Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep - #4 - This Is Fun!

[@AllieYea]

Mirage Arena was the multiplayer option back when the game was on the PSP. It got ported pretty much in tact to the console and is a really, really fun place to level up. It also has some rad secret bosses.

[@jasperism27]

They even toned down the HP a bit so they are much more fun solo now!

[@KeybladeMasterAndy]

They just took out the actual multiplayer part. Which makes sense, because they otherwise need to pay for servers whereas the PSP version was ad hoc.

[@roy4173]

With a pretty intimidating buildup to that attack maleficent does, it's kinda comical that following the 5 second stun, she just walks over to you and whacks you on the head with her staff. I honestly expected something that would drain half your life or something.

[@timothymclean]

All of her good spells take too long to cast. If she tried to do some big, cool, FF7-style attack, Ventus would disrupt her casting before the comet even hit the galaxy.

[@DarthSears]

She's yet to become a truly powerful Sorceress. Ventus came way too early for Maleficent to have learned a lot of her more iconic tricks even from the movie. That's my explanation and it makes sense to me.

[@DezandFoxPlay]

Dan: "That looks Maleficent-y" Me: "You mean it has that...Malefi-scent?"

[@theophrastusbombastus8019]

Dan: "It's a bigger castle than I thought" me: "Do you think she pays the Melefi-rent?"

[@samuelturner6076]

Dan: “Ow, Ow again” Me: “Guess that’ll leave ... a Malefi-dent”

[@kamikaze5528]

That's how Riku learnt to smell darkness, then?

[@Ninjinhah]

Another tip for D-Links After the battle is over, you can cancel the D-Link instead of just waiting for the gauge to run out. With at that, you'll have your full gauge a lot sooner!

[@lucianodebenedictis6014]

Maleficent just smacking Ventus in the face haha

[@perro692]

"Snow white is maxed out" this is a good video game

[@platypusfox73]

25:28-22:40 Dan: Hmmm wonder what those two are up to. Xehanort: It's settled then when the others get here half of us will go to Taco Bell and other to Del Taco. Did you find out what Eraqus wanted. Braig: As if. The fool wanted to go to Burger King. Xehanort: Oh for the love of.. does he not really realize he just screwed everything up. Also Fun fact Laguna of FF8 fame was originally going to run the mirage arena but never made it into the final game.

[@Overhazard]

But...Burger King has tacos too!

[@soniatorres2477]

😂😂😂...I can't stop laughing😂😂😂😂😂...😂😂😂

[@shadeknight6537]

You know Dan isn't used to visiting new worlds in KH because he hasn't shared a single new Disney trivia yet.

[@bwminich]

The fact that the D-Link portraits change as they level up is a NICE touch.

[@dragoniraflameblade]

"Never seen anyone so beautiful!?" Boy, you've met 2 other Disney princesses!

[@datenegassie]

Don't forget the Disney trivia, Dan! We *need* it!

[@rundinj]

Refresh, new ep? No, Damn. Refresh, new ep? No, Damn. Refresh, new ep? Yessssssss.

[@bwminich]

It's particularly weird that they never went to the place Malificent came from until now. She's been involved for so long, and yet it's only now we've seen her world and her backstory.

[@bwminich]

The idea that Aurora is sleeping because Maleficent stole her heart is so Kingdom Hearts in a way that can work with it's story, too, that's actually really good writing there.

[@qwerty77772]

19:29 Exit stage left, Aurora's voice. She'll be snoozing throughout the rest of the game!

[@Adam-cq2yo]

Mirage Arena is pretty much Olympus Coliseum. It *was* multiplayer back on the PSP, but when it came to the PS3/PS4, it lost its multiplayer. (Would explain why it lets you recolour your armour.) IMPORTANT NOTE: If you want all of the Xehanort letters, you'll need to do a few specific fights in Mirage Arena with specific characters. So I'd recommend having a look at the wiki to find out more.

[@timothymclean]

Xehanort letters? Like what, X and N?

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

@@timothymclean 🍅

[@samuelturner6076]

Timothy McLean Remind me to call you out for the first part of this joke, you’ll probably know when.

[@Overhazard]

So there's no Olympus Coliseum in this game? After it's appeared in every previous Kingdom Hearts game without exception?

[@hrrrpenny8681]

@@timothymclean, Just become a Nobody, you get one for free.

