Shoutout to everyone who worked on this - I'm lucky to work with so many people that share a desire to put their best work out into the world. Definitely stick around for the shoutout section at the end if you can 🙏 ty for watching
It's honestly such an honour to help contribute to this. I hope everyone enjoyed the PTC and the windmill scene! I had an absolutely great time working with Mispap1. So many amazing minds put into this project.
When that happened and the screen went black I realized how WIDE my eyes were through the reflection, the absolute look of horror on my face when *the pit* showed up 😂 chefs kiss indeed
I was about to mention that I love how epic Vaati always makes the player character's Tarnished in these videos instead of the bumbling idiot who falls off the same ledge and dies four times
The whole sub-narrative of the player character's connection with the frenzy and all those strangely sinister framing moments is such a fun thing to pay attention to.
@@morado6285 Vaati says it at 40:30 or so. The needle you find after delivering Millicent's pride and unalloyed gold needle to Malenia is a needle that resists the machinations of the Outer Gods of Frenzy. The yellow flame the samurai erupts with during the battle with Malenia and elsewhere are the incantations of Frenzied flame, and which the needle sealed. Which is what the flashes are of: the Three Fingers. You can meet them and become their avatar prior to the end of the whole extended questline, and the needle can save you from that poor life choice.
@morado6285 exactly what i said, the player is framed in ways that imply ulterior motivations. At the end when the needle was used to dispel the influence of the three fingers it became more overt, but throughout the video they clearly framed the player's use of the frenzy flame was intentionally being held back or hidden until it burst out, or when it came time to really abuse it.
Makes since that he uses music from Ghost of Tsushima then, speaking the game was influenced by, and had a mode dedicated to Akira Kurosawa (or as his name is presented in Japanese, Kurosawa Akira).
This video was incredible. Not only was it beautifully made with the animations and choreography, but the narration, sound effects and added visuals made this more interesting than most tv shows I've seen in years! Well done everyone who worked on this! Thank you!
@@VaatiVidyais there mods used for the stances? They don’t look like Katana moveset at times, not to mention the standing while holding to the Katana sheath when the character meets Gary. Awesome work! Love it. Cinema quality
Oh my god. Gowry (who is a disguised 'pest' himself) having a tamed, collared tyrannodog outside his hut is a clear connection to the pests that patrol with rotten strays, and yet it never occurred to me put it together. FromSoft really do operate on another level with their enviornmental storytelling. I'd honestly kind of thought it was just a meme, but after this, I feel like I can't get away with saying that anymore.
True that. On one of my playthroughs, I killed him by mistake and he turned into a pest when he died. …. I just thought, hmmmm, substitution jutsu…. and went on my way. But now, he DID say…. there are many of us, and this won’t be the last you see of me. Wow indeed.
That stupid tyrannodog screwed over my questline. I tried walking past it and went inside the house to talk with Gowry. The first thing I saw when entering the house was the dog knocking me over with an attack and killing Gowry. Note to everyone: kill the dog before talking to Gowry.
@@object-13 I don't think Gowry is the outer god, having an og speak would kind of diminish their cosmic frightfulness, but he seems to be some kind of immortal envoy spirit just like Shabriri is for the Frenzied Flame. Wish we'd gotten some actual lore on what the heck this role of theirs really is and how they became it. There should have been one for the Formless Mother as well I would think.
I love the whole "frenzied samurai that still retains their moral compass" thing the Tarnished has going on in this video. And they break away from frenzy in the end too, very cool.
32:50 people interpret this as her dreaming/sleeping but it definitely is alluding to her memory rotting away. Her flesh IS dull gold (prosthetics), her blood IS rotted and she did leave all those corpses in battle. Even the titular phrase when she kills you: "I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella" she's not saying it for you - it's for her, to remember who she is, and her purpose.
@@austins.2495 That is kind of why it stuck out to me so much, as my mother was diagnosed with dementia and reliving and repeating past memories is a huge part of memory loss, as the brain tries its best to remember and retain what it thinks is important.
