Mid-2000s Horror Murder Mystery | Still Life
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- čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
- #horror #gaming #stilllife #murdermystery #mystery #videoessay #review
Still Life is a horror murder mystery point and click adventure game that was released by Microids in 2005.
Is this mid 2000s game worth playing today? Story summary and review.
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0:00 Intro
01:47 Story Summary
18:08 Gameplay
21:27 Sound Design
22:40 Visuals
23:23 Conclusion
24:23 Outro - Hry
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We gonnna get part 2 and we needed more in depth its such a fun game
We do need prequel and sequel too! I loved post mortem and still life as a teen.
Fun fact - the font used in this game is called "Anime Ace", which is the de-facto font to use for every furry webcomic ever. Don't ask me how I know this!
Not just furry webcomic. It's just a standard font for comics and manga especially.
Your pfp explains how lol
you are a furry, thats how you know that information
Fun!
Isn't Earlybird a furry too? Not trying to kink shame, just saying because she uses a furry bird avatar to represent herself.
the xplay story is very relatable to me, i used to watch g4 a ton as a girl growing up in the early to mid 2000's, that literally was how i also heard about different games and such 😭
Haha I loved XPlay so much, I miss it 💖
I only learned about it by the time I was a bit older, when we first got satellite TV at our house in the middle of nowhere. They had a TV guide and I saw G4TV listed there. X-Play was one of the first shows I saw on the channel and it was nice to see a channel more or less dedicated to video games. That was a very new concept for me.
Rarely ever got to watch it because it only ever played at specific times and other times there were re-runs for shows I didn't give a crap about like Attack of the Show! or something wholly unrelated to games, but it occupied more than a few of my days and taught me about some games that, while I didn't necessarily remember, I did eventually look back on when I had played them through pure coincidence. Like Persona 3. I didn't even know that existed until X-Play and then forgot about it until I randomly rented Devil Survivor for DS off of GameFly and got hooked on anything SMT-related, which eventually led me to getting Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 (renting at first and then eventually owning).
They have a weird consensus online about whether they were good or not. X-Play, I mean. Some people bitch about their really bad "Flow" review, which misses the point of that style of game, and others talk about them fondly. I preferred their later episodes which were some of the first I saw, when they had properly refined the style of the show and had developed some level of charisma. The earlier episodes always felt kinda awkward and cringy.
That bit about the annoying cooking puzzle must be a favorite of the developers how often it comes up. The hardest puzzle in their game Siberia is mixing a drink for an elderly opera singer and it is hand's down the toughest part of the game.
Haha I think the hardest one in this game (for me at least) is definitely the lockpicking puzzle... but that cookie one was somethin' else too 🤣🤣
Apparently this game and the first ObsCure game come from the same people. They have such rare and underrated games. Highly recommend ObsCure by the way, such a fun horror game that definitely stands up (and somewhat it’s crackhead sequel).
Wait what really!! I didn’t realize it was the same people. That’s really cool haha
I hope the bouncer is in the sequel, he was almost as fabulous as the killers top hat!
Hahaha I hope so too
I'm pretty sure Still Life II happens in Peru or something, so it's unlikely.
I realise that's a far cry from L.A. but that's kinda the main reason I never got around to playing the sequel.
I love how much of a time capsule this game is. A few childish comedy scenes aside, I thought it was really good. The robot puzzle can die in a fire, though.
“Want some cookies!?” - Ross “moldman” scott
well If you wanted more cookies you should have baked a double batch!
I told my HS counselor I wanted to make video games, and she laughed and told me I should get a real job.
The struggle is real haha. But hey! Plenty of people do get game dev jobs and do great :D
I'm so glad that the algorithm recommended your channel. Your sense of humor is a delight.
Haha thank you I appreciate it!
Oh no, the finale! Oh god that was a bad decision. I would love to see the next one and the confusing Hobbit-style prequel!
I wanted point and click mystery game video essay, and now I have it. thanks.
Haha I’m a sucker for point and click games and this one was pretty interesting! I still need to play the next game c:
All my plans for socializing today got cancelled so having a surprise Earlybird video about a horror game I never played is a very nice surprise. I'm the only man alive I know who doesn't mind slider puzzles :(
Edit: Is the guy voicing Gustav also the voice for Max Payne in the original game? He sounds REALLY similar. I'd love to watch a video about the sequel though, I'm invested in this series now.
