18. Critical Drive (Project Destati: DARKNESS)

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Introduced in Kingdom Hearts II as the battle music for The World That Never Was, "Critical Drive" (also named "Deep Drive") was given a more intense makeover for its appearance in 358/2 Days, to serve the fight between Roxas and Saix.
We focus on this particular appearance, and on Roxas' anger as he battles to escape the castle and leave the Organization for good.
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PROJECT DESTATI: DARKNESS
In celebration of KINGDOM HEARTS and the stunning melodies of Yoko Shimomura, Utada Hikaru, Takeharu Ishimoto, and Tsuyoshi Sekito, we present Project Destati’s second volume.
DARKNESS is the highly-anticipated follow-up album to Project Destati’s 2014 Billboard-charting soundtrack album “LIGHT.” The album is a musical amalgamation of fan-favorite themes from the KINGDOM HEARTS series, re-assembled in an all-new fashion like long-forgotten memories.
Featuring a live string orchestra and industry-leading soloists, DARKNESS is a dark, grand, and mysterious musical experience that aims to capture Tetsuya Nomura’s own imagination.
SUPPORT US:
Bandcamp: projectdestati...
iTunes: geo.itunes.app...
Spotify: open.spotify.c...
Google Play: play.google.co...
Amazon MP3: www.amazon.com...
Deezer: www.deezer.com/...
KKBOX: www.kkbox.com/...
Tidal: tidal.com/us/st...
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David Russell: Producer
Kristin Naigus: Producer
Sebastian Wolff: Producer
Anastasia Korochanskaya: Album art
Disney Interactive: Special Thanks
Jett Galindo: Mastering Engineer (The Bakery)
Square Enix: Special Thanks
Todd Maki: Special Thanks
©Ⓟ 2018 Project Destati
KINGDOM HEARTS is © 2002 Disney/Square Enix. Materia Collective LLC, Project Destati, and artists on this album are no way affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected to Disney/Square Enix with respect to this album. Musical compositions are used with permission. Mechanical licensing facilitated by re:discover, Inc. d/b/a Loudr. © 2018 Sebastian Wolff d/b/a Project Destati. All Rights Reserved.
♥

[@chrisart481]

This part of Kh was so emotional. Losing your best friend, Killing the other, fulfill the promise, not letting anything stop you. And also.. you know, Walking sideways on a building slashing your keyblades at enemies

[@rosariocrimson]

And just having two keyblades in general without having a real count down for when you have to go back to having just one.

[@iancomtois9832]

And if you work the system right, you can keep them in Mission Mode. They're not so effective when every Neoshadow isn't scripted to die in one hit, though. Roxas still looks utterly awesome using them.

[@AzureMoebius22]

Ian Comtois After Roxas quits the Organization, he goes on a Heartless-killing rampage in blind fury while trying to believe he is who he is and not just a piece of someone. This fury and belief made him virtually unstoppable until Riku stepped in

[@iancomtois9832]

@@AzureMoebius22 Except in the Holo-Missions. I love the raw emotion in that section of the game as much as the next fan, but I was hoping to enjoy using that form in gameplay, and it's only mediocre outside that one scripted sequence.

[@ramendiety5873]

Me: "This is a great mix!" *hears Roxas' theme* Me: "wAiT iM nOt ReAdy FoR tHe FeElS"

[@iancomtois9832]

Roxas: "No one would miss me." All the fans: "That's not true--! ...I would."

[@spindash64]

@@iancomtois9832 Meanwhile, Sora after learning Roxas’ backstory: MY BABY BOOOOOOY “Riku: Sora, NO!” SORA, YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!

[@spindash64]

Two Keys to the Kingdom: one shaped by memories of a heart of the purest light. One steeped in memories of one who fell to the blackest abyss. Once, these blades were used to forge a stairway to the heavens. Now, they would be used to destroy it

[@danils98]

We don't accept resignations.

[@astraldirectrix]

I’ve got nothing to say to you.

[@garyconstanza3120]

"Then let's keep this short and sweet."

[@thexreaper6930]

Why was there not a cutscene of this battle in the remix collection?

[@RayofVibez]

"I will leave you with nothing!"

[@thekawaiikat7739]

"Ingrate!"

