It's entirely coincidental, but even the ambiance of the game suggests a forgotten place in a bygone era, like a faded sepia-tinged photograph of a long-gone people in a long-gone town you'd find in an old family photo album. You can reenter that one moment, everyone still doing what they were doing the last time they were observed, as if no time has passed at all, but you cannot move past that moment because the future does not exist here. Damn. Abandoned MMOs really hit something differently. Thanks for returning this one to public memory.
I backed it, it finally came out, and it was so broken that I never touched it again. Like, impossible to figure out why they thought it was releasable kinda stuff.
Keeping the servers of something like this up for so long after development has stopped... That alone says so much about this game and its creators. Lots of MMOs fail, they're giant incredibly complex projects, they cost tons to develop, it's expected. But not many get this kind of treatment. There's clearly so much passion there.
There is a haunting beauty to the world of Ninelives. Specifically, the muted tones and haziness of the environment brings to mind Shadow of the Colossus.
While it may be dead, your video will likely be an important aspect of its legacy. A lot of us watching will likely look into it because of you. Cheers to that!
I watched the video till the middle of it. Then couldn't bear it anymore and went downloading the game. I feel so so bad for the developer(s) who couldn't even get out of the testing phase. Their game is so amazing and full of potential. Their background musics and sound effects are very amazing as well. 10 minutes into the game and I already started crying. I had countless of failed projects myself, but seeing this happening to someone else other than me just makes my heart tear apart. (I'm a 21st century person, so I really haven't played that many old mmos games) I'm really sorry for the developers and I wish they can return back and continue the development of such an amazing game. The old graphics, the lightweight game, amazing concepts....it's just such a waste of efforts to see all of these being discontinued :( Thanks from you for sharing this as well!
Hey would you mind helping me a little If I download this is it still online like I can find others on the off chance someone is on and if so or if not can I play this after the company shuts the servers off like single player
I can't believe how beautiful this game is... It's from an era that I honestly don't think has been revived, the art style, the vast landscapes, the towns, everything is just so fascinating to me. Thank you once again for making such a loving video on something I never would have known existed otherwise
Whatever art style this game is i can't get enough of it. It's like ps2 era, shadow of the colossus, final fantasy, 2010s atmosphere. The distant fog, the looming shadows of structures in the distance. I love it. If anyone has any suggestions of other games that fit this same aesthetic please let me know!
These are the kind of videos about games i LOVE, discovering a game ive NEVER heard of and the feelings people have had for it. Its a constant reminder just how many games are out there. Also always appreciate reaching out to the devs of games like these since their stories might potentially have gone unrecorded, much like the games themselfs. Doesnt matter its not my type of game (MMOs) but i do love seeing people explore stuff from the past that hasnt been coverd heavily like popular games have been.
The way you said you were "documenting your travels" is a perfect way to describe this video, i love your style of wide panned shots showing in game views and vistas naturally like a documentary (especially for your Siren video) but for a game unheard of that your are detailing to many for the first time your style fits perfectly especially in capturing your descriptions of exploration and an older style of art Great video!
I'm so glad you're talking about this game. I remember putting so many hours just traversing the world trying to discover everything I could in this game. I've followed the SmokeymonkeyS devs for over a decade at this point (a huge fan of TRIGLAV). I was so heartbroken when they originally cancelled the development of the game. I was surprised when I found out they were the ones remaking Garage: Bad Dream Adventure.
I remember originally finding the game through the trailers they posted on RUclips back in the day. There was a huge slew of Unity MMOs being developed in 2010-2014 and I would regular get recommended trailers for them and Ninelives was one of the ones :))) Good memories
so neat to hear from the developer directly, in addition to your thoughtful commentary! I have a feeling this game will experience a bump of activity thanks to your video
I remember playing this game back when you first recommended it on your twitter and even tho I loved the visuals from the very first moment I quickly bounced off due to not being a fan of MMOs, the game sat on my folder where I would never play it but also never delete it being convinced that I'll come back to it, I'm so happy you made this video, because you announcing it was the push I needed to get back into it. and it was absolutely worth it the moment I entered the bar in the city and saw the girl singing in there I fell in love with the game
I'm still not really sold on the MMO mechanics but the slower pace they bring with themselves is also something I kinda like, makes this game feel a little meditational for me
Discovery in games still remains one of the most fun reasons to play games. But this video is also a look into the strange world of digital game death. It is so rare that a dev leaves a server up, letting people get a glimpse.
Old MMOs will always end up as wastelands of once-was. Even WoW, the main version, has countless areas never touched by the playerbase anymore whether because of Classic WoW giving a better experience in early areas, or just no reason for anyone to be there anymore. It's an ongoing tragedy for many virtual worlds. No matter how lovingly crafted they are, eventually people will lose all reason to even exist there anymore. Perhaps one day people will treat real life the same way. Maybe some people already do, especially introverts.