Alright next time I have a sliding puzzle I’m callin you lmao 😭
I don’t think it’s the same VA, but it looks like he’s in a few other games as well he does sound kinda familiar haha.
how does this channel not have 10 k subs
Haha! I doubt that will happen, I'm shocked I got this far! I appreciate it! 💖💖
I played this game wayyy too young with my mom, sitting in her lap and clicking away at everything. This game was awesome, but those puzzles were the hardest ever. Walkthroughs helped so much and at the time we had to print them lol 😂
As soon as you said “sound design” I remembered the sound of the computer in their office, because both my mom and I commented on hearing it on our play through. 21:32 thanks for making this video it brought back so many memories.
You only find out about the killer's identity in the sequel? I knew that tactic sounded familiar! Microids also released Dracula 4+5, which were basically one half each of one game. You can't even buy them separately anymore...
This game is core memory from a peaceful childhodd. Played the demo as a child, aquired and finished it as an adult, it was just as good. Heads up for the 2nd installment: the puzzles get way more finnicky. Still did not finished that.
And didn't know that there was a prequel! Wow.
Blast from the past! I played this so many years ago and all I remember is the baking part cuz I got so frustrated lol
I feel like your channel was like.... CZcams algorithmed directly from my brain! The humor and the time frame of your references hit me in a way I don't find elsewhere. I also had a dream of being on Xplay in high school and none of my zoomer friends understand Simpsons references. I haven't laughed as genuinely from a video essay in a while.
I really appreciate the way you break things down and give scenes time to showcase themselves rather than over explaining them.
Plus your voice is like S+ and your avatar is super cute!!
Excited to see this channel blow up and get the attention it deserves. Will definitely be supporting when the options come up. Thank you for the great content so far 🙏
edit: Oh, there's already a join button. Easiest membership of my life.
Thanks so much for the kind words, I really appreciate it!
Glad to know I'm not the only one that had a dream of being on XPlay hahaha. ♥
Was an excellent video! Really liked the editing.
Thanks, appreciate it!!
Still Life is one of my favoritest games ever. It made me fall in love with the point-and-click genre (and video games in general) back in 2021. It changed how I see games. It's a shame they never made a sequel and that we'll never know how it ends; truly a shame.
But in all seriousness, this game's story is something else. Don't go browsing the Still Life wiki unless you want spoilers for layers of the game you never even imagined. Same advice for if you go browsing old forum posts about this game. And the game exhibits some strong influence from a certain Robert Bloch short story.
On the off-chance someone who can help sees this-for preservation purposes, has anyone located a copy of the Still Life web demo with unique story content, previously hosted on the defunct Still Life website? I tried and failed to hunt it down a year ago. (And The Wayback Machine saved its web page, but not the game itself.)
I also tried looking for the game on way back machine, it’s a bit sad.
I feel like someone somewhere would have it though. Maybe ask around on Reddit if you haven’t already 🤔
I have a confession to make: I actually like slide puzzles
Haha, I only dislike them cuz I'm a dummy 🤣
A friend and I would always say we wanted to be on X-Play back in, like, 2007 or so when we were in middle school, lol
I too remember loving watching Xplay back in high school. Good times!
I love these horror game play through, please keep doing more! Binging through the rest on your channel now!
God, I loved this game. Aside from the awful cliffhanger and that recipe puzzle...
Yeahhh that cookie puzzle was somethin else haha.
11:18 oh my god, he doesn’t just scream “nooooo” like he’s drawing out the word ‘no’, he actually says it like it rhymes with moo 😂
I've never heard of this game, but that just made this video even better. XD
I hope you cover the next one. :)
" No one on earth has ever had fun doing a slide puzzle" I only know one person and that was my ex best friend. I was playing a survival horror game with a slide puzzle and was complaining and she literally said "why, i love them!". Notice how i said ex-best friend lol.
A sociopath 😩
Your videos are so good 🤣 the memes, everything lol. I also can relate to wanting to be on G4. That was my life for a little while. That and Newtype magazine lmao
I just found your channel last week! Your content is really high quality and I just very gladly subscribed. Keep on it!
Thanks a ton, I appreciate ya!!
Some of the soundtrack is Mozart's Requiem - Dies Irae and Confutatis.
Hey, you're really improving with the video editing! I just watched your Spore video and noted the pauses in-between sentences, in newer videos they're cut to flow a lot better. You also use effects and music cues well, you have a great voice-over style and I enjoy your humour. I'm glad I found you, looking forward to more!🎉
Thanks, appreciate it!!
Haha I'm still very new to editing and definitely still learning c:
You should of had her eyes shimmer in the last little skit to mimic the dude
Man I rented this game as a kid. Thought it was interesting but never played it again. If I beat it and got to the end and didn't get to find out who the murderer was, I would be PISSED.
Syberia is such an underrated game series, to see a horror game created by the same developers is amazing especially given I've never heard of it.
