I cannot resist the connection between thus spoke apocalypse and also sprach Zarathustra so just hold on a little longer and I will give you a very nice scripted history lesson
Also yet again your analysis is very much accurate. Otto is very very sad man he born and caught in situation that didnt let him stay pure but not giving him enough power to protect what important to him. He was timid and kind but the persona must play on the stages and the fool(jester) will play role of the fool and fools every audience(world). 500+ years of despair and atrocity leading him to the ultimate. He's tired he has fight far to long and the answers he arrived the paths he walks fill with regrets and mistakes and eating him out from inside but otto always wore his mask a mask of the fool. His act have never be uncovered till last moments of his death where none would hear him is only time he lets his tear,his thought, his hearts to the light and with it is his wishes for those that inherited his legacy will achieve their long standing wish, To Defect The Honkai and end the tragedy that it's bring.
The only thing that I think would be great is if you had picked the full short animation, it gives so much more context for everything that was happening here. Nonetheless you've pretty much nailed the message about the characters.
i found what y need th-cam.com/video/aHa_AaW91is/w-d-xo.html its explain a little about nietzsche book sprach zarathustra and the connection to the song video and entire chapter name
The best part about Otto's arc is that there is NO REDEMPTION. He's not sorry for anything he's done, nobody could ever make him change his mind. 500 years of obsessively pursuing his one desire.
Especially highlighted when you do Theresa's side story. Watching Theresa kill someone who is basically her sister for Otto's approval really shook him. He decided to stop all cloning,. Not because he regretted what he did, but because he realized Kallen wouldn't approve of it. And to highlight this even further that he has no qualms about creating clones for unethical means, years later he would start making Kiana clones to be vessels for Sirin
@@TAMAMO-VIRUS Uhh, Theresa didn't kill her sister, that is Amber who is still alive today. Otto was shocked because he realized that Theresa's will remindeded him so much of Kallen, but ultimately she was still not her, making this cloning experiment a failure, but he was so impressed that he adopted Theresa as his own family.
@@zeru5195 I wasn't talking about Amber. In the cinematic for Thus Spoke Apocalypse, there's a brief shot of Theresa killing another clone and Otto looking on horrified.
@@TAMAMO-VIRUS That WAS Amber, Theresa threw the knife away sparing her. Hence his shock of her going against (and thus far surpassing) his expectations.
Let's just say that this song is about a broken man. He choose to be the villian of the story, and he believed that being a villian was the only way to change the world. He only wanted one thing. To repay the kindness and warmth towards the only friend that cared about him. So selfish yet so human.
I think the reason why Honkai impact manages to hit everyone so damn hard with the story is probably because the stories just feel too relatable for the audience it's meant for. Given the main audience for Honkai impact is working adults, the loss of someone close, the feeling of desperately wanting to change the past and someone close passing their legacy to you after their passing just hits way too close. Unless you were blessed with never having to experience the loss of a family or friend and have never made a single mistake in your life that you wished you could change, it's impossible to not feel some level of empathy for the themes in the story which makes them both relatable and hit even harder because now you're getting stabbed in the feels by the story while getting backstabbed by being reminded of your own experiences.
i have been playing the game since released and Otto is one of the few character im looking forward to see his development in the story and my god it blow my expectation
"Man is no longer an artist, he has become work of Art." -Friedrich Nietzsche, Birth of Tragedy. "Are you genuine? or just a play-actor? A representative? it the actual thing represented?-Ultimately you are even just an imitation play-actor....Second question for the conscience." -Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of Idols. “What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.” -Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil. "But the worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself; you lie in wait for yourself in caverns and forests. Lonely one, you are going the way to yourself! And your way goes past yourself, and past your seven devils! You will be a heretic to yourself and witch and soothsayer and fool and doubter and unholy one and villain. You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame: how could you become new, if you had not first become ashes?" -Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. And guess what's the name of Otto's arc. Birth of Tragedy Twilight of The Fool Beyond Will And... Thus Spoke Apocalypse.
All those quotes are spreaded out. On how Otto thinks of himself during the backstory of him and Void Archives talking On how Bianka called him as magnificent work of evil His self loathing after he became successful. For 9 years, we've saw 4 iterations of Otto, and now, it's going to be 5 because of Loucha, everyone saw how much they have tormented the main cast and how come they can't escape their fate, just like everyone else, even Aponia, but Otto Apocalypse of Honkai Impact did truly disturb the whole Honkaiverse. No exxageration, it's disturb. He truly is a Fool who messed up the whole fate. I wouldn't be surprised if he's part of Aeon of Elation, Aha or if he's even Aha himself.
Damn it... I still hate his ass for the risk and plan he had made that create the main story in the first place... I mean, literally turn Earth into sandbox in the background and be "The big boss" who protect Humanity as well dooming it... You can't help to admit, his story... Is one of the most vocal representation of redemption stage. After Dedication... One that many could only hope to replicate the smallest scale of what he had reached. The Shamash in the end sealed this whole rope of quote into one heck of a deserved end of a man who sacrifice everything... For the girl he love... 😑 As every other commenters in "thus spoke the apocalypse"... I'll open a bottle, not to celebrate... But to cheers on the path he take... May you rest in peace Otto... For your sacrifice be the last and only evil the world had to gone through 🍷
"There's still unfinished business." Indeed there is, all the sins he did, all the atrocities the man had committed were only to pave a way for a second chance. The rest of the story is up to the girl herself to complete
although i agree theres unfinished business but i dont think thats what the song wanted to portay in the end i fully believe that unfinished business signifies a new beginning and a new story for the revived kallen.
"I have fooled my friends." "I have fooled my loved ones." "I have fooled the world, and the rules that governs it." "Only to give you, your true self, a second chance." "I'm home, Kallen." Sir Marco, can you explain how come the last verse instrumental melody's hits differently than other, where: 'Just a drop of water suffices, still a wish.' 'To embrace the mortal place with my thoughts.' 'A eulogy.' Especially in 'A Eulogy' where there is a percussion, it's such a chills everytime i hear that percussion.
Being that we’re nearing the end - and this is Otto’s story essentially it becomes much more deeply reflective. He knows what he is doing but he won’t not be with her and have this work. Or maybe the song is written in the future so he knows what he did in order to keep her safe so it’s more introspective
Otto was a broken man. He was rejected by his family due to his hobbies and frailty at a young age, and then he ended up inadvertently killing the love of his life and his only friend when trying to help her escape a hanging. For the 500 years that followed, he tried to resurrect her and committed atrocities to reach this goal. Everything that happened, everything that each character felt and did and thought, was calculated by him. Even his own death and the gamble he made was carefully calculated. He tried to clone her, he made androids, he even tried to steal power from the Honkai, but in the end the only way he could resurrect her was by dying and removing himself from all of time, so that another potential future could have Kallen alive in it.
Thanks a bunch for the in depth explanation, I was a little lost after watching Thus Spoke Apocalypse. I just recently started Honkai Impact three weeks ago coming from Genshin (captain level 68 now!) and the combat in this game is insane and addictive! I hope Genshin's story can eventually be just as good too.
damn. now that was a spoiler. on the other hand that sounded like one of the most epic spoilers i've ever read. really wish i could get deep into this. sadly the pc controls (without a controller) are gatekeeping me. guess i'll just have to wait until the creators i'm watching get to that point.
I’m speechless.. yknow being just your average joe being “oh this sound hella cool and sad” and here’s this man just dissecting the entire backstory from a single song. It really makes me take another step back to appreciate music, if anything I believe music and stories are two of mankind’s greatest achievement. They are really two of the things we should never lose. You made me cry again half a year after this animated released. ps: this got too deep
Sadly not the actual cinematic for the song, but more the music video taking clips from cinematic. Actual animated short is "Thus Spoke Apocalypse." Otto is probably the greatest villain of the story, while being one of its most tragic antagonists. I often compare him favorably with Emet from FF14. A lot of your analysis hits the mark right on the nose. The man has had an obsession with undoing his greatest regret, which involved him inadvertently getting Kallen killed. He has spent 500 years single mindedly pursuing said goal, and this song/cinematic really show his regrets/pain he has both endured and inflicted over that vast span of time to make his obsession become reality.
@@MarcoMeatball That might be because this to my knowledge is the only case where the song is entirely for the Credits, and a different song plays during the actual animation
This theme goes to show that you can feel sadness even for the most detestable of villains. In this case, an immortal man obsessed to save the life of a Saint and atone for her death by any means necessary and when reaching his goal 500 years later he did the impossible and did just that at the cost of his own life. Morality was not an issue for him. He created wars, destruction, incredible losses of life and even almost inadvertently brought the world close to Armageddon, fitting of his name Otto Apocalypse. All for her to live and get revived.
