Thank you everyone so much for watching and your overwhelming support. I wasn't expecting such an outpouring of shared experiences and sentiments from you all regarding friendships and Mario. It's a fantastic reminder that we are not alone and we share so much more than we realize. Please bear with me as I will read all your comments and reply to as many as I can. It warms my heart to see all of them and I hope you are all doing well! Don't forget to take care of yourselves too!
I mean, when *someone* continues to shoot in the foot their games by limiting writing innovation and bigger stories it's really pretty logic that games that used to be good just... aren't anymore. Also, I'm not saying that old mario games aren't good and that modern mario games aren't also good... it's just that modern mario games feel already old even when they've just come out.
I completely agree! I was going to make my own comment about this but funnily enough the top one was it already 😁 While games in some ways have gotten worse, I still love them and always will. I'm kinda glad that this video wasn't negative and depressing like some others stating the objective flaws with Mario games, and I'm *very* glad this video was what it was. It gives me more knowledge than any schooling could.
I saw this comment before watching the video and I was so concerned it was about Mario lmaooo But yeah, it was really wholesome and I’m happy he found love :)
It is absolutely uncanny that this video was recommended to me as I am currently in Japan with someone who I am seriously questioning my friendship with. Time will tell if our friendship survives this trip, but at least I don’t feel so alone right now.
@docrobotonic I hope your trip to Japan goes well and whether your friendship continues or ends, I hope you take care of yourself and still enjoy your time! Japan is lovely. Glad I could make you feel not so alone right now
I travelled in Japan in January of 2020 with my oldest friend, about 3 months before he developed severe schizophrenia. I had been questioning his behavior for a few years before that, worried that he was manipulating me and other people. Japan was great, and it's the last good memory I have with him; a pocket in time between my anxiety over his narcissism and the meteoric impact of his identitive dissolution.
the “I wish I had known sooner, even if nothing would turn out different, just so that I can know that I got to try” is a sentiment that resonates with me so deeply, it felt good hearing someone else say it
Sometimes two people just arent meant to be, but that doesn't excuse bottling up your feelings. There's nothing more painful than hearing that something's been wrong for a long time yet it is the first time you're being told. Its like theyre saying something's inherently wrong with you, or that they were waiting for you to fix on your own an issue you didnt know about. Always remember its not your fault if the people around you dont communicate with you properly and assertively
it feels more like ''you must now play as Luigi'' there is no going back to Mario, he is already long gone you can either stop playing altogether, or carry on with the next
Thing is, Luigi's my favorite of the two Mario bros. There's times where I've deliberately gamed the system JUST to play as him in singleplayer in some games(Letting Mario die out in SMB3 and World, and recently, Gecko Codes on NSMBW). Heck, in games where he's unlockable, I actually look forward to unlocking him. I love a good underdog. I really do. But this video, and these comments kind of just hit me in the feels, y'know? Didn't consider the whole depressing part about it until just now.
@@teak.y Came for a few comments, ended in tears I am in awe of all the support and the sharing of stories in the comments. Hope you enjoyed the video!
the idea of struggling to read a games box art between the light from street lamps unlocked such a core memory for me. i can’t recall specifically what game had me in that scenario, and i know that i haven’t been there more than once or twice, but that sort of scenery and moment is ingrained into my memory
I really hate when I know I've played a game, but it's obscure enough that almost nobody seems to know about it and even when I search exactly what it is it doesn't give me the results, I can't ask on any site about it because barely anybody sees the post and the people that do do not answer, and I have to just wait until maybe one day I'll either somehow encounter it through sheer luck or just forget about it.
I was expecting like a meme video or something, but getting a very thought provoking and emotional video is also very nice. It kinda makes me wanna handwrite a letter to my friends and tell them how I feel. Hopefully you're doing alright though mate, and everything is treating you well though.
Thank you so much for watching! I am glad it resonated with you even though you didn't expect it. Hope you do write those letters and hope your friends appreciate them. As for me, I'm doing fine now thank you!
I actually do have letters to my friends lol. I was planning to give it to them for grad but I guess I was scared it would make things awkward. I still have them tho incase something happens :P
@CamiKitty3 I think that'd be a lovely grad gift! I think sharing how you feel can be daunting, but very worth it, especially since they may not realize how much their friendships mean to others. If you do send it out, let us know how it goes!
It's beautiful how we can give something so simple as a chubby red wahoo man a deeper meaning just by existing in a very specific moment of our lives and realizing that, no matter what, we keep changing while the time passes What a beautiful video
Gotta agree there, you never know when something that at the moment might seem so... innocuous, can turn into such a formative moment for you, for better or worse... Life is fascinating, isn't it?
I was expecting this to be yet another video where people complain about the Mario franchise during the Mario Mandate era, but instead I got a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.
@krakios3950 Thank you so much for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it Though the Mario Mandate era is something I wasn't a fan of. I think the originality and uniqueness of the grand adventures we go on with Mario is something to appreciate
@@MisterSandmanAU The "Mario Mandates" era is a (former) conspiracy formed largely by the Paper Mario and NSMB fans that theorized that Nintendo, during the Wii U and 3DS days from around 2012-2016 or so, with certain exceptions, mandated that Mario's games couldn't modify existing characters, get too crazy with the worlds and stories, make tons of OCs, basically do anything overly creative. I say 'former' because it was kinda proven true 4 years ago by Kensuke Tanabe's remarks that they were no longer able to modify Mario characters ever since Paper Mario: Sticker Star, which is also considered to be 'patient zero' for this issue. It isn't confirmed if this is just a Paper Mario thing and everyone else just had to...do that, but the whole creativity thing seems like something Nintendo might've, could've, possibly done in a desperate attempt to drive sales. There are many theories: playing it too safe, recovering from the excesses of both the PM and M&L series, just trying to probe the casual market that flooded in from the Wii and DS, and of course, the inevitable cries of 'selling out'. From what it looks like, even if it wasn't the mandate specifically, this mindset similar to this mandate of sanding down Mario's rough edges in this era touched pretty much every Mario game (except 2013's M&L Dream Team and certain 'indirectly Mario' spinoffs like Wario, DK and Luigi), like PM Sticker Star, Color Splash, Origami King, M&L Paper Jam, Mario Sports Superstars, NSMB 2, NSMB U, NSLU, 3D Land and 3D World. Note that a lot of these games have fun gameplay and are still a decent to great time, some even fairly refined in their series (ex. PJ's combat system), but naturally it looks very strange for a AAA company known for their innovation, creativity and risk-taking to do something like this. People have been notoriously critical of this era and its' games (RelaxAlax is really loud about it, but that's all his content anyway), but I'm also glad people are realizing the inherent fun gameplay, interesting ideas and refinements that can still be found in some of these titles. If you'd like to learn more about the Mario Mandates era in context of more details, current Mario games and the potential future, Lizardy made a great, pretty level-headed video on this very topic.
@MadelineMyujikaru it's an amazing thing to have characters and media like games mean so much to people. We're all looking for connections, and stories always have a way of bringing that to light. Glad to know I could put words to your feelings and hope you enjoyed the video!
Glad to know you are still doing good after such big a loss. I've never had a friend who stuck for long, no 'best friend' or 'one true love'. But Mario and Luigi were always there for me. It feels good to know I'm not entirely alone with this feeling. I was so happy when I found out a new Mario & Luigi is coming, being my favorite game series that greatly impacted my childhood. It feels like meeting an old friend after a decade of not seeing eachother. Even if it won't feel the same, I know it will be a good time.
Growing up neurodivergent, I always felt broken. Even when I was sure I did well, and that I could rest knowing I did my best, it was never enough to satisfy the people around me. Thank you for making this video.
You’re not mourning your friend. You’re mourning the relationship you had. The platonic love that was shared. The memories that you had. And you will move on.
