Kingdom Hearts: Re:Mind - Story Explained

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ย. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 88

  • @LoreDump
    @LoreDump  2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    *DISCLAIMER*
    Thanks for being here! This episode is a reupload, transferring our backlog of Lore Dumps from the Monty Zander youtube channel.

  • @rotciv557
    @rotciv557 2 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    Oh man, I forgot that there was mention of a possible Berserk Lore Dump in this ep.
    I'm still all for that happening.

  • @strawberrymango8655
    @strawberrymango8655 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +16

    iirc, the symbol between Re and mind is a musical notation that means "play this section again" which is very meta for a dlc where you replay a section of the game again.

  • @RatManSteetS
    @RatManSteetS ปีที่แล้ว +21

    To clear up the problem with Mickey stopping time: Mickey did use time magic in DDD, but in III he used Ultima. Xehanort is the one who used time magic against Mickey, that's why he's frozen and Xehanort isn't.

  • @PerpetuallyTired171
    @PerpetuallyTired171 2 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    You know, MoM being the sentient version of light actually makes a bit of sense seeing as there is a sentient version of darkness

    • @marqperigrine873
      @marqperigrine873 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Plus when he says his name to Young Xehanort, light appears, which I think furthers the idea that he is a sentient Light,

    • @jkfbekfh2535
      @jkfbekfh2535 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      yes but it'd be funny if it was goofy

  • @MyKingofdiamonds
    @MyKingofdiamonds 2 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    You guys are the first people to say Mickey is Riku’s boyfriend. Everyone I’ve listened to says Mickey is Riku’s dad

  • @stangerr0267
    @stangerr0267 2 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    I think this is very important piece of in game evidence when it comes to the Yozora fight.
    In the cutscene theater, limit episode all fall under the section "Falsus Rex" which translated is "False King."
    This is important because "Verum Rex" translates to "True King." So that's something important to be aware of.
    The winning and losing cutscenes are also
    "Is any of this for real"
    "...Or not"

  • @MyKingofdiamonds
    @MyKingofdiamonds 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I would like to offer a correction on the Terra/Riku scene. From my understanding, what Terra is saying isn’t that he trained Riku, but that there is nothing he could teach Riku. I’m not positive on the wording, but the strength to get here was about he whole journey to this point and not just making it to the Land of Departure, though I could be wrong

  • @Wiscocrisco
    @Wiscocrisco 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    my theory is that Master Ava is Kairi's grandmother who was telling her a story in KH1

  • @lucariojet
    @lucariojet 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Monty said it during the "Neil gets upset" segment but man did I miss this chaotic energy 😂 Great episode

  • @stitchedcore
    @stitchedcore 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Another thing I love about Marluxia's connection to his former self is his flower motif and powers. Strelitzia's name is another name for birds of paradise, which are flowers. Shook me when I was looking up birds of paradise one day. And if course this on top of his powers being a reference their talks in the field of flowers 🥺

  • @Juli0P12
    @Juli0P12 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Man, the boys were ROWDY in this one lmao

