_”I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one’s burdens again…The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”_ Camus. Fantastic video, sir!

It's honetly refreshing how much meaning there is behind Elden Ring. All of the inspiration that most people wouldn't really recognize, and the message it brings to mind. You're a new favorite KZreadr of mine. Thank you for all your hard work!

@OtakuUnitedStudio

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, someone tried to convince me that the lore in Elden Ring is practically non-existant beyond the main plot. Which is utterly absurd.

When you gain enough insight to realise DarkRings is actually an exuberant take on the nature of our existence. This was a great video

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Its really appreciated

@GrandNoble

Жыл бұрын

Elden Souls

@ThommyofThenn

Жыл бұрын

@@GrandNoble Ok i lo key like that. I've also seen Bloodsouls

@GrandNoble

Жыл бұрын

@@ThommyofThenn Dark DemonBorne Elden Souls Blood RingWorms

After watching your frenzied flame video you quickly became my favorite elden ring creator. You get to the core meaning of the game and beautifully highlight why I play video games. In gaming there's often not very much emphasis on what makes them beautiful, meaningful, and art, most focusing on top 10 weapons and best invasion builds, boss breakdowns etc. There's nothing wrong with that, but since there's so little content out there for people like me, where games are important to me like a beautiful movie, book, or song is, I truly thank you. You remind me why I love gaming, and truly make my days more thoughtful and enriching. Much love to you.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

This is a really thoughtful comment and Im really really glad to read it. I do want to do more content like this because same as you there should be more focus on the beauty of games, so thanks so much for the encouragement and telling me how my work benefitted you

@SomeUnkindledAsh

Жыл бұрын

Well said, sir. I feel like people experience games radically differently. Some people can truly immerse and experience a game rather than just play it. That's why I love them so much, especially FromSoft games.

Awesome video man. You tied things together well, and I think conveyed the hopeful side of the life vs. death debate very well.

I revisit this video every time life's struggles seem insurmountable, every time the darkness seems too oppressive. It's a good reminder of why the struggle is worth it. Thank you for sharing this with us.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

I'm really glad to hear that it had such an impact for you. Thank you for sharing this comment

I’ve been looking forward to this video since you announced working on it and you did not disappoint. Looking forward the next one!

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Really happy to hear that 👍

This video blew me away. You gave us such a beautiful viewpoint, and put it into words that brought tears to my eyes. (the parallels with Berzerk, while I already recognized them, it was so enchanting to see laid out in your thorough fashion) Thank you so much. Elden Ring is an experience I am eternally grateful for, and your words have become part of that joy.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

This is more than I could hope a video to do, so im overjoyed to hear it, that you felt it, and that you chose to share. Thank you!

I honestly love your videos so much. Everything is so well put together.

Love the video, a very unique prospective! Keep up the good work

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! will do

Yes I can’t wait for this your videos have become my favorite on KZread not that I haven’t always enjoyed your videos because I have but these recent ones are on a whole new level I love it

Woah! This was so in depth and well done! Few go to this extent that you did, and I thank you for it!

would love to see more of this kind of content!

What a great video to start my day, some introspection on how struggling is life? Please make more videos in this style!

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, and I will!

The guts theme always brings me close to tears especially after a really compelling video, good job man

Please please please do more videos like this, this was so well done and insightful. I was wondering if you could do an analysis of some of the other themes in Elden Ring, such as the focus on doubles on how that might speak to a need for balance, how stagnation leads to corruption, or how violence and war is a self-perpetuating cycle and a disease.

New top 5 ER videos. While this is how I always viewed Ranni’s perspective on life, thanks for putting it into philosophical language and parsing it out in smaller characters like Alexander. I appreciate ER and Nietzsche even more now.

Another great video man! Thank you! 🙏🏾

Superb writing! Keep up the great work.

I’m still watching the video, but, in my humble opinion, struggle is worth enduring (and by struggle I mean incredible hardship, not the lightest forms of it) only if you have purpose in life. Whether it’s a lifelong goal, family, living a certain way or in a certain area and so on, whatever gives you purpose is what will help you keep going through whatever life throws at you, and we all know it can suck really bad. This is probably obvious, it’s 3:30 A.M., but I feel like “struggling for the sake of struggling is beautiful” is pretty… well, I can’t come up with a good adjective, but simply not a good way to think about hardship. Purpose is key. If you don’t have it, you’ll just let the winds carry you through life.