“But above all else, no matter how I may feel at times, I need to remind myself that I am truly not alone. The sky is filled with stars, all waiting to be seen. And even if your best friend leaves your orbit, they have changed the entire trajectory of your life.” So profound. I love it. There are still so many things to see and do in this world, and although our friends may not hang around forever, they can still change our whole outlook on life. Thank you for sharing all of this. 💖
this really spoke to me!! It's nice to hear about grieving friends- as i only really hear about it when grieving family or romantic relationships. Your story really reminded me of my childhood and my relationships with my longest known friend and my older brother Amazing video ⭐
I have no words to describe how great this video is. Hope you're doing okay man, everything about this story sounds like it hurts to have gone through.
Thank you for watching! Though it brought a lot of pain, it did bring a lot of growth too which I am grateful for. I hope you're doing ok too and hope you're taking care of yourself
Man, this was beautiful, genuinely. Someone else said but i wholly agree "before we got married" made me so happy to hear, and the rest of the essay felt like someone out there has gone through pain so reminiscent of the pain many of us feel, that even through relationship turmoil, escapism, depression, and whatever else gets thrown at us, you can just keep going, keep breathing and things will get better. Its extremely encouraging. I wish you, and anyone fellow people out there "goin thru it" the absolute best, and future hope.
@spritesensation thank you for the incredibly high praise! Glad you enjoyed it and there are so many great Mario videos out there! Feel free to let me know others so I can watch them as well
I was never able to mourn my best friend. It wasn’t a dying friendship but his untimely passing at the beginning of our journey. I’ve almost gotten over all of it but recently his sister died and this video made me think over what their absence means to me. I regard him as a brother to me but I don’t know where his grave is. Most of the memories I have of him are faded. All I have left are the remaining emotions of a foggy past, I’ll never have that connection with anyone else. Your video helped me to understand that I may never be able to truly mourn for my best friend but I can carry the value of that friendship with me.
Try reaching back out and expressing the feelings you mentioned here about wishing then that you could change things and that youd like to try that now. And that you view him in such a high regard. Time can heal some wounds. He might come around.
personally, i believe thinking that having to gain something from a friendship is unnatural and unhealthy, friendships shouldn't consist of people expecting things from each other, they're something to make memories with and reflect back on, and to have fun with. a friend is someone you enjoy and have fun doing activities and making memories with. expecting something from someone as the basis of a friendship seems extremely negative and unhealthy.
exactly. if someone is friends with you because they expect something from you, they're not a true friend. you become friends with someone because you care about them. it's that simple.
The only expectation you should have is that you get as much as you give. But people who talk about "I'm not getting as much out of you as I wanted" often don't give anything in exchange.
This is such a personal story, but really meaningful. I have been in similar situations. I especially remember feeling isolated with my best friend who did not view me the same way. I'm in college now, and thankfully I found people. I still fear this kind of confrontation, but I also know that I'll be able to tackle whatever comes my way. Very impactful video, this is the kind of lesson many kids need. It's more than just halfheartedly saying "you're not alone!" It's a message of grieving relationships and moving on. Really, truly beautiful.
this video just made me sob like a big baby. ive been mourning the death of a friend group for almost 2 years and this hit the spot just right. thank you for making this. it made me feel like i wasnt alone, and that there is hope for me :)
This video hit me right in the feel, really resonated with it. Remind me of a friend I held dear for many years, but who slowly drifted away form me, probably one of the worst feeling ever. Seeing him reply less and less to my message, taking up to two weeks sometimes, for a simple text, when we used to have hours long discussion on random topics for hours before, feeling more and more like being a burden. I remember asking him about it, asking him if it felt like a chore talking to me, and he admitted that sometime yeah. How much it hurts to see someone you value so much putting you lower and lower in his importance list. For years I felt like everything was my fault, that he was changing and maturing while I wasn't, not ready to accept that we were simply growing apart, his interests were changing while I still enjoyed video games, I wanted to play Splatoon 3 with him, but he only bought Mario party, event though he promised me he'd buy it and play with me, as we had played ton of Splatoon 2 together before, it isn't a big deal, but things like that made me realize he just was looking for something different than before. It wasn't until i met new friends who valued me as muc has i valued them that i really understood how much it was hurting me. This video was great to remind me on how good those memories were, even if it was hurting when it ended, those are years I'll neverg et back, so I'm glad I had fun and helped him for those years. Anyway, I really hope you're doing okay and wish you the best, thank you for this video.
I am right there with you, that has also happened to a friend I have known for so long. It is sad to see them go after so many good memories. After a while it just felt like they didnt value me as much, as they hardly ever reached out and frequently ignored me.
I know how it is to lose a friend this way... The lack of communication is painful. If only they told me sooner... Maybe I would still be friends with them. I've moved on but I still think about them from time to time, and this video made me remember them again. Thank you for this absolutely beautiful video. I had tears in my eyes near the end.
I understand this struggle. I'm 17 years old and in the middle of my senior year at high school, plus I happen to have autism, which makes it a bit harder to make friends. I wish you the best of luck.
I went through something really similar with a person I considered my brother, not by birth but by choice. We had been inseparable as kids, and as teenagers we were there for each other as we matured. I received an over 2000 word text at around 9:20pm on the 11th (I think) of July about how much of a horrible person I am, how selfish and disgusting I am. This was out of nowhere and crushed my soul, the person I confided in more than anyone, my best friend. Betrayed my trust. Thought of me as scum. Bringing up stuff from when we were mere children, things I had already apologised for. I sent a response offering to hear him out and repair things. I never heard back. Since then we have not spoken, he has been kicked out of his home and now lives alone at 18. He came after me, and my family in that message, calling us horrid things. He made no effort to reconcile. I don't know whether to hate him or to miss him. I'm mourning someone who is still alive, yet doesn't exist.
It’s amazing how seemingly unique but deeply relatable the story you tell is. From the depression and eating disorder in high school, to moving on to college hoping for better, to losing that dear friend… and video games being there as a parasocial friend through it all. Although I relate to you directly, this story also helped me reflect on times that I was “Mario” in the lives of others, where they valued me in a way that I didn’t reciprocate. I suppose it’s important to be mindful of your connections with others. Thank you for sharing, and for taking the time to wrap these experiences into such a strong narrative.
One of the best TH-cam videos I’ve seen in a long time. Made me cry. Echoed my feelings of complete isolation and loneliness, but also gave me hope for my future. Thank you for uploading such a masterpiece
Was expecting a video essay on the games themselves, and got a really heartfelt discussion about friendship and loneliness. This reminds me a lot of myself, especially the "introverted best friend turned unrecognizable and treating you horribly" part, except I was too prideful to keep up with their treatment and dropped them. It kind of became my go-to response to hardship in relationship actually, the "you cant fire me, im leaving!" tactic. Working on it is incredibly hard because at least if its your choice to be alone, you feel in control. And when other mess is happening in your life, untreated mental illness etc, feeling vulnerable is the last thing you want. It's a cursed cycle Anyway this was really good, thank you, made me reflect on my friendships and the coping mechanisms
As someone who just started TH-cam, this video is what I aspire to make in my own videos, finding a deeper meaning in things that may seem shallow at first. Good job man!
@wysteria3263 Thank you for the high praise. It's touching to have videos of mine be inspirations for creators out there. I've checked your videos out and I think you've definitely got some great insights! Wishing all the best and luck for you!
Dude I don’t think I was ready to relate so hard. High school was the first height of my depression, and I found comfort in both my real best friends (whom I still hold close today) and my virtual best friends in characters like Mario or Sonic. This was beautiful. Thank you for sharing
Every once in a while, you dtumble onto a video you didnt know you needed. Thank you for this one, ive had a similar falling out 5 years ago now. And youve put into words so many feelings i couldnt describe
This video is extremely personal, I love that you put yourself out there and told this story! It really is special, and a very unique perspective on Mario and friendship as a whole, great video!
