Yume Nikki has a distinct feeling when your playing, it truly feels like you're not only exploring but lost. Even if you know where some stuff is in the map, it takes a while or even try and error to find them unless you use a tutorial. And the jumping around truly reminds me of my dreams. And since dreams are a product of your psychic it may have a lot of detail of Madotsuki herself in it, from memories to how she views things. The game never truly gave us an answer to any of those and even if we all agreed on one. All the others are left empty. Truly a very weird experience
I resonated so hard with this game when I fell into depression.. The world around me and everyone in it just didn't have a place for me, so cutting myself off and opting to sleep 14-16hrs a day was my only retreat beside video games. Worlds not my own were far more inviting to me. I still find this fairly more preferably, much to the distress of the therapist I've come to see. It felt so strange and comforting though.. It felt like I was visiting the headspace of a kindred spirit. I almost felt at home some times, or at the very least.. Felt like I was somewhere safer.
Ahh... your comment hit me right in the heart. I know *_-exactly-_* how you feel... 😪 I hope you're doing better, my friend. I wish I could say that I was.
@@justinburchette and both your comment and @TheTrueNehme comment hit me in the same place cause i too -- know how you feel.... hope you both are doin better for me i know that in this world if you dont like your life its up to you to put in the work and try to make the life you envision in your head thatll make you happy or at the least content it may not happen overnight and it may not happen at all but in the process of putting in that work to try and reach a outcome or set of goals maybe just know even the work your attempting to put in that life is also happening inbeetween the work and the goal so remember to take a breath let the world around you in and the inner you out let the world and the people in it around you see who and what you think and want to say out NOBODY might not ever listen but trust me someone hears you and you dont know the weight of the words and your actions can have on those around you IM not i repeat am not doin ahundred percent better all the time but i have days and im thankfull for each one i have... may god bless the both of you and all those around you and the lord keep you 🤙
@@justinoralia4594 Thank you for the kind words, friend... it really means a lot to me. I wish I could tell you that things are better now, but... well... 😔 I'm glad to hear that you're doing better, though! I wish you the very best. Take care of yourself OK? :)
Would love to see a follow-up of sorts to this on the sheer number of Yume Nikki fan-games--Yume 2kki in particular is huge and has been getting updates for longer than even the original game had support at this point. Also, fun fact, it's called 2kki because 2 in Japanese is 'Ni'--so really it's the only thing you could've called a sequel. It's effectively Yume NI-kki.
idk if anyone else has had this feeling, but i feel like this game just knows how my brain works. i havent had a hard time finding effects cause my strategy was just walk and interact with anything i saw. for an indie bedroom developer, the creator of yume nikki really knows how to attract you to the objective without any prompts.
WOW. This is the best yume niki video I've seen by far. You explained everything in such a clear way-and the game is pretty hard to explain to someone who has never heard of it or played it. I'm so impressed! Considering the countless videos I've seen on this topic, I'm amazed at how well you explained it. Keep up the good work!
@@pandoxvideosI was just experiencing a pregnant silence that carried a similar compliment to you! You're a deft storyteller and such crystalline clarity is employed weaving the delicate (and often niche) threads of these sagas into accessible narratives...made all the more impressive as you're often discussing topics that are ultimately puzzles and mysteries even after the aforementioned diligence of which you're showing nigh on prodigal accumen 😊
Yume Nikki is one of my favorite ever games.... because despite the dark themes it's always given me a place to go as a kid. This game was my safe place for a while oddly... I would log in and go to certain areas... just to sit there and listen to the music. I liked this video a lot! you went into some details I didn't know when I was younger!
its weird realizing the game I played in my early teens is older than some of your viewers..... it hurts. lol. but to the new dreamers I say, wellcome I hope you have a wonderful journey the dev was a genius twisting rpgmaker's logic to make it do so many amazing things. that Are still challenging to make work.
wait. it hurts that people were born after you? or it hurts that people that are younger than you are interested in this? i don't know what you are getting at, but i know that your grammar hurts.
@@oem3457wow looks like someone is having a bad day. Just because you’re having a bad day, that does not mean you need to be a douche to someone else. Hope your day gets better.
Hey man, As someone who just discovered yume nikki a while back and has as barely turned 18, this comment really puts into perspective how timeless this game is. I can already tell how much its going to mean to me, despite only having been aware of it for a short while. I appreciate your comment man. May this wonderful gem of a game continue to amaze further generations
This game thrives off our wandering imagination, not a word is spoken throughout this game. Kikoyama being shrouded in mystery certain adds to this game. Amazing video, coming up with different interpretations and theories from what little we get is what makes this game so great.
i’m so glad that this is the video i clicked on to immerse myself into yume nikki and it’s story. you do an excellent job of laying everything out and your voice is super relaxing to listen to!! i cant believe you aren’t a bigger channel yet, but i’m extremely confident that you have the potential to be one, people just need to keep clicking! thanks for an amazing video, dude ❤
Great video. I gained some new insights into my favorite game despite having seen content made about it a plethora of times. I think that speaks to the quality of this video.
yume nikki and yumenikki fan games have created such a safe curious space for me, as well as a space to meet friends on yume nikki online ❤ also, the best thing about the game, is that the ways to interpret it is endless. and there's no true interpretation. if the yume nikki ending was..not enough, yume 2kki is sure to offer endings with more closure, though the lack of it in yume nikki is what's beautiful
i mean sure if you can even play it. i can't tell you how many times i tried to get that fucking game to play on my computer, tried everything i found online, it would not fucking start. i really wanna play it i'm so salty about it lmao i wish someone would just release something to make it just play without having to jump through hoops my laptop apparently can't reach
The feeling that you're absolutely alone and nobody is there to help you in this god forsaken place is the scariest thing I have experienced playing this game. It's not really a horror game, yet it makes you feel terrified. What a masterpiece. No wonder it's cultural impact was so strong.
I’ve played yume nikki and Ive watched a few docs on UA-cam but by far yours is the most polished and fleshed out… I subbed and clicked the notification bell to not miss a thing.
I don't think she dies at the end. I think the room we see her in is like Omori's "white space" she's still asleep, which is why her eyes are closed. I think jumping off the balcony is to shock herself awake in the real world, which we never see.
