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Today, I want to talk about language barriers… And more specifically, how games and other media can use them to terrify you in some truly gut wrenching ways. Because when it is used in a story like this, it’s rarely as black and white as just “oh this is spooky”, there is a deep tragic sorrow in not understanding another and feeling as though fear or violence is the only answer. Nier Replicant especially, portrays this beautifully. Let’s talk about it.

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Sympathy for The Devil (0:00)

Real quick, Atlas VPN! (2:04)

Lost In Translation (3:30)

The Uncanny Ambiguity (7:19)

How Nier Breaks You (14:21)

Yoko Taro's Hidden Message (19:52)

The Last Guardian (21:05)

Understanding Another (27:12)

Don't forget the post credit scene! (28:55)

▶Games Shown

Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020)

NieR:Automata (2017)

Ghost of Tsushima (2020)

Resident Evil 4 (2023)

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD (2017)

Pokemon Colosseum (2003)

NieR Replicant Ver 1.22 (2021)

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (2019)

Undertale (2015)

The Last Guardian (2016)

Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire (2003)

Mass Effect (2007)

Drakengard 3 (2013)

Madden NFL 21 (2020)

Street Fighter 6 (2023)

▶Movies/TV/Anime Shown

No One Will Save You (2023)

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023)

Heavenly Delusion (2023)

House of the Dragon (2022)

Arrival (2016)

The Iron Giant (1999)

Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone 2 (1992)

Courage The Cowardly Dog (Doesn’t matter, you’re old)

Scooby Doo On Zombie Island (1998)

War of the Worlds (2005)

▶Media/Clips/Considerations:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwABHajSLTc_awMDJLw6coLAfkUoymiKG&si=iQeDznENdq7BkGJF

▶Music Sources (in Order):

13 Sentinels : Aegis Rim OST - Sneaking Suspicions

Kurotokage - Black Hair

MARAN - thalassophobia // Ambient Music

(https://youtu.be/8PBZY7IBFpE?si=5bKYXpKa9nxJat4S)

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker OST - Sage Laruto

NieR Replicant OST - The Ultimate Weapon

Serial Experiments Lain OST - Loneliness 1b

Serial Experiments Lain OST - Deus’ Theme

Signalis OST - Turned Around

Drakengard OST - Turning Back

Drakengard OST - Better End

IRON LUNG OST - Amid Bones

NieR Replicant OST - This Dream

The Last Guardian OST - The Tower/Overture

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker OST - Inside the Pirate Ship

The Last Guardian OST - Forest

The Last Guardian OST - Hanging Gardens

The Last Guardian OST - Flashback

Nier Replicant OST - Kainé / Salvation

▶Research Sources

On the nature of creepiness

https://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/McAndrew-Koehnke-2016.pdf

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PoorCommunicationKills

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OtherworldlyCommunicationFailure

Nier Replicant's Yoko Taro is done trying to change the world

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/nier-replicants-yoko-taro-is-done-trying-to-change-the-world

Fumito Ueda on The Last Guardian

https://youtu.be/MRdX6l1ebsM?si=RmojO4R7muMJ1L6a

Drakengard 3 -- Philosophies of Violence

https://youtu.be/LD6xCLlF5dY?si=w0ZCKPYExSVjVFYB