No clue what mods and post processing went into this video but the quality of shots like 19:17 or 36:43 are insane. I could stop at any point in this video and use the image as background. Not to mention the choreographed fight scenes. This video truly is a masterpiece. Props to the whole team.
@@notenoughcalories I understand that it’s free cam but what’s mind boggling is that this effect which is called the dolly zoom is achieved when you move the camera in and zoom out at the same time. 🤯
There was a time when Vaatividya was the discoverer of deep lore and secrets of the souls-serie. Today, he is the best craftsman and director of high-quality short films that highlight the beauty of Miyazaki's works. Congrats. I miss words to tell you how fantastic those moments to watch your channel really are. But the feelings, bro. They're real.
@@siegfriedmordrake3229 I still did it I don’t remember how I brought him back though lol I may have killed him after I already started the quest and met her
I still remember watching my first Prepare to Cry video for Siegmeyer of Catarina almost 10 years ago, it is amazing to see how much you have grown your channel since then and how you continue to deliver more amazing souls content. Vaati you are a pillar of the souls community and I cant wait to see what you have in store for us in the future,
Miyazaki himself apparently watches videos like this, according to recent interview. He says he enjoys the stuff we get wrong as much as he gets right.
This blew me away. Just absolutely top tier. The fight coreography in that duel with Millicent was incredible. The animatics were another highlight, as was the final battle with Malenia. Your narration was top notch, you really have a confident voice with a seemingly inate sense of wisdom behind your tones and cadence. Everything just comes together to create an immensly riveting piece of media. Props to you and everyone you worked with, you all did an incredible job.
I work as a Cinematic Artist at Larain and I just wanna say the level of story telling that has been achieved here is excellent, I cant imagine how hard it would have been to set up all those shots, well done!
Man, the actual cinematography was *so* good in this! In the runup to Millicent fighting her sisters, the player's sinister temptation of frenzy made me worried like "Aw man, is Vaati gonna follow a bad end for one of the character arcs? Nooooo -WAIT" and i remembered how perfect the needle/frenzy quelling ending would fit into this story, *just* as you delivered the "She won't be able to defeat her sisters, even with your help. But, he's wrong." Got me so choked up!!! Mispap was *so* inspired for that call, and the y'all did great work with this lil movie!!
Midra is honestly strong in his own way though He rejected it as much as he could and honestly didn't WANT to let the flame take hold However he fell to it, with the right push/annoyance from us
There’s something interesting the dlc expanded upon that helps explain the Millicent invasion. When Igon gives us his finger, he tells us we are summoning his spirit, which still dwells in the mountain, and not his actual body that is crippled. I think this really well explains co-op in the lore as being part of spirit summoning. So in this case the phantom we fight isn’t Millicent herself but a manifestation of her spirit left in the swamp. I think if we look closely at all the summon signs and invasions from this perspective it might give a more complete explanation for certain characters storylines.
It's the same as the dungeater's body being traped, looking like he lost his mind, and at the same time being spiritualy present at the Roundtable. Or at least I think so...
I also like to think this is why Margit is so much weaker than Morgott, and why we can "kill" him more than once. Margit is a spirit projection. He appears in a swirl of light just like player summons or invaders. And just like players, his spiritual summoned form has reduced health and power. Even Dung Eater projects his spirit to the Roundtable Hold, and refers to his "corporeal form" aka his real body still locked in the sewer gaol. He is straight up canonically interacting as an "invader" in spirit form. The same could be said about summoning the army of comrades against Starscourge Radahn. He is too dangerous for anyone unconfident in their Grace to fight. Our Tarnished volunteers to be the genuine article present on the battlefield, the only one truly at risk, while the others can be summoned over and over again from relative safety. Alexander even references how Radahn had cracked him wide open during the fight, despite him clearly being alive and un-shattered. I think the danger our Tarnished put themselves in is why everyone universally agrees to award the Great Rune to them. Moreover, Lionel's summon is present to fight the Starscourge, yet according to the lore, Lionel had been dead for some time. The only way that works out is if we summon his spirit. And this isn't the only time he's summoned this way -- he's also spirit summoned as one of Fia's Champions. There's a whole in-universe summoning mechanic that totally exists in the story and framing of the world, but is so rarely talked about. This is a thing that I've been thinking about for literally years now, and I was delighted to hear Igon mention something relevant to it.
