The Mutated Reality: A Maddening Entity Lurks Underground in this Atmospheric PS1 Styled Horror Game Read More & Play The Full Game, Free: www.alphabetagamer.com/the-mu...
Not gonna lie, the sound design in this is really good at putting you on edge. Especially the geiger counter SFX that plays when you're near enemies. It's seriously effective stress fuel.
it's not just that it's a proximity to enemies. radiation is almost impossible to be 100% safe from, and a counter going crazy means you are COOKING down to the bone. it's also the horrifying realization that every moment spent near it is pushing you closer to irreversible damage, or an agonizing yet swift death if you manage to absorb enough to turn you into human sludge.
I reckon it's because of the haunted ps1 jam that was happening recently, produced a delightful number of of those as a result so ABG was just like, "It's free real estate"
Since there's a number of people mentioning that the plaques are often messages used in nuclear waste facilities, i might as well share one that is especially fascinating and haunting; The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (or WIPP) in Nevada is supposed to house spent Uranium made from the development of Nuclear Bombs buried over 2000 feet deep below a salt bed desert. In about 15 years from now, after the facility has been excavated and the Uranium is stored, the caverns there will be intentionally collapsed and covered in 15 layers of concrete, sealing it all away from the rest of the world. Of course, like every other nuclear waste disposal site, in order to prevent anyone from trying to explore despite the maddening depths and the collapse tunnels and even the insane heat of the desert in the 130 degree F range, the entrance of the site will be surrounded by 25 ft high granite pillars carved into sharp and jagged abstract shapes with a granite room in the center housing a message warning about the dangers below written in English, Spanish, Russian, French, Chinese, and Navajo. And, of course, the message is as follows; "We are going to tell you what lies underground, why you should not disturb this place, and what will happen if you do. The site was known as the Wipp (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Site) when it was closed in 2038 AD. The waste was generated during the manufacture of nuclear weapons, also known as Atomic Bombs. We believe that we have an obligation to protect future generations from the hazards we have created. This message is a warning about danger. We urge you to keep the room intact and buried." Go watch Jacob Geller, he's got a fantastic video called the Fear of Depths where i got this :^)
Yeah, I learned about that thing a year back, essentially the granite pillars aren't just for people trying to have an adventure, but also for those millions of generations after. The idea being, if humanity died, then some new species took our place, how could we warn them about the place? While also not knowing if they'll still speak the same language as us. The granite pillars main purpose being to be so ominous that no living being would traverse it. It was seriously interesting
As much as surreal it sound, it is true. Scientists don't know if by 1000 years there won't be a colapse and commonly used language won't stop existing, that's why they proposed to use agressive shapes to ward off the area
I find it funny and also interesting that scientists know that anything big, mysterious, and aggressive looking scares us more then any living creature could
@@garrus01 They're exactly that, yeah! Specifically written to be as ominous as possible, to keep out humans from the far future who might not know what nuclear waste is.
@@backslash153 Sounds like a terrible idea to me, that sort of vague message would just get me curious and make me more likely to delve deeper. A warning message should be short, to the point, and kind of boring. Something like: "Attention: Harmful substances buried beneath. Digging here can lead to sickness or death" would be a much better deterrant.
worker: face, hands, organs, and tongue start swelling up, skin starts rotting, essentially becomes zombie the facility: put some ice on it and go back to class 😐
@Rechordian I'm not sure of that. Kinda little hard t follow this game is. At first i too, decided "its about future folks who forgot about radiation", but after watching whole video i think its more then this. there was something BEFORE nuclear waste and miners actually died from that. Then time passed and scientists came and dug it deeper. They found some "structures" but exploration proved to be too dungerous, so they decided to turn it into nuclear dump. Combination of that lies below and radiation created absolutely insane danger.
@Rechordian Well, one thing is still haunting me - if there is underground nuclear waste dump, how waste was transported down? Not by this crude tunnels we see in first half of game? Insane idea - Maybe its was first dug up by ancient miners, turned int dump, abandoned and collapsed for safely later and then again dug up? Anyway, i wish to see how it ends, just because of that.
@@Vednier en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-time_nuclear_waste_warning_messages somebody else pointed out already that these messages already exist in real life, open up the link and you can see the same messages. if i had to guess i'd say that this is a nuclear waste from our era that was explored in the future, i don't think it's that far into the future though since they are still using similar looking cars (at the beginning you start in front of a car), they speak use english, still use dollars and some structures seem to be still intact, apart from the wooden bridge that collapsed possibly from deterioration so i'd say after 100 years at best from today, maybe we forgot somehow about our past selves because we almost died out from a possible war or virus that decimated us?
