![Why Critical Hits Exist, and How they are Designed [Game Designer Explains] @Golden_Owl](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AhGMSaMCy2g/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 53 minutes ago
Critical Hits are such a staple of video games as a medium, to the point where players have long forgotten why they exist.
Some people even question their inclusion in a game, and wonder if certain games would be better off without them.
They might be correct. But that isn't the point of this video.
This video is about why developers implement Critical Hits into their games in the first place, how they are designed, and what effect they have on players overall.
This isn't a complaint - it's an exploration of how a game gets built. Perhaps it'll change you view on your favorite RPG.
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0:00 - The Components of a Crit System
3:15 - "True" Random Crits
10:35 - Variable Crit systems
15:28 - Guaranteed Critical Hit systems
18:37 - Closing Thoughts
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Music used:
Littleroot Town [Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire]
COMPLICATION [Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]
Crisis, Herta Space Station Battle Theme [Honkai Star Rail]
Those Who Fight [Final Fantasy VII]
Reach out to the Truth (Instrumental) [Persona 4]
Sootopolis City [Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire]
REINCARNATION [Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]
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Join the Discord Server: discord.gg/c9E3SzSds9
Thumbnail art provided by u/Shadow_9021 and used with their permission (reddit.com/r/tf2/comments/1u5n8ke/free_sfm_poster_requests_%EA%89%82_%E1%97%9C/).
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#pokemon #teamfortress2 #tf2
Critical Hits are such a staple of video games as a medium, to the point where players have long forgotten why they exist.
Some people even question their inclusion in a game, and wonder if certain games would be better off without them.
They might be correct. But that isn't the point of this video.
This video is about why developers implement Critical Hits into their games in the first place, how they are designed, and what effect they have on players overall.
This isn't a complaint - it's an exploration of how a game gets built. Perhaps it'll change you view on your favorite RPG.
------
0:00 - The Components of a Crit System
3:15 - "True" Random Crits
10:35 - Variable Crit systems
15:28 - Guaranteed Critical Hit systems
18:37 - Closing Thoughts
------
Music used:
Littleroot Town [Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire]
COMPLICATION [Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]
Crisis, Herta Space Station Battle Theme [Honkai Star Rail]
Those Who Fight [Final Fantasy VII]
Reach out to the Truth (Instrumental) [Persona 4]
Sootopolis City [Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire]
REINCARNATION [Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]
------
Join the Discord Server: discord.gg/c9E3SzSds9
Thumbnail art provided by u/Shadow_9021 and used with their permission (reddit.com/r/tf2/comments/1u5n8ke/free_sfm_poster_requests_%EA%89%82_%E1%97%9C/).
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#pokemon #teamfortress2 #tf2
![Why Critical Hits Exist, and How they are Designed [Game Designer Explains]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AhGMSaMCy2g/mqdefault.jpg "Why Critical Hits Exist, and How they are Designed [Game Designer Explains]
Critical Hits are such a staple of video games as a medium, to the point where players have long forgotten why they exist.
Some people even question their inclusion in a game, and wonder if certain games would be better off without them.
They might be correct. But that isnt the point of this video.
This video is about why developers implement Critical Hits into their games in the first place, how they are designed, and what effect they have on players overall.
This isnt a complaint - its an exploration of how a game gets built. Perhaps itll change you view on your favorite RPG.
0:00 - The Components of a Crit System
3:15 - True Random Crits
10:35 - Variable Crit systems
15:28 - Guaranteed Critical Hit systems
18:37 - Closing Thoughts
Music used:
Littleroot Town [Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire]
COMPLICATION [Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]
Crisis, Herta Space Station Battle Theme [Honkai Star Rail]
Those Who Fight [Final Fantasy VII]
Reach out to the Truth (Instrumental) [Persona 4]
Sootopolis City [Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire]
REINCARNATION [Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]
Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/c9E3SzSds9
Thumbnail art provided by u/Shadow_9021 and used with their permission (https://www.reddit.com/r/tf2/comments/1u5n8ke/free_sfm_poster_requests_%EA%89%82_%E1%97%9C/).
