Crow 64 Is A Mistake 

I FORGOT TO SAY THIS IN THE VIDEO BUT IF YOU LIKE THIS GAME MORE POWER TO YOU!!! I JUST DONT!!!

According to the lore this is the son’s attempt at finishing the game Guess he did a dogshit job

This version of the game is an Epilogue. Not a retelling. I have a couple more things to say, but I don't think an essay length comment is a good way to get my point across.

"It feels like" the newer version of Crow 64 is a representation of how companies in modern day try to remaster their old games by adding things people would get annoyed about and capitalizing off of it. Obviously, this isn't the true if Adam was purposely trying to make Crow 64 bad or not but he should've just took time instead of rushing new pieces of the story to make things confusing.

catastrophe crow killed my grandma

this game is basically a combination of "i think matpat is going to enjoy this frame by frame" with "nintendo hire this man"

I guess you could say this game is a Catastrophe

10:16 is like my super personal gripe with the game. Adam had this perfect opportunity to name him The Catastrophe and he went with Big Boy instead. He had the material for a better name for their spooky bird IN THE TITLE and he went with B I G B O Y Edit: The name Big Boy is definitely fan made, but I’m holding this thought with the idea that he could have stepped in and said like, “Erm what the sigma that’s not the name of this guy” and have it be changed from there. Sorry for making it like he actively made that name and the guide doc

15:07 that is legit one of the dumbest design decisions I’ve ever heard in my life. Like genuinely, how is anyone supposed to guess that?! And even worse, let’s say hypothetically that Makeship shuts down or something in the future, how the fuck would players get past this “”puzzle”” without looking it up??

There's being clever and subtle about your puzzles and story, and then there's Catastrophe Crow. This game looks HORRIBLE to play, absolutely do not know how anybody figured out what the do in so many cases. The story is neat but this version adds a lot that kind of just muddied it if Game Theory (not a reliable source i know but it makes sense enough there) is anything to go by. I really REALLY liked the orginal version of this game. i never actually saw the video version i only saw the game being played by other people via the relased build; There was something so desolate and empty about it that unnerved and intrigued me. It was simple and still interesting, while this version just does way too much and leans way too hard in the cryptic nature. Something like Shipwrecked 64 is perfect because the puzzles and secrets are cryptic but its not all impossible. The story is laid out well and it doesn's make you guess whats happening at any point. Making a game and story is hard im very very sure, and even then i can appreciate some of what this version of Crow 64 does, but man this just. kinda bums me out.

Cant believe this game released after like 2 years of radio silence from the devs

the virgin crow 64 vs the chad shipwrecked 64

What baffles me the most is that a majority of the levels shown in the original arg, are straight up missing, like the lava world and the ice level. It could've made this feel more connected in some way. But nooo these puzzles have to be nonsensical that no regular player would figure them out! Also some things to note: 1. THE HEALTH BAR, was removed in the 2024 version, when it was present in the original videos 2. The controller test was also removed 3. The mini game in "Underground level" was also removed and could've played out better than typing out a whole ass sentence 4. Many of the elements from the videos could've served as hints, such as the phone, the pc on the 2nd floor, etc. However all of it was, you guessed it, REMOVED. 5. the boat collectible in level 1 is also missing. Which could've been tied with the big boy area being under the map instead of switching on a random lever, inside the 2nd floor. This could've been a fun experience but was turned into a shallow cash grab meant to revive the catastrophe crow fandom.

they literally should have just made a decent banjo-kazooie/mario 64 type platformer where you get clues to the ARG as rewards for finding secrets in levels, that would have been so much clearer, more concise, and more fun to experience

I absolutely LOVED the original project, and i wish it just remained as it was in 2020, didnt even need a playable section even originally. it could have been like Petscop (where you can watch but never play the game in question) as everything BUT the game was so well put together this is just....they massacred my boy

I remember seeing the GameTheory on this new version for the first time, and having a plush campaign be the solution to one of the game’s puzzles is not good game design, it’s just a way to market merchandise. Not to mention I’m not even sure how you’re supposed to know to put that code in. (Also having the RU-vid video that started all this just appear in game and not even be like an Easter Egg just causes all immersion to be lost tbh)

The biggest props you could give to the devs is that it’s completely free! It definitely has it flaws but in all it’s just really cool they made this game at all! (Great video by the way love the work!)