@The_pitbull536 Igon is literally physically crippled, he can only crawl. Then he gives you his actual finger which is described as if its dead flesh, and word for word asks you to summon his spirit, which is completely able-bodied. As soon as Bayle is slain and his spirit is laid to rest, Igon passes away. I don't think there's anything metaphorical about what he said at all.
Vaati, this video was an absolute treat to see. Ever since your Armored Core Video I realized that you don’t just extrapolate lore: you delve into the depths of top tier story telling, adding original content, a team, and using mods to elevate what could be a interesting lore summary into an actual cinematic experience. It’s like watching an in game lore book, like the intro cutscene to a great game but spread throughout the entire story. Thank you.
I always interpreted Malenia giving you the needle and scale to undo the Frenzied Flame ending as her still being conscious or perhaps awaiting rebirth within the flower and thanking you for returning her dignity. She supports you.
@@kokocarillo9931 she's at her prime though. she's never awakened in her winged form before. Malenia is one of the few bosses we fight at the strongest they've ever been
Now that I think about it, it makes poetic sense for you to get the needle to cleanse yourself of the Frenzy's influence after doing Milicent's quest. After seeing her go through everything and making the final choise to die herself rather than becoming a puppet of some intrusive power, the Tarnished follows suit to take back their own will and destiny from the Frezied flame
Vaati, this wasn't just a RU-vid video. This was cinema! Seriously, if that Elden Ring Movie winds up happening, they could learn a thing or two from your team.
It's Definitely Art how the video of game play has been edited together with the Storytelling it's Fantastic to Watch. Truly Talented people who are working together making Real Art for everyone to watch and enjoy.👍👏👏
I remember the time, where I used to watch this channel just so I can understand the game fully. Since then this channel has transformed from helping to comprehend the story, to elevating the game experience and finaly being it's own unique and beautiful recreation of the story itself. It is even partly responsible for me reading Berserk and playing most of Fromsoft's games. My birthday is coming up soon and with this video it just dawned on me how much I care about soulsborne's and any stuff related. In that sense thank you Vaati and everyone involed for kindling a love I didn't expect to feel.
I kind of love how wholesome and humble the elden ring lore community seems to be. Everyone tries their best to credit new ideas and discoveries and give shout outs to one another, and I love how Vaati spends the end of his video gushing over the teams work and where they can be found when he could have just given them a credit scroll or listed them in the description.
@@1993rnicholson ive been part of that community, I still don't find actively trying to make another player's time in a game miserable amusing.. rather I actually find it sad and dumb.
Honestly the extra work put into the editing/staging really shows. I also really liked the windmill fight scene, and I couldn't help but let out a small "wow..." during the "back-to-back" shot at 20:06. Truely amazing work, from you and your team ! (Apologies for the potential mistakes, I'm not a native english speaker)
This is absolutely stunning work. I only got Elden Ring last month and been so mystified by the lore. Here at work I listen to every single one of your lore videos and I'm always delighted by the quality and craftsmanship of each video. This is a token of thanks. Keep up the splendid work.
I never thought that malenia’s boss intro could be even better. In comes vaati with the use of the ghost of Tsushima ost to prove me so beautifully wrong
One of your best ones yet! Partnering with so many talented artists is paying off in the quality of the end product - very cool! Thank you for making these
My 14 year old son is on his first play through of Elden ring. It’s fun watching him go through the game and guiding him along the story. He asked me if they will make it into a movie and I told him that it’s too convoluted of a story for Hollywood to get it right. I’m going to wait until he finishes the game before introducing him to your videos. You and your team’s creativity are on another level.
