When I play a horror game for the second time, almost nothing about it makes me feel scared or tense. Haunting Ground is the exception to that rule.

1. The State of Modern Horror Games: 0:00 - 3:10
2. The Tragedy of Haunting Ground's Release: 3:11 - 6:13
3. Synopsis: 6:14 - 7:59
4. How Haunting Ground's Horror Stays Fresh: 8:00 - 8:37
4a. Reviewing the Typical Survival-Horror Formula: 8:38 - 9:25
4b. Haunting Ground's Combat: 9:26 - 10:36
4c. RUN AWAY! 10:37 - 11:13
4d. Dynamic Encounters and Panic: 11:14 - 12:10
4e. Summary of Gameplay 12:11 - 12:41
5. A Very Good Boy: 12:42 - 14:43
6. Haunting Ground's Themes: 14:44 - 16:29
7. ALCHEMY: 16:30 - 20:55
8. Final Reflections and Emulation: 20:56 - 22:02
9. Outro: 22:03 - 22:22

Extra Haunting Ground Footage Borrowed From Weiss Network TV
Extra Resident Evil Footage Borrowed From Vash12349
Extra Silent Hill Footage Borrowed From Shirrako

My Emulation Settings: https://imgur.com/gallery/hJiZzwK

Patreon:   / maxderrat  
SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/max-derrat
PayPal: paypal.me/maxderrat

Join this channel to get access to perks:
   / @maxderrat  

Twitter: twitter.com/maxderrat
Discord Link:   / discord  
Twitch: twitch.tv/maxderrat

Azoth Explanation:

Azoth in alchemy is the name given to the "perfect substance". It is sometimes equated with the elixir of eternal life that resides within the Philosopher's Stone, but also with the spirit of the alchemical God Mercurius.

Having the enemies of the game pursue Fiona for her Azoth, so she may allow Aureolis to reincarnate endlessly, lines up well with Azoth's identification with the elixir.

As for Azoth's relation to Mercurius and why that is relevant... Mercurius is the world soul/spirit that resides within the void of space... who binds and penetrates every aspect of existence like cosmic glue. Mercurius, like the Azoth, is everlasting, and its symbols reflect that fact.

There are two symbols often associated with Mercurius. One is the "Caduceus Staff". See, the name "Mercurius" is obviously derived from the Roman "Mercury", whose identifying symbol is the caduceus staff (the intertwining snakes), which we see in numerous places throughout the game and, of course, on the game's cover art. As I said in the video, the compound mercury is associated with the human spirit. For one to contain the spirit (the mercury) of Mercurius, is to contain the Azoth, the substance that grants eternal life.

The other symbol is the "Ouroboros", a snake who eats his own tail (we also see that in the game). This symbol represents two things. First, it represents the aforementioned void of space. More specifically, it represents the void of space prior to the creation of the universe, when all of life was contained in one everlasting seed. This seed, like the ouroboros, represents a paradox. It is a unity of all opposites.

To round things out, the word "Azoth" represents this unity of opposites as well. The name is constructed to reflect this. A-Z = the first and last letters of the English language. A-O = Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters in Greek). A - T(h) = Aleph to Tau (the first and last letters in the Hebrew language).

To summarize everything we have said here as an equation:

Azoth = Mercurius;
Mercurius = World Soul/Spirit;
World Soul/Spirit = Ouroboros;
Ouroboros = Azoth

Repeat in one never ending circle.

#horror #spooktober