Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance - #19 - Valley of Stupid

[@superbun277]

17:53 - Thumbs up to Organisation XIII for making their castle wheelchair accessible though!

[@thegustbag]

So not only is this Time Travel silliness, but... pre-planned Time Travel silliness on the part of Xehanort? Okay then. Kingdom Hearts, you never cease to amaze!

[@mulduls]

It never ceases to amaze with sweet stupidness and convoluted-ness.

[@roy4173]

I think nomura just keeps a stash of hallucinogens and whenever it's time to write for kingdom hearts...

[@FeyDarkwood]

The Valley of Stupid is vast and dark, but at least it still contains some decent emotional moments. That sequence with Sora in first person really had a dream-like quality to it.

[@CalmMadness42]

18:01 My goodness Carrie. That was a beautifully timed edit.

[@JM-nothing-more]

"let's hit these plot points in order" yes, please

[@AllieYea]

Sometimes I get bummed out thinking about how DDD's story could've been a lot stronger if the boys weren't up against actual factual Xehanort and his bananas machinations and more fighting against his/Org13's lingering influence in their hearts.

[@TalonSky]

That lingering memory of him could have revived him, too, much how it did for Maleficent.

[@samuelturner6076]

18:03 👌Look guys, I think we should just come for the Carrie puns and wordplay at this point. I mean let’s plays are great and all but those puns tho.

[@Duiker36]

Carrie's a huge part of my enjoyment of this channel, really.

[@theophrastusbombastus8019]

Thanks for the run in the party Dan, you gave me a refreshing experience during finals, much appreciated.

[@Sientir]

"Timestorm into the wall" sums this game up well, haha!

[@startracings]

I believe the phrase most people would use here is that this is where KH "jumps the shark" which is a sentiment I mostly agree with, but choose to overlook, because I too love KH at its best and at its silliest. The thing that baffles me is that this actually... lines up?? Like, sure it's all plot grabs to line up KH3, but none of them are ones that are retconned. They do actually match up to things that happened in the series at the beginning. While the story may not always be intelligible, it is at least tracable, and can give some interesting implications. Also heck yes I've never actually watched the end of 3D, I am so very excited for this.

[@Duiker36]

Jumping the shark is something pretty specific, actually. It's when you're deliberately increasing spectacle in order to stay relevant. I don't know enough about the KH fandom to say that there was ever a time when it felt like it was becoming irrelevant, uninteresting, or unpopular, though, so I don't know.

[@Landis963]

@@Duiker36 Futhermore, I don't believe there was ever a time when the spectacle was not deliberately increased, for little to no reason at all.

[@Mikesean45]

I really admire the trippy dreamy sequences in this last stretch of the game. That said, "Xehanort literally planned every. single. thing. in the series" was not as good a twist as the writers probably hoped. It just feels so implausible, even for Kingdom Hearts.

[@superbun277]

Mikesean45 the whole “the bad guy planned everything that ever happened to you” twist is very hard to pull off successfully imo, unless you very carefully lay the groundwork for it from the beginning, more often than not it comes off feeling contrived.

[@historian252]

He didn't plan everything but he planned around it.

[@dezopenguin9649]

I must say, there's something exquisitely appropriate about ending an episode called "Valley of Stupid" with an attack that flings Riku into a wall. Well-played, sir!

[@rundinj]

I appreciate my screen time as a bear who flips tables at people, and floors when there is a lack of tables. I kinda wanna look up what the combo moves are but I am also hoping that Dan just does a video at the end of all the team ups with everyone . . . . Its nice to hear our names.

[@superfiver]

I know my flying ways may be questionable, but glad you could see my flyby shootin ways! :D

[@Ninjinhah]

14:55 Here's something a BUNCH of people complained about in KH3 and simply didn't know the option was there: In KH3, the L2 button can be used to select which ability/transformation/finisher/grandmagic you want to activate with Triangle. Make sure you remember this, @Dan, it will make your gameplay a lot more enjoyable (and strategic/deep... and less spammy)

[@callowguru2611]

Don't worry, I've got his back. 😁

[@Ninjinhah]

I can't believe people subtracted points on their review scores due to "not being able to select the action", when the feature was there! I face-palmed so hard, so many times!

[@DemoniacDeath]

I'm actually surprised there was no mention of "bee" rank after Sora's dive

[@pyrosianheir]

It's pretty un-Bee-lievable that there was such an oversight. The pun game is usually strong on this channel. XD

[@that1geekychick]

Poor Carrie. I'm sure that stings.