Great take! And may the odds be ever in your young Elden Lord's favor! Seems our RU-vid directors are doing the lore visuals/representations/perspectives justice just fine! ❤
What an awesome parent! Engaging in your children's hobbies (to be fair they were probably your hobbies before they were his) as well as cultivating his innate curiosity and want for more. It's where to see nowadays but good for you man!
George RR Martin has been teasing an Elden Ring project recently... In a very strange, very GRRM sort of way, so there may be a series or movie to look forward to after all
Your editor's idea to make the player character frenzied made the video go from 10/10 to 15/10 for the additional story element and enhanced dramatization of the fights. Amazing work as always
Ive been watching since the beginning, your guides,secrets,lore art,gameplay, all of it. More than a decade of watching your passion grow has been incredible. This is genuine content, genuine media, genuine art. Thank you for all the hard work that you and your team have put in over the years. You’ve elevated the experience of these fromsoft games and of those in the community. From 15-16 year old boy who struggled every minute of his first dark souls 2 run to the very ends of the SOTE DLC, Thank you, this is truly one of the most tremendous rides you could experience getting into this series.
This series might be the best thing I've seen on RU-vid in years. Seriously, amazing work, I don't even know how you pull off something like this, holy shit.
Good lord these cinematic you've made are INSANE. The choreography and use of weapon skills are so creative. I went to the Elden Ring Symphonic Adventure (orchestra concert) and the official videos they displayed which were done in a similar style weren't as good as the ones in this video.
We're reaching kino levels that I didn't even know were possible. The samurai flick motif and the frenzied tarnished subplot are abundantly inspired ideas for Millicent's and the Scarlet Rot's story
I love the sekiro music in the background 11 minutes in. Great content by the way. Everything from the voice to the thorough explanations, to the action gameplay scenes. It is just perfect
@@Bertrams_Baby so as I said at 11 minutes in. It is clearly the sekiro main menu music. Though I wouldn't expect the offspring of Bertram to be able to read, so points for trying!
Quite possibly some of the best content I've ever seen on this platform, every video you guys make raises the bar for what's possible on RU-vid! Amazing work!!
Okay, the fact that this is samurai-styled, and with usage of Ghost of Tsushima OST, makes this my favorite of your videos thus far. Then again, I'm a sucker for anything regarding Ghost of Tsushima, no matter how dismal a connection.
My deepest respect to the guys behind pvp choreography. When I was watching the first fight, I thought I would never be able to pull of a project like this video, just because one fight would take me several months
goddd this one is so good.... i love how at first, the tarnished is compared a lot to miquella, but later, it becomes more and more clear that the actual comparison is between them and malenia- where both would rather surrender their honor and bodies than see defeat
1:07 I can not emphasize enough how much I love this shot!! The artwork, the framing, the transition, and the visual storytelling, along with the narration is absolute cinema!! I havnt even watched the full video yet I just had to stop and write how much I apreciate the effort that goes into these videos good job Vaati and team
You and the team youve assembled are both revealing the immense beauty of elden ring storytelling, but also EXPANDING its beauty with YOUR story telling. Ive never experienced a videogame story such like elden ring's, apired with your takes. This is above and beyond everything ive ever seen. Wow guys. There are not enough congratulations for you all.
Millicent is what makes the story of rot so tragic and beautiful. That we have someone to trust and guide to the Haligtree. If only we could use her as an ash.
She is the true hero of this universe. She declined to transform into something unrecognizable and instead chose to wither and die with her free will, volition and selfhood still intact.
that John Williams swell when 'you' make your choice and stand back to back with her... just sublime. I had full-body shivers. This is my favourite quest in the game; I always hope for a better outcome. In my personal fantasy, the Siofra dancer comes for Millicent's spirit, to show her - either in the after-life, or simply in her dying moments - the way of flowing water.
It’s crazy how far you’ve come. I remember way back watching your prepare to cries early in your channels life. What you and the visual team have achieved is incredible. The production quality is just beyond awesome.