Amazing, thanks for your interpretation. And I want to add some singer's stories, which may help you better understand the design of this song. I'm Chinese, so please forgive my poor English 阿云嘎, english name is Ayanga,when he was 3 years old, his father died of heart disease, at the age of 7, his mother died of stomach cancer. After that, his eldest brother brought him up, and support him to school. For the sake of his music dream, Ayanga wanted to give up his stable job and go to Beijing, which was opposed by many people, but instead of scolding him, his always strict brother silently took out the borrowed 500 yuan and stuffed it into his hands. However, when Ayanga was 21, soon after he became famous, his brother died of cancer, and all the most important relatives in his life left. He once said, I have cried many times, and there are no tears. 树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不待 This is a Chinese proverb, it means parents pass away before their children have a chance to repay (their kindness/their hard work) in bringing them up. I think Ayanga was so close to otto , except he cannot reversal time.
"When you truly want to change the world, you will discover how pitiable your own strength is." Otto's story arc was something else. Honkai making you crying for the villain, it's a trip of emotion.
Ayanga was a great choice as singer. You can literally hear that he sufferd so much in his life. Grew up in a sheeper family. Lost his father early. Lost his mother. Later on he lost his brother who helped him fulfill his dream. Also the title itself needs to be talked about. "Regress (i) on" This song is a masterpiece.
i may not like the character this song is themed around but goddamn if his arc didn’t move me and leave me in awe. he was fantasically written. ty for your honkai reactions as always!! 🙏
@@seulbilee1025 He knew he didn't deserve redemption. He knew he was too far in to stop now. So he played the part of the villain to achieve his goal which he did.
_"I didn't mean to do the things that i did"_ is an exact portrayal of Otto's regret since centuries ago that his attempt or involvement to break Kallen free from her execution is the cause of her imminent death.
If you play Honkai Impact, you will experience: Fun Love Hate Laughter Hope Heart-breaking moments Depression More Depression Did I mention depression? Yup, fucking depression (in a good way, of course) Those are the reason why i still play this game everyday for over 2 years and i have no intention of quiting. It is so well-made.
My other comment doesn't fully give a grasp of the situation her so here it is: Kallen Kaslana was the love of Otto's life, his only friend, and his idol. He loved and looked up to her and believed that the world needed her. When Kallen was sentenced to be hanged by the church, Otto released a Honkai Beast onto the town as a distraction. Kallen ended up dying protecting a small child during the commotion. When Otto found her body he was grief stricken, believing it to be his fault and blaming the world for destroying someone so important. Otto, through a myriad of tactics, managed to rise into power as Overseer. Using Void Archives, the Divine Key of Reason, and a mimicry of Fu Hua's Key of Consciousness he was able to attain Immortality and he would then pursue reviving Kallen for 500 years. He created Sirin and laid waste to at the entirety of siberia to cover his tracks. He gambled the lives of millions to enter Sirin's mind and confront the God of Honkai and receive divine revelation. Every single event in Honkai Impact was carefully calculated. He controlled the feelings, thoughts, and lives of the main characters. Himeko's death was part of his plan, so that Kiana would be able to control the power of the Void inside her. Eventually he figured out how to revive Kallen. He became a false god but even then he was still a slave to the World Tree. So he played his part in the performance that would be the final battle. He pretended to put up a fight so that the hatred towards him fueled by Kiana and Durandal and the joy of victory and delivering the killing blow would magnify their abilities and in the moment of his death he could harness that power to rise above the Tree and create infinite universes where Kallen had lived, at the cost of his existence in his home universe and all of the universes he created. I explained it quite poorly but there's a really good lore video on the official channel that explains it, you should check it out on your own time one you finish reacting to all the music (because the video is heavy spoilers)
@@v.emiltheii-nd.8094 To me, that's probably the leading thing that makes me like Otto. He could have raged but he didn't. I know I would have which is unfortunate. At that point, he accepted it and moved on but it still would have been better if they were together. His proposal in order to save her is just so sad. I like to think that in one of the new timelines, he and Kallen ended up together probably the one under the tree. So he also became the ultimate wingman for his other universe self. Such a CHAD!
I know that perhaps it is no longer feasible to react in a video to this that I am sharing you on this lines, but the complete context of this song is achieved by seeing the entire cinematic of "Thus Spoke Apocalypse" I hope you have the opportunity to see it. Your analysis is always great and accurate, but what you're seeing is the villain of the game redeeming himself a bit at the end of his arc. I really hope you can see the cinematic I am talking about, since it will give you a series of additional emotions that really contribute a lot to the understanding of what you hear, even if you have never played the video game. Thanks for all your analysis. They are great. Regrads!!
Personally I don't think Otto was trying to be Redeemed, he just accepted the sins his done and that's that. For him The End Justify the Means, and he accomplished it, he reached the End, and that alone is enough for him.
@@FloeticsPH and he also regret nothing. If he can repeat all this all over again, he will do it and sacrifice any of St Freya student/teacher for the sake of reviving Kallen.
you can't get redeemed with a sad backstory or even saving lives since the ones already lost will never come back. What the end of the arc did do is at least give some meaning to those deaths by otto by making him finally succeed in saving kallen in some way. And regardless otto never wanted redemption , he knew all the atrocities he had done and that he deserved to rot in hell for it but he would still do all of it again to save kallen because her death was unfair and he himself was responsible for it
@@TJ-yc1zq YES! The End Justify the Means, and even though I don't believe in that Ideology as much as Otto but goddamit he reached the End and He Justified it in his own way, he knew he was beyond Redemption in the first place, that's why he never really apologized to anyone and he knew the only thing he needed to do is to own up to his mistakes and face like Man, he died while saving(giving another chance) the most precious person to him that he lost and was ultimately (and Ironically) was he own doing.
The cg animation the song was created for is actually something i dont recommend people watch unprepared. Even with no context it can be overwhelming for some.
Otto never regret what he did, but regret what he didn't able to. His sole purpose of whole life is just to create a world where Kallen alive and live happily and safeguard its future. For that he will sacrifice anything and gamble on any possibility.
The regret in this song has two reasons, one is for the death of his loved one and the other is because by the time he found the solution to reviving that loved one, he had already committed a lot of atrocities that and is already labeled as the villain when none of that was needed.
Nope he still need to do all that crime because the requirement to break free from fate is to end your own fate but not by himself but by other to trick the ruler of fate, and how he did it? He need to create a being that strong enough to defeat him as villain and yes he need a being like kiana as the key to do this
Looking back to this reaction Video and latest Honkai Series News. I can say Perhaps most of Us Hi3 Captains Treated Otto badly. Finally we understood his suffering.
That's how tragedy works, they first show you something beautiful and break it in front of you. It's not about you never have, it's about you had it once and now it's gone forever.
Two minutes in and he starts analyzing the music and I'm just like... "He's doing it again. He's doing that thing where he just gets it and I don't understand how."
I love this song so much! Thank you for reacting to this, this song hits home for me. I do hope you watch the Animation/Cinematic too. Also when the clocks turn Counter Clockwise that shit has neve failed to give me goosebumps, it's like a symbolism of what he intended to do.
When this song and the short animatic that came with it came out, pur prespective about the character that this song portrays changed a lot. We used to hate him with a passion. Now, we can only pity him as what he did was something we humans know very well, selfishness. He just wanted to do eveything for the most precious person in his life yet also wanted to protect the world she held dear to. He played the fool, the villain. Yet he was just another audience like us.
@@jashirei7581 I know. His crimes are definitely unforgivable but atleast we know why he did it. Makes us have mixed feeling about him. Still hate him nontheless but I like him as a villain that’s for sure.
I remember people made fun of him for being too much of a simp and "If only he accepted her death, literally none of this would have happened", which is still true. I liked otto as a character but I have to admit even I thought he was kind of a clown for basically blowing things out of proportion. But after looking into his backstory more and Thus Spoke Apocalypse, I realized that he's ridiculously more relatable than I thought he was, especially on the death aspect. We've all (and will) experienced losing someone we loved very dearly, I'm very sure we all had regrets about losing said person, or that we wish we could bring them back and do something about it, or if only we could turn back time, etc. We're just literally too powerless to do anything, while Otto lives in a fantasy world where he's able to actually try and do something about it, even at the cost of everything else. Otto was ultimately a reflection of what it's like to be human, desperation and will we hold on to. I'm not saying his actions were justified, he's caused a shit ton of grief and despair to others in the span of 500 years, but it's still just... incredibly sad
I shed some tears while watching your analysis. You are spot on. I’m amazed on your musical expertise and how it allows you to retell a story you haven’t heard of. To give you some context, this tragic tale is about how fate made a villain out of an innocent child, and how that child chose to be a villain and ultimately make a deal with the devil/god to twist fate itself. He gave her, his loved one, a chance to live, with his existence being erased as payment.
