The Most Profound Moment in Gaming History... 3 Years Later 

Man I hate when the unenlightened masses cannot make the judgment call and give up their free will forever and then their voices won't be heard at all. In all seriousness I really appreciate this video I've felt alot of the same things you did but I don't think I've come to quite as much a revelation or coming too of myself compared to you. While people tend to roll their eyes or scoff at conversations like this seeing it as pretentious or ridiculous I still think these are conversations worth having. So thank you.

That games story and ending is becoming more and more our EXACT reality as time goes on, it may not be the MOST "profound" moment, its up there with Deus Ex. But it predicted the future so well, its scary.

I love that Max took criticism from people saying "Actually, this isn't the most profound moment, check this out!" and made it a backbone of his channel by commenting on those profound games and moments in them hahahaha

That CODEC conversation caught me so off guard. When I finished the game, I was just silent, I lay on the floor and stayed there for a few minutes, contemplating how ignorant I still was. It also made me realize how much a videogame could impact someone, and made me more motivated to follow a game development career. Today I am a game developer, and owe a lot to MGS2 and Shadow of the Colossus for giving me these moments.

Snake's final speech in MGS2 is the most profound moment in video game history. Life isn’t just about passing on your genes. We can leave behind much more than just DNA. Through speech, music, literature, and movies… what we’ve seen, heard, felt… anger, joy, and sorrow… these are the things I will pass on. That’s what I live for.

I fear Kojima and his gift of prophecy.

It was your analysis of Metal Gear that got me interested in your channel to begin with, and since then you've quite consistently managed to introduce me to difficult and interesting concepts. I'm glad to see you address it again, and I'm interested in the more personal angle of it this time. You're a blessing Max, we should all strive to be the best we can be and I'm glad this moment helped you, I and many more of us to try and be better versions of ourselves.

“I NEED SCISSORS 61!!!” Was really the most profound moment in gaming history let’s be real.

I fully agree with the point made about the difference in Deus Ex and MGS at the end. Kojima has always been very conscious about it too which is one of the reasons he's someone I would regard as one of the most valuable artists to work with games. He doesn't just use games to deliver an idea, he uses them to let players EXPERIENCE it. And that is the major difference between something like Deus Ex and MGS. MGS uses the medium and its "language of gameplay" to let players directly engage with these ideas and take part in them rather than just having NPCs spout them at you as dialogue. A lot of the interesting parts of Deus Ex weren't conveyed that way, you can adapt Deus Ex's story into another medium and it would still work, but with MGS the true experience is from playing it.

I guess the impact the final codec call with the Patriots in MGS2 impacted me was that we're all just pawns controlled by higher ups that there's nothing much we can do about. Then of course at the ending, Snake says that nobody is a pawn and you have freedom over your own life.

Games that "show, don't tell", tend to be the most consistently thought provoking, to me.. 😅 I have a huge respect for those types of games, and always find my self revisiting the lore, over and over again, and creating my own theories..

I took a philosophy class in university and I pretty much wrote my entire paper about that video without mentioning Metal Gear Solid even once, just writing about the concept. Pretty much my main source was that video, but I ended up googling some other sources to reference just to please the professor. He ended up *loving* that paper and gave me an A+. He also published it on his website for philosophy 🤣 I don't think I ever told him that it was mostly inspired from some youtube video from some guy talking about the plot of a video game. I think I was high every single time I was in that class. One time I even fell asleep in the class from smoking weed before going there since I had forgotten about it. The professor was so cool though, he just assumed I was so tired from working so hard.

MGS2 is the most profound moment, because we are living in it.

I’m 38 years old and I’ve been playing videogames since I was 6 and I agree that this was the most profound moment in my gaming history.

