's for you!
Thank you so much for sharing your lovely playthrough. You're delightful, and it was a joy witnessing you experience this singular experience.
Loved your playthrough. Great experience through the base game and the DLC. 👍
Other people have probably said this, but reduced frights basically removed the strangers being able to dash towards you, it makes a them little slower, it doesn’t change much
Omg FINALLY! I would say I’m happy to reach the end but it’s also kind of sad that it’s over… one of the best LPers I’ve seen of this game and have made me stay for other games like Bloodborne and God of War 👍 your attention to detail & problem solving skills are incredible and unparalleled.
Thank you for playing!! It was a blast to watch.