I feel like i relate to this video a lot. I'm only 18 now, but my family had moved a lot, from Kansas to Iowa, back to Kansas, and then to Washington State, and then moved within Washington State. I didn't go through high school as I was homeschooled. I started college over 2 years ago at a community college, where my family then moved again and I transferred, and now I'm 350 miles away at university. I have made new friends, my girlfriend changed, and didn't have feelings for me anymore. I still feel just as close to my extroverted best friend from my 2nd community college, despite the fact that I haven't seen him in months. I too hope to have him as my friend forever, but even if we don't I hope I can forever appreciate the adventures we went on.
I think this is my other favorite meditation on Mario, next to "You Have Already Seen This Mario Galaxy Video" by AurumAlex. I appreciate the earnestness so much it's difficult to put into words. Having a childhood defined by autism, the feelings of connecting deeply with a video game or media property and aching for a similar depth of friendship with real people too is something I'm very personally familiar with. Same with drifting apart when you realize both that you've become very different people, and that you might have not had the same expectations for the relationship to begin with. It's rough, but thank you for making this. I'm wishing you the best
Lost my best friend a week ago for a very similar reason. Needless to say I cried very hard when you talked about people changing. In these situations, I wanna reach out and invite people to please remember that you can ask your other friends to show you support and care, and you shouldn't be afraid to do it. Whether you want to vent, or a hug, there is no issue with asking for comfort and affection. Showing your weaknesses gets you closer to people anyway, so... cherish them and allow yourself to be happy, in respect of both parties. (Also I love how we had a very similar experience, my best friend was Kirby😭♥️)
I was not expecting to cry through this video. I sympathise with the feelings you experienced from losing your best friend and I wish you all the best. This video really spoke to me and helped me remember to let my friends and family know how much I cherish them because you truly don't know when they will be gone from your life. Thank you for this masterpiece of a video.
The algorithm strikes again with its uncanny recommendations. As of this writing, I am due to visit my own best friend in about two weeks at her new house with her new fiancée. I moved away about ten years ago, but we’ve stayed in touch through simple things like weekly movie nights and the occasional trip together. But this will be the first time I will get a real glimpse of what her life has evolved into since I left all those years ago, and admittedly, the fear of an experience like your trip to Japan has been in the back of my mind. I know she’s changed a lot from the girl I befriended back in fifth grade - I’ve changed a lot too, some of it good, some of it not so much. But this video has helped put some of my lingering anxiety to rest by helping me get it into words. Even if something goes wrong and we end up parting ways, I can still be happy that she was a part of my life at all, even if she wasn't meant to be part of my life forever. I can still be thankful for the good times and how she’s helped shape me into the person I am today. If the worst comes to pass, I’ll survive it. We both will.
Jesus this was an emotional ride. Letting go of an attachment to someone you cared about that much is always hard. In some ways, the scar never fully heals, but like you said, there’s always room for others in your heart.
Had a semi-snarky comment from the title baiting me in, but after watching in full... yeah, I don't have it in me to leave it here. Not after how close it all hit. I'm sorry to hear about how many similar pains you've experienced. Hearing just how common it can actually be as time's gone on is... demoralizing. It shouldn't be this way. Time can heal, yes, but... time also allows wounds to fester. So many people somehow look at it positively, but... I just don't see it... but I don't need to understand it for others to recover.
@@gaming_bigfoot hey, as a person who’s gone through a lot and continues to go through it, just know that there’s always hope. Tomorrow is always around the corner, and any day of your life could be your best or worst. The road ahead may be hard, but the roads go on without end. There is always hope in this darkness
Thank you so much man for having the courage to pour your heart in an new internet that is seldomly sincere, talking about real stuff that has happened probably to most introverts; meeting somebody then unknowingly mishandle it and mess it up forever
I came into this video expecting an essay about Mario games being different from the ones that came out years ago and left crying my eyes out. This was so beautiful and sentimental, it hit every topic that I've been afraid to deal with and I appreciate it for doing it so gracefully using the one franchise that's kept me joyous my 17 years of being alive. Thank you.
Im kinda of a youtube diehard, even with thousands of hours of watch time I dont think I ever saw a video soo touching as yours, one of the best videos on the platform, thats why I like so much, Thank you. ❤
I was looking for background noise tonight at about 10:30~ tonight, looking to crunch some projects before school tomorrow morning since we’ll be studying for finals instead I found your thoughts, and they resonate with me deeply after watching your video, I don’t regret doing so instead of either project I could have I feel readier for what’s to come, and feel like I should tell the friends I have now just how much they mean to me thank you I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with the world
I honestly thought that this would just be something about the Mario Odyssey death theory or something but...... this is just so much deeper than that. I've watched MANY, MANY video essays...but this one actually made me feel something. It actually made me..cry. Thank you so much for telling me this story of pain, redemption, loss, and moving on from the past troubles. Thank you. 😢
i had no idea coming into this video how moving it would be. it’s uncanny how similar my school experience was as someone that really struggled to make meaningful friendships and still battles with an eating disorder. i moved right before starting highschool which further hurt my mental and social state. knowing i may have been socially or physically alone but not alone in spirit made me cry and really puts my experience in a different perspective. thank you for this video
Man, what a story... Like, I have no words to describe it, it's just... wow. Losing one's best friend can be hard, but I have faith that you will persevere.
I have no friends. This video hits hard. I haven't had a Mario since school, and even then, I wasn't their Mario. I message my dead grandma to get things off my chest. Hope youre doing well, man.
I'm sorry that you had a rough falling out Stew, but I am very thankful for you sharing your story. You've shown me and many other viewers that other people do think about something as normal as Mario with the same level of depth. I've had a similar relationship with Mario and best friends too. How you mention the pain of changing and not being able to join Mario on ever single adventure really got to me before you even mentioned real life relationships. Throughout my life I've had many friends that I got separated from and we both changed and I always find myself missing the version of them that I knew. It's really hard to grasp that the person I miss no longer exists, and that usually keeps me from reaching out again after so long. I always feel we'd be too incompatible now, but it is still nice to have known them in the first place. Lately I've been struggling to make new friends as I am introverted too. As I am excited for the Switch 2 and new adventures with Mario, I am hopeful that there's more opportunities to make friends in the future and go on adventures with them too. I hope everyone who shares these sentiments can keep moving forward and keep finding people who share similar values with them.
Great video! As someone freshly healed from my last few losses, I understand perfectly the struggle of grieving a friendship, romantic relationships, and connections with family. Above all, as long as I can look honestly at my past and be content with how far I’ve come, I am happy. I hope anyone reading this can find that sort of peace, even if it is fleeting. Much love, and best wishes for the future! May your love be strong and your connections last!
This video is possibly one of the best videos I've seen. The way you describe your experience is so moving, and it makes me sad to know that you've experienced these lessons so early in your life. It also makes me happy to know I'm not alone in my thoughts about friends. It makes me so worried when I tell someone they're my best friend, even though I know I'm not theirs. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
God i was ready for a video essay about modern Mario instead i got a video eassy that hits so close to home. I've never had a large group of friends but losing friends stung more because of that. Extend periods of time where i was alone and left to wonder on what i did wrong or how i could've been a better friend. I really only have 2 friends in my life right now and have for the past 2 years. Im unsure if in 2 years time they'll still be around but i'll always cherish the time spent with them even if i know it isn't much to them. This video is absolutely fantastic and i hope the best for you
I was somehow expecting this to be about how Mario feels different without Charles Martinet but it instead a heartfelt story that I feel I can empathize with. I moreso feel this way about my ex-girlfriend. Though our actual relationship was short(we were both introverts that semi-flirted for months before), she was the first girl that I had an actual relationship with and I miss the idea of her. Heck, I miss the idea of the man I was when I was chasing after her and when we were together. I was so unbelievably confident and had a genuine happy smile that just appeared on my face for no reason which people I've been friends with for years could back up that that was never me. I was motivated, enjoying getting my first job, ready to begin actually improving my life, and that version of me is a thought I'm pining after among other things now. Thank you for sharing.