This is amazing. Feels like a mix of so many things... Morrowind, Fumito Ueda games, slav architecture, 80's fantasy movies like Dark Crystal And yet, it looks really unique Incredible video
Eurothug Fan Server let's goooooo. Seriously beautiful video - I always find dead MMOs so morbidly interesting. I think they have a similar vibe as Shadow of the Colossus, where you feel the overwhelming silence and emptiness all the more cause you imagine the great noise and amount of people that came through those areas before you - in Shadow it's a created feeling, but in dead MMOs it's real.
It’s so great to see a love letter like this to a game many of us would have never heard of otherwise. I hope Tota feels good to know their game is in the thoughts of so many people 🙂
this video suddenly made me go back in memory lane to the time when I discovered some similar MMORPG called The Endless Forest by Tale of Tales; if someone doesn't know or the company name brings some vague memories, it's the same company who did the surreal Little Red Riding Hood-themed game called The Path. "You are a deer. So are the other players. You meet each other in an endless forest on the internet. The setting is idyllic, the atmosphere peaceful. You communicate with one another through sounds and body language." This synopsis back in the day got me hooked and wanted to try it out, and it was just magical. You really are just a deer, roaming around and meeting other deer in the forest. There's two types of forests; the First Forest and the Birch Forest. Both as equally stunning locations. There is also the Ruins, a Pond, the Old Oak and the Playground. All these together makes the game look ethereal while having a lot fantasy-element to it to spruce it up, it has all the cozy vibes that it needs.
just started watching the vid, but I believe the certain look you're searching for can be found in ps2 era jrpgs, action games and some horror games. I think ff12, Ragnar, valkyrie profile 2, dark cloud 2, Vagrant saga, Drakengard 1+2, Nier(for the ps3), Pandora's tower(wii), Wizardry: Tales of the Forsaken Land, Shadow Tower abyss, Kings Field IV, Haunting Ground and maybe Breath of fire 5. Artwork done by Katsuya Terada, Akihiro Yoshida, Tatsuyuki Tanaka, Range Murata and Tsukasa Jun also have a similar dark, grimmy fantastical style with a lot of dieselpunk. The list is probably much larger and probably alos included the wrong type of games but I hope these are a bit helpfull. EDIT. Xanadu next and Shadow of the Colossus.
I watched the first four minutes and had to stop. I downloaded the game and followed the main quest up to a point where you meet a wizard who happens to have a wall on his map - I realized it was a world map, and I took a screenshot of it to use for navigation since the game has maps for only your current region. I decided to take the path north, and it brought me to Estrain and then Mistral. The world and soundtrack, the ambient sounds of birds chirping and water lapping at the lakeshore, it's beautiful and nostalgic for a game I never played. I think it's probably the countless hours I've spent in Azeroth and Tyria that make Ninelives feel so familiar, and just like my first time playing World of Warcraft and Guild Wars, I can't help but want to see what this world has to offer. I saw in one of their final updates that the developers made the incomplete zones accessible; I'd found the locked zone portals but now know that I need to do a quest to actually go through them. I think I'm going to find that quest and see the rest of Ninelives before coming back to this video to see what you found. Thanks for making this video and showcasing the game, I don't think I'd have ever heard of it otherwise!
This is how I feel about D&DO & Myst online. People do still play the first one, but both are empty enough that they have this eriee tone that's just magical (especially Myst online, as it feels very much like the older single player titles. Exploring D'ni cities was just incredible)
You mean Uru? I made a uru online account a couple of years ago cause I beat the offline versions and path of the shell. Unfortunately a lot of the online stuff requires multiple people to solve and many events happen at certain times of the year from what I gathered so I didn't get as far as I hoped. The offline version with the dlc is still pretty nice though. Found many Relto pages.
I love it, it reminds me of how I felt when I watched castle in the sky as a kid. The feeling of imagining the idea of a world like this existing filled me with happiness and sadness. It's so beautiful and I love the art style, it's probably because I am getting old but I think the old graphics look is so good, it just fits the vibe. It's sad that something like this could be lost, hopefully they would release an offline version so it never gets lost to time. Given all the work they put in, it would be a shame if such a beautiful virtual world was lost. Not many people get this close to finishing the world of their dreams, or the dreams they had as a kid.
Ninelives really gives Morrowind smashed together with a more traditional classic MMO like Asheron's Call or even a depressing WoW. Beautiful and melancholic.
another eurothug4000 banger. also good lord i didn't even notice how much your channel has grown!! been here since you were at a few thousand subs. happy for you
Man! I was thinking about this game JUST TODAY and this video appeared on my rec. I did not even finished your video and I'm already emotional. I played alone for days in this game, hoping to find someone. Those years are now gone... edit: When you talk about loneliness, that's a feeling this game brings me so deeply similar to that of Shadow of the Colossus. Even though NineLives has some NPCs, it feels like a place no one could go. Love that feeling. Few make it as good, as interesting as them.