That xplay bit was great lol. I wanted to be a rock star when I grew up and I wrote songs about "DK Duke" not realizing it sounded like Donkey Kong taking a shit xD
Good video! I've never heard of this game. It took a long time for me to hear about Syberia as well. Both games look kind of janky but then have these moments that are really interesting and have some good timing.
Hahah, I bet the song was a banger though.
These older adventure games always have really good stories (or so bad they're good) :D
16:05 oooh, Mozart's Requiem mass! (Confutatis)
... My god that first minute regarding you, your teacher & Xplay had me in stitches! Not to mention that ending joke! Facinating game too, hope you cover the sequel Earlybird!
I do plan on doing the other games! When I have some time haha 😆
Definitely curious where the story goes!
You have the best content and I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoy every video and love your presentation and outlook thank you for making my day
Thank you, I appreciate it!!
patiently waiting for your review of the other two games😸
Still Life 2 will be soon!! C:
i actually love this game, i've been meaning to play the sequels but haven't gotten to them yet.
Amazing review as always. I hope algorithm will notice you, and your channel becomes popular overnight.
Haha thanks, appreciate it!!
Vampire the Masquerade Bloodline vibes really are the best vibes. The music in particular does reflect that.
Thank you for covering this game! I remember being a kid and seeing my aunt playing it once, so finally finding out what it's called feels surreal...She was actually very impressed by graphics back then
I really like how this game looks it’s got a great style. Still gotta play the second one and see where the story goes 😁
I have been hopping around your channel since I found it the other night, enjoying my stay. I do not mind if a vid goes long though I understand if you would prefer them shorter. Big fan of your humor and bringing me info on games I've not seen before, for good and bad (looking at you Stray Souls).
Haha thank you I appreciate it!
EDIT: OK turns out you mentioned this at the end, I should really finish videos before I reply...
I seem to recall there was also a game called Post Mortem by the same folks, I think it's a whole game about Gustav.
I cannot for the life of me remember whether I actually played it or not, but I do know I've bought all three on CD.
Become the XPlay!
My chair scowls at me too, but it’s because I let my cats scratch him too much. He also wants me to lose weight, but that’s his problem 😄
How can I say no to that face 🥺(your content is real good. Found ya through the stray souls vid, hope to keep seein stuff from ya ^^)
Haha thank you! Appreciate it!
You mentioning Syberia got me a bit excited but you don’t have videos on it I know you mostly do horror but I’d like to see a video on that series. I’m a recent fan of it.
I'm a sucker for point and click adventure games, I might do Syberia in the future! c:
I love videos like this, I cant play horror games but can watch others talk about them
I get what you mean with the Vampire the Masquerade reference. Both games are mascara running Capital G Goth.
I love this game and it's sequel even if it's clunky at times
Oh this is making me feel so old. I played this on Xbox when it first came out. Good game.
Ah Still Life. I still re-read the screenshot LP that first introduced me to it every couple years. *I* don't think it's worth playing, but no shame to anyone who likes it. Now the sequel on the other hand, Still Life 2, THAT I will throw shade at anyone who defends it.
But yes please play Still Life 2.
I will be soon!! :D
"It DOES look dated, but it's also from nearly two decades ago." - paraphrasing your point on the visuals
I remember a friend of mine owner of an og xbox, he introduce to me this games and its sequels, then we discover together Syberia, also published by Microids, nice hidden gems
You deserve more views well done
Thanks so much, kind of you to say!
I like slide puzzles! When a friend of mine did a run through Onimusha, he handed the controller to me for a bit that involved solving a slide puzzle before a pit floods with water, and I managed to rearrange the puzzle so it was entirely reversed from the starting point and then solve it within the time limit. I will say it like a perturbed grandmother - I like slide puzzles!
I played the Still Life/Post-Mortem trilogy last year. I loved how apparent the Syberia influence is in Still Life, and the setting as well really felt like Christmas in the mid-2000's for that region - they really nailed that presentation. Also really enjoy the interaction with characters, especially Vic's fellow officers. Gus's story felt like a big Game Over at the end, though, and I'm pretty mixed on it. I feel there's a lot to talk about the game as well as the sequel and the prequel, but I'll refrain from any of that since this is where you've started - you'll need to experience them yourself.
Haha I'm just not smart enough for slide puzzles 😫
I still haven't played the other games yet but I am really looking forward to experiencing them c:
I have vague memories of this game... I'm not sure if I've seen gameplay of this back then or if it's just very similar to other point and click adventures of that time. Regardless, I kinda miss this era where there were so many adventures. My siblings and I played a lot of them in the 2000s. Not all of them were good and personally I wouldn't want to play Still Life, but I definitely enjoy retrospectives like this one! Looking forward to the next.