You ever click on a video thinking it'll be kinda mellow or simple background noise but then you start crying while you try to finish your work? I'm at a loss of words but just returning from a trip to Japan with my friend, not going through the same struggle but understanding how it could have gone just as bad, I feel for you friend. Thank you for making this emotional piece.
This is not what I expected clicking on this video, such an amazing and unique way to tell a story, especially for a TH-cam video. Definitely was not at all expecting such an emotional story that I could relate to, good stuff! Heavily underrated for sure.
this. this was a video made just for me. i related to everything you said, and have said before that mario isn't a character to me. he is a friend. just as link, zelda, and samus are. these games are inherently apart of me, and they always will be. they'll always be there for me, and can absorb me in their worlds to let me rest from mine, even for a little bit. addendum. i too, never was able to make friends. and i don't know you, but your friend reminds me of my "friends". he was not a friend, man. if no amount of discussion or working on your relationship would persuade him, he wanted you gone, and didn't respect you for you. he liked an idea of you, but not who you were. who you are. never change yourself for other people. i like you for you, this video made me feel like talking to an old friend. someone i relate to on an almost visceral level. not to get parasocial or anything, haha. just know you are not alone, and you never will be. you should play mario wonder, it may seem childish and easy, but it gets difficult and amazingly fun. and if you play with any people online, i believe you can friend them on switch by going to the players you've played with online. so maybe you'll find a luigi, or a peach, or daisy. there's many people out there waiting to play with you, and me, and everyone else. i wish you good times and fun with the next game you pick up, man.
oh my god dude. this might be one of my favorite video essays i’ve ever watched. I was expecting some kind of typical nintendo rant but instead i got blessed with one of the most wise and introspective videos i’ve ever watched. i lost my best friend a year and a half ago and i still think about him every day. we had a weird falling out with mutual friends out of our control and it isolated us, despite never having issues. i still pray for him every day and i wish him the best but sometimes i wonder if there was more i could have done. things i should have said differently. i could’ve been a better friend and not left despite our circumstances. and i still haunt myself with those questions every night. i want to reach out but i don’t know and it scares me even thinking about it. this video brought me some closure even if it’s temporary. thank you for making this.
This is one of the most beautiful TH-cam videos I’ve ever seen. So relatable to so many people, including me. I lost a friend due to myself cutting off the friendship, because we had both fundamentally changed. I still felt pain, even though I was the one to end it. I appreciate the message of this video a lot. Thank you for the great thoughts at 4am.
This is a wonderful video, it made me really emotional. Thank you for sharing your story and I’m so sorry you were treated like that. It’s really painful to be told things like that by people you care so deeply about. It’s also just a very good message for anyone who is an introvert or generally struggles with making friends and feels that deep loneliness that comes with it. Mourning someone who is still alive is really tough and, as you say yourself in the video, such a paradoxical feeling. I was reminded of my own old best friend while watching. We’d been friends for over a decade, we met in kindergarten and he remained one of my only friends up until I was around 13 or 14 (we were both introverted nerds, there weren’t a lot of other people at our school that liked video games so we just had to stick together). At around the age of 16 we went to different schools, and although I tried to keep contact with him, it never really felt like he put in the same amount of effort. I had tried to talk to him about it and he had said he still wanted to be friends, but after that it just returned to the way it had been before. So eventually I just gave up and let it slowly fizzle out… It really hurts, because it felt like our friendship didn’t mean enough to even put in the little amount of effort it takes to respond to a dm. Now the only time I “see” him is when his name pops up in a steam notification at the bottom of my screen because he’s playing something. I miss him, and I often wonder if things could have been different if I had held on tighter to that friendship… And if he even misses me. But ultimately we’ve both changed a lot, and while it hurts that this is where it ended, I still treasure the memories of the years of friendship we had together and how being friends with him changed me for the better.
The cool thing about Mario as a character, is that no matter in how many adventures he goes, his concept and ideals stays the same, his heart is pure and he's always there to uplift anyone, even those who he doesn't know A thing said by Charles Martinet, Mario's legendary Voice Actor, is that during one of his recordings for Mario Teaches Typing, the text was something among the lines of "You failed, try again", and then he changed it to "You did great! But I know you can do even better!" Because that's what he wants Mario to be and see him as, a role model, an optimistic uplifting guy who trusts in people, and is always kind and respectful to those around him, he is everything that Charles himself (and I think many people) would want to be as a person
man this hit me in a way i didn't know a youtube video could i'm still in the process of mourning some friends. it comforts me to know i'm not alone. thank you.
Thank you everyone so much for watching and your overwhelming support. I wasn't expecting such an outpouring of shared experiences and sentiments from you all regarding friendships and Mario. It's a fantastic reminder that we are not alone and we share so much more than we realize.
Please bear with me as I will read all your comments and reply to as many as I can. It warms my heart to see all of them and I hope you are all doing well! Don't forget to take care of yourselves too!
this is an essay
this got sad fast
You made peak
You deserve way more views and subs than this!
Consider your friend Mario never existed in the first place. Perhaps he was showing a mask and what you saw in Japan was the real Mario.
This is the "mario the idea VS mario the man" essay, in its true entirety.
@@jinxsterr_Dispenser3741 Perchance
@@damasterofskitsees you can’t just say perchance
@@Sacky_The_Artist yes he can, persay
The lifekind...
I love and hate this so much... perchance
i expected from the title that this would be like "mario games used to be good and now they're not" but honestly this was way way better
@@EggZu_ I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for watching!
Thought the exact same thing and was suprised in the best way
I mean, when *someone* continues to shoot in the foot their games by limiting writing innovation and bigger stories it's really pretty logic that games that used to be good just... aren't anymore. Also, I'm not saying that old mario games aren't good and that modern mario games aren't also good... it's just that modern mario games feel already old even when they've just come out.
I completely agree! I was going to make my own comment about this but funnily enough the top one was it already 😁
While games in some ways have gotten worse, I still love them and always will. I'm kinda glad that this video wasn't negative and depressing like some others stating the objective flaws with Mario games, and I'm *very* glad this video was what it was. It gives me more knowledge than any schooling could.
@@chrisheartman9263 odyssey was goated idk bro
the "before we married" made me so happy to hear
Made me incredibly happy to say it!
@@sablestew Hell yeah!!
@@kxdsh almost felt like a spoiler, but hearing the whole thing I'm just glad it was mentioned AT ALL.
I saw this comment before watching the video and I was so concerned it was about Mario lmaooo
But yeah, it was really wholesome and I’m happy he found love :)
the opposite side of the coin compared to ''before we broke up''
or the even worse ''went out separate ways''
"I would have used wikihow better" dude that sentence broke me
Same, man, the way his voice sounds in that part absolutely demolished me
@@RobinGutierrez-y5u'even if it wouldn't have changed the outcome, atleast i could have tried' great now im crying again because i wrote that
It is absolutely uncanny that this video was recommended to me as I am currently in Japan with someone who I am seriously questioning my friendship with. Time will tell if our friendship survives this trip, but at least I don’t feel so alone right now.
@docrobotonic I hope your trip to Japan goes well and whether your friendship continues or ends, I hope you take care of yourself and still enjoy your time! Japan is lovely. Glad I could make you feel not so alone right now
I hope your able to come away with some fond memories despite the friendship drifting!
How are things going now?
Same man, same. Love from America❤️❤️
I travelled in Japan in January of 2020 with my oldest friend, about 3 months before he developed severe schizophrenia.
I had been questioning his behavior for a few years before that, worried that he was manipulating me and other people.
Japan was great, and it's the last good memory I have with him; a pocket in time between my anxiety over his narcissism and the meteoric impact of his identitive dissolution.
Came for the title, stayed for the story
Same
Hope you enjoyed the story. Thanks for watching!
i thought he was going to kill mario
For real
@@tiborvarga2782 me too
I legit just lost a 20 year friendship over something that wasn't true and this video made me cry my fucking eyes out.