I crave pretty similar vibes to this in games, and i think the closest I've found to this that is still active is guild wars 2. It has a similar emphasis on exploration that i think you might enjoy.
Holy smokes...that was incredible! My jaw literally kept dropping further and further with each new creature and vista. Thank you so much for finding and sharing this! Such a pity it was never finished but you're totally right that at the same time that's what adds to its captivating atmosphere...
I loved every minute of this and will be downloading it! It's always nice to find other people who can appreciate something unfinished/broken simply for the experience of it. i have felt so crazy in the past trying to explain this to people, like there can be value in just existing in a space and taking in a creator's vision.
Great video. I hope that the developers wake up to an unexpected boost in player ship due to the video. The Ico OST is sending me. Can’t wait for project robot.
Did u just say this game was made by team of TWO? Like.. not two studios, but two PEOPLE? That's wild, I can't even imagine the ambition you'd have to possess to get this past the 'idea' stage. (Perhaps unsurprisingly, I'm not a game designer, just some random guy who's watched a lot of video essays about games. So i know very little about the work involved in an MMO other than it's a LOT)
Wow, what a beautiful game! Visually it reminds me of Morrowind and Fumito Ueda's games. I may have to spend some time in this world. I'd imagine it would be more valuable than spending the same amount of time relaxing with something like Fallout 76. Thank you for making this video!
Wouldn't it have been amazing if these dead MMO's could be released as open source projects? Even if some of the licensed stuff is stripped away it still would have been great to tinker with the game worlds and perhaps even have a small community run it.
Thank you for the lovely video. The story around it and your experience reminds me of the background story from a short visual novel called Seventh Lair. A companion vn to the great House in Fata Morgana made for the April fools and using the fact to deliver it's gut punch of story. Seventh lair takes place in a never made game from the mind of the main character where he and the small group of people who were frequenting his small development blog get trapped.
I have been chasing this aesthetic in a game since my childhood and I actually teared up when playing this today. This game is a hauntingly beautiful piece of art.
Forgot all about this game that I saw more than ten years ago when in development. This is very well made content, with even interviews with the creators! appreciate it. :)
this is beautiful ! i'll have to give it a try. i had a very similar experience recently with a game called Ryzom. exploring the empty and beautifully strange world with discovery around every corner. then, as i began interacting with the few people who still populated this world, i began to lose interest. why? they wanted to help me every time i logged in, show me new places. but, there's something very powerful of finding out on your own. strange to think that the multiplayer aspect of an mmo actually ruined it for me.
This game seems reminisce of MMORPGS before micotransactions, that you're character was exploring a world and simply a part - it doesn't working anymore cause we need every individual to feel like the hero of a universe built for them. Sorry I'm getting nostalgic. WoW was so much fun when I played it
What a beautiful video and such a beautiful game. I don't want it to die. I feel like it'd be perfect for an RP crowd or something. I really wanna check it out myself now, and it makes me want to one day get involved in game design too. (Edit) Playing now! How do you dive in bodies of water? It's such a gorgeous game! The music is astounding too, holy crap. I love that you can play as goblins and ogres as well!
Such a beautiful game with a unique and appealing aesthetic. I downloaded it after seeing your video, and I am very impressed by the atmospheric music in particular! Thank you for showing us the unlockable areas as well, your dedication is appreciated.
Oh I love this video. So comfy. Though I never played this game or even heard of it it does remind me of my time as a kid in the 2000s too, something about the design, the textures, the mood... it's perfect. It is like beautiful melancholic nostalgia for a place I've never been yet still feels familiar. Your narration as always is excellent too and paired really well with the world being shown. Banger video, will return here for some calm re-watches when I wanna bask in the world again. An internet checkpoint for me :D
I made it 8 minutes before I went and downloaded it myself. I am intrigued, and saddened that it is abandoned. But I am going to take the opportunity while I still can to go and explore it. Thank you for this video, and for the interview! This game's atmosphere is fantastic, and the way you speak about the game is really nice.
That must have been such a great experience, this was so beautifully conveyed ! Really sweet story, I feel like the mood and overall aesthetic of this game also touches something special and nostalgic for me
My RUclips feed is filled with a lot of the normal algorithmic videos I usually get so to see something like this which vividly describes such a personal experience with a game like this, well its awesome to see, thanks for the video. Wizardry Online was one of the MMOs that got left to die for me so this especially hits pretty hard.
You know the video will be a passion project and a masterpiece whenever you see "Eurothug4000" next to the title! Haven't played it but it looks a lot like Shadow of the Colossus in terms of the colour palette/foggy PS2 atmosphere and a mixture of Dreamfall - The Longest Journey in terms of vibes.