I genuinely expected the Patchy the Pirate "Wait, that's it?" clip after the ending

Honestly, if an ARG project involves a fake video game, and they've already done the work of having the community get invested and figure out the narrative and solve puzzles etc. etc., and they still plan on releasing an actual game, I'd prefer they just give us their best crack at a well made, fun game to play and leave the cryptic ARG stuff mostly at the door. If the narrative is done, and the game in question is, as a plot point, supposed to be a previously unfinished dream or passion project finally completed and realized to the best of the ability of whoever is attempting to finish what the original creator could not, why not lean into that concept and focus on making the best game you could make, maybe leave one or two hidden puzzles for people who were really paying attention and as a reward give them an in-universe heartfelt message that serves as a satisfying epilogue, but make it totally optional to the enjoyment of the game you're presenting people to play. I'd be over the moon if the final cliffnote of a video game ARG, the last little cherry on the cake that the creator didn't have to give us but did anyway, was just a mostly played straight Banjo Kazooie type game with fun gameplay and enjoyable, memorable characters (Or whatever type of game they're trying to ape with love.).

The game is definitely an interesting take on what made the original so special in the first place, and you can tell it tries to recreate a lot of that through its less than ideal gameplay. I think if anything, it has some level of charm to it with how it incorporates aspects of the old as a sort of paying homage to it. Despite not living up to the expectations set by the game to come before it, I’d say it’s still pretty cute how they try to respect the original in a way! Kinda like an easter egg you’d find in an emulation that says thank you to the initial game and its creators!

I kept convincing myself it was just skill issues, but after watching this, I don’t think that’s the problem… I used to be a Crow 64 fan from the beginning, but when that game came out, struggling to play it, having to stop and pick it up again and again across the span of three days before ultimately dropping it, I can safely say that game tainted my love for Crow 64 sadly :[

7:11 Flowey: NO! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO OBEY ME!!! The seven Ao Oni souls:

the ending may be confusing but i find the ending's song more confusing tbh. i think it's like the game in a sense - good bits and pieces, but integrated together in a jumbled manner

I could never take Crow 64 seriously because when they showed gameplay in the doc video there was Mario 64 assets RIGHT THERE. The flowers and butterflies, and even the ground. Still bothers me.

Feels less like a game and more a small continuation of the ARG after everyone hit a brick wall at the end with the "Nils I'm alive come find me in the place we always did, I'll be waiting." Email. Feels like it's more for people who were all in on the ARG and found all the codes and found the crow language and stuff from the other videos on the other channels. Don't know how you'd know what's going on without the Game Theory video though

Im dabgob

She Catastrophe on my Crow till I 64

I feel like this video needed a bit more time in the oven! I expected a more extended intro describing more of the origin of the game, the first version of it and its differences compared to this newer version, how the arg went, who made the games, etc. I ended off the video feeling like there was more to this whole thing than what i was shown. Otherwise awesome work!!! I was surprised to see that catastrophe crow got a finished product after all!

they lost me at putting a crt filter on what's supposed to be an emulated game tbh

That intro was amazing!! And I think I have to agree with you here, I remember watching the Game Theory videos on the original series and being extremely interesting in the lore and secrets behind it, which helped drive this darker meaning behind everything, and it felt like they told a complete story. And although I haven’t played actual game myself, so my experience with it is coming from what you explained, it definitely seems to be lacking in what made the series actually interesting. And I feel for you for having to put up with some of the nonsensical puzzles because it just sounds like bad game design and infuriating gameplay. Anyways great video Foul!

Oh so thats why Petscop was never made into a game

I remember adoring the original ARG when it came out. Really disappointed that the thing to remind me of it would be this.