[@smallpoly10]

26:57 Snipey McSniperman: "Here's some time travel mumbo jumbo." Sora: "That's ridiculous" You said it Sora, but it's canon now.

[@zmanjace1364]

"They call me Mr Bombastus, say me fantastus..."

[@Blaze-mt4ij]

man I have watched every one of these kingdom hearts episodes and this is the first time I have looked at the view count, I feel like it should be more considering how great you guys make this.

[@FinlayMirkwood]

Carrie's editing notes seriously add so much to these videos! Keep being amazing you two!

[@CalmMadness42]

This plot is becoming so ridiculous that shooting black-robed people from your crossbow seems almost sensible...

[@Soumein]

Laser crossbows, even.

[@unversedhero6028]

His power is control of space (asin his teleportation means something), he literally teleported them to those spots.

[@cmessing13]

If you guys (and/or Dan Jones; I vaguely recall him talking about it at some point) do a Nuzlocke, you need to bring forward this practice of naming the Pokemon after viewers. Because it really does add a lot to the investment in the "characters."

[@justember794]

I don't know which is next, but I look forward to seeing how you tackle khux/back cover. Mostly because I have no idea how to tackle that narratively and editing-wise.

[@callowguru2611]

Love the Sora/Riku Pride Keyblade

[@qwerty77772]

33:07 KH3 does a better job of explaining how Xehanort is doing this. Would've still preferred if there was NO ridiculous time travel, but the damage is done. KHX though... At least Maleficent had more to do.

[@timothymclean]

Was _Meet the Robinsons_ released when this game was in production? Seems like "Xehanort stole the Robinsons' time machine" would be a more elegant way to organize an army of Xehanorts...

[@Mikesean45]

@@timothymclean I don't think Disney likes to acknowledge their movies around that time. Home on the Range, Chicken Little, and Meet the Robinsons was their low point in the post-Renaissance era.

[@DragonxFlutter]

So let me get this straight: Kingdom Hearts started off as a campy but still fun one-off game that spun wildly into a Gordian Knot of equal parts interesting ideas, great executions, mindboggling ideas, and bad executions. All because Nomura never even considered planning things out in advance. THIS IS WHY YOU KEEP A SERIES BIBLE, PEOPLE!

[@GeminiTasiri]

I think you should give this game's Superboss (I think it only has one?) a shot. The boss is pretty easy to encounter (it's in Traverse Town after you beat the story and I think either character has access to it) and it's a neat reference you as an Disney / Animation guy might enjoy

[@jonathanfaber3291]

Even though it's a flat plane because of console limitations the flooring in the Castle That Never Was must be an awful tripping hazard I do like that they at least take the time to retconn xehanort master of plotting properly, rather than just hand waving it *glares at Ventus and the other loser*

[@andrew_ray]

Well, that reality shift worked a lot better with a touch screen.

[@Gilbot9000]

This whole stage is like if the final Dungeon of Mega Man Legends and the Paradiso chapters of Bayonetta 1 had a baby

[@Artista_Frustrado]

-the Divewing is my second favorite Keyblade, I love that it just looks like a sword -oh ok I thought the combined Keyblade attack showed up way earlier, but I didn't want to spoil it -if I had to rank it so far, KH2:FM & BBS have the most fun combat (BBS has the most fun magic) but Dream Drop has the most fun traversal -the Secret Boss here is not as fun of a fight but is at least a fun reference to see -the Secret bosses in BBS aren't that good, yeah & the finalest one is mainly an "OHHH IS THAT GUY!!" & it gives you the Bragging Rights Keyblade -yeah, Nomura isn't really good at pacing the KH stories so by the last world he pretty much goes "oh heck I was supposed to set up the finale!!" & then throws everything & the kitchen sink for a glorious display of dumb

[@timothymclean]

8:10: And the "special-ness" of each Dream Eater is blunted by the fact that they take the place of Gonald and Doofy instead of being your main method for dealing with bad guys, as in Pokémon. 17:05: Also that. 26:55: Sora, your weapon is a mutant key powered by friendship. You have no room to criticize. 33:55: I'm just surprised Nomura had to introduce so many _new_ absurd plot devices to get everyone where he needed them instead of just using the ones he already had. Or at least introducing new absurd plot devices from Disney movies, like they did with digitalization in KH2. (Was _Meet the Robinsons_ out when this game was in production? Seems like a much more straightforward way to introduce time machines.) 2:10: ...On one hand, that's cool. On the other hand, I thought that was my Dream Eater's thing... 12:25; You can brag about your leet Kingdom Hearts skills? Or at least your patience/stubbornness. 25:40: If you can announce your presence and still assassinate them, you're a darn great sniper! ...Braig is not that. 30:20: Wait, if Past!Kairi zwooshed into Present!Sora, why was she in Past!Sora's Heart? I mean, he was Present!Sora at the time and the other would be Future!Sora, but...um...time paradoxes are a pain.

