How can I Mourn Mario when he's still Alive

[@sablestew]

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!

[@RarGamez]

this is an essay

[@RarGamez]

this got sad fast

[@Jelly_shy_guy_man]

You made peak

[@Sunflower_SM64]

You deserve way more views and subs than this!

[@indigo22284]

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.

[@jinxsterr_Dispenser3741]

This is the "mario the idea VS mario the man" essay, in its true entirety.

[@damasterofskitsees]

@@jinxsterr_Dispenser3741 Perchance

[@Sacky_The_Artist]

@@damasterofskitsees you can’t just say perchance

[@Ralzone]

@@Sacky_The_Artist yes he can, persay

[@SuperXzm]

The lifekind...

[@mastahmaxtah9339]

I love and hate this so much... perchance

[@EggZu_]

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

[@sablestew]

@@EggZu_ I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for watching!

[@venomase5572]

Thought the exact same thing and was suprised in the best way

[@chrisheartman9263]

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.

[@deeb13243]

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.

[@KiiBon]

@@chrisheartman9263 odyssey was goated idk bro

[@kxdsh]

the "before we married" made me so happy to hear

[@sablestew]

Made me incredibly happy to say it!

[@dumaass]

@@sablestew Hell yeah!!

[@TheKorenji]

@@kxdsh almost felt like a spoiler, but hearing the whole thing I'm just glad it was mentioned AT ALL.

[@jackatk]

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 :)

[@DoseOfRandom137]

the opposite side of the coin compared to ''before we broke up'' or the even worse ''went out separate ways''

[@CarlsCozyCorner]

"I would have used wikihow better" dude that sentence broke me

[@RobinGutierrez-y5u]

Same, man, the way his voice sounds in that part absolutely demolished me

[@lukewilliams3879]

@@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

[@joeokeefe2771]

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

[@BlueBoboDoo100]

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.

[@tiborvarga2782]

Came for the title, stayed for the story

[@NoGoodNameHelpPLZ]

Same

[@sablestew]

Hope you enjoyed the story. Thanks for watching!

[@animating_pains]

i thought he was going to kill mario

[@Chris_Husk]

For real

[@TheAdventuresOfJimiJaden]

@@tiborvarga2782 me too

[@docrobotonic]

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.

[@sablestew]

@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

[@necrodeus6811]

I hope your able to come away with some fond memories despite the friendship drifting!

[@GPXBrent]

How are things going now?

[@helmaroc259]

Same man, same. Love from America❤️❤️

[@briggy4359]

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.

[@HexTheGoodGuy]

I legit just lost a 20 year friendship over something that wasn't true and this video made me cry my fucking eyes out.

[@benonaru]

GET THE FRIENDSHIP BACK. NEVER LET BULLSHIT LIES EAT YOUR FRIENDSHIPS.

[@FerinitheBloodHusky]

@@benonaru its not possible at times

[@decodescow]

Oh god I know that feeling 🤍

[@marnenotmarnie259]

yeah this one was a bit stabby in the emotions

[@marnenotmarnie259]

(not in a bad way, just in an effective way)

[@pis5ball]

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.

[@sablestew]

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!

[@CamiKitty3]

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

[@sablestew]

@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!

[@teak.y]

Came for a silly Mario video, ended in tears

[@sablestew]

@@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!

[@four-en-tee]

This gave "you can now play as Luigi" a pretty depressing meaning

[@DoseOfRandom137]

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

[@yoshipeamachinespawn3658]

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.

[@fisshbone]

“Mario doesn’t fw u anymore bro here’s Luigi” 💀

[@rgkong8783]

@@four-en-tee Shit now this hits even more different after the recent killing.

[@grav3yardshawty]

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

[@fetterkeks2796]

@@grav3yardshawty totally, same for me!

[@toxickle]

Same. Many times.

[@Robman92]

Same

[@HiImNoahMiguel]

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 😭

[@krakios3950]

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.

[@toadcube]

Me too 😭

[@Luxembourgish]

The Mario Mandate era did suck though

[@sablestew]

@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]

@@Luxembourgish whats the mandate era?