PS1 graphics are neat because they are basically shorthand for "insert actually detailed sprites here", which allows the devs to need less artistic skill and spend less time on art to make their game, while also allowing players to fill in the specific details they way they want.
@@johntrevy1 The textures do warp, as seen in the first minute of gameplay. You don't see much of it happen because the more subdivisions a model has, the less warping there is.
with graphics getting better every year it's more of an artistic choice to go back in time and reuse what was the limit at the time. whether for nostalgia or to impart a specific feeling to a story, just about any level of graphics still have their place in game design. people haven't stopped making 8-bit games even though unreal 5 has dropped, and i don't think they ever will.
Btw, you could actually dig straight down if you dig a 1 by 2 block hole and stand in the middle. It's a lot less risky and is a pretty efficient way to get down to deep levels without fear of falling into a pit of lava. Or, you could just drink a fire res potion and have a water bucket in your hotbar incase you fall into a ravine that could also work (I do get the joke, btw. I'm just giving some advice incase someone didn't know about this)
@@Aquascape_Dreaming It makes you wonder and imagine the threat yourself, which is scarier than actually seeing the thing. Like how the buildup are scarier than the jumpscare
@@m.alghaniyf.m.1584 Except the buildup is only scary *because* of the implication of something ghastly or dreadful at the end. There is nothing at the end. It's over.
I recognize these messages -- they're messages recommended by the Human Interference Task Force for nuclear facilities and radioactive waste disposal sites for warning future civilizations of the dangers inherent to their materials. The language is simplified and direct as to facilitate translation. They also discussed plans for a sort of "priesthood" to be established and serve as an analogous body to the Catholic Church in order to handle radioactive materials through rituals and myths derived from maintenance protocols
Noticed it too. Likely means this is in the future, possibly post-apocalypse. If miners read the signs, they might assume there was a curse - just the sort of thing the ancients might leave to ward off treasure hunters (and thus imply tressure). Though it is clear something else was already there when the facility was still in use.
i'm glad that someone else mentioned this! i recognized it as soon i read the second sign the name of the paper that contains these specific warnings is "Expert judgment on markers to deter inadvertent human intrusion into the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant" there is also a full technical report that was provided for the Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation up for free on the OSTI government website, the title of it is "Reducing the Likelihood of Future Human Activities That Could Affect Geological High-Level Waste Repositories," but i have not actually ever checked to see if they refer to the exact same project myself.
"We don't know how to use this machine ... all we know is the numbers need to add up to 13. And some chowderhead took the lever!" this was perfect ... most ps1 puzzle ever
I love how all these current-age "retro" indie games have their textures bend and glitch out when the player looks at them from a short distance and wide angle. Just like an old PS1 game.
the writing was good in this one, really paints an ugly and visceral face to the idea of greed and the dark things men are capable of. i enjoyed how the forest/mine was described by the one man who left, that it was sacred land, wants to be left alone, that "she doesn't want to hurt you."
Man, I cannot wait for this to become a full game. I love the story and want to know more about this eldritch entity who is benign unless she is disturbed, she’s even described as loving and seems to at least care about people a little, seeing as how she let that one guy go. I’m interested to see where things go from here, what our purpose for coming here was, and how it’s gonna end.
It’s 100% about nuclear waste, the first few signs are the same message at a few dump sites for waste that are attempting to warn future people about the dangers in a meaningful way.
The notes/spare journal entries in this game are really well-written, that line “it takes everything in me not to dig straight down. I wouldn’t be able to get out if I did that. I wonder if I would mind?” is still stuck with me
Those messages mean there is radioactive waste inside and it will still be dangerous for centuries, maybe even thousands of years. Those messages are trying to be understandable even if people forget the term "radiation hazard"
It would be good. N' because ps1 graphics are easier to render, it'd be simpler to run on multiplayer with potato wifi or a crap pc than a lot of the AAA games that get released.
Dread Delusion is a very cool PS1 styled open world horror fantasy game currently in development, well worth checking out! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-x9WORg9glWA.html
Not to mention both Gloomwood and Graven are in development, with Gloomwood even having a playable demo. Knowing New Blood, it will take them five years to make it.
