The Game with a Perfect Portrayal of Trauma

[@clarkelieson]

Breathe. Persist. Overcome. Creating this type of video takes a tremendous amount of work; to support more like it and get a look at the behind-the-scenes, support me at: www.patreon.com/ClarkElieson

[@myst1que_mach1ne]

Thank you, this was a good reminder. 💕

[@cameronmcphee8224]

I second this message to anyone reading this! Stay strong! ❤️

[@kazuyad]

i was the 1000th like of this comment!

[@ahhhhhh124]

*Throws shade on 13RW* _Subscribes_

[@papaskwatt-k4g]

Why do you talk like Nightmind tho

[@kelinthebox6830]

Omori: A deep dive into mental illness and trauma. Also Omori: I fucking love air conditioning.

[@PumpyGT]

I fucking love air conditioning

[@Sam-cx6kb]

I fucking love air conditioning

[@1tsD4wn]

I fucking love air conditioning

[@saeedded2755]

I fucking love air conditioning

[@preciality]

I fucking love air conditioning

[@feudela4357]

Thank you for the conclusion at the end. I feel like a lot of the Fandom places too much importance on whether or not the friend group will forgive Sunny and not whether or not taking the steps to tell the truth is the right thing to do.

[@BurntPuff]

Exactly. You cannot control how others will perceive you for what you have done, whether they forgive or not. The living ones must deal with the consequences and live through whether it means forever regretting or feeling guilty.

[@ApexGale]

Sunny forgave himself and he forgave Basil. What happens next is not as important. The guilt was eating them both from the inside out, with the weight of the lie lessened from their burden they can finally properly grieve and tackle the weight of what actually happened that day. The game has also made it abundantly clear that in due time, his friends will forgive him. This is a friend group that all need each other - trying to cope with Mari's death alone has left them all broken and unable to fully heal. They can only do it together. Whether they forgave him right away, or the next week, or after a few months, or after a year, or two - it doesn't matter. Mari was the figure that held them all together, and even in death she will continue to do so

[@anjubatus]

@@ApexGale not only to forgive, but after they've experienced their own emotions about the situation, sunny's friends will also get to understand how painful and lonely it was for sunny to have this happen and keep it bottled up for so long - that realization for them is something i'd really pay to see

[@Lumberjack_king]

Exactly

[@luauthemancool]

wdym the fandom just makes memes 💀

[@azurerandomness]

“No bandage can stifle an eternal wound… and there will be a time where its influence will bleed through.” Are wise warning words from a guy named Daddy Longlegs

[@mmmcola6067]

ahahah longlegs

[@thorgidogofthunder]

sometimes I'm having a serious discussion about OMORI and I'll say something like "but according to daddy longlegs..." and have to rethink my life

[@taureon_]

daddy longlegs is the name of a spider if you didnt know!

[@sonetagu1337]

Solution: *_ADD COMMICAL SQUERE BANDAGE INSTEAD AND USE ALCOHOL (INTERNAL USE'''')_*

[@sanescale]

Poppy playtime chap.2 reference!?? Jk

[@marlowesbarlowes]

Fun fact!! The word "omori" (while most likely meant to be a shortened version of hikikomori) In Romanian translates to the 'you' form of "to kill," so basically the game is calling you a murderer from the start

[@kafei-creme]

Omori means "burden" in japanese

[@Lunarrbase]

@@kafei-creme nope. おもり means weight when directly translated from hiragana. Depending on the kana though, can mean large grove / tree or "to babysit"

[@ordinaryfellow2567]

Omori = Murderer (Roman) Omori = Burden Omori = Weight There are other types of meaning in other Foreign Countries. (Omori = Murderer) Means the OMORI you play is SUNNY, well..just from Headspace, Indicating that you killed someone...or *something* Or OMORI himself is the Murderer, why? beacuse what do Killers do when they kill a Person? Yes, They hide it to cover the evidence. Just like Omori, He kills BASIL because he keeps telling the truth about *something* , and Gets Banished to BLACKSPACE, the Deepest Point of Sunny's Mind that he didnt want to see, All his Fear's, Guilt, and Horrible Memories, all Hide there. By *OMORI.*

[@ordinaryfellow2567]

(Omori = Burden) Means that SUNNY inside OMORI is still carrying his Burden about someone.. thats why all the Terrifying Stuff in the Dreamworld keeps happening: The Mirror Jumpscare, *Something's* keep appearing in OMORI's vision, ETC.

[@ordinaryfellow2567]

(Omori = Weight) Just like (Burden), OMORI is carrying SUNNY's Guilt, thats why its called Weight, He protects and covers up SUNNY's Guilt and Trauma, and when i said "Protect" it literally means it to OMORI so much, that he Banish Basil into BLACKSPACE. And thats not all, OMORI tried to tell SUNNY to commit Oyasumi, because the most BIGGEST Guilt that SUNNY has is Himself, He cant Forgive Himself, thats his Biggest Guilt, and OMORI will stop at nothing to "Kill" that Guilt. Basically like an A.I trying do what its supposed to do, but doesnt realize it is destroying themselves.

[@EUREKKA11924]

Trauma can be not only caused by guilt, but also shame. If you experienced a traumatic event associated with humiliation, embarrassment, and judgement and it hurt you, then, yes, that's a valid traumatic experience. I went through something like that. If it's traumatic and sticks with you and hurts you for an extended period of time, then of course it's trauma. Trauma is different for everyone, nothing is ever the same exact thing. You're all so wonderful and I hope the rest of your days come out well.

[@sunoosbff]

Exactly.

[@PAFU00x]

i was having trouble validating my feelings. Thank you for telling me that my experience is valid.

[@belle2779]

I'd like to point something out: there's a place on black space 2 which can only be found if you keep going deeper and deeper down at the docks, making it the deepest place on black space 2 (so, the deepest part of Sunny's subconscious). All it has is a blurred out "I'm sorry". It's so simple but it feels so genuine that it honestly brought me to tears, and made me empathize with Sunny even more than I already did.

[@LazoGT]

Gave me chills to be honest

[@Sylviebunbun]

Ah I missed this. Clarify where in the docks? Is this the scene where you're with Basil? ;;-;;

[@LazoGT]

Kristen Arielle basil isnt there, its in the alternate route and also at a very specific part of the main route. to get there on the main route you must be in the black space room where you're called a liar and you have to talk to SOMETHING, and it says "sunny, i love you". after getting the key, wait 143 seconds and you can talk to the void all the way to the right, you'll be teleported somewhere else called the docks. after that, go all the way to the right, into the water, and you have to find a path in the water that you can go through. eventually you'll get to a boat, talking to it will teleport you somewhere interesting also i suggest you also go to red space while you're there, as its a pretty cool experience

[@Sylviebunbun]

@@LazoGT amazing. Thank you! I also have yet to find red space as well :O

[@mano__diep1318]

@@LazoGT when your trauma demon says "i love you"

[@devongovan8431]

At one point in omori the game asks you “Do you want to cut open meow?” Several times. Each time you have to confirm as the dialog gets more sadistic. At this post by in the game I saw the stab option and was like “yes! Now I don’t have to kill my cat!” This game had just made me happy to kill myself. That’s when I understood somewhat what suicidal feelings where like.

[@lunarsprinkle6580]

Yeah when it feels better to hurt yourself rather than face the reality of a despairing situation.

[@FatTibbySuccubus]

Wowowow that's a good point

[@Maukiki]

mewo*

[@ev3lyn]

It made you welcome suicide

[@falkeprophet]

I ended up killing mewo and then killing myself afterwards. I didn’t realize the stab option at first, but tbh I’m the kind of person who would do those awful and uncomfortable things in a game just to see what would happen even if I knew there was another option

[@snuuy5491]

the ending of this video almost mimics the feelings I had during the ending of the game

[@JoySlip]

Bruh same

[@skindizzie2949]

smae im sobbing

[@kw_2707]

rivers of tears, at least in my case

[@camil3368]

litterally same

[@eleypvr7294]

Exactly

[@Love_Yourself4830]

I played this game about nine months after losing my 13-year-old daughter to suicide. It completely changed (and broke) me. Great work on this video, Clark.