There is a sort of immersion I could only achieve as a child in these lost, distant virtual worlds. I wish I could relive them, and this video gave a little slice of what that would be like. It was wonderfully written, shot and editted. Thank you.
great stuff friendo would have never know bout this game without ya as usual you introduce me and other to so many new and different gaming experiences!!
In places, this almost looks like if Team ICO or FromSoft (the Lost Kingdoms/Forever Kingdom era From Software) got to make an online game. In a way, it's brilliant; you're going to sunset eventually, every online game does. So if your aesthetic revolves around that sense of desolation, it'll just get *more* immersive as it gets _less_ populated. It's timeless. Absolutely genius!
I love videos like this so much. So glad to see it since i cant normally engage with your videos about horror games. (Though i do love the way you make your videos)
Just before I went to bed last night, I finished a really good animated movie from Japan called A Tree of Palme that released in 2002, and that movie really hit touched me emotionally. And now, first thing I see when I wake up is a fresh video from eurothug... Things feel pretty good right now, and that's not something I often get to say. This is one hell of a serendipitous occasion! You have my thanks, Maria. (P.S. By the way, if you haven't already, try finding a way to watch A Tree of Palme! This goes to all of you reading this. It's _really_ good, trust me.) (P.P.S. That Ico music that started playing around the 5-minute mark hit me like train, very welcome surprise there!)
I really hope that if servers become too much to deal with in the future they release a offline version or custom server tools, I'd love to just have this on my pc forever.
The game world was so interesting and pretty. It's sad it will never be finished but it's great you were able to capture what it was so it can be remembered.
You actually immediately reminded me of Tangomushi. Looks like that was spot on. Maybe it's just the things that I came across recently, but there might actually be a bit of an emerging interest in abandoned game worlds. I recall a video talking about a game that simulates an abandoned shooter where you end up stalked by some creature, but I can't remember what it was called, unfortunately. Certainly interesting to consider that there are all these games that are maybe still running like Nine Lives that were once bustling with activity and now do their thing still, in stoic silence, uncaring of players, until the plug is pulled. It reminds me of fiction that features autonomous robotic societies that go on "functioning" long after the inhabitants left or died, as seen in Ergo Proxy, for instance.
i would 100% play a single -player RPG game set in this world just for the awesome looks. SmokymonkeyS please make it a reality, you already have come so far it would be a shame to throw away the concepts of this MMO.
I remember when my friends would use their parents mobile phone credit to pay the £5 for runescape and would think my parents never would have let me. It's a shame they stopped working on this game as it truly has it's own identity and the atmosphere feels peaceful.
It's entirely coincidental, but even the ambiance of the game suggests a forgotten place in a bygone era, like a faded sepia-tinged photograph of a long-gone people in a long-gone town you'd find in an old family photo album. You can reenter that one moment, everyone still doing what they were doing the last time they were observed, as if no time has passed at all, but you cannot move past that moment because the future does not exist here.
Damn. Abandoned MMOs really hit something differently. Thanks for returning this one to public memory.
I think you would find Book of Travels interesting. It's an MMO where you just go around traveling the world and occasionally run into people.
Book of Travels is a great game with a banger soundtrack and style as well. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a unique experience
BoT is dead too 😢
I love the abstracted communication they implemented - almost gives the feeling that you only half-know the local language
🎉BOOK OF TRAVELS MENTIONED🎉
I backed it, it finally came out, and it was so broken that I never touched it again. Like, impossible to figure out why they thought it was releasable kinda stuff.
Keeping the servers of something like this up for so long after development has stopped... That alone says so much about this game and its creators. Lots of MMOs fail, they're giant incredibly complex projects, they cost tons to develop, it's expected. But not many get this kind of treatment. There's clearly so much passion there.
There is a haunting beauty to the world of Ninelives. Specifically, the muted tones and haziness of the environment brings to mind Shadow of the Colossus.
not to mention the big flying thing in the desert!
I saw the horse in the thumbnail and thought the same thing
While it may be dead, your video will likely be an important aspect of its legacy. A lot of us watching will likely look into it because of you. Cheers to that!
I watched the video till the middle of it. Then couldn't bear it anymore and went downloading the game.
I feel so so bad for the developer(s) who couldn't even get out of the testing phase. Their game is so amazing and full of potential. Their background musics and sound effects are very amazing as well.
10 minutes into the game and I already started crying.
I had countless of failed projects myself, but seeing this happening to someone else other than me just makes my heart tear apart.
(I'm a 21st century person, so I really haven't played that many old mmos games)
I'm really sorry for the developers and I wish they can return back and continue the development of such an amazing game. The old graphics, the lightweight game, amazing concepts....it's just such a waste of efforts to see all of these being discontinued :(
Thanks from you for sharing this as well!