[@rmsgrey]

Small correction: while KH2's Coliseum didn't give you experience, the Coliseum in KH1 did, and was an excellent option for risk-free grinding since dying only booted you out of the tournament, rather than costing you everything since your last save. The Coliseum games in Days also gave experience, but they were (parts of) regular missions rather than their own mini-game.

[@RobsteinOne]

Between coaxing Snow White back to a cabin in the woods after they just met and creeping in to stare at Sleeping Beauty while she's, well, sleeping, it's no wonder Ventis always makes a bad first impression.

[@dianagarcia6336]

Your forgetting the world facts Dan

[@mgormley7530]

not sure if you've tried this yet, but if you buy an extra copy of dodge roll and block you can meld them with commands as well

[@Ninjinhah]

@Dan you can create ELEMENTAL rolls, parries, flights, etc! You should definaly buy extra copies of you base movement abilities!

[@oakenshadow6763]

"I can figure this out. I'm smart!- What's this? A warp!" The perfect lining of up that claim with an example as proof is lovely. 15:46

[@muraalia]

I've never played this game, but seems like playing Ventus first is definitely the right choice. If you played Terra first you'd already know what he's up to, and this story is made very engaging by NOT knowing.

[@TheKat12364]

Yes I played Terra first. And honestly had very little motivation to play Ventus. Especially the combat feels so different between them but seeing how Dan leveled up makes me want to continue.

[@Mikesean45]

I love how Maleficent's goons disappear in her green flames.

[@timothymclean]

"You have failed me for the last time!" "This is the first time I've fought anyone!" "And you _lost!_ What use do I have for losers?" _later:_ "Goons, to me! ...Where are all my goons?"

[@dropkickcorpse]

23:10 Maleficent Chancla slapped Ventus like an angry Abuelita.

[@adamhurd1560]

Birth By Sleep is, in my opinion, the best KH game. Not played 3 yet though.

[@Caterfree10]

Mirage Arena used to have multiplayer functionality on PSP, but it was local play only. And then they removed it for the HD remaster and I will always be bitter about that. I never got to play with friends. ;~; But yes BBS is tons of fun and has a lot of base work for future combat systems and it’s amazing. 💜

[@julieheinz9067]

"Cinnamon and sugary, and softly spoken lies/You never know just how to look through other people's eyes..." This is making Terra's story even more interesting.

[@adamspina9164]

You'll need to play through a bit of the arena with Terra to get report 5.

[@Eric-md3mp]

Back on the psp the mirage arena was used for local wireless multiplayer, I'm a little sad that they didn't add online functionality to it

[@brockmckelvey7327]

This was the first game where I noticed when characters faces would just be a picture rather than the full facial model.

[@brockormond4131]

5:20 Sorry Dan but, why are you in awe? This is a Prequel, so it'd make sense to be visiting 'the princesses of heart' worlds... maybe it'll also give more context to their roles in this story too.

[@Burori1]

I love the Enchanted Dominion's theme.

[@rundinj]

Also Magnet is suuuuuper broken in this game, Magnet thunder all you need till you get to reflects for a certain boss fight

[@TamTroll]

Snow white, cinterella, and now Sleeping Beauty. Looks like you're going through the "Princess of heart" worlds.

[@jafortune]

There are some balance issues when it comes to the combat. Some moves just have bad properties, big wind ups, long animations, poor range, without much to gain in return. I think you can really see this disparity between enchanted step and wish circle. It's especially prevalent for bosses. That being said, the systems you use to level up commands are indeed some of the best the series has created.

[@missedthebandwagon976]

I am soooo glad to be back actually playing these games! It's so much fun to watch.

[@darter9000]

21:00 Terra, you cad!

[@MatthiasPendragon]

I'm really glad you spent sone time on the mechanics. They are the most satisfying the series has to offer as far as I'm concerned. Watching this makes me want to go back to this game on Proud mode, as I never really explored the D-Links in depth. Also, just wait till you get to the late-game command forms. They are rad, especially Aqua's.

[@Defiler86]

Wooo! New worlds! Also, woo, Maleficent! So, would be neat to hear more Disney Trivia with all the new worlds we're going to. :3c

[@coastersplus]

3:44 - Really, Ven? Forgetting Aqua that fast? Ugh, you're worse than Sora!

[@RiddleAnim]

For the Finish Commands,the colour of the slate is a hint at what needs to be done in order to unlock them. Each character has a "Natural Colour"; Ven gets cyan,Terra gets brown,and Aqua gets purple,and unlocking these changes based on who you're playing,but makes sense for who you're playing as. For example; Ven's all about speed,so what should you do to exercise that? Red and dark green are elemental,and have a low counter for unlocking them,so experiment with elemental magicks while in combat. Light green,meanwhile,is all about survival; Get some important abilities,then put them to work! Yellow's all about that loot. Orange is about levels and experience. And black's about the passage of time; Kill time,but don't be idle.

