It's a long video, so for those who haven't made it to the end: YES I'm making videos for the other four routes!! The next video will include Jaehee and Yoosung, and the last will be about Jumin and Seven (and all the epilogue stuff). I work full time so pls be patient, but I'm glad so many people are looking forward to it
the devs should be studied for creating a game that made me stay up until 3 am and wake up at 7 every day for months on end for a little phonecall of someone who ISNT REAL !
Thats so true! I remember being a bit confused because Jumin was addressing V as if him being blind would mean that he'd never get to meet him again. Like... yeah it's pretty serious but you're gonna keep seeing him lol
😭 I remember loving Jumin's jokes. The funniest part is when they weren't meant to be jokes 😭😭😭 but I find that man the funniest man in the game without effort
He's just so painfully funny in the driest way it's not okay 💀 He even said he's been attempting at making jokes and the fact that we are laughing, finding it funny while others are staring at us thinking we are crazy is making it worse 😭😭
jumin is highkey funny. especially when he's going for zen's throat. one of my favourite conversations was: zen: the two of you dating (referring to seven and mc) is less likely than mr. trust fund kid working at a convenience store. jumin: less likely than zen getting a girlfriend. zen: what?
Another thing about the "Does Jumin Han is gay" joke is that at the same time, there was an article going around with a terrible Google translation that said Does Bruno Mars is gay that was taking me out on both ends. So it was funny to see the meme in real life for me every where I went 😂
Having learned a lot about K Idol culture recently, I think Jaehee is just being concerned about Zen's future. The public literally crucifies idols who get in relationships. I don't think Jaehee is jealous because she wants to be with Zen
true! I didn't realize this when I was younger, but her reasons for being against mc and zen are pretty reasonable- she's just a little annoying with how she keeps saying it. I love jaehee tho
Still remember that one incident where there was two KPOP idols who were dating (I think one was from EXO and the other was from Girl's Generation) and Korea made a big deal out of it. Seriously, they need a love life too like they ain't gonna stay single until it's too late for them to get marry. If American singers are able to have babies and still perform like normal, then why not the Asian? And fuck the "they need to be single for fans" because there's some people I admire, find out they're in relationship, but I don't care because it's their life and they can date whoever they're interest.
I'm waiting for someone out there to talk about the insane way that jumin's bad ending has proliferated the fandom and become more popular than the main ending to the point where there's DLC for it.
I have always felt that Echo Girl accusing Zen of having plastic surgery would've been a much better fit for the storyline. Maybe a little less sensationalist but I feel like they could play it off as ruining his career all the same. Have her include a photoshopped "young zen" picture as "proof" and it could've been much better. Also, Zen probably doesn't have any young pictures of himself after running away and all so this could also force him to go back and see his parents to get a picture, wrapping up that storyline more explicitly. I just feel like if I were a fan of Zen, hearing that Echo Girl was "all over him" wouldn't necessarily disprove him harassing her. I agree with the video that I dislike this plot point overall and nearly ruins Zen's route for me despite him being my favorite character.
No yeah that part rubbed me the wrong way especially knowing it korean, and I mean, korea does not have a very good rep with female victims or victims of sa in general and people saying "your true fans would understand" was so like huh? This is like a serious serious issue why are people acting like it's a whatever sort of thing in the game
LEGIT, this change would improve the route tenfold as it’s actually something that directs to his personal grievences and a more clearcut motivation involving the pressure to reconnect with his family, as the SA plot also lacked substantial narrative purpose outside of being ‘sensational’. You could argue that the original plot still provoked the trigger in exposing Zen’s low self-worth and possibly the aspect of being s3xu@lized since childhood (which his family did him no favours in making him view his appearance the way he does,) but it has such little major connection to the MC & RFA that it could be so easily altered.
I agree. His reputation would be ruined for life despite being innocent and people not involved believe him blindly, not knowing if he’s guilty or not. It’s icky all around. Also nothing they use as proof absolved him of the accusation. He can still SA her if SHE came over to his place. He can still SA her after leaving the bean fish stand. Her being his fan only makes him look worse. Him being in love with another woman doesn’t mean he couldn’t harm EG.
This idea makes so much sense! It would've been so much better if she just lied about something childish, considering that echo girl IS childish. And it would leave Zens arc about reconnecting with his family a bit more well rounded.
I was so annoyed to find out that I couldn't take Jumin's path on a first playthrough because as soon as he started talking about his cat, I was like, "He loves cats, he's obviously the best choice." 😂
the true power of zen mysme is that he is still swoon worthy like 6 years later when im reminded of the specifics of his route. this was such a fun almost 2 hours that brings back all the memories of opening this game for the first time forever ago of how fun, sweet, and completely insane mysme is. i am so excited for the rest of your analysis but possibly the Most Excited for the Veceipts reveal :3c
When I was 13 years old I played Yoosung's route but I was so scared that I'd get the bad end and hurt him I just looked up how to get the good ending and then never played the game again. Scared that if I played any other route the ending would hurt Yoosung... 13 year old me was way too attached to Yoosung
As a people pleaser and theater kid who IS in fact an overenthusiastic 14 year old child at heart, I was Instantly drawn to Zen and *loved* showering him with complements and getting a bunch of affection and compliments back.
mystic messenger taught me how to read and comprehend english lmao. it is genuinely the reason i wanted to actively learn the language, instead of just suffering through my english classes.
Chats are open until the next one comes up. You can still play the 3am chats at 6am or so, as long as the next chat hasn't come up yet. I usually play 3am chats a few mins before the next one so that I don't have to wake up at an ungodly hour lol
That's the only reason I spent money on the game so I could still play it. I was in college at the time, so lots of chats would be missed because of it.
Fun fact: i escaped from my father's house while playing Seven's route cuz i realize that i needed to escape, and the final straw was Seven saying "let's escape together" lol
As someone who has never played Mystic Messenger, this video feels like such a little (not so little) gem. It was wonderful to watch. I'm very excited for the rest of the routes.
So excited for you guys to have everything revealed to you. I spent a little over three years discovering everything while playing the game. Once January comes around I'll have played Mysme for six years, and I have yet to have gone through all the endings, after endings, and DLCs. All this to say, it's an intricate game and I'm glad you two get to watch some deep dive UA-cam videos and learn all the fun stuff hidden in the game.
I also never played it, I don't have a set schedule and was always intimidated by the "don't miss the chats" part when I'm also the type to hate missing ANYTHING in a visual novel type game. I had debated trying to find playthroughs of the game, but this actually is quite a nice way to learn about it with all the context from someone who enjoyed the games but can see the good and bad parts.
I cant lie, as a lonely uni student, I still find comfort in and play this game, it feels like there's somebody there to talk to for a short amount of time, even though that's a bit sad haha.