[@RubenDuenas1]

Wow it's u, I hope u feel better rn ❤

[@vee-wi8vh]

god omori literally saved my life, when i was so depressed to the point eating or even being awake was exhausting playing omori gave me life… the game made me wanna talk, laugh and enjoy life again. omori will forever be my FAVORITE game and the BEST christmas present ever :]

[@Binowhy]

💪🌝 when I flex, I feel my best (sorry for Pluto posting, glad you’re doing better bro)

[@vee-wi8vh]

@@Binowhy AHAHA TY

[@souptime7136]

It sounds silly, but Omori made me start pursuing things I've only thought of doing. I've never had any other media make me think or feel like this game did. The last few years I've yearned of returning to my childhood, and I often have dreams where I'm with old friends. I wake up and think man that was x years ago, feel miserable, and it starts over. 3 years of this stopped me from growing as a person. This game helped me realize that things need to change and I should strive to make good memories in the present.

[@Chan-pj8hv]

It’s so nice to hear that Omori gave you that experience and the will to go out there and enjoy life again :] I think the power that Omori has on its players is genuinely incredible, the influence that it brings, the change that it causes. A lot of people say that Omori caused them to be depressed after playing it and feel sad but then at the same time it made many people at times of agony feel....hope. To realise the things we’ve been running away from and to realise that there is a way out of it. To me, though Omori didn’t make me wanna talk or laugh freely again, it made me want to live. And that fact alone really hit me in the chest. It’s crazy how much Omori can help for those who experience things similar to the game and relate to it

[@vee-wi8vh]

@@Chan-pj8hv reading this comment made my day aweee

[@SeraidenAF]

You did overall amazingly on this but I want to let you know you got the back story of the whole fight with Mari utterly wrong. Mari and Hero were in HS level, Hero's only going to college now. Mari was 15 at the time of her death. They also didn't take her to the outside right away, Sunny panicked and drug her up the stairs to her bed, in disbelief, first, before Basil came to him.

[@clarkelieson]

Aw, rats... This is why fact-checking is important. Thank you for accommodating to my insufficiencies. As far as the bed bit, I left that out to maintain flow, but you're absolutely correct.

[@SeraidenAF]

@@clarkelieson it's okay, you still did like really good on this. I even put down the game I had been initially playing for it.

[@oh-no-not-me]

Wait so that means present Sunny is a year older than her then (16)? Making Mari no longer the elder sibling...that makes me even more sad...

[@oh-no-not-me]

@sweet mint yes I know mari is the eldest. What I meant was by the time the present events take place in the game sunny's age is older than mari's now bcuz the dead stop growing with us. It just reminded me of a book where a similar situation happened and it made me feel sad.

[@Dhalin]

@sweet mint Actually, Sunny was 12. The photo album clearly states that Sunny's 12th Birthday was in August, and the Recital was supposed to be either in the last week of September or the first week of October. He had _just_ turned 12 right about 2 months before day of the recital. The final pictures of Basil's Photo Album are dated 9/22 and are of Mari and Sunny practicing for the upcoming recital. It does not say when it is, but one could probably guess it was a week or two away, which would put it somewhere around 9/29 to 10/6. As to the events... Sera Iden has it slightly wrong. Basil was there from the very beginning: The very first photo shows the bannister at the top of the stairs and half of the photo is dark. This is because Basil is coming around the corner (Remember, ALL of the pictures are Basil's POV, because Sunny is disassociating at this point. He doesn't stop disassociating until after the Basil fight, shown by the descriptions of everything in his house, I did this, I felt this way, my mom and dad did this, etc. First-person perspective which is something you almost never saw in the entire game, Sunny always described things in third person up until this point. Anyhow, Basil sees the fight happen, helps Sunny carry Mari up the stairs and to the room because at first, they thought she was just unconscious because she hit her head when she fell. They put her in bed, and Sunny sits at the bedside, and a period of time passes when both boys realize she's not breathing. OMOCAT takes a lot of care to make *sure* the player knows this, because it is shown to you twice: "This person is not breathing." in the hospital area, and in Sunny's bedroom after the stair sequence. This is also to prevent people from thinking the open eye means Mari was still alive, even though some players _still_ misunderstand that final photo. It's actually rigor mortis which is very common for eyelids to pop open after death (which is why they are oftentimes sewn shut at the funeral home).

[@BasilOmoriFan]

I believe what makes the game even more special for so many people, including me, is how it's portrayal of these issues is so universal. I myself don't really suffer from ptsd, or feel anywhere near the level of guilt Sunny and Basil are going through, however I strongly empathized with their struggle. I am not gonna pretend that I was ever diagnosed with depression, perhaps I should seek help, but I could see myself in the game, my own struggle against depressive thoughts, anxiety and self destruction. By the end of the game I felt as if the game was digging just as deep into me as how much I was entranced by it. Omori's dialogue during the final battle hitting especially hard as these thoughts were close to my own. I did find one good description of why Omori works the way it does on some comment on a different video, the game hits a sort of "universal trauma". If you've ever felt anything related to what the game's main characters are going through, it will cut deep.

[@osmiloe2776]

You said it

[@crisgriffin3042]

As someone who lives just in pauses of eternal depression for decades, and many nasty things that comes along with it... About 95% of the game is a perfect visualisation of mental struggles. Like, it's not just some "alternative art" like in Yume Nikki. It is a well made mix of talented story making, great imagery, and very smart use of contextual approach, so you'll never wonder what it should represent, but rather where it will fit in your theories. I watched about five full days of video content in best charismatic letsplays(and some still goes, like "Merg" or "Counselor Plays"), and all of them shows almost the same understanding of thing that usually considered as hard to comprehend.

[@aizakkukun4985]

I haven't gone through what these characters have gone through in this game, but for some reason it made me feel that way, this game is truly beautiful for giving players an immersive and memorable experience

[@cameronmcphee8224]

@@crisgriffin3042 I know it’s been a month, but I hope you’re doing okay now. Stay strong! ❤️ This goes to the OP as well.

[@the117thelement]

Finally! I stuck with how these characters acted, especially Aubrey and Sunny How I am a huge daydreamer, and when I am unhappy or facing problems, my first reaction is to dream it all away And how after I got through two toxic friendships, I build up a wall around myself to avoid me ever getting hurt again.

[@glassapple5903]

This game destroyed my emotional tolerance lmao. Didn’t think about PTSD, but it makes sense.

[@RennerG]

@hhgregg parasonic blu ray 99 dollars It's alright, Friend!

[@theSkin_of_a_Killer_Bella]

I haven't watched the entire video, but I'm also not expecting too much of an answer for what I'm about to ask(?) Idk if Dissociative amnesia was mentioned throughout this video, but- Is it possible for something like dissociative amnesia and PTSD to be aligned? Since dissociative amnesia usually kind of keeps some memories out, and PTSD is well- post trauma ig. If my reasonings correct, then ig it would be possible (especially since PTSD can be experienced differently for everyone.) Knowing the symptoms of PTSD, it would probably fall under it🤔 So I like to think that both of those were included in Sunny's 4 years of trauma, along with a few others

[@theSkin_of_a_Killer_Bella]

oh, shit. Nvrmind, practically exactly what I thought

[@_gremlinboy]

@@theSkin_of_a_Killer_Bella dissociative amnesia and really all dissociative disorders stem generally from trauma, yeah- and yes trauma is experienced differently by everyone especially since having a disassociative disorder means your brain developed due to trauma to be very good at blocking out traumatic memories, so it's common for people to think everything is fine and not realize they have PTSD until they show other symptoms of disassociating to cope with situations. Always a good idea to try and see a therapist who is trained w trauma because they will be able to work with you and figure out which memories you should recover and how you can work to better cope, etc

[@gabrote42]

I see hundreds of comments like those. My content watching must have been really strong to get away with 4- tears and 12 hours of slightly heavier heartbeat

[@ItsBread-y6y]

