I knew the guy who made this game. Rick put a lot of work into this, and some of the characters are based on some of the guys he knew.

Finally, my cooking skills got recognized. Nice vid bro, good to see disillusion getting some love.

Some mythological background and theories: About the protag: I think it's important that according to the Talmud, God created golems before he created humans. Adam too was a golem at first, which is to say all of these golems were unfinished. Not fully 'alive'. And that's probably the reason he's outside of Samsara cannot attain enlightenment. The fact that golems also lack agency tells me that the way they enter Samsara is via disobedience. Maybe that's how Adam became a human according to the Talmud (I haven't read much more about this topic)? About Mara: Interesting how the game refers to her as a she, but in mythology, Mara is only ever referred to as a "he" so that's what I'll use. He can be a symbol for many different things depending on which sect of Buddhism it is. He can represent death, he can be a temptor figure, an embodiment of kleshas or the embodiment of existence itself. In some interpretations he also has a role of keeping deva in the Heavens, preventing them from reincarnation, and reportedly he does this because he himself has too many attachments to the deva realm. He's many things. Him being a female angel in this game is a very interesting choice imo In mythology he also approaches the Buddha to tempt him while he sat under the Bodhi Tree so that has *implications* regarding our main character. The Buddha himself started out as prince who was coddled from the world and didn't know that death, sickness, old age and birth (the four sights) existed. Maybe this is a clue in the game, you have to see these to get into Samsara and get enlightened. He has three daughters who represent the three poisons, so the in-game Mara making the protag her son who judges the dead is very interesting. The judge of dead would be the Ten Kings of Hell in Buddhism, but maybe the protag takes on the role of King Yama specifically, except... since the tower collapses there's no way to even try to get out of Samsara now so that role is basically useless. Also the swamp is clever. Enlightenment is often symbolized by a lotus flower because it rises from the mud of the bottom of the pond and opens its petals above the murky water. About the ending where you defeat Mara: It makes sense that nothing really changes. When the Buddha got enlightened and started teaching the masses, he didn't end suffering, did he? He did defeat Mara temporarily and so the world is prevented from getting worse but it's still not great. About the horse: The historical Buddha's favorite horse was called Kanthaka and he accompanied him when he saw the four sights and when he fled his life as a prince to find his true purpose. If it's someone else's memory that implies that someone else represents the Buddha, but this is a dream game so things might be more complicated. About the crows and the Crow Lord: In Tibetan Buddhism, the crow is associated with Lord Mahakala. He's a deva of time, destruction, and death. In fact his name means "beyond time". He represents the inevitable and the destructive and uncaring destruction of everything. He's not bound by any laws or morals, he's what everything came from (as a manifestation of Shiva) and what everything will eventually return into. Which is why he's referred to as "the ultimate and absolute". This game mixes different mythologies but considering the crows' role in the story, it makes sense I think. About Melpomene: I haven't found anything more about Melpomene than you described, but one important detail is that she's a muse of tragedy, as in the tragedy genre of plays. Theatre. Considering that she tampered with the protagonist, it's easy to see that she's a puppetmaster of sorts. Or more like a stage director. That said, great video, great channel, I need to play this game, it looks amazing.

If anyone is interested, the song playing at 10:34 is called "Soleado", performed originally by the Daniel Sentacruz Ensemble. I love the melody to pieces ever since I heard the German cover version done by Michael Holm.

Definitely checking this one out. Nice job.

Wow never thought I would see the day some one actually talking about this game, hopped right on this game at launch, super underrated

Yeah, the Disillusion video is here! I'm really glad you were fascinated by it, it's one of these games that really make you feel like you're stepping into an unfamiliar world that works completely differently from ours yet feels vaguely similar.

Every time I find a game like this I feel comforted knowing someone else with an imagination like mine can showcase their mind with such beauty. Yume Nikki was the first one I ever found way back in childhood. Then LCD: Dream Emulator. Hylics. Even Fear & Hunger. The list goes on. Sometimes my thoughts are overwhelming, freaky, and incomprehensible, but games like these remind me that it’s all high art at the end of the day. Love stuff like this fr. Always and forever. Thank you for sharing this with us.