Oh ur not alone I got this game when I was in community college. 8 years later I’m back on and I love it but I get so emotional about it bc of the loneliness
@linlinpooh7677 the loneliness SUCKS but hey, at least we have MM and the fandom! I'm so glad it's not just me and that people still love this game. 💜 :)
That one photo you can get where it’s V and Rika, both standing on opposite sides of Zen, smiling, while Zen himself kinda looks like he want to die, absolutely gives of the vibe of “ slightly to friendly couple trying to make Zen their third “
I actually just restarted mystic messenger since I'm in college now and have way more time. I've been playing the game since it's release. The 2020 surge was insane to me but made me happy that other people were enjoying mystic messenger. Maybe this game made me think I was straight for longer than I should have but I do love it so much
It's kinda of funny how this game for me made me realize that I'm into women (thz Jaehee) since I started to play it on my '' b-b-but I'm straight😧'' phase . Also glad that still someone plays it although its popularity kinda of died lmao
@@ma.2089 Some games are still on the top despite being in the mainstream media for a long time tho... Or maybe this type of games just dies unlike the others lol
@@leiakasta7602 haha I guess I should have said my schedule is a little more flexible, like I'm up at 1 am for those chatrooms and I can be on my phone in class and stuff
I started avoiding Zen right at the moment he started flirty stuff, so pretty much immediately; honestly, this type of guys are annoying for me irl. But as I furthered on Jaehee's, Jumin's routes, I began to sympatize Zen's genuine brother feel so I've decided to give it a try. His route was hell rocky for me picking up these options lol. However, the main route and Zen's dlcs has knocked the life out of me for days, this type of character writing was one of the reasons I don't fall for first impression anymore. As Jumin's for life devoted fan, I'm still always on Zen's idioticfunnypissed side in their fights. I was felt being so loved and cared of, not like in any route before or afterwards. Now everytime replaying his route is 100/10 enjoyable due I can vibe with his bragging easily :) Thank you for these 2 hours of softy flashbacks^^ Was wondering lately if I ever find both smooth and attentive to details MM video, and it looks like my prayers been heard hah
I really didn't like zen when I started playing bc I didn't like his flirtyness but also cus I really relate to Jumin and I didn't like the way Zen treated him. Eventually i did his route (just cus I'm a completionist lmao) and I totally fell for him! I think that Zen as a character didn't really have a good hook but oh my god he was really well written!! His route is my favorite now
@@ruriva4931 Well, totally feel that, although I hate being told what to do I just cannot stand Jumin's changes in other routes. This is beyond my strength just to leave him behind knowing MC was surely random but one of the last chances for that distant emotional clueless type of guys like him. They never tell if something's wrong but you clearly can see that. Idk I just can't stand it lol, I've cried on 707 end just because of Jumin was being thrown away like garbage by V. At least Zen's finish, Zen was SO uplifted and inspired by our presence that it has distracted me from Jumin :)
@@kaisetic3150 Zen's immediate reactions are so realistic like omg (and the amount of random sounds he makes in calls too lol). He is indeed the most green flag, I never unlocked his bad ends because he has never deserved that 🙈 Agreed, maybe his hook wasn't that good but they have managed to turn it into a total hidden gem! Han for life yet Zen when I feel the lowest, he is my MC's sunshine^^
I’m absolutely THRILLED Mysme seems to be finally arriving at the stage of retrospective video analysis as this game is totally built for a deep dive and I didn’t even multitask watching this as you’ve made a really engaging, promising start. Zen’s Route has always personally been my least favourite due to reasons you’ve addressed + it was never going to completely sit right with me stealing Jaehee’s man 😔 I have a hard time grasping a purpose for Echo Girl (prob always will,) but you’ve made a really compelling argument of her contributing to his adversion of privilege, and I’ve never been a fan of Zen being urged to reconnect with family that imo he was more than justified in cutting off but I can respect his need for closure in that regard. Still feel rather iffy about him wanting to repair those relationships before considering marriage as frankly I would have a very hard time trusting them above aquaintance level. It was also really nice to see someone primarily on Jaehee and Yoosung’s defense as too many people dismiss them. I have a feeling I’m gonna really enjoy your thoughts on Yoosung’s Route; he’s not my personal favourite but his route overall was probably the most enjoyable experience for me. Not covering Another Story is understandable as Causal/Deep is already alot to unpack and AS is….. a whole nother beast but I argue that it still does serve as a signficant part of the story even if it was essentially tacked on. The inevitable discussion of V is gonna be a doozy regardless 🤪
the funny thing is that out of the 3 casual routes, jaehee was always my fav despite me not even being into dating girls. u just gotta love jaehee y'know? an absolute icon
Wow, this took me back to 2016. I remember being obsessed with MysMe! The fanarts in Tumblr, the shipping between the RFA members, the Does Jumin Han is gay meme, the Gay or European meme... OMFG. A lot of memories are coming back to me, and as I revisit them, I feel so happy. I recall downloading the game in 2016 when I was 16, I would always listen to the opening and ost when I was studying... I remember the small fandom it was and how it blew up eventually. (I also remember saying to myself I would "never" delete the game because that would make Seven sad) Just...wow. Mysme was really an hyperfixation for me lol But it made me so so happy, I'm so endeared as I write all of this. I guess my comment will be kinda messy to read, but thank you for making this video! Definitely unlocked some core memories.
The way i saw this in my recommendations, paused, and put a hand on my heart. *Finally, someone made a 2-hour-long video essay about Mystic Messenger.* Edit after watching: I URGE you to play Ray's route. The ending is very much worth it!! Ray isn't my personal bias, but throughout all the messy moments, the ending seems to wrap it up really well imo. But I'd also love to hear your commentary on the other routes as well! Im so excited to hear your thoughts on 707 if you ever get to it. You give the game the level of respect it deserves without taking it too seriously or too loosely. I always seem to find people in the fandom that are either really young and miss out on the emotional maturity aspect of the game, or are too intense about it and have elitist perspectives. I could be searching in the wrong places, but it's refreshing to see some well-rounded and complex commentary on the story and it's writing. I think the world needs more in-depth conversation about this game and otome/feminine content in general. You're doing fantastic work contributing to that conversation. (And can we PLEASE talk about "Im the slim lady, yes im the real lady, all you other slim ladies are just malnourished")
i havent watched the video yet, but im so excited to see it in my recommendations that my heart is still beating really fast lol. i was looking up mystic messenger video essays all summer long, i feel that same way!!
very well put and i couldn't agree more. media like this (targeted at women) usually isn't taken seriously and gets dragged trough mud. what a beautiful video.
Considering all the limitations of a game like MM, I think it's a pretty good game. It's the only Otome game I've ever really played. The story was interesting enough and the characters were unique and well written. That being said, one thing about the game that annoys me is having to wake up at 2AM so that I don't miss a chat or phone call. Luckily it all collects into the history tab.
The waking up at 2am thing is annoying, but let's not ignore how it expects us to be up at 2am... And then again at like 5-6am. Like bro, how tf am I supposed to get a proper sleep if you expect us to go to bed around 2am and be up at 6am 😭 How are the characters not more concerned by how little MC seems to sleep!?
I played mystic messenger at one of the roughest times of my life. I had finally gotten the courage to break up with my long term abusive boyfriend, and he sabotaged all of my friendships to the point where these people I used to trust would harass me. I felt so alone and was super depressed and I found solace in mystic messenger. Even though they were fictional, it was the only time I had to feel like I actually had someone to care about me. And as cringe as it feels to say, I think Mystic Messenger literally saved my life so it’s nice to revisit it years later ❤
oh it feels so strange to see one of these deep-dives for something i was actually heavily into. i downloaded it in 2016, i snuck out of my lessons, i made save slots before travelling long distances. i remember the layout changes, i remember when they made save slots paid, i remember grinding the opening messages to get hourglasses, i remember the genuine terror i felt the first time i insisted that there was no keypad and got a cutscene i hadn't previously known about, i remember the day 5 bad end going from upsetting to just frustrating, i remember spending entire months grinding because i was in year 7 and didn't have anything urgent going on, i remember coming back for Another Story, i remember not understanding that seven and jumin could only be unlocked with hourglasses, i remember memorising every place you could get hourglasses. i got every ending except that one jumin bad end. i named every cat i got in games i played "elizabeth iii" and i picked programming up again because of seven (i am now studying maths and computer science at uni) and saying "lololol" instead of "lol" all the fucking time lmao. i remember thinking that "does jumin han is gay" was the height of comedy, partly cause i'd just realised i was queer myself at the time and loved everything related. normally these videos have me learning about something for the first time but this was an experience, i want to download it again but alas, i am a uni student, im busy trying to persuade myself to cook or study
this is DISGUSTINGLY UNDERVIEWED! It’s plain as day that you put SO much effort into this video, and the outcome is amazing. i’m subbing, you deserve more recognition!
i was a sophomore in high school when mystic messenger came out and i was *obsessed.* one time, i actually left class to "go to the bathroom" so i could answer a phone call i was getting within the game lmao. i absolutely adored it. even just hearing the background music in your video as a now college senior... makes me miss it sm. just might have to replay it for the remainder of my holiday break haha
I haven't touched the game in sooo long, but I'm re-downloading it and starting over as I'm watching this since I'm starting to find more and more people that are STILL into the game to this day, and the nostalgia is getting to me lol. It truly is a really good game! I think a big part of MysMes' appeal is how realistic it feels. Not only do the chats feel like they're written by real people, or the fact that there's a call option, it's so immersive that you can't help but feel like you're actually in the setting during the cutscenes outside the chatrooms! One thing I really really enjoyed about the game were the bad endings, especially Day 5. It's so eerily realistic in a way? And the breaking of the fourth wall. I still remember so vividly the chills I got when Jaehee scolded me.
I think your end point really verbalized why I loved and still love Mystic Messenger, it's not just about the romance, it's about joining this fun found family. Everyone went through a lot but now they're here, and they got each other. For a similar reason, I love Obey Me, tropey as it is, you do feel like you're a part of something, and that's really sweet.
My main problem with this game was just that i could not always be available for texts and calls and so my routes always got cut short. But i did love it while I played!
I remember playing this game when I was something like 16. I set up alarms, had the wiki opened to know the right answers for the mails, and was always anxious that I'd got a bad end. After reaching the ending with Jaehee, I stopped the game for a bit, and never picked it up again, because I realized it was too taxing for me, since I didn't want to miss any chats... meaning I'd lose sleep and get highely anxious during school because I didn't want to miss anything. Glad that I'll finally get to know more about all the characters!
11:40 I remember music being unsettling at first buuuut it’s actually bumpin when the bass kicks in hehe 😌 The overall soundtrack is so scrumptious tho, I feel so lucky and maybe a little spoiled to have experienced such an eccentric game in middle school. The nostalgia is real :,)
Oh please please once you're done with your planned project do give V's route a chance. In my eyes it was the best storyline in the MysMe universe. I'm an adult woman now but V will always have a special place in my heart. Absolutely love everything about him 💙🌸 Thank you so much for your hard work and I'll be looking forward to the next chapter 🌸
Yeah, its been a hot minute since I played but V instantly became my fave back when AS came out. I was a little bummed when they said it wasn't gonna be covered.