43:00 I'm roughly halfway through the video, and I want to point out that, in one part, Monoko bears a striking resemblance to The Thing with the Quiverering Jaw (39:23). Notice how both of them have a hand sticking out of their head, which has the same veiny mark (not sure what it's called). Edit: I have finished watching the theory, and I have a few theories. Madotsuki was never alive in the game. The reoccuring theme of death, and the fact that (what we presume is) Madotsuki's exact blood splash at the end appears multiple times throughout the game, implies that she was already dead. So maybe these dream worlds are fragments of her memories and nightmares from when she was still alive? Haunted by trauma, it's like it even follows her in the afterlife. Additionally, I dont think Madotsuki is a hikikomori. There is no presence of a kitchen or bathroom door in her own room, or some sort of jacket or umbrella. Of course, you can also make a theory about her starving/dehydrating herself in her room before ultimately dying in the real world, before the game starts. That's why she never leaves her room "when she's awake", it's reminiscent of her when she was still alive, and why she can only leave it by dreaming. This could mean that whatever is encrypted inside of those dreams, *they all happened outside of her bedroom*. Alternatively, or additionally, it can also mean that her bedroom is the only true safe place for her. Maybe dreaming is a way of numbing herself, or symbolically, it's her diving deeper into her subconscious. The fact that she never leaves her room raises another theory. She's afraid of whatever happened in her own house. Whether it's the memories that transpired, or the family member that lives with her? The fact that Kyuukyuu is together with her bedroom door supports this theory. However, on the contrary, it can also mean that the traumatic events happened *inside* of her bedroom. I also want to point out that Madotsuki looks like a very young girl. You can't look at her and tell me she looks like an adult capable of owning her own apartment. A child like Madotsuki's has got to be dependent on someone to take care of her (Edit: on second thought, it's also possible that she's age-regressing). The fact that we seeminly have never seen them, can mean two things (or more?). One: there is something preventing her from wanting to see them, whether it's guilt or outright fear. Two: she's an orphan. I'm leaning the most towards the second option. The vehicular accident can also imply the death of the family member(s) in question. The fact that blood, dismembered limbs, are frequently occuring symbols, can mean that this was a major event in her life. And another thing. It's possible that the dormitory could be reminiscent of the orphanage she lived in. This does make wonder whether her room is, in fact, not a part of an apartment complex, but an orphanage. But, this probably sounds like a massive stretch. Alternatively, those large amounts of beds also remind me of a hospital. Now where have we heard of a hospital before? That hospital-like world... could that be her visiting this person involved with the accident? However. The suggestive poster(s) makes me think that it has more to do with her sexual trauma, rather than some sort of accident. Perhaps she has been in a hospital more than once, and this hospital world is the amalgation of all those visits? About Poniko. I'm surprised that you haven't, or anyone I've seen so far for that matter, has talked about how *similar* her character design is to our Madotsuki. This is extremely weird. Every other character (aside from that person inside of the igloo, possibly Madotsuki herself, but I can't come up with any theories about them) has an appearance and design very different from Madotsuki. I wonder what this means? What impact did she have on Madotsuki's life? The fact that she appears in a very girly, child-like room implies that she is possibly a friend of the same age. But, hmm, Uboa makes me think that it's not that simple. This reminds me of something. That lively picnic of Tori-ningen inside of the desert, which is completely inaccessible, could this be representative of her desire to join others and have fun, but only able to watch them from a distance? This further cements her loneliness. I do wonder what those desert elements mean, though. I have a few other theories, but they have already been mentioned by others (eg. CSA) or, this will get too long otherwise (+ I'm deprived of sleep....). I hope someone can add something to my theories!!!!!!! Yume Nikki is just too interesting.
Unparalled narrating. Excellent, thourough job here. Never heard of this game but it seems sad for her to go through all those worlds only to seemingly commit suicide in the end is a eeiry reflection of any depressive person that goes through various stages of life but eventually gives up. (If they dont seek help, at least)
even hearing so much let me tell you there's so much more to see, Id heavily recommend downloading it for yourself theres a steam release if ya don't want to go to older sites out of fear. (even if it is unwaranted)
Some of it rlly hit home for me trauma to isolation ya know (still working on that one (; ), I'll definitely play the game on steam to experience it on my own too, but love the video! Always such good topics, love them!
Nice video, despite I love yume nikki, I never bothered to searching for the fan theories, but to hearing them from this video did helps me to see some hints that I don't know before.
Interesting perspective. I wonder if there is depression and body issues because of pregnancy or loss of the baby or even possibly a baby with disfigurements like birth defects? I’m not sure. I’m just spit balling ideas. I had challenges with identity as a woman after I lost weight and my breasts became pretty flat. I never even realized how much of my identity as a woman was hung up on my breast size. Your body and your identity can be more closely linked than we ourselves realize. It was a really eye opening experience. Thanks for the video.
do you think that the repetition of number 9 that precedes the encounter with kyu maybe symbolizes the age that she couodve been assaulted? I dont wanna reach, but the presence of such a specific number that overwhelms the player before were shown potential sexual trauma symbolism is really weird also, Kyu's name is literally 9, so the number definitely holds some sort of importance ... would it be a reach to say that madotsuki is a victim of csa?
Weird. I watched many Yume Nikki videos before and always heard theories about r*pe, but now after seeing that you find that phallic creature right after you enter a zipper door, and the next room being a traumatic scene that wakes up Madotsuki, really makes it clear to me. Also, the two girls that seems to be sisters. Somehow I get the feeling that they could have been Madotsuki`s bullies. One is dead, seemingly after being ran over, and the other just got a face that just makes her seem like a bad girl. The man who also seems to have been ran over could very well be the one who molested Madotsuki, but doesnt seem to have much confirming that. Could also be Madotsuki`s father, and considering the hospital area, my guess is that he could have been Madotsuki`s father, who died in a car accident which she was also part of. Or maybe...there`s a possibility that Madotsuki caused the car she was in with her father to ran over Monoko, purposely killing her but accidently killing her father as well, but survive and being taken to a hospital. I feel like a situation like that could have made her guilty enough to have dreams about that. And who knows, maybe the dev themselves went through that situation, and it is the reason why he refuses to let anyone find out who he is. Now that I think about it, a crime would be a very good explanation for his absolute recluse. And the girl in the room that at random times can turn into Uboa, to me she might have been Madotsuki`s only friend. But that even she at times might have scared or/and mistreated Madotsuki, hence the secret Uboa face, which also symbolizes a two-faced person. Maybe she even betrayed Madotsuki at some point. Possibly another bully that pretended to be nice to Madotsuki, until eventually the mask came off. Now what I REALLY would love to have is an explanation for the UFO references, as well as the whole tribal/maya/south american culture going on. I feel like it doesnt have anything to do with the developer, and more about like something he knows that relates the concept of dreams to those cultures. I have never read much about those cultures but I bet their opinions about dreams are pretty unique. Lastly, I think its pretty obvious that Madotsuki isnt really a hikikomori. I mean, she might have been, when she was still alive. During the game she literally NEVER leaves her room. Realistically speaking, as a human she would have necessities like food or using the bathroom. None of that is found in her room. It is possible that the dev did not think it was important, but he could have very easily added other rooms to Madotsuki`s house, as well as left some hints that she has been consuming food, like some ramen cups at least. So to me, since the start of the game she is already dead. And her dreams are just her coming into terms with what happened. She explores her dreams and collect memories of her past. I am not sure if every single key item you collect actually relates to important memories, but it`s clear that a lot of them do. Considering the name of the game is Yume Nikki, you could say that she is not writing in her dream diary, but actually using the diary to reminisce on her real life. Before she eventually is satisfied and jumps out of the building, finally leaving the purgatory of her memories.