I've just entered my second year of therapy, i have complex ptsd due to being raped by a family member for several years of my childhood. I wish it would've been a random person instead, would have made things easier but obviously i wish i wasn't raped in the first place. I still have mountains of work ahead of me but i'm making progress, it hurts whenever i think about how much more shit i have to suffer through because of things that someone else did to me, i know life ain't fair but still. "Dedicated to the little child inside me, who i'm still learning to love" reminds me of a session i had recently where we went over a specific memory, it's a rather graphic one so i wont tell the story and instead i'll just jump to the end part where i remember standing infront of the bathroom mirror, looking at myself, i was so little back then that i could only see my face in the mirror, i remember being naked. I had "stuff" all over my face, i was confused and had no idea what i should do. I started crying during this session, my therapist noticed that i was unable to get the words out and asked me "If you were there in that moment, with your younger self, what would you do?" and responded as best i could, i would've given myself a hug, told myself that everythings going to be alright and most of all, protect that child when no one else in my family would. I'm a gay guy, which means that having sexual intercourse with other men is scary since i get these awful flashbacks. Everything in my life has been and always will be affected by the actions of another. I love you all and i hope that i can one day be happy

[@TBT707]

Im sorry that this all happened to you. I hope you get everything you want in life, please be well friend❤❤❤

[@ItsBread-y6y]

@@TBT707 Thanks

[@arnavsingh460]

Hey, I'm sorry you've had to go through so much. You deserve so much, and I hope you're well. Take care, friend

[@gemdumet3125]

I'm so glad you have access to therapy. I hope it is helping you heal from it all. I wasn't sexually abused but my childhood trauma has made me scared of intimacy with anyone (I'm pan) so I understand being afraid of sexual intercourse. I don't know if I'll ever be able to have it but at least I think I will soon be able to get therapy of some kind. I just hope you know you can find love without the physical side if you are never fully ok with it. Love comes in many forms and it is just as fulfilling and meaningful without sex. The purpose of therapy is to let you heal and/or cope better for your own benefit, your happiness, and wellbeing. It is not meant to "fix" you or make you "normal", bc nothing is as important as your overall well-being which looks different for everyone. I wish you the best.

[@user6_17]

I may be Late but i hope your doing ok

[@tiffanyrose775]

Now, I didn’t go through anything close to what Omori did, but I’ve fucked up. Big time. Causing my life to change. The whole lesson of “sometimes you do a bad thing, but that doesn’t make you a bad person. Forgive yourself” made me cry so much. It’s so amazing to hear that, and to have a character so relatable.

[@ShelbyLikesStuff]

Wow that quote hurt (I have used my suicidal ideation to manipulate someone in 2020 or 2021, don’t remember when but I hate that I did that.)

[@sovoius]

it doesn't matter what it is that you or i have done, it's also not a competition. the point is that we understand that regardless of what bad things we have done or mistakes we have made, you still can find it in yourself to forgive yourself and your past; and to heal from the wounds that have been made, we gotta stay strong because you don't get another chance at this thing we call life.

[@RubenDuenas1]

Yepp, as long as you regret what you've done you're a good person

[@coppermoth6069]

@@RubenDuenas1that’s not exactly right, guilt doesn’t make someone a good person, but if you let the guilt consume you so much that you can’t function or create new good things in the world, then it’s counterproductive at that point

[@RubenDuenas1]

@@coppermoth6069 that's true, I don't remember making that comment, though, so it probably happened when I wasn't thinking much

[@abadidea5984]

As someone who loves to interpret story and meaning from gameplay and design, there's something Omori does that I find both genius and heartbreaking, and it's the RPG combat. For as dark and as harrowing as the game gets, no one ever really asked for this game to be "fun", but it is; the combat is actually extremely intuitive, as well as satisfyingly deep. Once you start piecing together synergies and combos with all your party members, you feel yourself grasping mastery over the game's systems. At the same time, the game's boss fights really push you to the limits of your ability, giving you both the thrill and catharsis of overcoming difficult challenges. But there's an invisible cruelty to it all. This feeling of power and control that you have only exists in Headspace, where your friends love you unconditionally, where you can manipulate the feelings of everyone around you, where you go on adventures and defeat dangerous adversaries; none of it is real, but it's also the most fun part of the game. Omori *wants* you to stay in Headspace, to play with 'perfect' but hollow imitations of your friends, and to give you control and power. The game even provides a harsh contrast when you get into fights in the real world; you don't have powers, you can't manipulate emotions, there are no skill synergies or combo attacks. Fights in the real world are clumsy and awkward (as it would be between a bunch of kids fighting in the park), and end either just by outlasting the other kid, or as a matter of some unglamorous, realistic circumstance (Knifing Aubrey, the pepper spray, etc.) It's in this way that Omori "weaponizes" the sensation of fun, and part of experiencing this game also means realizing how fleeting and ultimately meaningless all that fun RPG gameplay is. In headspace, you and your friends are an unstoppable force. You have "power", but only in a domain where everything is designed to lose to you; you have "control", but you're ultimately still trapped; you defeat hard bosses, but nothing in the game is harder than having the courage to face the truth. Eventually, you figure out that if you truly want to get anywhere, it starts by putting down your toys.

[@Wobbmin]

Wow, that's actually amazing. A lot of games with amazing stories sacrifice good gameplay to do so. Omori does the exact opposite.

[@abadidea5984]

@lego Funnily enough, it is possible to *die* in the Real World. Losing any story-relevant fight against the Hooligans leaves you at 1 HP and continues the plot, but if you then choose to do the flyswatting part-time job at Othermart, it's possible to take 1 damage from the flies or wasps and then get an actual Game Over.

[@offandsphere6788]

@hhgregg parasonic blu ray 99 dollars i feel terrible for finding this funny

[@lukefaber4233]

While this analysis is really excellent, I do think it's unfortunate that Omori's gameplay loop (at least for me, and some of my friends who have played the game) becomes quite shallow about halfway through its runtime. By the time I reached Humphrey I was pretty disenchanted with the gameplay, both for its battles and surface level puzzles. It's a neat system but once you understand it there's not that much deep room for experimentation, and it runs into the same problem that a lot of JRPGs do, being that the boss fights remain quite fun (since they require thought and strategy) but the normal encounters in the game become a complete slog of repeated actions and simply pad out playtime. I think overall the game is mostly enjoyable, but it grinds the pacing down to an almost agonizing halt towards the conclusion. Regardless, the game is still incredible for its narrative, characters, music, and art, but I think it would have been a greater (and honestly close to perfect) experience if it were about 2/3 the length it winds up being. Though I enjoyed the gameplay for the most part, it wasn't what drew me in and held my attention. The fact that it's so unnecessarily long makes it somewhat hard to recommend to those who aren't particularly patient, which is REALLY unfortunate because it's so excellent and impactful otherwise.

[@abadidea5984]

@@lukefaber4233 While I do think the third act of Headspace hits everyone a little differently, I also think the exhaustion of Headspace is intentional design. By this point in the game, you're more invested in what's happening in the Real World and actually making headway in repairing your friends' broken friendship, so you're eager to leave Headspace as soon as you can. Omori knows this and plays on that impatience; if you're start to think that Headspace is becoming vapid and shallow at this point in the game, this might be because Sunny is starting to think so too. The game is using this irritation to connect the player to Sunny and his growing desire to see his real friends, no longer dependent on the artificial gratification that Headspace gives him. I remember feeling a similar sentiment while playing Nier Automata (skip to bottom to avoid spoilers). By the time Route C starts and you take control of A2, so many tumultuous things have happened and all she wants to do is kill machines. My weapons and plugins were so powerful that I was swatting aside machines in a couple of swings, and combat was no longer thrilling. I was somehow afraid that the combat that I previously had so much fun with had become vapid and boring, until it struck me that this is probably how A2 also feels, and has continued to feel for the years and years she's been killing machines non-stop. The game actually dared to use this negative emotion of irritation and impatience to connect me to the character, and I can't help but to applaud that level of brilliance.

[@Chronicallyonshine]

I was a bit lost after playing Omori. I’m currently in therapy for C-PTSD, and finishing Omori a few days before my next session was disorienting and scary. Reaccessing the feelings that game provoked, was simultaneously horrifying and hopeful. So I went searching for people’s reactions and video essays to tide me by and was disappointed in what I found until I found yours. Your analysis was the subject of one of the most valuable therapy sessions of my life. So much so that my therapist gave me an extra hour of time. I don’t really have a solid point to come to with this comment. But your video about this game has been an enormous step in my personal healing process. Thank you for making this. I doubt you will make a follow up, but if you do, I would love to see you go more in depth about the healing from trauma skills we see showcased in Omori. I noticed the “Flowers and Stones” treatment and Internal Family Systems use as well. I’m excited to watch more of your videos.

