Why OMORI's ending is the ultimate catharsis
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ค. 2023
- My other OMORI-videos: • OMORI ,
Welcome to the mindwell. This is my final analysis of OMOCAT's masterpiece OMORI, where I look at how everything we've explored about Sunny so far culminates in the ultimate narrative-and psychological catharsis that is the ending of this game.
Like and subscribe if you enjoyed it, and as usual: post any thoughts or insights in the comments as I'd love to hear them.
PS: Oof, sorry about the audio quality of the voice in hindsight. Sounded fine when I was editing :P
SOURCES
Evil eye: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye
Memento mori: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento...
Psychosis: www.nhs.uk/mental-health/cond... - เกม
The finale, wohooo!
Not sure if you knew about this, but OMOCAT gave an interview to an italian streamer some time ago where she specified that Basil's whitespace would've been very different because of his inability to escape from his own mind like Sunny. As she put it: "...From my personal experience, not everyone is able to do it... If Basil would have had his own White Space, it wouldn't be static but really dynamic with a lot of fast changes, extremely frenetic. Therefore, I don't think Basil would be able to escape his own mind like Sunny does."
Source for anyone interested (secondary, couldn't find the stream) - th-cam.com/video/pLGNkaNmGAA/w-d-xo.html
Whether you knew it or not, you made a pinpoint analysis there!
Sidenote, the description of Basil "half assing" his repression got me rolling xD
I also loved the intricate details that you sprinkled in with the brackets throughout the video, it really shows the depth of the game's symbolism that footnotes were required to squeeze in everything that needed to be said. One cannot help himself but marvel at the subtle ways the game conveyed the healing process through simple game mechanics, as well as clever visual representations of psychological concepts (especially loved the inner critic getting literally disarmed, as well as your explanation of the healing tools Sunny uses/learns throughout the game).
I'm very glad that you decided to make this series of videos. Your analytical intuition brought a unique, deeper perspective into the discourse which, I often feel, is flooded with agreed upon interpretations which end up being parroted. Most OMORI essays transcribed the game whilst providing minor commentary on its intricately designed symbolism, whilst yours truly dove into the depths which begged to be explored, given their intricately designed nature.
Your statement of great art rings true, there is truly always another interpretation.
OMORI is truly a work of art.
That’s so interesting, didn’t know about that interview. I’ll have a look at it now. Thanks for commenting, I’m happy there are people watching who appreciate all the details. It’s all these little things that make OMORI so unique to me, and worth spending so much time on
I love the message of the flowers surrounding the hospital bed where Sunny wakes up. If you talk to the people of Faraway Town and do the simple, mundane tasks to interact with them, those flowers stand as a powerful rebuttal to Omori's accusations in the final battle that all he does is hurt people, and it would be better if he just died or disappeared. Omori was wrong. Sunny touched the lives of people all over town-- he really helped people-- and that was all in the space of just three days!
A fanfic brought this to mind for me:
Sunny solved the problems of everyone in Faraway (If you're going for the Universally loved achievement, something I did) in three days.
And we are all proud of our boy
1:08:16
Everyone is united as Sunny’s only explicit words in the final game are finally voiced:
“PIZZA DELIVERY!!”
Haha, I was actually considering making a joke like that or like “I was the one who scribbled the photos,” before chickening out
Omori's good ending reminds me of a certain line from Undertale. "Despite everything, it's still you."
I totally agree.
I feel like Omori himself is another instance of SOMETHING, perhaps representing Sunny's fear of himself. He is black and white, like the rest of the SOMETHINGs. All the named SOMETHINGS have names which end in "i." So does Omori. He even shows one eye when in his furious state, just like how Sunny probably felt Mari was furious at him when he looked back. Omori's violent and anti-social tendencies may reflect how Sunny sees himself as well.
I’d thought about the i-based creatures in connection with Mari, but not really with Omori. Nice observation!
I feel so sad yet happy for sunny, he gazes upon maris soul, seeing his reaction was pure gold. 😭
Fun fact, even after the final line from Sunny. Good Morning, a song implied heavily to be his direct words, goes unspoken.
I love how the whole ending sequence in Omori is always emotional. Like, I know exactly what's going to happen, I remember the Last Duet almost perfectly and yet I still tear up every time.