I share the same thoughts! I've never seen Madotsuki as a hikikomori either, and instead, has always been dead. I also agree with the fact that the creator likely does not have a connection with South American culture. Rather, I'm pretty certain that it's the symbolism that they hold. But, I don't know anything about that, so I can't really add much... If someone is willing to do any research, that would be nice.
This game as highlighted a dark and confusing part of my life, but it helped me to find myself through hard times and come to realize and uncover different things I had kept away from my consious self...Although this game as been one of my only lights in that time, it still remains a bad memory. I hope to play this game again without feeling anxious about what it used to represent for me...
Hearing 2ch called the counterpart of 4chan and the Super Famicom the counterpart of SNES instead of each being the original name/originator of the other is even scarier than the game ;) Just teasing. Good video Pandox!
I can’t believe I’m just now finding your channel. I just watched the Franklin case video. I know a lot about that stuff, but I didn’t know that thank you.🙏 God bless you👼🏼
This game resonated with me so hard as a teen, and even now. The dreams were erily like my own, and i played for hours, beat it multiple times, and even tried to make my own fangame. Honestly words cant describe how much it influenced me, my art, and of course my dreams. Its such an amazing game thats says so much but with no dialogue
I absolutely love this vid, the connections make so much sense and the editing is great! The way you pronounce the names caught me super off guard tho lol/lighthearted
This game has been a huge part in where I go when I think. I discovered it very early on, before an English translation had even existed. I remember having to figure out enough about code to be able to translate the different code characters of a Japanese file that my Americanized computer could register, and when I finally figured it out I wanted to fully explore what I had uncovered. It almost felt forbidden, given the dark contexts, how little I understood what it was I was actually getting myself into, and how hard it was to obtain. I was a fairly isolated person myself. I would go months without hearing my voice, and I'd often forget what I sounded like. being like that made this world so much more.. real, influential. It was quiet but simultaneously loud, the perfect amount of unsettlement that I could actually process what was happening. most media felt.. too chipper? concepts, circumstances and situations that I just genuinely couldn't relate to, and treated it all like story books and fairy tales, fun to consider and helped me work on empathy and contrast.. but to have something that was close to home? close to my world? I was overjoyed, I wanted to see as many places as I could. I felt she was alone, and so was I. but lonely? never. there was so much here. they were all living their own lives, wouldn't acknowledge us but that's okay. we tell ourselves at least, because what good is it to say otherwise? you get to decide your narrative that way, what you aren't simply given, you can just create. make up the gaps with things you believe, and you start to realize reality is just what you've convinced yourself exists.. turns out at least for me, that means something infinite. thank you for this video, you did a very good job showcasing the surrealism without overwhelming it with mystery. sometimes surrealism is a real answer, and sometimes mystery is just for those afraid of admitting so much that they'll run out of things to say. not yume nikki.
Such a beautiful folio of video essays,,, standing, in my mind, at the intersection of legends like Nexpo and the smaller yet equally consistent creators like Kyotorobato
I feel like I can't make an accurate judgment until the game is complete, for example the death symbolism, but more or so the depiction of hell, and the lack of context for the car stuff
It’s interesting how the two most popular rpg maker games as of recently, Yume Nikki, and Omori are both about Hikikomoris exploring their mental mindscapes.
First came across YN shortly after the english patch came out, still one of my favorite games. So many layers to such a seemingly simple piece. I could probably draw the entirety of its worlds by memory, so much I played it. Not sure why you put pads instead of in game music tho, as it's a big part of the game's meaning and ambience. Also a small correction at 20:21: the fat effect used to be acquired from a funhouse mirror, so the subtext was quite different.
First world: lonely because of a friend who was two faced Second world: naturally ugly as a toad, which makes her easy to bully for her looks. She copes by eating. Third world: social anxiety disorder, bright colors signs of stress. Fourth world: nightmares of personal experiences. Bullying, claustrophobia, Kyu kyu? Fifth world: ostracization, seen as if something is wrong with her. Supernatural… is dead… Sixth world: safe place, away from it all, world stops, self inflicted pain/pleasure? Seventh world: hidden intentions, two faced and hiding true intentions. Coping. Lying. Eighth world: loss of self identity, two faced personality got mixed up. Confused. Nineth world: stress build up, unchecked anxiety, “monkey on her back”, went to therapy… Tenth world: don’t look at me. Grows fear of being seen or stared at. Eleventh world: shuts self away, moment of respite, feels bad about it but won’t admit it. Holding out for a hero, no one comes. Twelveth world: self hatred grows, tries to distract herself with games, self hatred becomes too much Conclusion: Attempt of suicide, might not be dead but unconscious, piecing everything together. Over all: girl was bullied for her looks, had fake friends, and her father inappropriately did things to her leading to angry mom, divorce, dead father, rumors of actions, build up of anxiety and self loathing, and eventually attempt of suicide. Best way to wake one self from a dream is to jump from a really high place, signs of her waking up from said coma. I am tired =~=
This game resonates so much with me. Growing up and still to this day i have dreams every night. When I was depressed and experienced traumas those dreams were nightmares, every night. My nightmares were always distorted reflections of my trauma and my poor self image much like the main characters are. I self isolated as a result of my depression and feeling stuck inside a world only i could precieve and understand. People would tell me the dreams weren't real and so I shouldn't let them upset me, and only I knew that in reality the nightmares reflected a deep, scary darkness inside me. Our dreams hold great power over us, just as we hold great power over our dreams but also sometimes none at all. I hope if youre reading this and have experienced anything similar you can hold onto the hope that things will get better. ❤
I once heard a game described as Yume Nikki with gameplay. It's an interesting phrase because it implies not good things about the game part of this video game
I think this game is great discussion piece and was way ahead of its time being used to create "game as art", which was very far from the common understanding of what a game was or could/should be at the time. However, I think the game judged in the context of itself contains a LOT of messy meaningless abstraction, crude art because of skill limitation and not purely by choice, and a bleak message that may have caused more damage than comfort in the aggregate. BUT it is so ahead of its time that these criticisms feel a bit unfair, and as a work of personal expression, it's a success, although I suppose only the creator herself can really say for sure. There are a small handful of very clever ideas and some creative imagery here and there that does hit the nail on the head when there's a tangible focus instead of just random obscurantism and meaningless symbols that MIGHT have meaning, but I'm sorry, I just don't think being "part Peruvian" doesn't really gives any more depth to the monkeys or stylistic choices made in the game. I suppose she might just think it looks cool? But if there is a clear intended meaning, it would have been more impressive to give us something to work with. The zipper scenario was pretty genius. But I don't know if being a victim of SA is the overall intent of this scene. I think the core story is of an isolated girl who is looking for ways to cope and escape the prison of her solitude. She walks through the zipper by choice and is tormented by a monstrous entity that seems anxiously waiting for her and even quite predatory like it's barely able to hold back...I think this might show how she ended up trying to people please and promiscuous behavior has come to haunt her because of regret and it's caused deeper isolation, possibly from men in general. The reason I think this was a choice and not an attack is because it we take it with other similar elements like the "fat" ability and the entity feverishly pecking away at some random food, we don't just see "body dysmorphia", we clearly see an aspect of herself using gluttony as a form of escapism, only to make her more insecure and isolate further. When you look at these different situations, and disconnect your mind from a 2020's American perspective, it's pretty reasonable to see a theme of "I did x to help deal with my feelings of isolation and loneliness only for it to dig the hole even deeper" which is why we have the bleak ending occur AFTER a series of attempts to cope and only compound to the point where she felt there was nothing left to try and she had diminished her send of self worth so much she couldn't endure. If it was an incident of victimization in the past, I don't think we would have the narrative building up the way it does and it wouldn't be as climatic of an ending. It's this build up of setbacks that moves the narrative forward, otherwise it really is just some self indulgent random journal entries in game form. I think viewing it that way misses something that actually does give the game its value. Of course, being able relate to her state of mind and suffering is the other obvious strength of the game, however the ending probably makes that point useless, although I'm sure it was cathartic for its creator. Anyway. Not trying to start any fights, I just wanted to add my take because it differs a bit from some others. Of course my take is no more definitive than any other interpretation, which is another one of the games strengths and makes it just a really fun piece of culture to talk about. I guess my main point is focusing too much on the random filler like aspects of the game can lead to missing the tangibly creative aspects, which are no doubt praiseworthy, relatable and at the time of its launch, groundbreaking. I'm always down for debate but know I don't mean for my opinion especially on certain sensitive aspects of the game to "erase" any other interpretation by anyone else, especially if it's been helpful or important to you. These r just my ideas, nothing more.
