[HW:DE] Completing Hyrule Warriors has given me an existential crisis

A while ago I saw a video where a guy talked about a spool of wire that he's owned for decades. He held it in his hands, and cried realizing it was about to run out. He tries to desperately tries to explain it to his wife and she just makes fun of him, clearly not understanding the full significance. That video really stuck with me, and I can relate now more than I'd like to.

A few days ago, I finished Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition. Every Legend Mode stage, every adventure mode map, every skulltula, every character upgrade, every fairy skill, and every achievement. I did it all. Sure there are technically challenge mode battles I haven’t done yet, but in term of what can be achieved, it's kind of the end of an era. I've been playing hyrule warriors since it launched on the wii u. I remember seeing the original teaser for it and waiting what felt like an eternity to learn more. I remember watching Derrick Bitner streaming an early access copy of the Japanese version and getting so excited when I heard the Skyloft soundtrack the first time.

And it's just like... I can't go back to that now.

A few weeks ago, I graduated college. They don't do a ceremony for students who finish in the fall, so it didn't feel like a huge event for me. Around the same time, I quit my job on campus because it didn't make sense to keep working there as a graduate. I've been looking for jobs and applying to masters programs, and it's going well! But at the same time even though not much is objectively changing, it feels like I'm leaving a huge part of my life behind. Because I'm not the same person anymore. And even though it was only a few weeks ago, even though I still have all of my college and work friends, I can't go back to being that person anymore.

I was 10 years old when Hyrule Warriors was first announced. I'm now 21. I have a bachelor's degree. Hyrule Warriors has been a part of my life for longer than it hasn't. And I finished it. I'm not 10 years old anymore. I'm not anyone else from the past 11 years other than the person I am now.

I'm not looking for sympathy, and I don't need comments telling me that I'm still young and have plenty to look forward to. I know that. I'm really excited for what this year has to offer. But this isn't the same as graduating or quitting a job or a breakup. I know what the next steps are there. But there's no next step when it comes to finishing a game you love. To quote that wire guy, the past 11 years are in those hours I spent playing the game, a game that has nothing left to offer me, a spool of wire that's run out. It's not about running out of wire, it's about realizing something that's been with you for so long has been used up.