Thank you for great analysis
In terms of inner conflicts, there’s something that’s been bothering me for almost a full year now. It’s been eating at me as I try to engage in unhealthy escapism from it. Your words, Mindwell, your analysis and the way you talk about mental health, it’s helped me find some kind of determination inside myself. A determination to get better, to recover. I don’t know why it was your words that have convinced me, but for the first time in 11 months, I’m going to try. I’m going to really try. Thank you. I know this is super vague, but it means an incredible amount to me. Thank you.
I don’t know what to say. Thank you.
I believe in you!
@@DetectiveMar Thank you. I’ve taken a first step. The hardest one, but it feels good now that it’s done. Take care ♥️
If you ever feel down about yourself, just know that there are people who love you and care about you.
1:13:38 While I do like the new insight on the symbolism of that final scene at the stump, there is one more meaning to it narratively. Because all the friends' flowers and the photo album are at the stump, it's implied that Sunny and Basil are indeed forgiven for their responsibility in Mari's death. Looks like they all went back to that stump; either one more time before Sunny moved away, or Sunny visited his old home Faraway one more time before the new residents moved in.
It's an idealized implication for the ending, to say the least, but it gives me peace knowing that he and Basil were eventually forgiven.
Once again, I loved learning more about the game. I especially loved the violin symbolizing the relationship between Sunny and his friends. I'm a bit sad that this video series is over, but I'm glad that the ending got the analysis it deserves.
On my playthrough of Omori I got stuck at the sweetheart statue in headspace and stop playing for over a year with the thought I'll come back to it sometime, it made the ending hit harder because I felt like I did what Sunny did by idling and distracted myself.
I'm sad to see this analysis series end, but glad that I found it. You did a great job and all I can think is: wow.
Haha, there you have it. Exactly what I was talking about at the end. Sunny’s story relates to the simplest and seemingly insignificant things we all experience, and vice versa.
Thank you :)
i dont' know if you'll read this or not, but here's something i want to say real fast.
your understanding of the narrative and symbolism of the game is INSANE. watching your omori videos, i realized that you don't need good production value/a general good atmosphere of a video or insanely good and clean editing to make good videos. you can have average editing and average atmosphere, but if you have an above-average understanding of the narrative, people WILL watch and they will enjoy. that's what majorly sets you apart from other people who've made omori videos- sheer intelligence relating to the narrative and understanding of it.
that's the whole reason I started wanting to make omori videos (i've made two so far). i know that i don't really have a cool atmosphere, my mic quality isn't good, my voice isn't appealing to listen to, and my editing isn't the best. if i never would have stumbled upon your videos, i wouldn't have learned that just having an above average understanding of the narrative can lead to serviceable content, or in your case, superb content.
so, that's really the only reason why i still want to make videos. if i know i have an above average understanding of the narrative, i'd have something unique about me that could set me apart from other content creators. and that's exactly what i'm attempting to do- understand the narrative as best i can and have an above average understanding of it. if i have nothing else appealing about my content, i can at least try something that could help set me apart, right? and what better place to start than obsessively watching all your videos. i know that if i come to one of your videos, i'll learn a significant amount about the story that i didn't know before and i'll get information nobody else really ever talks about. and i want people to think the same for me, if i continue to make videos. if i could magically retain 100% of the information from your omori videos, i'd 100% be an omniscient deity or something with how narrative-packed your videos are. obviously, that's not possible, so i'll just have to try and retain information the ol' fashion way. and that's the only reason why i'd still make videos, and it's because of you.
sorry for the long comment, this is just a glorified "thank you". but you're such a goat for the four omori videos. here's to hoping the omori manga will bring back omori into mainstream internet interest once again
😎🍷
Lord, that’s got to be the highest praise I’ve gotten so far! Thank you, I’m very happy my videos could motivate you in this sort of way.
Making actually interesting content is definitely the first step towards success, but I think you shouldn’t too much underrate the importance of production value either, as it will help. It’s going to be a matter of balance. But of course, the important thing, in my opinion, is that you’re gaining something independently of what anyone else thinks when you make videos; that you feel like creating them is inherently meaningful to you. The only reason I could bother getting such a detailed understanding of OMORI is because that was true for me.
Good luck! And thanks again, I think I’ll need to reread what you wrote ;)
I often see thoughts expressing how good the true end is for Sunny not addressing his messy first response to reopening his trauma and self loathing.
Basil’s response to the trauma, his depression, guilt, everything-it builds up over time to a breaking point.
You do not see that with Sunny.
He is affected so strongly his feelings are instantaneous with no outcome but to escape/kill himself.
