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Re: Space Laser Boogaloo
Aug. 21st, 2023 08:43 amI recently read a Japanese short story (Atsuhiro Yoshida's 中庭のオレンジ, from a 2022 collection of the same name) that vaguely reminded me of the premise and setting of the 2005 survival horror game Pathologic. I've never actually played Pathologic, so I googled it, and to my surprise I found a 2018 episode from my beloved Dark Souls podcast.
Apparently, Pathologic is brilliant, but it's also extremely punishing and unpleasant to play. In addition, you have to play the full game at least three times to get the full story. The podcast hosts compared Pathologic to a horrible pit. One of them said he wanted to explore the pit and dig deeper into the pit and perhaps even buy a condo in the pit, and the other said he'd be happy to stand at the edge of the pit while reading a travel guide.
I apologize for the obliqueness of this metaphor, but that's exactly how I feel about the unpleasantness I described in my last post. I understand that some people might like to dwell in that sort of pit while allowing its darkness to inspire and motivate them, but I just can't do that. I'm happy to read the work of other people who have gone into the pit and written about what it is and how it makes them feel, but it's not for me.
I don't think this makes me weak or cowardly. We only have so many days on this earth, and there are a lot of pits.
Apparently, Pathologic is brilliant, but it's also extremely punishing and unpleasant to play. In addition, you have to play the full game at least three times to get the full story. The podcast hosts compared Pathologic to a horrible pit. One of them said he wanted to explore the pit and dig deeper into the pit and perhaps even buy a condo in the pit, and the other said he'd be happy to stand at the edge of the pit while reading a travel guide.
I apologize for the obliqueness of this metaphor, but that's exactly how I feel about the unpleasantness I described in my last post. I understand that some people might like to dwell in that sort of pit while allowing its darkness to inspire and motivate them, but I just can't do that. I'm happy to read the work of other people who have gone into the pit and written about what it is and how it makes them feel, but it's not for me.
I don't think this makes me weak or cowardly. We only have so many days on this earth, and there are a lot of pits.