[@Duiker36]

Maybe hearts are timeless.

[@Felipe-hl6nh]

For me Nomura has an idea he thinks is cool and just tries to warp the whole story to fit his not so sound idea Like the time he watched LesMis and tried to scrap FF XV and remake it as a musical mid development Who knows what his games would be if he didn't have time and money constraints

[@AllieYea]

I think a lot of Nomura's horrible no good very bad plots come from him trying to shove his favorite movies into his video games. Like, I dont think it's a coincidence that a game about "dropping" deeper into one's dreams as they're sleeping came two years after Inception was released.

[@coastersplus]

@@AllieYea Oh no. Somebody stop Nomura from watching Avengers: Endgame before we get _another_ time travel Kingdom Hearts.

[@rmsgrey]

Yeah, someone needs to introduce Nomura to the dictum about no line being worth a scene, and no scene being worth a movie (or a video-game equivalent). Between forcing in cool ideas that don't really fit, and introducing plot twists and big reveals purely for the sake of their shock value, he could really do with a good editor - or learning how to save an idea for later...

[@Artista_Frustrado]

well, Two BluRay discs worth of Midgard might be a sign of what Pure Nomura is like

[@Mikesean45]

Idk, I would certainly not complain about a Les Mis scale musical Final Fantasy game.

[@FrozenFyre52]

I will never get tired of watching you pet/poke all these adorable creatures.

[@TalonSky]

The dream eaters definitely feel more special because you've named them after us, the fans. I've found myself more than once cheering them on by name.

[@deezvidz218]

I mean I love the story of kingdom hearts! Like this FINALLY explains who the guy in the brown robe is! I honestly think it makes perfect sense

[@balthierthecat3890]

I love Carrie's edits

[@raupy_prince]

If it's not too late for suggestions: if you wanna delve into UX the phone game while preparing for Back Cover, damo279's channel has a pretty well structured 50 minute video summary about what happens over there. Keeps putting out smaller updates for the newer updates as well, I think. Just a head's up, it doesnt get any less absurd :p

[@brockmckelvey7327]

This level always gave me such trouble when I played. Most of my defeats in-game came from the defense/laser turrets.

[@WhisperingNostrils]

Dan, I hope you do fight the secret boss in this game. Even if you don’t beat it (which is understandable because it’s pretty challenging), who the boss actually is is a pretty great piece of Disney trivia in and of itself. So it’s worth at least a look.

[@jpohagan]

I see what you mean about the spirits Dan. Pokemon is alright, but like you said, most just end up in the box. But play a Nuzlocke run, where you only get so many Pokemon, and you give them all nicknames, makes it way more interesting. I'll admit that I was never particularly interested in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, but I like watching you play games (and Carrie's silly edits!), so I've stuck it out, just to see what you get up to. But naming your Dream Eater friends after us definitely made this particular game in the series so much more entertaining. Even if the story still doesn't make any sense. At all.

[@starlight_circuitry]

So many Soras....this really is peak Kingdom Hearts dumb. I love it!

[@rmsgrey]

KH3: "Hold my beer"

[@christophermauro-barias7451]

this is when it went harry potter when old man seperated himself into 13 pieces

[@Eques_Umbra]

So, just for clarification, are they implying that Xehanort/Ansem traveled to the past multiple times, tweaking his plan as he goes, or was it just a single trip back in time?

[@aliyahshoulders60]

No way, Chains of Memories was awesome. By playing that game I got better at Math and Blackjack. A Casinos has banned me for life because I kept winning. I got skills with numbers yo!

[@Sanctferum3]

Just a reminder: There's a secret ending that can only be unlocked by giving specific answers in the post-final-boss interactive cutscenes. Third answer, second answer, second answer.

