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This is a short review of the demo of the game The Portal Pirate.
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Hello everyone and welcome to a pros and
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Hello everyone and welcome to a pros and
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Hello everyone and welcome to a pros and cons of the demo for the video game the
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cons of the demo for the video game the
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cons of the demo for the video game the portal pirate on not nail mom I'm
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portal pirate on not nail mom I'm
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portal pirate on not nail mom I'm gaming. These are short videos featuring
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gaming. These are short videos featuring
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gaming. These are short videos featuring all my little nitpicks and pleasantries
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all my little nitpicks and pleasantries
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all my little nitpicks and pleasantries with having played the game while
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with having played the game while
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with having played the game while sustaining a bare minimum of spoilers.
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sustaining a bare minimum of spoilers.
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sustaining a bare minimum of spoilers. Keep in mind demo reviews do not reflect
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Keep in mind demo reviews do not reflect
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Keep in mind demo reviews do not reflect the full release of a game as many
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the full release of a game as many
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the full release of a game as many things can change from demo to release.
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things can change from demo to release.
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things can change from demo to release. Let the reviewing begin. Pros: Art
0:26
Let the reviewing begin. Pros: Art
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Let the reviewing begin. Pros: Art direction. I know this game uses some
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direction. I know this game uses some
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direction. I know this game uses some sort of AI for illustration purposes,
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sort of AI for illustration purposes,
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sort of AI for illustration purposes, but I like how they didn't use the
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but I like how they didn't use the
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but I like how they didn't use the generic artwork that you'd typically
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generic artwork that you'd typically
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generic artwork that you'd typically find in AI rendered games. Instead, it
0:37
find in AI rendered games. Instead, it
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find in AI rendered games. Instead, it reminds me of the art style mirrorier,
0:39
reminds me of the art style mirrorier,
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reminds me of the art style mirrorier, which is a kind of painted blotchiness
0:41
which is a kind of painted blotchiness
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which is a kind of painted blotchiness to the background and a sketch style to
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to the background and a sketch style to
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to the background and a sketch style to the characters themselves, as if someone
0:46
the characters themselves, as if someone
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the characters themselves, as if someone handdrawn the characters and then
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handdrawn the characters and then
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handdrawn the characters and then colored over the sketch. The background
0:49
colored over the sketch. The background
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colored over the sketch. The background has that sort of old feel to it, as if
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has that sort of old feel to it, as if
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has that sort of old feel to it, as if it's been around a while, and the color
0:54
it's been around a while, and the color
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it's been around a while, and the color has kind of dated itself with the yellow
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has kind of dated itself with the yellow
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has kind of dated itself with the yellow tint.
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tint.
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tint. Jules seems more expressive than anyone
0:59
Jules seems more expressive than anyone
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Jules seems more expressive than anyone else. And while it's nice, I also find
1:01
else. And while it's nice, I also find
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else. And while it's nice, I also find it really weird considering he
1:03
it really weird considering he
1:03
it really weird considering he definitely doesn't look as human as
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definitely doesn't look as human as
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definitely doesn't look as human as everyone else. Our character doesn't
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everyone else. Our character doesn't
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everyone else. Our character doesn't even acknowledge how odd he looks
1:07
even acknowledge how odd he looks
1:07
even acknowledge how odd he looks compared to the other students we come
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compared to the other students we come
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compared to the other students we come across, making him kind of a red flag.
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across, making him kind of a red flag.
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across, making him kind of a red flag. Is he giving us a false sense of
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Is he giving us a false sense of
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Is he giving us a false sense of security by having a sort of a shy,
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security by having a sort of a shy,
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security by having a sort of a shy, softer edge to him than the others? Do
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softer edge to him than the others? Do
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softer edge to him than the others? Do we not actually see him like how he's
1:19
we not actually see him like how he's
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we not actually see him like how he's portrayed on the screen? Is this normal?
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portrayed on the screen? Is this normal?