Aint no party like a Crow 64 party

You're a real chalupa lover ain't you

Frankly, I think the appeal of this thing started/ended with the fake doc video, which itself was an interesting enough format and got its story across well enough for me. I knew there was an ARG, but even at the time, I don't really find ARGs that much fun or rewarding to follow, even in a youtube summary... I just don't think that format of storytelling really adds as much as people make it out to be. In any case, I never really needed to play the game cause I don't think the point was to be played, it was just a prop for a larger story and spark some imagination. I think it did that job well. Releasing it, unless you had intended to make a game from the start, kinda peels away from that mystique.

Man this whole game just came and went in my eyes. I watched Matpat play it briefly and I just got bored watching it because there just wasn't much happening that was interesting. I like cryptic games, but when the puzzles make no sense and you just walk into every possible corner with little to or no good clues, it just starts to feel like a waste of time. I preferred when it was just a bunch of videos, secret links and such. At least that felt interactive.

7:39 “I think my dog is scheduled to die right now, so….” Bro!😭

God I am so glad I'm not the only one who got disappointed. I played it when it came out with a bunch of friends during a discord stream, and I legitimately was so mad at this game. It was the pinnacle of not being fun to play in the slightest, controls felt awful, the effect on the screen legitimately hurt my eyes, I kept asking my self "Okay...but did that actually do anything ?" And the worst part is those fucking puzzles. The desert one was so annoying to do, I had a friend of mine do it on his side to memorize it and it ended up being for...basically nothing. The fish one we never figured it out, cause...how the fuck do you even find that one. We somehow found some platforming sections in a water area, but it was insanely annoying to do due to the awful controls. We found the computer, but barely understood what to do with it. And we never managed to actually finish a level because of how annoying they felt (one hit and you die, how fun). And like you mentioned, it never feels like you're going anywhere with these puzzles. There is no sense of progression, it's just random shit for the sake of being mysterious, and it feels awful in the worst way possible. Still to this day, I can barely understand the game, what it's trying to tell, or even what's up with some of the puzzles (like the lobby changing to a desert one, what was that about ?).

I experienced the 5 stages of grief with this "game". 3 years later and this is what we get 12:00 This puzzle was so absurd, it felt like I was doing math again, how does anyone think to do this, let alone remember the order of events?

Why on earth. Would you. Update a game. That already told a story that is already perfect. AND GOD DANM MADE MORE CONVOLUTED?!?!??!

7:47 the 2017x profile picture adds so much more to this

Big Boi is basically just a nextbot but with an actual 3D model lol.

I find it absolutely fucking hilarious that adam butcher's game from 2014 is miles better than his game from 2024

he's gonna take you back to the past, to play the shitty games that don't exist, he'd rather have...

That intro was lowkey fire. I want to see more of it in videos 😁

One of the words in the title reminds me of something my mom called me once!!

It had a really great hook. I'm just legit surprised the game got released late and flopped.

crt filters look absolutely awful in everything theyre used in, actual crts look great, the filters just make people think they look a lot worse than they actually did

to say i blame the leaked unity project is an understatement

dude im so sad that this game turned out so bad. the original was one of my first ARGs that i actively participated in and made fanart for, i liked it a lot.

Being entirely honest the catsyrophe crow arg just does not translate wwll into an actual game, the puzzles have always been incrwdibly too convoluted for a person to deal with, bur with the original arg, those parts were solved, they just had to be made connections and taken into account, whereas the game just plops a bunch of nonsense down and expects you to solve it

ARG games trying not to be based on either the N64 or PS1 challenge (IMPOSSIBLE) no hate on these games i eat this shit up, b3313 is my favorite game ever made despite it not even being an arg.