@songbird6414

8 ай бұрын

This is partially why I find Dark Soul’s lore to be superior to anything From has put out since. On the surface, there is very, very little for the chosen undead to do ANYTHING. Everything in this world wants to kill you, barring a few tragic NPCs, and you fight for two of the most lackluster ending options ever. But, due to the in game and lore status of hollowing, continuing on BECOMES that goal to strive towards. To give up is to give up your character’s humanity, any hope of even a small moment of joy. Putting down the controller, turning off the computer, becomes the ending the player should be desperate to avoid. It’s a story about not giving up above all else, and I find it really cool. Elden Ring, Bloodborne… none of the others have hit that same feeling for me.

Beautiful video with a beautiful message

Godfrey’s march out of the lands between also resemble the individual becoming a load bearing camel marching into a lonely desert. The protagonist then returns to lands between as a lion to overthrow the dragon to become a child I’d like to believe Marika’s goal is also aligned with that of ranni’s. A new beginning.

Deserves more view, your video is excellent mate

I love your take on what Eurothug4000 talk of the beauty within the rough world of Elden ring. It’s a clear understanding us players adventures into the beauty of the lively world with Elden ring along with evil that endures, it’s like similar wonder of mysterious to want to explore and adventure with the understanding of the hardship. Like for example Disney worlds of exploring the wonders with learning hardship too. ❤

Didn't expect the CCK reference! I forgot that his channel still exists

Great video. Thank you!

Beautiful content and provoking. Love this direction

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

Something I love about Elden Ring's take on the themes of celebrating life is its exploration! There are so many dark places in the world that you must battle through, Stormveil, Caelid, the Deeproot Depths, but in just as many cases you'll struggle until you find someplace beautiful and teeming with life. I can't tell you how many times I just sat my character down to appreciate the sights of Liurnia and the fields of Altus, or to watch the herds of wildlife in Siofra. Those moments made me appreciate the struggle of the game so much, like a hundred little Anor Londo moments from the first Dark Souls. For a first attempt at an open world game, they did a really good job conveying the themes of the game through it!

Well done sir, said as one that studies philosophy at uni :)

Thank you for the video, every once in a while one must really appreciate how everything goes around them and by mentioning guts in this matter you really made the point. I am a really big fan of berserk (my fav manga and guts second favorite character in anime ) and elden ring, dark souls even more, even though I didn't play it yet but really quite a refreshing perspective of casuality thx man❤.

I would definitely love more of this style of Philosophy Souls video

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the encouragement! I hope to do more

Thank you for this. Inspired me to replay ER and reread Berserk

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment! Really happy to hear

you're right; that was great wordplay

"Miyazaki has high hopes for us. That we continue to struggle. Unto eternity."

my viewpoint seems to be the opposite of everyone here, when you struggle and suffer just for the sake of it you gain nothing, overcoming oneself is one thing but constantly suffering is another. Guts is a perfect example, he's constantly struggling and for what, there's no end and no point to exist with a life of nothing but pain. This Nietzsche person seems way smarter than me but from my perspective as someone who struggles constantly, it's nonsensical. We see this in elden ring to, You stress and you struggle beating the bosses of the game but once you've won you're left with an empty feeling. All that effort wasted for 0 results. At the end of the day its a video game and if you're not having fun then the outcomes mean nothing. A constant struggle of pain with no purpose and no end in sight. Though for the people that can find the joy in this then hats off to them 😩

This is an amazingly done video. That being said, I still say that the game would not be damaged at all by the option to choose an easy mode.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Im glad you enjoyed it! And while I am still sympathetic to it, I think there is a lot of evidence that the range of difficulty already in the game was made intentionally as part of the game's design. So, a change their would be a design change, which is fine if FS want to do so, but could constitute a lessening of the intended experience

Elden Ring is on average, much easier for me as someone who has played the DS trilogy, Demon Souls and Sekiro. However there were many bosses that totally destroyed me. I only just beat Malenia today for the first time

Just finished the video now I'm gonna watch it again as I cook.

Well said !

Epic video, I like meaning in games but I do not make it a main point when I play games.

Im glad people love struggling, I hope more people struggle to get through everyday with worse and worse tribulations, because if your not strong enough or can't get stronger why should you even be alive to contest the odds.

Awesome take

I'm wondering what you make of one of Gideon's last lines, as it seems like he might be in agreement to some extent, although the game clearly puts us in opposition. The line is "Queen Marika has high hopes for us. That we continue to struggle. Unto eternity." I view this as him understanding that struggle is meaningful, but perhaps mistakenly thinking that struggle in itself is entirely meritorious. I'm curious about other thoughts!

Okay, it made laugh more than I care to admit to see something silly in an elden ring lore video!

Really good video

@MadLuigi

22 күн бұрын

Thank you!

As a Fox main since Smash 64, no item for a pure fight, i approve this.