[@clarkelieson]

Thank you for sharing. I'm honored to be able to share this victory with you

[@redwolftrash]

what's the "flowers and stones" treatment?

[@auroricaura]

I had heavy flashbacks the first time I tried to get through omori. I'm glad this video is giving closure.

[@Chronicallyonshine]

@@redwolftrash it’s a technique that categorizes events that took place during a trauma filled time as flowers (positive experiences) or stones (negative ones). It’s primarily used to treat C-PTSD, which are traumatic events that took place over a great length of time. If you played Omori a lot of the ending battle portrays this therapy method.

[@MaryArts]

Can you tell me if Omori helped you healing. And if your therapist gave you any exercises? My therapist never said anythung about my trauma. I don't know if it is good to remember, if a sucessfull healing contains remembering. What should I even remember? I mean I didn't have a specific phase I can't remember. I just can't remember most of my childhood. And when family telly me about crucial events, I just don't know that something like that happened. Do I even have to remember? Can this game help me in any way?

[@fishtaxes5057]

Honestly your point about the 2nd POV is a big reason why it took me so long to play through OMORI. I’ve always loved horror and psych horror is no exception to it, but something about this game was just….too close for comfort. I myself have been medically diagnosed with a mental illness I don’t want to name, and the events of OMORI resurfaced many memories I had forgotten, at least ones my mind deemed unsafe for the sake of my survival. OMORI is a horror game that just haunts you outside of a computer screen, and the devs handled it well, thank god for their warnings, but man was it rough for me personally ^^;

[@lesscatranslations]

same here, its way too close for comfort for me aswell

[@ConvenientlyShapedUsername]

I know you already finished it, but for future games, I recommend you watch a playthrough instead if you suspect that the game could affect you like that. That's what I did.

[@anjubatus]

@Cassowary Egg hang in there, i also lived many many years in isolation not connecting with anyone - and the healing process process was slow but it picks up and gets better, just as long as you take steps (even small ones) towards progress continuously and put yourself out somewhere where there are people to find you (or people for you to find). Connecting with a person for the first time after those years ended up in very painful results, but it made me learn a lot right away - two years later, i have my own friend group of people i love very much and can open up to with ease. Hope the best for you!

[@Blanch590]

It feels like it’s digging it’s fingers into my own past. Just watching this video reminded me of feelings and things I’ve experienced that I’ve locked away for years. It’s rather uncomfortable having a game make you feel naked to it’s devices.

[@mysoulisanabyss814]

i had the same feelings. I'm not gonna go into it, but i just want to say it's nice to know 6 other people feel the same way i do, or did. it makes me feel less alone.

[@stinkywinky2519]

28:10 to 28:42 just kinda hit different, especially with how you just let final duet play like that. Those were some deep-ass quotes and I feel like they really encase OMORI as a whole. "We aren't responsible for what breaks us, but we can be responsible for what puts us back together again.". As someone who has always been afraid of healing from the past, and a bit afraid of what's coming next, this just hit my heart. The whole final segment of the video feels just right, kind of like a bittersweet note.

[@swagstorm9629]

Omori changed me. Being somebody who lost their dad to cancer at age 7, I didn't realize what I feel today is heavily affected by my dads death. But seeing what all these characters feel, how they deal with the trauma of Mari's death, it was possibly the most relatable thing I've ever seen, specifically to how I feel now. I've struggled with mental health problems, and tons of stress. Me and my mom had moved to New York from California after my dad had passed, and it was a massive change. I had a condition where I pick hair off my body, and I still do if I'm feeling really nervous or insecure. Intrusive thoughts to hurt myself can become common, and I'm guilty of self harm. Why I mention this is because seeing a character, Basil, who dealt with the trauma in such a similar way to me, suffer the same seemingly random emotional outbursts and breakdowns, hit me like a bullet. Hiding your emotions from everybody around you when you're suffering, praying you'll simply last another day. It wasn't until I played Omori, that's when I realized that maybe all these emotions were a cause of trauma. The confusing and incoherent thoughts, where you have no idea what's happening in your own mind. Restless nights where you don't think of anything. Seeing connections between myself and these characters, especially Basil and Sunny, made me realize how valid and real my issues are. They don't feel as confusing when I remember this game, because trauma is confusing, and affects you in the worst ways, makes you think and feel the worst things. I'm still working on getting better, and have been avoiding help out of fear and guilt for my lack of motivation to do anything half the time. I'm still a mentally insecure mess, I haven't even told my mom about my feelings. But this game gives me a very high sense of security and hope, whenever I do finally seek proper help, I know this game will be a major reason to why I can and will get better. It gives me hope, because if Sunny can survive the shit he did, I can survive this. I can get better, we all can. Edit: just a little update to anybody who cares. I finally opened up to the guidance counselor at school, and told my mom as well. I’m feeling good about it. It just takes that little step. I’m kind of confused, like four years of suffering and it suddenly feels like that was all worthless. But I know I’m gonna feel that way again, so I’m glad my mom is gonna help get me a counselor outside of school for when it does. To anybody struggling right now, you can do it. I felt hopeless. Endless suffering. And here I am, and suddenly I feel okay for once. It’s kind of shocking, I don’t feel overly stressed or dreadful. And I know it might not last forever, but now I have resources. I have help. It can be hard to open up, but if it helps, just know that people care a lot more than you think. It can be scary, and you might not know what’s ahead, but even opening up to a close friend can make all the difference. Stay strong. ❤️

[@SpringteapRepanjolion]

I believed you can keep struggles,and there is always hope in life

[@slendrio]

What is bro waffling about

[@ebonyman426]

@@slendrioDo you have no shame, this guy is talking about his trauma and you write off as a joke. Actually stfu

[@702.elliot]

​@slendrio bro just poured his heart out for the world to see and you say "bros yapping"💀😭

[@slendrio]

@@702.elliot it's a really unfunny bad joke

[@tinytert]

As someone diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and that has also been through a lot of trauma, this game destroyed me. during the ending it felt like my entire world was caving in, as if i was feeling all of the exact emotions sunny was. I remember just sitting there afterwards thinking, "Holy shit. I could never forgive myself." It's so scary knowing that if I was ever in the same situation sunny was in, I would see no other option then ending it all. I could never live with the fact that I killed another person. Just like in the game, my mind would be at war with each other. I don't know why I'm writing this comment, honestly, this is just giving me a lot of emotions right now.

[@arrianah3890]

I haven't played the game yet, but also have depression and anxiety with trauma. I thought the same thing. I could never forgive myself. I already have a tough time forgiving myself for little things. It made me cry realizing that I would choose to end it. I've been working on self forgiveness, but this video tore me apart. I want to play the game, but have to mentally prepare. This is a beautiful game and video. Made me realize some things. I hope you can learn to deal with your depression and anxiety and trauma :)

[@reigengi5941]

That's why we have the option to get therapy and learn skills to overcome. Professional help is highly overlooked

[@Littlefighter1911]

This is precisely why I decided to watch this video, after someone suggest it, but with a great caveat that you should only play it if you feel mentally stable enough. I'm not, so I don't need to touch it. NieR: Automata alone was enough to ruin my mood for 2 years.

[@lunaire333]

not trauma caused tho, but i also suffer from these. that game hit me, i played it half a year ago and I'm still crying lol

[@whirlingincosmos]

You encapsulated my feelings about Omori perfectly. As someone who struggles with Anxiety and Depression with trauma. During the final scene, the things Omori was saying to Sunny closely reflected my own internal battle with myself, they took those words straight from my mind. Throughout the whole battle I was thinking "Holy shit, this is how I speak and feel about myself. I could never forgive myself." I already can't forgive myself for minor things let alone the events of my past. I always sought the option to ending it all because it seems so much easier than to be kind to myself and forgive. I want to play Omori someday but I definitely need to be in a mental state to bear the game. I wish you the best OP and I hope you can learn to deal with your depression and anxiety and trauma, much love to you.