GET THE FRIENDSHIP BACK. NEVER LET BULLSHIT LIES EAT YOUR FRIENDSHIPS.
@@benonaru its not possible at times
Oh god I know that feeling 🤍
yeah this one was a bit stabby in the emotions
(not in a bad way, just in an effective way)
the “I wish I had known sooner, even if nothing would turn out different, just so that I can know that I got to try” is a sentiment that resonates with me so deeply, it felt good hearing someone else say it
Sometimes two people just arent meant to be, but that doesn't excuse bottling up your feelings. There's nothing more painful than hearing that something's been wrong for a long time yet it is the first time you're being told. Its like theyre saying something's inherently wrong with you, or that they were waiting for you to fix on your own an issue you didnt know about. Always remember its not your fault if the people around you dont communicate with you properly and assertively
This gave "you can now play as Luigi" a pretty depressing meaning
it feels more like ''you must now play as Luigi''
there is no going back to Mario, he is already long gone
you can either stop playing altogether, or carry on with the next
Thing is, Luigi's my favorite of the two Mario bros. There's times where I've deliberately gamed the system JUST to play as him in singleplayer in some games(Letting Mario die out in SMB3 and World, and recently, Gecko Codes on NSMBW). Heck, in games where he's unlockable, I actually look forward to unlocking him.
I love a good underdog. I really do.
But this video, and these comments kind of just hit me in the feels, y'know? Didn't consider the whole depressing part about it until just now.
“Mario doesn’t fw u anymore bro here’s Luigi” 💀
@@four-en-tee Shit now this hits even more different after the recent killing.
@@rgkong8783 "That Part" in every Mario & Luigi but IRL.
This video made me cry real tears, not because I miss my past but because it means i wasn’t alone in how I felt in high school
I hate that we're made to feel alone or that we're the only one who feels this way. Grieving lost friendships needs to be talked about more.
Came for a silly Mario video, ended in tears
@@teak.y Came for a few comments, ended in tears
I am in awe of all the support and the sharing of stories in the comments. Hope you enjoyed the video!
the idea of struggling to read a games box art between the light from street lamps unlocked such a core memory for me. i can’t recall specifically what game had me in that scenario, and i know that i haven’t been there more than once or twice, but that sort of scenery and moment is ingrained into my memory
@@grav3yardshawty totally, same for me!
Same. Many times.
Same
I really hate when I know I've played a game, but it's obscure enough that almost nobody seems to know about it and even when I search exactly what it is it doesn't give me the results, I can't ask on any site about it because barely anybody sees the post and the people that do do not answer, and I have to just wait until maybe one day I'll either somehow encounter it through sheer luck or just forget about it.
Same
I was expecting like a meme video or something, but getting a very thought provoking and emotional video is also very nice. It kinda makes me wanna handwrite a letter to my friends and tell them how I feel.
Hopefully you're doing alright though mate, and everything is treating you well though.
Thank you so much for watching! I am glad it resonated with you even though you didn't expect it. Hope you do write those letters and hope your friends appreciate them.
As for me, I'm doing fine now thank you!
I actually do have letters to my friends lol. I was planning to give it to them for grad but I guess I was scared it would make things awkward. I still have them tho incase something happens :P
@CamiKitty3 I think that'd be a lovely grad gift! I think sharing how you feel can be daunting, but very worth it, especially since they may not realize how much their friendships mean to others. If you do send it out, let us know how it goes!
It's beautiful how we can give something so simple as a chubby red wahoo man a deeper meaning just by existing in a very specific moment of our lives and realizing that, no matter what, we keep changing while the time passes
What a beautiful video
Gotta agree there, you never know when something that at the moment might seem so... innocuous, can turn into such a formative moment for you, for better or worse... Life is fascinating, isn't it?
😮 masterlasheron is that you 👀?
Also yea, its a very pretty video
This comment is on-brand with your latest videos, no longer the milkman, you're a whole ass creamery now
El frot
EL LASHERON?!?!?!?!?
I was expecting this to be yet another video where people complain about the Mario franchise during the Mario Mandate era, but instead I got a beautiful story.
Thank you for sharing.
Me too 😭
The Mario Mandate era did suck though
@krakios3950 Thank you so much for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it
Though the Mario Mandate era is something I wasn't a fan of. I think the originality and uniqueness of the grand adventures we go on with Mario is something to appreciate
@@Luxembourgish whats the mandate era?
@@MisterSandmanAU
The "Mario Mandates" era is a (former) conspiracy formed largely by the Paper Mario and NSMB fans that theorized that Nintendo, during the Wii U and 3DS days from around 2012-2016 or so, with certain exceptions, mandated that Mario's games couldn't modify existing characters, get too crazy with the worlds and stories, make tons of OCs, basically do anything overly creative. I say 'former' because it was kinda proven true 4 years ago by Kensuke Tanabe's remarks that they were no longer able to modify Mario characters ever since Paper Mario: Sticker Star, which is also considered to be 'patient zero' for this issue.
It isn't confirmed if this is just a Paper Mario thing and everyone else just had to...do that, but the whole creativity thing seems like something Nintendo might've, could've, possibly done in a desperate attempt to drive sales. There are many theories: playing it too safe, recovering from the excesses of both the PM and M&L series, just trying to probe the casual market that flooded in from the Wii and DS, and of course, the inevitable cries of 'selling out'.
From what it looks like, even if it wasn't the mandate specifically, this mindset similar to this mandate of sanding down Mario's rough edges in this era touched pretty much every Mario game (except 2013's M&L Dream Team and certain 'indirectly Mario' spinoffs like Wario, DK and Luigi), like PM Sticker Star, Color Splash, Origami King, M&L Paper Jam, Mario Sports Superstars, NSMB 2, NSMB U, NSLU, 3D Land and 3D World. Note that a lot of these games have fun gameplay and are still a decent to great time, some even fairly refined in their series (ex. PJ's combat system), but naturally it looks very strange for a AAA company known for their innovation, creativity and risk-taking to do something like this.
People have been notoriously critical of this era and its' games (RelaxAlax is really loud about it, but that's all his content anyway), but I'm also glad people are realizing the inherent fun gameplay, interesting ideas and refinements that can still be found in some of these titles. If you'd like to learn more about the Mario Mandates era in context of more details, current Mario games and the potential future, Lizardy made a great, pretty level-headed video on this very topic.
this was the most cryptic title and thumbnail combo ive ever seen on my homepage i never expected how much this would resonate with me
This video is phenomenal oh my lord.
It's like somebody finally put words as to why some characters make me feel so strongly
@MadelineMyujikaru it's an amazing thing to have characters and media like games mean so much to people. We're all looking for connections, and stories always have a way of bringing that to light. Glad to know I could put words to your feelings and hope you enjoyed the video!
Dude you're an incredible storyteller, and your editing is just as good. I can't believe I'm almost crying at diddy kong mario pics 😭
came in for a gameplay critique , stayed for the most heart wrenching story. i am glad to have stayed
Glad to know you are still doing good after such big a loss. I've never had a friend who stuck for long, no 'best friend' or 'one true love'. But Mario and Luigi were always there for me. It feels good to know I'm not entirely alone with this feeling.
I was so happy when I found out a new Mario & Luigi is coming, being my favorite game series that greatly impacted my childhood. It feels like meeting an old friend after a decade of not seeing eachother. Even if it won't feel the same, I know it will be a good time.
jesus
Christ.
Growing up neurodivergent, I always felt broken. Even when I was sure I did well, and that I could rest knowing I did my best, it was never enough to satisfy the people around me. Thank you for making this video.
You’re not mourning your friend. You’re mourning the relationship you had. The platonic love that was shared. The memories that you had. And you will move on.