Every end where Sunny knows the truth he takes his life once he gets his hands on a knife.
Other routes when he’s not exposed to the truth while the STAB is there, it’s completely optional.
Im honestly pretty glad you pointed out that sunny is the one who scribbled the photos not basil.
I really don't get why alot of the people who played the game dismiss that and think basil really dunnit.
A chill shot through my whole body when the Duet started. God, that was crazy.
ikr? I've felt that many times when listening to the duet as well, so I'm glad I was able to replicate that for you.
It's been 2 years since I played this game for the first time and I keep going back and forth between "eh, you know it's still one of my favorites but it's not THAT great" and "you know what this game is a masterpiece", and watching this has gotten me back into the latter state.
Oh also I'd like to mention something I noticed that ties into the idea of stasis. Sunny in the past is only shown to be wearing the outfit he does for the whole game when practicing for the recital, it was likely the outfit he was going to play in. He's wearing it instead of any of the other outfits he wore in the past, despite it not making that much sense to sleep in a sweater vest, to symbolize how time has frozen for him since the night of the incident. He's still stuck there, unable to move on. Which... you know is why people shouldn't draw post-good ending Sunny wearing it, he should really be wearing something else to symbolize the change.
fuck man this made me cry harder than i did during the actual final duet. i was so overwhelmed with so many feelings in that moment, I didn't feel anything at all, but a second wave of emotion hit when sunny gave those chilling final glances at Mari before she went back to where she came. thank you for this.
out of all the hour essays ive seen on this game this is arguanly the best
I just noticed something about the sketchbook drawing (55:52)
Only one of the red hands is bloodied, and... It's on the right. The same side as the eye symbolism.
Interesting.
1:03:27
You know...
It's strange.
I never cried at Final Duet.
...I cried at Clean Slate.
This is a great analysis, but I'm surprised you didn't mention the significance of the dark bulb hanging over the violin! Also, I'm pretty sure Sunny's breakdown in Basil's fight has him under a stage light, perhaps being related to the performance? You know, perhaps the eyes watching him constantly also relate to the duet's audience, as well as his experience in school... sorry, got a little rambly there! You have such great analyses, you really make me think about these things on a deeper level, I didn't even realise how similar the lightbulb (darkbulb?) looked to Something
Oh, I didn't even think about how the fingers being mutilated corresponds to guilt- that probably ties into the red hands being tools of repression, as well as them being how you select menu options.
Additionally, Basil stabbing Sunny's right eye out being a metaphor for Something going away wasn't something I realized? For the acceptance of the truth? I read it in a very different way, it being the manifestation of Basil's denial itself.
The last segment of this game is so geniusly constructed. Closure.
The pinwheel thing also really got to me because that was the last area I visited before blackspace, fighting kite kid. Childhood..
The way the colors work in this game is also really interesting! The harsh reds of the truth, the dark blue of Basil's room...
Yeah, I could’ve mentioned it in passing but I’ve already talked about the darkbulb quite extensively in my other videos so it felt redundant to go into detail about it here.
Glad to make you think though!
After playing though Omori just about 2 days ago, these videos you made were 'exactly' what I was hoping to find. Not just a breakdown of the story, symbolism and gameplay - but commentary with a focus on the delivery, and 'how' those things culminate to make you feel when it's all completed. So I want to firstly say thank you for this massive amount of work, I'll be coming back in the future to probably re-watch these when I want to re-live this whole story again!
I had recently finished a game called Signalis that had a very profound affect on me much like Omori did, but the endings left me wishing I had just slightly more of a complete answer. It's designer and artistic choice in a story to leave certain things up to the player or reader to decide for themselves, which can feel great and create a lot of discussion in the community! But sometimes you 'need' that Catharsis, and this game - these videos you made, did exactly that.
Wow, I didn’t see this comment until now, but thank you! That’s one of the best compliments I could receive.
@@DetectiveMar No problem! The compliment was well deserved ^__^.
idk if anyone noticed this but the notes in calm down, focus, persist, and overcome play final duet...
Playing out the true route after doing Hikkikomori first, it's probably a long shot but I found something interesting or so I think. Blackspace 2 is nearly impossible to access in the true route barring the hole you can fall through and when you do, it's all static and glitchy. I think the fuzziness is kind of hopeful in a way as it means the truth is coming to the surface meanwhile it's clear in the Hikki route but at the cost of Sunny fully giving up.