[@yeetusthefetusthencommitse204]

Personally I think Omori is more of an imaginary friend not another identity. I myself have had an imaginary friend who would often only appear if I was feeling depressed or very angry; this “friend” would tell me to calm to down and think.

[@gabrote42]

I think that can be disproved by comparing Omori to the three actual imaginary friends present in the game and original comics. Otherwise, thanks for your input

[@rebaa2175]

The only thing is I don't think Sunny really knows about Omori. Omori was made to protect himself from these memories and feelings, similar to how some alters protect the host by keeping those memories to themselves/locking them away, such as what happens in people with DID. But that's just my opinion, I love to hear other people's thoughts!

[@gabrote42]

@@rebaa2175 I instantly disagree on the basis of the numerous amounts of stuff that Sunny remembers Omori doing, inclufing being called that name. We have seen what his repression looks like (The doors disappearing, us not being allowed to see/play the memory), so that's an easy disagreement. On top of that we had numerous cutscenes with both of them interacting, like the White Space Melding we are shown that time (where OMORI bends over Sunny, looks him in the eye and absorbs him) and the multiple allusions to "taking this form" when talking to OMORI instead of Sunny. I have more proof but that's what I think it's more reasonable. I would use both final bosses as arguments but I presume you meant "didn't know about OMORI before One Day Left..." EDIT: Unless you meant he didn't know about Omori's autonomy. I am more inclined to agree to that instead. Just don't change your arguments on the fly

[@RoyalRust]

@@gabrote42 dude why are you so hostile

[@gabrote42]

@@RoyalRust I didn't notice. Sorry about that. I sometimes get carried away while arguing. So embarrassing. For the record that wasn't my intention. Sorry. Did my points make sense to you?

[@aniflowers1998]

I'm no psychiatrist, but I always asumed that Sunnys missing memory is more like selective amnesia. He obviously has PTSD, like Basil but different, and selectively bloging out the event that caused it sounds like a devense mechanism. It doesn't seem like he forgot anything else, neather does he seem to struggle with remembering other things. The only things he forgot where things directly linked to that one event. (At least as far as I could judge)

[@liz.lizzi.elizabeth]

I agree, the forgetting part really seems more like a coping mechanism instead of a symptom for the same reason you gave about Sunny being able to remeber other things.

[@kitsickles]

especially seeing where he immediately blocks out any trace of basil's door in the neutral ending, that "there is nothing here" made me go " o h " in realization the first time seeing it

[@Jensenrobinb]

One time my bully in my first school pulled out a KNIFE OR A GUN or just had those in his backpack and i don’t remember that for some reason but my mom told me about it

[@bananabro1010]

That’s exactly what I thought when i first played the game: he’s purposefully blocking it out to protect himself

[@seantato]

@@kitsickles He does the same thing to the closet where the violin is stored in his house. You'll see it in the regular route eventually, but if you inspect that particular part of the wall it says "There is nothing here" similar to what happens if you try to inspect Basil's door after walking in during the neutral ending.

[@Binowhy]

I haven’t experienced a single a panic attack since finishing Omori, really blessed to be able to moved by art in such a way

[@ayonixanimations]

Also to add onto the idea that forgiveness doesn't matter, we saw what the guilt was doing to Basil, along with what Sunny abandonned him (instead helping each other get through the trauma of what they did) was doing to him. He was having panic attacks, self-destructing, refusing to see any of their friends, almost becoming a hikikomori himself. Sunny telling his friends is not only about him accepting what happened but is also about giving Basil the relief of not having to hide it anymore and he can stop destroying himself by keeping it a secret.

[@sleepingegg1719]

This was probably the best analysis of this game I've seen so far, and I've watched a lot. Made me cry like a baby all over again. Thank you for this

[@Fruitykiwi111]

glad to know i wasn't the only one who cried lol

[@nixhyacinth]

I really appreciate how you treated trying to find a diagnosis for Sunny. There isn't enough evidence to diagnose more than just PTSD based on what we know and we don't have the opportunity to find out more about his condition. Since mental disorders are such a serious condition, treating them with an outer perspective without personal input is important when talking about someone else's trauma.

[@flowersforyouu]

Although it’s interesting to speculate whether the friendship group will forgive him or not, I think the most important part is that sunny forgave himself after everything despite him being in the most grief because of his actions

[@jupiter_bxbycxkes7952]

c-ptsd and dissociation issues here, i love omori so much. the game itself is a masterpiece but the characters and the portrayal is just perfect, i can’t even express with words how much i love the accuracy of it all. whenever i talk about it to my friends or family they act like it’s some freaky thing that should be looked down upon, but to me, it’s simply a work of art, art of the human mind. and to me, there’s nothing more beautiful than that, even if it is tragic and sometimes horrific

[@maeve2222]

I struggle with PTSD and I am a writer. I tend to escape into my characters- pretending they're either my friends, or associating my identity in them, similar to Omori. It was like my coping mechanism. I write almost obsessively, even after the traumatic events have passed. I've noticed in the past that there are reoccurring themes written large in my works, or phrases, morbid concepts that repeat no matter what I'm writing, or what characters I'm pretending to be in the books. They were kind of unexplained, but people recently have been telling me they're disturbed by them. After going to therapy, these fictional pieces ended up intruding into the reality of my memory in EMDR. After rediscovering the root of all of it, I'm in the part now where I'm learning to forgive a younger version of myself. And learning not to absolutely detest that. The end of this video where he hugs the boy with the violin made me cry. I'm going to play this game. Thank you.

[@echoedstars807]

Something that struck me throughout gameplay was how similar Sunny using whitespace as a way to get away from the real world is to MADD (Maladaptive Daydreaming), which lead me to believe that Sunny may have it. (If you don't know what madd is then feel free to look it up since I'm usually bad at explaining things) Also, overall this video is amazing and your descriptions on everything are great! Hope to see more from you

[@lainefarris8762]

I was thinking that too!! When like, you walk outside after answering Kel you see the space worms and rabbits from Headspace and then fade when you walk up to them

[@mvp9]

Actually i also thought about it, the way he imagines and inmmediatly goes to a calm place reminds me of myself and how many times i have stopped myself from having anxiety attacks cause i started walking and daydreaming right there

[@bluebell1611]

as a maladaptive daydreamer, that's what i noticed too. Coming up with alternate stories- I don't have any major trauma or whatever, but i have wildly bad sensory issues, and when i was younger and still to this day i use MADD as a method to try to calm myself down so i dont self harm

[@ventishoodiealt]

We also thought that, it also mentions he would day dream a lot before the accident! An example is he was so distracted by his adventure in his daydream that he didn’t notice his friend straight away. So i think the trauma let him have MADD as a means to cope lol

[@ouui]

I genuinely thought this was canon from the start. It HAS to be it.

[@TheJudgeandtheJury]

Great analysis. I’m currently reading The Body Keeps The Score, it’s about PTSD and trauma, starting with the history of diagnosing soldiers with several disorders from anxiety to schizophrenia until the term post traumatic stress disorder and their reaction to ink blot tests.

[@theblackcatgirl7013]

I'm curious about the ink blot tests.

[@TheJudgeandtheJury]

@@theblackcatgirl7013 If I remember from the book correctly patients who had severe trauma responded to the ink blots with no response, saying that it was just ink.

[@Xternzz]

28:41 "If you can get through feeling your pain, you can get through healing your pain" -Space Amigo , after the SXH quest is resolved

[@CharlRae]

Omori is art. Definitely one of if not my favourite game. The first play through was just great, it's something I wish I could experience again. The story, the music, the contrast between the gameplay at the start of the game compared to the end, blackspace, and the whole aubrey situation in the real world, all perfectly crafted.

[@bluehairedemon]

This game is so good at making you relate to Sunny, even if you didn't expirience trauma. Everyone has a hard time accepting they are flawed, and that's why that story is universal. I also really like how it shows why running from your problems, or hiding them, or attacking them will never work, it only delays your breaking point, and the only way to actually heal is to break, face your black space, and accept it.

