What do I even say? What even can I say? While playing this game a melancholic feeling flowed through me across each level, as a creator took me throughout different stages of his life. From 80's arcades to early 2010 action games, a journey through his past and a look into the future he hopes for.
Travis is a completely different person now, and while I'd call it stupid and out of nowhere at first, I can't. There's no denying Travis represents a part of Suda, but he also represents you. Through Dr. Juvenile, we see what it means for the audience to connect to a creator via their works and how we come to understand them. While we may never meet them, we feel as if we know them, and how we have nothing but respect for them.
We're taken through worlds that echo a man's childhood, his aimless days and his magnum opus. Then it's all brought down as we're reminded of what we assumed he thinks to be an embarrassment, but he doesn't feel that way. Suda fully admits the faults with Shadows of The Damned, hell I think he may even be too meta with it, but he doesn't hold hate in his heart for it. He sees the good, he sees the bad, and asks himself to let go. Despite his ambitions being kicked down, it's not over yet.
Perhaps that's why this game has nothing but the utmost respect for the indie scene, as it boomed right around the time where most would say Suda was at his lowest. There's definitely something to be admired about indie games and their raw passion, which I think he felt was lost.
Each of the bosses represent something, such as Suda's past, his future, his fears and even his mentors. And every track accompanying the fight reminds you of this, the entire soundtrack is filled with nothing but bangers as you slice your way through as many bugs as possible. The gameplay didn't tire on me either, not one bit.
The first cutscene of this game calls it a "commemorative title", and I feel as though it's exactly that. A celebration of 20 years' worth of games, many of which I adore. Many of which also share one theme. A theme that also pulsates throughout this game like a beating heart. Each boss has something which is weighing them down, and you're reminded of those words everytime you fight one of them. Those three words that Suda wants to tell himself the most.
Kill the past.
Travis is a completely different person now, and while I'd call it stupid and out of nowhere at first, I can't. There's no denying Travis represents a part of Suda, but he also represents you. Through Dr. Juvenile, we see what it means for the audience to connect to a creator via their works and how we come to understand them. While we may never meet them, we feel as if we know them, and how we have nothing but respect for them.
We're taken through worlds that echo a man's childhood, his aimless days and his magnum opus. Then it's all brought down as we're reminded of what we assumed he thinks to be an embarrassment, but he doesn't feel that way. Suda fully admits the faults with Shadows of The Damned, hell I think he may even be too meta with it, but he doesn't hold hate in his heart for it. He sees the good, he sees the bad, and asks himself to let go. Despite his ambitions being kicked down, it's not over yet.
Perhaps that's why this game has nothing but the utmost respect for the indie scene, as it boomed right around the time where most would say Suda was at his lowest. There's definitely something to be admired about indie games and their raw passion, which I think he felt was lost.
Each of the bosses represent something, such as Suda's past, his future, his fears and even his mentors. And every track accompanying the fight reminds you of this, the entire soundtrack is filled with nothing but bangers as you slice your way through as many bugs as possible. The gameplay didn't tire on me either, not one bit.
The first cutscene of this game calls it a "commemorative title", and I feel as though it's exactly that. A celebration of 20 years' worth of games, many of which I adore. Many of which also share one theme. A theme that also pulsates throughout this game like a beating heart. Each boss has something which is weighing them down, and you're reminded of those words everytime you fight one of them. Those three words that Suda wants to tell himself the most.
Kill the past.