YESYESYES, finally more honkai, Gont get me wrong i love all you vids but honkai music is specially the one that left a scar on my soul so this is amazing.
Is it because my room is cold that I have shivers traversing my body? damn... I feel like Honkai Impact just slaps you with these songs everytime. As someone who has a hard time expressing emotions, it is nice seeing someone as emotional as Marco react to the music and then the movie. Really helps me feel the weight of the emotions conveyed. ♥
I think, despite the fact that this quote is referring to an entirely different situation with different characters, it still coincidentally fits Otto like a glove: "If rescuing you is a sin, then I'd gladly become the sinner!"
Was expecting the CG but it was the music video instead XD. Gotta say though impressive both you for being able to so accurately analyze the feelings behind these songs and MiHoYo for being able to get those feelings across
@@MarcoMeatball yeah not much you can do there if your trying to avoid spoiling it before you listen to the song though if the video has the same name as the song its likely the music vid rather then the CG, it still gives context just not as much as the CG would. i believe all the CGs after Final lesson have both the CG and a music vid so if you want i could simply list the names of the CGs here so you can just check the vid name without having to watch it first
In the original cinematic, there's a second song preceding Regression, called IRAS-17514, which much like the star it's named after, is about turning the remains of what was at some point, and creating something New, in this case, being taking what little remains of Otto himself, and using it all, his entire existence, to push on and save Kallen
@@x_Psyduck_x maybe, though you may as well count Yun Jin's opera in terms of "vocal tracks". Or maybe not, as the musical direction might simply be different in this way for the two games.
@@ploquinn yeah, I know that Honkai has "modern" setting and Genshin has some kind of middle-age fantasy setting but maybe we'll have some of the modern stuff in upcoming regions? Like Fontain is pretty steampunky I think. Well, we'll see in the future I guess.
Thank you so much for covering Honkai music and content --- as a Genshin player who recently started Honkai Impact, the story is fantastic. Would love to see a playthrough when you have the chance!
As someone who has never played Honkai Impact, this OST made me unbelievably emotional. I have more than a couple of OSTs from the game that I enjoy, but this is the one I listen to the most often. Truly raw and powerful.
I really happy I discovered this channel, although I am not educated in music I have a great appreciation about it and this kind of videos are a way to me to find deeper appreciation.
Wow, Marco!!! You got the gist of the thoughts and emotions of the character by the song without playing the game. This reinforces how well the song is written and performed by the singer :) Damn it!!! Even though I've seen Thus Spoke Apocalypse a lot of times, I still cry :'(
Oh man lyrics and this guys voice is beautiful. I think what you said Marco about him not really signing but talking really does hit hard. Can just feel the emotion flow through me when I listen to it. And just the visuals in the second half are graciously beautiful. Also I'm pretty sure this video is what crossed the discord server with 1000 people in it. Just man ❤ Such an awesome time the community even though I dont talk much lol. Just talking about game music and the community has helped me mentally these past few months. Thank you❤❤❤❤
Hoyo sure loves the heartbreaking theme of becoming a sinner to save the ones they love. It's in HI3 with Otto, Genshin's Fontaine arc with Facolar's ultimate sacrifice, and HSR Penacony arc with Sunday trapping people within the dream to escape the inevitable reality of death
That bit were the singer is more talking than singing has got me thinking that it's supposed to be Otto looking at his past choices and going: "Wait a minute. "Personas played out on a stage will return to the set. When there's a curtain call." I wish I had an illustration to go with this, because what comes to mind is Otto standing under a large tree looking at the branches having a realization that never crossed his mind before.
This song isn't really my favorite, but it's still reminds me of my 10 years of unrequited love, which still continued until today That hurts me a lot...
@@עידומחלוף-ר4ח I don't know... I just can't forget her and that feeling of love, regrets, and loneliness still haunt me Maybe love, for me at least, is like a blessing also a curse carved deep within my soul
i'd really recommend for you to listen to rubia from honkai impact, it is such a beautiful song. Although the the voice singing is very feminine it is in fact a guy singing whose name is Zhou Shen, he struggled a lot with this but he sounds absolutely angelic, i really recommend it !!
Wow, I didn't expect you'll take a look at Honkai! I am playing this game since 2016 and ofcourse I've been uninstalled it a lot of times but I can't stop myself to keep coming back to it, now that the game was already on PC I never uninstalled it ever again. This is one of my fave since I love Otto. And you are on point cuz this song was all about Otto's regrets and sadness since the day his only friend was taken away from him. His ways of doing things just for his goals might be wrong and he doesn't care if the world will turn against of him all just for his goal to bring back what he lost even at the price of his own life. Btw for me Hoyoverse was like a Music Company who happened to had a video games. 😂
For a quick context of what actually happened between them kallen was blamed for the lose of the war and was being executed otto was so angry that he released a honkai beast that in turn killed kallen he has lived 500 years with that regret he is willing to sacrifice his entire existence just for her to live
Your sensitivenes is so incredible, u got the whole story whitout knowing anything about the game, your true talented and a very sensitive person, i respect you so mutch
"Just a drop of water suffices" "Gone are those years living for a reason" "Here it comes, the moment of the scene of lost and found" These words hit me the most inside and outside the game. I wept like a baby when I saw what Otto had to become, all in the name of love.
I would like to see, I really wonder how would you react to these ost 1. Quell (memorial arena/coop raid) ost 2. Moonrise (sakura samsara ost) 3. Dreamy euphony 3.
This song as well as the cutscene it's to, Thus Spoke Apocalypse, did something that's never happened to me, I made me feel for the main antagonist and that cements Otto Apocalypse's place as one of the most well written villains ever
I was, dodging all the reaction and the actual song since multiple time I cried and cried listening, this song is so beautifuly heartbreaking, 😭 the amount of emotion that I as a tone deaf person felt is overwhelming........ Otto was a great villain....... First I meet him, I thought he was just a villain npc (and forgor, that the game was Honkai.... yeah)...... May you rest in peace Otto...
Amazing that the music video conveyed that very accurate impression of Otto's headspace to you. It's a very powerful piece of music. Ayanga, the singer, has also been through some traumatic experiences. While I think it would be extremely simplistic or deterministic to say that Ayanga's trauma or past definitely informed his performance, I can say with a degree of confidence that a different singer would not have done as good a job here.
OMMGGG I WAS JUST LISTENING TO THIS SONG WHEN I SAW THE NOTIF THINGY IM SO HAPPY YOU DID THIS SONG the honkai soundtrack is so beautiful im so happy someone is giving it the respect it deserves!!! edit: your interpretation of the song or whatever its called genuinely made me sob. i relate to this song so much and you described everything i felt perfectly. thank you so much
The story of a devastatingly broken man who made a calculated decision to turn his back on humanity, reality, and the laws of nature in pursuit of a single minded goal. Gross experiments, countless atrocities and betrayals too abundant to count. Yet in accomplishing his goal, he asks for no forgiveness, offers no apologies, and would do it all again if needed, just to save the one person who showed him the deepest kindness he's ever known. He burned every ember of his existence not to change the past, but to create a single possibility where he ceased to exist, and Kallen continued to live.
Basically the story goes: A young man who fell in love with a girl who save his childhood, the girl become the holy maiden in a lost war, her people wants to kill her for losing the war, the young man tried to release the beasts to create a confusion and let her escape which instead her getting killed by a beast, resulting him indirectly killing her. Then now we follow the story of the 'main' villain of this game, he killed a lot, like A LOT... did human experiments, killed his father, manipulate even GOD... for 500 years just to save her in the past... in the end he realize a mind/soul can be transfer to another body which is what he did for the past 500 years to continue living, but a scattered mind/soul can't enter a body... he realized he can't resurrect the dead... and then he made a gamble, to fool god and touch the imaginary tree, create a branch in space and time-a timeline where in the past she didn't got killed, he tried this hundreds and thousands of times in different timeline until one of the finally succeeded even if there's no guarantee that his plan will work... in the end an equivalent exchange is needed to save someone from the past, and there's only once choice to be made, himself. Now there's a different timeline where she lives but it is also the timeline where he doesn't exist, her living is enough for all the effort and time and sins he made. It's the most selfish one can do.