[@blakealexander9729]

The quality of these videos just get better and better. Can't wait to dig into this one. Great work Clark!

[@venus5694]

"we are not responsible for what breaks us, but we can be responsible for what puts us back together again," no matter how many times i hear you say that, i always cry. and the fact that the final duet is playing in the background just brings me to a sobbing fits everytime. it truly is beautiful.

[@bizznick444joe7]

But in due time you will have to know how to take responsibility for what breaks you and not let it break you again.

[@ShelbyLikesStuff]

25:57 I’m pretty sure the ultimate attack is the only time you can see Omori smile

[@elsv99]

I was crying again at the end of this video when the violin scene was brought up. I remembered the feelings I felt when I finished the game.

[@smallspidersad78]

I have PTSD and your understanding and care in talking about trauma, as well as explaining how the game gives you an experience of it, really spoke to me. Thank you.

[@turrano9713]

I think this is the best OMORI video essay I have ever seen so far and dang man, everything in this video is just astonishingly well put together.

[@stagumus7901]

Thank you for making this video. I have borderline DID and it took someone else saying it for me to face the truth…that my little sister. An alter is my twin. We were supposed to be identical twins but she became an alter first and endured so much pain. She was supposed to be 17 like me but she’s stuck being 3 because of all the abuse she took it. Thank you for making me face this and hopefully soon I can tell her so she can grow up like how she was supposed to…and hopefully live a normal life and be the beautiful person she was meant to be. Thank you so much again

[@Hal-p5y]

OSDD may also be a helpful diagnosis, its a different type of dissociative disorder with alters. If you don’t meat all of the DID diagnostics, you might have OSDD.

[@Sparkle8205]

27:31 this scene still gets me in tears every time. I don’t know what it is about it, maybe the piano and violin duet, or the reminiscing of the memories, but it makes me start to sob uncontrollably.

[@wolfywonder8480]

In response to Omori being regarded as another personality/conscious being in Sunny’s mind; I think he’s something like a Tulpa, a consciously created imaginary friend type being that a person assigns a personality, appearance and at times even a voice, backstory and more to. Tulpas can be pre-existing fictional characters, however they can just as often be completely new characters. People with Tulpas (Tulpamancers, as they’re evidently called) report actually speaking to the Tulpa, either in thoughts or out loud, and are even capable of arguing with a Tulpa, as the Tulpa is essentially another person they’ve constructed in their mind. Very interesting stuff. But, I think this describes Omori (the person) best. He’s a version of Sunny meant to keep him safe from his painful memories, but also formed in part by his own self-hatred

[@sanada-sama8303]

Your comment just made me realise I have 2 Tulpa's. I've always been confused about what they are and how I should describe them but you explained it so clearly, thank you.

[@mmk4806]

Though that is a very valid assessment, I would like to say that the theme of mental illness makes me think that Sunny has OSDD (otherwise specified dissociative disorder). Severe, repeated childhood trauma is what causes it, and the parts (the personality that didn’t fully develop) can be old friends (imaginary or real), fictional characters, or even just concepts. I have OSDD, and I see myself a lot in Sunny. It’s possible that it is a tulpa-type thing, but my theory is osdd.

[@rhyyme1303]

@@mmk4806 but arent did / osdd can only develop below the age of 10 ? I personally think he didnt have one because he didnt experience the trauma repeatedly , he just represses and forgets it . and just as this video mentioned that alters often switch especially during traumatic event and if omori 's role is supposed to be a protector he would 've took control of sunny 's body when he experience panic attacks upon his traumatic phobias . tho at the same time I am not a therapist and I dont have did / osdd I just do alot of researching on psychological disorders since I hyperfixate on them so I might be wrong :'D

[@elrianarseid7398]

So I'm a Tulpamancer. It's actually very accurate description. Though I hate that they'll nag me if I'm late or I forgotten something important, They are part of me, right?

[@bluegal5134]

Also, as someone who researched DID (dissociative identity disorder), I'm on the side of Sunny not having DID. DID is developed in early childhood, I believe the cap is 7 years old due to our personalities fully being implemented into our being at that age. Sunny was 12 at the trauma, so he's well past the age of developing DID. Also at the end when either Omori or Sunny disappears only for the other to remain, that doesn't happen in DID. Alters/identies do not disappear or die, but instead they'd merge with another alter to create someone entirely new, but the same as the previous two (best way to think of this is fusion from Steven universe). I can see where people get the idea of DID though, since there are Protector Alters. And Omori does seem to be a protector of Sunny's trauma. Though from my research, I highly believe he doesnt have DID. I dunno about Tulpas though, I haven't researched them but may in the future. From your description it does seem possible and is an interesting theory.

[@azariahmacpherson1320]

This might be one of the best video games, as it accurately portrays mental illness and trauma instead of making it into something bad.

[@splat5357]

A fantastic video, really. Made me tear up at the end even though I've went through the game a lot of times. I feel I now understand more the meanings behind traumas and all of the complexity of Sunny's distress. I really hope that, in the next days or weeks, this video will gain a lot more attraction, because it really deserves it. Thank you very much !

[@KawaiiAli]

I got chills watching this. I am currently reading “The Body Keeps the Score” and working on my mental health. This presentation hit home for me…

[@astrawberrypoptart8287]

“We are not responsible for what breaks us but we can be responsible for what puts us back together again.” Danm.

[@nathandoan5717]

Thank you for clarifying her death, when I first played I thought Omori and Basil killed her when they hanged her and that she could’ve been saved if they didn’t do that

[@vulblhotdiessfi]

LOOOOOOOOOOOL did thinking that ruin the game for you?

[@shenve3140]

Damn... If this was it, it would have been way more sadder

[@heiheiii3652]

I THOUGHT THE SAME BC OF THE EYE 😭✋🏼

[@letsreadtextbook1687]

This is what I've been interpreting too! Great analysis vid! My own interpretation (trigger warning cuz talking about self hate i guess): Using omori is like getting a loan, for the service of forgetting the self hate. To be free of that mental loan means having to let the loaner return all what you used him for: the self hate speeches omori gives sunny at the final battle. Those are the thoughts being held hidden by omori for all those years in order to keep sunny from commiting self death. That is also why if you failed to persist in the final battle, you will commit just that. But keep using omori have diminishing return because as you keep avoiding horrible feeling, you also gradually lost ability to feel happiness, that's why in hikko route, you can self death anytime in the last day because while he still can't feel pain, he can't feel happiness either thus life lost meanings for him. To survive paying back the pain loan to your escapism, you need to have enough positive feelings so that when you substract it with negative ones, the the end result still positive.

[@sumohamsters200]

The last duet that entire scene made me break down. Never have I felt such raw emotion in so long because such music conveys feelings in which belong to Sunny. I personally relate with Hero the most for what he went through but playing as Sunny made me realize it will be okay. That even if we mess up royally that there is still redemption through it all. That for me is the message Omori gave me when I played it. Truly a game of horrors yes but one that allows a person to truly experience what is the meaning of life.

[@FeyPax]

Super irritated how everything comes back to DID these days. As someone with complex ptsd and severe depression, you can completely create alters as a coping mechanism that does NOT make it DID. I have done this and I know so many others who have. The distinction comes in with how cognizant the person is with their alter(s). And slight amnesia is also a symptom of depression and ptsd as you stated. Thank you for that clarification and for breaking down the misunderstandings.

[@破桃木衣架]

as a person with osdd 1a (a form of did), i agree! creating alters as coping mechanism is one thing, it acurring naturally because of childhood trauma is another. I personally hate how people just throw in did into everything like ugh

[@Binowhy]

Go off bestie

[@soraify_4708]

This may be a little late to say but when I first got into Omori, my mental health was really bad. It was a game that really made me feel understood and like I wasn't alone with my trauma.

[@Is_that_an_omori_reference]

Same

[@puppy2745]

This is a wonderful well thought out analysis of OMORI! Thank you for putting so much time and care into your research and video. The only thing I have to say is Sunny and Basil did not immediately hang Mari. Sunny dragged her up the stairs after the fall, put her in bed, hoping all she needed was sleep to feel better and wake up. When she didn't wake up Sunny fell into immense despair and pain, that's when Basil proposed the idea and they carried her back down the stairs. You may have kept this out to maintain the flow of the video but if not this is the other part of the truth.