  • @lukasruston8618
    @lukasruston8618 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I posted this comment on the original video but I feel like I should put it here because it clarifies something: everyone seems to be questioning Xehanort's motives to let Light live in balance with Darkness because a sentient Darkness killed most of his friends... two things to say to that; the first being that Xehanort didn't want a world of equal Light and Darkness, he wanted to rid the world of both entirely (which I suppose IS equal Light and Dark but whatever) and the second thing is that what the Darkness says to him in Dark Road is exactly why he doesn't want Light in the world either; the Darkness in Dark Road states that it was created because all of the light from Baldr's friends were casting shadows on his heart... translated to simpler language; the Light in everybody that Baldr was hanging out with was so strong to the point where it was creating stronger darkness within Baldr due to his insecurities. Xehanort knows this is the truth and that's why he decides to get rid of Light as well as Darkness because he knows that a world of nothing but Light would ALWAYS create a world of shadows (aka Darkness) to mirror it, the only way to get rid of Darkness is if Light doesn't exist either.
    All of this is why Xehanort is perfectly fine with destroying all life; the Darkness killing his friends, the thoughts being planted within his head by his mentor that he is a chosen one that will save the world, Xehanort finding out how the Darkness within Baldr was created and finally, the Master of Master's teachings which led him to believe that there was no pure light left in the world and that it all had been tainted by Darkness. At that point, Xehanort believed that the only way to truly purify the world was through the power of the X-Blade and Kingdom Hearts as one can only imagine that those thoughts weighing on your mind for 60-70 years would make your mind less than stable and Xehanort's belief that he could save the world probably lead him to the conclusion that destroying everything was a better outcome than allowing the current world to continue at all.
    Edit: Also, Dark Road confirmed that Vanitas is Darkness that was given form thanks to Xehanort ripping it out of Ven's heart which took a fragment of Ven's heart with it and one of the rules of hearts is that if you have a heart, you have a physical form hence Vanitas has a physical form. The conundrum of the Darkness being in Ven's heart during KH3 at the same time as Vanitas being alive is easily solved when you remember that Vanitas was time travelling and that when he dies in BBS, his form kind of just dissolves into Ven's heart which would've killed him since Ven's heart was about to shatter... if it wasn't for the fact that Ventus' heart took refuge inside of Sora's heart and managed to heal from the battle.

  • @Xehanort10
    @Xehanort10 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    1:18:48 If Kairi had a character beyond "Sora's girlfriend and damsel in distress" Xehanort killing her would have been sad.

  • @dadenelson7570
    @dadenelson7570 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The small chunk of primordial darkness being inside Ventus makes Vanitas' desperation to recombine with Ven make more sense. He's even more incomplete than Ven is as a split being.

  • @PerpetuallyTired171
    @PerpetuallyTired171 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I think the biggest disappointment with Dark Roads undoing the twists from Union X can be summarized with something Monty said at the end of the Union X video "I will never look at Xehanort the same way again". Chaonteil being Xehanort added a lot of intrigue and nuisance to Xehanort that gets undone by Dark Roads, despite Dark Roads trying to flesh out Xehanort.
    After watching the Union X video I rewatched the rest of this series and was so much more invested in Xehanort when I thought that he was Chaonteil

    • @EHRodman3942
      @EHRodman3942 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      But did the ending of Union Cross say Xehanort was the player character then retcon it or did we all assume it was Xehanort and Dark Road cleared up our mistake.

    • @LRVChupathingy
      @LRVChupathingy 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I think it was more of an intentional fake out.

    • @ralfsstuff
      @ralfsstuff 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@EHRodman3942Union X's ending just heavily implied Chonteil being reincarnated as Xehanort without confirming anything. Talking about being reborn and showing Xehanort as a baby right after atleast feels like a very intentional misdirect. We got tricked and jumped to conclusions on our own.

  • @ZdkDzk
    @ZdkDzk 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Versus13 development is a super interesting. Poor management and a trashfire game engine nearly killed the company and put Nomura's personal A-Team in development purgatory for almost 15 years. Horror stories of team memberd being poached to fix 13 and 14 while a skeleton crew spent months struggling to load in assets that would break after a couple of updates. The main reason KH went to handheld in the first place was because he didn't want to make 3 without his original team, but Versus development was so stalled that Square gave him a new team to keep making KH games in the off time. The reason FF7R plays like KH1 and 2 is because it's more or less the same team. Iirc it's also the only game they've released as a team since KH2 in 2006.
    In other word: if Versus13 had come out on time with no issues, KH3 likely would have been a direct followup to KH2, and the entire series probably would have gone a completely different direction.