"Trying to prove the Patriots wrong." Wow, that's betting against gods right there. But you've done it wonderfully so far, so Mr.Derrat, here's to you and here's to more in the future ! In the words of Solidus: "We will triumph over the Patriots, and we will become, The sons of Liberty!" 🥂Cheers everyone!🥂

The thing with discovering MGS2 roughly 20 years after its initial release, is that it's genuinely scary how accurate Kojima's stance on misinformation and deformation of truth is nowadays. It might've been true back then, but it's even truer in 2022. MGS is to video games what Matrix is to movies.

When I played MGS2 for the first time, hell the first several times. I didn't really understand what was going on. The concepts in the game went right over my head at first. But like every MGS game, I had to replay it. Over and over. Till I not only understood the story (but also so I could get those damned dogtags lol). I think it was in college that the final Codec conversation with "major" that it began to make sense and when it did. Like you, I was forever changed. Not having the most intelligent parents. I went to my friends first who casted doubt and brushed it off. Saying I was reading into a game too much. Tbh, they may have been right. Yet it just stuck with me. Then Shoutcast radio got taken down due to the several dozen reasons. Many of which were just plainly BS. That conversation just echoed in my head. It was happening before my very eyes and honestly. Had I not played MGS2, I feel like I would have been blind to it.

That video was the reason I subscribed and went along on your journey of interesting content. We need more people like you to stay on YT

The suffering is necessary...it feeds the soul. - Some guy some where

Your video from three years ago was my first experience with your channel, and it was an instant subscription for me. I've been deeply moved by many of your videos since, and I absolutely love your passion for the betterment of mental health. You always bring interesting and enjoyable perspectives on everything you cover, and I always look forward to seeing what you cover next. Thank you so much for doing what you do!

Bro, both videos literally haunted me since i watched. I'm on my last ride of psychology graduation, trying to understand 'being' Today i got fired of my job (3yrs old). Your video is a joy of light on my day. Keep going.

Recently I also realized the unconscious state I had throughout the first 20 years - in my teens I struggled with people blindly following their parents/teachers/politicians etc. I was always the one with a different opinion compared to all my peers. It was a struggle and lonely process. Now I can look back and comfortable acknowledge that I’m proud and happy for who I am. Not because I bowed before the norm, but rather be my own person. I originally subscribed to your channel due to this video, those 3 years went by fast.. thank you Max for your time and efforts - you have literally influenced my life in a very positive direction and opened doors for my career. As a human being. As one that is more conscious. While false information through social/mainstream media has been more present then ever - you can and should be very proud of your honest work. Can’t thank you enough.

Whether or not is the most profound moment in gaming history, it's still an eye-opening experience, from all the angles it may be beheld 💯

i just love you man, thank god for having someone like you on youtube max

Thank you Max for making my nights sleepless. That video was genuinly an eye opener to many and I hope to see your channel grow prosperously. Thank you.

I watched your original MG2 video 3 years ago and it blew my mind. I was only a young man when I played MGS2 on the PS2 and I missed the relevance at the time. You've set me off questioning many aspects of our world (in a healthy way!) and I find the discussions invigorating. 👍

Keep up the good work! Great Max, you're doing something great

Yours is some of my favorite content available. It's always thoughtful and leaves me feeling the better for having given it my attention. Thank you.

The conversation hit me in much the same way as you described, a call to consciousness. I’ve spent my life since then trying to raise my consciousness to that level, with mixed results. Thank you for helping me find more words to understand such a sublime experience.

Can't believe you're at over 200k subscribers. Seems like yesterday RU-vid recommended your original MGS video to me.

your most profiund video brought me too your channel, and actually brought so many great forums and discussions my way, such as deus ex, talos principle etc. Your mental health videos(more specifically on topic with autism) have kept me looking forward to our content and helped me move forward in a positive direction with my life. I greatly appreciate you and your videos. Many thanks from a stranger!

Love your thoughtfulness, Max! Keep up the good work! :)

Literally just watched your two old profound moment in gaming vids about a week ago. Surprising to see this pop up again :)

Didn't see that mgs2 codec until your video, and while the message it gives was already shown to me through other means, your explanation was moving and impactful, as, I soon found out, with the rest of your work. Keep up the good work, we love you.