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portrayed on the screen? Is this normal? I'm thrown off by him, honestly. But as
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I'm thrown off by him, honestly. But as
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I'm thrown off by him, honestly. But as a character, he's kind of the first one
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a character, he's kind of the first one
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a character, he's kind of the first one with a bit of life to him. Aside from
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with a bit of life to him. Aside from
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with a bit of life to him. Aside from Sammy,
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Sammy,
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Sammy, choices matter, at least in the sense
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choices matter, at least in the sense
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choices matter, at least in the sense that you receive points from characters
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that you receive points from characters
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that you receive points from characters when you make a choice they like and
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when you make a choice they like and
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when you make a choice they like and lose points when a choice isn't in favor
1:35
lose points when a choice isn't in favor
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lose points when a choice isn't in favor with someone. What this all amounts to
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with someone. What this all amounts to
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with someone. What this all amounts to in the end, I don't know yet. At the end
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in the end, I don't know yet. At the end
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in the end, I don't know yet. At the end of each chapter, it seems each of your
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of each chapter, it seems each of your
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of each chapter, it seems each of your choices are betrayed and what they
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choices are betrayed and what they
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choices are betrayed and what they consisted of. I like the choices at the
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consisted of. I like the choices at the
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consisted of. I like the choices at the end of chapters when it shows a
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end of chapters when it shows a
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end of chapters when it shows a percentage of what all other gamers had
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percentage of what all other gamers had
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percentage of what all other gamers had chosen as well. But this game, I don't
1:50
chosen as well. But this game, I don't
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chosen as well. But this game, I don't think we'll do that. Instead, it's
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think we'll do that. Instead, it's
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think we'll do that. Instead, it's either going to be more along the lines
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either going to be more along the lines
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either going to be more along the lines of the council, which shows what parts
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of the council, which shows what parts
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of the council, which shows what parts you excelled and failed and missed, or
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you excelled and failed and missed, or
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you excelled and failed and missed, or it's simply going to give you recap as
2:00
it's simply going to give you recap as
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it's simply going to give you recap as to say, "Hey, you chose these choices
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to say, "Hey, you chose these choices
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to say, "Hey, you chose these choices and this is what they did." Reminders
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and this is what they did." Reminders
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and this is what they did." Reminders more than anything else. Cons: Game
2:08
more than anything else. Cons: Game
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more than anything else. Cons: Game starts in French. I don't know how to
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starts in French. I don't know how to
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starts in French. I don't know how to read French. I took Spanish when I was
2:12
read French. I took Spanish when I was
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read French. I took Spanish when I was in school, and I don't know how to read
2:13
in school, and I don't know how to read
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in school, and I don't know how to read that language either, but the title
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that language either, but the title
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that language either, but the title screen comes up in French, and I thought
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screen comes up in French, and I thought
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screen comes up in French, and I thought that was a little weird and wasn't sure
2:18
that was a little weird and wasn't sure
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that was a little weird and wasn't sure if the game had been translated to
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if the game had been translated to
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if the game had been translated to English yet. I chose the first option,
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English yet. I chose the first option,
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English yet. I chose the first option, which was luckily to play the game. From
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which was luckily to play the game. From
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which was luckily to play the game. From there, I could figure out where the
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there, I could figure out where the
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there, I could figure out where the preferences were. That's where I saw the
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preferences were. That's where I saw the
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preferences were. That's where I saw the English choice for the language. If they
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English choice for the language. If they
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English choice for the language. If they don't want to initially begin the game
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don't want to initially begin the game
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don't want to initially begin the game in English, I kind of wish they'd have a
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in English, I kind of wish they'd have a
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in English, I kind of wish they'd have a startup screen asking us which language
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startup screen asking us which language
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startup screen asking us which language we'd prefer. Otherwise, all the texts
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we'd prefer. Otherwise, all the texts
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we'd prefer. Otherwise, all the texts look like multiple chapter names, which
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look like multiple chapter names, which
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look like multiple chapter names, which they were not.
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they were not.
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they were not. There's also at least one section in the
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There's also at least one section in the
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There's also at least one section in the game that says something in French due
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game that says something in French due
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game that says something in French due to not being translated correctly, and
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to not being translated correctly, and
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to not being translated correctly, and you have to write something in the
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you have to write something in the
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you have to write something in the space. And then in transitions and at
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space. And then in transitions and at
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space. And then in transitions and at the end of the game there's French AI
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the end of the game there's French AI
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the end of the game there's French AI involved. The Steam page states this.
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involved. The Steam page states this.