    • @MontyZander
      @MontyZander 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Just want to say a HUGE thank you from us for the algorithm-boosting comments! It’ll take a while for the new channel to get traction but this gets us off to a great start ❤

    • @LuxuFoo
      @LuxuFoo ปีที่แล้ว +2

      As horrible as that must have been for staff. I'm so incredibly grateful it went the way it did. I absolutely LOVE the KH series as it is now. We probably wouldn't have had bbs or 358/2 which are iconic. Also hot take I'm happy KhuX came to be. Probably my favorite story in the whole franchise.

  • @CrimsoNolf
    @CrimsoNolf ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I will point out when Mickey and Xehanort clash their Ultima and Stopza magics, Mickey uses Ultima, while Xehanort casts Stopza, (dont ask me why Ultima isnt more powerful then Stopza, Norty probably had more MP or Magic Strength then Mickey) but its bizarre that Xehanort freezing Mickey and Riku, giving Frozen Mickey the chance to speak to Phantom Sora, meaning Frozen Mickey had a flash forward of what Sora is trying to do. Also the fact Mickey traded his typical Pearl Magic from Chain and 2 for Ultima in 3 as his Default Magic kinda show his growth in power, HE CANT KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS!!!

  • @KodasGarden
    @KodasGarden ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I think I said this on the video on the main channel before it was reuploaded here, but for anyone watching who is confused why Mickey froze himself, he didn't. After Kairi died and Riku failed to attack Xehanort, Mickey ran up and was casting Ultima which Xehanort countered with Stopza. So Xehanort froze Mickey.

  • @Sumguyinavan_
    @Sumguyinavan_ 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Why would Marluxia be doing Organization 13 things? Because he spent the end of his life finding out what happed to his sister, and he fades not long after finding out it was Ventus and everyone was basically just ok with it. And who is it sent to Castle Oblivion to find Ventus: Lauriam, and Elrena

    • @Sumguyinavan_
      @Sumguyinavan_ 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Also we can't ever have a KH show on Disney+ because that would most definitely drive children to become alcoholics with this insane plot. Its bad enough splattering it across multiple consoles and 15 years. We have time to forget the insanity between each installment. Just look at yourselves what the concentrated chaos is doing to you and your need for adult juices!

    • @Sumguyinavan_
      @Sumguyinavan_ 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      And now I have to rewatch these with the context that Luxu is Xigbar because it changes a LOT.

  • @moonknightproductions
    @moonknightproductions ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The thing I love most about the Ice Cream Trio section in the maze here is that Roxas says “That’s what’s binding me to this world… the last key.” In addition to the Recusant Sigil being the key, it was also the “chi”, as in the x-blade. Just something I connected idk if it has any significance but it’s kinda neat to think about

  • @bbro43
    @bbro43 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Okay so I'm at the part of the video where we're talking about MoM/Demyx theories and Chase is saying that Mom is in the world of fiction, because that is where he said he would be at the end of Union X. However in Dark Road he's in the keyblade graveyard for 6 months waiting for Xehanort to get back from his world tour. So he can very well travel back and forth between the two worlds, or as you guys also throw out there could be like a double body situation.

    • @Fragmentsinfractals488
      @Fragmentsinfractals488 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I have a theory the Master of Master did the power of waking thing Sora did for his whole Timeline, and now he is wherever he needs to be.

  • @AVN_Raptor
    @AVN_Raptor หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    here a year later, please gimme that Berserk lore dump

  • @AshenVictor
    @AshenVictor ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The Lingering Will armour is clearly designed to look like Guts' Berserker armour...

  • @numberhunter62
    @numberhunter62 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Vanitas did the keyblade surfing first. He did it in BBS.
    Vanitas time travelled. After losing, he goes back and merges with Ven to form the mock X blade so he'd stillbe there regardless.
    Mickey used Ultima on Xehanort who responded with time Magic.