My man! what a nice surprise. Thank you for another chapter of this.

This the most profound moment in gaming because this is going on around us now.. when I first heard it back in the day I didn't understand it, but the tone of the conversation scared me😂 when I got older and played it again and I looked at the reality around me, I realize that moment is the greatest moment.. now I don't have a recommendation for a game to play, but I got a recommendation for a profound moment in the movie called My Dinner with Andre.. you will notice the profound moment when you hear it 💯

I’ve loved your channel for a while now. But what really got me was your Aion series. It’s an incredibly challenging book yet contains a kind of knowledge that brings a coming of consciousness. At least for me. I’ve shared that series with so many people now. For those with not much prior exposure to psychoanalytic literature it’s illustrated perfectly, which is great for most of my friends. Keep doing what you’re doing man! God bless.

What I love about you and your videos is that you're able to articulate what I have tried explaining to people. Thanks 😊

Thank you for this follow up Max, I was currently going through my own life change when I found your video on the subject a couple years ago and it really did put things into perspective for me, I remember seeing that codec call when I played the game around when it first released, and I was way too young to understand it but I always had that uneasy feeling in the back of my head about how things were told to me and how I was being brought up and I feel as if I had undergone a new awakening and still am, I'm going to definitely take my time in life to always improve and I hope you have a wonderful life and hope many more profound moments in gaming to come, I'll keep an eye out for your videos ;)

Max, your effort and work have indeed impacted me both consciously and unconsciously (specially, with the MGS and Silent Hill videos) - thank you.

This was another great video and I look forward to the next one

Peak humanity

Love you man and your always amazing work to open the mind to many intersting themes in different contents like videogames, movies, books, anime, etc. You're doing great, keep going always to create what you always do.

That moment in MGS2, sent me to study psychology in college.

Just now viewing your content on ghost in the shell as well! Thank you for the great content man!

I think the main thing I've realized from all these profound moments... is that I have no idea what to think. I don't know what philosophy is right for me, what set of beliefs is most appealing to me, what stance I should take on the problems I face, and what actions I should take to improve my life and the lives of those around me. But, in the end, I think that's okay. The fact that I can't seem to decide on anything just means that I have to keep learning, to keep seeking out and discovering new and intriguing perspectives, to further broaden my understanding of myself and the world around me, even at the cost of said understanding breaking apart and reforming again and again. Maybe that *is* the answer I've been missing, learning and understanding for its own sake. Who knows? Bottom line, good video, big brain, me likey, keep it up XD

I've watched "The Most Profound Moment..." numerous times, shared it with friends, partaken in the...meme. But it is definitely one of the most profound moments of my life regarding challenging what I believe to be true. It seriously changed my life, for the better. I greatly appreciate what you do and always await the next video.

Amazing video Max ‼️

I've been watching the last 2 videos for weeks because I love them so much! I grew up hearing everything on these codec calls and they always gave me a suspicion that the world is not what it really seems. Mind you I finished this game when I was about 6-8 years old when this came out I think. Watching my father play it just reeled me in and its been my most favourite franchise in gaming history for then all the way until now and forever. I'm so glad you've made another video on this. Its like I've been waiting forever for something about metal gear to pop up again haha 😂

MAX! You’re without a doubt my favorite voice on RU-vid. Keep it up buddy!

love your videos, keep it up man

Seriously that video blew my mind. It left me with all sorts of feelings. First denial then anger then fear then acceptance. For two days I walked around in my own head processing what was said and what is going on currently. It was so noticeable that my gf at the time kept asking me what was wrong. Immediately I was hooked to ur channel and ever since then I've been so grateful from the info I get from ur vids and ur perspective on things. Never stop

Another amazing video. Very very good observations. We most definitely share similar mindsets.

Funny I thought about this video recently, cool to see it get a follow up

Thank you for what you are doing Max! It is always interesting to hear when a game has such an effect on ones mind. I was sadly too young when I first played MGS2 for the ending to have an impact on me, however Nier Automata did have this 'wake-up' call on me. It profoundly changed the way I looked at life.

