Hello, this is Nexon Picker Yonghyuksoon.

Today, I want to share how I ended up falling for Phantom, one of the MapleStory classes whose story left the strongest impression on me while I was playing.

What was Phantom like back then?

I still remember how incredibly cool Phantom’s first appearance felt. Back then, I was still in elementary school, and to me he really felt like the arrival of a completely new kind of hero.

From the very beginning, he appears by exposing Hilla’s lie that she is Aria’s successor. Technically, this comes after he has already awakened again alongside the sealing of the Black Mage, but since the Black Mage storyline has already been resolved in present-day Maple, it makes the most sense to look at this based on how it was presented in 2011.

After her lie is revealed, Hilla changes into her Commander form and leaves while hinting at the Black Mage. Phantom also departs, after seeing the image of the late Aria in Empress Cygnus.

I think this video became such a hot topic because everything clicked, from Shin Yongwoo’s voice to the art style. Even now, it still feels perfectly matched to the kind of visual style so many people love. Shin Yongwoo is also a voice actor many people know well for familiar roles, including Kaito Kid in Detective Conan!

In the revealed story, Phantom was

Originally, Phantom was a thief active across Maple World, known by the nickname “Phantom Thief” for stealing the wealth of the rich. Then he infiltrates Ereve to steal Skaia, rumored to be Ereve’s treasure and kept in Empress Aria’s possession.

During that process, he becomes friends with Empress Aria. At the time, Aria and the Black Mage’s army were in conflict, but they agreed to hold talks. Instead, the Commanders used the meeting as a pretext to kill Empress Aria, and Phantom, devastated by her death, went to the Dragon Master Freud and joined the ranks of Maple World’s heroes.

From phantom thief to hero (the moment I fell for him)

His first impression was almost that of an antihero, but in the end, as he joined the heroes ahead of the battle against the Black Mage, Phantom also came to be classified as a Hero among MapleStory’s classes. His refined, handsome look and his personality made his charm stand out even more.

I remember a lot of people praising this part of the story in particular: Phantom, who had built his name as a phantom thief and had no interest in saving Maple World, ends up joining the heroes because of Empress Aria’s death. Like the Von Leon-related illustrations that never actually came to life within the story, Phantom also has a few official illustrations tied to him, and I think this one that recently appeared on the official homepage is especially appealing.

I’ve put together both the MapleStory voice that instantly brings Kaito Kid to mind and the points that made me fall for Phantom in the first place. When people think of Phantom in Maple, some say, “He’s that bad guy who steals Adventurer skills!!” But for me, he was one of those characters I was completely drawn to from the moment he appeared.

The story itself is just so cool. A phantom thief, then a hero who sets out to save Maple World after losing a friend... there really isn’t a single part of that setup I’d throw away. And on top of all that, he has a great voice too..