“ He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how”- Nietzsche

ER gets easier and easier. You get a billion flasks, much more hp… and of course the Mimic tear. And then at the half way point you’re beating every single boss on your first try and rarely died anymore

beautiful

This video is wonderful man. The beauty of struggle.... Say YES to life... hell yeah. And you basically just introduced me to Berserk (although I've been aware of berserk for decade). I really vibe with this I really feel that, I grew up on old school games. I need the joy of overcoming challenge. There is such a fine balance - A game can be too easy, or, rarely, too hard. Having the struggle of a difficult game to play (that is still rewarding, beautiful etc) actually helps sharpen my skills in real life! The hours spent gaming though, that can be a problem... Gotta say I've been binging Elden Ring youtube content and I think YOU THE MAN!~

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Im glad you like the content so much and it connected so well. Thanks!

Just started the video. I'm expecting this to be an explaination of sunk-cost fallacy, but stretched out to 40 minutes. I will watch the video. Will edit this comment if I change my opinion after finishing it.

So in essence. Live Laugh Love

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

I got too close to writing that during the laugh section of the video

Devilman is one of my favourite animes never seen berserk tho.

Also the "struggle" in the gameplay: Gets carried all over the game by summon spirits, OP ash of war, overleveled phantoms and no skill requirement whatsoever when you deal 10000 damage without the need of a glass-cannon build and has infinite I-frames with bloodhound step and light roll...also status effects specifically bleed and scarlet rot. Fromsoft made some mistakes with this one, still a good game tho.

I wish I watched this before caving in and using summons in the Malenia fight lol the second phase broke me. On a side note, your video reignited my drive to write. I've been working on a novel with the soulsborne series as inspiration. You reminded me why I wanted to tell a story about the beauty in overcoming one's self. Will definitely be coming back to rewatch for inspiration. Thank you.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Thats really really cool to hear! Im glad i could have that kind of impact

Human suffering can be boil down to one simple thing... emotions. If we are incapable of feeling emotions, we wouldn't suffer at all. We'd be like a rock. We wouldn't care if we break into a million pieces lead alone die. But as we know, all humans have emotions. Which is why suffering is an escapable part of life. It doesn't matter what kind of life we live or how perfect our life is. Sooner or later, we will suffer because we can suffer.

I think you've convinced me to return to Elden Ring. After beating it a couple times, I grew more and more put off by how over-tuned the endgame is. In all fromsoftware games, I'd usually keep playing through max NG levels and beyond, but not so much in ER. But perhaps it's because of how much struggle life has been putting me through in recent years. Not wanting to deal with the struggle in a difficult part of a game and retreating to more relaxed games. In other words, I think I need to overcome difficulty in games again as I try to in life. Accomplishments to bounce off one another.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

While a tough or dark game can be draining when life feels similarly, sometimes it does help bounce of one another in a positive way. If you do return, I hope it's well! And tbh ive been enjoyin some kirby recently, the cuteness is nice

Can you imagine how popular an ending would have been if they had allowed us to marry Melena? All of us simps out here, shoot I would pick that ending

Take a drink every time he says Nietzschian

How can anybody look at this aspect ratio and think, "yeah that's a good decision for a youtube video". 2/3 the screen is black bars. Just use a normalassed ratio.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Im assuming you didnt make it thru more than a minute in to the vid

What is that sad song that is playing during the Berserk part? The moaning song, I've heard it in memes.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

Probably the Guts theme from the anime ost

I just want to know what that weird chanting song is that you play the whole time because I know it from somewhere else and it's going to drive me bonkers

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

could you timestamp a part where its playing? i jump around so some of them might be different even if they sound similar. it could be the Guts theme from the Berserk anime or maybe "A Few Thoughts II" from the game Sword of Berserk: Guts' Rage

@TooDarkFart

Жыл бұрын

@@MadLuigi gotta be from the show at 9:40 as I haven't started that game yet. Thanks man

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

@@TooDarkFart yeah thats Guts' theme! really impactful, and np

i struggle with the poopy in my pant

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

smartest frenzied flame enjoyer

Come on youtube, put this video on the reccomended page for more people. Even for non gamers. Just do it pls :)

Brave tarnished thy video befits a million views

What’s the intro song?

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

One of the Berserk OSTs, not sure which

@blank9428

Жыл бұрын

I found it. It’s A Few Thoughts II from Guts’ Rage. Great video btw. I’ve seen a lot of videos about Berserks connection to Nietzsche but no one really talks about him when it comes to From Softs games.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

@@blank9428 Glad you found it and enjoyed the vid, thanks!