#pokemon #teamfortress2 #tf2")
![What makes Blue a Great Videogame Rival [Game Designer Explains]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CeTSMuOUfBA/mqdefault.jpg "What makes Blue a Great Videogame Rival [Game Designer Explains]
Blue, the Rival from Pokémon Red & Blue stands proud as one of the strongest, most famous, and well-executed Rival characters in gaming.
Few other characters out there are capable of inspiring such strong levels of competitive spirit from players worldwide.
Eliciting such a reaction from players requires more than simply writing him as a jerk. Gameplay elements need to support the experience too. So, lets have a closer look at Blue, and examine just how the game designers created one of the most famous Rival experiences in gaming history.
Channel Discord: https://discord.gg/DaUUDURJgq
Chapter Timestamps
0:00 - Opening Gag
0:13 - Introduction
1:23 - The Problems with Rivals as Recurring Bosses
5:11 - How Blues Rivalry is Framed and Presented
7:42 - Narrative Elements and Blues Personality
10:34 - How the Rival is set up to Win
17:24 - Comparisons to other Rivals
21:32 - Outro
Music Timestamps
0:13 - Apollo Justice, Im Fine! [Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice]
5:16 - 4 Minutes Before Death [Ghost Trick, Phantom Detective]
10:34 - Fate Changed [Ghost Trick, Phantom Detective]
17:22 - AWAKENING [Ghost Trick, Phantom Detective]")
![Why Champion Geeta was made Weak on Purpose (and why thats okay) [Game Designer Explains]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EghD8e3ziMM/mqdefault.jpg "Why Champion Geeta was made Weak on Purpose (and why thats okay) [Game Designer Explains]
The Champion of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is widely regarded as the weakest Champion in the franchise to date.
But have you ever considered that might be intentional? And what the possible reasons behind such a decision could be?
Channel Discord: https://discord.gg/DaUUDURJgq
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
2:17 (Skip the Midfinite joke)
2:38 The Issues with Geetas Team
3:45 The Role of Champions
4:19 Geetas Actual Design Goals
5:08 Evidence (Levels and Story Beats)
6:48 Paldeas True Champion
8:17 The ACTUAL Design Philosophy of Geetas Team
9:30 Paldeas Elite Four
10:37 Improvements to Geeta
11:23 Closing Thoughts
12:09 Outro
0:13 - Ray, a Ray of Light in the Darkness [Ghost Trick, Phantom Detective]
2:39 - Champion Geeta Battle Music [Pokémon Scarlet & Violet]
5:10 - Pursuit ~ Lying Coldly [Ace Attorney Investigations]
5:13 - COMPLICATION [Ghost Trick, Phantom Detective]
6:57 - Battle Vs Nemona (Masters Remix) [Pokémon Masters EX]
7:09 - Flirt with Bomb [Yakuza Kiwami]
7:14 - Battle Vs Nemona (Masters Remix) [Pokémon Masters EX]
12:09 - 221B Baker Street [The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles]
#pokemon")
![The Psychology behind Volo and Giratina, Pokémons coolest Final Boss [Game Designer Explains]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GHc2EmvKOBg/mqdefault.jpg "The Psychology behind Volo and Giratina, Pokémons coolest Final Boss [Game Designer Explains]
Volo is considered to be one of the greatest battles in all of Pokémon, and the big highlight of Legends Arceus. But what exactly made fighting him such a fun and exciting experience?
To find out, we take a closer look into Volo, both as a character and as a final boss, to see how the games designers managed to manipulate expectations to create that experience.