I agree with Max on the profundity of MGS2. I was absolutely mind blown by this conversation where I had to sit down and digest what had I had just heard and been a part of for a good long time. It also made me consider how video games like this are a new form of actual art. One of my favorites of all time. Thank you to Max for creating the videos and even more for being open to other ideas.

I love this guy, he's both eloquent and willing to improve, and he talks about some of my favorite games

Awesome video Max! I couldn’t agree more with your thoughts. MGS2 really tested my 12 year old mind in a way that I would never take for granted. This game gave me insight to a new era of society that I hoped I would never see. Hope all is well with you and I wish you all the best! . It think we all as viewers resonate and respect with your content. Keep up the great work.

Thank you for all your videos! I really enjoy them. Greetings from Tlaxcala, México.

I don't know if I can show you a more profound game/moment, but 5 pretty great ones for me were Crysis 3(the end especially) Dead Space 3 where isaac talks to carver near the end(much better fitted after playing 1/2, as well as all the coop only missions in dead space 3. ) Dead Rising 1. The whole Story of Dead Rising 1 is phenomenal and something to really think about even in a game thats a mix of extremely stressful and very goofy/fun. I'd def recommend checking those out. Hellblade and Mass Effect(all 3) are pretty solid as well in those regards, id def check those out and if you actually agreed or really liked itd be dope to see a video! Also Great Video as always!

Mine was Greyfox's last words, "We're not tools of the government or anyone else..." to a 13-year old, the idea of a life without coercion was novel. Then again in 2004, Big Boss' refusal of the presidential handshake, rejection of the highest authority. That always stuck with me. It led to a lifelong skepticism of politicians, regardless of affiliation. Seek out your local monuments to unknown soldiers, pay your respects to the real life 'Bosses'.

Thank you for your videos, you make incredible work. MGS2 touched me so deeply back in the day, that I ended up writing an "analysis" back then that I published in Junker HQ. It is very naive and doesn't go in depth as you have done, and it was really a defense of the game since it was attacked a lot back in 2001 in the MGS fan circles. But the game blew me away, and that conversation got me thinking a lot about books I had read, movies I had seen and it all came together when I got sick and had to be in bed for a few days. That's when I wrote that old text, because MGS2 showed me that even if MGS had already exposed complex ideas to a wide public though games, games had the capability to express these though gameplay, through actions... and create an empathy bridge that makes it stronger. Again, thank you very much.

MGS2 is my favorite game of all time. The codec call always gave me chills since I was a kid. Back then I didn’t quite understand what they were talking about, but the tone of it all felt dreadful. As you mentioned in you video about the realization you came across about yourself, I also had the same feeling as I got older. This game hits home on so many levels.

Nice boss strats, Max!!

Hey Max! I would like to thank you because of your work. It all started with this video you made on MGS2, thanks to it i started to understand how my mind, and everyone else's mind works in a way. You introduced me to Silent Hill, The lighthouse, Metal Gear, Tool, all of wich gradually helped me to reach an evolved state of mind where i overthink and overanalyze everything that i can. Thanks to that i feel that i'm the best version of myself, comprehending everything that these masterpieces have to propose i really feel like i can take the best desitions in my life, so i can embrace this moment, and celebrate this chance to be alive and breathing! By the way, yesterday i coincidentally fell compelled enough to upload a picture depicting the different steps that i followed with each new, fundamental work of art that i consumed, it's something like: Introduction (Silent Hill/The lighthouse) Realization (Metal Gear Solid 2) Perpetualism/Goal (Tool) Basically, Silent Hill and The Lighthouse helped me understand the basic concepts of the parameters regarding the human mind. Having in mind this information, i could easily interpret MGS'2 concepts, wich lead me to the importance of critical thought and analysis. Then Tool comes in the ecuation, oh boy. Tool helps me reinforce the idea of the importance of the consciousness, and mantain a perpetual thought on the subject. I listen to Tool when i work, excersice, travel, etc. So having it constantly resonating in my head helps me to never forget about the importance of training your mind. Anyways, that is ALL thanks to you!!! I really want to thank you a lot, you absolutely changed my life.