I just discovered this video today and i’d like to say..this channel is so awesome!! Im so glad i find this video and channel please find more obscure stuff like this! Love it!!!

Hey, I know the dev of this! Rick's the GOAT. I heard Disillusion 2 is in the works

This vid is both dungeon and chill. I love it 🖤

That pitched down song in the rain world/level is “when a child is born” by Johnny Mathis. It’s a Christmas song 😅

Just found your channel through your Enemy Zero video. I was a tester for this game from the early stages, interesting to hear your thoughts on it and glad to see it get attention!

It reminded me of the small dungeon section on Hylics 2 but even more weirder, which I never thought it was possible. Thank god there's no random encounters, is my pet peeve so now i have to give it a try :D

Just found your channel today and wanna say I love what you do, especially with these niche obscure games I love it

oh man I found a new channel to love, you seem to cover a lot of games I was either drawn to in the past and loved or ones I WOULD be drawn to if I found them, youtube been doing good the past 2 weeks, happy to have found you!

this game slaps so fucking hard, i found it a while back looking for dungeon crawlers to check out and it really filled every one of my holes.

Been really enjoying your videos these past few days. Thanks for putting the effort in. Makes my way home a bit shorter

That "Barlely satified... watch one soul cry" bit sounds eerily close to one of the lyrics from Close to the Edge by Yes.

Dude found your channel yesterday and I’ve been binging, super sick stuff keep doing what you’re doing!

Definitely getting this one. Good shit brother.

Imma say it Mels cute

Sold. EDIT: Three bucks!? I was ready to get out $20. Multiple copies as gifts it is.

I wish more people would play this game.

This reminds me a bit of Dungeons of the Unforgiven sometimes, but I guess all of the old 2.5D dungeon crawlers looks like this.

Games and games like them are a whole indie genre, they really blur the line between random humor and surreal stuff. Space Funeral was the first one I knew

This is super interesting! When someone develops a "weird" game, it usually ends up being more of an "experience" than game. So it is refreshing (and exciting) to learn about a "weird" and "real" game.

I know an RPG maker game when I see it

Funny thing about the text at the ending, show at at 15:42 The text is fairly similar to the song "Close to the Edge" by the band "Yes". The actual lyrics are: "Two million people barely satisfy Two hundred women watch one woman cry" There's actually quite a lot of references to the band throughout the game, I just assume Disillusion Dev is a big fan of them.

Ive been binging your videos since I found you today. I really hope more people come to find you and subscribe to you!

Definitely gonna have to check this out

i just got the game literally yesterday, because of one of your other videos.

This is making me wonder when you will cover the hard-to-come-by game of LSD for the original Playstation.

Going to do my favorite youtube boost with reviews of games I want to play. Comment for engagement, then mute and let play to the end without watching to get not spoiled. (And come back later)

0:36 seems like an Alice In Chains reference

I discovered Disillusion’s sequel through Vinny and I’m loving it so far, and your video on the original makes me wanna try it.

Something about taking Acid i've experienced a lot, is I find myself having a NEED to walk, and keep walking, like i'm trying to get to a peaceful beach to watch a sunrise. All the while i'm struggling to keep myself existing as me Very Samsara

Huh I remember that LSD game but i don't think it had much narrative to it which is why I didn't really get into it. I might be able to play this though since the story sounds interesting

One thing to note, Mara is a dude. Thought it be funny to point out because in other media (such as SMT) he is portrayed as sentient genitalia

I have a soft spot for dungeon crawlers & strange stories, so this game instantly appealed to me lol. I just watched this video yesterday, and all day today I found Mel's theme stuck in my head. You're definitely right about the types of feelings it evokes! For me it's a very melancholic, very wistful... very nostalgic type of thing. It's really good! :) The, uhm... "rainy area" theme, though... *really* freaks me out 😰 I'm sure that that's probably intentional; but damn... they nailed it lol.