Very interesting interpretation. I think it adds well to the points made by the video. The time, place and circumstances (in this case skill level) of the creation needs to be taken into consideration when trying to understand the story of the creator, I would agree with that. Also, to promote some behaviour I'd like to see more of in the world, I would like to thank you for giving your viewpoint in a thought out and respectful manner.
Would it still be worth playing the game after watching this video in its entirety or is 'the plot' revealed ? I had never heard of Yume Nikki and a few minutes into this video I got this desire to play it....
There is tons to this game that Pandox did not cover. Simply walking around trying to find things yourself is part of the charm. For a simple game, the atmosphere of isolation and discovery is great.
Prob too late but this is a game to experience fully blind imo, any exposure to its contents reduces the novelty of how unique and surprising its world is!
I couldn't help but hear "Nyan-world" 😂 It's not you, it's me. I'm German and we don't pronounce neon as nee-uhn but as "neh-on" so my brain went meow 😂😂
51:58 Jumping off this point, I'll propose a theory: She was in a car accident with Monoko, who didn't survive or is maybe on life support. Perhaps the corpse was the one driving, and was thrown through the windshield? Then maybe Madotsuki was assaulted while at the hospital. It's far more common than you'd think.
How strange that Yume Nikki’s developer was assumed to be a man due to the game’s posting on 4chan. Their deep understanding of over sexualization and feminine body dysmorphia feel lived in. Not to say a man can’t create these kinds of stories about women, but I feel that Yume Nikki’s developer may be AFAB (assigned female at birth). In the end it doesn’t matter but I’d just like to put in my own perception.
I think its just because of the time that it was made. To think a random woman making a video game in 2004 in Japan feels unheard of, but it’s not impossible
I think you were close with your theory, but not quite there. I think Matatsuki lost her mother in a traffic accident. She was then sent to an orphanage where she was bullied and SAed. As she grew up, she was unable to heal from her traumas and withdrew from the public and eventually unalived herself as shown in the end of the game.
Why do I feel like I've heard you in some youtube fanfiction audio-drama's like I swear this guy was in the audio story of Jeff The Killer Vs Jane the Killer
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The creator staying as hidden as possible sounds to me like it’s just him practicing basic internet safety.
Nah that's just his Madotsuki cosplay
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That wasn’t really a worry when this was released
@@XxSTACKxXI'll bet he hasn't regretted his decision... I wonder how many bullets he's dodged
@@sonicbhoc oh for sure. but back then it was kinda rare for a creator to basically be unknown. they kinda just released it and like disappeared.
Yume Nikki has a distinct feeling when your playing, it truly feels like you're not only exploring but lost. Even if you know where some stuff is in the map, it takes a while or even try and error to find them unless you use a tutorial. And the jumping around truly reminds me of my dreams. And since dreams are a product of your psychic it may have a lot of detail of Madotsuki herself in it, from memories to how she views things. The game never truly gave us an answer to any of those and even if we all agreed on one. All the others are left empty. Truly a very weird experience
:(
Sounds like a whole lot of nothing.
I resonated so hard with this game when I fell into depression.. The world around me and everyone in it just didn't have a place for me, so cutting myself off and opting to sleep 14-16hrs a day was my only retreat beside video games. Worlds not my own were far more inviting to me. I still find this fairly more preferably, much to the distress of the therapist I've come to see.
It felt so strange and comforting though.. It felt like I was visiting the headspace of a kindred spirit. I almost felt at home some times, or at the very least.. Felt like I was somewhere safer.
Ahh... your comment hit me right in the heart. I know *_-exactly-_* how you feel... 😪
I hope you're doing better, my friend. I wish I could say that I was.
@@justinburchette and both your comment and @TheTrueNehme comment hit me in the same place cause i too -- know how you feel.... hope you both are doin better for me i know that in this world if you dont like your life its up to you to put in the work and try to make the life you envision in your head thatll make you happy or at the least content it may not happen overnight and it may not happen at all but in the process of putting in that work to try and reach a outcome or set of goals maybe just know even the work your attempting to put in that life is also happening inbeetween the work and the goal so remember to take a breath let the world around you in and the inner you out let the world and the people in it around you see who and what you think and want to say out NOBODY might not ever listen but trust me someone hears you and you dont know the weight of the words and your actions can have on those around you IM not i repeat am not doin ahundred percent better all the time but i have days and im thankfull for each one i have... may god bless the both of you and all those around you and the lord keep you 🤙
@@justinoralia4594 Thank you for the kind words, friend... it really means a lot to me. I wish I could tell you that things are better now, but... well... 😔
I'm glad to hear that you're doing better, though! I wish you the very best. Take care of yourself OK? :)
My heart 😢
I hope your doing better, and that you come to take care of yourself as you grow.
I just realized that The ending of Yume Nikki is either a sick or endearing rendition of the quote “Dreams come True”
Would love to see a follow-up of sorts to this on the sheer number of Yume Nikki fan-games--Yume 2kki in particular is huge and has been getting updates for longer than even the original game had support at this point. Also, fun fact, it's called 2kki because 2 in Japanese is 'Ni'--so really it's the only thing you could've called a sequel. It's effectively Yume NI-kki.
I’ve always pronounced and read ‘2kki’ as “tooki”, it’s neat learning the other way it can be said :^O
natsumi kokochi for example would be nice to see.
and yes youre right, calling it yume 2kki was clever, but is not an official sequel :).
ME is one I never see covered and its a shame as it executes alot of the cool stuff found in 2kki quite well, like fusion effects.