I’ve always loved Zen, he’s been my favourite from the very start. So having a retrospective go this indepth into so much of Zen’s route was a genuine joy. Thank you for giving me the flashbacks to simpler times. Just hearing the ‘scary’ music gave a deep feeling in my gut that had me remembering little 13 year old me trying not to get kidnapped by Unknown. Amazing video and can’t wait for the rest of the series!
I still play this game all the time after my first play through in 2016, it's such a big comfort game for me I'm actually doing Zen's route right now:)
Cheritz really missed an opportunity to develop visual novels for every route as a deeper dive and to make the app more immersive and customizable. I know there are a lot of factors as to why things fizzled out, but they had a great game they should've focused on and refined instead of taking on their new app. If I ever win the lottery I'm giving half of it to Cheritz to do this ;_;
Omg this makes me wanna play again. For me, each characters was endearing in their own way, so much so I just love them all. Though I favour Yoosung less due to personal preferences. The chatroom was so vibrant and dynamic, it felt real and the immersion is truly amazing. The older and the more I play other games (dating sim, otoge, visual novel, etc), the more I can appreciate these characters. I often come back and play the game even now. And since it's already been almost a week since the surge of Mystic Messenger content on my feed without prompt, so I guess it's a sign lmao. I'm going back in.
I had friends who were obsessed with mystic messenger in 2016. I never understood why until I played it years later. This game really grows on you over time. They really feel like genuine people. I mean sure, it can get weird, it can get messy, its writing can go stale, but goddamn you feel for these people. I remembered dropping the game for a bit after that Ray guy literally snatches yoosung away when I tried his route first time. Looking back I should've been more active but like cmon game I can't stay up at 3Am for this stuff smh. The mechanics are cool but GOD it can work against people who have busier lives. Regardless, it really is neat for what it is. It wasn't my cup of tea personally, but when it hits, it hits
Man I can't wait for all the other routes being analysed in 1h+ videos and watching these videos while studying for my exams. You have a really nice voice and great analysing skills.
I've heard about mystic messenger because the fandom is so big and have been curious about what makes it so loved, but I'm not interested in the time it takes to play it myself so this video is perfect! I've been looking for a summary on the game and the deep dive is a great bonus!
i hope you’ll take a look at future videos about the other routes! this game can only continue to develop in amazing and shocking ways from here and i think you’ll enjoy it if you liked this look into zen’s route.
the "was" makes me so sad bro 😭😭 awesome video though!! I love this game to bits and still play it (saeran beloved), I almost never did because it was obviously made for girls in mind and I wasn't part of this demographic, as well as only having played action/rpg games before. I'm thankful I decided to make an exception and try it out because it's been one of my top games ever since then, the lore instantly appealed to me and the replayability made me come back to it every holidays. I'm about to get a job now and I still plan on sneaking out for little breaks just to play it (old habits die hard). With the Ssum releasing in 2022 and more recently Cheritz announcing mysme won't have any new CGs, there's been a melancholic feeling in the fandom (at least from what I've seen), knocking on wood they don't shut down the servers anytime soon, though I've heard on reddit that a few passionate fans had a plan B ready for when it happens (aka creating a backup of the game... somehow. something something coding) Thank you for this!! you're awesome :)
I absolutely ADORED this deep dive into game mechanics and Zen's route because you touched on so many topics that I absolutely love about this game and how it revolutionized the mobile otome game formats!! I can't wait to see the continuation on Jaehee and Yoosung's routes!! I hope that someday you talk about Another Story too (ofc after all the base game routes) because those routes/characters are so incredibly interesting and dynamic!!! This video was so well made- thank you so much for this experience ♡♡♡
Zen used to be my least favorite when I first played the game at 12 years old. Six years later, I've grown to appreciate him and his route because its sooo wholesome and this video reminded me of that! I'm excited to see the rest to see how my opinions have changed. Btw your narration is really funny and you've done a great job highlighting the main events of the story! Thanks for the video!
This video is so criminally underrated. Mystic messenger has always been a game full of nostalgia and a game of humble beginnings, not just for us the players but like mentioned the otome game scene as a whole. The impact this game has had will be everlasting, and to keep it going as tribute even when it isn’t as mainstream now is one of the things I’m so glad that I get to see people like you take part in. And it certainly isn’t everyday you see meticulously crafted analysis pieces like this. Whatever good things I have to say about this video, whatever praises I sing, will fall short of what you really deserve. Heck I am definitely subscribing! I cannot wait to see what you have in store, if you choose to keep going with this and talk about 707, and especially V. Vceipts had me giggling, ngl😂😂 rolls off the tongue perfectly. The video as a whole was informative and amazing, I didn’t even find myself multitasking whilst watching this due to how engaging it has been. Mystic messenger has a very special place in my heart, and I think I speak for us all here on this video when I say that. It truly has been a whirlwind of a ride, from does jumin han is gay all the way to Rika’s dark past and into all the dark theories about the game. All of it has been beautiful and great. Whilst the writing has been hazy at times like the video discusses perfectly, I think the ultimate message and experience the game brought, has been nonetheless impactful and life changing. Mystic messenger forever ❤
This was such a fun watch! As someone who has spent A LOT of hours in this game, it's super nostalgic to hear you talk about all of this. I'll wait impatiently for the next part!
I caught atleast 3 of my students playing this game while in my class. i got curious and played the game (didnt finish it). i liked the song so i shared it with my husband and he got a little obsessed with the game
It's so satisfying listen to a fellow fan delve into the bombshell that is Mystic messenger- and all with great level of critical analysis that has me learning a few things. Amazing work! :D
I haven’t played Mystic Messenger and honestly I probably never will, but I’ve been curious about it for a long long time. Thank you for making this series so I can know about it
Omg this was a blast from the past. I remember I got into mm because someone was cosplaying 707 at an ikea (I am not kidding lmao). honestly this video essay was so done so perfectly
I miss mystic messenger so much, I stared playing when I was in college and I had so much time to play when I was on vacation I was younger than yoosung and saeyoung and now I’m about to be older than jumin it’s so nostalgic to watch this video because I haven’t even finished saerans route bc of my work I miss my rfa so much I would give anything to experience this absolute gem of a game for the first time again I’ll be waiting for the next video and the next one where you cover the love of my life, Han Jumin ❤️
1:53:10 and I’m goad you did!! I only read Zen’s route and was annoyed that I couldn’t just skip to Jimin’s bc he was the only one I wanted to romance😂. I was not about to replay the WHOLE GAME at my big age, and I know the story is long and quite complex - something I’ve wanted to digest and reminisce on in a clear concise timeline! I’m so glad you’ve done it really!! I’m looking forward to your next videos!!!🫶🏾 Edit: how ironic you said that, i’m multitasking with one of my uni projects at the moment😂
HELP, THIS GAME DESTROYED MY WHOLE LIFE. MY SOCIAL LIFE. SCHOOL LIFE. FRIENDS. FRIENDSHIPS WERE ENDED OVER MYSTIC MESSENGER. I DID NOTHING, I WAS ABOUT 9 AND THIS CARRIED ON FOR A GOOD 3 YEARS.
This video has been so enjoyable! You can really feel the love and interest that you have for the game through this video and It great to see someone lovingly go through this game with a fine tooth comb. MysMe will always have a place in my heart and you truly identified what made this game so lovable. Something that I unfortunately felt was amiss in The Ssum. While the game has some ups and downs (like me losing my mind in Vs route because I genuinely got frustrated by his wish washy behavior) the dynamics of the RFA just make this game. I am very much looking forward to the next videos whenever those will be ready (please take your time) and you definitely have gained another subscriber in me :)
I'VE BEEN WANTING A MYSMES HOUR+ LONG VIDEO ESSAY FOR SO LONG NOW A LONG DEEP DIVE OF MY SPECIAL INTEREST IS ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED MOST IN MY LIFE YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW THANKFUL I AM THIS IS GONNA BE SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH THANK YOU SO MUCH IM SO EXCITED THANK YOU
Re-visiting Mystic Messenger was a project I had during 2020 and it's so exciting to see more content being made about a game I love! I look forward to hearing what you have to point out in the next parts!
Its been so long since I played Mystic Messenger but listening to you retell the story literally makes me giddy like I'm in high school again. Seeing the moments you highlighted and the dramatic shift into the yoosung seven coffee story just flooded me with emotions. I think I'm gonna replay the game now lmao
I haven't replayed Mysme in a long while so watching this was really great. I really enjoyed your recap and analysis of Zen's route, and it was a lot of fun! Can't wait to see your deep dives into the other routes! Thank you! ❤
I could never get into this game and I can't believe I never knew till now that the same company made Dandelion! I was obsessed with Dodger and Cryotics collab playthrough in high school and had notifications on for uploads. They made it so funny and enjoyable and I rewatched it so many times when they stopped uploading
Never heard of this game before. Watched the first 8 minutes and I was like right I absolutely have to play this. Finished zen’s route and came back to watch the rest - I loved your analysis and all the love and detail you put into this video and the visuals and thank you so much for introducing me to this game ! I’m excited to finish yoosung and Jaehee’s routes and come back for part 2 !!!