I am really entranced with this game can’t wait to get my hands on it. Great job covering it and convincing me to give it a try 🤩

Ugh, the sound file of the woman reading the stories. I know that from my arg/chaotic fiction/weird Internet stuff days. I think Night Mind or someone did a video on her but I can't remember the details offhand. She has some... wild stuff.

Very interesting... I think I will give it a go. Sadly, the game doesn't have regional pricing and is a bit expensive more me, but I will try to get it as soon as I can. I hope the dev is still around. I would also love to see the sequel when it comes out.

"The best kept secret on the internet?" Well not after some guy exposed it in a KZfaq video!

Anyone know of a good play through of this game? I watched the only one I could find and a lot was missing? The ending and Mel weren’t there at all

you can solve the game with the steam guides map section, it details the listing for obtaining the golden pig, CAUTION: ITS A HEFTY QUEST

Anyone who's ever played Persona or any SMT game starts raising eyebrows when Mara appears

Amazing channel man! Instant subscribe. A lot of this philosophical stuff seems to come from Tibetan Buddhism rather than the Vedas - although this worldview has began with the Vedas, so it's not wrong, it's just a particular branch of a very broad and varied family so to speak. For example, the phrase "wisdom of emptiness and clear light in union" is really a what tantric Buddhists believe as per nature of reality

first video of yours where i get to try something new, neat !

I watched until the spoiler warning. I'm sold. Buying it now. 🎉

Hey, found your channel and commenced a binge watch. Great stuff! I'd like to suggest you cover Hylics. It seems like it would mesh well with other games you've done videos on so far. In any case, thanks for great content!

I was surprised with how deep the writing in this game could be. The unique take on Buddhist cosmology, especially the bits you find in the library, were inspired. It's not one of those games where everything feels meaningless or random, and when you take some time to really dissect it, it's rewarding. It's one of those games that doesn't take itself too seriously but still has meaningful things to say. Mel's characterization in the game was great too, even though after playing the prequel it took me a little time to get accustomed how different her personality here was. After playing the original though, I'm honestly a little disappointed that the prequel seems to be going for a much more morose character which feels a bit more generic. As for not being able to get the bad ending, I'm 99% sure this is caused by a bug due to developer oversight. I'm pretty sure what you have to do is upset Mel to the point where she leaves then go for the true ending. However one of the requirements to reach the true ending requires Mel to not have left. There's a fan-made, developer-approved patch that fixes a lot of the bugs the game has and I'd suggest anyone interested in playing this check it out.

bought it cuz of you i loves these types of goofy games

Oh hey, its the VX Ace version of the FPLE script I only recently learned existed (Alongside the XP version). What a coincidence. Lol. After I started to play Etrian Odyssey 4 (Still haven't finished that), I've really wanted to make a DRPG like this, so discovering those scripts was really cool to me cause the XP version runs SO much better than the MV one, and it looks nicer too (I don't own VX Ace, but this game seems to make good use of its version). It will never fail to impress me how people somehow could transform RPG Maker into a pseudo-3D engine, especially these earlier versions. As someone who knows very little about code/programming, this is basically computer witchcraft to me. Lmao.

4:44 my therapist be like

After playing Hylics this seems interesting enough to try.

What in the hylics 2 is this?

Dude I found your channel a week or so ago and I've been OBSESSED!! your content reminds me of a blend of ross's game dungeon, grimbeard, civvie 11, madaloregaming, and just a dash of your favourite son (like in your voice quality, tone, delevery). Excellent stuff mate 🧶🐈‍⬛⚧️

Its using Buddhist philosophy more than strictly Vedic/Hindu. Mentions of the Eightfold Path etc. plus samsara is also a representation of being stuck in suffering and cyclical existence, even in a more physical/death and reconstitution of matter even etc. the idea of someone saving others by putting off their own ascentuon, either in Nirvana or Paranirvana or both depending on specifics/sects belief, its the Mahayana Buddhist (Zen, Chan) concept of the Bodhisattva, which also has a version in Vajrayana or Tibetan Buddhism. Mara was also the personification of desire and suffering when the Buddha was under the tree attaining enlightenment. So yeah you had the general idea, but theres a variety of specifics i noticed too that is utilized in this game, which do turn up in a variety of other games where the designers are influenced by Buddhism, Mahayana or Thervada or Vajraysna versions to varying degrees. The crow lord seems to represent the older Hindu ideas of deity at the time of the buddha, which had been corrupted by some of the top of the caste system at the time (which has happened to some degree today in both religions, tho with varying intensities - the tourist temples in Bangkok come to mind, etc) Seems pretty fascinating!

