Wanted 2 try and paint with clip paints default painting brush and also do a time lapse because I rely on my charcoal brushes too much so here’s a Bob!! I have mixed feelings about how it came out but I think he looks handsome so psppspsps bob enjoyers psppspspspsp
Specifically I wanna talk about the three sub islands in his mind, the characters associated with them and what this says about Bob and his mindset cause it just breaks my heart.
Spoilers for Psychonauts 2
First up the Truman island
Unlike the rest of the sub islands Truman only says one thing with Raz even taking note of it only that Bob is fired. When we go into Bob’s version of the motherlobe we see that his firing with the last direct interaction he had with his nephew. While it was a cruel and harsh thing to Bob it’s clear from how Bob talks that Truman was trying to help him. We don’t know much about the Zanotto family but it’s very clear the Tia suffered from depression and alcoholism and that while Bob wanted to burry these things and just remember the good parts of his mother, his brother did not likely warning his son to watch out for the signs. Bob stating that he doesn’t need help, that he just needs to work, means Truman wasn’t really firing him and just wanted him to seek professional help. Help that Bob did not want to admit he needed.
It’s very obvious that Truman cares about his Uncle as he is aware of where Bob has been all this time but allows people to think he’s missing, sending letters to him about his life, including pictures of his grand niece, all in an attempt to help as best he can and show he still cares. Bob was putting himself and others in danger and it’s very likely Truman had tried to get Bob to accept professional help before. He had no choice but to fire him.
But all Bob can focus on is that his nephew fired him. That even his nephew can see how pathetic and useless he is.
Second is the Lili Island
In a way the Lili island is the saddest because she’s nothing but a conduit for Bob’s own negative thoughts. He has never met Lili, he doesn’t know her personality, doesn’t even know her voice and the only reason he knows what she looks like is because Truman sends Bob pictures likely in hopes that he will want a relationship with her. Which he very obviously does.
A representation of his grand niece would not occupy his mind if he didn’t want to know her, if he didn’t want to be a presence in her life. It’s very likely his desire to meet her nearly made him leave his isolation at least once. But his own fears stop him.
His image of Lili says that he’d just screw it all up, meaning he thinks if they ever met she’d hate him, see him as a failure, that its better for her to just learn the stories of him rather than him ruin things. And god it kills cause it’s clear Bob is very similar to Lili and she likely would have loved having him in her life.
Final one the Otto Island
Now this one is tricky cause honestly its the one that carries the most assumptions. Unlike Truman and Lilli where it’s clear what they represent, his failure in work and his perceived failure at any future life. Otto’s exact relationship with Bob is not clear cut or even if this figure is suppose to represent wholly Otto.
Now first thing to note is that this Otto says how none of the Pyschic Six actually liked Otto, that they only wanted Helmut but Bob just tagged along and that they always thought Helmut should be with someone else. It’s clear to me that Bob is using Otto as a mouth piece for his own insecurity regarding his friendships and romantic relationship, but the bigger question is why?
I have a few thoughts
1) It’s because at the time Otto was the only one left. Helmut was missing, Ford wasn’t all there, Cassie left, and Compton had secured himself away only Otto was around to see him at his very worst and in Bob’s mind think the worst of him.
2) It’s because he viewed Otto as the honest one. From what I can tell Otto does not mince words and is very direct regardless of what is or isnt nice. If this is the case Bob could view Otto as objectively always speaking the truth.
3) It’s because the two were close. Now we can’t know this for sure I’ve seen the arguments that suggest they weren’t but we do know Otto made some sort of decorative sword for Bob’s wedding special, and according to Helmuts level the two often spent time together (yes they were arguing but for some people this is an enjoyable thing to do with a friend). If we go off the theory that after Helmut Bob was closest with Otto then having him voice all these insecurity’s would hit harder.
All of these theories hurt a LOT.
The second thing to note is what Bob’s imagine of Otto says. That none of them liked Bob and only took him along cause of Helmut and that they all thought Bob wasn’t good enough for Helmut. We know the first thing is untrue as Bob was recruited BEFORE Helmut. (but when you’re in the state Bob’s in logic doesnt mean anything) The rest is obviously Bob’s own thoughts of himself and things he’s insecure about. These are the sort of intrusive thoughts that are difficult to leave ones mind, especially when coming from someone else.
Bobs Bottles was such a heart breaking level and the more I think on it the sadder it gets. It’s such a good visualization of depression and negative thinking that just spirals out of control when you take your supports away. And like they didnt need to add these small islands but they did and it added so much to the level and Bob as a character.