There's also interpreting being able to fall down the hole in Sunny route as a allegory for slipping back into depression but with the caveat that in the Sunny route, you can get out of BS2 and continue back on the path of the truth.
Tbh, I was inspired by watching your blackspace 2 vid to try the Hikkikomori route first and save the Sunny route for last so I could conclude the game on a good note in a way that I won't be itching to go back and ruin it.
That’s an interesting connection
@@DetectiveMar I just found it an intriguing one since the game also gives you the choice at the end to just give up even after knowing the full truth and hanging out with your friends. This had me thinking back to falling into bs2 even on the route where sunny is trying to grasp the truth.
Heck, the mixed route’s existence falls into this line of thinking too since even after seeing his real friends, sunny can just retreat back into dreams on day 2.
I think it illustrates really well how it really is down to him at the end of the day instead of giving us a straightforward love and trust beats all kinda story.
WOW! what an emotional video i am so happy we all worked to convince you to keep at it!
When I finished omori at the tail end of last year I was watching video after video of omori content and all of them only gave me a small piece of new or unique information, some videos being hours long. When I got to your first video you gave that classic line of "im about to describe the plot skip to here if you already know it" and I knew I was going to be in for something unique when the time you gave wasnt over 2 thirds of the video's time. your omori videos have been the only ones that make me really ponder your thoughts regardless of if i agree with them or now. to really provide a fresh perspective, and serveral things that I never woulld have notced even after playing the game 4 times, not to mention they're the only ones ive ever sent to my friends. Thank you so much for taking this series to completion. I do hope I continue to see you here!
The thing that I always tell my friends when they get to the final omori fight is its not whether or not they can win its how long they last, im surpised you didnt show the ....sixth...? stage of the fight and let that further what you were saying, was that intentional?
Thank you! I'm always concerned that what I say will end up being redundant when I plan out these videos, but with this game it seems like there was a lot to say that hadn't been said before. I'm glad you enjoyed the whole series. Now the question is what to do next.
Regarding the sixth stage, I know what you're talking about but I never got to it in the playthrough I used for the background gameplay here (or maybe it got removed at some point?) so it didn't come to mind.
Thank you for this video. It made me cry... and the way you talked about the Omori battle helped me realize that even though I'm not going through anything even remotely CLOSE to what Sunny experiences in Omori, taking another look at his story and how he got over his trauma can help me get over what I'm experiencing right now. I really appreciate this a lot.
That’s amazing, thank you.
"i have to tell you something"
"what is it?"
"i am W I D E" *becomes wide*
37:24 i also think basil specifically stabbed it because he couldn't handle it, it could've been that the way Sunny's eye was glaring at him was the same as the way mari's corpse was, and the unbearable guilt made him just want to end it. To have it stop looking at him back. Which reminds me alil of how sunny basically silenced mari as she was shouting at him increasing his pain and frustration by the second.
The photo description makes it clear it was Basil who was first to stare at it afterall.
I have to watch videos like this because when I played Omori, I started seeing the ending coming, and having lost my sibling (I didn't kill her, at least) fairly recently at the time, I spoiled myself online and then put the game down. I never finished it. It was, and in many ways, still is, far too raw for me to experience the game's ending myself. I absolutely loved the most of the game I did play, so thanks for both breaking down the end and showing the progression through Sunny's suppression and grief, so that I could at least witness it from arm's length, so to speak.
Thank you. And sorry to hear about your loss, I hope everything’s going well.
thanks bro for all of the series, i was looking all over places to find the in-depth explanation of omori but just couldnt find one.
Sorry for repeating this but many many thanks and bless you bro
Really beautiful video tackling an incredible game. I really enjoyed the series as a whole.
I’m glad that I came across your channel, looking forward to your future content!
I may be watching these out of order, but I loved hearing your thoughts. I’ll be glad to check out the others soon!
42:27
Dang it, this area still gets me tearing up, even in a video like this.
Yeah, that’s OMORI for you
beautiful, wonderful series. thanks for making appreciate OMORI even more.
I completed this game and desperately searched online for people discussing this game because I’m way too attached to it lol. This video is perfect and you deserve more attention.
I completely share your sentiment about the game, which is why I made these four videos. Thanks!
I too am glad you made that first video, this series has absolutely without a doubt been one of the best I've watched on this platform. To make people feel such visceral emotions in such a way is just beyond words, but you described it all perfectly & as you said there's always more to keep discovering. What an incredibly fascinating story & work of art this is.