[@vdpt9911]

​@@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.

[@wyattmason8838]

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

[@MadelineMyujikaru]

This video is phenomenal oh my lord. It's like somebody finally put words as to why some characters make me feel so strongly

[@sablestew]

@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!

[@abandoned__]

came in for a gameplay critique , stayed for the most heart wrenching story. i am glad to have stayed

[@masterlasheron]

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

[@MaximumAddition]

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?

[@pinokio9951]

😮 masterlasheron is that you 👀? Also yea, its a very pretty video

[@PankoBreading]

This comment is on-brand with your latest videos, no longer the milkman, you're a whole ass creamery now

[@cynical_08]

El frot

[@Josuh]

EL LASHERON?!?!?!?!?

[@YannickJur]

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.

[@JohnDoe-z2r]

jesus

[@dmd356]

Christ.

[@Blue_Boy_Official]

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.

[@sablestew]

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

[@AngelBridgeford]

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.

[@axoleons]

“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. 💖

[@lovelyunknown]

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.

[@BoundaryBreak]

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.

[@jacklesc3133]

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 ⭐

[@sablestew]

Thank you so much for watching! I'm really glad it resonated with you

[@dragondude7107]

you visited him in the hospital and he said that you didn't do enough for him that's wild honestly

[@spritesensation]

To me, this is the best mario video on youtube by a surprisingly small margin

[@sablestew]

@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

[@KOTEBANAROT]

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

[@becomeanother]

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.

[@LilacMonarch]

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.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

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.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

​@@LilacMonarch Exactly. It's not a business deal.

[@autumn-vl5ez]

I really needed to hear this. Thank you

[@duckles9784]

My thoughts exactly. Who ends a friendship over not gaining anything?

[@temra7063]

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.

[@NeXaSLvL]

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!

[@marblemew]

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.

[@thirstycrow6393]

One of the best KZbin 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

[@baronesscatfish]

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.

[@bluecrazy2005]

you grieve the lost of the friendship and the person you once knew. im with you man keep up the good fight

[@Luksa175]

One of the most real and authentic stories I have ever heard. really made me think about my own friendships too

[@notcooldudette5035]

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.

[@ShinyHunterMuck]

@@notcooldudette5035 I’m so sorry for your loss :(

[@dysbot1405]

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.

[@box700]

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.

[@BlueTakBlur]

this made me cry. extremely relatable. I didn't even know what to expect. this was just raw beauty.

[@c4nvm]

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 :)

[@GamingBren]

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.

[@SilkieOV]

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.

[@TheJedwardo]

insanely underrated, thought this would have thousands of views. I related to this to an insane degree

[@SleepyLuigi]

Yep.

[@sablestew]

So incredibly grateful for the high praise and I'm glad my video resonated with you. I hope you are doing well!

[@DogeKingOfficial]

@@sablestew HI SABLE!

[@sablestew]

@@DogeKingOfficial 👋 hi!

[@DogeKingOfficial]

@@sablestew OMG HE ACTUALLY REPLIED NO WAY!! 😭😭😭😭👍👍👍

[@kaylewolf]

It's not your fault ❤ I miss many Marios too What a beautiful story yet sad, strong and powerful

[@Down_Low_B]

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

[@penglings9247]

I didn’t think I would relate to this video so much, thank you for this.

[@zincpodzzz]

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!

[@wysteria3263]

As someone who just started KZbin, 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!

[@CamiKitty3]

Yeah, super intriguing title too. Kudos to the creator 👏👏

[@sablestew]

@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!

[@wysteria3263]

@@sablestew thanks I appreciate that best of luck to both of us lol.

[@nanobean576]

I did not expect to cry to this video when i first clicked on it

[@golemguyyt5646]

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.

[@GraymaulkinGD]

are you doing ok???

[@waze3174]

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

[@rafaeleiji7151]

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. ❤

[@Antonon07]

this is probably one of the most interesting videos i've ever seen on youtube

[@Draidenfriday]

I love how during the whole sad story there is just happy bubbly Mario gameplay in the background.