[@KingdomHeartsBrawler]

I know this played during the fight with Saïx, but I've always seen this as Roxas rampaging his way back towards the Castle after swearing to avenge Xion's death. Honestly, I feel that, out of all of the heroes, Roxas's beef with Xehanort was the most personal and intense.

[@crimsoncapricorn188]

Between aqua, roxas, and kairi, xenanort had a solid ass beatin coming

[@lordlumpus75]

@@crimsoncapricorn188 too bad none of them ever actually got to settle their beef with him 😅

[@roxasiii9320]

I teared up at the Roxas part of this for me this song as always been inherently Roxas escape theme. To escape the abyss of darkness that was the organization and there plots

[@Retr-xg6ev]

You guys are gods, Critical Drive is like one of the best battle theme of the kingdom hearts series

[@julianfishman2888]

The moment I heard this in KH Timeline I knew that the Saïx fight world be awesome and emotional

[@shinyseeker6442]

3:17 To 3:30 Is That The 13th Struggle That's Awesome

[@slickzilla12]

I can almost hear Riku shouting.

[@emil-inze6040]

Which minutes time is the Riku's theme??

[@yeetmaster-eb1xq]

*raaah*

[@pingaspearce9403]

*is that all you got?*

[@iancomtois9832]

*SLOPPY!*

[@AncientArk]

YOURE GONNA LOSE IT ALL!!!!!!

[@danils98]

I think this track only plays in battle versus Saïx. Roxas must've felt so liberated when he beat the person who symbolized the chains that stopped him.

[@slateoffate9812]

Dani López Sanmartín He was finally UNCHAINED, until his clash with Riku at least.

[@hibryd1]

Critical Drive is the battle theme of The World That Never Was!

[@danils98]

HOW COULD I MISS THAT

[@realjoemavro]

If you ever get the chance, read the 358 Days manga. It has a bit of a problem with tone, but the fight between Saix and Roxas is handled pretty well.

[@spindash64]

It also plays when you return to TWTNW as you cut thru Neo Shadows like they’re made of hot wax

[@emangillespie]

3:19 Im so FLATTERED!!!!

[@sebafletch9867]

But your to late TWO!?

[@iancomtois9832]

@@sebafletch9867 Tfw this is Axel's first time witnessing Roxas' true power

[@sebafletch9867]

R/woosh

[@iancomtois9832]

@@sebafletch9867 Nothing gets past me when it comes to Kingdom Hearts. Whether I choose to acknowledge it is another matter.

[@Dark_Tale_1985]

2:04 The drop is incredible. Wish there was more in it. It just blends together so freaking well.

[@zechariahkeith2300]

I need to replay this now. Time to boot up my old Ds.

[@shinyseeker6442]

I never played 358/2 but I still love the Story

[@OrangeLapiz]

"I will leave you with nothing!" (Side Note: It's criminal of Square to not include anything to do with Roxas overpowering Saix to leave the castle in the Remix.)

[@EqualityEarth]

Orange Lapiz at least Everglow fixes that in his timeline episode “a place to belong.” Perfection of a fight, using the Roxas section of this track as a positive feedback loop for comboing Saix, and a decisive, humiliating finisher as Final Limit’s (KH2 Final Form mod) Attack combo.

[@spindash64]

At least they let us watch him do it again in 3

[@Taios87entertainment]

Saix: You should've bought a T-SHIRT ROXAS!! -NicoB

[@natanaelgustafsson8188]

i love your version like a vector to the heavens and beyond.

[@donjuan2726]

Me encanta este tema para entrenar !!!!

[@Hyskaris]

IT'S LIKE IT'S STRAIGHT OUTTA FINAL FANTASY, HOLY CRAP

[@Necrotaku999]

aah yes, when kingdom hearts lore made sense

[@brannycedeno6823]

Thought nobody else felt the same as me.

[@Necrotaku999]

@@brannycedeno6823 lots of people aint emotionally invested enough to eat the shit kh lore is now

[@brannycedeno6823]

I'm amazed at how this is also influenced by Mystic Moon, which encomprisses the dangerous feel of peril lurking across the castle while Roxas handles his keyblade resolved to leave and let no one stop him. It's far from a little inconsequential mission. It's a pivotal point for Roxas's story.

