Is my video bad? Honest opinion.

[halcyon cliff]

I have absolutely no idea what this video is about from the title and thumbnail so you lost me there,

[karmic cipher]

well to be fair its aimed at those that would know

[devout arrow]

I haven't watch the full video mostly because I am not personally interested in the game, but I did notice one thing. I think there is a generel lack of good sound. Try to make it more dramatic, with whoosh sound effects as you zoom or pop sound when something comes to the screen (don't overdo it ofc). Make the music tell the story as you do. When you are explaining something, try to insert a fitting soundtrack of the scenario you're trying to create. The music in way has to split the videos into parts, so if you started off talking about why the game is good, and then move on to (for example) how they made it like that, then change the soundtrack! This is important ESCPECIALLY when it comes to long videos like these, because it seems to me your whole videos is more sort of "one part" instead of multiple, if you know what I mean. It goes to show just how much the editing can change the narrative of a video. You yourself as the narrator don't have to mention you're going over to another topic now, you can let the editing speak for that. (music, cutting, dramatic build up etc.) Hope this helps!

You could also consider adding chapters if the retention isn't that good. Keep in mind that it can be risky as well. So use carefully!

[karmic cipher]

Thanks for that feedback. What is interesting is that I really did try that. Everything you just described. From changing and warping the soundtrack to sounds from the game itself being carefully placed in the right spot and grab attention. I was aiming for the cozy feeling instead of it being bombastic and in YOUR FACE LOOK AT ME. Video is long and I used at least 7 different songs for it precisely because one of the main topics near the end is the soundtrack itself which has the interesting backstory.

I also had split everything in chapters. I guess you didn't make it that far to notice it. And yea each chapter has a different song

Obviously I can always do better so I need to learn how

[cursive wigeon]

@karmic cipher hi mate. First thing that really stood out to me was that you had quite a strong accent and spoke quite fast in places. For example at 0:36 just after Simpsons god, I've watched that section multiple times and I don't know what you said, as a native English speaker.

I completely understand what you said above when you said you're going for a cosy vibe as this kind of quieter, long-form video is exactly what I'd watch when looking for some cosy relaxing TV. But as a new viewer I'd have switched off at this point as I wouldn't want to concentrate too hard on what was being said

The parts where you speak slower are fine though there's just one or two bits whereyou'retalkinglikethis and it's harder to understand!

as far as editing and content goes I'm 5 mins in and I'm really enjoying how you have edited it. I actually didn't know warlords was originally intended for ps1

[cursive wigeon]

To add: just finished watching the whole video. Really enjoyed it. Big onimusha 1 fan and learned a lot about the game that I didn't know, I'd totally forgot about the controversy with the composer!

I totally understood the comfy vibe that you were going for and I think the video really did equal similar videos that bigger channels would do. Also had a good chuckle at the "samanosuke" bit, that was funny and well edited.

Subbed waiting for onimusha 2 😁😁

[devout arrow]

Oh okay my bad im sorry should've checked a little futher out then. yeah it is all about improving with each video so gl with future videos :D

[karmic cipher]

Thank you for going back and giving it a chance.

I know that I went too hard with the accent. I provided my subtitles but I know it doesn't fix it. I could've made it softer but I wanted the clarity above everything else. I didn't know I failed that early lol. Since I'm ESL I can't really tell how different accents sound to you guys so thank you for that feedback. I actually speak really fast in my native language so I worried that talking too slow is going to make me sound boring lol. Also this was my first time recording my voice.

Anything else you can tell me thats on top of your head, while you still remember it? What about the humor? Be honest.

As for Oni2 it really depends on the feedback. Few more comments like yours and I will get to it. Thank you for the sub. It's really encouraging. It means a lot. I actually have the script for oni2 and the footage.

[cursive wigeon]

To be honest the accent isn't a problem at all, as a native I watch lots of YT content with accents so you get used to it - but objectively at the beginning that was a moment where as a viewer I would think "eh, am I going to understand this as it's a little fast" as I normally watch videos while messing around on my phone or a bit distracted by something else. I also didn't watch it with subtitles on - I watched that bit back with subtitles and now it's perfectly clear to hear what you said!