[@sir6311]

I really appreciate how well spoken and researched the diagnosis bit of the video was. Something has triggered me to finally seek more awareness of my broken thought processes quite a while ago. Sure i only read online result and research works, but your research on the subjects really help me to somewhat confirm what I've been seeing of myself. Though i still find it difficult, my path to self awareness has been helped out a bit more. I thank you for that.

[@daughterphoenix]

This is the first video of yours I’ve seen…wow. Thank you for really digging in and researching the journey this game led us on!

[@TealComet]

"Telling the truth is to accept whether or not people will forgive you" wow that's so insightful. This quote shows how much courage it takes to tell the truth.

[@dm.3047]

This will get lost but I have been suffering with chronic depression for the past year, and hearing that last part that you said during the final sequence of this video really has struck me more than anything has since I can remember. Thank you

[@perfectnothingg]

In Omori, Sunny caused the actions that lead to his trauma. In most cases, this isn’t true. People don’t chose where they are or born into. But, that guilt, can still happen in those who are innocent. It feels like I’m the one at fault for what has happened, and that I should forgive and move on, but I don’t think that I’m at the point that I’m ready. I’ve fixed and overcome what I could as much as I can, but trying to forgive an abuser, getting over something, or trying to reconcile, is hard. And for Sunny, he had to do that with himself. Forgiving yourself, even if you did nothing, is hard. This is why PTSD is so difficult, because you don’t know if you can, should, or will. If you’re the one being difficult and it wasn’t a big deal, or if everyone else is refusing to understand. And trying to accept that it doesn’t matter how others feel, but ultimately, that’s what influences how you are with others. Thank you for this video, it really highlights trauma and why it’s hard to go through properly.

[@michaloid8351]

You can't just simply play the end scene man.... That's too cruel You made me cry a 5th time again. I hate you bro.

[@andrew_cunningham]

I'm not familiar with your channel, but the script and especially editing in this video were noticeably excellent. Seems like it can only be a matter of time until that sub count explodes harder than Basil in a watermelon patch.

[@jontylerlud]

Truly the Omari essay I needed. This video really just wrings out everything I wanted to hear about this game. Thank you. It has made me leave the video feeling satisfied and crying. I love how much you tied all this to psychology. You made me admire how well omocat use mental illness in a story telling formats. Mental illness is not easy to do right in stories like this.

[@csengemajoros2083]

I just want to say a huge thank you for convincing me to give this game a chance. I tried to check it out when it was first release, but I found it boring and strange, so I didn't give it much thought - after seeing how huge the fandom got however, I've been more and more interested, though never to the point of actually giving the game another go. But your opening line, "a game about remembering", triggered something strange within me and immediately drove me to a playthrough, and now here I am, finally having finished this wonderfully crafted video. This game is absolutely beautiful, and the research (and the editing at the end of the video) you have put into this project made the experience all the more worthwhile. Omori is a game I won't forget for a long time alongside with your amazing work. Thank you.

[@IAMIOfficial]

Thank you so much for this video!! I've never been able to play games myself so seeing such a beautiful story with real life research presented so poignantly is just amazing.. I was so close to tearing up :')

[@pofficial3345]

This game is truly a masterpiece, i love seeing videos like yours about it. Thanks !

[@abbylichti7067]

Well done. I am student finishing off a B.S. of psychology. You have done well in presenting your sources and thank you for spreading this information to more people. Maybe we can finally begin to remove the stigma of mental health.

[@Erin-kl4kn]

Just throwing this into the abyss of the comments section. As someone living with complex PTSD and have being shut in for years this was really confronting and yet beautiful. I have been aware of Omori for a while but haven’t been up to confronting something so close to home until watching this today. I don’t think I can ever play this game due to how much of the fearful experience is my everyday battle but I wanted to convey how important it is for media like this to exist. It is impossible to describe what these experiences are like so for a game to exist that emulates these feelings is so encouraging. “The body keeps the score” is really the best resource for my personal experiences and I appreciate your referencing it. I recently watched your Evangelion breakdown as it is another favourite of mine. So yes, I have been in tears for two of your videos now in the best possible way. Please keep up the fantastic work Clark.

[@aizakkukun4985]

OMORI ANALYSIS VIDEOS ALWAYS MAKES ME FEEL SAD EXPECIALLY WHEN FINAL DUET COMES IN

[@Airneko]

Bravo ! Excellent video ! OMORI fandom need more quality content like that. This is the most relevant analysis I have seen about Sunny profile. I feel like people seem to miss out on the essentials of OMORI and focus more on the superficial aspect. I know I sound a bit like a purist but I tend to appreciate the game, the music, the story more than the game characters. And I see many adore the characters in the game but I am not in the cult of personality or parasocial friendship. Sunny profile is super interesting and I am very empathetic about his story but his personality is flat. That's why people prefer more expressive characters like Aubrey or Kel. The fandom put more emphasis on the personalities of the characters to the detriment of their psychology and that's why more people need to watch this video. Another essential part of OMORI is the trauma recovery. "The end of this journey will lead to suffering... but if you do not face this, you cannot continue". I saw alternate universe fanfic where everyone is happy and I don't think this is the best solution to "cope". You need to face the reality of the story and accept it. A previous comment said : "the Fandom places too much importance on whether or not the friend group will forgive Sunny". About what is not explicitly said and non canon in the game, looks like the fandom created their own "headspace" on top of OMORI to hide their pain and create their own fantasy. But you don't really need to be in pain anymore because you have a part of the solution before your eyes. I know this is a very emotional game and I'm also a very sensitive person. We all had a different experience that shaped and destroyed us. But this game has so much to teach us about. OMORI isn't a tale. It's a tragedy. And the best way to accept it is to be like Sunny and recover. I will probably getting flammed for saying that but newcomers after playing OMORI need to watch these kind of video instead of watching memes or fanfics to "cope". I'm fine if you disagree. I love OMORI but the fandom need to be carefull how they want to present OMORI to everyone.

[@ma.2089]

Sunny’s personality isn’t really flat, it’s just hard to remember what he’s like when he doesn’t communicate the way the other characters do. A lot of stuff is implied thru the narration, Basil’s captions, etc.

[@roadrunner4052]

Eeeeugh. Freud? Urgh... Still a good video! Didn't understand a lot of the terms in this video since I don't know a lot about subconscious stuff, but I still liked it. I think I need to rewatch it a couple more times. I don't have a crazy new perspective on whatever Omori is, but I like the interpretation that he's just a mechanism/cognitive dissonance a lot more than him being a completely different person. It never seemed right. He and Sunny have a lot in common, and he doesn't seem to have any of his own actual desires. Just a mechanism perfectly tailored to cut down any memory that could remind Sunny of the truth, and let Sunny be whatever he wants. I can relate a lot to Sunny. When I was a good bit younger, I used to do something a lot like what he did to survive my situation. Since I was a nerd, I called them "firewalls", and their job was to destroy/suppress old and new harmful memories. Just like Omori, they always went rogue eventually and would make me forget good things, or even just normal everyday stuff... And they still weren't perfect, it was easy to be reminded of that darkness and ruin the peace. But just because they started acting beyond what I intended them to do didn't mean they had personalities or their own thoughts or anything like that. It's an unhealthy coping mechanism that goes out of control when you rely on it too much, and you're only doing it because you are hurting a _lot_. It seems a little presumptuous to assume that just because a part of someone is acting beyond their control that they must have DID. This kind of bothers me. Maybe people like the idea that Omori is his own person because they like the creative freedom of it? But I definitely agree that the game's depictions are more in line with PTSD, not so much DID. It doesn't have to be that extreme to still cause a huge problem.

[@campbellnorton]

I don’t know who Freud is, but g/d _damn_ I loved reading this. You bring up very good points, I especially agree with the PTSD and not DID part.