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involved. The Steam page states this. Some assets of the game including
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Some assets of the game including
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Some assets of the game including illustrations, music, and certain code
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illustrations, music, and certain code
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illustrations, music, and certain code elements were created or assisted using
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elements were created or assisted using
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elements were created or assisted using artificial intelligence tools, then
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artificial intelligence tools, then
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artificial intelligence tools, then manually edited and integrated. The
3:05
manually edited and integrated. The
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manually edited and integrated. The story, writing, ideas, staging, and the
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story, writing, ideas, staging, and the
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story, writing, ideas, staging, and the majority of the code were designed and
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majority of the code were designed and
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majority of the code were designed and created by the developer.
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created by the developer.
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created by the developer. Sarah is a cardboard figure. There's
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Sarah is a cardboard figure. There's
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Sarah is a cardboard figure. There's something not right about Sarah, and
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something not right about Sarah, and
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something not right about Sarah, and it's the fact that she's got no
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it's the fact that she's got no
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it's the fact that she's got no expression on her face, staring straight
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expression on her face, staring straight
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expression on her face, staring straight into the void. I've seen cardboard
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into the void. I've seen cardboard
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into the void. I've seen cardboard cutouts with more personality than what
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cutouts with more personality than what
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cutouts with more personality than what she's showing in this game. It's a
3:24
she's showing in this game. It's a
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she's showing in this game. It's a little disconcerting. I mean, not all
3:26
little disconcerting. I mean, not all
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little disconcerting. I mean, not all the characters witnessed have expressive
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the characters witnessed have expressive
3:28
the characters witnessed have expressive artwork to them, but there's something
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artwork to them, but there's something
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artwork to them, but there's something about her standing stiffly, body angles
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about her standing stiffly, body angles
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about her standing stiffly, body angles straight at us that throws her off,
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straight at us that throws her off,
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straight at us that throws her off, killed her from anyone else. She looks
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killed her from anyone else. She looks
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killed her from anyone else. She looks like she's being mind controlled. This
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like she's being mind controlled. This
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like she's being mind controlled. This is at least what I gleaned from the
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is at least what I gleaned from the
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is at least what I gleaned from the prologue. She becomes a little more
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prologue. She becomes a little more
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prologue. She becomes a little more animated in her character design when
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animated in her character design when
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animated in her character design when chapter 1 hits. Actually, her character
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chapter 1 hits. Actually, her character
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chapter 1 hits. Actually, her character image changes from prologue to chapter
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image changes from prologue to chapter
3:47
image changes from prologue to chapter 1, which is weird. We don't actually
3:50
1, which is weird. We don't actually
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1, which is weird. We don't actually pick up trash. I thought this was going
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pick up trash. I thought this was going
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pick up trash. I thought this was going to be interactive fiction, a visual
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to be interactive fiction, a visual
3:54
to be interactive fiction, a visual novel blended in with some kind of
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novel blended in with some kind of
3:55
novel blended in with some kind of gameplay mechanics. And maybe that'll be
3:58
gameplay mechanics. And maybe that'll be
3:58
gameplay mechanics. And maybe that'll be so after the full game release, but they
3:59
so after the full game release, but they
3:59
so after the full game release, but they didn't implement it into the demo.
4:02
didn't implement it into the demo.
4:02
didn't implement it into the demo. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but
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Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but
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Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but we have a trash can at the top of the
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we have a trash can at the top of the
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we have a trash can at the top of the screen and can see bits of trash in the
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screen and can see bits of trash in the
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screen and can see bits of trash in the background, implying we'll be picking
4:08
background, implying we'll be picking
4:08
background, implying we'll be picking them up, but we don't. After some
4:11
them up, but we don't. After some
4:11
them up, but we don't. After some conversations about how lame it is to
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conversations about how lame it is to
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conversations about how lame it is to pick up four pieces of trash and
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pick up four pieces of trash and
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pick up four pieces of trash and complain about how we'd rather have the
4:16
complain about how we'd rather have the
4:16
complain about how we'd rather have the task of scrubbing graffiti off the wall,
4:18
task of scrubbing graffiti off the wall,
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task of scrubbing graffiti off the wall, which no thanks, that requires a lot
4:20
which no thanks, that requires a lot
4:20
which no thanks, that requires a lot more effort, the screen transitions and
4:22
more effort, the screen transitions and
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more effort, the screen transitions and there's no more trash, no more counter
4:24
there's no more trash, no more counter
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there's no more trash, no more counter at the top of the screen. I just don't
4:26
at the top of the screen. I just don't
4:26
at the top of the screen. I just don't know why you'd have it there if you
4:27
know why you'd have it there if you
4:27
know why you'd have it there if you weren't going to bother with doing
4:28
weren't going to bother with doing
4:28
weren't going to bother with doing anything with it.