Notes of a survivor : Always stay armed. Don't go deep into the forest. Barricade yourself inside. -DON'T LET IT IN DON'T LET IT IN DON'T LET IT IN DON'T LET IT IN.- Don't let it see you. Stay on high ground. Don't make loud noises. *END.*
This really gives me the vibe from “human” a game where you hike abandoned secret object in tundra built by usa to control weather,turns out that there is a portal to hell in the end(metaphorical ofc)
Aickavon the Techpriest no like, I’m talking about the metal signs he clicks on and it pulls up a prompt with a message. The sign texture is covered in words but there’s only like one or two sentences in each prompt.
@@supermasterfighter No I know what you mean, but what I'm saying is, that other text that isn't shown in the prompt, could be in different languages as was the original intention of such signs.
I really like this one. The mood changes completely halfway through, and it's a wonderful change. Very good game, I'd like to see more stories from this creator.
What do you mean? I think there was definitely a change when he got through the mines and into that waste disposal facility, I suppose there was quite a mood change. Certainly a change in atmosphere. How would you describe it?
the games you play remind me a lot of manlybadasshero's channel but without the talking. you both play very obscure games not many people have seen and give it an audience and thats awesome! thanks for creating content I (and many others) enjoy :))
The part where the player came to a narrow tunnel that made their Geiger counter (WHICH THEY BROUGHT, KNOWING WHAT WAS IN THE TUNNELS) should have been the exact moment they turned around and left forever. They condemned themself.
this game is incredibly well made. the way the meter conditions you to remember close=bad without the monster charging, the irl plaques, the cliche notes they've managed to make terrifying, everything. bravo 👏👏👏
i was listening to this as background noise and i noticed a sound effect i recorded and put on freesounds. makes me proud to know my stuff is getting out there and being used at least in limited capacity
@@rizkypramana6003 That's honestly what I was thinking after rewatching this. If there are more than one of... whatever that was at the end, there's no way you're gonna wanna make a lot of noise. And disabling the radio speaker at the end is probably what attracted the one that got him. So... yeah, quiet pew pew.
The forest setting could use some work. You could tell where the map ended. Doesn't really look like you're in the wilderness or something, so playing spooky noises in the distance isn't going to be very effective when you can tell it's just an ambient sound, and not potentially a monster lurking in a vast and expansive forest. Some of the gameplay seems a bit wonky and Amnesia-esque. But overall, I'd say the story and atmosphere is very well done. I hope this developer keeps making more games.
this is not a place of honour it took me a bit to recognise that it's from that radiation warning stuff that I forgot the specific words for. (EDIT: Long-Time Nuclear Waste Warning Messages!)
>Sees a comment about Geiger counters >The first sign is “this place is a message” >The second sign is flanked by nuclear and death warnings My brain, immediately: THIS IS ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF WARNING FUTURE HUMANITY ABOUT RADIOACTIVE WASTE!!! I _love_ this topic, it’s so fascinating. How do you want people about something they may not be able to comprehend, when all language and meaning is lost. Amazing idea for someone to make a game out of, superb.
Recently I discovered this channel and I have found some of the best games from here. You are doing an excellent job of giving these awesome developers all the marketing and hype they deserve.
I remember seeing this long ago and was lamenting having forgotten where it was, I was pretty sure it was on your channel, glad I finally found the time to look.
So, the Geiger counter acts like the motion tracker in Aliens. 😱 This game is terrifying despite its simplistic graphics. It even gives amnesia a run for its money.
i like how the deeper we went the music began to grow louder. it felt as if we were the miners, constantly feeling as if they were so close, so excited, and almost powerless to resist.
I don't usually buy games tha ABG shows but you know what I would buy this one. The tension, the lore, everything is masterfully blended to give an awesome sense of horror. I really like it. It's not a new kind of scary but somehow this feels refreshing.
So this game and the office worm you played has helped me really focus on a second fear of mine...dark silence. hate it. hate everything about it. hate all kinds of it. but as long as you're playing it I GUESS I'M WATCHING IT. I mean I know I don't have to but I really do enjoy your videos. They're very expressive without commentary interfering
Buen juego la atmósfera es algo nostálgico y distinta a los juegos de ahora... hey a Spanish speaker here greetings from South America love u channel 😎
i have a feeling that my game will show on this channel someday. if i have the motivation to fucking continue making that game lol. m currently making a "horror" ps1 styled racing game inspired by carmageddon.
i don't know why but the sounds of the geiger counter are hilarious. the incomprehensibly fast tktktk is like someone saying "40 G's of force". it's like, that INSTANTLY turns you into a fallout ghoul, dude