夢ニっき
idk if anyone else has had this feeling, but i feel like this game just knows how my brain works. i havent had a hard time finding effects cause my strategy was just walk and interact with anything i saw. for an indie bedroom developer, the creator of yume nikki really knows how to attract you to the objective without any prompts.
WOW. This is the best yume niki video I've seen by far. You explained everything in such a clear way-and the game is pretty hard to explain to someone who has never heard of it or played it. I'm so impressed! Considering the countless videos I've seen on this topic, I'm amazed at how well you explained it. Keep up the good work!
Wow, thank you!
@@pandoxvideosI was just experiencing a pregnant silence that carried a similar compliment to you! You're a deft storyteller and such crystalline clarity is employed weaving the delicate (and often niche) threads of these sagas into accessible narratives...made all the more impressive as you're often discussing topics that are ultimately puzzles and mysteries even after the aforementioned diligence of which you're showing nigh on prodigal accumen 😊
TL DR; you're great at telling stori
Yume Nikki is one of my favorite ever games.... because despite the dark themes it's always given me a place to go as a kid. This game was my safe place for a while oddly... I would log in and go to certain areas... just to sit there and listen to the music.
I liked this video a lot! you went into some details I didn't know when I was younger!
That's weird homie....just relax and think positive
its weird realizing the game I played in my early teens is older than some of your viewers..... it hurts. lol. but to the new dreamers I say, wellcome I hope you have a wonderful journey the dev was a genius twisting rpgmaker's logic to make it do so many amazing things. that Are still challenging to make work.
wait. it hurts that people were born after you? or it hurts that people that are younger than you are interested in this? i don't know what you are getting at, but i know that your grammar hurts.
@@oem3457wow looks like someone is having a bad day. Just because you’re having a bad day, that does not mean you need to be a douche to someone else. Hope your day gets better.
@@oem3457 nostalgia ya fool! and fear of ones ever encroaching mortality. hope today is better for ya. since you really seem offended by my comment.
Hey man, As someone who just discovered yume nikki a while back and has as barely turned 18, this comment really puts into perspective how timeless this game is. I can already tell how much its going to mean to me, despite only having been aware of it for a short while. I appreciate your comment man. May this wonderful gem of a game continue to amaze further generations
I remember watching my older brother playing this as a kid and being scared
You need to keep pushing man. You have started covering stuff i haven't seen before. This channel is too good to have so little attention.
I appreciate this. Actual duder
@@pandoxvideos Your Channel is good and your Content too.
@@pandoxvideos I will Support the Developer from the Indiehorrorgame Try to Fall asleep.The Name from the Developerchannel ist AmberDrop
This game thrives off our wandering imagination, not a word is spoken throughout this game. Kikoyama being shrouded in mystery certain adds to this game.
Amazing video, coming up with different interpretations and theories from what little we get is what makes this game so great.
i’m so glad that this is the video i clicked on to immerse myself into yume nikki and it’s story. you do an excellent job of laying everything out and your voice is super relaxing to listen to!! i cant believe you aren’t a bigger channel yet, but i’m extremely confident that you have the potential to be one, people just need to keep clicking! thanks for an amazing video, dude ❤
Thank you for the incredibly kind words and encouragement!
Great video. I gained some new insights into my favorite game despite having seen content made about it a plethora of times. I think that speaks to the quality of this video.
as a fellow editor, I must say the amount of work you've put into this and all of your videos... goddaaamn you deserve more subs!
Thank you! I appreciate it!
yume nikki and yumenikki fan games have created such a safe curious space for me, as well as a space to meet friends on yume nikki online ❤
also, the best thing about the game, is that the ways to interpret it is endless. and there's no true interpretation. if the yume nikki ending was..not enough, yume 2kki is sure to offer endings with more closure, though the lack of it in yume nikki is what's beautiful
i mean sure if you can even play it. i can't tell you how many times i tried to get that fucking game to play on my computer, tried everything i found online, it would not fucking start. i really wanna play it i'm so salty about it lmao i wish someone would just release something to make it just play without having to jump through hoops my laptop apparently can't reach
@@finn_in_the_bin5263do u have a phone? U can play it on there.
The feeling that you're absolutely alone and nobody is there to help you in this god forsaken place is the scariest thing I have experienced playing this game. It's not really a horror game, yet it makes you feel terrified. What a masterpiece. No wonder it's cultural impact was so strong.
It's 02:03am here, looking forward to this before bed.
Thanks for staying up! 💜
I’ve played yume nikki and Ive watched a few docs on UA-cam but by far yours is the most polished and fleshed out… I subbed and clicked the notification bell to not miss a thing.
Thank you!
It's INSANE that I heard about this and decided to look it up to have this video uploaded 2 days ago and I'm able to check it out. Thank you!
Same
Been a fan of this game for over a decade and this is a fantastic, nuanced dive. Very well done dude
Glad you enjoyed it!
This *may* just be the best video I've seen exploring Yume Nikki. Great writing, too! Well done, loved watching this!!
Thank you for the incredibly kind words!
I don't think she dies at the end. I think the room we see her in is like Omori's "white space" she's still asleep, which is why her eyes are closed. I think jumping off the balcony is to shock herself awake in the real world, which we never see.
there's an official 3D remake and it does have the ending where she does actually live
Yume Nikki got me into sound design and horror games! I graduate with a degree in music and sound design in the summer!
Congrats 🎉
43:00 I'm roughly halfway through the video, and I want to point out that, in one part, Monoko bears a striking resemblance to The Thing with the Quiverering Jaw (39:23).
Notice how both of them have a hand sticking out of their head, which has the same veiny mark (not sure what it's called).
Edit: I have finished watching the theory, and I have a few theories.
Madotsuki was never alive in the game. The reoccuring theme of death, and the fact that (what we presume is) Madotsuki's exact blood splash at the end appears multiple times throughout the game, implies that she was already dead. So maybe these dream worlds are fragments of her memories and nightmares from when she was still alive? Haunted by trauma, it's like it even follows her in the afterlife.
Additionally, I dont think Madotsuki is a hikikomori. There is no presence of a kitchen or bathroom door in her own room, or some sort of jacket or umbrella.
Of course, you can also make a theory about her starving/dehydrating herself in her room before ultimately dying in the real world, before the game starts. That's why she never leaves her room "when she's awake", it's reminiscent of her when she was still alive, and why she can only leave it by dreaming. This could mean that whatever is encrypted inside of those dreams, *they all happened outside of her bedroom*.
Alternatively, or additionally, it can also mean that her bedroom is the only true safe place for her. Maybe dreaming is a way of numbing herself, or symbolically, it's her diving deeper into her subconscious.
The fact that she never leaves her room raises another theory.
She's afraid of whatever happened in her own house. Whether it's the memories that transpired, or the family member that lives with her? The fact that Kyuukyuu is together with her bedroom door supports this theory. However, on the contrary, it can also mean that the traumatic events happened *inside* of her bedroom.