People keep forgetting that the reason why the game is so horrible is actually the point- Because the company that owns the game decided to capitalize on the games lore and success- so the fact you actually hate it out right like that means that they got that feeling down perfectly-

I don't ARG at all but I was under the impression that all "that" was the point. Solving cryptic nonsense and sometimes playing terrible, low quality games. And the harder to solve, the better. I also don't get the youtube video complaint, ARGs pretends to exist in real life all the time. And isn't piecing together vague symbolism (AKA BS) into something coherent the core concept of playing these weird games? Like, more than actual video game gameplay? Sure the gameplay's terrible but from what I've seen that ain't new for ARGs, I was hoping for an actual review on the ARG itself, and it's fair to dunk on it but at least make it clear whether or not you've solved it (or at least feel like you did). All I took from this was that you couldn't figure out a coherent lore, yet you hate its lore or believe there ain't any. At least Game Theory presented their own answers for most of the cryptic crap, answers which can even make sense of the youtube video appearing in-game, rather than just complaining while throwing out no answers or potential theories to these tryhard mysteries. At least an "It's too hard, I can't figure any of it out, so I've given up" or "I don't like nonsensically difficult ARGs" would've been nicer to hear. But hey, I don't ARG so my opinion is meaningless huh? ...This was my initial impression. Watching again and paying closer attention, I don't even think you know what an ARG is. It feels like you treated this plus the original as regular video games rather than a scavenger hunt for clues. The only time you actually said the letters "ARG" was near the end in passing, you actually thought the hidden story was supposed to make sense and reveal everything, and you expected a clear progression system. And you never even mentioned crow language or really any typical ARG solving tropes throughout your breakdown of the game. Ya know what, it's fair to call it bad, but for god's sake at least know what an ARG is.

i agree with all what u have to say here. in my opinion the original crow 64 video already had a great story to tell, and this game just kinda...overcomplicates everything? like, i get that its a continuation made by manfred's son or something in the lore but also it adds just a ton of confusing stuff that it really...did not need...

Honestly this game was my introduction to ARGs. I was very surprised and happy to see it come back. I wish the game was better. They focused on the lore more than the gameplay. Even then they made the lore make less sense in a bad way.

This is the worst review of Crow 64 I had ever seen in my entire life. Period.

I think Big Boy should’ve been Sir Cat, or at least involve Sir Cat in some way in the game, I thought he was Sir Cat at first, but I was disappointed to know that yet again, the games main antagonist is absent.

I suppose the title wouldn’t be false advertising!

I got jumpscared by the petscop mention (i was looking through youtube for some videos to play in the background while sewing a gaurdian plush lmao) All things considered this video is really good and I’ll probably go watch more of your videos after this

Crowbar 65 Is my favorite n64 styled arg

i remember playing the original game and although it was very short it was fire, this ending just got me laughing.

Am I the only one that did not like the original Catastrophe Crow ? I thought it was pretty mid and kinda try hard in its horror elements. But I always hear so much praise for it, but it's so just... Whatever ? Though I really do love it's visuals, art style, and recreation of the n64 style of game. Just didn't like it for its horror.

You use the shovel to dig up the grave

the old crow 64 was good what happened

Its Foul 64 time!!!

3:43 idk who's idea was at youtube to change it so that it shows the commenter's @ instead of their actual channel name but at least it's funny to look at

[insert that one jellybean catchphrase from years ago]

Imagine the number of plushies they sold changes, and people are still using the old code. That would be frustrating

All of this could be forgiven if the jump button didn't make you drop from ledges. I swear I died or lost time so many times because I tried to speedrun the platforming. Landed on the ledge and because I was tapping jump I droped.

your artstyle reminds me of foekoe thats a good thing Im subbing

The big Crow's name isn't big boy. That's a nickname I gave him and it's popular in the discord. In the files it's just called Crow Monster, if you would rather call it that. There is never a name given to it during gameplay