I fucking love MM, back in 2016 I was too young to really get into the game (and I didn't even know how to play it so I gave up on it back in 2016) but when 2020 hit I decided to get back into it and man was it a blast and a half, I still obsess over the game, even if it is past it's prime, I don't care this game is honestly amazing and has made me feel shit that other otome games haven't, I'm very excited for your deep dive on each route, glad to know the community is still somehow alive.
i had the same exact experience lmaoo discovered the game around 2016-17 after watching someone play it on youtube, downloaded and tried it but didnt even understand the irl time mechanic so i just stopped playing. then picked it up at the start of the pandemic, ignoring my online classes just to chat with fictional men (and jaehee ofc)
I've finally, finally watched this after having it sit in my watch later list for months and OOOOO, it was worth making sure I had the time to properly watch! I didn't realize it at the time, but MysMe really kept me company during my lonely first 2 years at college. Zen's was my first route and the full summary totally took me back to sneakily opening up a chat during class and then putting my phone to sleep so I could read it later without worrying about the next chat starting. For so long I thought Zen would be my one and only in this game, and while that held true for a good long while, V ended up stealing my heart, so I am eagerly awaiting the full review of all those bonkers V-ceipts. MysMe is such a unique experience, so since my job now would make replaying it difficult and impractical, I thoroughly enjoyed this summary and discussion. I'm kinda glad that I ended up waiting so long to watch this, since now i won''t have to wait as long for the next, lol.
The power this game held onto me oof as I would get the game again around a few times later on and on valentines than once again new routes had came out. I loved the music and the gameplay along with being a young person who didn’t have money who was able to play this whole story without needing spend money was maybe the main reason why I clutched onto this game…or maybe cause I was a simp for 707 or Zen
i remember being like 10 or 11 and crying saying sorry to seven for going through other routes and making him go through the repeats :’ it goes to show how well the game is made for me to have believed 707 was real and could hear me through the phone.. pfft..
I'm a guy so probably not the first person you'd think playing this game plus I was only 15 when this game released and I started playing it, but I've done every single route including every after ending every dlc etc and yet this video was so nostalgic and amazing looking back at such an incredible game and route that had such a big impact on my life. Thanks for doing this video and I'm looking forward to the videos of the other routes >:)
I missed the initial wave of Mystic Messenger when it first came out but discovered it during the early stages of the 2020 chaos. Being stuck at home and finding myself working remotely and interacting with friends only over things like messengers and calls? This game grabbed me by the horns and it was like falling into something I was unprepared for. Brilliant video!!!! :)
This video inspired me to re-download Mysme, re-play the 707 route and re-read chats from other routes. I have enough thoughts to make my own unhinged presentation. Of course there are flaws, but I love all the characters, the dialogue, and the story. There's truly no other game like it
omg watching this just made me cry MAYBE ZEN REALLY DOES LIKE ME LOL TWT i remember enjoying the obnoxious choices because im actually quite shy when it comes to relationships or at least i used to be xD but my inner self is insane. thanks for the validation hahaha
this whole thing is a masterpiece but i do want to give you special thanks for the localization nitpick corner. the extent to which i see localizations, fan translations, etc gloss over japanese occupation of korea is something that actively harms the source material and the audience's understanding of it, so it's a delight to hear somebody actually bring it up in any capacity
This is how me and my best friend of almost 6 years connected. This game had such a hold on us in middle school. Mystic Messenger still is on my mind almost daily. 707 is still my favourite time of the day because of this game.
I’m actually replaying the game with the order listed in this video! I’m on zen’s right now, which I definitely agree is annoying to get but once you’re on the route it’s one of the sweetest storylines (assuming you’re going for the good ending lol)
This was the sweetest video I've come across in a while 😭 I'm still a very current fan of Mystic Messenger (playing Day 9 of V's route right at this moment) but it was so much fun to hear about the game from a longer-time fan's retrospective. I can't wait for the next part!
it's very late where I live, I was just looking at my youtube feed and seeing a video about Mystic Messenger, a game i was used to play in middle school while I'm in college right now HITS A LOT haha, love the nostalgia your video brings me!!
Hello from Oregon! Fantastic job of dissecting MysMe! I started playing MYSME 4 years ago and haven’t looked back. This game is in a category that hasn’t really been copied yet. It is a definite hit and these characters come to vivid life in ways that no one could possibly understand that hasn’t played through at least one character’s route. In 4 years I still haven’t done V or Saerin’s route at all. And I haven’t been through all of the routes from my favorite characters. Your deep look was wonderfully done and definitely captured the culture and feel of this game.
you made me realize I do tend to enjoy the neutral endings more than the good endings because they're more realistic. especially in jumin's route - good ending relationship was VERY fast paced and i was actually very emotionally touched in the neutral ending hehe but for storytelling purposes i think the good endings are appropriate xD
I don't know how plausible this is to do, but I would be more than happy to watch a video on every route. This got me into MM and I'm really happy that I did, it's given my days some structure and generally is nice to have around. 🙂
As someone who LOVED this game when I played it, but hasn’t been able to play it since with now having a full time job, a sleep schedule, etccc,, this video feels like a gift. You seriously reminded me why I loved this game so much in the first place, and I’m so grateful you took the time to recount the actual plot and events of Zen’s route. Thank you for making this video 🥰
I'd only heard of this game before, and now I'm lowkey obsessed. Zen seems like a really well-rounded and lovable character. Subscribed, and I hope you cover the other routes!!
Thanks for this, I always wanted to get into MM but I don't like microtransactions, and I don't like games forcing me to do stuff at specific times of day or waiting, so I could never get into it. Also, the joke about being a wizard would have been so much better, lowkey disappointed they removed it in localization.
Loved hearing your thoughts on this game! I haven't played it in years but it still has a special place in my heart, and as a fan of video essays, I'm so glad someone made one as good as this on it! I'm excited for your analysis on the other routes too! Subbed! 😊
This game made its comeback on my phone after almost 6 years ✨️ The game has me in a hold that I try to search similar things in other otome games 😩 The story telling is very in line with what I like so it really captured my heart.
Genuinely, this is one of the best and most insightful video essays I think I've seen on UA-cam, and I watch a lot. You've provided an excellent analysis with a lot of heart, and articulated excellently why my favorite love interest is so compelling. I'm also so glad you brought up the issues with the false SA accusation, as that always struck me as off; and your discussion of the "Does Jumin Han is gay?" difference across localizations was really interesting. I'm really looking forward to seeing the next one!
It's a long video, so for those who haven't made it to the end: YES I'm making videos for the other four routes!! The next video will include Jaehee and Yoosung, and the last will be about Jumin and Seven (and all the epilogue stuff). I work full time so pls be patient, but I'm glad so many people are looking forward to it
Looking forward to it 😊
Mwah this is perfect, take your time and get that bag 🫶
IM VERY EXCITED FOR MORE :D
Thank you!
so excited, thank you
the devs should be studied for creating a game that made me stay up until 3 am and wake up at 7 every day for months on end for a little phonecall of someone who ISNT REAL !
Istg bro
as a person who is going blind , they're talking about V as if he's dying and it's hilarious
Thats so true! I remember being a bit confused because Jumin was addressing V as if him being blind would mean that he'd never get to meet him again. Like... yeah it's pretty serious but you're gonna keep seeing him lol
@@Vishakha._.707 Jumin will surely see V, but as for V himself...
The fact that it doesn't matter which chatacter you romance, you get to be besties with 7 anyway is so good 😂 he's so much fun in that role
And then the hard reality of his character crushes your soul. 🤣
one of my fav jumin lines is in the intro chat
yoosung- whats a log?
jumin- tree
idk, that was just so funny to me lmao
😭 I remember loving Jumin's jokes. The funniest part is when they weren't meant to be jokes 😭😭😭 but I find that man the funniest man in the game without effort
@@punipalsayshi2644 same!! I totally found him so funny even tho I probably shouldn't have haha
gaahh I remember how funny he was, this game made me laugh out loud multiple times
He's just so painfully funny in the driest way it's not okay 💀
He even said he's been attempting at making jokes and the fact that we are laughing, finding it funny while others are staring at us thinking we are crazy is making it worse 😭😭
jumin is highkey funny. especially when he's going for zen's throat. one of my favourite conversations was:
zen: the two of you dating (referring to seven and mc) is less likely than mr. trust fund kid working at a convenience store.
jumin: less likely than zen getting a girlfriend.
zen: what?
THE GRIP THIS GAME HAD ON ME IN 2016. I WAS LITERALLY HAVING SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AT 11 YEARS OLD. I COMPLETED EVERY ROUTE.
