Exclusion Zone Makes My Eyes Sweat

Exclusion Zone Makes My Eyes Sweat

KHS, it seems, possesses such an uncanny talent for writing the most underrated and downright raw narratives in general, but there's just something so specifically emotionally wrenching about what you could probably call the "climax" of Exclusion Zone- aka, my second favorite of the twisted tales within Haunted Cities, vol 4.

And therein Exclusion Zone lies an event that makes it stand out so far from the rest. There is a moment very, very far from the scariest experience I had in Haunted Cities, and yet this is still the one that haunts me most of all, and maybe that was the way it was meant. You simply enter the ruins of a long abandoned tower, and you recover a note written by a deceased researcher.

It's not a moment that puts the player inside the jaws of a hungry house. It's not a scene where dark angels are coming to gnaw off your skin, you aren't swallowed by any ravenous gardens, and if anything, the music in that tower makes it almost a calming moment. The atmosphere is serene and comforting, like a temple, or any sacred ground should be. You are, true enough, being bombarded with lethal amounts of radiation, seemingly to no immediate consequence, though.

And like that, it happens, and then you leave the site once you finish your exploration. You show up, do your job, and head back. Yet here I am still trying to put together what exactly about this game's conclusion makes me so deeply... sad and disturbed, in a way games have rarely managed to do, and I have my best guess:

“She was wronged."

As extreme and surreal as the story unfolded is, the feelings it immerses you in are something so grounded and relatable, to me- The sympathy and sheer powerlessness of being an observer in the aftermath of a great tragedy.

To stand there in the epicenter of so much death and sorrow, which happened all and only because everyone was trying the best that they ever could, and it just… wasn't enough. And no matter how much you can mourn for their fate, or wish you could even just say how sorry you are, maybe for them, or maybe for how cruel of a world it is at all, but there's nothing you can do yourself but just.. feel that empathy for them. So you do.

And the revelation itself is a jarring, shocking thing, especially if you save the tower for the last to visit on your run. These gentle, final words pouring with so much humanity in a setting that’s so lifeless and cold. I already had an idea of what was coming, I got the games purely because of the Jacob Geller review, and I don’t think my enjoyment was any bit lessened by the spoilers.

There’s no villain to blame for the tragedy of the fallen goddess and those people who built the tower, save those nameless sisters some unfathomable, untouchable worlds away. There’s no implication to some fruitful lesson or honoring of the disaster’s victims. If anything, your closure is only in the assumption that the pitiful girl will be demonized and remembered in infamy for her suffering. What became of her, whether a final peace or an eternity left to her pain, no one can even know. Your discovery of the truth? As ultimately meaningless as that of the corpse left behind in that cursed ruin. What could you be left to do?

You silently grieve, probably just because no one else will. Probably because of a strongly felt connection for the wrongs you've faced yourself, whatever times you wished someone had been there with the same message, as little as it would have changed. It's a very unique and specific thing to invoke in an audience and I guess I'm appreciative and impressed such a game did so in such a short and potent fashion. It's part of what makes Exclusion Zone one of my favorites of the collection. It vaguely reminds me of Looming, too, which is another indie game built around a similar theme of retelling a story through archeology. I just really found that neatly powerful, and powerfully neat, and I hope I'm not the only one that did.

“I'm sorry, sister. You deserved better. This was not your fault."

friend i am BEGGING you for the honor among thieves f bomb poll. there are so many good places for it.

in a movie scenario where Bentley says "Okay, Sly, you're not gonna like this, but I've figured out who we need to recruit next." dramatic pause for dramatic effect. "It's the Panda King."

"Absolutely fucking not."

one of the people on the sly 2 post mentioned "I'LL FLOSS MY TEETH WITH YOUR FUCKING SPINE" and i am also fond of that. but the rest will wait until the actual poll is up. but know that im sitting here waiting and watching you with big eyes /silly

You’re right, omg you’re so right, I can’t believe I haven’t gotten around to it yet. Late night where I’m answering from rn but it’s now queued up for tomorrow, thank you for the reminder!

Listen,

I feel you, I do. And I love our irken queens as much as the next fan.

But every single time I see or hear about Poot I start to come undone at the seams being reminded of this meme I made way back when I was in high school and this joke was more relevant.

Like that screenshot of Purple with tears in his eyes shaking and looking like he tasted a lemon? That’s me mentally recalling this image

Skoodge has been excluded in the name of actually underrated characters. Had the series not been canceled, he was already on schedule to join the main cast on Earth anyway.

Tak was never officially an invader to begin with.

And Tenn’s unfortunately failed in her mission, as far as implications go.

Hi! I just came across your blog, and I just wanted to say that I really enjoy reading your Invader Zim analysis/headcanon posts.

Some really good stuff there! 👽

Eeeeee thank you thank you, enjoy the stroll, take some complimentary cookies.

I‘ve actually noticed myself but I somehow still haven’t come close to running out of things to talk about regarding the show and it is getting to the point where theories are starting to build on theories, I guess what I’m saying is I have build up enough material at this point maybe to justify a master list of sorts. Cause wow it’s collectively been getting a lot more positive attention than I originally could’ve thought of :,)

I’ll accept your sign from the universe to get started on that post-haste in fact

You know it’s a good rendition when you can still hear the countdown in your head :)c

The Ending

He's thinking about regicide and pointy hats today.