Hey would you mind helping me a little
If I download this is it still online like I can find others on the off chance someone is on and if so or if not can I play this after the company shuts the servers off like single player
I also started downloading the game during the video. There might be be quite a peak of players nowadays, when compared to the game's long hiatus.
being called a 20th century person makes me feel extra old.
I can't believe how beautiful this game is... It's from an era that I honestly don't think has been revived, the art style, the vast landscapes, the towns, everything is just so fascinating to me. Thank you once again for making such a loving video on something I never would have known existed otherwise
Whatever art style this game is i can't get enough of it. It's like ps2 era, shadow of the colossus, final fantasy, 2010s atmosphere. The distant fog, the looming shadows of structures in the distance. I love it. If anyone has any suggestions of other games that fit this same aesthetic please let me know!
These are the kind of videos about games i LOVE, discovering a game ive NEVER heard of and the feelings people have had for it. Its a constant reminder just how many games are out there. Also always appreciate reaching out to the devs of games like these since their stories might potentially have gone unrecorded, much like the games themselfs.
Doesnt matter its not my type of game (MMOs) but i do love seeing people explore stuff from the past that hasnt been coverd heavily like popular games have been.
The way you said you were "documenting your travels" is a perfect way to describe this video, i love your style of wide panned shots showing in game views and vistas naturally like a documentary (especially for your Siren video) but for a game unheard of that your are detailing to many for the first time your style fits perfectly especially in capturing your descriptions of exploration and an older style of art
Great video!
I'm so glad you're talking about this game. I remember putting so many hours just traversing the world trying to discover everything I could in this game. I've followed the SmokeymonkeyS devs for over a decade at this point (a huge fan of TRIGLAV). I was so heartbroken when they originally cancelled the development of the game. I was surprised when I found out they were the ones remaking Garage: Bad Dream Adventure.
I remember originally finding the game through the trailers they posted on RUclips back in the day. There was a huge slew of Unity MMOs being developed in 2010-2014 and I would regular get recommended trailers for them and Ninelives was one of the ones :))) Good memories
so neat to hear from the developer directly, in addition to your thoughtful commentary! I have a feeling this game will experience a bump of activity thanks to your video
I remember playing this game back when you first recommended it on your twitter and even tho I loved the visuals from the very first moment I quickly bounced off due to not being a fan of MMOs, the game sat on my folder where I would never play it but also never delete it being convinced that I'll come back to it, I'm so happy you made this video, because you announcing it was the push I needed to get back into it. and it was absolutely worth it the moment I entered the bar in the city and saw the girl singing in there I fell in love with the game
I'm still not really sold on the MMO mechanics but the slower pace they bring with themselves is also something I kinda like, makes this game feel a little meditational for me
This might be my favourite video of yours. A cool idea, told so warmly - thanks for this!
Discovery in games still remains one of the most fun reasons to play games.
But this video is also a look into the strange world of digital game death. It is so rare that a dev leaves a server up, letting people get a glimpse.
Old MMOs will always end up as wastelands of once-was. Even WoW, the main version, has countless areas never touched by the playerbase anymore whether because of Classic WoW giving a better experience in early areas, or just no reason for anyone to be there anymore.
It's an ongoing tragedy for many virtual worlds. No matter how lovingly crafted they are, eventually people will lose all reason to even exist there anymore. Perhaps one day people will treat real life the same way. Maybe some people already do, especially introverts.
This is amazing. Feels like a mix of so many things... Morrowind, Fumito Ueda games, slav architecture, 80's fantasy movies like Dark Crystal
And yet, it looks really unique
Incredible video
Eurothug Fan Server let's goooooo. Seriously beautiful video - I always find dead MMOs so morbidly interesting. I think they have a similar vibe as Shadow of the Colossus, where you feel the overwhelming silence and emptiness all the more cause you imagine the great noise and amount of people that came through those areas before you - in Shadow it's a created feeling, but in dead MMOs it's real.
It’s so great to see a love letter like this to a game many of us would have never heard of otherwise. I hope Tota feels good to know their game is in the thoughts of so many people 🙂
The look reminds me a bit of Twilight Princess, maybe it's the light which gives it a dreamy feeling, it's so pretty and unique. Great video!
this video suddenly made me go back in memory lane to the time when I discovered some similar MMORPG called The Endless Forest by Tale of Tales; if someone doesn't know or the company name brings some vague memories, it's the same company who did the surreal Little Red Riding Hood-themed game called The Path.
"You are a deer. So are the other players. You meet each other in an endless forest on the internet. The setting is idyllic, the atmosphere peaceful. You communicate with one another through sounds and body language." This synopsis back in the day got me hooked and wanted to try it out, and it was just magical. You really are just a deer, roaming around and meeting other deer in the forest.