[@dominicmurphy8986]

That set of Sora cutscenes is probably the nadir of story comprehensibility in the series. I've watched those cutscenes at least 6 times and despite knowing everything that comes from it I find it barely comprehensible. It it explains too much in an obsequious manner and unintentionally distracts from the crucial mechanics of the plot device.

[@bookfan1239]

Oh my gosh, I hope you don’t remember the biggest plot twists of the game beforehand. I really want to see your reactions to the dumbness. XD

[@ernestotorelli1209]

Time is convoluted in Disneyland

[@Mikesean45]

Dan, you should probably give the bonus boss of this game a try! They threw a bone to fans of more obscure Disney stuff!

[@perro692]

Hell yeah, i love me some dumb time travel shit like this

[@spiller194]

Kingdom Hearts combat is X-cellent ;)

[@spiller194]

Also, at this point the plot is now a JRPG plot, but convoluted and stupid xD

[@mulduls]

Hint: In this game, ALWAYS make sure Sora is ahead of Riku story-wise. You get a story that makes a LOT more sense if you can do that.

[@pyrosianheir]

Yay!! We're to my favorite Reality Shift! This one is so simple, but has SUCH a big effect in terms of the damage it does. Plus it looks SO DANG COOL! Edit: It's not stupid... it makes sense, so long as you always operate under the assumption that the more recent a revelation is, the more validity it has over past ones... As for the time travel thing - There's nothing that explicitly makes it stupid here. Nomura set clear rules, that play nice with the lore as established to fit the way it needed to be. Calling it dumb, just because of it's a bit out there? Frustrating....

[@GeminiTasiri]

It's very unorthodox compared to how time travel works in other stories, and it took me a loooong while to digest it, but I think it's actually a pretty cool concept.

[@missedthebandwagon976]

"That's ridiculous!" "It sure is. It's too perfect. Who'd ever believe it? Which is why you idiots never saw it coming." You gotta admit...That's pretty funny. Kingdom Hearts is under no delusion that this is reasonable. They're just gutsy enough to say "Betcha didn't see this illogical twist coming, did ya?!"

[@peggyliepmann5248]

If a Kingdom Hearts game's story doesn't make you taste pennies just a little, is it really a Kingdom Hearts game?

[@mgormley7530]

you're in the endgame now, where things go from the enjoyable kind of silly to just kind of...dumb. I'm curious, are you just going to watch Back Cover, or are you going to find some way to tie in KHChi and KHUX as well? (For those of you who are unaware Back Cover is only part of a story. Kingdom Hearts Chi was a browser game in Japan that covered the first keyblade war, Back Cover is what was happening behind the scenes in that game. KHchi is never made it outside of Japan and is no longer available as far as I'm aware and the closest we have is Kingdom Hearts Union Cross [KHUX]. KHUX is a squeal of sorts, set after the war when the new people in charge [some of whom are characters we recognize] were rebuilding the worlds after they had been destroyed. They figured they needed to erase everyone's memories of the war so they could move on so KHUX is just KHchi with all the war parts cut out. it is still updating it's story and has only just started to get it's own story beyond what was in Chi. KHchi, Back Cover, and KHUX are all part of the same story and good luck fully understanding one without the other 2. Is it all important for 3? well only if you want to understand the secret reports, Maleficent's motivations, what a few returning bad guys are talking about when you beat them, fan theories about two nameless characters, and that one thing at the end. Well, two if you count that thing with the credits. But the main story is understandable without it! thanks for making this easy for us Nomura)

[@yakurbe7039]

Wat? I mean normally I have more to say about how little sense this series makes. But I can't really think of anything more to say.

[@liamwhite3522]

INCEPTION

[@MaraK_dialmformara]

so we know this is an anime because there’s a clip show episode, right? (The first-person view is really confusing....) I don’t know that this is dumb so much as misplanned. It’s sort of retconned itself ass-backward into “the villain makes the rules.” I think if you want to do “the villain makes the rules” well, you have to build it in from the beginning. This is still the gayest game ever though, and I love it. The combined keyblade Reality Shift is a thing of beauty, and even Young!Narrator!Ansem is weirdly earnest.

[@dimwarlock]

I love the passive aggresive "uh-huh" from Dan in those explanations... Listen, as soon as someone mentions time travel, alternate dimensions or fate (or any higher power with "plans"), I stop expecting anything from a story anyway because you can just say anything to justify bad narrative, so I'm fine with whatever BS they're about to throw me.