I like your vids keep it up!
Thanks so much! ♥
Keep up the good work!
Thanks!!
shout out to that early 2000s screen saver at 8:20 LMAO
I miss screensavers 😩
skill issue: the game
And I ain’t got the skill 😭😭
@@early-tv 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I played this one and the sequel relatively close to release, back when. It certainly compensated in atmosphere for what it lacked in gameplay and objective coherence as products. Your video was an enjoyable look back at those times and I'd love to watch your take on the sequel... as for the prequel, getting that glorified quicktime panorama slideshow to work and tolerating it long enough to beat the game? Good luck, you'll need it.
early- 2024's best rising xplay personality (also the laugh at 3:00 kinda took me out)
Truly the best laugh 😂
I remember playing the demo for this, back when it was released, and liking it enough to go buy the game. Pretty good, but yeah, that 'ending'. I bought the sequel on gog a while back, but haven't played it.
I'm definitely invested enough in the story that I need to play the second one soon! I really like the atmosphere in this game c:
The bouncer dude sounded a lot like Chris Tucker..😂
Oh man, I loved this game. Except the F****** cookie puzzle! I got the game in a bargain bin and thought it was a copy protection puzzle like the moddie puzzle in Space Quest 6, which I also got in a bargain bin and couldn't do because it didn't come with the manual!
Accursed farms did a couple of videos on this game... jeez, 8 years ago? He spends a good 5 minutes ranting about the cookies. Also his conclusion on the killer, that its either Victoria's dad or vampires, makes more sense then who they say it was in the 2nd game.
Haha I can definitely see how the cookie puzzle came off as a copy protection 🤣🤣
Starting up the second game here soon can’t wait to get some resolution!
Honestly thought I was crazy for wanting to be on G4 too😂 I wish to see the sequel of this silly game
I hope to cover the sequel soon! I miss G4 😭
thanks for the game review :-D i just got this game the follow up and the prequel on GoG
Oo have fun with them!!! The atmosphere is so good. I still need to play the second one 😁
Lmao the Simpson’s clip at 14:36 took me out. I’m crying. It was so random and perfectly timed that I choked while eating lol.
One of my favourite games! I played it on the Xbox where they got rid of the point and click and you move the characters around instead of point and click. But these puzzles…. Flashbacks…. The Christmas cookies still haunt me!!
This game has such a cool atmosphere, I still need to play the second one.
I also got some stuff to attempt to make the cookie recipe irl just to see how they turn out 🤣🤣
@@early-tv Still Life 2 has same character as protagonist, but the story of SL1 is shot in the head. You'll solve TIMED murder room mysteries, just like in Saw...SL2 is an okay game, but it's nothing like SL1. Shame. Hope you can enjoy it, if you ever play it tho'!
Pretty good game from the past
18:40 Yeah, 18 years ago, I stopped playing at the recipe section. I don't understand how cooking recipes are related to the investigation. After watching your entire video, I'm glad I didn't play the whole game.
A few of the puzzles in this game are genuinely frustrating, but I do still like it overall for the story and atmosphere. Still gotta play the next one to see where the story goes 😆
@@early-tv yeah, this story kinda reminds me of a British serial killer "Jack the Ripper". Though they couldn't capture/identify the killer, anyway I'm looking forward to your next video. Hopefully the story this time is not horrible 🤞🏼
I think what I found charming about this game was the main character because of her pixie cut. Something just always clicks with me when a bad ass female main character has a short cute haircut like that.❤❤❤ I don’t have to have another reason to love a game other than that, but I did like the serial killer mystery aspect
I was super invested in the LP that I watched, don’t really remember if the mystery was ever solved, and for that I am kind of sad
Koudelka's design is all around great 😊
@@early-tv I agree! just watched something about that game too
Jade from Beyond Good and Evil is another badass with a sweet short haircut! She's so cool. I need to replay it :3
I remember playing this game back in winter 2005. Very cozy title. The ending had me fuming though.
I can imagine it was much more frustrating back in the day as it sounded like it was a bit rocky on if the sequel was going to come out or not… Didn’t come out til 2009 so a 4 year wait for a resolution 😩
Very sure you didn't have a right to a phone call when arrested in 1920s Prague.
I really love this game to be honest. I've played through it a few times now and played the other games that are part of the story too. I can only say one thing though that really was a moment of why, just whyyyyyyyyyy. Cookies. Nope. Other then that, the style and art in the game really are things I enjoy. I am pretty sure I've saved screen captures of those somewhere on my PC.