Ahh same
Same, I spent every dollar I got on it. I roleplayed it online, I was obsessed
me too LMAO 😭
me but 2020 at 12
ME TOO LMAOOO
Another thing about the "Does Jumin Han is gay" joke is that at the same time, there was an article going around with a terrible Google translation that said Does Bruno Mars is gay that was taking me out on both ends. So it was funny to see the meme in real life for me every where I went 😂
Having learned a lot about K Idol culture recently, I think Jaehee is just being concerned about Zen's future. The public literally crucifies idols who get in relationships. I don't think Jaehee is jealous because she wants to be with Zen
true! I didn't realize this when I was younger, but her reasons for being against mc and zen are pretty reasonable- she's just a little annoying with how she keeps saying it. I love jaehee tho
@@monbub i remember responding to zen with any mean answers because i wanted to be with jahee 💀💀
@@user-mo8lilol
Still remember that one incident where there was two KPOP idols who were dating (I think one was from EXO and the other was from Girl's Generation) and Korea made a big deal out of it.
Seriously, they need a love life too like they ain't gonna stay single until it's too late for them to get marry. If American singers are able to have babies and still perform like normal, then why not the Asian? And fuck the "they need to be single for fans" because there's some people I admire, find out they're in relationship, but I don't care because it's their life and they can date whoever they're interest.
@@nunyabusiness3652 because.
Parasocialism.
I'm waiting for someone out there to talk about the insane way that jumin's bad ending has proliferated the fandom and become more popular than the main ending to the point where there's DLC for it.
That elegant suggestion of seeing therapist at the very start of it lol.
I’m glad people are now seeing how bad of a man he is
@@rubylillies867 down bad of a man*
Ppl are….ppl 😂😂
I have always felt that Echo Girl accusing Zen of having plastic surgery would've been a much better fit for the storyline. Maybe a little less sensationalist but I feel like they could play it off as ruining his career all the same. Have her include a photoshopped "young zen" picture as "proof" and it could've been much better. Also, Zen probably doesn't have any young pictures of himself after running away and all so this could also force him to go back and see his parents to get a picture, wrapping up that storyline more explicitly.
I just feel like if I were a fan of Zen, hearing that Echo Girl was "all over him" wouldn't necessarily disprove him harassing her. I agree with the video that I dislike this plot point overall and nearly ruins Zen's route for me despite him being my favorite character.
No yeah that part rubbed me the wrong way especially knowing it korean, and I mean, korea does not have a very good rep with female victims or victims of sa in general and people saying "your true fans would understand" was so like huh? This is like a serious serious issue why are people acting like it's a whatever sort of thing in the game
LEGIT, this change would improve the route tenfold as it’s actually something that directs to his personal grievences and a more clearcut motivation involving the pressure to reconnect with his family, as the SA plot also lacked substantial narrative purpose outside of being ‘sensational’. You could argue that the original plot still provoked the trigger in exposing Zen’s low self-worth and possibly the aspect of being s3xu@lized since childhood (which his family did him no favours in making him view his appearance the way he does,) but it has such little major connection to the MC & RFA that it could be so easily altered.
omg I agree one hundred percent. I never liked his route because that whole storylime made me so uncomfortable
I agree. His reputation would be ruined for life despite being innocent and people not involved believe him blindly, not knowing if he’s guilty or not. It’s icky all around. Also nothing they use as proof absolved him of the accusation. He can still SA her if SHE came over to his place. He can still SA her after leaving the bean fish stand. Her being his fan only makes him look worse. Him being in love with another woman doesn’t mean he couldn’t harm EG.
This idea makes so much sense! It would've been so much better if she just lied about something childish, considering that echo girl IS childish. And it would leave Zens arc about reconnecting with his family a bit more well rounded.
I was so annoyed to find out that I couldn't take Jumin's path on a first playthrough because as soon as he started talking about his cat, I was like, "He loves cats, he's obviously the best choice." 😂
the true power of zen mysme is that he is still swoon worthy like 6 years later when im reminded of the specifics of his route. this was such a fun almost 2 hours that brings back all the memories of opening this game for the first time forever ago of how fun, sweet, and completely insane mysme is. i am so excited for the rest of your analysis but possibly the Most Excited for the Veceipts reveal :3c
When I was 13 years old I played Yoosung's route but I was so scared that I'd get the bad end and hurt him I just looked up how to get the good ending and then never played the game again. Scared that if I played any other route the ending would hurt Yoosung...
13 year old me was way too attached to Yoosung
Understandable yoosung is Great
that’s so cute actually, I feel like if yoosung played the game he would do the exact same 😭
Awwwww i loved Yoosung too 🥺
He was such a cutie and a ball of sunshine 🥺🥺🥺
12 year old me was forever traumatized by him when i tried to get hearts from everyone in the first common route lol
As a people pleaser and theater kid who IS in fact an overenthusiastic 14 year old child at heart, I was Instantly drawn to Zen and *loved* showering him with complements and getting a bunch of affection and compliments back.
mystic messenger taught me how to read and comprehend english lmao. it is genuinely the reason i wanted to actively learn the language, instead of just suffering through my english classes.
As someone who never played Mystic Messenger due to the whole "waking up at 3AM" thing, I really appreciate this dive into the game and its story!
I played just a little bit and got tired from this mechanic SO QUICK, finally someone can satisfy my curiosity for what I missed
I tried setting alarms for the 3am chat rooms, but never woke up, now I just stay up for the chat (I usually stay up late anyways)
Chats are open until the next one comes up. You can still play the 3am chats at 6am or so, as long as the next chat hasn't come up yet. I usually play 3am chats a few mins before the next one so that I don't have to wake up at an ungodly hour lol
You don't have to get every chat as long as you get 75% of all per day you won't lose
That's the only reason I spent money on the game so I could still play it. I was in college at the time, so lots of chats would be missed because of it.
Fun fact: i escaped from my father's house while playing Seven's route cuz i realize that i needed to escape, and the final straw was Seven saying "let's escape together" lol
Hope everything turned for the best!
@@strawberrycream6243 yup, i'm 20 and in my dream artschool now (i'm in class rn and i received this notif lol)
@@gravityknows lolol good for you!
How are you doing now? Wish you the best
As someone who has never played Mystic Messenger, this video feels like such a little (not so little) gem. It was wonderful to watch. I'm very excited for the rest of the routes.
Same. I’ve always been curious of the story even tho I never finished it. Such a nice vid
So excited for you guys to have everything revealed to you. I spent a little over three years discovering everything while playing the game. Once January comes around I'll have played Mysme for six years, and I have yet to have gone through all the endings, after endings, and DLCs.
All this to say, it's an intricate game and I'm glad you two get to watch some deep dive UA-cam videos and learn all the fun stuff hidden in the game.
Me too! I’ve never heard of the game till this video showed up in my recommended, and now i just can’t wait to see the next routes
I also never played it, I don't have a set schedule and was always intimidated by the "don't miss the chats" part when I'm also the type to hate missing ANYTHING in a visual novel type game. I had debated trying to find playthroughs of the game, but this actually is quite a nice way to learn about it with all the context from someone who enjoyed the games but can see the good and bad parts.
You’re in for a ride
I cant lie, as a lonely uni student, I still find comfort in and play this game, it feels like there's somebody there to talk to for a short amount of time, even though that's a bit sad haha.
Oh ur not alone I got this game when I was in community college. 8 years later I’m back on and I love it but I get so emotional about it bc of the loneliness
@linlinpooh7677 the loneliness SUCKS but hey, at least we have MM and the fandom! I'm so glad it's not just me and that people still love this game. 💜 :)
Sams here girl, you're not alone
hearing 707's theme physically vaulted me back to 2016
That one photo you can get where it’s V and Rika, both standing on opposite sides of Zen, smiling, while Zen himself kinda looks like he want to die, absolutely gives of the vibe of “ slightly to friendly couple trying to make Zen their third “
I actually just restarted mystic messenger since I'm in college now and have way more time. I've been playing the game since it's release. The 2020 surge was insane to me but made me happy that other people were enjoying mystic messenger. Maybe this game made me think I was straight for longer than I should have but I do love it so much
It's kinda of funny how this game for me made me realize that I'm into women (thz Jaehee) since I started to play it on my '' b-b-but I'm straight😧'' phase . Also glad that still someone plays it although its popularity kinda of died lmao
@@Violaa707 the game is 6 years old, so it’s to be expected that it won’t be in the mainstream popularity anymore.
@@ma.2089 Some games are still on the top despite being in the mainstream media for a long time tho... Or maybe this type of games just dies unlike the others lol
"I'm in college now and have way more time" wow that’s... I'm very jealous.