Love your reaction to this. Without repeating what others have said, I think your reaction is not far off the mark from that of someone who has played the game. I do want to ask though, would you ever consider reacting to the Honkai animated shorts? They are reasonably short and the music in them never misses imo. Maybe during a live stream or something. Not asking you to go out of your way or anything. But seeing your reactions I think you'd feel a little more fulfilled given more context. Keep up the excellent analysis videos though! EDIT: There's also an Honkai anniversary concert they did last... or the year before..? You'll get a lot of mileage out of it since a lot of the performances were done live.
Since Final Lesson (excluding the Bronya and Seele arc) Honkai short animations always get me no matter how many times I see them the emotion always hits me
Everything Otto have commit just to save his lover that he accidentally kill it the past have cause people pain but despite he knew it but he know this once he commit then he never gona get forgiveness but he still push through it just in the end to sacrifice himself for his lover life to have a chance to bloom
Man do I wish you could experience this game's story for yourself, Marco. It's long and kinda slow at the start, but this level of masterful storytelling is something every artist should experience. No matter how many times you watch each cutscene, it still elicits the same intense emotion response.
Kallen was being executed, and though she easily had the power to break out on her own (as you saw) she was willingly going to allow her death because she felt like she had to atone for a sin she committed prior. In the manga/comic she also talks about a lover she had in a village, another woman named Sakura, and had one final message to pass to her if the mc ever had the chance. It was in that village that a catastrophe occurred, something she’d always blame herself for. It was a massacre of an entire village and the corruption of the one she loved. But Otto was in love with her. When Otto interfered with her execution she was a mixture of emotions. He told her to run. She had every chance to run… and she had no weapon to fight with. But she threw herself in front of a small child as they were being attacked and was impaled. She saved the child, but at the cost of her life. He appears minutes after her death and is horrified by this and forever after blames himself for having unleashed the beasts into the town as a distraction. He had miscalculated: her character was never the type to leave people defenseless to save herself. He had forgotten that in his haste to plan her escape and had pretty much brought her death himself. He spent 500 years after this in torment trying to resurrect her in some form, countless horrible experiments on children (and slaughtering them) just to eventually succeed at a likeness of her whom he ended up adopting with obsession..
I'm happy that they didn't try to change his character, even though he had people that he cared about and loved, he chose to be eaten up by his obsession and hurt them. In the end, he was left with some regret, and left the world a final gift because he wanted to help the people that he genuinely cared and admired after accomplishing his goal but he didn't seek redemption knowing that he's already too far gone
10:00 she fights to save others, she had lost her hopes and let her be hanged/executed by the mass, but when enemies attacked - she easily broke the rope and went saving others, and that is how she died. Those monsters were there because of the Otto - he thought that freeing from prison few monsters will help him save her and her escape, but she was not that kind of person, she could not watch others dying for her, so she went fighting bare hands, saved a few, but died herself. And now 500 years after, Otto is trying to save her in the past, sacrifice himself, so instead she can live while he is dead. And it is more about friendship, as Kallen was in love with Yae (other female character in game), and Otto knows this. Kallen cared about him and helped him - when everyone else abandoned him. She is like a saviour for him. Also, Otto broke the promise to her - she asked him to live, not to sacrifice him for her. Also, in the end all main descisions and all evil and good Otto had done is flashing.
I absolutely loved your reaction to the song and the understanding of what the song tried to convey. You nailed it and i hope one day you get to experience the full animation this is based on. Great job. I'm a huge fan of this game i play it since the global release. I laughed, worried, cried and laughed again. I really appreciate you for doing this.
I recommend this out of everything. There is a song from Honaki Impact three called moon halo. It’s a great song high recommendation, however. I recommend you listen to it last. The song feels and is a better listen after you have listened to the other songs from the game. It will allow you to somewhat understand the meaning of the song, even if you haven’t played the game, if you listen to the other songs first. You can say it would have a better impact.
I've been playing this game for about 2 years nearly every day and still can't believe that this is a free 12+ mobile game. The ever increasing quality of the gameplay, music, cinematics and story is too unreal. Never have I hated a character as much as Otto, and more importantly never have I cried for hated character, before Otto.
you can really feel how heart breaking this song is just by listening how growly his voice was like he was at the verge of breaking down to tears and he was keeping him self not to do so.
I haven’t played Honkai impact 3 up to that point yet… and even I was crying like a baby when a first saw the Regression video a few months ago. While Regression is a very sad music video, it is very well made and gets the message across pretty well.
I always love your takes and explanations of the instrumentation that goes along with the lyrics. It's a great reminder that songs and music can be so much deeper than what the lyrics say or allude to. If you like great songs from video games that tie very heavily into the story and will hit you right in the feels to make you tear up, try Kimi no Kioku from Persona 3. I've listened to that song hundreds of times and it still always manages to make me a little misty eyed each time.
I adored listening to your analysis. Im no music expert and can never properly describe the depth of the music but seeing you read into the story which the song was telling makes me understand how even more brilliant regression is. Its truly breathtaking
I cannot resist the connection between thus spoke apocalypse and also sprach Zarathustra so just hold on a little longer and I will give you a very nice scripted history lesson
Dont worry the connection is very much on purpose its make it easier to put the pieces together
Also yet again your analysis is very much accurate. Otto is very very sad man he born and caught in situation that didnt let him stay pure but not giving him enough power to protect what important to him. He was timid and kind but the persona must play on the stages and the fool(jester) will play role of the fool and fools every audience(world). 500+ years of despair and atrocity leading him to the ultimate. He's tired he has fight far to long and the answers he arrived the paths he walks fill with regrets and mistakes and eating him out from inside but otto always wore his mask a mask of the fool. His act have never be uncovered till last moments of his death where none would hear him is only time he lets his tear,his thought, his hearts to the light and with it is his wishes for those that inherited his legacy will achieve their long standing wish, To Defect The Honkai and end the tragedy that it's bring.
The only thing that I think would be great is if you had picked the full short animation, it gives so much more context for everything that was happening here. Nonetheless you've pretty much nailed the message about the characters.
i found what y need
th-cam.com/video/aHa_AaW91is/w-d-xo.html
its explain a little about nietzsche book sprach zarathustra and the connection to the song video and entire chapter name
@@augustonfs until the clock started going back, I kept thinking the visuals do the song a disservice
The best part about Otto's arc is that there is NO REDEMPTION. He's not sorry for anything he's done, nobody could ever make him change his mind. 500 years of obsessively pursuing his one desire.
To be more precise, the only thing Otto regrets is everything he did before Kallen died, not after.
Especially highlighted when you do Theresa's side story. Watching Theresa kill someone who is basically her sister for Otto's approval really shook him. He decided to stop all cloning,. Not because he regretted what he did, but because he realized Kallen wouldn't approve of it. And to highlight this even further that he has no qualms about creating clones for unethical means, years later he would start making Kiana clones to be vessels for Sirin
@@TAMAMO-VIRUS Uhh, Theresa didn't kill her sister, that is Amber who is still alive today. Otto was shocked because he realized that Theresa's will remindeded him so much of Kallen, but ultimately she was still not her, making this cloning experiment a failure, but he was so impressed that he adopted Theresa as his own family.
@@zeru5195 I wasn't talking about Amber. In the cinematic for Thus Spoke Apocalypse, there's a brief shot of Theresa killing another clone and Otto looking on horrified.
@@TAMAMO-VIRUS That WAS Amber, Theresa threw the knife away sparing her. Hence his shock of her going against (and thus far surpassing) his expectations.
Let's just say that this song is about a broken man. He choose to be the villian of the story, and he believed that being a villian was the only way to change the world.
He only wanted one thing. To repay the kindness and warmth towards the only friend that cared about him.
So selfish yet so human.
All of us cursed Otto for what he had done, but all of us cried when we knew why he did that :((
I still don’t like the ways Otto chose to do but. He has my respect for saving the one he loves.
@@nicolasbaumgartner6510 We were never suppose to forgive Otto's action. We can only understand why he did that.
@@nicolasbaumgartner6510 I still say "FUUCK OTTO" but now I tear up everytime I'm reminded of him....
@@Kaimax61 I feel you. Now I’m interested how Hoyoverse destroys our feelings with the CG we get in Chspter 31 with HoC
Hoyomix' greatest achievement in honkai songs is choosing the right vocalist.
Greatest achievement of all mobile games.
