GDYARVE # Chapter 63: Dying Is the Right Thing, Trying Is the Right Thing!
# Chapter 63: Dying Is the Right Thing, Trying Is the Right Thing!
"It's really like being chased by your soul," Yin Zi rubbed his controller, his palms so sweaty they made the controller wet.
Since the second chapter, when he found his dark side again, that black shadow had been clinging to him like a leech.
Although it just followed the path he had taken before, the purple-red shadow multiplied, shrouded in a bloody mist. If touched by the shadow, he would die instantly, and the game would fail.
Five or six black shadows continuously pursued him, with the danger of death always imminent.
"This part is really no different from a horror game; it's terrifying!" Despite it being a chase, Yin Zi felt hope and despair intertwining.
The repeated experience of being yanked away from his goal, the endless struggle with himself.
Just when he was about to reach the level's exit, the shadows gathered behind him. The more frantically he ran, the more chaotic the shadows became.
Initially panicking when he realized he was being chased, he calmed down upon noticing that the pursuers could only follow his path. He understood he needed to maintain rhythm, patience, and accuracy amidst the tension and speed.
But with adrenaline pumping, maintaining a calm mindset was very difficult during the intense chase.
The second chapter moved quickly. When the background music started, the beats began to resonate!
But from the chase sequence onwards, the game became quite engaging.
The background music's rhythm wasn't as fast as other chase scenes in games. Though quick, it was orderly and composed.
There was a sense of effortless fluidity amidst the tension.
With this BGM, no matter how many times he died, it didn't feel frustrating.
After being caught by the dark side once more, Yin Zi took a deep breath, "Now I understand why there was a hint at the start of the second chapter to collect strawberries only when necessary."
"I'm too panicked to care about strawberries now!"
He just wanted to quickly pass this level and escape the nightmare of being chased.
The comments were equally stunned,
'This is mind-blowing...'
'Every time I watch, I get goosebumps.'
'!'
'I’m killing myself!'
'Please, don't come any closer!!'
...
In this relentless chase, just when Yin Zi felt increasingly tense and desperate, he entered the next map. Ahead was a starry jelly. He hurriedly ran through it.
When he came to his senses, the dark side had disappeared without him noticing.
Passing through the starry jelly, waking from the dream, she reached a phone booth.
The game's immersive design was undeniable. Just after endless chases and struggles, filled with fear and misunderstanding...
Picking up the phone, the protagonist's psychological state contrasted sharply with the mother's concern during the call.
-
Madeline, what a surprise! How's your trip? -
I'm fine, just a bit overwhelmed.
Madeline held the phone, her eyes filled with timidity and confusion, unsure how to tell her mother about the recent terrifying experiences.
-
Oh no, were you scared again?
Sweetie, take a deep breath. Mom's here.
Tell me, what's going on?
Although the in-game characters spoke in gibberish, the warmth and care from the mother were palpable.
The screen cut off here, ending the second chapter.
At this moment, players felt a pang of emotion, wanting to pour out their inner troubles and frustrations to their own mothers, to speak about their worries over a phone call.
[Cheer for the number of deaths! The more you die, the more experience you gain. Keep it up!]
At the start of the third chapter, a string of encouraging words appeared.
Players, previously troubled by their numerous deaths, felt a stir in their hearts.
No one considers dying honorable, especially in games, where more deaths mean 'noob'!
But in this game, the cost of death was minimal. If you failed, you could immediately restart from the latest checkpoint and continue.
Although there were obstacles, and jumps became more skillful, players grew more adept with each attempt.
'The music doesn't restart with each death,' Tuan Zi noticed this detail while stuck on a level for a long time.
Discussing this with players, she saw a comment.
She found the comment apt, 'Death doesn't mean a restart; it's just part of the process.'
The game constantly asked players one question.
Why climb the mountain?
Many might quote a classic response— "Why climb? Because the mountain is there."
But this mountain was too painful, especially at the beginning. The endless chase by the dark side and the pursuit by the hotel owner painted a realistic picture of pain, evoking memories for those who had experienced real pain.
At the start of the game, when the old woman at the mountain's foot advised, "This mountain might be too difficult for you," Madeline stubbornly replied, "I think I'm fine."
This is a kind of stubborn self-proof many depression patients exhibit—see, beyond pain and tears, I want to do something else.
People become depressed and suicidal because they lack a sufficient reason to live.
But the small thoughts that sustain them can be very trivial, like climbing a mountain, or as grand as 'earning a billion dollars,' or even as simple as wanting to wear a beautiful dress next summer.
These thoughts are like floating straws on the water, drifting endlessly.
Yet, they provide reasons to live, adding a bit of weight to their precarious lives.
Of course, this process isn't without cost. Madeline's stubbornness in climbing brought challenges, forcing her to confront various psychological obstacles, chased by her dark side.
Just like any heroic adventure game, she braved the path of unseen ends, dying and reviving countless times.
Xie Lingjiang watched the streamers and players play.
Her favorite parts of the game were the sixth and seventh chapters.
As for dying in the game? Xie Lingjiang believed that death wasn't scary; dying was right, and trying was right!
(The End of This Chapter)