[@_gremlinboy]

@@campbellnorton Freud is an old guy who did a lot of really infamous work in the psychology field, he's still cited by a lot of people and things he came up with (stuff like the psychosexual stages, penis envy, Oedipus complexes) are still really well known, but he had a long track record of projecting his own very weird neurosis onto everyone else and calling it psychology

[@Lemonsrt]

@@campbellnorton apparently he had some really fucked up ideas on psychology, though the guy above me already said them. I just remember him as the guy who kickstarted psychology because everyone hated his ideas and wanted better ones

[@harpsealers]

I agree with the DID part, or he could also have OSDD. But why i think this is because in his headspace “white space” theres alters, or headmates. These are aubrey kel mari basil and hero. People forget that alters can split off of real people, so it would make sense after not seeing his friends for such a long time could make him split alters of his friends, especially because they look the same as when he saw them last. Also if anyone doesn’t know alters are the “different personalities” of someone who has DID/OSDD. Just saying alter is easier instead of personality

[@macythompson7358]

nobody likes freud but he had SOME basis in regards to understanding the unconscious mind

[@iicalyps0]

Playing Omori was absolutely one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was so well done and it so perfectly captures so many complex feelings that I think a lot of people struggle to understand and communicate about. It's crazy how you can download a game, listen to a song, or do some random minor decision and you have no clue how greatly it can impact your life.

[@docdoc.4500]

This video is such a comfort towards my own PTSD, and I watch it sometimes to be reminded of why and how I can move forward to help heal myself in meaningful ways

[@capiuknowme7181]

It's incredible, i can't thank you enough for this meticulous breakdown and the quality of your writing. Keep on going!

[@Ventus_S]

I think Omori shows up there's some amazing story telling only a game can achieve, and also a phenomenal one. If it's from a novel , you will not get as much visual/ and ofc no audio presentation to aid it. If it's from a movie or anime, the screen time is too short to elaborate the delicacy and build up for the story, which when the truth lands it would not be as impactful. Game is the only medium that can truly elaborate the amazing story telling technique of Omori. The fact that you can piece out your own lore depending on how thorough you go through the game makes it even better.

[@Mirai_the_weeb]

As someone who has a dissasociative disorder (DPDR) and rarely sees conversation about the dissasociative amnesia and dissasociative fugue i appreciate how this game has brought it back into the conversation

[@I3lackEye]

For someone that is trying to understand my own PTSD, this video was extremly helpfull. You hit the nail on the head for a lot of things that I couldnt even come close to put into words myself. Thank you alot I really appreciate the video.

[@sheepie4985]

Honestly, I thank you so much for making this video. I wouldn't have found this amazing game if it wasn't for you.

[@aniket8357]

specifically for you, I would always multiply the actual watching time of your videos by 2 or 3 knowing first hand this would be dense as shit. crazy well done dude.

[@MOOtf2]

Singlehandedly the most well researched and presented video about this game, and screw you for making me cry again watching the Final Duet sequence I didn't ask for this lmfao

[@greyson_9118]

its so interesting cause it almost makes you feel what theyre going through mentally and physically. I dont have PTSD, but i could emphasize with them and almost see what they were feeling and going through while playing. I suffer with anxiety, ADHD, and possible neurodivergency, so i can relate to some aspects more than others, but it was overall an amazing game.

[@justhysteria]

holy shit. that speech during final duet gave me chills..

[@illy6777]

The things you say in this video about your inner child and forgiveness hit real hard. Thank you for this. You're helping a lot of people.

[@C_Kiri]

13:52 Everything happening here all at once made me double-take because your wording here is almost exactly a comment I once made, on a video for the music you have playing during this sequence no less. If that's not a coincidence, I'm absolutely not mad, if anything I'm happy something I said gets put in a pretty well-composed and researched video on the subject-- I felt pretty damn proud of my wording there-- but boy that was freaky to experience at 3 AM :P

[@ThunderJimmy]

Trauma is one hell of a battle- no, war that we all fight collectively, even the best of us have our worst days.

[@veccnya1840]

This is such a good deep dive into the game and the accuracy with mental health is appreciated. I suffer with lots of mental health problems, mainly sever depression and anxiety. The message of the ending of the game and analysis hits true for me, as a lot of my counselling is " Not accepting suffering causes prolonged terrible pain vs accepting suffering is painful. " Healing is a long and painful journey, but its a journey worth taking. That's why I love the game OMORI for its difficult and accurate depiction of mental health and suffering.

[@riplix20]

This was incredible, and I appreciate the fact that you took your time to do conclusive research in a field not many would actually try to delve deep into. Very refreshing, and eye opening for how people deal with their own traumas. Thank you.

[@rx500android]

First of all, this video is incredible well-researched. Second of all, as someone who dealt with trauma and is diagnosed with PTSD, this game hits really close to home. The part when Sunny hugged Omori hit me the hardest, as this is an incredible representation of the most important part of healing from trauma- embracing your subconscious and your coping mechanism, your "protector", and recognizing that it was only trying to help with what it thought was best at the time, in order to survive. Embracing yourself, actually, and not being angry at yourself for your coping, to not blame yourself.

[@seveniezzz7819]

absolutely wonderful essay, it's very clear that you've done your research on this topic and i thoroughly enjoyed listening to every connection you've made between this game and the realness of PTSD. seriously well done.

[@LeakyOrifices]

I have watched a fair few videos analysing omori and the themes it portrays, and I think this one is up there with the best, was really really interesting. Saying your most important message to take away from the video while Last Duet is playing is a cheap trick you bastard, now I’ve gotta go dry my eyes all over again. Thank you for the video

[@joewesterland5697]

What a beautifully looking game. I particularly liked the backgrounds in sections you described as being at the edge of his uncontious.

[@loxces3906]

Omori helped me come to realize how much of a horrible person I am, I was scared as a child when I moved from elementary, going to middle was hard for me. I was suicidal after it happening, I couldn't befriend anyone, I was scared to talk to anyone. So I lied, I had been lying my whole life, but I lied about something I hate myself for. I won't say what I lied about, but I'll tell you this, i had convinced myself it was true. Because of that, I gave myself trauma that I could've avoided, now 6th to 8th grade is a blur to me, I don't remember almost any of it. It took me 5 years to accept the lie wasn't true. 5 damn years of my life, wasted. Now in this 6th year, after playing this game in 2 days, the game became apart of my practically. But as I said, this 6th year, the ending of this game, Sunny fighting Omori. I now realize why I lied. And it broke me, I realize that I was a scared little boy, and still am scared. The lie I made was false, but the trauma I got from it isn't, and I've scarred myself. Thank you Omori, for helping me come to realize and accept what kind of person I am.

[@JosephStalin553]

L bozo

[@ichmagbaeume5318]

im actually amazed to see how much omori does for peoples mental health identification. It might not be a bad idea to go into therapy but it’s ur decision after all. Also don’t think you’re a terrible person just because you’ve lied about shit everyone lies

[@ichmagbaeume5318]

@@JosephStalin553what is wrong with you

[@Airneko]

Congrats to 500k views! Well deserved. Funny I released my OMORI related video 5 days before yours but you overtook me at the 500k mark. You did well to change the thumbnail! Although I preferred the previous one, the new thumbnail got you more views. And remember people. OMORI isn't a tale. It's a tragedy. And the best way to accept it is to be like Sunny. Breathe. Persist. Overcome.

[@leahdouglas1793]

I don't know if you'll ever see this; I just want to thank you, genuinely. The ending of this video added so much to my life, I don't think I'll ever be able to describe how that conclusion made me feel as I watched it and how it has impacted me as a person. Thank you.

[@tekko807]

"i WARNED you man" "i WARNED YOU ABOUT STAIRS"

[@PancakemonsterFO4]

25:30 man, this was definitely one of the most memorable scenes in the game, just looking at it gives me goosebumps

[@cherryfairyy]

I have complex PTSD and just found your channel. This video made me cry a lot it's really beautiful. What an amazing piece of art

[@Jay-kz4td]

omori is the only game that absolutely gutted me. what's worse is having memories of lost friends attached to such a powerful game. makes the heart pang harder

[@aya_potato]

Omori is such a good game that really connects to real life problems people face. Many people with childhood traumas tend to suffer from depression and suicide and that's what made me really appreciate this game and it's true meaning.

[@james-cal]

this is fucking fantastic how do you not have more subscribers