mel looks cute

Reminds of the PS1 game, Baroque.

so, hindu mithology kinda have a lot more than one hell, i was born in a hindu family, but i don`t study a lot of it, but this fact interested me for a while. there`s even a cold hell, like, a place just like hell, but made of ice, and i think that`s worse than fire.

pausing video to go buy game, thank you for the introduction to an epic piece of artistic expression

I have a feeling that pork rind pb and j would be nice if its chicarons with pbj

Woah, it's me.

The music in the rain world is Soleado, isn't it?

The latin word for passion is passio

anyone else get a distinct "Moraff's Unforgiven" vibe from this?

lets gooooo

Absolutely playing this.

I usually don't like First Person games, but that's because of how hyperbolic shooters tend to be. Still, this surreal, maze-like dungeon crawler is definitely right up my alley.

And, of course, anime. Whenever a lone nerd makes something, it has to be some part anime. The game is bananas, though. Quite the experience.

18:27 You fight the Double Soy Dragon Brothers

The song at 10:55 is "Tränen lügen nicht" isn't it?

Watched wondering on the random fights affected anything or of killing them was good (as long as they didn't provide anything of course). Glad to see there's probably nothing to it. Is there a way to travel between floors, downwards?

Are there anymore games like this one? I really enjoyed it

Have you played LISA? It just had a Definitive Edition come out and is an amazing game

While I kind of appreciate the style of the game, as well as its weird atmosphere, I got a migraine just from watching this video because of the clashing colours. I can't imagine playing it. My eyeballs would bleed and my screaming would fill the empty, endless void.

well we can agree on that

Welp! If I didn't have a headache before 😅

Very interesting. Thx

awwwww why didn't you mention the price at the beginning of the video? I woulda bought it, that's such a good deal! Then I woulda watched the video after playing the game. Oh well. Still great video!

Ena vibes i love it

I know I am late to the party, but some similar games of interest. I don't think I am saying anything new or revolutionary seeing Shin Megami Tensei in this game. And not the new ones, not new Persona, like the hand-helds or before the jump to ps2. Persona 1 and 2 even. But also Baroque. The original on the Sega Saturn more so than the 3D remake, but still a lot of atmosphere and theming similarities in my opinion. Sorry if you covered this in the video, but I did stop at the discuss of the endings for spoiler reasons.

Reminds me of doomRPG for old school java phones 😂😂😂

I like how the name of the game isn’t mentioned in the title of your video

I dont want to be that guy, but videos like this envy pc gamers, i cant even afford current gen consoles.... But its why i love watching these videos too

Desilusion S T DST I'm afraid...

ive been plahing this game since its early unfinished builds. its prolly the closest thing to dragon quest/mother+lsd dream emulator ive played.

So im pretty new to the whole pc gaming thing. I purchased this game out of excitement on steam not knowing I couldn't play it because I have a mac. Does anyone know of an easy way I can try to run that's been tried and true ? Thanks ❤

This is disco!

The track you find so disturbing seems to be some form of cover version of the German song "Tears don't lie/Tränen lügen nicht," which apparently had its melody used for a Christmas song called "When a Child Is Born" as well.

11:29 That isn't Vedic, but Buddhist.

I feel like the dev missed a bit of an opportunity in not calling the sequel "DisillusioniST".

Is this game created in India? Referring to 0:18, Bhool Bhoolaiya means labyrinth in Hindi Lord Ganesha is a God in Hindu mythology

Ok this one is interesting. I will check it out one day. Too bad the 2nd game doesn't have combat. That's a big pass for me then.

That font is hard to read

what’s the name of the song with the lady that starts reading the winter story

At 10:35 its a German song called Tränen lügen nicht or tears don't lie in English

whuh da helllll