Channel Discord: https://discord.gg/DaUUDURJgq
Chapter Timestamps
0:00 - Opening Gag
0:27 - Introduction
2:11 - Establishing Initial Player Expectations
3:20 - The Games Main Conflict
6:28 - Explaining Narrative Conflict
8:00 - Volos (Lack of) Role in the Conflict
10:18 - Cynthias Influence on the Player
13:44 - The Surprise of Difficulty
16:15 - The Surprise of Giratina
17:35 - The Game Rules of Players and Enemies
21:00 - Giratina Breaking the Rules
24:24 - Conclusion, the Fun of Volo
26:50 - Outro
Music Timestamps:
0:27 - Crimson Mirelands 2 (Version 2) [Pokémon Legends Arceus]
3:20 - Cobalt Coastlands 2 [Pokémon Legends Arceus]
10:18 - Pokémon Wielder Volo Battle Music [Pokémon Legends Arceus]
16:15 - Giratina Battle Music [Pokémon Legends Arceus]
17:36 - Sidewinder [Blood Blockade Battlefront]
23:00 - Giratina Battle Music [Pokémon Legends Arceus]
24:25 - Reincarnation (2023 Remix) [Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]")
![The Rock-Solid Evolution of the Rock Type [arche-Type Talk]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IAuquK4BsYo/mqdefault.jpg "The Rock-Solid Evolution of the Rock Type [arche-Type Talk]
Rock Pokemon have an infamous reputation for being one of the worst defensive Types, despite the games insisting otherwise. However, its actually much better than people give it credit for - now, its one of the biggest Types to be feared. From Rock Slide flinches to Stealth Rocks, nobody likes being weak to Rock.
How did we get here? Lets dive into Rocks history across the ages, from Gen 1 to the modern day, to see how the Type evolved from a defensive failure to the offensive powerhouse it is today.
0:00 - Introduction
1:34 - Gen 1: A Beginning of Failure
5:09 - Rocks Type Interactions
8:38 - Gen 2: The Steel Type
11:54 - Gen 3: A new design direction
14:19 - Gen 4: The rise of Sneaky Pebbles
16:19 - Rock in the Modern Era
17:27 - Closing thoughts
Music used:
3DS Rock Rock Mountain [Mario Kart World]
Pewter City [Pokemon Heartgold & Soulsilver]
Rustboro City [Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire]
Vast Poni Canyon [Pokemon Sun & Moon]
REINCARNATION [Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]
Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/c9E3SzSds9")
![The Story of the Worlds most Useless Mantine // [Pokemon Colosseum: Part 2]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JaugeWi-PyI/mqdefault.jpg "The Story of the Worlds most Useless Mantine // [Pokemon Colosseum: Part 2]
Goddammit Ms Useless why are you like this?
This video consists of highly edited livestream highlights from my Twitch Channel. This channel normally make edited video essays about Game Design, but I just wanted to play Colosseum for fun.
View the archived stream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao KN_2w90&t=24595s
Timestamps
0:00 - Finishing up Pyrite Town
0:52 - Agate Village & Skrub
6:05 - Mirakle B
8:26 - Skrub Rematch
11:05 - Nicknames
14:05 - Mt. Battle Shenanigans
22:07 - Dakim
Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/goldenowl_twitch
Discord: https://discord.gg/DaUUDURJgq
Stream Archive: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1R-xli39fmBBfMME7JM7gQ")
![Why Joke Characters are Made [Game Designer Explains]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JuR5MpPae1w/mqdefault.jpg "Why Joke Characters are Made [Game Designer Explains]
Joke Characters are a strange existence in the world of game balancing. Going out of your way to intentionally make an awful character is quite an expensive use of resources.
From a production and management standpoint, these characters are almost never worth it. At least... at face value.
So heres an analysis into the thought process behind the development of Joke Characters, and a look at how some developers get away with making such expensive and elaborate jokes.
0:00 - Introduction
2:28 - Definition: What is and is not a Joke Character?
8:40 - How to make a Joke Character?
10:55 - Creating a Joke Character
13:45 - Reasons (Excuses) for a Joke Character
22:34 - Dan (just Dan)
29:25 - Conclusion
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/c9E3SzSds9
#guiltygearstrive #streetfighter #smashbros")