Well.... U need to hear 'yusuf' version
This song is totally broke me already
And when yusuf the one to sing... Is became more broke 🙃
Even thier replacement performers are god tier
I think the reason why Honkai impact manages to hit everyone so damn hard with the story is probably because the stories just feel too relatable for the audience it's meant for. Given the main audience for Honkai impact is working adults, the loss of someone close, the feeling of desperately wanting to change the past and someone close passing their legacy to you after their passing just hits way too close. Unless you were blessed with never having to experience the loss of a family or friend and have never made a single mistake in your life that you wished you could change, it's impossible to not feel some level of empathy for the themes in the story which makes them both relatable and hit even harder because now you're getting stabbed in the feels by the story while getting backstabbed by being reminded of your own experiences.
I think that’s absolutely right
i have been playing the game since released and Otto is one of the few character im looking forward to see his development in the story and my god it blow my expectation
"Man is no longer an artist, he has become work of Art."
-Friedrich Nietzsche, Birth of Tragedy.
"Are you genuine? or just a play-actor? A representative? it the actual thing represented?-Ultimately you are even just an imitation play-actor....Second question for the conscience."
-Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of Idols.
“What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil.
"But the worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself; you lie in wait for yourself in caverns and forests. Lonely one, you are going the way to yourself! And your way goes past yourself, and past your seven devils! You will be a heretic to yourself and witch and soothsayer and fool and doubter and unholy one and villain. You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame: how could you become new, if you had not first become ashes?"
-Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
And guess what's the name of Otto's arc.
Birth of Tragedy
Twilight of The Fool
Beyond Will
And...
Thus Spoke Apocalypse.
All those quotes are spreaded out.
On how Otto thinks of himself during the backstory of him and Void Archives talking
On how Bianka called him as magnificent work of evil
His self loathing after he became successful.
For 9 years, we've saw 4 iterations of Otto, and now, it's going to be 5 because of Loucha, everyone saw how much they have tormented the main cast and how come they can't escape their fate, just like everyone else, even Aponia, but Otto Apocalypse of Honkai Impact did truly disturb the whole Honkaiverse.
No exxageration, it's disturb.
He truly is a Fool who messed up the whole fate.
I wouldn't be surprised if he's part of Aeon of Elation, Aha or if he's even Aha himself.
Wow i didnt know that connection thanks for illustrating that. Mihoyo authors flexing how well read they are.
This is amazing
This is the coolest comment ever
Damn it... I still hate his ass for the risk and plan he had made that create the main story in the first place...
I mean, literally turn Earth into sandbox in the background and be "The big boss" who protect Humanity as well dooming it...
You can't help to admit, his story... Is one of the most vocal representation of redemption stage.
After Dedication... One that many could only hope to replicate the smallest scale of what he had reached.
The Shamash in the end sealed this whole rope of quote into one heck of a deserved end of a man who sacrifice everything... For the girl he love... 😑
As every other commenters in "thus spoke the apocalypse"... I'll open a bottle, not to celebrate... But to cheers on the path he take... May you rest in peace Otto... For your sacrifice be the last and only evil the world had to gone through 🍷
"There's still unfinished business." Indeed there is, all the sins he did, all the atrocities the man had committed were only to pave a way for a second chance. The rest of the story is up to the girl herself to complete
although i agree theres unfinished business but i dont think thats what the song wanted to portay in the end i fully believe that unfinished business signifies a new beginning and a new story for the revived kallen.
"I have fooled my friends."
"I have fooled my loved ones."
"I have fooled the world, and the rules that governs it."
"Only to give you, your true self, a second chance."
"I'm home, Kallen."
Sir Marco, can you explain how come the last verse instrumental melody's hits differently than other, where:
'Just a drop of water suffices, still a wish.'
'To embrace the mortal place with my thoughts.'
'A eulogy.'
Especially in 'A Eulogy' where there is a percussion, it's such a chills everytime i hear that percussion.
That Last part is probably my most favourite, the everytime I hear "A Eulogy" omfg goosebumps from head to toe.
Dude actually used UD's quotes
@@kallenlivesmatter3229 🤣🤣
@@kallenlivesmatter3229 ???
Being that we’re nearing the end - and this is Otto’s story essentially it becomes much more deeply reflective. He knows what he is doing but he won’t not be with her and have this work. Or maybe the song is written in the future so he knows what he did in order to keep her safe so it’s more introspective
Otto was a broken man. He was rejected by his family due to his hobbies and frailty at a young age, and then he ended up inadvertently killing the love of his life and his only friend when trying to help her escape a hanging. For the 500 years that followed, he tried to resurrect her and committed atrocities to reach this goal. Everything that happened, everything that each character felt and did and thought, was calculated by him. Even his own death and the gamble he made was carefully calculated. He tried to clone her, he made androids, he even tried to steal power from the Honkai, but in the end the only way he could resurrect her was by dying and removing himself from all of time, so that another potential future could have Kallen alive in it.
Thanks a bunch for the in depth explanation, I was a little lost after watching Thus Spoke Apocalypse. I just recently started Honkai Impact three weeks ago coming from Genshin (captain level 68 now!) and the combat in this game is insane and addictive! I hope Genshin's story can eventually be just as good too.
@@dokidokidango1896 I'm sure it will. And welcome fellow Captain! o7
Killing and torture a million people is not worth it for only 1 person 😥😬 he is a big clownsimp
@@dokidokidango1896 you better prepare and ready to Cry when play honkai.
damn. now that was a spoiler.
on the other hand that sounded like one of the most epic spoilers i've ever read. really wish i could get deep into this. sadly the pc controls (without a controller) are gatekeeping me. guess i'll just have to wait until the creators i'm watching get to that point.
I’m speechless.. yknow being just your average joe being “oh this sound hella cool and sad”
and here’s this man just dissecting the entire backstory from a single song.
It really makes me take another step back to appreciate music, if anything I believe music and stories are two of mankind’s greatest achievement.
They are really two of the things we should never lose.
You made me cry again half a year after this animated released.
ps: this got too deep
I appreciate your comment. Just know you can do this too. ❤️
Sadly not the actual cinematic for the song, but more the music video taking clips from cinematic. Actual animated short is "Thus Spoke Apocalypse."
Otto is probably the greatest villain of the story, while being one of its most tragic antagonists. I often compare him favorably with Emet from FF14.
A lot of your analysis hits the mark right on the nose. The man has had an obsession with undoing his greatest regret, which involved him inadvertently getting Kallen killed.
He has spent 500 years single mindedly pursuing said goal, and this song/cinematic really show his regrets/pain he has both endured and inflicted over that vast span of time to make his obsession become reality.
This was the link I was provided as it was a patreon request. I will go back in a part 2.
@@MarcoMeatball Let's goooooo
But also, brace yourself for a whirlwind of emotions
@@MarcoMeatball We will w8 for that !! I believe u will like it, because there are lyrics from Otto himself... that hited me hard.
@@MarcoMeatball lets gooo
@@MarcoMeatball That might be because this to my knowledge is the only case where the song is entirely for the Credits, and a different song plays during the actual animation
This theme goes to show that you can feel sadness even for the most detestable of villains.
In this case, an immortal man obsessed to save the life of a Saint and atone for her death by any means necessary and when reaching his goal 500 years later he did the impossible and did just that at the cost of his own life.
Morality was not an issue for him. He created wars, destruction, incredible losses of life and even almost inadvertently brought the world close to Armageddon, fitting of his name Otto Apocalypse. All for her to live and get revived.
Not to mention trauma to the main cast.
Amazing, thanks for your interpretation. And I want to add some singer's stories, which may help you better understand the design of this song. I'm Chinese, so please forgive my poor English
阿云嘎, english name is Ayanga,when he was 3 years old, his father died of heart disease, at the age of 7, his mother died of stomach cancer. After that, his eldest brother brought him up, and support him to school. For the sake of his music dream, Ayanga wanted to give up his stable job and go to Beijing, which was opposed by many people, but instead of scolding him, his always strict brother silently took out the borrowed 500 yuan and stuffed it into his hands. However, when Ayanga was 21, soon after he became famous, his brother died of cancer, and all the most important relatives in his life left. He once said, I have cried many times, and there are no tears.
树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不待
This is a Chinese proverb, it means parents pass away before their children have a chance to repay (their kindness/their hard work) in bringing them up.
I think Ayanga was so close to otto , except he cannot reversal time.
👀😭🥺
bruh...