[@startracings]

.... Is it just me, or is the voice of the red fairy ( forgot her name;;; ) the same as Maleficent's VA? It's easiest to hear on "After all, we wouldn't want you to get lost."

[@timothymclean]

3:33: I'd ask how Ventus keeps getting mistaken for a criminal, but...well, he's been racking up at least a misdemeanor or two per world so far. To say nothing of the creeper vibes he gives off around pretty girls... 5:05: Which is bizarre when you consider that Maleficent was the Big Bad for the first game, and runner-up for most of the others. 11:40: The barrier wasn't important enough or sufficiently-established for that to be a proper _deus ex machina,_ but it's still weird that the barrier was removed with such ease after spending most of its existence trying to act like it was going to be the next big obstacle Ven would need to overcome. 16:30: Ven's pretty shallow, he hasn't even talked with-oh, wait, you mean the metaphysical thingy, right. ...Wait, if Maleficent took Aurora's heart, why didn't her body and soul turn into a Nobody? Where's Oruxara? 21:00: But that prince guy didn't look like-wait, right, metaphysical. (Well, _I_ still think this joke is funny.) 21:10: You haven't even _tried_ not hurting Ventus!

[@WarKittens28]

A Nobody is only created when a heart is consumed by darkness, not when it leaves their body. Aurora's heart was merely stolen. Thus, no heartless and no nobody.

[@coastersplus]

@@WarKittens28 But if it leaves their body and then enters the body of someone whose heart gets consumed by darkness, it does create a nobody but not a heartless since it returns to its owner completely fine and... okay, I think I'm understanding this whole thing _less._

[@Mikesean45]

Aurora is a Princess of Heart, meaning she has no darkness in her heart. So when she loses her heart a heartless and Nobody are not created, she's just comatose, like Kairi in KH1.

[@callowguru2611]

@@coastersplus no you've got it right

[@Overhazard]

"Hungry Crystal"? That sounds kind of...ominous. Something I learned watching a lot of fiction is that if the villain is simply a crystal, chances are it is ENORMOUSLY powerful. Maleficent seems rather weak here. More like Malefficient. But I'm guessing it's because this is before she started focusing on getting stronger. She's probably used to being the top dog in her own world and will learn more powerful sorcery once she realized some teenage boy defeated her so easily. Default colors for your armor? Now that's not very interesting! Though I'm guessing those default colors were the most popular colors too.

[@dvklaveren]

That arena unversed really reminded me of Xion's Nobody endboss form.

[@paulcasanova1909]

Ah yes the deck building mechanic that actually works amazingly in KH instead of the one we got back in Chain of Memories

[@DreagonHartzly]

I love Ven's theme so much

[@SlackwareNVM]

Dan, it's time for some more disney trivia! Those were really interesting

[@MrAuthor3DS]

26:42 Here's a fun fact: Laguna from Final Fantasy 8 was originally planned to operate the Mirage Arena. However, Nomura only had the time to put him in one PSP game - so it was either this or Dissidia Duodecim. Ultimately, Laguna was put in Dissidia.

[@conthauberger]

Or better yet, I think that castle in the Forbidden Mountains would need some rebuilding and redecorating.

[@phyrofox1641]

Dan, never underestimate your ability to get lost

[@timbates12]

Most minor of minor points, but... I love how the fairies put Maleficent to sleep, instead of just stunning her.

[@raupy_prince]

iirc mirage arena used to be a multiplayer hub of sorts on PSP, but in the PS4 version it's a single player mission mode. there are some really cool optional bosses in there, be sure to come back at some point!

[@TheKat12364]

The seem to pack alot actually in these world and its great. Idk how much I wanted to see these world until we came to them.

[@luminary_weeb]

Did anybody else realize how he forgot to do disney trivia

[@TheKat12364]

Man I need to play this. I dont remember the fight with Maleficent at all

[@utatanepiko7087]

It's so easy to forget that Aurora's 16 haha

[@AskWaffles]

This game is really fun, and all the systems leads to a lot of depth and fun and flashy gameplay. The biggest glaring problems with this game are the unbalanced gameplay which lets you ignore most of the depth the game offers, and some of the worst designed bosses in KH. Definitely though, this game is the best when it comes to satisfying combat when you use one command that you melded over and over to completely wipe a room, and nearly taking 2+ bars of health with shotlocks.