I also want to point out that Madotsuki looks like a very young girl. You can't look at her and tell me she looks like an adult capable of owning her own apartment. A child like Madotsuki's has got to be dependent on someone to take care of her (Edit: on second thought, it's also possible that she's age-regressing). The fact that we seeminly have never seen them, can mean two things (or more?). One: there is something preventing her from wanting to see them, whether it's guilt or outright fear. Two: she's an orphan.
I'm leaning the most towards the second option. The vehicular accident can also imply the death of the family member(s) in question. The fact that blood, dismembered limbs, are frequently occuring symbols, can mean that this was a major event in her life.
And another thing. It's possible that the dormitory could be reminiscent of the orphanage she lived in. This does make wonder whether her room is, in fact, not a part of an apartment complex, but an orphanage. But, this probably sounds like a massive stretch.
Alternatively, those large amounts of beds also remind me of a hospital. Now where have we heard of a hospital before?
That hospital-like world... could that be her visiting this person involved with the accident? However. The suggestive poster(s) makes me think that it has more to do with her sexual trauma, rather than some sort of accident. Perhaps she has been in a hospital more than once, and this hospital world is the amalgation of all those visits?
About Poniko. I'm surprised that you haven't, or anyone I've seen so far for that matter, has talked about how *similar* her character design is to our Madotsuki. This is extremely weird. Every other character (aside from that person inside of the igloo, possibly Madotsuki herself, but I can't come up with any theories about them) has an appearance and design very different from Madotsuki. I wonder what this means? What impact did she have on Madotsuki's life? The fact that she appears in a very girly, child-like room implies that she is possibly a friend of the same age. But, hmm, Uboa makes me think that it's not that simple.
This reminds me of something. That lively picnic of Tori-ningen inside of the desert, which is completely inaccessible, could this be representative of her desire to join others and have fun, but only able to watch them from a distance? This further cements her loneliness. I do wonder what those desert elements mean, though.
I have a few other theories, but they have already been mentioned by others (eg. CSA) or, this will get too long otherwise (+ I'm deprived of sleep....).
I hope someone can add something to my theories!!!!!!! Yume Nikki is just too interesting.
WOWZA YOUR DEVOTED... /pos
What a trip. Thanks man, looking forward to more videos
Thanks for watching!
Unparalled narrating. Excellent, thourough job here. Never heard of this game but it seems sad for her to go through all those worlds only to seemingly commit suicide in the end is a eeiry reflection of any depressive person that goes through various stages of life but eventually gives up. (If they dont seek help, at least)
I appreciate you
even hearing so much let me tell you there's so much more to see, Id heavily recommend downloading it for yourself theres a steam release if ya don't want to go to older sites out of fear. (even if it is unwaranted)
@@pandoxvideos Do you Like Yume Nikki?
I think kikiyama went on a school trip to peru and they never forgot it.
such a great upload, i didn't know i needed this.
Thank you for being here
oh my god the ending where he kikiyama was interviewed by the undertale creator got me by surprise lol
good video and ty for adding music links
Bro has no idea how hard hes about to pop off. You do great work man. Much deserved.
Thank you!
Some of it rlly hit home for me trauma to isolation ya know (still working on that one (; ), I'll definitely play the game on steam to experience it on my own too, but love the video! Always such good topics, love them!
You make good videos I hope you keep doing it :)
💜
Great video, criminally underrated channel
Thank you!
your content is sooo good keep it up!
Nice video, despite I love yume nikki, I never bothered to searching for the fan theories, but to hearing them from this video did helps me to see some hints that I don't know before.
I did not know the caracter commits s*icide at the end of the game.
It is just so sad.
this vid was a banger, nice job. really reeled me in.
Thank you for watching!
Thanks for another awesome subject pandox
Thank you for watching
Interesting perspective. I wonder if there is depression and body issues because of pregnancy or loss of the baby or even possibly a baby with disfigurements like birth defects? I’m not sure. I’m just spit balling ideas. I had challenges with identity as a woman after I lost weight and my breasts became pretty flat. I never even realized how much of my identity as a woman was hung up on my breast size. Your body and your identity can be more closely linked than we ourselves realize. It was a really eye opening experience. Thanks for the video.
criminally underrated channel. Brilliant content, great narration, can't wait to see how big this channel grows
Im a simple man. I see a Yume Nikki video I like and subscribe.
Edit: what a banger video man. Cant wait to check out your other stuff.
Thanks for watching!
This video is absolutely amazing. Was struggling to find any videos about this game but this video is perfect! Can't wait for more videos
Glad you enjoyed it!
do you think that the repetition of number 9 that precedes the encounter with kyu maybe symbolizes the age that she couodve been assaulted? I dont wanna reach, but the presence of such a specific number that overwhelms the player before were shown potential sexual trauma symbolism is really weird
also, Kyu's name is literally 9, so the number definitely holds some sort of importance ...
would it be a reach to say that madotsuki is a victim of csa?
Sa theories are some of the most common, so I wouldn't say that's a reach
Absolutely love this channel. Thank you Pandox for bringing us such interesting content.
Thanks for watching!
Weird. I watched many Yume Nikki videos before and always heard theories about r*pe, but now after seeing that you find that phallic creature right after you enter a zipper door, and the next room being a traumatic scene that wakes up Madotsuki, really makes it clear to me.
Also, the two girls that seems to be sisters. Somehow I get the feeling that they could have been Madotsuki`s bullies. One is dead, seemingly after being ran over, and the other just got a face that just makes her seem like a bad girl.
The man who also seems to have been ran over could very well be the one who molested Madotsuki, but doesnt seem to have much confirming that. Could also be Madotsuki`s father, and considering the hospital area, my guess is that he could have been Madotsuki`s father, who died in a car accident which she was also part of. Or maybe...there`s a possibility that Madotsuki caused the car she was in with her father to ran over Monoko, purposely killing her but accidently killing her father as well, but survive and being taken to a hospital. I feel like a situation like that could have made her guilty enough to have dreams about that.
And who knows, maybe the dev themselves went through that situation, and it is the reason why he refuses to let anyone find out who he is. Now that I think about it, a crime would be a very good explanation for his absolute recluse.
And the girl in the room that at random times can turn into Uboa, to me she might have been Madotsuki`s only friend. But that even she at times might have scared or/and mistreated Madotsuki, hence the secret Uboa face, which also symbolizes a two-faced person. Maybe she even betrayed Madotsuki at some point. Possibly another bully that pretended to be nice to Madotsuki, until eventually the mask came off.
Now what I REALLY would love to have is an explanation for the UFO references, as well as the whole tribal/maya/south american culture going on. I feel like it doesnt have anything to do with the developer, and more about like something he knows that relates the concept of dreams to those cultures. I have never read much about those cultures but I bet their opinions about dreams are pretty unique.
Lastly, I think its pretty obvious that Madotsuki isnt really a hikikomori. I mean, she might have been, when she was still alive. During the game she literally NEVER leaves her room. Realistically speaking, as a human she would have necessities like food or using the bathroom. None of that is found in her room. It is possible that the dev did not think it was important, but he could have very easily added other rooms to Madotsuki`s house, as well as left some hints that she has been consuming food, like some ramen cups at least. So to me, since the start of the game she is already dead. And her dreams are just her coming into terms with what happened. She explores her dreams and collect memories of her past. I am not sure if every single key item you collect actually relates to important memories, but it`s clear that a lot of them do. Considering the name of the game is Yume Nikki, you could say that she is not writing in her dream diary, but actually using the diary to reminisce on her real life. Before she eventually is satisfied and jumps out of the building, finally leaving the purgatory of her memories.