  • @AdamNYLONSTROKE
    @AdamNYLONSTROKE 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    @47:00 put it on a shirt!
    LORE DUMP
    “One Podcast, Three Twats”
    😂😂 😂

  • @doubtfultheorist9205
    @doubtfultheorist9205 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    1:21:00 Mickey casts Ultima and is countered by Xehanort using Stopza

  • @M3WT-va
    @M3WT-va ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Just two small things:
    Roxas literally does where the X on his neck already.
    Mickey casts Ultima against Xehanort, Xehanort is the one who casts Stopza and freezes Mickey.

  • @meganlambert4816
    @meganlambert4816 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Ok just gotta say I recently found you guys and have been bingeing this series for days.
    The amount of physical reactions due to the depths of the Roxas/Days fan club makes my heart SO happy! Days will always be my favorite storyline and I just love seeing that story and that trio getting the true love they deserve!
    Got it memorized? ❤
    Editing to add I. Am. Here. For a Berserk loredump!!!!

  • @mrfreddorenton
    @mrfreddorenton ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Cult of editor Monty! Not regular, juice-drenched Monty, but the fellow who spends 20 hours putting these videos on the internet.

  • @spooknukem1177
    @spooknukem1177 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    "this might be the death of Micky" and my first thought was god we can only hope

  • @Ekami-chan
    @Ekami-chan หลายเดือนก่อน

    Luxord sussing Xigbar out cutscene turns in my brain like in a microwave, it's so good! Like Luxord going "how do you know this?! And why now the box when it's been hidden forever, maaaybe you really lost it or others are looking for it." Not to mention japanese and english versions of it sound both awesome.

  • @TheChryystal
    @TheChryystal ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Can we all agree that Kingdom Hearts (i almost want to say Square but i am not convinced of that. Kage though 100%)
    was the blueprint for what would become the Marvel/Disney cinematic universe and business practice concerning their IP's? (think about it)
    I can't wait til it's Neil's turn and Monty and Chase give him a taste of the team snark. :)
    Also Is there a chance that after doing a series or universe that you guys could go a break podcast where you guys could just chat or possibly Q&A?'s I just absolutely love all 3 of you and your energy is so much fun to listen to. Like a palate cleanser you know? Which might actually be a good thing for you guys, also. lol

  • @Luvias0415
    @Luvias0415 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Someone needs to start a drinking game any time Chase says anyhow XD

  • @avampireunderworld
    @avampireunderworld ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The body that Demyx takes is for Namine. He helps get the body for Roxas with the help of Ansem the wise and Vexen.

  • @rangerghost2474
    @rangerghost2474 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    God I can’t wait for season 2 of Lore Dump 😂

    • @LoreDump
      @LoreDump  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Us too!- Neil

  • @Nilnot
    @Nilnot 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    You can’t just say the words “Berserk Lore Dump” and just expect us to let go of that idea

  • @stangerr0267
    @stangerr0267 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The Sora in Space section just remember
    One sky. One destiny

  • @LuxuFoo
    @LuxuFoo ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Xehanort never submitted to darkness. And he was using darkness in order to bring K.H back to the old lore of true light extinguishing the darkness. Not saying he isnt evil and didnt do dark things but he was never darknesses champion. In facts everything played out precisely so light could win in the end. Like he says "I plan for every eventuality". And young xehanort knows a whole lot of the old lore so he knew what was happening. In dark road he talks about his 14 vessel, presumably referring to what is to come of him after his role has been fulfilled in KH3. Also he was used since infancy for MoMs plan it was all written. Also your guys philosophy on light/darkness is like OG KH days. But that all changed subtly through KH2 (axel and nobodies doing good) and more apparent in BBS. Master Eraqus is a teacher of light who was going to use light to strike down Ventus, while Terra defending his friend using darkness. They hint at not everything being what you've been told. Even MoM says that early on "believe what you see, not what you hear" and that brings me to KH3. You have CLEAR indication that darkness doesn't just mean evil. Vexen, even while norted wanted to atone for past mistakes, riku replica keeping his promise to Namine towards the end of KH3, Siax kept calling xion by name and also axel so they'd trigger an emotional response and remember each other. And very subtly when Roxas comes back and Xemnas calls out who the traitors are he says "and others too" and points his keyblade at Siax. On the flip side to that MoM is supposed to be lights greatest ally in this battle against darkness but he has no problems inciting genocide and destroying worlds. I can go into immense detail of other situations just like that throughout the series.