[@jasperism27]

The final mix bosses added to the arena (the two armors for characters who shall not be named) are much better mechanically compared to the two bonus bosses in the international release. The final mix release also fixed the rock exploit with bonus boss 1, and bonus boss 2 had its guaranteed kill removed (although they can still be cheesed by dodging). All changes were kept in the PS3/4 releases.

[@tostupidforname]

My last time playing them is like 8 years ago BUT even if they are poorly designed their attacks are just so cool looking. Especially a certaint post game lingering boy. Rewatching the fight a few days ago made me realize that i subconciously measured bosses against him visually and (idk how to word this) in terms of the combat flow he forces onto you. Tldr: he inspired my inner edge lol

[@NobodyC13]

Yeah, I loved the BBS combat and leveling system once you knew how to rig it in your favor. Then the Osaka team tried to make lightning strike twice in Dream Drop Distance by having it tied with the dream eaters and then everything fell to shit and became my least favorite game because of it.

[@fisherdotogg]

Really hate that this game's entire plot hinges on that Terra has absolutely no sense of right and wrong and good vs evil. Edit: Mirage Arena was indeed the multiplayer mode on PSP, though the actual multiple players thing was cut from rereleases because I guess they didn't want to bother with online. PSP version's was local-only.

[@callowguru2611]

I think it's more that Terra literally doesn't understand the concept of lying, and that he trusts anyone who Eraqus trusts.

[@fisherdotogg]

@@callowguru2611 And then this extends to literally every Disney villain. No matter how obviously evil they are designed to be.

[@IxIJimboIxI]

Will you show us your off-camera progress of the command board as well from time to time?

[@christophermauro-barias7451]

the pace is so much diff compared to other games. and the comabt system is prob the most complex out the whole series

[@oyster2746]

did they imply that ven is a princess of heart?

[@Lukz243]

speaking of sleeping beauty, that reminded me of a documentary about one of the background artist and his life before working on Disney and during Sleeping beauty kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5mbfX13o8-claM PS: this world theme is my favorite - it puts me in a dream-like state every time I hear it

[@jonathanfaber3291]

Why the heck doesn't ven use his armour? I mean there's literally no reason not to use it but it's only used to shield him in interworld travel?

[@mrthefreemanmd]

is he going to meet all the princess' of heart?

[@jasperism27]

The overlaps between characters are surprisingly not bothersome for the first set of worlds - only Ventus needs to deal with the maze. The later worlds are more annoying, with only one or two areas unique for each character.

[@speculativemusings3593]

Is this game finally showing how the other Princesses of Heart were taken? Cause it's always bothered me that they never addressed that in the first game.

[@pyrosianheir]

Listening to Dan gush over this, I.... just wish it didn't punish you if you wanted to spam X. Because you don't do NEAR the damage with it that you do with the other stuff making it substantially harder to fight using it. Instead, it becomes more of a last resort thing for when your commands are cycling back up. Not to mention how broke the commands can be... For someone who knows this stuff much better than me, hit up BloodyBizkitz channel. He did a video about the changes that the combat underwent after the switching of who was working on the game within Square Enix.

[@CamsEyeView]

Bring back Disney Film Facts!

[@Mikesean45]

A shame they got rid of the multiplayer for the 2.5 version. The PSP multiplayer could get intense.

[@gogetta159]

So idk why you and Caddicus got the order of things so wrong. After 2 is 358/2 days then BBS not recoded next... release order is the best order. Also starting with Ventus while possible I feel it gives away a lot of Terra’s campaign but it’s whatever you want just please make sure Aqua is last.

[@qwerty77772]

Coded was released before BBS in Japan and it's ending hints toward this game. The remake, Re:coded, was only really made because they could. We didn't miss that much from the original release, but I do appreciate SE for not leaving the game unplayable in the west.

[@adamspina9164]

The end of Terra's story also contains spoilers about Ven's personal story. I also like that first time viewers get to make their own conclusions on who to believe before seeing how things actually went down with Terra.

[@coastersplus]

The ending to Coded/Re:Coded was only released after BBS, but I think it's better to end watching that with getting hyped for this game and the rest of the games left, instead of having this great game and then sitting through that for the minor connection at the end.

[@autumndidact6148]

I can't wait for you to get to Disney Town and abandon this whole series because it's literally impossible to continue.

[@tostupidforname]

Wait the spell crafting is only in bbs??