Multiverse as a trope and a creative concept is nothing new. I mean it existed since the possibility of the Multiverse as a concept. And since has been bleeding into the various aspects of our lives. You know, beyond physics. Movies, literature, and yes even in the gaming industry. And I must say. It’s the first time I’ve written about this concept. Yes, time travel has been on the back-burner for years, now. But this is totally a different concept.
Which is where we found the inspiration for our latest article here at IndieGala. What Lies In The Multiverse is what started this article, and we can’t wait to tell you more.
But first…
What Lies in the Multiverse: What’s It All About?
Developed and published by Untold Tales, What Lies in the Multiverse is a bombastic puzzle platformer about worlds turned inside out. Shift dimensions at the push of a button. Next, solve brain-twisting logistical riddles. And race through the wilds of the multiverse in a bleakly hilarious story where everything you know can turn on a dime.
So, embark on a journey across gorgeous pixel-art worlds. Each with a unique parallel reality you can dive into at will. Explore temples, towns, harbors, the wilderness and more. As you race to unlock the secrets of the Multiverse of course.
Get it here. And of course. Enjoy.
But what’s the word for What Lies In The Multiverse?
“One of the best puzzle platformers I’ve played in years” 9/10 – God is a Geek
“A wonderfully written story, combined with some dark, depressing and ultimately great side discoveries” 9/10 – Finger Guns
“Gorgeous atmosphere you can’t help but want to explore” 8/10 – Shacknews
And What About The Steam User Reviews? What Are They Saying About It?
This game was a wild ride. The mechanics were amazingly made. Love the graphics the music and the storytelling was chef kiss. I love the puzzles too. Says TWITCH: ALEDreamgameon.
While ТикФон adds: The best game I’ve played in years.
But What Lies In The Multiverse opened a great topic for us. What makes the concept of multiverse such an interesting storytelling concept? Why is this trope going strong for decades now? And yes, this article wasn’t inspired by the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness movie. But it does contain multiverse as a theme. And it’s tying plenty of characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe too.
So without further ado… What is a Multiverse Anyway?
In the general concept of physics, a multiverse is a hypothetical group of multiple universes. And together, these universes comprise everything that exists. The entirety of space, time, matter, energy, and information. And the physical laws and constants that describe them.
But what about the movies? And video games? Are things different there? No, not really. The concept is the same. However, the execution is rather different. The Multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little”, warns Doctor Strange in Spider-Man: No Way Home. But it is a concept that has become rather familiar on-screen. And the video game industry is not falling behind short too. Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite Creative, VRChat, and Rec Room are some of the notable examples that do have multiverse as a trope.
TV Is Different Yet Cool
But when it comes to TV, some of them are quite good examples really. Rick and Morty come to mind here. And so does Fringe. One of the most underrated TV shows of all time. Seriously. If you’re looking for a great Sci-Fi series, that has multiverses in the plot lines…. Then look no further. If you’re a fan of Fillip K. Dick, then I’d highly recommend The man in the high castle as a great TV option.
Dark, Doctor Who, Westworld and Black Mirror too. And yes. We already tackled Doctor Who before. But the topic of this particular article was my favorite doctor ever. The 10th of course, and you can check it out here too. And when it comes to Westworld… Whether you’re a fan of the original movie or the subsequent TV series… it’s up to you. But they’re both interesting and compelling in their own way.
However, one of the finest examples of existing universes on TV is the Star Trek: The Next Generation Episode: Parallels. It’s the 11th episode from the 7th season and it’s glorious. What’s so interesting about it you might ask? Well, in it, Picard and the bridge crew staring, awestruck, at the sight of countless USS Enterprises spreading out into the cosmos. All from alternate universes. Check it out if you have a chance.
How About The Movies: Is It Fun And Transformative?
Well, it kinda is. Shared universes have existed in the movies since the early 30s and the now-iconic Universal Monsters. Alien vs. Predator is another great example of that. And so is the ongoing Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Hey. Even Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse proved in 2018 that you can make an animated movie about multiple Spider-Men (and women). All from alternate universes that are teaming up, and audiences have no problem keeping up. Source Code (2011), Coherence (2013), Another Earth (2011), and The One (2001) are great examples of that as well.
But these times nobody does it better than Marvel. Similar to how Dark raised the stakes by introducing bigger concepts, the MCU brought in time travel antics in Avengers: Endgame. And it seems the driving force in exploring the multiverse, however, is nostalgia.
Even with Avengers: Endgame tying up arcs for numerous characters, having different realities means Marvel can bring back any fan-favorite character or actor as alternate versions of themselves. Which is where I think lies the appeal. The commercial benefit for the studio, and the nostalgic jolt for the fans. With infinite possibilities that come with infinite universes, it’s no wonder the studios don’t want to abandon this trope. There are infinite storytelling opportunities. Even with the vast scale of the concept, however, we’re already seeing common trends within these stories. Particularly in the use of cameos and references and yes. That also attributes to the longevity of some of those characters. Who knows? A cameo of a certain MCU character can make the world of a difference.
Which leads us to the question…
Are You A What Lies In The Multiverse Fan?
Let us know if you are. And which multiverse is your favorite too. Hit that comment section and let us know.