I went and followed or subscribed to everyone who worked on this. This was an amazing amazing job you guys! I loved it. I was floored by so many of the scenes, the camera work, the animation, and narration. I hope they call you guys to do Elden Ring the Movie. Hope you guys do more projects together, you’re a stellar team! And thank you, thank you, thank you for telling us the story of Elden Ring
This was such a phenomenal video, also I love the paralleling between Malenia's use of the Scarlet Rot, with the PC's use of Frenzy Flame, when both fighting her and the Godskin, they get pushed to unleash everything in the fight. And we are saved by a dear friend, who chose her destiny, as was better than us all. Farewell, Millicent.
The visuals and choreography on those fights are insane, absolutely stunning. And story telling and overall presentation is no less impressive as expected of you. Amazing work from you and your whole team. Congrats on another masterpiece that completes yet another piece of of this beautiful painting, this time, with the color of a scarlet rot.
A very good quote by Gowry, "As I've aged, I've found the best way to help the young, is to be forgotten." It occurs to me that real life might benefit, if more old people thought like this. But no, people on their way out are determined to make decisions that will affect masses of people, long after they expire.
these videos have some of the highest quality editing and story telling I have watched on Elden Ring videos. Thanks so much for diving in depth on so many topics and explaining it in meticulous detail.
I've been watching your videos since your Dark Souls 1 Prepare to Cry videos, and it amazes me how far you've come in handling each shot. It feels so much like a movie, and it's wonderful.
@VaatiVidya! I feel like Melina is to Marika as Millicent is to Malenia. Millicent was Malenia's pride, shed in Caelid during the battle with Radahn. Maybe Melina was a similar part of Marika - maybe her sense of self, or ambition - that was shed at the foot of the Erdtree (where she was "born"). Just a thought for a potential Prepare to Cry!
Love seeing everyone come together to make something great. I know this took a lot of time and the quality shows. Probably one of your best vids. Great job man.
Im always amazed by the lengths thag you and the people you work with go to in order to create and share a story that is not only easy to digest but also simply wonderfully crafted. Job well done to everyone involved. Everything is wonderful
Absolutely stunning!!! I had to do an immediate double take at 35:06, I was speechless! What an incredible movie you all put together. Mispap1 was bang on with their Frenzy build suggestion, I love the additional lore beats you all were able to include because of it. Thanks everyone, I look forward to re-watching.
I never thought much about her before, but after everything we learn about Miquella in the dlc, I gotta say I feel really bad for Malenia. I find it hard to hate Miquella because he very much seems like a victim of his curse, but the thing that bothers me the most about him is the way he just straight up abandons his sister and never tells her what he’s up to. He forces her to go fight Radahn, and in the process literally everyone involved suffers because of it. The entire region of Caelid is ruined, Radahn essentially becomes a zombie, and Malenia is basically left in a coma, her rot now worse then ever before. It was a complete failure of a plan that only eventually goes Miquella’s way because some random no name tarnished ends up killing Radahn and freeing his soul. Then Miquella moves on to the next phase of his plan which doesn’t seem to involve his sister at all so he just leaves her in the haligtree, letting her believe he’s been kidnapped while she unintentionally rots the thing from the inside out. The base game made it feel like Miquella and Malenia were the closet demi god siblings, like they loved eachother like a normal pair of siblings would, but it seems more and more like Malenia was just a pawn to Miquella. I don’t doubt that he loves his sister but the way he completely disregards her and only ever mentions her once in the entire dlc as “his loyal blade” is pretty sad. Malenia makes her entire personality the fact that she is Miquella’s sworn blade, and her dying words are apologizing to her dear brother because she won’t get to see him ascend to godhood. Really makes their relationship seem one sided and truly displays the effects of Miquella’s charm (if he actually did charm her which I don’t doubt given everything we know about him). Malenia now reminds me a lot of Maliketh. Both insanely powerful warriors who hold back an extremely destructive force for the sake of their sibling who they are completely devoted to. Both end up dying not realizing they had been betrayed/abandoned by said sibling. And they are both shadows of their former selves at the start of the fight but then become their most powerful selves upon releasing their forbidden power. I truly love how the lore of the dlc helped recontexualize and flesh out so much already great things in the base game.