[@spartanwar1185]

Man i sure do love an orchestra piece that has a nice beat to it Never thought just how much i would til Project Destati showed me how much

[@nateatavares4268]

so many flashbacks to 358/2 days, where I struggled against the King of the Sky in Neverland...

[@iancomtois9832]

For me it's chasing yet another Emerald Serenade

[@iancomtois9832]

Xigbar makes short work of him in Mission Mode

[@ELJadeFox]

Different name same fate.

[@iancomtois9832]

"But if it's your fate, then every step forward is a step closer to home."

[@Dark_Tale_1985]

1:50-2:20 Freaking love this part. In the future, could we get a full mix that is just a big combination of these two songs just like this. Or some kind of extended version of this?

[@ArtizKlutz]

Two words.. That INTRO!

[@spindash64]

Imagine if the game had Reaction Commands, and final fight played out as an echo of Xemnas Phase 1

[@iancomtois9832]

Break Through Finish

[@ansemthetrueseekerofdarkne2730]

That opening just never fucking gets old.

[@Dark_Tale_1985]

Darn, out of all the ones to forget to upload, you forgot 17. Why couldn't you have forgotten 14? We could have made so many Xions memes out of it. T-T

[@nataliec6780]

1:29 *Xigbar's voice:* Roxas!

[@BCSpikeFM]

Perfect

[@AzureMoebius22]

This doesn't sound like the Critical Drive theme. It sounds more like if you faced off against the ruler of Kingdom Hearts itself

[@burakyesiloglu5218]

Clearly nailded

[@MichaelBusbyFluttershy70]

I like it very cool

[@lightkairi07]

wow epic ^.^

[@Offbeatcat]

Anger and hate are supreme...

[@joshuaokoro-sokoh2993]

Did anyone pick up a Powerpuff Girls theme music vibe from this track?

[@dukinukireal]

Audio recording of me grinding WTNW in critical mode

[@Dragonpit]

Found Number 17! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJStc6V7qtCBj8k It's not on the main Destati channel, but it is Destati's mix.

[@danizar13]

Hey, u forgot number 17 :(

[@ColdTruthOfLife]

0:40 1:58

[@aetheus5264]

The theme around 1:33 seemed familiar or is it just me?

[@0174710]

Tommy Thai it's called the other promise. It was played during Sora's fight with Roxas.

[@aetheus5264]

Matthew Jones thanks

[@nathanluke8551]

And the cut scene where axel confronts xion

[@Abelatox]

What happened to n°17?

[@slateoffate9812]

A b e l a t o x Maybe they forgot to include that number in the album and skipped to 18?

[@danils98]

Nope, the 17 track is Cavern of Remembrance

[@serrydartman5678]

They forgot to add Cavern of Remembrance, ironic.

[@AlexxxMYLSince2013]

Serrydartman yeah its weird since is almost the main theme of 358/2 days which seems to be the Big focus in this album

[@Abelatox]

Maybe they didn't remember

[@Retr-xg6ev]

I've just realised but you guys missed the 17th track ^^'

[@angelzavala5637]

2:30

[@astraldirectrix]

OH CRAPBASKETS NO. 17 WHERE?

[@xombiekilla]

3 people couldn't beat Siax.

[@kingdommheartss4334]

Can i buy ur playlist somewhere ?

[@skchabauzinha7118]

Kingdomm Heartss There's a link in the description

[@richer7114]

Did you took down 17th song? I saw it but I skipped.

[@emil-inze6040]

Has done :3 Check it out

[@tylermiller7183]

@1:30 What if during Kingdom Hearts 3 when Lea and Saix are fighting each other, Lea is about to lose to Saix and then all of a sudden... Lea: I'm Sorry...Everyone Saix: Sorry it has to be this way...Lea (Something interrupts Saix's final blow) Roxas: Hands off my Best Friend Lea: ROXAS Saix: How... How is this possible Roxas: Because unlike you, I never leave my friends.

[@Luchux177]

Looool, almost the same thing happened. You saw the leaks?

[@tylermiller7183]

Luchux nope, i came up with this before i even knew stuff for the game was being leaked