Yooo nier music tho

Yet you will still have people asking for a easy mode lol

Comment for statistics

This is a long ass video just to say "Cause Miyazaki is a sadist and Miura fan"

Unfortunately this message falls somewhat short for the long-term fans because we don't struggle nearly as much, not to say there's no difficulties to be found but it just doesn't hit the same way Edit: damn, I feel specifically called out now

@hunterotte9555

Жыл бұрын

I agree with his points in this video and what the series strives to be, I just think he is tired of people calling the games not challenging. Which I mean... If you didn't think it was a massive struggle, hey, that's good on you. I do think he could have defended his argument far better than trying to discredit someone's literal tangible experience with "fuck you, you don't count". He literally could have made the argument for "An overwhelming majority of people found the game to be genuinely difficult, of course there will be very few outliers like yourselves, but even then I doubt you could say that aside from summons and cheeses that the game is at all "easy", and even then some who used these mechanics still struggled". Validating his points despite your personal experience. But as said, despite that pretty big hiccups, he made a really good video.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

haha sorry i didnt mean for it to be a super serious call-out, especially to vets who are just used to FS by this point. it really was meant more for contrarian articles/other videos that same the said thing about DS (like an article titled "Dark Souls isn’t hard, gamers are just stupid and impatient"). the call-out was v much more for that attitude than vets. i sympathize w the position of vets who dont struggle as much! i def did on a few bosses but overall id put myself in the same category, so I am sorry for that

@hunterotte9555

Жыл бұрын

@@MadLuigi ngl, sounded somewhat serious. Wouldn't blame ya though. Sorry for being overly critical of a joke. If I figured it was, I wouldn't have treated it seriously. I have seen people on both ends be annoyingly pushy with their views when it comes to whether it's too easy and that everyone who is failing is an inferior being or on the other end there's the players whom came over fresh off the bottle getting upset they gotta work for a win. (Not to be confused with general loss rage) Despite being a veteran on these games, I can't help but feel like I am slipping. Things that used to be completely easy aren't anymore and I don't get better, regardless of time and practice invested... It's actually concerning.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

@@hunterotte9555 All good and i dont mean to say "oh it a joke" as a complete run-away from the statement. i did have some intent there, but, as i said, not towards vets. it mightve been better to include a note like the one you made in your comment in the video, since the point of vets not struggling as much is a relevant thing to bring up! in terms of things getting harder, maybe thats just part of growin older; i know im not nearly as good at COD as I used to be

But what makes Patches a tragic figure? 🤣

@Bushidoblacc

Жыл бұрын

Simping gets him killed? 😂

@minespatch

Жыл бұрын

@@Bushidoblacc He's still alive. 🤣

you sound exactly like the guy from Invicta

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

is that a game or other youtuber

@LOLquendoTV

Жыл бұрын

@@MadLuigi youtuber. Does videos about history and stuff. Just called Invicta

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

@@LOLquendoTV I think i watched him a bit years ago. ill havta re-check to compare voices!

As a fellow CHAOS enjoyer, I feel personally attacked by this video.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

i vehemently disagree with it as a "canon" choice, but i get why people enjoy it!

@papanak94

Жыл бұрын

@@MadLuigi Oh yeah absolutely, Ranni's ending is the best on all levels, but the Chaos one is the most interesting to me due to the Melina cutscene.

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

@@papanak94 i wish we had some way to get more expansion on that! one of the only times Melina actually does somethin different

Meh, game is still too hard to fully enjoy....I should be able to change the difficulty at my leisure, play it how I want, not the devs

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

would you say the same to Coltrane about Ascension? or Picasso on like 80% of his catalogue? i think its ok for people to make art how they want to make it, i think that can give us some of the best art

@The1Rausch

Жыл бұрын

i will never forget the moment i beat the godskin duo RL1 with +0 weapons . One of the hardest and also best moments i ever achieved. i am baffeled by your Oppinion ... you obv miss out on so much in life its ... just sad.

@llab3903

Жыл бұрын

Yikes

@brianleal87

Жыл бұрын

? So much in life over a uhh ( checks notes) a video game in a market with slow releases lately? Yeah, not missing out much on life, not as much as you think

@The1Rausch

Жыл бұрын

@@brianleal87 maybe it is a good thing that you do not get what i was referring to. everybody is allowed to define the quality of life. and here in germany we know the double edge of choosing the easy road in a tragic way... just enjoy your life the way you like and do not listen to philosophical bs that is over your head. i never expected you to understand what i meant. peace.

wow what an original take that hasnt been made before

@MadLuigi

Жыл бұрын

yes please show me all of the videos talking about C Thi Nguyen's theory of aesthetic striving play

@igotcrabsyeup

Жыл бұрын

@@MadLuigi wait what if that guy was for real though. it is a very original take.