[@FTLGuillotine]

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.

[@mushroomdude123]

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.

[@Thou_Poster]

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

[@muhnoodles]

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.

[@Slicey1]

this is the most profound and relatable youtube videos and it shall always hold a special place in my heart

[@sonicrulez111]

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

[@torygrima]

Okay this video is so deep. So well made. Just jaw dropping

[@cdwillson3293]

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.

[@Poyostar]

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.

[@SZvenM]

This video is really great. Sad, for sure, but kind and warm, too. And told through such a unique angle, and with great maturity. Thank you.

[@DamianSuicida610]

My lunch break was NOT the time to watch this. I'm feeling all kinds of feelings.

[@chozolady]

your relationship to mario is what i have with samus ❤

[@sablestew]

@@chozolady I'm incredibly excited for Metroid Prime 4 whenever that finally comes out!

[@concept8192]

@@chozolady oh hey, more Metroid fans!

[@LilacMonarch]

metroid is goated

[@rubub8455]

sorry bud, i'm the only one who gets to have a relationship with samus

[@liammcnicholas918]

@@rubub8455 There can be only one!

[@slim8130]

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.

[@RaiginAnimator]

This was one of the Hardest title drops I’ve ever heard. Thanks for this man. life can suck sometimes but it’s nice to hear that even when things get tough Even I’m not alone!

[@RaiginAnimator]

But I’m a bit scared to hear your sonic video

[@lunarmagicexpress7231]

This video was amazing and so well done. Kinda got some tears from me there. Life just happens so fast, so many people just disappear or die outta nowhere but I hold onto those moments tight and I never let go those things that made me me

[@luckyluxray5389]

I can't go into detail in this one message alone, but I relate to you on a personal level.

[@theshowershow]

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

[@gaming_bigfoot]

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.

[@Dingleburry37]

@@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

[@dwdwdwdwwdw]

This is not what I expected clicking on this video, such an amazing and unique way to tell a story, especially for a KZbin video. Definitely was not at all expecting such an emotional story that I could relate to, good stuff! Heavily underrated for sure.

[@Mage_Nichlas_]

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.

[@charliecharliecharlie26]

The first tumble into existential dread, the thing that once made you feel less alone leading you to realise how alone you were, woof. growing up, man

[@Matsubusa69]

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.

[@Bulek_]

This is the most beautiful video ive seen all year.

[@h20verlord20]

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.

[@jaredjouben3342]

This is crazy I just broke up with someone because I felt like we were growing apart and I made sure she know I still cared for her. I’m still sad about it but I hope we can move past it, and I hope I didn’t make her feel like you did. Beautiful video

[@TnTPlays-v8x]

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. 😢

[@valuerie]

Thanks man I cried at work. Mario has been my best friend since I was really young and I genuinely can't imagine a world without him and maybe I should try sometime

[@valuerie]

This was just so beautifully written and I feel for your experience as a lonely child and a traumatized individual and I just am glad we aren't alone. We aren't.

[@valuerie]

I don't want to miss him, I don't want to feel this pain. Especially because he hurt me, and so many other people I love. But he was my best friend for years immediately following graduation and he was so integral to my identity and purpose. I shouldn't have staked so much of myself in him.

[@squibsquab98]

hey, man. I went through nearly the same thing back in october with someone who I cared deeply for. Also on a trip to another country that went badly. A lot of this hit surprisingly hard for me and I felt like I needed this. Thank you, man, for a beautiful video on this kind of experience. The feeling was as if someone ripped something apart from me. Even that lack of communication you mentioned from your friend hit close to home as well. I hope you'll be ok, man, and just know that it will always only get easier as time moves forward. That your grief with Mario will one day heal and a new love will form in due time. Whether you read this comment or not, I appreciate every part of this and how it has already helped me. Much love, man

[@sheepo7123]

A bit freaky this got recommended to me as I am actively coping with the fact that I no longer see it sustainable to maintain the relationships I have with the friends I thought I would have for life. Beautiful video, thanks for sharing

[@aohdigital]

devastatingly relatable, thank u for making this

[@Petile]

Man, that was better than any video-game essay i had hoped for when i saw that title

[@toadcube]

Beautiful video. I honestly went into this expecting something so much different, but this is the way better scenario. Thank you so much for telling your story, honestly, it's made me realize some things about my own life that I would have never noticed previously.

