This video explores the hidden geometric language within Elden Ring, focusing on recurring shapes like rings, spirals, and arcs. The speaker argues that understanding these shapes reveals deeper connections within the game's lore and narrative, offering a unique interpretive lens beyond typical gameplay analysis.
The speaker doesn't explicitly lay out a complete, internally consistent mechanical system of metaphysics for Elden Ring's world. Instead, they propose an interpretive framework using geometric shapes to understand the game's lore and themes. To understand their ideas, we need to analyze how they connect the shapes to the narrative elements. There's no single, clear explanation of how these "mechanically function," but rather, several interconnected interpretations:
1. The One Great and Division as Creation: The foundational concept is that all existence began as the "One Great," a unified entity. The act of creation is presented as a division of this unity. This mirrors the Big Bang theory (though it's not explicitly stated as such), implying that the universe's expansion and differentiation from a singular point is the fundamental act of creation. The mechanics are not explained; it's a presented fact of the cosmology.
2. Causality and Regression as Complementary Forces: Causality and Regression are not opposing forces but rather complementary aspects of existence. Causality is the ongoing interconnectedness of things; every event causes ripples that affect other events, forming a chain of cause and effect. Regression is the inherent tendency of things to return to their origin, their "First Cause" (the Greater Will in Elden Ring). This isn't a literal "reversal of time" but a spiritual yearning for unity. The mechanics are metaphorical: causality is the outward spread of influence, and regression is the inward pull toward the source.
3. Geometric Representations: The speaker maps these metaphysical forces onto geometric shapes:
Circle/Ring: Represents completeness, boundaries, and division. It separates the "inside" (the accepted, those within the Golden Order's grace) from the "outside" (the rejected, the graceless). The overlapping circles in the Elden Ring suggest the Golden Order's assimilation of powerful groups, creating an alloyed structure. No explicit mechanical function is given; it's a visual representation of social structures and power dynamics.
Spiral (Double Helix): Represents both causality and regression. Seen as a three-dimensional form, the spiral shows the movement of things both outwards (causality) and inwards (regression) simultaneously. It's connected to transformation, evolution, and the cyclical nature of life (Samsara). The mechanics are metaphorical: the twisting represents the interwoven processes of causality and regression.
Arc: Represents both the gathering of energy and the imposition of authority. Downward-facing arcs signify the descent of divine energy, while upward-facing arcs represent transcendence or liberation from earthly cycles. The mechanics are once again metaphorical: it visually represents the direction and nature of energy flow (blessings or coercion).
4. Interactions of Shapes: The speaker suggests that the intersection of these shapes represents significant events:
Spiral unraveling into Arc: The point where the spiral (representing both causality and regression) transitions into an arc signifies the moment of creation or a major transformative event. The unraveling of the spiral releases energy, represented by the arc, which embodies the division and creation that results.
Elden Ring as a composite: The Elden Ring, as a composite of overlapping circles, downward-facing arcs, and the absence of spirals, represents the Golden Order's attempt to maintain a static, unchanging reality, suppressing the transformative power of the spiral.
In summary: The speaker proposes a metaphysical model where creation stems from division, causality and regression are intertwined forces, and geometric shapes serve as visual metaphors for these processes. The mechanics are not described as a system of forces or energies but are largely interpretive, drawing connections between the shapes, narrative events, and thematic elements of Elden Ring's lore. It's a hermeneutical approach, using geometric symbolism to uncover the deeper meanings embedded in the game's world. The mechanics are not detailed, but represented visually and narratively through the game's design.