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anything with it.
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anything with it. There's some extreme paranoia. I feel
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There's some extreme paranoia. I feel
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There's some extreme paranoia. I feel kind of bad for saying it because I know
4:35
kind of bad for saying it because I know
4:35
kind of bad for saying it because I know people can have high anxiety and I've
4:37
people can have high anxiety and I've
4:37
people can have high anxiety and I've had bouts of it too in my life and but
4:39
had bouts of it too in my life and but
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had bouts of it too in my life and but not in the extreme range and our
4:41
not in the extreme range and our
4:41
not in the extreme range and our characters in the extreme range and it's
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characters in the extreme range and it's
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characters in the extreme range and it's seriously frustrating for me to get
4:44
seriously frustrating for me to get
4:44
seriously frustrating for me to get through. The writing for our character
4:46
through. The writing for our character
4:46
through. The writing for our character is great. There's absolutely nothing
4:48
is great. There's absolutely nothing
4:48
is great. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it because her anxiety is
4:50
wrong with it because her anxiety is
4:50
wrong with it because her anxiety is kind of justified. But good lord child.
4:53
kind of justified. But good lord child.
4:53
kind of justified. But good lord child. It's like she wants to set up a fallout
4:55
It's like she wants to set up a fallout
4:55
It's like she wants to set up a fallout shelter and she's doomed and oh my gosh,
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shelter and she's doomed and oh my gosh,
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shelter and she's doomed and oh my gosh, she can't sleep because if she sleeps,
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she can't sleep because if she sleeps,
4:58
she can't sleep because if she sleeps, something will happen and she won't be
5:00
something will happen and she won't be
5:00
something will happen and she won't be awake to make sure it doesn't happen. If
5:01
awake to make sure it doesn't happen. If
5:01
awake to make sure it doesn't happen. If it doesn't happen, oh golly G, what you
5:03
it doesn't happen, oh golly G, what you
5:03
it doesn't happen, oh golly G, what you to do? I wish someone would slap her. I
5:06
to do? I wish someone would slap her. I
5:06
to do? I wish someone would slap her. I had to be this character. It's a lot. I
5:09
had to be this character. It's a lot. I
5:09
had to be this character. It's a lot. I just want to make that clear. If you're
5:10
just want to make that clear. If you're
5:10
just want to make that clear. If you're prone to anxiety, you might feed off of
5:12
prone to anxiety, you might feed off of
5:12
prone to anxiety, you might feed off of her a little bit. Confusion between
5:15
her a little bit. Confusion between
5:15
her a little bit. Confusion between Sarah and Sophia. This might be a me
5:18
Sarah and Sophia. This might be a me
5:18
Sarah and Sophia. This might be a me thing, but I find it really difficult to
5:20
thing, but I find it really difficult to
5:20
thing, but I find it really difficult to remember who we are and who the other
5:21
remember who we are and who the other
5:21
remember who we are and who the other girl is. And I think it's just because
5:23
girl is. And I think it's just because
5:23
girl is. And I think it's just because the characters names are similar. I
5:25
the characters names are similar. I
5:25
the characters names are similar. I mean, the names have different colors to
5:27
mean, the names have different colors to
5:27
mean, the names have different colors to them, so we can differentiate, but I can
5:29
them, so we can differentiate, but I can
5:29
them, so we can differentiate, but I can never remember who we actually are.
5:32
never remember who we actually are.
5:32
never remember who we actually are. And that's the end of a pros and cons of
5:34
And that's the end of a pros and cons of
5:34
And that's the end of a pros and cons of the demo for the Portal Pirate. Thanks
5:37
the demo for the Portal Pirate. Thanks
5:37
the demo for the Portal Pirate. Thanks for watching everyone, and don't get in
5:39
for watching everyone, and don't get in
5:39
for watching everyone, and don't get in too much trouble when you say, "Not now,
5:41
too much trouble when you say, "Not now,
5:41
too much trouble when you say, "Not now, Mom. I'm gaming.
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