@@leiakasta7602 haha I guess I should have said my schedule is a little more flexible, like I'm up at 1 am for those chatrooms and I can be on my phone in class and stuff
I started avoiding Zen right at the moment he started flirty stuff, so pretty much immediately; honestly, this type of guys are annoying for me irl. But as I furthered on Jaehee's, Jumin's routes, I began to sympatize Zen's genuine brother feel so I've decided to give it a try. His route was hell rocky for me picking up these options lol. However, the main route and Zen's dlcs has knocked the life out of me for days, this type of character writing was one of the reasons I don't fall for first impression anymore. As Jumin's for life devoted fan, I'm still always on Zen's idioticfunnypissed side in their fights. I was felt being so loved and cared of, not like in any route before or afterwards. Now everytime replaying his route is 100/10 enjoyable due I can vibe with his bragging easily :)
Thank you for these 2 hours of softy flashbacks^^ Was wondering lately if I ever find both smooth and attentive to details MM video, and it looks like my prayers been heard hah
Big L on. I go for zen
Zen was my favorite but Jumin used to be my second favorite, until the end when I felt like my freedom had been taken away
I really didn't like zen when I started playing bc I didn't like his flirtyness but also cus I really relate to Jumin and I didn't like the way Zen treated him. Eventually i did his route (just cus I'm a completionist lmao) and I totally fell for him! I think that Zen as a character didn't really have a good hook but oh my god he was really well written!! His route is my favorite now
@@ruriva4931 Well, totally feel that, although I hate being told what to do I just cannot stand Jumin's changes in other routes. This is beyond my strength just to leave him behind knowing MC was surely random but one of the last chances for that distant emotional clueless type of guys like him. They never tell if something's wrong but you clearly can see that. Idk I just can't stand it lol, I've cried on 707 end just because of Jumin was being thrown away like garbage by V. At least Zen's finish, Zen was SO uplifted and inspired by our presence that it has distracted me from Jumin :)
@@kaisetic3150 Zen's immediate reactions are so realistic like omg (and the amount of random sounds he makes in calls too lol). He is indeed the most green flag, I never unlocked his bad ends because he has never deserved that 🙈 Agreed, maybe his hook wasn't that good but they have managed to turn it into a total hidden gem! Han for life yet Zen when I feel the lowest, he is my MC's sunshine^^
This game still lives rent free in my head where I will LITERALLY REPLAY 707’s STORY LIKE ONCE A YEAR HELP ME
I’m absolutely THRILLED Mysme seems to be finally arriving at the stage of retrospective video analysis as this game is totally built for a deep dive and I didn’t even multitask watching this as you’ve made a really engaging, promising start.
Zen’s Route has always personally been my least favourite due to reasons you’ve addressed + it was never going to completely sit right with me stealing Jaehee’s man 😔 I have a hard time grasping a purpose for Echo Girl (prob always will,) but you’ve made a really compelling argument of her contributing to his adversion of privilege, and I’ve never been a fan of Zen being urged to reconnect with family that imo he was more than justified in cutting off but I can respect his need for closure in that regard. Still feel rather iffy about him wanting to repair those relationships before considering marriage as frankly I would have a very hard time trusting them above aquaintance level.
It was also really nice to see someone primarily on Jaehee and Yoosung’s defense as too many people dismiss them. I have a feeling I’m gonna really enjoy your thoughts on Yoosung’s Route; he’s not my personal favourite but his route overall was probably the most enjoyable experience for me.
Not covering Another Story is understandable as Causal/Deep is already alot to unpack and AS is….. a whole nother beast but I argue that it still does serve as a signficant part of the story even if it was essentially tacked on. The inevitable discussion of V is gonna be a doozy regardless 🤪
oh my god so true, i opened this video with a plan to multitask while listening but i couldn't take my eyes off!
the funny thing is that out of the 3 casual routes, jaehee was always my fav despite me not even being into dating girls. u just gotta love jaehee y'know? an absolute icon
Wow, this took me back to 2016. I remember being obsessed with MysMe! The fanarts in Tumblr, the shipping between the RFA members, the Does Jumin Han is gay meme, the Gay or European meme... OMFG. A lot of memories are coming back to me, and as I revisit them, I feel so happy. I recall downloading the game in 2016 when I was 16, I would always listen to the opening and ost when I was studying... I remember the small fandom it was and how it blew up eventually. (I also remember saying to myself I would "never" delete the game because that would make Seven sad)
Just...wow. Mysme was really an hyperfixation for me lol But it made me so so happy, I'm so endeared as I write all of this.
I guess my comment will be kinda messy to read, but thank you for making this video! Definitely unlocked some core memories.
The way i saw this in my recommendations, paused, and put a hand on my heart. *Finally, someone made a 2-hour-long video essay about Mystic Messenger.*
Edit after watching:
I URGE you to play Ray's route. The ending is very much worth it!! Ray isn't my personal bias, but throughout all the messy moments, the ending seems to wrap it up really well imo.
But I'd also love to hear your commentary on the other routes as well! Im so excited to hear your thoughts on 707 if you ever get to it. You give the game the level of respect it deserves without taking it too seriously or too loosely. I always seem to find people in the fandom that are either really young and miss out on the emotional maturity aspect of the game, or are too intense about it and have elitist perspectives. I could be searching in the wrong places, but it's refreshing to see some well-rounded and complex commentary on the story and it's writing.
I think the world needs more in-depth conversation about this game and otome/feminine content in general. You're doing fantastic work contributing to that conversation.
(And can we PLEASE talk about "Im the slim lady, yes im the real lady, all you other slim ladies are just malnourished")
same here!! you took the words out of my mouth friend
@@hibal6827 thank you! Love to see a woman of culture
@@rachelvelander likewisee
i havent watched the video yet, but im so excited to see it in my recommendations that my heart is still beating really fast lol. i was looking up mystic messenger video essays all summer long, i feel that same way!!
very well put and i couldn't agree more. media like this (targeted at women) usually isn't taken seriously and gets dragged trough mud. what a beautiful video.
This is sad but this game helped get through a depressive episode after a bad break up 😅 like, I'm still alive because of this game
Considering all the limitations of a game like MM, I think it's a pretty good game. It's the only Otome game I've ever really played. The story was interesting enough and the characters were unique and well written. That being said, one thing about the game that annoys me is having to wake up at 2AM so that I don't miss a chat or phone call. Luckily it all collects into the history tab.
The waking up at 2am thing is annoying, but let's not ignore how it expects us to be up at 2am... And then again at like 5-6am. Like bro, how tf am I supposed to get a proper sleep if you expect us to go to bed around 2am and be up at 6am 😭 How are the characters not more concerned by how little MC seems to sleep!?
I played mystic messenger at one of the roughest times of my life. I had finally gotten the courage to break up with my long term abusive boyfriend, and he sabotaged all of my friendships to the point where these people I used to trust would harass me. I felt so alone and was super depressed and I found solace in mystic messenger. Even though they were fictional, it was the only time I had to feel like I actually had someone to care about me. And as cringe as it feels to say, I think Mystic Messenger literally saved my life so it’s nice to revisit it years later ❤
oh it feels so strange to see one of these deep-dives for something i was actually heavily into. i downloaded it in 2016, i snuck out of my lessons, i made save slots before travelling long distances. i remember the layout changes, i remember when they made save slots paid, i remember grinding the opening messages to get hourglasses, i remember the genuine terror i felt the first time i insisted that there was no keypad and got a cutscene i hadn't previously known about, i remember the day 5 bad end going from upsetting to just frustrating, i remember spending entire months grinding because i was in year 7 and didn't have anything urgent going on, i remember coming back for Another Story, i remember not understanding that seven and jumin could only be unlocked with hourglasses, i remember memorising every place you could get hourglasses. i got every ending except that one jumin bad end. i named every cat i got in games i played "elizabeth iii" and i picked programming up again because of seven (i am now studying maths and computer science at uni) and saying "lololol" instead of "lol" all the fucking time lmao. i remember thinking that "does jumin han is gay" was the height of comedy, partly cause i'd just realised i was queer myself at the time and loved everything related. normally these videos have me learning about something for the first time but this was an experience, i want to download it again but alas, i am a uni student, im busy trying to persuade myself to cook or study
Dude!!!! Same!!!!!!!
this is DISGUSTINGLY UNDERVIEWED! It’s plain as day that you put SO much effort into this video, and the outcome is amazing. i’m subbing, you deserve more recognition!
i feel like u mean grossly not disgustingly
Seeing the past tense on this title while I still have MysMes on my home screen is.. an emotional rollercoaster
i was a sophomore in high school when mystic messenger came out and i was *obsessed.* one time, i actually left class to "go to the bathroom" so i could answer a phone call i was getting within the game lmao. i absolutely adored it. even just hearing the background music in your video as a now college senior... makes me miss it sm. just might have to replay it for the remainder of my holiday break haha
I haven't touched the game in sooo long, but I'm re-downloading it and starting over as I'm watching this since I'm starting to find more and more people that are STILL into the game to this day, and the nostalgia is getting to me lol. It truly is a really good game! I think a big part of MysMes' appeal is how realistic it feels. Not only do the chats feel like they're written by real people, or the fact that there's a call option, it's so immersive that you can't help but feel like you're actually in the setting during the cutscenes outside the chatrooms!
One thing I really really enjoyed about the game were the bad endings, especially Day 5. It's so eerily realistic in a way? And the breaking of the fourth wall. I still remember so vividly the chills I got when Jaehee scolded me.
Right, I've redownloaded it so many times over the years for nostalgia and simply just missing them all 😭😭😭
I just re-downloaded it 2 weeks ago and I got hit by so much nostalgia :,,)
I love the chatroom nature of the game, it’s pure genius in terms of immersive gameplay when combined with characters with compelling personalities
I think your end point really verbalized why I loved and still love Mystic Messenger, it's not just about the romance, it's about joining this fun found family. Everyone went through a lot but now they're here, and they got each other.