谢谢科普阿老师，难得有颜和艺集于一身的歌手。抱歉一下我的强迫症：as Chinese ⭕ as a Chinese ❌ Chinese是集合名词，但在此处是形容词表属性。油土鳖上好多国人都犯过这个很基本的错误。
@@charlesyan5950 感谢指正哈哈🤣
@@反向大招 那就顺手edit一下你的评论呗，多一个人看到就多影响一个人
"When you truly want to change the world, you will discover how pitiable your own strength is." Otto's story arc was something else. Honkai making you crying for the villain, it's a trip of emotion.
Ayanga was a great choice as singer. You can literally hear that he sufferd so much in his life. Grew up in a sheeper family. Lost his father early. Lost his mother. Later on he lost his brother who helped him fulfill his dream. Also the title itself needs to be talked about. "Regress (i) on" This song is a masterpiece.
i didnt know that but he sung so nicely... (watabout yussuf?)
i may not like the character this song is themed around but goddamn if his arc didn’t move me and leave me in awe. he was fantasically written. ty for your honkai reactions as always!! 🙏
The signs of a fantastically written villain.
He didn't seek redemption of all the crimes he committed
@@seulbilee1025 He knew he didn't deserve redemption. He knew he was too far in to stop now. So he played the part of the villain to achieve his goal which he did.
He played as the Fool in the story
@@seulbilee1025 the fool or the hanged man either way honestly
_"I didn't mean to do the things that i did"_ is an exact portrayal of Otto's regret since centuries ago that his attempt or involvement to break Kallen free from her execution is the cause of her imminent death.
If you play Honkai Impact, you will experience:
Fun
Love
Hate
Laughter
Hope
Heart-breaking moments
Depression
More Depression
Did I mention depression? Yup, fucking depression (in a good way, of course)
Those are the reason why i still play this game everyday for over 2 years and i have no intention of quiting. It is so well-made.
I think you missed one
Despair but also
De freaking pression
You forgot horny and addiction
I feel you all
@@pocchidaifukumochi and when you think its over, there is even more depression
@Gusha Depression, and Emotive happiness.
My other comment doesn't fully give a grasp of the situation her so here it is:
Kallen Kaslana was the love of Otto's life, his only friend, and his idol. He loved and looked up to her and believed that the world needed her. When Kallen was sentenced to be hanged by the church, Otto released a Honkai Beast onto the town as a distraction. Kallen ended up dying protecting a small child during the commotion. When Otto found her body he was grief stricken, believing it to be his fault and blaming the world for destroying someone so important. Otto, through a myriad of tactics, managed to rise into power as Overseer. Using Void Archives, the Divine Key of Reason, and a mimicry of Fu Hua's Key of Consciousness he was able to attain Immortality and he would then pursue reviving Kallen for 500 years. He created Sirin and laid waste to at the entirety of siberia to cover his tracks. He gambled the lives of millions to enter Sirin's mind and confront the God of Honkai and receive divine revelation. Every single event in Honkai Impact was carefully calculated. He controlled the feelings, thoughts, and lives of the main characters. Himeko's death was part of his plan, so that Kiana would be able to control the power of the Void inside her. Eventually he figured out how to revive Kallen. He became a false god but even then he was still a slave to the World Tree. So he played his part in the performance that would be the final battle. He pretended to put up a fight so that the hatred towards him fueled by Kiana and Durandal and the joy of victory and delivering the killing blow would magnify their abilities and in the moment of his death he could harness that power to rise above the Tree and create infinite universes where Kallen had lived, at the cost of his existence in his home universe and all of the universes he created.
I explained it quite poorly but there's a really good lore video on the official channel that explains it, you should check it out on your own time one you finish reacting to all the music (because the video is heavy spoilers)
❤️
My man quite literally transcended reality just to revive one girl
@@sanstheskeleton679 Even better is that he accepted that Yae Sakura was Kallen's true love.
Truly a Chad simp.
@@v.emiltheii-nd.8094
To me, that's probably the leading thing that makes me like Otto. He could have raged but he didn't. I know I would have which is unfortunate. At that point, he accepted it and moved on but it still would have been better if they were together. His proposal in order to save her is just so sad.
I like to think that in one of the new timelines, he and Kallen ended up together probably the one under the tree. So he also became the ultimate wingman for his other universe self. Such a CHAD!
@@dadian803finally someone else that wanted that otto and kallen would had truly loved each other
I know that perhaps it is no longer feasible to react in a video to this that I am sharing you on this lines, but the complete context of this song is achieved by seeing the entire cinematic of "Thus Spoke Apocalypse" I hope you have the opportunity to see it. Your analysis is always great and accurate, but what you're seeing is the villain of the game redeeming himself a bit at the end of his arc.
I really hope you can see the cinematic I am talking about, since it will give you a series of additional emotions that really contribute a lot to the understanding of what you hear, even if you have never played the video game.
Thanks for all your analysis. They are great.
Regrads!!
Personally I don't think Otto was trying to be Redeemed, he just accepted the sins his done and that's that.
For him The End Justify the Means, and he accomplished it, he reached the End, and that alone is enough for him.
@@FloeticsPH and he also regret nothing. If he can repeat all this all over again, he will do it and sacrifice any of St Freya student/teacher for the sake of reviving Kallen.
the music video alrdy conveyed enough
you can't get redeemed with a sad backstory or even saving lives since the ones already lost will never come back. What the end of the arc did do is at least give some meaning to those deaths by otto by making him finally succeed in saving kallen in some way. And regardless otto never wanted redemption , he knew all the atrocities he had done and that he deserved to rot in hell for it but he would still do all of it again to save kallen because her death was unfair and he himself was responsible for it
@@TJ-yc1zq YES! The End Justify the Means, and even though I don't believe in that Ideology as much as Otto but goddamit he reached the End and He Justified it in his own way, he knew he was beyond Redemption in the first place, that's why he never really apologized to anyone and he knew the only thing he needed to do is to own up to his mistakes and face like Man, he died while saving(giving another chance) the most precious person to him that he lost and was ultimately (and Ironically) was he own doing.
The cg animation the song was created for is actually something i dont recommend people watch unprepared. Even with no context it can be overwhelming for some.
Otto never regret what he did, but regret what he didn't able to. His sole purpose of whole life is just to create a world where Kallen alive and live happily and safeguard its future. For that he will sacrifice anything and gamble on any possibility.
The regret in this song has two reasons, one is for the death of his loved one and the other is because by the time he found the solution to reviving that loved one, he had already committed a lot of atrocities that and is already labeled as the villain when none of that was needed.
Nope he still need to do all that crime because the requirement to break free from fate is to end your own fate but not by himself but by other to trick the ruler of fate, and how he did it? He need to create a being that strong enough to defeat him as villain and yes he need a being like kiana as the key to do this
This is the most selfish thing one can do
But yet remain human
Looking back to this reaction Video and latest Honkai Series News. I can say Perhaps most of Us Hi3 Captains Treated Otto badly. Finally we understood his suffering.
That's how tragedy works, they first show you something beautiful and break it in front of you. It's not about you never have, it's about you had it once and now it's gone forever.
Two minutes in and he starts analyzing the music and I'm just like... "He's doing it again. He's doing that thing where he just gets it and I don't understand how."
Thank you for Reacting Regression sang by Musical Actor Ayanga
I love this song so much! Thank you for reacting to this, this song hits home for me. I do hope you watch the Animation/Cinematic too.
Also when the clocks turn Counter Clockwise that shit has neve failed to give me goosebumps, it's like a symbolism of what he intended to do.
With IRAS I will
@@MarcoMeatball Oh I can't wait.
When this song and the short animatic that came with it came out, pur prespective about the character that this song portrays changed a lot. We used to hate him with a passion. Now, we can only pity him as what he did was something we humans know very well, selfishness. He just wanted to do eveything for the most precious person in his life yet also wanted to protect the world she held dear to. He played the fool, the villain. Yet he was just another audience like us.
We still hate him tho. We just understand him more now
@@jashirei7581 I know. His crimes are definitely unforgivable but atleast we know why he did it. Makes us have mixed feeling about him. Still hate him nontheless but I like him as a villain that’s for sure.
I remember people made fun of him for being too much of a simp and "If only he accepted her death, literally none of this would have happened", which is still true. I liked otto as a character but I have to admit even I thought he was kind of a clown for basically blowing things out of proportion. But after looking into his backstory more and Thus Spoke Apocalypse, I realized that he's ridiculously more relatable than I thought he was, especially on the death aspect. We've all (and will) experienced losing someone we loved very dearly, I'm very sure we all had regrets about losing said person, or that we wish we could bring them back and do something about it, or if only we could turn back time, etc. We're just literally too powerless to do anything, while Otto lives in a fantasy world where he's able to actually try and do something about it, even at the cost of everything else.