“But above all else, no matter how I may feel at times, I need to remind myself that I am truly not alone. The sky is filled with stars, all waiting to be seen. And even if your best friend leaves your orbit, they have changed the entire trajectory of your life.”
So profound. I love it. There are still so many things to see and do in this world, and although our friends may not hang around forever, they can still change our whole outlook on life. Thank you for sharing all of this. 💖
this really spoke to me!!
It's nice to hear about grieving friends- as i only really hear about it when grieving family or romantic relationships. Your story really reminded me of my childhood and my relationships with my longest known friend and my older brother
Amazing video ⭐
Thank you so much for watching! I'm really glad it resonated with you
I have no words to describe how great this video is.
Hope you're doing okay man, everything about this story sounds like it hurts to have gone through.
Thank you for watching! Though it brought a lot of pain, it did bring a lot of growth too which I am grateful for. I hope you're doing ok too and hope you're taking care of yourself
you visited him in the hospital and he said that you didn't do enough for him that's wild honestly
i thought this was gonna be about the state of modern gaming or something, but it turns out to be very original, personal, and relatable. great work!
Man, this was beautiful, genuinely. Someone else said but i wholly agree "before we got married" made me so happy to hear, and the rest of the essay felt like someone out there has gone through pain so reminiscent of the pain many of us feel, that even through relationship turmoil, escapism, depression, and whatever else gets thrown at us, you can just keep going, keep breathing and things will get better. Its extremely encouraging. I wish you, and anyone fellow people out there "goin thru it" the absolute best, and future hope.
To me, this is the best mario video on youtube by a surprisingly small margin
@spritesensation thank you for the incredibly high praise! Glad you enjoyed it and there are so many great Mario videos out there! Feel free to let me know others so I can watch them as well
I was never able to mourn my best friend. It wasn’t a dying friendship but his untimely passing at the beginning of our journey. I’ve almost gotten over all of it but recently his sister died and this video made me think over what their absence means to me. I regard him as a brother to me but I don’t know where his grave is. Most of the memories I have of him are faded. All I have left are the remaining emotions of a foggy past, I’ll never have that connection with anyone else. Your video helped me to understand that I may never be able to truly mourn for my best friend but I can carry the value of that friendship with me.
@@notcooldudette5035 I’m so sorry for your loss :(
I'm so sorry for your loss, he must've been an amazing friend
Try reaching back out and expressing the feelings you mentioned here about wishing then that you could change things and that youd like to try that now. And that you view him in such a high regard.
Time can heal some wounds. He might come around.
It takes time
personally, i believe thinking that having to gain something from a friendship is unnatural and unhealthy, friendships shouldn't consist of people expecting things from each other, they're something to make memories with and reflect back on, and to have fun with. a friend is someone you enjoy and have fun doing activities and making memories with. expecting something from someone as the basis of a friendship seems extremely negative and unhealthy.
exactly. if someone is friends with you because they expect something from you, they're not a true friend. you become friends with someone because you care about them. it's that simple.
The only expectation you should have is that you get as much as you give. But people who talk about "I'm not getting as much out of you as I wanted" often don't give anything in exchange.
@@LilacMonarch Exactly. It's not a business deal.
I really needed to hear this. Thank you
My thoughts exactly. Who ends a friendship over not gaining anything?
This is such a personal story, but really meaningful. I have been in similar situations. I especially remember feeling isolated with my best friend who did not view me the same way. I'm in college now, and thankfully I found people. I still fear this kind of confrontation, but I also know that I'll be able to tackle whatever comes my way.
Very impactful video, this is the kind of lesson many kids need. It's more than just halfheartedly saying "you're not alone!" It's a message of grieving relationships and moving on. Really, truly beautiful.
this video just made me sob like a big baby. ive been mourning the death of a friend group for almost 2 years and this hit the spot just right.
thank you for making this. it made me feel like i wasnt alone, and that there is hope for me :)
This video hit me right in the feel, really resonated with it. Remind me of a friend I held dear for many years, but who slowly drifted away form me, probably one of the worst feeling ever. Seeing him reply less and less to my message, taking up to two weeks sometimes, for a simple text, when we used to have hours long discussion on random topics for hours before, feeling more and more like being a burden. I remember asking him about it, asking him if it felt like a chore talking to me, and he admitted that sometime yeah. How much it hurts to see someone you value so much putting you lower and lower in his importance list. For years I felt like everything was my fault, that he was changing and maturing while I wasn't, not ready to accept that we were simply growing apart, his interests were changing while I still enjoyed video games, I wanted to play Splatoon 3 with him, but he only bought Mario party, event though he promised me he'd buy it and play with me, as we had played ton of Splatoon 2 together before, it isn't a big deal, but things like that made me realize he just was looking for something different than before. It wasn't until i met new friends who valued me as muc has i valued them that i really understood how much it was hurting me. This video was great to remind me on how good those memories were, even if it was hurting when it ended, those are years I'll neverg et back, so I'm glad I had fun and helped him for those years.
Anyway, I really hope you're doing okay and wish you the best, thank you for this video.
I am right there with you, that has also happened to a friend I have known for so long. It is sad to see them go after so many good memories. After a while it just felt like they didnt value me as much, as they hardly ever reached out and frequently ignored me.
I know how it is to lose a friend this way... The lack of communication is painful. If only they told me sooner... Maybe I would still be friends with them. I've moved on but I still think about them from time to time, and this video made me remember them again. Thank you for this absolutely beautiful video. I had tears in my eyes near the end.
this made me cry. extremely relatable. I didn't even know what to expect. this was just raw beauty.
I understand this struggle. I'm 17 years old and in the middle of my senior year at high school, plus I happen to have autism, which makes it a bit harder to make friends.
I wish you the best of luck.
I went through something really similar with a person I considered my brother, not by birth but by choice. We had been inseparable as kids, and as teenagers we were there for each other as we matured. I received an over 2000 word text at around 9:20pm on the 11th (I think) of July about how much of a horrible person I am, how selfish and disgusting I am. This was out of nowhere and crushed my soul, the person I confided in more than anyone, my best friend. Betrayed my trust. Thought of me as scum. Bringing up stuff from when we were mere children, things I had already apologised for. I sent a response offering to hear him out and repair things. I never heard back. Since then we have not spoken, he has been kicked out of his home and now lives alone at 18. He came after me, and my family in that message, calling us horrid things. He made no effort to reconcile. I don't know whether to hate him or to miss him. I'm mourning someone who is still alive, yet doesn't exist.
are you doing ok???
you grieve the lost of the friendship and the person you once knew. im with you man keep up the good fight
I did not expect to cry to this video when i first clicked on it
insanely underrated, thought this would have thousands of views. I related to this to an insane degree
Yep.
So incredibly grateful for the high praise and I'm glad my video resonated with you. I hope you are doing well!
@@sablestew HI SABLE!
@@DogeKingOfficial 👋 hi!
@@sablestew OMG HE ACTUALLY REPLIED NO WAY!! 😭😭😭😭👍👍👍
It’s amazing how seemingly unique but deeply relatable the story you tell is. From the depression and eating disorder in high school, to moving on to college hoping for better, to losing that dear friend… and video games being there as a parasocial friend through it all. Although I relate to you directly, this story also helped me reflect on times that I was “Mario” in the lives of others, where they valued me in a way that I didn’t reciprocate. I suppose it’s important to be mindful of your connections with others. Thank you for sharing, and for taking the time to wrap these experiences into such a strong narrative.
One of the best TH-cam videos I’ve seen in a long time. Made me cry. Echoed my feelings of complete isolation and loneliness, but also gave me hope for my future. Thank you for uploading such a masterpiece
Was expecting a video essay on the games themselves, and got a really heartfelt discussion about friendship and loneliness. This reminds me a lot of myself, especially the "introverted best friend turned unrecognizable and treating you horribly" part, except I was too prideful to keep up with their treatment and dropped them. It kind of became my go-to response to hardship in relationship actually, the "you cant fire me, im leaving!" tactic. Working on it is incredibly hard because at least if its your choice to be alone, you feel in control. And when other mess is happening in your life, untreated mental illness etc, feeling vulnerable is the last thing you want. It's a cursed cycle
Anyway this was really good, thank you, made me reflect on my friendships and the coping mechanisms
One of the most real and authentic stories I have ever heard. really made me think about my own friendships too
As someone who just started TH-cam, this video is what I aspire to make in my own videos, finding a deeper meaning in things that may seem shallow at first. Good job man!