There's two types of forests; the First Forest and the Birch Forest. Both as equally stunning locations. There is also the Ruins, a Pond, the Old Oak and the Playground. All these together makes the game look ethereal while having a lot fantasy-element to it to spruce it up, it has all the cozy vibes that it needs.
Tale of Tales do a lot of "artsy" games, all pretty interesting.
just started watching the vid, but I believe the certain look you're searching for can be found in ps2 era jrpgs, action games and some horror games. I think ff12, Ragnar, valkyrie profile 2, dark cloud 2, Vagrant saga, Drakengard 1+2, Nier(for the ps3), Pandora's tower(wii), Wizardry: Tales of the Forsaken Land, Shadow Tower abyss, Kings Field IV, Haunting Ground and maybe Breath of fire 5. Artwork done by Katsuya Terada, Akihiro Yoshida, Tatsuyuki Tanaka, Range Murata and Tsukasa Jun also have a similar dark, grimmy fantastical style with a lot of dieselpunk. The list is probably much larger and probably alos included the wrong type of games but I hope these are a bit helpfull.
EDIT. Xanadu next and Shadow of the Colossus.
I watched the first four minutes and had to stop. I downloaded the game and followed the main quest up to a point where you meet a wizard who happens to have a wall on his map - I realized it was a world map, and I took a screenshot of it to use for navigation since the game has maps for only your current region. I decided to take the path north, and it brought me to Estrain and then Mistral. The world and soundtrack, the ambient sounds of birds chirping and water lapping at the lakeshore, it's beautiful and nostalgic for a game I never played.
I think it's probably the countless hours I've spent in Azeroth and Tyria that make Ninelives feel so familiar, and just like my first time playing World of Warcraft and Guild Wars, I can't help but want to see what this world has to offer. I saw in one of their final updates that the developers made the incomplete zones accessible; I'd found the locked zone portals but now know that I need to do a quest to actually go through them. I think I'm going to find that quest and see the rest of Ninelives before coming back to this video to see what you found.
Thanks for making this video and showcasing the game, I don't think I'd have ever heard of it otherwise!
This is how I feel about D&DO & Myst online. People do still play the first one, but both are empty enough that they have this eriee tone that's just magical (especially Myst online, as it feels very much like the older single player titles. Exploring D'ni cities was just incredible)
You mean Uru? I made a uru online account a couple of years ago cause I beat the offline versions and path of the shell. Unfortunately a lot of the online stuff requires multiple people to solve and many events happen at certain times of the year from what I gathered so I didn't get as far as I hoped. The offline version with the dlc is still pretty nice though. Found many Relto pages.
I love it, it reminds me of how I felt when I watched castle in the sky as a kid. The feeling of imagining the idea of a world like this existing filled me with happiness and sadness. It's so beautiful and I love the art style, it's probably because I am getting old but I think the old graphics look is so good, it just fits the vibe. It's sad that something like this could be lost, hopefully they would release an offline version so it never gets lost to time. Given all the work they put in, it would be a shame if such a beautiful virtual world was lost. Not many people get this close to finishing the world of their dreams, or the dreams they had as a kid.
Ninelives really gives Morrowind smashed together with a more traditional classic MMO like Asheron's Call or even a depressing WoW. Beautiful and melancholic.
another eurothug4000 banger. also good lord i didn't even notice how much your channel has grown!! been here since you were at a few thousand subs. happy for you
This was only made by two devs? It looks so grand for such a small team!
Man! I was thinking about this game JUST TODAY and this video appeared on my rec. I did not even finished your video and I'm already emotional. I played alone for days in this game, hoping to find someone. Those years are now gone...
edit: When you talk about loneliness, that's a feeling this game brings me so deeply similar to that of Shadow of the Colossus. Even though NineLives has some NPCs, it feels like a place no one could go. Love that feeling. Few make it as good, as interesting as them.
HELL YEAH WE LOVE THE 21:9 ASPECT RATIO ↔️↔️↔️
oh shit! I just thought that the ultrawidify plugin was working correctly, but it's the actual video source
Thanks, the best thug in all of Europe
Omg man 0:06 just unlocked some dormant memories within me, thank you for showing the murloc rpg game
I crave pretty similar vibes to this in games, and i think the closest I've found to this that is still active is guild wars 2. It has a similar emphasis on exploration that i think you might enjoy.
This vid is so beautiful, Maria!
Now I wanna go play Nine Lives, but I'm worried we'll all crash the server!
Holy smokes...that was incredible! My jaw literally kept dropping further and further with each new creature and vista. Thank you so much for finding and sharing this! Such a pity it was never finished but you're totally right that at the same time that's what adds to its captivating atmosphere...
