You Were Never Supposed to Reach the Top...

Storyline (What the Game Is About)

• The player begins at the bottom of a massive cylindrical superstructure chasm where rapidly rising “liquid” threatens death.
• Survival depends on:
  • precise climbing mechanics,
  • scavenging supplies,
  • and using gadgets and upgrades.

As the player ascends, the facility reveals escalating horrors, including:

• malfunctioning systems,
• automated warnings,
• decontamination closures,
• hostile anomalies,
• and evidence that you are not the first climber.

Yellow Residential Sector and “biological backup” disks

Midway through the climb, the player reaches the Yellow Residential Sector, which:

• unlocks bonuses (including DNA-altering ability upgrades),
• and introduces biological backup floppy disks that can restore progress.

However, dying after using these backups comes with disturbing consequences.

Progression through sectors and the “core” conflict

The climb continues through sectors such as Delta Labs, featuring lethal hazards like:

• turrets,
• laser floors,
• hostile hands/monsters,
• and alien-like artifacts.

Eventually, the player learns there is a pact and an overarching objective:

• free/help an alien entity (“mother”), which restrains the Eater of Worlds, the devourer driving the escalating doom.

Final escalation: takeover and system control

The endgame includes fungal/biological takeover events:

• spores that rewrite victims into the creature’s control system,
• and a terminal AI/system (referred to as “she” / loudspeaker control system) taking over.

Post-campaign lore expansion

After beating the campaign and exploring additional modes and hidden notes, the story expands to include:

• the facility being locked down from the surface access closure in 2005 (implying decades of stasis),
• earlier research in 1989–1990, with later lore referencing 2033,
• the Eden Project concept, suggesting the facility tried to engineer a solution to an uninhabitable surface,
• a wider “Species X” mystery connected to hidden disks and a character named Todd.

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Gameplay Highlights & Key Systems Mentioned

Core climbing mechanics

• Each hand grips independently, attaching to any surface with a horizontal edge.
• Stamina drains while holding on, shown by how “red” the hands become.
• If stamina runs out:
  • you hear a failure sound,
  • and must scramble before the rising liquid kills you.
• The game stresses:
  • precision movement,
  • risk management,
  • using small objects to create grip points.

Climbing tools and items

• Python: a small peg hammered in with one hand while you stabilize yourself—high stamina cost.
• Rebar: throwable grip object; can fail if thrown at the wrong angle and may work poorly up close.
• Food cans: instantly restore stamina, but inventory capacity is limited.
  • Inventory includes upgrades and occasional rare special items.

Progression & saves

• Levels progressively get harsher through:
  • shorter grab distances,
  • worse hazards,
  • more frequent deaths.
• Levels are randomized, but still follow a consistent sector progression “route.”
• Biological backup floppy disks:
  • used in the Yellow Sector to load saves,
  • dying after using them triggers sinister “side effects.”
• Later save rooms/terminals allow:
  • gear upgrades,
  • and choosing builds suitable for high-threat zones.

Upgrades, bonuses, and weapons/artifacts

• In the Yellow Sector, the player chooses from multiple bonuses (sometimes costing currency), such as:
  • increased grip range,
  • stamina,
  • inventory expansion,
  • double jump.
• A DNA modification implication is made explicit (needle injection for upgrades).
• Later zones include powerful special artifacts that lead to very different traversal and combat approaches.

Combat and escape patterns

Major threats include:

• rising/erupting toxic fluids,
• flying insects that create “madness”-style annoyance,
• turrets,
• laser floors,
• hostile “hands” and pulling anomalies.

The player often must:

• time panic movements,
• choose escape routes under pressure,
• use flares and/or high-impact weapons to break pursuit.

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Secret and Bonus Content

Cockroach merchant / shop

In a later loop/run:

• picking up a “scanner” leads to hidden hatches and a cockroach trader.
• Items can be exchanged for trinkets.
• Completing the run under certain constraints unlocks special outcomes.

Restrictions and trinkets system

• Restrictions permanently increase scoring difficulty/multiplier (and may shrink the player).
• Trinkets grant permanent helpful bonuses, but reduce the points multiplier.

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Strategies & Key Tips Implied by the Subtitles

• Master hands + stamina rhythm
  • move one hand to safer anchors sooner,
  • reduce how long you remain in risky holds.
• Manage limited inventory
  • food restores stamina, but can’t be carried endlessly,
  • use stamina restores only when truly necessary.
• Use the right grip tool for distance/angle
  • hammer-in options (like python) are powerful but expensive in stamina,
  • thrown objects can be ineffective up close or when angles/conditions are wrong.
• Plan for sector-specific traversal
  • the Yellow Sector emphasizes tight timing with elevator puzzles/buttons,
  • later zones rely on lethal automation (turrets/lasers), making route memorization and correct item selection crucial.
• Use backup mechanics carefully
  • floppy disk backups are lifesaving,
  • avoid unnecessary deaths after relying on them.
• Use special items smartly
  • secrets may grant extremely valuable traversal tools (e.g., worm/teleport-style items) for slipping through otherwise impossible spaces.

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Who Is Featured (Sources at the End)

• Bean Buddy — referenced as the source of the “video from Bean Buddy,” with much of the later explanation attributed to that creator.