| "Doing Things the Hard Way" | |
| Episode 8 | |
 | |
| Series | Steam Train |
| Game | VVVVVV |
| Description | Veni. Vidi. Vici. |
| Release Date | October 2, 2013 |
| Length | 33:05 |
| Link | VVVVVV: Doing Things the Hard Way - PART 8 - Steam Train |
| Steam Train Guide | |
| ← previous "How It Is" |
next → "Shenanigans" |
"Doing Things the Hard Way" is an episode of 'Steam Train' and the eighth episode of VVVVVV. It is over three times as long as a normal episode, owing to Arin's efforts spent on getting through one puzzle alone to get an optional trinket that is barbarically hard compared to the rest in the game, doing so just for bragging rights.
The extreme magnitude of the puzzle's difficulty leads to much failure, but as a result, much catharsis at the end of the episode when Arin finally gets the trinket.
Intro[]
"Hey! Phew! You're Okay!" "How you doing?" "I feel dizzy. Alright." - Arin and Ross at a "cutscene" in the game.
Game Progression[]
Continuing from the second intermission level to the Space Station, Arin attempts the game's dreaded multi-screen puzzle by the same name to obtain a trinket by floating up through a huge maze of spikes and then gingerly threading his character Viridian back down through it on the other side. An excruciatingly unforgiving puzzle, there are no checkpoints to diminish its difficulty. It is an immensely extended episode, due to the sheer number of failures he has trying to successfully get to the bottom without hitting any spikes, clocking in at 33 minutes, 5 seconds. Barry was so enthused by Arin's frustration that he did not put in a fast-forward. Suzy can briefly heard in the background after returning to Arin's house and asking him and Ross if they wanted refreshments.
While they work their way through the puzzle, Arin and Ross theorize that Terry Cavanagh himself is actually Dinkles, and he created the puzzle simply to bully other nerds like him.
One minute before the end of the episode, Arin manages to master the diabolical spike maze. Upon bagging the trinket, he feels such unadulterated joy and relief that he outright screams. The last minute of the episode is filled by Arin's triumphant screeches and hollers at the top of his lungs with Ross in a victory celebration. Ross even picks up a guitar and starts strumming an improvised song to commemorate the moment, with Arin cursing out the puzzle after all he's been through.
Outro[]
"DOING THINGS THE HARD WAY! FUCK YOU!!" - Arin