MK404 Plays Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance HD | Stream Session 5[END]
7[===NOTE=== Sorry for the slight audio desynch, I was trying out a WaveOut method of being able to listen to the Elgato audio from my computer, but its setup was less than ideal and I might have to double back on this one!]
Recorded on August 24, 2018
Matt's here. So's Ron: http://www.youtube.com/user/MageEdge100
Also featuring the return of The Butterlord: http://www.youtube.com/user/CalMc1234
Terper shows himself too.
Mel's here to get confused as she waits for VC2: http://www.twitch.tv/snakemommelissa
Also I have a Tumblr: http://mageknight404.tumblr.com/
I have a Twitter too: https://twitter.com/mageknight404
===
"You had your perfect little script. But you kinda forgot to write the sequel! Now, let's see what happens!"
Time travel in this universe is weird and I hate it but at least Riku becomes Lord God Supreme Keyblader because he was smart enough to use darkness properly. And that's cool with me.
TIMESTAMPS
- The World That Never Was
- Riku Part 1 - 4:00
- Sora - 33:50
- Riku Part 2 - 1:18:30
- Vs. Ansem, Seeker of Darkness - 1:34:00
- Final Battle - 1:49:49
- Ending - 2:18:55
- Credits - 2:33:07
- Another Guardian of Light - 2:51:10
---
So this was mentioned during the credits and, having now played this game again - now four times through - I realize that I like it better than Birth By Sleep. Granted I have used circumstances that made my enjoyment of the game higher than normal(NG+, access to better Dream Eaters/abilities sooner, etc.), but I feel like that doesn't matter too much compared to the general core of the game itself.
While combat is funky and tethers you to your Spirits to do well, enemies aren't the worst things to fight outside of Critical Mode compared to BBS where many of the enemies had annoying gimmicks that makes fighting them not fun without statuses or crowd control. Bosses are tricky to fight, but they were kinda the same in BBS as well, in hindsight. Flowmotion does wonders for mobility and sense of scope of the game areas. The areas themselves, while the usual post-KH1 filler, actually feel pretty grand to mess around in and explore looking for secrets. Helps that the music for the areas is more enjoyable for me than in BBS.
The biggest point, I feel though, is the dichotomy of Sora and Riku's journey compared to the "friendship struggles" of the Wayfinder Trio, specifically Riku himself as a character. Even back when I first played the game, I was very glad with how they handled the Boy of Dawn. After having had his stint of darkness and being a jerkface in KH1, he's gone out of his way to atone in every single game since, and it finally pays off here. He's constantly reflecting on his past two years and how he wants to help out Sora and his buddies, ultimately allowing him to save the day instead of The Messiah™ when things come at a head, and earning him the title of Keyblade Master. (which itself is really backwards but w/e) Sora's still a numpty and actually regressed in characterization but he's still alright I guess.
I definitely won't deny that I feel like I'm an outlier in calling this game my favorite one in the series now, but hey, I'll take that on the chin.
Here's hoping Kingdom Hearts III comes through in four months! Thanks for watching, everyone!