  • @EHRodman3942
    @EHRodman3942 ปีที่แล้ว

    With regards to capital D Darkness inside Ven's heart I thought it was pretty clear. Current Ventus has darkness in him because at the end of BBS Ventis recombines with Vanitas to create the ki-blade. This means Darkness is now part of Ven again just like what happened at the end of Union Cross (great episode btw, never played it and you guys had the best recap of it that I found). Vanitas has time traveled so technically there are 2 Darkness' during KH3.

  • @xNoktemAeternus2
    @xNoktemAeternus2 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I hope you guys continue to do all the games for real, I play them and I can’t keep it straight so this helps tons

  • @hehehefunnyname9613
    @hehehefunnyname9613 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I don’t think demyxs isn’t the mom I mean he has both his eyes

  • @Leonfei
    @Leonfei ปีที่แล้ว

    The MoM being called Light actually makes a good deal of sense. KH is a Japanese series and (if anime has taught me anything at least) Hikaru/Hikari are fairly common names in Japanese fiction that mean "light".

  • @Tonicheddar
    @Tonicheddar ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I think it'd be a fun idea if you all just get together and play kingdom hearts 4 when it comes out

  • @ChicRooney
    @ChicRooney ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Sora is never getting home for that dinner

  • @Camo1177
    @Camo1177 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I think with the ending and how FF vs 13 could end up being important, we need a Lore Dump side series covering the FF13 games and FF15. Also I just want more of you guys covering Nomura stuff

  • @piefish1000
    @piefish1000 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I think the entire Yozora discussion and its possible implications for the future of Kingdom Hearts may have broke my brain a little
    Also I'm surprised how it was never mentioned that Yozora's driver sounds a lot like Luxord

  • @rotciv557
    @rotciv557 2 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    ALGORITHM BOOOOOOOOOOST!

  • @Shadymiroku
    @Shadymiroku ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I need a snort the Nort shirt

  • @sorakun555
    @sorakun555 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I'm once again asking for a FFXIV lore dump if Niel isn't familiar with it

  • @gaycosmichorror
    @gaycosmichorror ปีที่แล้ว +2

    1:01:59 NO LET MONTY SPEAK

  • @Shackled_Spirit
    @Shackled_Spirit หลายเดือนก่อน

    “There is no horny on my podcast!” Is iconic holy

  • @andrewnash1695
    @andrewnash1695 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    You guys should do the yakuza series next

  • @silverstriker7498
    @silverstriker7498 หลายเดือนก่อน

    what if they make it go full circle that to get back to his world he has to use darkness which causes his to fall like aqua then he becomes darkness just to explain why venetous looks like sora

  • @mortermar1702
    @mortermar1702 ปีที่แล้ว

    I said it in the first video and I’ll say it again. Berserk lore dump? Yes please.

  • @evanj51
    @evanj51 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    MoM is silly like tobi from Naruto lol

  • @sethlook1686
    @sethlook1686 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Cover the god of war series or even the final fantasy games

  • @neilaarondudgeon
    @neilaarondudgeon 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    What's going on here?

    • @MontyZander
      @MontyZander 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Neil cut it out

    • @rotciv557
      @rotciv557 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Oh my god, it's Neil from Lore Dump.