The puzzles were the first thing that I thought of when seeing playthroughs of this game. Not only did they seem tedious to solve, being more a test of patience or copying more than a brain teaser (The Computer Bears, The Tables, or even The Final Puzzle) Hints seemed to be nowhere, or only within context after-the-fact. If most players _need_ an entire document to progress through half of them, then something went wrong with making these puzzles. Platforming I could mostly excuse because it isn’t essential (at least not ALL of the time), but unlike Shipwrecked 64 where its own moveset is given the bare essentials, Catastrophe Crow tries to make a half effort with ledge-grabs and wall jumps for every surface. But because it isn’t polished, and platforming here seems to be somewhat constant (despite having two and a half levels where jumping is important), its discomfort stands out in some people struggling with menial movements, like moving up or getting down from ledge grabs. Story-wise is…okay? It doesn’t take a conspiracist to figure out that The Last Puzzle’s excerpts imply that this game isn’t the same as the “original” Crow 64, but the son’s attempt to finish the game. But without that context, it leads to the confusion here, unlike how in Shipwrecked 64, that distinction is at the forefront. And even within context, the possible clues to that story are…weird? Like Adam Butcher’s video presence and the _entirety of the Plush Section_ are parts that don’t serve an individual defined meaning beyond “this happened.” _Then_ it’s solely on speculation without “word of the creator,” which is as good as FNAF’s timeline storytelling, which is unclear, and not good from a writing standpoint. So generally, this game looks like it had a good idea going for it, but it is very difficult to read, let alone complete, if you are disconnected from the community.

Jumping into the wall is a genuis detail cos its something you can do in some N64 game, its a trick you can use to get the last key in DK64

I never expected it to ever be real it feels weird to be something playable.

I was not expecting a new version, is this new version made by the same person or am I missing something?

holy shit foulmcfly upload

3:02 Gordon Freeman

This intro was fire, incredible video man!!!

7:48 is that terios the original shadow Design from sa2 thats a strange choice for a profile picture

From what I know, the new version isn't the same story but more confusing, it seems like it wasn't even made by the same people (in lore), the old version was made by Opus Interactive, but this one is made by Opus Legacy and seems to tell the son's story instead of Manfred's, wich kinda explains weird things like the review showing up in game and the plushie integration, even tho' that one is actually kinda terrible, what was even the point of making the plushie canon? Honestly, I don't agree with what you think of the story of this new version, cuz' if you manage to understand it, it's kinda cool, but other stuff like the puzzles and plushie thing really are a bit of an issue (and I'm not gonna mention Big Boy cuz' seems like that isn't his canon name)

I wanted to know if I ran by a game called Crow 64 during my hunt for more games before it "became" Catastrophe Crow. Could it have been on Steam beforehand, or was that just another fever dream? And it could not be Crow Country, in case you are wondering.

Okay I just finished this game for myself and, I mean it’s not that good but I can see they put all of the effort on this 2024 version. So I would rate this game a 7.9/10

cool video and all but do you like bugs

the intro was fire

clicked on this assuming it was gonna be about how the original ending of the arg-- "surprise! here's a big dump of a unity file and no conclusion, fuck off! :D" --was disappointing and lazy, i had NO IDEA they followed it up with a rerelease, and a completely horrendous one at that. adam butcher has made some truly incredible stuff (look up the miniseries Simulated Dead People, i find it often gets lost in the conversation around his work) so both of these massive failures in a row are just baffling.

6:38 MY HORIZON INSTRUMENTAL DETECTED

they did my boy Sjdi-j4h dirty

Back to the future

MY HORIZON?!?!

im crowing my 64

You know it’s bad when security breach is better than this.

I was able to retain part of what you said, the other part was unfortunately busy trying to figure out, what gender is your character cause it looks adorable lol

5:05 What the hell are you talking about? What is a Wadden See? What does that have anything to do with anything and where did you read that from???

the fucking crt filter. i get it's for style, but like... why?

this feels like its trying to capitalize on shipwrecked 64

Did I have an aneurysm from watching the ending? I need some bleach…

the crow plushies being sent to earth (and the part of the ending with the fast spinning crow head) is the most shitposty shit i've ever seen, and i've seen some shitposty shit shit count: 5

Very cool thumbnail

Said petscop was a Nintendo game instant dislike, report, doxxed, banned, fed to the waffle people