Its funny you made this recently, i recently thought about you and that video

Just when i thought there were no more videos on this subject from you

This video made me emotional to such a degree most can't touch. Thank you, Max

You rock Max. You have opened my eyes on lots of interesting ideas thanks to our mutual love for MGS. I remember the night I first passed through the final Codec conversation. I was 16 and naive. For the first time I felt an authentic horror for the future. As I grew up and got more into life, it still thrills me that Kojima got the point years before these days of uncertainty.

The OG video that got me interested in your content

Most profound moment in gaming history was referenced by george salonikh "mgs best playthrough".

I personally think there are more profound things than misinformation. I feel like people get so caught up in conversation of what’s misinformation and what’s not that they wind up becoming terminally centrist.

The moment in MGS2 was really eye opening in the sense of the how for me. I sort "always" knew governments and powerful leaders manipulated the population through lies propaganda and misinformation but at the time I still saw the internet as an uncontrollable bastion of freedom. It wasn't until the last 5 or so years that I started to see how accurate MGS2 was at predicting the control of information.

always a fan of your work ;) keep it up

Back when I was a kid and I played this game, I didn't quite understand what was going on at the end, which is not surprising, given the amount of information I was being bombarded with. And yet, there was something about it that I found deeply fascinating, even back then. Your video helped a lot putting those weird little pieces together

Damn I adore your content. Every upload ignites my passion to create as a gameDev! Ty for been you mon ami!

love your videos :) my afterwork enjoyment

That video was the one that got me into your channel but it did have a profound impact on me coming at just the right time in my life because it kind of bridged my former life, as a journalist and someone active in politics to my current life which is more creative and dare I say it, spiritual. Since then this channel has had a habit of releasing things I need to see at just the right time (your recent one on Gnosticism in video games was particularly resonant) and it almost feels like I'm not alone in my journey of intellectual development. So thank you!

I'm a 3D artist, and I always wanted to tell stories in small animations, and when I started watching your videos, I had like some kind of revelation. Like it totally changed my ideas, my perception of things, and in the way I think and gave me a lot of idea for my creations. So yeah your videos totally changed me, thanks for that

As always - Bang on.

What a thoughtful video! Glad I'm not the only one who found mgs2's questions life changing

Love your channel Max, i remember when that video dropped, crazy it was 5 years ago. I had an idea watching this; what if you reviwed possible misinformation on gaming , like python selkan MGS conspiracy videos

I never thought I'd see you again. Welcome back boss

Max, it was The Most Profound Moment in Gaming History video, your video on Heart of Darkness by Conrad as literary motif and its media adaptations like the shocking subversive Spec Ops: The Line which left me stunned yet fascinated as well as your elucidation on Bioshock's character philosophies and messages and of course the existential SOMA and then some that my curiosity and interest in these topics was brought out-- something I thought I wouldn't touch. I found your channel in 2017 or 2018; thinking it was the latter. It is thanks to you that since then I've enjoyed learning about psychology, philosophy, history, alchemy, and esoteric ideas and how each element helps to shape world events and sometimes inspire epic sprawling game or animation narratives. It was thanks to you that I know some more about autism and have compassion and love for this amazing respectful, intelligent community that you've helped to foster here. And I'm not religious, but you're a godsend, man. Keep making well-thought out and helpful content provided the algorithm sees and pushes it. Like another comment said, you've helped everyone here becomes less of an unconscious NPC/automaton and to strive for moral equilibrium, honest discourse, and mutual respect. Thanks again, man.

you are doing great things by making so many people think

I think you could bring to your channel a analysis of a movie called “Demolition Man” (1993). In my opinion, there’s a lot of things that we can associate with the things we are seeing now. Like a most profound moment of movies or something like that