Yeah, super intriguing title too. Kudos to the creator 👏👏
@wysteria3263 Thank you for the high praise. It's touching to have videos of mine be inspirations for creators out there. I've checked your videos out and I think you've definitely got some great insights! Wishing all the best and luck for you!
@@sablestew thanks I appreciate that best of luck to both of us lol.
It's not your fault ❤
I miss many Marios too
What a beautiful story yet sad, strong and powerful
Dude I don’t think I was ready to relate so hard. High school was the first height of my depression, and I found comfort in both my real best friends (whom I still hold close today) and my virtual best friends in characters like Mario or Sonic. This was beautiful. Thank you for sharing
This video had me crying so hard I couldn't even breathe, incredibly written, I think it's helping me to heal from past relationships
Mario may be gone, but that didn’t let that stop you from getting the princess in another castle
Thank you for making this ❤
Every once in a while, you dtumble onto a video you didnt know you needed.
Thank you for this one, ive had a similar falling out 5 years ago now. And youve put into words so many feelings i couldnt describe
This video is extremely personal, I love that you put yourself out there and told this story! It really is special, and a very unique perspective on Mario and friendship as a whole, great video!
I feel like i relate to this video a lot. I'm only 18 now, but my family had moved a lot, from Kansas to Iowa, back to Kansas, and then to Washington State, and then moved within Washington State. I didn't go through high school as I was homeschooled. I started college over 2 years ago at a community college, where my family then moved again and I transferred, and now I'm 350 miles away at university. I have made new friends, my girlfriend changed, and didn't have feelings for me anymore.
I still feel just as close to my extroverted best friend from my 2nd community college, despite the fact that I haven't seen him in months. I too hope to have him as my friend forever, but even if we don't I hope I can forever appreciate the adventures we went on.
I think this is my other favorite meditation on Mario, next to "You Have Already Seen This Mario Galaxy Video" by AurumAlex. I appreciate the earnestness so much it's difficult to put into words. Having a childhood defined by autism, the feelings of connecting deeply with a video game or media property and aching for a similar depth of friendship with real people too is something I'm very personally familiar with. Same with drifting apart when you realize both that you've become very different people, and that you might have not had the same expectations for the relationship to begin with. It's rough, but thank you for making this. I'm wishing you the best
Lost my best friend a week ago for a very similar reason. Needless to say I cried very hard when you talked about people changing.
In these situations, I wanna reach out and invite people to please remember that you can ask your other friends to show you support and care, and you shouldn't be afraid to do it.
Whether you want to vent, or a hug, there is no issue with asking for comfort and affection. Showing your weaknesses gets you closer to people anyway, so... cherish them and allow yourself to be happy, in respect of both parties.
(Also I love how we had a very similar experience, my best friend was Kirby😭♥️)
I was not expecting to cry through this video. I sympathise with the feelings you experienced from losing your best friend and I wish you all the best. This video really spoke to me and helped me remember to let my friends and family know how much I cherish them because you truly don't know when they will be gone from your life. Thank you for this masterpiece of a video.
My lunch break was NOT the time to watch this. I'm feeling all kinds of feelings.
The algorithm strikes again with its uncanny recommendations. As of this writing, I am due to visit my own best friend in about two weeks at her new house with her new fiancée. I moved away about ten years ago, but we’ve stayed in touch through simple things like weekly movie nights and the occasional trip together. But this will be the first time I will get a real glimpse of what her life has evolved into since I left all those years ago, and admittedly, the fear of an experience like your trip to Japan has been in the back of my mind. I know she’s changed a lot from the girl I befriended back in fifth grade - I’ve changed a lot too, some of it good, some of it not so much. But this video has helped put some of my lingering anxiety to rest by helping me get it into words. Even if something goes wrong and we end up parting ways, I can still be happy that she was a part of my life at all, even if she wasn't meant to be part of my life forever. I can still be thankful for the good times and how she’s helped shape me into the person I am today. If the worst comes to pass, I’ll survive it. We both will.
Jesus this was an emotional ride. Letting go of an attachment to someone you cared about that much is always hard. In some ways, the scar never fully heals, but like you said, there’s always room for others in your heart.
I read this as "How can I Mount Wario when he's still Alive" and that was much more concerning.
Had a semi-snarky comment from the title baiting me in, but after watching in full... yeah, I don't have it in me to leave it here. Not after how close it all hit.
I'm sorry to hear about how many similar pains you've experienced. Hearing just how common it can actually be as time's gone on is... demoralizing. It shouldn't be this way.
Time can heal, yes, but... time also allows wounds to fester. So many people somehow look at it positively, but... I just don't see it... but I don't need to understand it for others to recover.
@@gaming_bigfoot hey, as a person who’s gone through a lot and continues to go through it, just know that there’s always hope. Tomorrow is always around the corner, and any day of your life could be your best or worst. The road ahead may be hard, but the roads go on without end. There is always hope in this darkness
Thank you so much man for having the courage to pour your heart in an new internet that is seldomly sincere, talking about real stuff that has happened probably to most introverts; meeting somebody then unknowingly mishandle it and mess it up forever
This is so beautiful dude, I understand the pain of losing friends. Hope youre doing well, I wish you well and hope your future is bright
this is probably one of the most interesting videos i've ever seen on youtube
This video watches like a narrated poem with visuals. I love the vibe
I came into this video expecting an essay about Mario games being different from the ones that came out years ago and left crying my eyes out. This was so beautiful and sentimental, it hit every topic that I've been afraid to deal with and I appreciate it for doing it so gracefully using the one franchise that's kept me joyous my 17 years of being alive. Thank you.
Im kinda of a youtube diehard, even with thousands of hours of watch time I dont think I ever saw a video soo touching as yours, one of the best videos on the platform, thats why I like so much, Thank you. ❤
I was looking for background noise tonight at about 10:30~ tonight, looking to crunch some projects before school tomorrow morning since we’ll be studying for finals
instead I found your thoughts, and they resonate with me deeply
after watching your video, I don’t regret doing so instead of either project I could have
I feel readier for what’s to come, and feel like I should tell the friends I have now just how much they mean to me
thank you
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with the world
This video could not have been shown to me at a better time. Thank you
I honestly thought that this would just be something about the Mario Odyssey death theory or something but......
this is just so much
deeper than that.
I've watched MANY, MANY video essays...but this one actually made me feel something. It actually made me..cry.
Thank you so much for telling me this story of pain, redemption, loss, and moving on from the past troubles.
Thank you. 😢
parts of this video are saying things out loud that i've hidden in my head for a decade. this video is beautiful. thank you.
your relationship to mario is what i have with samus ❤
@@chozolady I'm incredibly excited for Metroid Prime 4 whenever that finally comes out!
@@chozolady oh hey, more Metroid fans!
metroid is goated
sorry bud, i'm the only one who gets to have a relationship with samus
@@rubub8455 There can be only one!
i had no idea coming into this video how moving it would be. it’s uncanny how similar my school experience was as someone that really struggled to make meaningful friendships and still battles with an eating disorder. i moved right before starting highschool which further hurt my mental and social state. knowing i may have been socially or physically alone but not alone in spirit made me cry and really puts my experience in a different perspective. thank you for this video
Beautiful video, loved every second of it. And the quote "I'm missing a person that doesn't exist anymore" hits too hard. Thank you for sharing.
wow okay this is just ripping open all my breakup wounds huh.
Man, what a story...