Otto was ultimately a reflection of what it's like to be human, desperation and will we hold on to. I'm not saying his actions were justified, he's caused a shit ton of grief and despair to others in the span of 500 years, but it's still just... incredibly sad
I know its been a year but the live concert is breath taking, definitely worth a listen
The storytelling in this game is mind blowing, I never expected a mobile game to have such an amazing emotional soundtrack
I shed some tears while watching your analysis. You are spot on. I’m amazed on your musical expertise and how it allows you to retell a story you haven’t heard of.
To give you some context, this tragic tale is about how fate made a villain out of an innocent child, and how that child chose to be a villain and ultimately make a deal with the devil/god to twist fate itself. He gave her, his loved one, a chance to live, with his existence being erased as payment.
Always love your Honkai reactions Marco.
🙏🙏
YESYESYES, finally more honkai, Gont get me wrong i love all you vids but honkai music is specially the one that left a scar on my soul so this is amazing.
Is it because my room is cold that I have shivers traversing my body? damn... I feel like Honkai Impact just slaps you with these songs everytime.
As someone who has a hard time expressing emotions, it is nice seeing someone as emotional as Marco react to the music and then the movie. Really helps me feel the weight of the emotions conveyed. ♥
That's my body, everytime i hear the: 'A Eulogy' and percussion drops on that song.
❤️ you can do this too and that’s the beauty of music :)
I think, despite the fact that this quote is referring to an entirely different situation with different characters, it still coincidentally fits Otto like a glove:
"If rescuing you is a sin, then I'd gladly become the sinner!"
Was expecting the CG but it was the music video instead XD. Gotta say though impressive both you for being able to so accurately analyze the feelings behind these songs and MiHoYo for being able to get those feelings across
This was the link I was provided as it was a patreon request. I will do my best to go back
@@MarcoMeatball yeah not much you can do there if your trying to avoid spoiling it before you listen to the song though if the video has the same name as the song its likely the music vid rather then the CG, it still gives context just not as much as the CG would. i believe all the CGs after Final lesson have both the CG and a music vid so if you want i could simply list the names of the CGs here so you can just check the vid name without having to watch it first
@@Trygorn no no I know now :)
In the original cinematic, there's a second song preceding Regression, called IRAS-17514, which much like the star it's named after, is about turning the remains of what was at some point, and creating something New, in this case, being taking what little remains of Otto himself, and using it all, his entire existence, to push on and save Kallen
Rawfler used this song for the end of his Raiden Shogun character quest part 2 video, and u kno what? I almost cried too
that was so fitting though. I wonder if we'll have some vocal tracks in Genshin too (except the choir of course)
@@x_Psyduck_x maybe, though you may as well count Yun Jin's opera in terms of "vocal tracks". Or maybe not, as the musical direction might simply be different in this way for the two games.
@@ploquinn yeah, I know that Honkai has "modern" setting and Genshin has some kind of middle-age fantasy setting but maybe we'll have some of the modern stuff in upcoming regions? Like Fontain is pretty steampunky I think. Well, we'll see in the future I guess.
I love Yusuf's (who also sang Samudratha) version more, also was the first I heard before knowing of this one.
Thank you so much for covering Honkai music and content --- as a Genshin player who recently started Honkai Impact, the story is fantastic. Would love to see a playthrough when you have the chance!
As someone who has never played Honkai Impact, this OST made me unbelievably emotional. I have more than a couple of OSTs from the game that I enjoy, but this is the one I listen to the most often. Truly raw and powerful.
It's Honkai Music :3
And It's Otto Apocalypse :3
Also, check out 'IRAS 17514', the short theme song at the middle of the cinematic :3
I really happy I discovered this channel, although I am not educated in music I have a great appreciation about it and this kind of videos are a way to me to find deeper appreciation.
Wow, Marco!!! You got the gist of the thoughts and emotions of the character by the song without playing the game. This reinforces how well the song is written and performed by the singer :)
Damn it!!! Even though I've seen Thus Spoke Apocalypse a lot of times, I still cry :'(
Oh man lyrics and this guys voice is beautiful. I think what you said Marco about him not really signing but talking really does hit hard. Can just feel the emotion flow through me when I listen to it. And just the visuals in the second half are graciously beautiful. Also I'm pretty sure this video is what crossed the discord server with 1000 people in it. Just man ❤ Such an awesome time the community even though I dont talk much lol. Just talking about game music and the community has helped me mentally these past few months. Thank you❤❤❤❤
It's cool how you got the gist of the story by this ost animation by itself. I suggest watching the main animation though, it's pretty cool!
Every now and then TH-cam suggest something interesting for me to watch, this is one of those times.
I’m glad!!!!
Hoyo sure loves the heartbreaking theme of becoming a sinner to save the ones they love. It's in HI3 with Otto, Genshin's Fontaine arc with Facolar's ultimate sacrifice, and HSR Penacony arc with Sunday trapping people within the dream to escape the inevitable reality of death
That bit were the singer is more talking than singing has got me thinking that it's supposed to be Otto looking at his past choices and going: "Wait a minute. "Personas played out on a stage will return to the set. When there's a curtain call." I wish I had an illustration to go with this, because what comes to mind is Otto standing under a large tree looking at the branches having a realization that never crossed his mind before.
This song isn't really my favorite, but it's still reminds me of my 10 years of unrequited love, which still continued until today
That hurts me a lot...
@@עידומחלוף-ר4ח
I don't know... I just can't forget her and that feeling of love, regrets, and loneliness still haunt me
Maybe love, for me at least, is like a blessing also a curse carved deep within my soul
That is why a quote I heard always hits me when I get to know a villain. "When you know your enemy too well, you start to love them."
i'd really recommend for you to listen to rubia from honkai impact, it is such a beautiful song. Although the the voice singing is very feminine it is in fact a guy singing whose name is Zhou Shen, he struggled a lot with this but he sounds absolutely angelic, i really recommend it !!
Wow, I didn't expect you'll take a look at Honkai! I am playing this game since 2016 and ofcourse I've been uninstalled it a lot of times but I can't stop myself to keep coming back to it, now that the game was already on PC I never uninstalled it ever again. This is one of my fave since I love Otto. And you are on point cuz this song was all about Otto's regrets and sadness since the day his only friend was taken away from him. His ways of doing things just for his goals might be wrong and he doesn't care if the world will turn against of him all just for his goal to bring back what he lost even at the price of his own life.
Btw for me Hoyoverse was like a Music Company who happened to had a video games. 😂
For a quick context of what actually happened between them kallen was blamed for the lose of the war and was being executed otto was so angry that he released a honkai beast that in turn killed kallen he has lived 500 years with that regret he is willing to sacrifice his entire existence just for her to live
Your sensitivenes is so incredible, u got the whole story whitout knowing anything about the game, your true talented and a very sensitive person, i respect you so mutch
"Just a drop of water suffices"
"Gone are those years living for a reason"
"Here it comes, the moment of the scene of lost and found"
These words hit me the most inside and outside the game. I wept like a baby when I saw what Otto had to become, all in the name of love.
God, I legit cried like a bitch watching the cg, for the man I've been cursing the whole game
This song is gonna make me play honkai impact too. Rip my storage
Trust me, you won't regret it. The gameplay, the story, the visuals, all is perfect. Even getting new characters is a lot easier than in Genshin
"I guess I could be wrong." On the off chance that pigs fly good sir xD.
Hhaha
Just watched your Rubia react before this. How are you literally nailing the head of the theme EVERY TIME!?
words are hard. i broke down when i played this, as i have experienced something similar.
I would like to see, I really wonder how would you react to these ost
1. Quell (memorial arena/coop raid) ost
2. Moonrise (sakura samsara ost)
3. Dreamy euphony
3.
This song as well as the cutscene it's to, Thus Spoke Apocalypse, did something that's never happened to me, I made me feel for the main antagonist and that cements Otto Apocalypse's place as one of the most well written villains ever
I was, dodging all the reaction and the actual song since multiple time I cried and cried listening, this song is so beautifuly heartbreaking, 😭 the amount of emotion that I as a tone deaf person felt is overwhelming........
Otto was a great villain....... First I meet him, I thought he was just a villain npc (and forgor, that the game was Honkai.... yeah)...... May you rest in peace Otto...
Amazing that the music video conveyed that very accurate impression of Otto's headspace to you.