13:05 giving off max Payne vibes
Huh? There was only 2 ingredients I didn't get right away.
The lockpicking puzzle... is hell sure when you aren't writing down which pin springs which other pins.
*Memory unlocked*
That's how it ends?! Pleeeease do the second one. I must know!
Oh the Vader nooooo. Had me cackling. Hope you're feeling better!
I know right I need to know what happens!
And thanks I hope so too, I have covid it’s knocking me out 🤣
@early-tv oh noes! Covid going around like crazy. I had it for Xmas 🙃 second round with the stuff in my case.
I took 5 days to reply so you should be feeling better 😆 at least I hope so!
I was wondering if you will mention Post Mortem. I really liked it when I played it back in 2003 (yeah, I'm old 😅). Maybe you could make a review? 😊
And, btw, I love sliding puzzles! 😁
I definitely want to play the other two games!
I would have started with Post Mortem but I didn’t realize it was part of the series at first because of the different name 🤣
@@early-tv Yeah... It's really confusing. But as gameplay is different I kinda understand the change. I've played Post Mortem first, and years later I've got a copy of Still Life. Until Gustav showed up I had no idea what I was playing. 🤣
Btw, have you played Sanitarium? A 1998 point and click psychological horror that really needs a remake. 😁
Oh, I do remember being a kid, when my parents played lots of games, sitting beside my mother, who's been playing Siberia and crying when boys dream, who became already a man, coming true, I saw and played this game. Honestly, puzzles were the most frustrating thing and if there were no walk through, I would be doomed to go back and forth locations 😂
Walkthroughs are definitely helpful for these old puzzle games 🤣
was folowing your twitter aka "X" and could help but read your bio in you sweet yet murderous voice
me who likes slide puzzles 👁️👄👁️ (tbf: i get how they can get bad very easily, but they're more in danger of slowing the timing a lot and being out of place kind of boring. also i just like jigsaw puzzles)
I just don’t like them cuz I’m bad at them lmaooo 🤣😭
5 bucks to the dream fund.
Ahh thanks a ton! Very kind of ya 🎉
If you did a dream fall video I'd be super happy :3
Oh, that lock-picking puzzle. It took me about 3 hours to get through it. I didn't read the walkthrough on principle, I felt like an idiot for not being able to complete it for so long.
Yeah that lockpicking puzzle is rough. I gave it a good effort before finally caving and pulling up the walkthrough. I just couldn't 🤣
do a still life 2 story review please :)
I'd definitely watch videos for the other 2 games for sure
Hope to be doing Still Life 2 soon!
Lovveee still life when I can get it to run on my modern pc
It’s available on GOG and works pretty easy with that version c:
Would love to see a still life 2 and post mortem vids
I do plan on doing them in the future! 😊
Holy shit I loved this game, thank you for this video
Still gotta play the next one, I need to see where it goes! 🤣
only six mental breakdowns, cpk... shiiit
I really liked the Siberia games but the 3rd was such a slog I just never finished it
Can you do the Nicole Bonnet games a review? FBI Confidential games. I think that they are just as fun as this one.
Haven’t heard of them but I’ll check them out! Thanks for the suggestion
A peak style over substance game - especially the modern sections. Loved the gritty murder thriller vibe, and the style of the cinematics, as well. Never really enjoyed the flashback sections with Gustav, though - it kind of feels like a different game, even though the story ties it in. And, oh God, the puzzles. I needed a walkthrough for almost everything, had to get my wife to do the goddamned sliding puzzle (I HATE sliding puzzles), and that key assembly thing in the sewers, as well. I wish so much more had been like the CSI investigation work at the start of the game. A real missed opportunity overall, I feel. Completely killed my desire to experience the sequel, even though I was hooked by the story despite all the flaws.
My wife requested the I inform you that she LOVES sliding puzzles (which, thank God, I've got someone to handle them in retro games). I think it's past trauma for me, stemming from the H house in Neverhood. That stupid thing killed any love I ever possibly could have had for sliding puzzles.
@@KyNiDo The sliding puzzle in The Neverhood is 100% the start of my hatred of sliding puzzles hahaha. I remember begging my poor family members to do it for me any time I got to it 🤣🤣
And agreed I really wish the game had more of the crime scene investigation elements, that was really cool in the start. I am definitely gonna be playing Sill Life 2 next despite the frustrating parts because I just NEED to know what happens at this point haha!
@@early-tvMy dad basically said "either do it yourself or I throw out the game" after the 10 or 11th time of forcing him to do it. I feel so sorry for them now, haha. Glad I'm not the only one carrying that trauma :D
epic!