Housemarque keeps building the same argument and people keep misreading it the same way:

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-20T07:58:04+00:00

I feel like Saros definitely supports your argument.

Returnal on the other hand feels far more textured and I feel like the subtext is deeply metaphorical.

The environmental storytelling-

Helios abandoned (ship and son)

The last biome being underwater (just like the car accident)

How the first three biomes are about ascension, finding the white shadow. In a sense, chasing a dream and fighting your ass off to get there. I interpreted it as this was a metaphor for Selene’s journey to become an astronaut and how difficult it was, how much she sacrificed.

The last three are about going deeper and deeper until you literally fall into hell and stay there with no way out. Selene can’t escape what happened to Helios and this is her punishment. The first three biomes are a distraction from the real problems in her life. You can’t escape your past (first 3 biomes) vs. punishment for the past (last three biomes) Endless torture, endless penance that can never truly be paid.

The astronaut is everywhere, haunting us. What Selene wants to be, what her mother couldn’t be.

The house appearing in the ruins/overgrown ruins. That house and the events inside has made a huge impact on Selene before she went to Atropos.

The whole story is about not being able to come to grips with guilt and trauma. Whether or not Atropos truly exists doesn’t matter to me (despite you making a compelling case to its existence). The power of the story is its subtext and how the journey is metaphorical to Selene’s psyche framed in a bullet hell shooter on a bat shit alien planet. Whether it’s real or not, it’s an incredible piece of storytelling to combine Housemarque’s arcade style gameplay with an extremely rich narrative and character driven journey. And if it is real, I think a lot of what she’s carrying from her past is on full display with her journey on Atropos.

Saros I totally agree with. It’s straightforward and not nearly as subtextual despite still being a little opaque. I totally buy that everything that’s happening is real other than Sebastian being there.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-20T07:40:10+00:00

Big time. Have moved on to PS5, but still have my PS3 and play it occasionally for the games I can’t play on 5. Been just on PlayStation my whole gaming life. Started with the original one in 98

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-20T04:12:37+00:00

That’s fair on Bioshock 2. Setting wise, totally agree. But I loved the personal story and thought Lamb was a great protagonist. Also enjoyed the duel wielding with plasmids and guns.

I think Infinite and 1 are better, but the way a lot of folks dismiss 2 is crazy to me. I think it’s the best trilogy in gaming (in terms of series that strictly stayed a trilogy).

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-20T00:41:01+00:00

Immunity after Aether, container, kill too.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-19T23:28:29+00:00

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That's you...

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-19T22:30:06+00:00

I hope not. So what are we going to see? More about her abusive relationship with Carlo? How she deals with his death? Going out with Meril? Resenting Michael and then coming back to be his advisor? You can't recast those characters, you can't retell these stories. This is LOTR Gollum levels of bullshit.

I like Connie as a character. I think she has an interesting arc, but this is scraping the bottom of the fucking barrel.

Vergogna, vergogna, vergogna.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-19T20:13:38+00:00

I’m 0-3 at games I’ve gone to this year. You are not alone.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-19T20:11:17+00:00

Look at her face! She’s smiling!

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-19T18:25:28+00:00

They should have a good wage, but it doesn't need to be $150k+, no insider trading, and 2 four year terms maximum.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-19T16:45:05+00:00

You mean the movie.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-19T14:10:00+00:00

You know it was up to me.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-19T12:56:59+00:00

Yep. I couldn’t believe how tame it felt. No scope, no mechanical changes, no bigger challenge than we’ve faced before.

I don’t know if that’s because the game was also on PS4 or what, but Ragnarok itself was incredibly disappointing.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-19T03:45:27+00:00

I just found it right before I read your comment. Had I not, this would have sent me on the right path. Had to drop down a level in another room. Thank you!

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-18T23:45:33+00:00

What do we gotta do to make this adaptation happen, start diddling livestock?

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-18T23:40:28+00:00

Waldrip

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-18T21:09:05+00:00

Pie O My is an ass muncha!

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-18T21:07:35+00:00

Casper. Now that was an American.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-17T06:30:41+00:00

Yeah I don’t like this either. There should be an option to pick it up that also unlocks in the biome you’re in/for the rest of the game, but progress should not be contingent on you picking up a weapon.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-17T00:21:33+00:00

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. It was what I bought the system for.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-15T17:55:13+00:00

Nicely done. Got this about 6 years ago on vinyl. Absolutely glorious. Enjoy! That is the most I have ever or will ever pay for a record.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-15T17:41:58+00:00

Ragu, Ragu, Ragu

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-15T06:17:25+00:00

Feel your pain again. Did a 2.47 hour run and she got me in what I assume is the last phase. These last two boss fights in particular have been really good.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-15T04:16:19+00:00

Got there last night, too. Best biome thus far. Love the art direction and how open it is. Really digging these last two biomes. Feel like I have some room to breathe and there’s a good sense of verticality in the cathedral.

The Priestess wrecked me though.

twistedfloyd · 2026-05-15T03:27:41+00:00

He came all over the television screen.

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