Why Lost River is kind of creepy when you think about it
Lost River is such an incredible map
Should be the ranked greatest map in video game history, actually
Just... Everything about it. All the little small details perfectly come together to make something big.
The music is unlike the high adventurous tone of the rest of the game. It’s more eerie.
On top of that the intro message says there is no sign of humans.
But there were humans there. We as human players know that. We recognize our structures. There were once people here but they are long long gone. And it takes a lot for humans to completely abandon a place. What would make a whole town leave?
As if that wasn’t ominous enough, there are messages scribbled on the buildings.
[IDs: Black words on garage doors. First one says “Uncle Henry! We couldn’t wait any longer [break] meet us at JJ’s cabin. Hurry! (after writing this it occurred to me that the cabin at the back forty (idk if I’m remembering that name right) was JJ’s?) Second one says “We’ll be back (someday)” Third one says “i fought the power and the power won.” Fourth one says “No Trespassing! Trespassers will be left here to suffer the consequences.” Fifth one says “Susan! We are waiting for you at” the rest is obscured by water. Sixth and last one says “First the river, and now us.”]
Those messages tell a story of people who are very very mad and also frantically grouping up and evacuating despite how much they don’t want to leave.
Also the whole atmosphere of the place. There’s a dilapidated carnival, construction sites, a dam, a playground... It’s kind of tear jerking. It’s like visiting an archeological site. And when you actually play the game, you don’t really notice the emptiness because there are still animals here. (more on that in a second)
Floppy the moose is a joke but her placement is kinda creepy. She’s right outside a sign that says “BCE. Remaking the world one molecule at a time”
in a fence right behind a biohazard sign.
Floppy the Moose was initially a mistake with jiggle physics but was kept in the Lost River map as an easter egg. The thing with Floppy is she’s, well, floppy. I don’t know how else to describe her. She’s always running and her front half flops around with no regard for the laws of physics.
“Remaking the world one molecule at a time?”
I think I know what’s wrong with this moose and also this town.
Some sort of “man tries to play with nature. Nature plays with them.” situation. (whoever gets that reference gets a cookie.)
So this BCE facility probably fucked up the town.
The place is irradiated or something like that.
[ID: A notification that says “Explore Lost River: You and your mate can continue to explore the valley of the Lost River...but something about this place warns you against raising a family here.]
“Something about this place warns you against raising a family here.”
Something about that has always been creepy to me.
Something about the Lost River has always been creepy. The main theme, In The City, and Neighborhoods sounds so toned down compared to the rest of the games music. The messages showing humans have long since abandoned the place, and the fact that the wolves know this place is not good for their pups, Floppy being trapped and mutated, also the fucking messages on the garage doors... The concept is kinda creepy and sad. But its also hopeful and comforting.
So Lost River is often compared to Chernobyl. I think because of the presence of wolves and the way the town is probably radioactive but a haven for wildlife.
The moment humans are removed from an area, life flourishes. Even with fucking radiation for miles. And I’m talking about real life. Radiation does not fuck up wildlife as much as humans do.
I think it’s kind of nice to know that some of the most devastating things that can happen will not stop life from finding a way to persist.
The resulting place is some strange combination of peaceful and unnerving.
Yea Lost River is creepy but to me creepy doesn’t mean bad. It’s creepy (mostly because of the messages tbh) but amazing and almost a paradise.