  • @thinkabout42
    @thinkabout42 ปีที่แล้ว

    Considering the final fantasy pixel remasters, 10 and 12 remasters and also the ff7 remake, I wonder if we'll slowly see other FF games being remade / rereleased, up to 13, and Nomura kinda nudged the producers to add these things for future marketing purposes. I'm not sure how else he convinced Square to do this shit... (If we exclude any theories about blackmailing or holding family members hostage)

  • @jerbear8884
    @jerbear8884 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    21:02 why does this accurately describe Yugioh 5Ds? 🤔🤣

  • @Sluggii
    @Sluggii 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    can't say i've heard someone see mickey as riku's bf, personally i see him as riku's adoptive dad who does his best to support him, like he feels like a straight dad who buys a pride flag for his gay son's room cuz he doesn't know how else to show his support

  • @srspanksalot4501
    @srspanksalot4501 ปีที่แล้ว

    YOU GUYS DIDN'T LINK THE METACOMMENTARY VIDEO I CAN'T FIND IT

  • @ZdkDzk
    @ZdkDzk 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This probably got answered on the old video but ill leave this here for the ALGORITHM.
    Xehanort is pro darkness and anti false light, because what happened with Baldur was specifically because of false light. People aligned with darkness like Rikku, Terra, most of the villains etc. control their darkness naturally. When they can't, it kills and consumes them. Baldur pretended his was light and instead it became a rogue sentient entity resembling the 13 Darknesses, a potentially world ending entity exponentially more dangerous than anything we've seen from other dark aligned characters. Xehanorts fear is that the false lights would outnumber the light, with what happened to Baldur occurring on a universal scale.
    Also, you guys seemed to have missed it, but at the end of vanilla 3 Xehanort reveals that he doesn't actually want a world of balance, but a world without darkness. The real plan all along was to us KH to create a new world in which darkness doesn't exist full stop. It's an out of nowhere twist that doesn't really make sense with his actions (and according to Xigbar's report it wouldn't have stopped the 13 so he was a patsy the whole time), but it's canon.

    • @Fragmentsinfractals488
      @Fragmentsinfractals488 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Actually, Xehanort's plan in the Japanese direct translation is that he wants a World "pure as the driven snow" or "pure and white". Basically, he wants a World reset where Light and Darkness go back to Zero. Then, he will build a new World in his Image.

  • @SPIKEYROXAS
    @SPIKEYROXAS ปีที่แล้ว

    I dont like the demyx is MoM theory
    I like the idea that members were chosen because they were strong enough to retain their conciousness and self without being specially connected to the past.
    Although i think a good question would be if there are potentially hundreds of nobodies which kept their bodies and sense of selves out there. Is it just that the only ones who did were connected and destined to be in the org? Maybe no one else can be a nobody thats not a grunt like how only one heartless kept his body (ansem)

  • @wellantx9050
    @wellantx9050 ปีที่แล้ว

    What does monty says with mickey’s voice at 17:57?

    • @charcoal200
      @charcoal200 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      He says "Like that, don'tcha?"

  • @keilenwhite9771
    @keilenwhite9771 ปีที่แล้ว

    IM BACK AFTER SOME TIME AND IF YOU DO BESERK TOGETHER YOU WILL HAVE DONE MY TOP TWO FAVORITE SERIES

  • @ChicRooney
    @ChicRooney ปีที่แล้ว

    The traitors are ava luxu and sora they all bear the sigal X

  • @abyssalpen9663
    @abyssalpen9663 ปีที่แล้ว

    Final Fantasy XIV Lore Dump when?

  • @NightWorldWorshipper
    @NightWorldWorshipper ปีที่แล้ว

    SNORT THE NORT!

  • @TheTwitty666
    @TheTwitty666 ปีที่แล้ว

    BERSERK LORE DUMP WHEN?????

  • @FlorescuAdryan
    @FlorescuAdryan 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    So, no one has watched Naruto Shippuden, the part with Tobi =)))

  • @monogreen
    @monogreen ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The more I watch this series the more I find myself confused and angry at the whole of Kingdom Hearts. Give me Yoko Taro work, at least that's easy and simple (at least by comparison)