P.S: I can't express enough how much I'd love to see your thoughts on a similar game series named Hello Charlotte :)
Oh, thank you!
I’ve gotten that recommendation before, but never got around to it yet. I think I’ll have to play it.
What is profound is saying the truth is everything whatever you'll get from saying that. Saying the truth to those you lied to them is the best way to relieved yourself from being stressed being depressed and much more from the negative feelings. This story Sunny was just hid everything to everyone and the point is what he was lying is very sensitive and for a kid it is very very hard for them to say the truth and because of this he and Basil was just piled up their guilts depression stresses and much more negative thought and about Sunny's father found out what he did and already told him and didn't helped him but chose to leave him and not looking back and this made Sunny be more depressed and more stressed. So how to overcome everything is just telling the truth to the relative person of the root of the guilty and when you told the truth no matter what happened you'll be relieved and never be scared from anything anymore even though dad found out. In a positive way maybe he will forgive you either.
Some of the best omori analysis videos I’ve seen. 4 videos of straight fire. Good luck on whatever you do next. (I also love how you still had to analyse the the significance of the thanks for playing screen even at the end lmao)
Thanks, and I’m so glad you noticed! Just can’t help it. It’s good to know someone is watching literally all the way to the end :)
I got so excited when I saw another mindwell video, thank you so much!
You’re welcome… but more importantly, thank YOU
You are one of the video channels that best describes and interprets a masterpiece like OMORI. Thank you for everything. Im waiting for your next video.
Thank you! Another video will be coming soon, although not about OMORI.
I finished this game a few days ago and found your series of videos on the topic, only for you to release the final video shortly after. Crazy how coincidences like that happen.
Some people call it synchronicity.
this was incredibly beautiful, thank you for making this video
Thank you :)
All of these analysis videos are amazing. it goes to show that Omori really is a definitive example that video games can indeed be art. This game is the quintessential go to example to say that yes video games are art. Omori should be taught in game dev universities on story structure under the framework of a video game.
Amazing video 😭
Best stuff delving into Omori more
Magnificent video, i love the thourough analysis!
Thank you!
Yw! I've almost finished the video, and I'm on modules at work today so I've got this propped up on the side 😂❤
Great video, keep up the good work 😀👍
Sure will :)
New omori vid 😊 day has become 3x better
Ahh, thank you!
This probably sounds like I’m exaggerating but this game actually changed my life so much. This game had such a huge impact on me on an emotional level i can’t even describe it but omg i hope your channel one day gets the recognition it deserves. I honestly love the way you word and explain things so much
It's a good day when new mindwell video
Thank you! I’m happy you’ve made that association ;)
It's also interesting that the right eye motif shows itself again during the final duet sequence, where the stick that props up the lid of the piano covers Mari's right eye when Sunny goes to look at her while playing
@@DracoDominusGDOh, nice catch! As if she can’t look at him with the eye that cursed him.. There really is always another detail
Dude... Just thanks for making this video
No problem :)
Another 1 hour long omori video in my reccomended 😊
Yeah, I might as well have published my script as a book at this point
I hope I'm not the only one who cried during 42:25 - 48:20
You should have had at least 500k subs keep going on
That's very generous. New video is coming soon, actualy
@@DetectiveMar Will be waiting as I'm a big fan of Omori
New omori video! YIPPIEEEEEEEE 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Also i hope you give us your insite on the omori manga when it relases if there's anything to add!
I definitely will if there is!
And here i was thinking i had saw all omori analysis videos
Even though this is my last one, I’m sure people will keep talking about this game for a long time
THIS MADE ME CRYYY
FANTASYIC WIRK
Thank you! Not sure what more I could hope for
please dedicate a video to history of the wheel, the one referenced in his journal
Do you mean the mandala-type thing he scribbled?
binging all of your omori videos i love omori eheteghrhdjendjfndndhdhdhdhdh this makes me feel so much i
Actually- Sunny’s first words are yelling “Pizza Delivery” during the pizza delivery job sequence. (Jk jk- maybe. But who does yell those words, if not him?)
Fair point
8:51
It's expected that in 1523 people who fell down stairs one of them dies, it's not that uncommon, and in all honesty, you'd be lucky to not be dead if you fell (or got pushed) down stairs
Especially if there's a blunt object present at the end of it, of it has sharp edges.
Without either, it's still very likely to leave you with long lasting injuries especially if the starirs are considerably long.
o7