I feel like the whole being kidnapped thing wasn't completely intentional, but being miquella, he would change his plans to accommodate it probably soon after the deed was done. Who knows? Perhaps this cruel change of plans happened when he abandoned Saint Trina and his love. After all, without love, what need is there for the bonds of siblings?
Malenia is like Messmer in this context, him sealing the abyssal serpent and only releasing it when forced to. Then realizing Marika abandoned him at the end
Kind of goes to show in Miquella’s attempts to forego the sins of his mother he inadvertently became her in that he commuted the same sins as her almost verbatim . Both viewed all their family and friend as little more than pawns to help them achieve their own goals, both were willing to commit genocide to achieve godhood. And both have forsaken their shadows who were fiercer warriors than them. Just so many parallels that it’s hard not to notice.
Seems that it is also Miquellas curse that he can never have genuine relationships because of his enchanting powers everyone just becomes a Kind Miquella can't do no wrong kind of zombie. This attitude probably warped his behaviour as he becomes more wreckles and selfish as he goes along to achieve his ideal of perfect world. Which in the end he doesn't realise is horrific mind control fest.
i cant wait for more, these videos are literally better than most movies in terms of quality and effort put in. Even if im not even learning anything at this point because ive learnt all of the lore, you still make these videos absolutely a must watch. amazing work from the whole team, the story line was incredible and all of the sound effects and art/camera work were just insane. again, cant wait for more
The fact that the team making these continues to slowly grow makes me so happy. All of you are making beautiful art that I am so lucky to get to enjoy. Keep up the amazing work, I can' wait to see what you all bring us next.
Player character was so cool, and the fights were insanely cool to watch. I want so many more of these. The windmill fight scene had my jaw dropped the whole time. Amazing video from the whole team! Also on my way to order the displate right now, its my favorite of your displates by far.
My 300 hours I put into ghost of tsushima helped me hear the soundtrack you put into the video from from ghost of tsushima's gameplay. I absolutely love the windmill scene, the scene itself is actually from a scene in Ghost of tsushima. Ps: I love how you make the main protagonist a different version of Yura
Miyazaki is a genious creating worlds, stories, and mithology that its alive in the game, but Vaati you're a genious telling them. You are the legendary bard on this RPGs that Miyazaki never could imagine...
I've been going through some of your old videos, bring nostalgic vibes in my souls of when I first played Dark Souls or when I discover your channel to grasp the lore of the Souls universe. Seing you where you are at with theses video is just amazing of how much you progress
This was amazing. I really do love the artwork cut scenes. You guys make at the beginning. Hopefully, we’ll get to see more of those in the future. It really adds more emotion to your videos. Great job Vaati.
The production value of these videos is insane. What an insane accomplishment to create such incredible cinema through a game engine that was never designed for that.
Out of all of the Elden Ring Prepare to Cry videos you have done, this is by far my favorite cinematic wise. Your team does such an incredible job at capturing and conveying emotion within the recording. Thank you so much everyone for these masterpieces of storytelling
The cinematography on display here is awesome, using what the engine gives you to maximum effect. This is so well done, each installment in this series outdoes the one before it, my hats off to you
@@alexysxd3547Nah, she's down to burn shit at great personal expense, I'm down to burn shit at great personal expense, I think it's fair to let both of us have our way
@@alexysxd3547 If there's one thing anyone should learn in ER. It's that one should fear a person who is very motivated to accomplish their goals. The tarnished is one... and in the Frenzied Flame ending, you just gave Melina that same drive you once had.
@@thomaswilson8022 There is no progress to be had in a world where nothing lives. That is the frenzied flame ending. It brings everything to zero, and aims to keep it that way.
What is setting you apart from the sea of people piggy backing off these games greatness is your teams amazing art work. I could clip together 3 cutscenes and get a wide shot but you guys are recreating stories within these works of art and I’m here for it all.