[@marioluigibros.8176]

what did you expect? complaining about modern mario games? cause thats what i expected

[@toadcube]

@@marioluigibros.8176 yep that's exactly what I expected LMAOOO

[@Bug_Milk]

I know you don’t know me, but I’m glad you’re here man, I’m glad you didn’t get that rest you were talking about. And if someone else is reading this too, I’m glad you’re here too. And I hope you know that someone loves you, even if you haven’t seen Who it is yet.

[@theflyinghandofloob2062]

It’s incredibly validating to hear someone else talk about things like this. Especially the worries about best friends and especially the connection you have to Mario.

[@BeaneCat]

This comes to me at exactly the right time. I also lost a friendship recently that was far more important to me than it was to them. Even knowing that it was for the best (I was being treated badly in some very damaging ways), it's still hard to mourn for a person I still see many days out of the week, but who doesn't exist in my life anymore (and perhaps never truly did). I can acknowledge that many good things came from the relationship, and that it has put me on a path to find more people who may also be important in my life, but the pain is still immense no matter how rational and objective I am about the whole situation. This whole time, I've felt shame that the end of this friendship has affected me so harshly, that I'm not handling it the way "normal" people would handle the loss of a friendship. It means a lot to hear your story and know I'm not alone in feeling my pain in this situation, wishing there had been more communication, wishing I had known what to do better... I'm sorry for your loss and I hope the pain continues to get better for you. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@klereyc]

Hey man, I don't usually comment on videos, but this was beautiful. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you're doing great.

[@d3dsh0t]

I did not expect a video with this title to make me cry. I’ve been treated like shit by people I love and care about, yet I’ve also been the friend who hasn’t been there enough for some of my other friends. It’s a strange dynamic, and I’m sure a lot of people have been on either side of it. But it breaks my heart to know that my feelings of pain caused by others, could result in me not being there and thus causing pain among those who did want me there.

[@abstractcities]

Beautiful story. This was not what I expected from this video but it’s so much more impactful than I could’ve imagined. I lost my best friend as well. We still exchange messages every now and then. But it’s never been the same. And I have no one now. Except my wife who I love deeply, and my family. But I don’t have a best friend anymore. Nor do I think I could even have the time to invest in a friendship. I don’t think I know how to be a friend anymore. I too in this moment feel very alone.

[@sablestew]

@abstractcities I'm so glad you resonated with this video, and I hope you are doing well. I totally hear you. Having enough time to foster friendships is tough, but I know that given time and resources, we can all be amazing friends to others. I'm glad you have your wife and family there with you. Never feel like a burden to reach out. Wishing you all the best, and thank you for sharing!

[@WaterYoshi]

This is the most emotional video I've ever seen. So soul crushing but also so human. This is a very good video. Thank you for making this.

[@dallasthedirtbag]

Thank you for this video, it's a very inspiring story in terms of its philosophy

[@anothermorning]

you absolutely put your soul on display here, and what we got was an incredibly touching and relatable story about life and loss. I think everyone has a Mario in their past, and being able to put those feelings to words and express them is such a meaningful thing. thank you for sharing

[@CoffiiCorgii]

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.

[@NinBlakey]

You guys have no idea how much this made me cry

[@invadercat3505]

This is beautiful. You really made me realise that the people and things that were with me when I was thirteen, that I thought would stay with me my whole life, just haven't had any real presence in my life for some years now. Thank you for sharing.

[@mr.blueguy7648]

this video was such a rollercoaster of emotions.... and by the end i did not expect to relate at all but the feeling of losing a friend like you did is bringing it too close to home.... the feeling of being abandoned is terrible. youre making me want to think about the people that are still in my life and to make sure i never make them feel abandoned.