[@Ninjinhah]

11:50 The secret boss here is completely unrelated to the plot whatsoever. The BbS secret bosses are pretty stylish and crazy, but they DO require endgame levels/stats/gear and can pretty frustratingly hard... Maybe we could just link someone else's video of those battles for people who are interested?

[@fisherdotogg]

KH1 VR? Hello?

[@phyrofox1641]

I'm spe-e-e-e-ecial

[@zactompkins5785]

Oh hey, the Gayblade™

[@Ninjinhah]

Also, this Reality Shift is different from the others due to... Spoilers. Well, we'll learn why this world is different pretty soon. But the point is, this Reality Shift attack is kinda relevant to the lore.

[@liamwhite3522]

The Gayblade™

[@MaraK_dialmformara]

Liam White seriously though, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. My world is vastly improved by the knowledge that video games are allowed to be this gay.

[@Shadeius]

@@liamwhite3522 Which some prefer to call Keyblade.

[@the11382]

Here is my guess: this is an attempt to reforge the X-blade again, an unintended one or an intentional one. Either the X-blade is forged through the power of friendship or the X-blade is forged because Xehanort.

[@MaraK_dialmformara]

@@the11382 holy shit

[@reaperman111]

personally i think other games are dumber, the datascape one is a lot worse than ddd...just my onion tho

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

I don't know if anyone can help me but here goes (since this community seems nice): *I'm hoping to make a YT channel of let's plays like this and stuff so...* is there anyone who knows computers and consoles and how to make videos super well, who would be able and willing to answer many many many of my dumb questions? hahaha Thanks! Please note: I'm not on any social media as such so... um... don't know how this will work but, I thought I'd ask wherever and however I could, you know? Sorry! :D

[@Ninjinhah]

I'm kinda in the same boat, so I'm just adding a comment as a WARD :p

[@samuelturner6076]

I know that to record footage from consoles capture cards work well, your also probably going to want to edit the footage you record so you’ll need editing software (I think sony vegas is used by a few lpers, idk how much if anything it costs). I’ve heard consistency is key for growing an audience and sharing what you make with others and hopefully encouraging them to do the same may help. I also know that sadly the KZbin algorithm favours shorter aprox 20 mins videos, though don’t let that stop making the content you want to make, it’s not about the quantity of your audience but the quality. If you want to record audio I’ve heard snowball’s are good and cheap. Idk much more but the Internet will probably give you some good guides.

[@Soumein]

I started let's playing DS3 because of PlayFrame, that they can just play a game and have fun, not being like the big youTubers screaming and spasming for retention. The fact that a normal person having fun sharing what they enjoy is enough for me to watch, means I can do it, too! A year and a half later, I'm only 1/3 into the game; the biggest problem I have is finding time when I won't be bothered during recordings. I actually had a few people say they were enjoying it, too, but the slow, inconsistent upload rate, has left me with 0 views for several videos. So take what Samuel said to heart. Be consistent. An actual tip I can provide is to record your microphone audio separately; this will allow you to move your voice around cuts, or if a dragon roars as you're explaining your thought process. A lot of the screen capture software I've tried has microphone recording on by default, and once it turned itself back on during a software update. It will also allow you to use Noise reduction, to improve your audio quality. On that note, look into a decent microphone, and most probably a pop-filter. I don't have one, and my voice audio has clicks at the end of most sentences. It's kind of disgusting when you pay attention to it. I watched a video by Lockstin & Gnoggin that stated one of the biggest factors to an audience is audio. If it's grainy or tinny, people tend to click away. This is partially why bigger channels are loud and clear right at the start, to hook the viewer with their energy, so don't be a bland shyguy like me and mumble. As far as software, Audacity is free for editing audio. so you may as well get that. I also use Hitfilm Express, which is free, but it can be a bit slow and with fewer features compared to the premium and subscription based stuff like Adobe AfterEffects. I know it's corny, and cliché, but seriously: just have fun doing it. I may get no views, but playing and sharing Dark Souls is always fun, when I get the time. I figure if I'm not having fun, it'll spread to the audience. (I hate writing stuff like this, because it always sound like I'm begging for views, haha). But if you want help, I'll offer what microscopic experience I have. Getting started on KZbin is near impossible, but I wish you good luck sharing what you enjoy.

[@samuelturner6076]

Soumein This. Basically nailed it, recording audio separately and good audio are key factors. I’ve also heard of Audacity so basically overall follow this advice.