For a similar reason, I love Obey Me, tropey as it is, you do feel like you're a part of something, and that's really sweet.
My main problem with this game was just that i could not always be available for texts and calls and so my routes always got cut short. But i did love it while I played!
I remember playing this game when I was something like 16. I set up alarms, had the wiki opened to know the right answers for the mails, and was always anxious that I'd got a bad end. After reaching the ending with Jaehee, I stopped the game for a bit, and never picked it up again, because I realized it was too taxing for me, since I didn't want to miss any chats... meaning I'd lose sleep and get highely anxious during school because I didn't want to miss anything.
Glad that I'll finally get to know more about all the characters!
i trained my body to wake up at 3am. It was a dark summer.
HAHAHA
11:40 I remember music being unsettling at first buuuut it’s actually bumpin when the bass kicks in hehe 😌
The overall soundtrack is so scrumptious tho, I feel so lucky and maybe a little spoiled to have experienced such an eccentric game in middle school. The nostalgia is real :,)
Oh please please once you're done with your planned project do give V's route a chance. In my eyes it was the best storyline in the MysMe universe. I'm an adult woman now but V will always have a special place in my heart. Absolutely love everything about him 💙🌸
Thank you so much for your hard work and I'll be looking forward to the next chapter 🌸
Yeah, its been a hot minute since I played but V instantly became my fave back when AS came out. I was a little bummed when they said it wasn't gonna be covered.
I’ve always loved Zen, he’s been my favourite from the very start. So having a retrospective go this indepth into so much of Zen’s route was a genuine joy. Thank you for giving me the flashbacks to simpler times. Just hearing the ‘scary’ music gave a deep feeling in my gut that had me remembering little 13 year old me trying not to get kidnapped by Unknown. Amazing video and can’t wait for the rest of the series!
I still play this game all the time after my first play through in 2016, it's such a big comfort game for me
I'm actually doing Zen's route right now:)
Cheritz really missed an opportunity to develop visual novels for every route as a deeper dive and to make the app more immersive and customizable. I know there are a lot of factors as to why things fizzled out, but they had a great game they should've focused on and refined instead of taking on their new app. If I ever win the lottery I'm giving half of it to Cheritz to do this ;_;
Omg this makes me wanna play again. For me, each characters was endearing in their own way, so much so I just love them all. Though I favour Yoosung less due to personal preferences.
The chatroom was so vibrant and dynamic, it felt real and the immersion is truly amazing. The older and the more I play other games (dating sim, otoge, visual novel, etc), the more I can appreciate these characters. I often come back and play the game even now.
And since it's already been almost a week since the surge of Mystic Messenger content on my feed without prompt, so I guess it's a sign lmao. I'm going back in.
I had friends who were obsessed with mystic messenger in 2016. I never understood why until I played it years later. This game really grows on you over time. They really feel like genuine people. I mean sure, it can get weird, it can get messy, its writing can go stale, but goddamn you feel for these people. I remembered dropping the game for a bit after that Ray guy literally snatches yoosung away when I tried his route first time. Looking back I should've been more active but like cmon game I can't stay up at 3Am for this stuff smh. The mechanics are cool but GOD it can work against people who have busier lives. Regardless, it really is neat for what it is. It wasn't my cup of tea personally, but when it hits, it hits
it’s a crime that i’m here early and not here a year later when they’re all out
Omg I tried to play this in highschool but never got past zens route, I need part two RIGHT NOW
Man I can't wait for all the other routes being analysed in 1h+ videos and watching these videos while studying for my exams. You have a really nice voice and great analysing skills.
I've heard about mystic messenger because the fandom is so big and have been curious about what makes it so loved, but I'm not interested in the time it takes to play it myself so this video is perfect! I've been looking for a summary on the game and the deep dive is a great bonus!
i hope you’ll take a look at future videos about the other routes! this game can only continue to develop in amazing and shocking ways from here and i think you’ll enjoy it if you liked this look into zen’s route.
this made me so nostalgic, i'm super excited for the next routes!
the "was" makes me so sad bro 😭😭 awesome video though!! I love this game to bits and still play it (saeran beloved), I almost never did because it was obviously made for girls in mind and I wasn't part of this demographic, as well as only having played action/rpg games before.
I'm thankful I decided to make an exception and try it out because it's been one of my top games ever since then, the lore instantly appealed to me and the replayability made me come back to it every holidays. I'm about to get a job now and I still plan on sneaking out for little breaks just to play it (old habits die hard).
With the Ssum releasing in 2022 and more recently Cheritz announcing mysme won't have any new CGs, there's been a melancholic feeling in the fandom (at least from what I've seen), knocking on wood they don't shut down the servers anytime soon, though I've heard on reddit that a few passionate fans had a plan B ready for when it happens (aka creating a backup of the game... somehow. something something coding)
Thank you for this!! you're awesome :)
I absolutely ADORED this deep dive into game mechanics and Zen's route because you touched on so many topics that I absolutely love about this game and how it revolutionized the mobile otome game formats!! I can't wait to see the continuation on Jaehee and Yoosung's routes!!
I hope that someday you talk about Another Story too (ofc after all the base game routes) because those routes/characters are so incredibly interesting and dynamic!!!
This video was so well made- thank you so much for this experience ♡♡♡
Zen used to be my least favorite when I first played the game at 12 years old. Six years later, I've grown to appreciate him and his route because its sooo wholesome and this video reminded me of that! I'm excited to see the rest to see how my opinions have changed. Btw your narration is really funny and you've done a great job highlighting the main events of the story! Thanks for the video!
This video is so criminally underrated. Mystic messenger has always been a game full of nostalgia and a game of humble beginnings, not just for us the players but like mentioned the otome game scene as a whole. The impact this game has had will be everlasting, and to keep it going as tribute even when it isn’t as mainstream now is one of the things I’m so glad that I get to see people like you take part in. And it certainly isn’t everyday you see meticulously crafted analysis pieces like this. Whatever good things I have to say about this video, whatever praises I sing, will fall short of what you really deserve. Heck I am definitely subscribing! I cannot wait to see what you have in store, if you choose to keep going with this and talk about 707, and especially V. Vceipts had me giggling, ngl😂😂 rolls off the tongue perfectly.
The video as a whole was informative and amazing, I didn’t even find myself multitasking whilst watching this due to how engaging it has been.
Mystic messenger has a very special place in my heart, and I think I speak for us all here on this video when I say that. It truly has been a whirlwind of a ride, from does jumin han is gay all the way to Rika’s dark past and into all the dark theories about the game. All of it has been beautiful and great. Whilst the writing has been hazy at times like the video discusses perfectly, I think the ultimate message and experience the game brought, has been nonetheless impactful and life changing. Mystic messenger forever ❤
This was such a fun watch! As someone who has spent A LOT of hours in this game, it's super nostalgic to hear you talk about all of this. I'll wait impatiently for the next part!
I caught atleast 3 of my students playing this game while in my class. i got curious and played the game (didnt finish it). i liked the song so i shared it with my husband and he got a little obsessed with the game
It's so satisfying listen to a fellow fan delve into the bombshell that is Mystic messenger- and all with great level of critical analysis that has me learning a few things. Amazing work! :D
I haven’t played Mystic Messenger and honestly I probably never will, but I’ve been curious about it for a long long time. Thank you for making this series so I can know about it
Omg this was a blast from the past. I remember I got into mm because someone was cosplaying 707 at an ikea (I am not kidding lmao). honestly this video essay was so done so perfectly
I miss mystic messenger so much, I stared playing when I was in college and I had so much time to play when I was on vacation
I was younger than yoosung and saeyoung and now I’m about to be older than jumin it’s so nostalgic to watch this video because I haven’t even finished saerans route bc of my work
I miss my rfa so much I would give anything to experience this absolute gem of a game for the first time again
I’ll be waiting for the next video and the next one where you cover the love of my life, Han Jumin ❤️
1:53:10 and I’m goad you did!! I only read Zen’s route and was annoyed that I couldn’t just skip to Jimin’s bc he was the only one I wanted to romance😂. I was not about to replay the WHOLE GAME at my big age, and I know the story is long and quite complex - something I’ve wanted to digest and reminisce on in a clear concise timeline! I’m so glad you’ve done it really!! I’m looking forward to your next videos!!!🫶🏾
Edit: how ironic you said that, i’m multitasking with one of my uni projects at the moment😂
HELP, THIS GAME DESTROYED MY WHOLE LIFE.
MY SOCIAL LIFE.
SCHOOL LIFE.
FRIENDS.
FRIENDSHIPS WERE ENDED OVER MYSTIC MESSENGER.
I DID NOTHING, I WAS ABOUT 9 AND THIS CARRIED ON FOR A GOOD 3 YEARS.