I share the same thoughts! I've never seen Madotsuki as a hikikomori either, and instead, has always been dead.
I also agree with the fact that the creator likely does not have a connection with South American culture. Rather, I'm pretty certain that it's the symbolism that they hold. But, I don't know anything about that, so I can't really add much... If someone is willing to do any research, that would be nice.
Very interesting, thank you !
Man i may not always have time to watch your videos but when I do I’m always entertained
Absolutely love Yume Nikki and it’s fan game follow up, amazing video!
Incredible content man, keep pushing and you’ll make it big!!
Thank you!
This game as highlighted a dark and confusing part of my life, but it helped me to find myself through hard times and come to realize and uncover different things I had kept away from my consious self...Although this game as been one of my only lights in that time, it still remains a bad memory. I hope to play this game again without feeling anxious about what it used to represent for me...
Hearing 2ch called the counterpart of 4chan and the Super Famicom the counterpart of SNES instead of each being the original name/originator of the other is even scarier than the game ;) Just teasing. Good video Pandox!
Great job. Your hard work pays off. I was excited to see a notification for your video!!. Keep them coming. Happy Holidays Pardox😊
I love this channel man ! Thank you for all the hard work you put in to entertain & inform us. 💯
Glad you enjoy it!
I can’t believe I’m just now finding your channel. I just watched the Franklin case video. I know a lot about that stuff, but I didn’t know that thank you.🙏 God bless you👼🏼
Such a amazing experience, surrealism and a hidden story, love it so much
Kikiyama Is still alive they made the new Yume Nikki dream diary game
This game resonated with me so hard as a teen, and even now. The dreams were erily like my own, and i played for hours, beat it multiple times, and even tried to make my own fangame. Honestly words cant describe how much it influenced me, my art, and of course my dreams. Its such an amazing game thats says so much but with no dialogue
I absolutely love this vid, the connections make so much sense and the editing is great!
The way you pronounce the names caught me super off guard tho lol/lighthearted
This game has been a huge part in where I go when I think. I discovered it very early on, before an English translation had even existed. I remember having to figure out enough about code to be able to translate the different code characters of a Japanese file that my Americanized computer could register, and when I finally figured it out I wanted to fully explore what I had uncovered. It almost felt forbidden, given the dark contexts, how little I understood what it was I was actually getting myself into, and how hard it was to obtain. I was a fairly isolated person myself. I would go months without hearing my voice, and I'd often forget what I sounded like. being like that made this world so much more.. real, influential. It was quiet but simultaneously loud, the perfect amount of unsettlement that I could actually process what was happening. most media felt.. too chipper? concepts, circumstances and situations that I just genuinely couldn't relate to, and treated it all like story books and fairy tales, fun to consider and helped me work on empathy and contrast.. but to have something that was close to home? close to my world? I was overjoyed, I wanted to see as many places as I could. I felt she was alone, and so was I. but lonely? never. there was so much here. they were all living their own lives, wouldn't acknowledge us but that's okay. we tell ourselves at least, because what good is it to say otherwise? you get to decide your narrative that way, what you aren't simply given, you can just create. make up the gaps with things you believe, and you start to realize reality is just what you've convinced yourself exists.. turns out at least for me, that means something infinite.
thank you for this video, you did a very good job showcasing the surrealism without overwhelming it with mystery. sometimes surrealism is a real answer, and sometimes mystery is just for those afraid of admitting so much that they'll run out of things to say.
not yume nikki.
Somehow I knew my favorite UA-cam channel would gift us on Thanksgiving with another gem.
Thank you for this incredibly well made video, Pandox. Exactly what I needed right now.
Yume Nikki: *dark, sad game*
Barracks settlement: "this guy is already dead, he just doesn't know it yet🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻😺"
Love your videos and appreciate the time and work you put into them. Happy holidays to you and yours.
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. Happy holidays!
Such a beautiful folio of video essays,,, standing, in my mind, at the intersection of legends like Nexpo and the smaller yet equally consistent creators like Kyotorobato
Incredibly kind. Thank you.
I feel like I can't make an accurate judgment until the game is complete, for example the death symbolism, but more or so the depiction of hell, and the lack of context for the car stuff
Had I never discovered this game, I would probably be a very different person today
It’s interesting how the two most popular rpg maker games as of recently, Yume Nikki, and Omori are both about Hikikomoris exploring their mental mindscapes.
Off and Fear and Hunger are also popular RPG Maker games... I worry for us
Keep up the good work!
Thanks!
Found this video through my love of Yume Nikki + other horror arts and games
Glad you found the channel!
just got recommended this page and instant follow
I see this as the journey of the soul, with the ego death at the end.
First came across YN shortly after the english patch came out, still one of my favorite games. So many layers to such a seemingly simple piece. I could probably draw the entirety of its worlds by memory, so much I played it. Not sure why you put pads instead of in game music tho, as it's a big part of the game's meaning and ambience.
Also a small correction at 20:21: the fat effect used to be acquired from a funhouse mirror, so the subtext was quite different.
After discovering idksterling and his hoho 🐱 videos I went down a rabbit hole that brought me to this game
Anyone know the song at 0:55? Its none of the ones listed in the description
I believe that’s a snippet from the OST of the game
@@pandoxvideos TYSM
First world: lonely because of a friend who was two faced
Second world: naturally ugly as a toad, which makes her easy to bully for her looks. She copes by eating.
Third world: social anxiety disorder, bright colors signs of stress.
Fourth world: nightmares of personal experiences. Bullying, claustrophobia, Kyu kyu?
Fifth world: ostracization, seen as if something is wrong with her. Supernatural… is dead…
Sixth world: safe place, away from it all, world stops, self inflicted pain/pleasure?
Seventh world: hidden intentions, two faced and hiding true intentions. Coping. Lying.
Eighth world: loss of self identity, two faced personality got mixed up. Confused.
Nineth world: stress build up, unchecked anxiety, “monkey on her back”, went to therapy…
Tenth world: don’t look at me. Grows fear of being seen or stared at.
Eleventh world: shuts self away, moment of respite, feels bad about it but won’t admit it. Holding out for a hero, no one comes.
Twelveth world: self hatred grows, tries to distract herself with games, self hatred becomes too much
Conclusion: Attempt of suicide, might not be dead but unconscious, piecing everything together.
Over all: girl was bullied for her looks, had fake friends, and her father inappropriately did things to her leading to angry mom, divorce, dead father, rumors of actions, build up of anxiety and self loathing, and eventually attempt of suicide. Best way to wake one self from a dream is to jump from a really high place, signs of her waking up from said coma.