I loved every minute of this and will be downloading it! It's always nice to find other people who can appreciate something unfinished/broken simply for the experience of it. i have felt so crazy in the past trying to explain this to people, like there can be value in just existing in a space and taking in a creator's vision.
i just downloaded the game and started playing thanks to ur video!! :)
Great video. I hope that the developers wake up to an unexpected boost in player ship due to the video.
The Ico OST is sending me. Can’t wait for project robot.
this is like virtual urban exploration... i love things like this
The fable ost in this video immediately sent me back to better times...thank you euro
Did u just say this game was made by team of TWO? Like.. not two studios, but two PEOPLE? That's wild, I can't even imagine the ambition you'd have to possess to get this past the 'idea' stage. (Perhaps unsurprisingly, I'm not a game designer, just some random guy who's watched a lot of video essays about games. So i know very little about the work involved in an MMO other than it's a LOT)
Wow, what a beautiful game! Visually it reminds me of Morrowind and Fumito Ueda's games. I may have to spend some time in this world. I'd imagine it would be more valuable than spending the same amount of time relaxing with something like Fallout 76. Thank you for making this video!
beautiful video! thank u for taking me into these forgotten lands :)
Wouldn't it have been amazing if these dead MMO's could be released as open source projects? Even if some of the licensed stuff is stripped away it still would have been great to tinker with the game worlds and perhaps even have a small community run it.
I really hope this game finds a resurgence of players. I know I'll be playing it!
the game gives me colossus game vibes, love it ^^ thank you for sharing
Thank you for the lovely video. The story around it and your experience reminds me of the background story from a short visual novel called Seventh Lair. A companion vn to the great House in Fata Morgana made for the April fools and using the fact to deliver it's gut punch of story. Seventh lair takes place in a never made game from the mind of the main character where he and the small group of people who were frequenting his small development blog get trapped.
I have been chasing this aesthetic in a game since my childhood and I actually teared up when playing this today. This game is a hauntingly beautiful piece of art.
had to download this myself, thanks for showing this to us
Forgot all about this game that I saw more than ten years ago when in development. This is very well made content, with even interviews with the creators! appreciate it. :)
this is beautiful ! i'll have to give it a try.
i had a very similar experience recently with a game called Ryzom. exploring the empty and beautifully strange world with discovery around every corner. then, as i began interacting with the few people who still populated this world, i began to lose interest. why? they wanted to help me every time i logged in, show me new places. but, there's something very powerful of finding out on your own. strange to think that the multiplayer aspect of an mmo actually ruined it for me.
You mean to tell me that fewer people work on the entirety of this game than the art team who worked on Skyrim?
Ay new Euro to drag me through my sick day(:
This game seems reminisce of MMORPGS before micotransactions, that you're character was exploring a world and simply a part - it doesn't working anymore cause we need every individual to feel like the hero of a universe built for them.
Sorry I'm getting nostalgic. WoW was so much fun when I played it
There are microtransactions in it though lol
@jplichta oops might have ducked off before that part...
What a beautiful video and such a beautiful game. I don't want it to die. I feel like it'd be perfect for an RP crowd or something. I really wanna check it out myself now, and it makes me want to one day get involved in game design too.
(Edit) Playing now! How do you dive in bodies of water? It's such a gorgeous game! The music is astounding too, holy crap. I love that you can play as goblins and ogres as well!
Such a beautiful game with a unique and appealing aesthetic. I downloaded it after seeing your video, and I am very impressed by the atmospheric music in particular! Thank you for showing us the unlockable areas as well, your dedication is appreciated.
Oh I love this video. So comfy. Though I never played this game or even heard of it it does remind me of my time as a kid in the 2000s too, something about the design, the textures, the mood... it's perfect. It is like beautiful melancholic nostalgia for a place I've never been yet still feels familiar. Your narration as always is excellent too and paired really well with the world being shown. Banger video, will return here for some calm re-watches when I wanna bask in the world again. An internet checkpoint for me :D
I made it 8 minutes before I went and downloaded it myself. I am intrigued, and saddened that it is abandoned. But I am going to take the opportunity while I still can to go and explore it. Thank you for this video, and for the interview! This game's atmosphere is fantastic, and the way you speak about the game is really nice.
That must have been such a great experience, this was so beautifully conveyed ! Really sweet story, I feel like the mood and overall aesthetic of this game also touches something special and nostalgic for me
any game that lets me sit down to enjoy the view is good game in my book
I'll be honest, when I read the title, I thought it was gonna be about Nostos.
But this also seems very special and interesting.
Beautiful video - being the only player in a mmorpg seems so magical. There's a somber beauty to it. Amazing
You make great videos, discovered your Siren video a few days ago and loving your content. You are awesome!
My RUclips feed is filled with a lot of the normal algorithmic videos I usually get so to see something like this which vividly describes such a personal experience with a game like this, well its awesome to see, thanks for the video.