It's a very powerful piece of music. Ayanga, the singer, has also been through some traumatic experiences. While I think it would be extremely simplistic or deterministic to say that Ayanga's trauma or past definitely informed his performance, I can say with a degree of confidence that a different singer would not have done as good a job here.
I love this, just played through Honkai this year and its simply amazing.
ahhh my heart it's flooded with feels again....... This is now one of the songs that automatically makes me cry whenever I hear it. Damn it honkai....
OMMGGG I WAS JUST LISTENING TO THIS SONG WHEN I SAW THE NOTIF THINGY IM SO HAPPY YOU DID THIS SONG the honkai soundtrack is so beautiful im so happy someone is giving it the respect it deserves!!!
edit: your interpretation of the song or whatever its called genuinely made me sob. i relate to this song so much and you described everything i felt perfectly. thank you so much
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😭
Gonna wait for rubia
It's really amazing how you're able to describe Otto Apocalypse just by listening to this music.
The story of a devastatingly broken man who made a calculated decision to turn his back on humanity, reality, and the laws of nature in pursuit of a single minded goal. Gross experiments, countless atrocities and betrayals too abundant to count. Yet in accomplishing his goal, he asks for no forgiveness, offers no apologies, and would do it all again if needed, just to save the one person who showed him the deepest kindness he's ever known. He burned every ember of his existence not to change the past, but to create a single possibility where he ceased to exist, and Kallen continued to live.
Basically the story goes:
A young man who fell in love with a girl who save his childhood, the girl become the holy maiden in a lost war, her people wants to kill her for losing the war, the young man tried to release the beasts to create a confusion and let her escape which instead her getting killed by a beast, resulting him indirectly killing her.
Then now we follow the story of the 'main' villain of this game, he killed a lot, like A LOT... did human experiments, killed his father, manipulate even GOD... for 500 years just to save her in the past... in the end he realize a mind/soul can be transfer to another body which is what he did for the past 500 years to continue living, but a scattered mind/soul can't enter a body... he realized he can't resurrect the dead... and then he made a gamble, to fool god and touch the imaginary tree, create a branch in space and time-a timeline where in the past she didn't got killed, he tried this hundreds and thousands of times in different timeline until one of the finally succeeded even if there's no guarantee that his plan will work... in the end an equivalent exchange is needed to save someone from the past, and there's only once choice to be made, himself. Now there's a different timeline where she lives but it is also the timeline where he doesn't exist, her living is enough for all the effort and time and sins he made. It's the most selfish one can do.
Even I become a sinner , I will gladly be a sinner for you. Kallen live on.
- Otto quote
Love your reaction to this. Without repeating what others have said, I think your reaction is not far off the mark from that of someone who has played the game.
I do want to ask though, would you ever consider reacting to the Honkai animated shorts? They are reasonably short and the music in them never misses imo. Maybe during a live stream or something. Not asking you to go out of your way or anything. But seeing your reactions I think you'd feel a little more fulfilled given more context.
Keep up the excellent analysis videos though!
EDIT: There's also an Honkai anniversary concert they did last... or the year before..? You'll get a lot of mileage out of it since a lot of the performances were done live.
I meant to here but messed up! Reacting to shorts I mean. And yes we will watch it
Damn, gorgeous thumbnail, man. 😱
Since Final Lesson (excluding the Bronya and Seele arc) Honkai short animations always get me no matter how many times I see them the emotion always hits me
You dodged this bullet not crying. I bet everlasting flames will break you! That's so a good song
Everything Otto have commit just to save his lover that he accidentally kill it the past have cause people pain but despite he knew it but he know this once he commit then he never gona get forgiveness but he still push through it just in the end to sacrifice himself for his lover life to have a chance to bloom
You should check the cinematic Thus Spoke Apocalypse you will understand why this song is sad!!
Marco leveling up in the thumbnail department tho?? Love to see it
your explaination is spot on for otto, the character and villain of the mobile game, crazy!!!
Man do I wish you could experience this game's story for yourself, Marco. It's long and kinda slow at the start, but this level of masterful storytelling is something every artist should experience. No matter how many times you watch each cutscene, it still elicits the same intense emotion response.
Kallen was being executed, and though she easily had the power to break out on her own (as you saw) she was willingly going to allow her death because she felt like she had to atone for a sin she committed prior. In the manga/comic she also talks about a lover she had in a village, another woman named Sakura, and had one final message to pass to her if the mc ever had the chance. It was in that village that a catastrophe occurred, something she’d always blame herself for. It was a massacre of an entire village and the corruption of the one she loved.
But Otto was in love with her. When Otto interfered with her execution she was a mixture of emotions. He told her to run. She had every chance to run… and she had no weapon to fight with. But she threw herself in front of a small child as they were being attacked and was impaled. She saved the child, but at the cost of her life. He appears minutes after her death and is horrified by this and forever after blames himself for having unleashed the beasts into the town as a distraction. He had miscalculated: her character was never the type to leave people defenseless to save herself. He had forgotten that in his haste to plan her escape and had pretty much brought her death himself. He spent 500 years after this in torment trying to resurrect her in some form, countless horrible experiments on children (and slaughtering them) just to eventually succeed at a likeness of her whom he ended up adopting with obsession..
I feel you bro
I'm happy that they didn't try to change his character, even though he had people that he cared about and loved, he chose to be eaten up by his obsession and hurt them. In the end, he was left with some regret, and left the world a final gift because he wanted to help the people that he genuinely cared and admired after accomplishing his goal but he didn't seek redemption knowing that he's already too far gone
omg finally u did it! im looking for this song so long!
DUDEEE I LITERALLY SAW YOUR VID AT WORK HSKSKSJ and ngl your reactions never disappoint. Thank you for your hard work man.
Oh shi I was just watching one of your video and you posted a new one! Gotta leave Marco to watch Marco I guess.
10:00 she fights to save others, she had lost her hopes and let her be hanged/executed by the mass, but when enemies attacked - she easily broke the rope and went saving others, and that is how she died. Those monsters were there because of the Otto - he thought that freeing from prison few monsters will help him save her and her escape, but she was not that kind of person, she could not watch others dying for her, so she went fighting bare hands, saved a few, but died herself. And now 500 years after, Otto is trying to save her in the past, sacrifice himself, so instead she can live while he is dead. And it is more about friendship, as Kallen was in love with Yae (other female character in game), and Otto knows this. Kallen cared about him and helped him - when everyone else abandoned him. She is like a saviour for him. Also, Otto broke the promise to her - she asked him to live, not to sacrifice him for her. Also, in the end all main descisions and all evil and good Otto had done is flashing.
Also, if you watch whole cinematic "Thus Spoke Apocalypse" with subtitles, then it will hit even harder, as he self-reflects there.
There is another song from this animation
„Iris17514”
+ new animation coming out
I absolutely loved your reaction to the song and the understanding of what the song tried to convey. You nailed it and i hope one day you get to experience the full animation this is based on. Great job. I'm a huge fan of this game i play it since the global release. I laughed, worried, cried and laughed again. I really appreciate you for doing this.
I’m going to dive a little deeper on it
I recommend this out of everything. There is a song from Honaki Impact three called moon halo. It’s a great song high recommendation, however. I recommend you listen to it last. The song feels and is a better listen after you have listened to the other songs from the game. It will allow you to somewhat understand the meaning of the song, even if you haven’t played the game, if you listen to the other songs first. You can say it would have a better impact.
I've been playing this game for about 2 years nearly every day and still can't believe that this is a free 12+ mobile game. The ever increasing quality of the gameplay, music, cinematics and story is too unreal.
Never have I hated a character as much as Otto, and more importantly never have I cried for hated character, before Otto.
you can really feel how heart breaking this song is just by listening how growly his voice was like he was at the verge of breaking down to tears and he was keeping him self not to do so.
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
I haven’t played Honkai impact 3 up to that point yet… and even I was crying like a baby when a first saw the Regression video a few months ago.
While Regression is a very sad music video, it is very well made and gets the message across pretty well.
I always love your takes and explanations of the instrumentation that goes along with the lyrics. It's a great reminder that songs and music can be so much deeper than what the lyrics say or allude to. If you like great songs from video games that tie very heavily into the story and will hit you right in the feels to make you tear up, try Kimi no Kioku from Persona 3. I've listened to that song hundreds of times and it still always manages to make me a little misty eyed each time.
Thank you for checking this song out, love your thoughts on it and how you started to understand what was happening by the end
I adored listening to your analysis. Im no music expert and can never properly describe the depth of the music but seeing you read into the story which the song was telling makes me understand how even more brilliant regression is. Its truly breathtaking
❤️