I am tired =~=
This game resonates so much with me. Growing up and still to this day i have dreams every night. When I was depressed and experienced traumas those dreams were nightmares, every night. My nightmares were always distorted reflections of my trauma and my poor self image much like the main characters are. I self isolated as a result of my depression and feeling stuck inside a world only i could precieve and understand. People would tell me the dreams weren't real and so I shouldn't let them upset me, and only I knew that in reality the nightmares reflected a deep, scary darkness inside me. Our dreams hold great power over us, just as we hold great power over our dreams but also sometimes none at all. I hope if youre reading this and have experienced anything similar you can hold onto the hope that things will get better. ❤
I went to bed twice then I was in a room with stairs and accidentally left instantly and I can’t get back to it
I once heard a game described as Yume Nikki with gameplay. It's an interesting phrase because it implies not good things about the game part of this video game
where did you get the thumbnail from?
A silly ai that I made that was meant to be innocent reccomended this to me, but I made sure we were the same personalities so I think I’ll like this
Shes literally me for real
I think this game is great discussion piece and was way ahead of its time being used to create "game as art", which was very far from the common understanding of what a game was or could/should be at the time.
However, I think the game judged in the context of itself contains a LOT of messy meaningless abstraction, crude art because of skill limitation and not purely by choice, and a bleak message that may have caused more damage than comfort in the aggregate. BUT it is so ahead of its time that these criticisms feel a bit unfair, and as a work of personal expression, it's a success, although I suppose only the creator herself can really say for sure.
There are a small handful of very clever ideas and some creative imagery here and there that does hit the nail on the head when there's a tangible focus instead of just random obscurantism and meaningless symbols that MIGHT have meaning, but I'm sorry, I just don't think being "part Peruvian" doesn't really gives any more depth to the monkeys or stylistic choices made in the game. I suppose she might just think it looks cool? But if there is a clear intended meaning, it would have been more impressive to give us something to work with.
The zipper scenario was pretty genius. But I don't know if being a victim of SA is the overall intent of this scene. I think the core story is of an isolated girl who is looking for ways to cope and escape the prison of her solitude. She walks through the zipper by choice and is tormented by a monstrous entity that seems anxiously waiting for her and even quite predatory like it's barely able to hold back...I think this might show how she ended up trying to people please and promiscuous behavior has come to haunt her because of regret and it's caused deeper isolation, possibly from men in general. The reason I think this was a choice and not an attack is because it we take it with other similar elements like the "fat" ability and the entity feverishly pecking away at some random food, we don't just see "body dysmorphia", we clearly see an aspect of herself using gluttony as a form of escapism, only to make her more insecure and isolate further. When you look at these different situations, and disconnect your mind from a 2020's American perspective, it's pretty reasonable to see a theme of "I did x to help deal with my feelings of isolation and loneliness only for it to dig the hole even deeper" which is why we have the bleak ending occur AFTER a series of attempts to cope and only compound to the point where she felt there was nothing left to try and she had diminished her send of self worth so much she couldn't endure. If it was an incident of victimization in the past, I don't think we would have the narrative building up the way it does and it wouldn't be as climatic of an ending. It's this build up of setbacks that moves the narrative forward, otherwise it really is just some self indulgent random journal entries in game form. I think viewing it that way misses something that actually does give the game its value. Of course, being able relate to her state of mind and suffering is the other obvious strength of the game, however the ending probably makes that point useless, although I'm sure it was cathartic for its creator.
Anyway. Not trying to start any fights, I just wanted to add my take because it differs a bit from some others. Of course my take is no more definitive than any other interpretation, which is another one of the games strengths and makes it just a really fun piece of culture to talk about. I guess my main point is focusing too much on the random filler like aspects of the game can lead to missing the tangibly creative aspects, which are no doubt praiseworthy, relatable and at the time of its launch, groundbreaking. I'm always down for debate but know I don't mean for my opinion especially on certain sensitive aspects of the game to "erase" any other interpretation by anyone else, especially if it's been helpful or important to you. These r just my ideas, nothing more.
Very interesting interpretation. I think it adds well to the points made by the video. The time, place and circumstances (in this case skill level) of the creation needs to be taken into consideration when trying to understand the story of the creator, I would agree with that.
Also, to promote some behaviour I'd like to see more of in the world, I would like to thank you for giving your viewpoint in a thought out and respectful manner.
Would it still be worth playing the game after watching this video in its entirety or is 'the plot' revealed ? I had never heard of Yume Nikki and a few minutes into this video I got this desire to play it....
its very much worth it. there's much still to see :)
There is tons to this game that Pandox did not cover. Simply walking around trying to find things yourself is part of the charm. For a simple game, the atmosphere of isolation and discovery is great.
@@JonathanB822 Thank you and @blindedjourneyman as well for your answers ❤❤🙂
Prob too late but this is a game to experience fully blind imo, any exposure to its contents reduces the novelty of how unique and surprising its world is!
The experience that the atmosphere of playing the game all alone provides makes it worth it even if you know everything
I couldn't help but hear "Nyan-world" 😂
It's not you, it's me. I'm German and we don't pronounce neon as nee-uhn but as "neh-on" so my brain went meow 😂😂
The pink sea reminds me of the Raiders of the Lost Ark Atari 2600 game.
51:58 Jumping off this point, I'll propose a theory: She was in a car accident with Monoko, who didn't survive or is maybe on life support. Perhaps the corpse was the one driving, and was thrown through the windshield? Then maybe Madotsuki was assaulted while at the hospital. It's far more common than you'd think.
why is otsuki mad?
whats the song @ 48:14 ? awesome video btw
What your name
"Aaaaahhhhh"
I'll just call you Uboa
Did you know there's a Yume Nikki manga? It's just as confusing, but it's still very interesting. 😊
Its not just a monkey its like a chimera of sorts. Monkey snake cat the second head throws me way off
I’m here because of a Ig reel with character from this dancing and I I had to know what was the lore behind it 😂
Oh, those Tornindzhen bro
How strange that Yume Nikki’s developer was assumed to be a man due to the game’s posting on 4chan. Their deep understanding of over sexualization and feminine body dysmorphia feel lived in. Not to say a man can’t create these kinds of stories about women, but I feel that Yume Nikki’s developer may be AFAB (assigned female at birth). In the end it doesn’t matter but I’d just like to put in my own perception.
I think its just because of the time that it was made. To think a random woman making a video game in 2004 in Japan feels unheard of, but it’s not impossible
PANDOX TAUGHT ME A NEW WORD 🎉🎉😅 Today's lesson:
"c ⁰ p s e"
I think you were close with your theory, but not quite there. I think Matatsuki lost her mother in a traffic accident. She was then sent to an orphanage where she was bullied and SAed. As she grew up, she was unable to heal from her traumas and withdrew from the public and eventually unalived herself as shown in the end of the game.
Why do I feel like I've heard you in some youtube fanfiction audio-drama's like I swear this guy was in the audio story of Jeff The Killer Vs Jane the Killer
👀
@@pandoxvideos for real, I swear your voice is similar to the one in that audio drama
mah-dot-soo-kee