Hello max I really loooove ur videos. I used to be a gullible person who played only action games, but after watching ur videos i changed and i started searching constantly for profound games, movies, and series. I am very grateful for discovering you and I'm grateful for learning about gaming analysis and mental illness. In fact the most topic i worked on at 2021 was mental illness and i helped people because of you and because of many videogames. But there is this one videogame that really like reaaaaaally pushed me to change my life and grow. That game was Disco Elysium. It is similar to the series True Detective. It encounters ideas about existential crisis, pessimism, mental illness, political views, corruption, faith, and physical health. It might connote that the game is messy due to the countless ideas being countered but personally I think it counters each and every idea fully. On the other hand in order to experience each idea fully u must choose different dialogue options because this is a story driven game and it's gameplay relies on that fact. That's my opinion and i really hope u find the time to play this game and tell us wt u think of it in a video. It would mean a lot to me to hear wt u got to say about as ur analysis of videogames is reaaaaaally deep and top notch. Thank u again max ❤️

I've started checking out your videos, amazing content, keep doing them :). I think the most profound stories for me have been FFX, and well this is manga not videogames but I'll just name and suggest these, Berserk, Hunter x Hunter, and Vagabond.

Bioshock one. That one took me by surprise.

I just want to say thanks, these videos have helped me to understand and contextualize my teenage experience of this game and my mixed feelings surrounding MGS2. I couldn't remember much, mostly just the colour grey and Raiden cartwheeling in his birthday gear. However, I could remember how the ending of MGS2 made me feel incredibly depressed with this sinking hollow feeling. I had completely forgotten about the AI speech and how world shattering that was for me. I think it was just too much for my undiagnosed autistic teenage brain to cope with, so I just blocked it out; all that remained was vague fragments of muddled melancholic feelings. Watching your videos on the subject has been very cathartic and has functioned as a valuable form of therapy for me. You have also played an important role in me discovering that I am autistic which has lead to me making significant personal progress since. For that I sincerely thank you. I too believe every individual has the power to change the world, mostly by understanding karma; how our actions impact other peoples actions and how that affects the world as a whole. "Now I realize that there is no righteous path, it's just people trying to do their best in a world where it is far too easy to do your worst."- Castiel

Man, I miss video games like this. The impact they have stuck with you. It's not that today's games are boring or bad or even the MTX, it's just they lack this, a soul, a message. Every good art has a deep message or makes you think or feel in a powerful and impactful ways.

It's good to see you back Max sorry it's been awhile I still owe you big time for helping me with my humanities and technology philosophy class. I am really happy you're still a receptive guy and stick to the ideals of open communication and it's cool you played other games with profound moments. Deus Ex and Final Fantasy have great moments but indeed MGS 2 was ahead of its time predicting the digital age of misinformation

These videos were enlightening and terrifying. At the time of writing this artificial intelligence has come along considerably and that which could handle such large volumes of information as much closer to hand. Thank you for making these, they've shown me something I wouldn't have thought about otherwise. Keep up the good work Max!

Great video I remember this moment in the game shocked me to my 14 year old core. I needed a long shower after this to just think. It was a Sunday school night and boy was that the wrong day to finish this game lmfao

This game really blew me away. Just finished it not 30 minutes ago (while writing this). Today's political and internet climate which the game predicted are so laser accurate it spooked me. Love the vids.

How could Nier Automata be most profound than MGS2?

I can't believe there are people like me that love MGS this much!!! When I started going back into the MGS SAGA,I wanted to know why I loved the game and what was all the documents I've skipped about...as for its time it was extensive for a 12 yr old. Very int to detail about how a GAME can help us all come together and be aware of whats happening now is real work!..MGS is soo underrated, and the people is ineed large...there are soo many MGS fans and I live for it, props to you for getting us all together!

This essay should be revisited every 2-3 years to see how the previous iteration holds up and update it.

I still like kane's speech about a coin landing on its side over anything else in gaming.

Great content thanks