The 2016 wave was one of those times where you can just describe it as “you just had to be there”
god there are so few zen analyses out there that even portray him accurately and tactfully. thank you for this video
This video has been so enjoyable! You can really feel the love and interest that you have for the game through this video and It great to see someone lovingly go through this game with a fine tooth comb. MysMe will always have a place in my heart and you truly identified what made this game so lovable. Something that I unfortunately felt was amiss in The Ssum. While the game has some ups and downs (like me losing my mind in Vs route because I genuinely got frustrated by his wish washy behavior) the dynamics of the RFA just make this game. I am very much looking forward to the next videos whenever those will be ready (please take your time) and you definitely have gained another subscriber in me :)
I'VE BEEN WANTING A MYSMES HOUR+ LONG VIDEO ESSAY FOR SO LONG NOW A LONG DEEP DIVE OF MY SPECIAL INTEREST IS ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED MOST IN MY LIFE YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW THANKFUL I AM THIS IS GONNA BE SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH THANK YOU SO MUCH IM SO EXCITED THANK YOU
Re-visiting Mystic Messenger was a project I had during 2020 and it's so exciting to see more content being made about a game I love! I look forward to hearing what you have to point out in the next parts!
Its been so long since I played Mystic Messenger but listening to you retell the story literally makes me giddy like I'm in high school again. Seeing the moments you highlighted and the dramatic shift into the yoosung seven coffee story just flooded me with emotions. I think I'm gonna replay the game now lmao
I haven't replayed Mysme in a long while so watching this was really great. I really enjoyed your recap and analysis of Zen's route, and it was a lot of fun! Can't wait to see your deep dives into the other routes! Thank you! ❤
I could never get into this game and I can't believe I never knew till now that the same company made Dandelion! I was obsessed with Dodger and Cryotics collab playthrough in high school and had notifications on for uploads. They made it so funny and enjoyable and I rewatched it so many times when they stopped uploading
Never heard of this game before. Watched the first 8 minutes and I was like right I absolutely have to play this. Finished zen’s route and came back to watch the rest - I loved your analysis and all the love and detail you put into this video and the visuals and thank you so much for introducing me to this game !
I’m excited to finish yoosung and Jaehee’s routes and come back for part 2 !!!
I fucking love MM, back in 2016 I was too young to really get into the game (and I didn't even know how to play it so I gave up on it back in 2016) but when 2020 hit I decided to get back into it and man was it a blast and a half, I still obsess over the game, even if it is past it's prime, I don't care this game is honestly amazing and has made me feel shit that other otome games haven't, I'm very excited for your deep dive on each route, glad to know the community is still somehow alive.
i had the same exact experience lmaoo
discovered the game around 2016-17 after watching someone play it on youtube, downloaded and tried it but didnt even understand the irl time mechanic so i just stopped playing. then picked it up at the start of the pandemic, ignoring my online classes just to chat with fictional men (and jaehee ofc)
@saiki lol I kept getting his and Zens bad endings
I've finally, finally watched this after having it sit in my watch later list for months and OOOOO, it was worth making sure I had the time to properly watch! I didn't realize it at the time, but MysMe really kept me company during my lonely first 2 years at college. Zen's was my first route and the full summary totally took me back to sneakily opening up a chat during class and then putting my phone to sleep so I could read it later without worrying about the next chat starting. For so long I thought Zen would be my one and only in this game, and while that held true for a good long while, V ended up stealing my heart, so I am eagerly awaiting the full review of all those bonkers V-ceipts. MysMe is such a unique experience, so since my job now would make replaying it difficult and impractical, I thoroughly enjoyed this summary and discussion.
I'm kinda glad that I ended up waiting so long to watch this, since now i won''t have to wait as long for the next, lol.
The power this game held onto me oof as I would get the game again around a few times later on and on valentines than once again new routes had came out. I loved the music and the gameplay along with being a young person who didn’t have money who was able to play this whole story without needing spend money was maybe the main reason why I clutched onto this game…or maybe cause I was a simp for 707 or Zen
i remember being like 10 or 11 and crying saying sorry to seven for going through other routes and making him go through the repeats :’ it goes to show how well the game is made for me to have believed 707 was real and could hear me through the phone.. pfft..
I'm a guy so probably not the first person you'd think playing this game plus I was only 15 when this game released and I started playing it, but I've done every single route including every after ending every dlc etc and yet this video was so nostalgic and amazing looking back at such an incredible game and route that had such a big impact on my life. Thanks for doing this video and I'm looking forward to the videos of the other routes >:)
I missed the initial wave of Mystic Messenger when it first came out but discovered it during the early stages of the 2020 chaos. Being stuck at home and finding myself working remotely and interacting with friends only over things like messengers and calls? This game grabbed me by the horns and it was like falling into something I was unprepared for. Brilliant video!!!! :)
This video inspired me to re-download Mysme, re-play the 707 route and re-read chats from other routes. I have enough thoughts to make my own unhinged presentation.
Of course there are flaws, but I love all the characters, the dialogue, and the story. There's truly no other game like it
omg watching this just made me cry MAYBE ZEN REALLY DOES LIKE ME LOL TWT i remember enjoying the obnoxious choices because im actually quite shy when it comes to relationships or at least i used to be xD but my inner self is insane. thanks for the validation hahaha
but yeah too much ass kissing lol 707 4 eva
this whole thing is a masterpiece but i do want to give you special thanks for the localization nitpick corner. the extent to which i see localizations, fan translations, etc gloss over japanese occupation of korea is something that actively harms the source material and the audience's understanding of it, so it's a delight to hear somebody actually bring it up in any capacity
This is how me and my best friend of almost 6 years connected. This game had such a hold on us in middle school. Mystic Messenger still is on my mind almost daily. 707 is still my favourite time of the day because of this game.
I’m actually replaying the game with the order listed in this video! I’m on zen’s right now, which I definitely agree is annoying to get but once you’re on the route it’s one of the sweetest storylines (assuming you’re going for the good ending lol)
saeyoung and saeran to this day make me cry
This was the sweetest video I've come across in a while 😭
I'm still a very current fan of Mystic Messenger (playing Day 9 of V's route right at this moment) but it was so much fun to hear about the game from a longer-time fan's retrospective. I can't wait for the next part!
I WOULD LEAVE MY 300 PERSON LECTURE CALL TO GET JUMINS PHONE CALLS. IT WAS AMAZING
it's very late where I live, I was just looking at my youtube feed and seeing a video about Mystic Messenger, a game i was used to play in middle school while I'm in college right now HITS A LOT haha, love the nostalgia your video brings me!!
Hello from Oregon! Fantastic job of dissecting MysMe! I started playing MYSME 4 years ago and haven’t looked back. This game is in a category that hasn’t really been copied yet. It is a definite hit and these characters come to vivid life in ways that no one could possibly understand that hasn’t played through at least one character’s route. In 4 years I still haven’t done V or Saerin’s route at all. And I haven’t been through all of the routes from my favorite characters. Your deep look was wonderfully done and definitely captured the culture and feel of this game.
you made me realize I do tend to enjoy the neutral endings more than the good endings because they're more realistic. especially in jumin's route - good ending relationship was VERY fast paced and i was actually very emotionally touched in the neutral ending hehe but for storytelling purposes i think the good endings are appropriate xD
I don't know how plausible this is to do, but I would be more than happy to watch a video on every route. This got me into MM and I'm really happy that I did, it's given my days some structure and generally is nice to have around. 🙂
As someone who LOVED this game when I played it, but hasn’t been able to play it since with now having a full time job, a sleep schedule, etccc,, this video feels like a gift. You seriously reminded me why I loved this game so much in the first place, and I’m so grateful you took the time to recount the actual plot and events of Zen’s route. Thank you for making this video 🥰
Fun fact: while doing my Psych MA I did an assignment on Zen and Zen's parents psyche in a Parenting Psychology course and I got a 91
i desperately need part two!! this was soooo well done and incredibly entertaining to watch
I'd only heard of this game before, and now I'm lowkey obsessed. Zen seems like a really well-rounded and lovable character. Subscribed, and I hope you cover the other routes!!
Thanks for this, I always wanted to get into MM but I don't like microtransactions, and I don't like games forcing me to do stuff at specific times of day or waiting, so I could never get into it.
Also, the joke about being a wizard would have been so much better, lowkey disappointed they removed it in localization.
i loved this game so much! my favorite character and route by far has to be 707! he feels the most real and is the most fun to "chat" with
Loved hearing your thoughts on this game! I haven't played it in years but it still has a special place in my heart, and as a fan of video essays, I'm so glad someone made one as good as this on it!
I'm excited for your analysis on the other routes too! Subbed! 😊
This game made its comeback on my phone after almost 6 years ✨️ The game has me in a hold that I try to search similar things in other otome games 😩 The story telling is very in line with what I like so it really captured my heart.
Genuinely, this is one of the best and most insightful video essays I think I've seen on UA-cam, and I watch a lot. You've provided an excellent analysis with a lot of heart, and articulated excellently why my favorite love interest is so compelling. I'm also so glad you brought up the issues with the false SA accusation, as that always struck me as off; and your discussion of the "Does Jumin Han is gay?" difference across localizations was really interesting. I'm really looking forward to seeing the next one!