Like, I have no words to describe it, it's just... wow. Losing one's best friend can be hard, but I have faith that you will persevere.
I have no friends. This video hits hard. I haven't had a Mario since school, and even then, I wasn't their Mario. I message my dead grandma to get things off my chest. Hope youre doing well, man.
I'm sorry that you had a rough falling out Stew, but I am very thankful for you sharing your story. You've shown me and many other viewers that other people do think about something as normal as Mario with the same level of depth. I've had a similar relationship with Mario and best friends too. How you mention the pain of changing and not being able to join Mario on ever single adventure really got to me before you even mentioned real life relationships. Throughout my life I've had many friends that I got separated from and we both changed and I always find myself missing the version of them that I knew. It's really hard to grasp that the person I miss no longer exists, and that usually keeps me from reaching out again after so long. I always feel we'd be too incompatible now, but it is still nice to have known them in the first place. Lately I've been struggling to make new friends as I am introverted too. As I am excited for the Switch 2 and new adventures with Mario, I am hopeful that there's more opportunities to make friends in the future and go on adventures with them too. I hope everyone who shares these sentiments can keep moving forward and keep finding people who share similar values with them.
Millennial Experience: Definitive Edition. Gahlee man what a video. God bless you.
I love how during the whole sad story there is just happy bubbly Mario gameplay in the background.
Great video! As someone freshly healed from my last few losses, I understand perfectly the struggle of grieving a friendship, romantic relationships, and connections with family. Above all, as long as I can look honestly at my past and be content with how far I’ve come, I am happy. I hope anyone reading this can find that sort of peace, even if it is fleeting. Much love, and best wishes for the future! May your love be strong and your connections last!
Side note: never bringing anyone to japan
This video is possibly one of the best videos I've seen. The way you describe your experience is so moving, and it makes me sad to know that you've experienced these lessons so early in your life. It also makes me happy to know I'm not alone in my thoughts about friends. It makes me so worried when I tell someone they're my best friend, even though I know I'm not theirs. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
God i was ready for a video essay about modern Mario instead i got a video eassy that hits so close to home. I've never had a large group of friends but losing friends stung more because of that. Extend periods of time where i was alone and left to wonder on what i did wrong or how i could've been a better friend. I really only have 2 friends in my life right now and have for the past 2 years. Im unsure if in 2 years time they'll still be around but i'll always cherish the time spent with them even if i know it isn't much to them. This video is absolutely fantastic and i hope the best for you
Okay this video is so deep. So well made. Just jaw dropping
I didn’t think I would relate to this video so much, thank you for this.
I was somehow expecting this to be about how Mario feels different without Charles Martinet but it instead a heartfelt story that I feel I can empathize with.
I moreso feel this way about my ex-girlfriend. Though our actual relationship was short(we were both introverts that semi-flirted for months before), she was the first girl that I had an actual relationship with and I miss the idea of her. Heck, I miss the idea of the man I was when I was chasing after her and when we were together.
I was so unbelievably confident and had a genuine happy smile that just appeared on my face for no reason which people I've been friends with for years could back up that that was never me. I was motivated, enjoying getting my first job, ready to begin actually improving my life, and that version of me is a thought I'm pining after among other things now.
Thank you for sharing.
beautiful, thank you for making this
You ever click on a video thinking it'll be kinda mellow or simple background noise but then you start crying while you try to finish your work? I'm at a loss of words but just returning from a trip to Japan with my friend, not going through the same struggle but understanding how it could have gone just as bad, I feel for you friend. Thank you for making this emotional piece.
Damn this hits hard great video i was not expecting this from mario
This is not what I expected clicking on this video, such an amazing and unique way to tell a story, especially for a TH-cam video. Definitely was not at all expecting such an emotional story that I could relate to, good stuff! Heavily underrated for sure.
this. this was a video made just for me. i related to everything you said, and have said before that mario isn't a character to me. he is a friend. just as link, zelda, and samus are. these games are inherently apart of me, and they always will be. they'll always be there for me, and can absorb me in their worlds to let me rest from mine, even for a little bit.
addendum. i too, never was able to make friends. and i don't know you, but your friend reminds me of my "friends". he was not a friend, man. if no amount of discussion or working on your relationship would persuade him, he wanted you gone, and didn't respect you for you. he liked an idea of you, but not who you were. who you are. never change yourself for other people. i like you for you, this video made me feel like talking to an old friend. someone i relate to on an almost visceral level. not to get parasocial or anything, haha. just know you are not alone, and you never will be. you should play mario wonder, it may seem childish and easy, but it gets difficult and amazingly fun. and if you play with any people online, i believe you can friend them on switch by going to the players you've played with online. so maybe you'll find a luigi, or a peach, or daisy. there's many people out there waiting to play with you, and me, and everyone else. i wish you good times and fun with the next game you pick up, man.
You guys have no idea how much this made me cry
this is the most profound and relatable youtube videos and it shall always hold a special place in my heart
oh my god dude. this might be one of my favorite video essays i’ve ever watched. I was expecting some kind of typical nintendo rant but instead i got blessed with one of the most wise and introspective videos i’ve ever watched. i lost my best friend a year and a half ago and i still think about him every day. we had a weird falling out with mutual friends out of our control and it isolated us, despite never having issues.
i still pray for him every day and i wish him the best but sometimes i wonder if there was more i could have done. things i should have said differently. i could’ve been a better friend and not left despite our circumstances. and i still haunt myself with those questions every night. i want to reach out but i don’t know and it scares me even thinking about it. this video brought me some closure even if it’s temporary. thank you for making this.
This is one of the most beautiful TH-cam videos I’ve ever seen. So relatable to so many people, including me. I lost a friend due to myself cutting off the friendship, because we had both fundamentally changed. I still felt pain, even though I was the one to end it. I appreciate the message of this video a lot. Thank you for the great thoughts at 4am.
This is a wonderful video, it made me really emotional. Thank you for sharing your story and I’m so sorry you were treated like that. It’s really painful to be told things like that by people you care so deeply about. It’s also just a very good message for anyone who is an introvert or generally struggles with making friends and feels that deep loneliness that comes with it.
Mourning someone who is still alive is really tough and, as you say yourself in the video, such a paradoxical feeling. I was reminded of my own old best friend while watching. We’d been friends for over a decade, we met in kindergarten and he remained one of my only friends up until I was around 13 or 14 (we were both introverted nerds, there weren’t a lot of other people at our school that liked video games so we just had to stick together). At around the age of 16 we went to different schools, and although I tried to keep contact with him, it never really felt like he put in the same amount of effort. I had tried to talk to him about it and he had said he still wanted to be friends, but after that it just returned to the way it had been before. So eventually I just gave up and let it slowly fizzle out… It really hurts, because it felt like our friendship didn’t mean enough to even put in the little amount of effort it takes to respond to a dm. Now the only time I “see” him is when his name pops up in a steam notification at the bottom of my screen because he’s playing something.
I miss him, and I often wonder if things could have been different if I had held on tighter to that friendship… And if he even misses me. But ultimately we’ve both changed a lot, and while it hurts that this is where it ended, I still treasure the memories of the years of friendship we had together and how being friends with him changed me for the better.
The cool thing about Mario as a character, is that no matter in how many adventures he goes, his concept and ideals stays the same, his heart is pure and he's always there to uplift anyone, even those who he doesn't know
A thing said by Charles Martinet, Mario's legendary Voice Actor, is that during one of his recordings for Mario Teaches Typing, the text was something among the lines of "You failed, try again", and then he changed it to "You did great! But I know you can do even better!" Because that's what he wants Mario to be and see him as, a role model, an optimistic uplifting guy who trusts in people, and is always kind and respectful to those around him, he is everything that Charles himself (and I think many people) would want to be as a person
man
this hit me in a way i didn't know a youtube video could
i'm still in the process of mourning some friends. it comforts me to know i'm not alone. thank you.