What Do Ya'll Think It Means?

[Western Hell]

I'm interested in what other people think the meaning of Paratopic is and how the events all come together to them. I want to hear more from the community than Bardo theories that don't make sense

[DStecks]

I don't think it's meant to "mean" anything. Doc Burford said on Twitter that what he was going for was creating a pervasive sense of helplessness, and I think the total incomprehensibility of the story is part of that.

[Western Hell]

I'm not sure what it means and I don't think we can really complete the puzzle with the pieces that we've been given. However it seems that the main theme is dread considering it follows every character.

The Driver is being followed by something and then has to face the consequences of his actions when he gets arrested over the border

The Hiker uncovers some forbidden truth and is then killed by the creature

The Assassin finds the Hiker and kills the Driver's boss then watches the tapes

Nobody in the story besides the Hiker and the Driver's Boss is given closure. The Driver is probably being pursued by some sort of the entities considering the message the TV gives him at the end. And the Assassin is going to have God know's what happen to them since they watched the tapes. Nobody gets a happy ending

[DoopForces]

You noticed there are things different on second playthrough after ending it once? Or is that a rumor.

[LIMUNADE≋]

Originally posted by ItIsOkToBeWhite♡👌:

You noticed there are things different on second playthrough after ending it once? Or is that a rumor.

Feels the same. What makes you think so?

[DoopForces]

Originally posted by 「ＬＩＭＵＮＡＤＥ」:

Originally posted by ItIsOkToBeWhite♡👌:

You noticed there are things different on second playthrough after ending it once? Or is that a rumor.

Feels the same. What makes you think so?

actually it seems I was mistaken.

Read on some review something about that "remember last time" (in the intro scenes).

But now I see, they always said that line.


I think now it is just the same.

[Western Hell]

Originally posted by ItIsOkToBeWhite♡👌:

Originally posted by 「ＬＩＭＵＮＡＤＥ」:

Feels the same. What makes you think so?

actually it seems I was mistaken.

Read on some review something about that "remember last time" (in the intro scenes).

But now I see, they always said that line.


I think now it is just the same.

I just meant that I saw things that were there before that I just didn't realize in previous runs.

[Captain Murphy]

This is the best explanation I've found so far
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75EN8EES4SY

[Punished Rusty Shackleford]

Originally posted by Hardcore!:

This is the best explanation I've found so far
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75EN8EES4SY

Mandalore is the best reviewer ever imo.

[DoopForces]

Originally posted by Brick Frog:

Originally posted by Hardcore!:

This is the best explanation I've found so far
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75EN8EES4SY

Mandalore is the best reviewer ever imo.

Yeah he is very good imo. Appreciates good old and niche games.

I recommend Pathologic (was just now for 1 usd, probably often is cheap), if his review of it convinces you (taking into account pros and cos).

[SWITCHBLADE]

Here's my take on events, in chronological order:
- "Electric rocks" which shamans used to contact spirits/other dimensions are discovered (Gas station employee mentions these rocks)
-Company takes rocks and conducts experiments on them in the compound in the woods (you can find one of these rocks in an underground bunker).
-Some accident happens, the facility is abandoned and is haunted by unknown beings.
-Recordings of accident from security cameras appear on VHS tapes.
-After the spread of rumors about these recordings VHS black market ring forms.
-Birdwatcher woman comes across a facility in the woods and gets killed, her death is filmed on CCTV camera and probably becomes new VHS tape.
-Some kind of government agency clean-up crew tries to bury the truth and stop the spread of tapes. While investigating the facility in the woods The Assassing finds a birdwatcher's body.
-Smuggler is sent to deliver tapes.
-The Assassin found out that the diner is a front for a VHS dealer and kills him.
-Smuggler is caught on the border.

[Guilherme]

Originally posted by DStecks:

I don't think it's meant to "mean" anything. Doc Burford said on Twitter that what he was going for was creating a pervasive sense of helplessness, and I think the total incomprehensibility of the story is part of that.

ohh damm... the reaper of emotions, inspector of feelings, run away, hide your creative analyzes

[Raziel]

Originally posted by Western Hell:

I'm interested in what other people think the meaning of Paratopic is and how the events all come together to them. I want to hear more from the community than Bardo theories that don't make sense

It is clear that the game is shot from the point of three different people, but i think the overall theme of the game is decay, like the whole game you just meet with stranger and stranger things overall, experiencing the weirdness of the world. You can find the secret base during the bird watching session which is abandoned, so like everything is abandoned everything is decaying, hence the "future is bright" slogan. Even the driving sessions get darker and darker after a while