Wizardry Online was one of the MMOs that got left to die for me so this especially hits pretty hard.
Wizardry Online still lingering there in my Steam Library like a sore that will never heal 😭
You know the video will be a passion project and a masterpiece whenever you see "Eurothug4000" next to the title! Haven't played it but it looks a lot like Shadow of the Colossus in terms of the colour palette/foggy PS2 atmosphere and a mixture of Dreamfall - The Longest Journey in terms of vibes.
There is a sort of immersion I could only achieve as a child in these lost, distant virtual worlds. I wish I could relive them, and this video gave a little slice of what that would be like. It was wonderfully written, shot and editted. Thank you.
The nostalgia hit from seeing those mid 2000s IT class classics in the intro 😭
Oh wow, this game really does almost feel like a time capsule. So happy that the server is still up and you were able to share with us!
Thank you for finding this and covering it in such a beautiful and evocative way! Now I'm intrigued, sad and inspired
You are truly a modern day explorer. Thank you for this.
Thanks for the video, I'm following your videos from Iran 🇮🇷🤍
This is so cool! I had no idea something like this existed. I'm thinking of checking this out, thanks for sharing!
what a lovely game, and a lovely video! thanks for the work put here
great stuff friendo would have never know bout this game without ya as usual you introduce me and other to so many new and different gaming experiences!!
In places, this almost looks like if Team ICO or FromSoft (the Lost Kingdoms/Forever Kingdom era From Software) got to make an online game. In a way, it's brilliant; you're going to sunset eventually, every online game does. So if your aesthetic revolves around that sense of desolation, it'll just get *more* immersive as it gets _less_ populated. It's timeless. Absolutely genius!
Honestly i look forward to seeing new videos from ya very relaxing and great videos
that's a pretty game. slightly reminiscent of dreamfall and that era of gaming
finally getting recommended good videos :)
I love videos like this so much. So glad to see it since i cant normally engage with your videos about horror games. (Though i do love the way you make your videos)
Just before I went to bed last night, I finished a really good animated movie from Japan called A Tree of Palme that released in 2002, and that movie really hit touched me emotionally. And now, first thing I see when I wake up is a fresh video from eurothug... Things feel pretty good right now, and that's not something I often get to say.
This is one hell of a serendipitous occasion! You have my thanks, Maria.
(P.S. By the way, if you haven't already, try finding a way to watch A Tree of Palme! This goes to all of you reading this. It's _really_ good, trust me.)
(P.P.S. That Ico music that started playing around the 5-minute mark hit me like train, very welcome surprise there!)
This looks super neat. Thank you for sharing!
I appreciate the ultrawide!
And the Ico tunes 🥰
Wow that level of artistry exercised by just two people is masterful
What a delightful little forgotten gem of a game. Thanks for this video.
I really hope that if servers become too much to deal with in the future they release a offline version or custom server tools, I'd love to just have this on my pc forever.
Your channel is so comforting
I'm shocked this was achieved by two devs, I hope this game is preserved
I really enjoyed this video! When i played outward for the first time, i got the same sense of incredible discovery
The game world was so interesting and pretty. It's sad it will never be finished but it's great you were able to capture what it was so it can be remembered.
You actually immediately reminded me of Tangomushi. Looks like that was spot on.
Maybe it's just the things that I came across recently, but there might actually be a bit of an emerging interest in abandoned game worlds. I recall a video talking about a game that simulates an abandoned shooter where you end up stalked by some creature, but I can't remember what it was called, unfortunately. Certainly interesting to consider that there are all these games that are maybe still running like Nine Lives that were once bustling with activity and now do their thing still, in stoic silence, uncaring of players, until the plug is pulled. It reminds me of fiction that features autonomous robotic societies that go on "functioning" long after the inhabitants left or died, as seen in Ergo Proxy, for instance.
Thank you for sharing this adventure with us, there's something so melancholic about abandoned MMOs.
this game really is gorgeous. i'm feeling a need to check it out, myself
i would 100% play a single -player RPG game set in this world just for the awesome looks. SmokymonkeyS please make it a reality, you already have come so far it would be a shame to throw away the concepts of this MMO.
I remember when my friends would use their parents mobile phone credit to pay the £5 for runescape and would think my parents never would have let me. It's a shame they stopped working on this game as it truly has it's own identity and the atmosphere feels peaceful.
wow. That is beautiful on so many levels and sad that it was left to die. Thank you for sharing
I downloaded the game half way through. Loved the video!!!
I'd love a non mmo version of this, the world looks beautiful
THIS GAME IS UTTERLY BEAUTIFUL. i hope this video can blow up and the game gets recognised.
0:39 another the endless forest truther 😭😭
It kinda has that twilight Princess look. Great video
its surreal having a video actually fill my screen