The rest of the video was fine in terms of clarity to be honest, I think it was just an unfortunate case of having something which a new viewer might find off-putting within the first 1-2 minutes of video, which obviously is one of the common bits of advice to make your first 1-2 minutes really good and hook people in.

I thought the humour was pretty good too, there was a good mix of jokes, interesting facts and opinion about the game - and I noticed that you didn't try to go overboard. Something I personally find off-putting is when a creator tries to force a joke in every couple of seconds.

If I had to find some criticism:

• the title slides in-between sections being in foreign language when the rest of the video is in English, was just surprising

• when you looked through the manual it felt like there was a really long silence and it was a little jarring

But those are really very minor points about what I thought was an interesting video. I enjoyed it at least 😁

[karmic cipher]

"the title slides in-between sections being in foreign language when the rest of the video is in English, was just surprising"

thats jut me random memeing. A couple are in Latin for no reason whatsoever 🙂 right after the tittle screen you get the Japanese kanji for "Introduction". Again..don't ask me why. In my head somebody would catch it and feel smarter for it lol

and that silence was on purpose cause I wanted to showcase the interesting music from the OST and to give a viewer some space if he wants to focus on manual without stopping the vid. But I understand if its jarring. I should've made music louder.

thank you for this additional feedback. Feel free to recommend the vid to your friends lol. Sorry for troubling you to text this much. You are my first proper viewer that I chatted with. Since you are interested in more you should know what I will have my next vid ready and uploaded in the couple of days. It's not on oni2 but that one will follow soon ( if people actually like my vids). Thanks again

[stone elm]

If you were to tell me what the video was about how would you explain it. Write that down and that should be your video. It shouldn't be 42 mins it should be 3 mins - 10 mins

[halcyon cliff]

okay the title/thumbnail did not get me in the door
so if he just repeated the same thing over and over again then thats on me

but there is no reason why his video "should" be 3-10 minutes
that is ridiculous

this is 2023 not 2009 where youtubers were dodging around an 11 minute timer

deep dives exist

video essays exist

retrospectives exist

Ice burgs exist

all genres of youtube that would be absolutely horrible if restricted to just 10 minutes
not even considering if it was only 3

[cursive wigeon]

plenty of long form retrospectives on youtube and its very clear that this length was intended

unless you're going to tell other creators theyre doing it wrong too of course

[stone elm]

I'm not saying there shouldn't be long form. I'm just saying this video was too long in my opinion, watching the full video, there was so much things that were not necessary.

[delicate oyster]

I think the fact that it's 42 minutes is one factor.

My rule of thumb is to cut twice as much as I think I need to. Gotta be brutual. Everyone has the attention span of a spastic toaster on adderall

[delicate oyster]

maybe but 40 minutes? MAYBE if they were already established. To people who have no idea who this person is, no new viewer is going to want to sit through 42 minutes of video essay of someone they don't know

new viewers are actively looking for a reason to click off, 42 minute length gives them zero to even click at all

[halcyon cliff]

That is a gross assumption, I have sat through a 17 hour iceberg from someone I have never heard of and other multi hour videos from new people as well. there is an audience for long form content. When it comes to people being "established" it doesnt matter. The only thing that truly matters is the subject. In the video essay niche the topic is often of greater importance then the individual. Viewers are not loyal. YouTube is constantly recommending channels they have never heard of before and they are clicking. Being an established creator has little impact on if somebody is going to click or not. It's all about if your topic is intresting to the individual or not.

Once they click THEN they are looking for an excuse to click off.

This sounds like a youtube shorts mindset to me, there are still people left with a attention span longer then 5 minutes

[delicate oyster]

Maybe but those are a very small audience. I'm not saying longer video essays are bad but if the video is unnecessarily redundant or overly verbose (Like this sentence) why do it?

It also doesnt change the fact that most viewers are going to be turned off by a 42 minute watch time. Even if you are targeting audiences of longer videos, it never hurts to cut the fluff

[halcyon cliff]

im not sure how you could ever call the range of 400K-2.5 million views a very small audience

that seems like a pretty sizable audience to me but what do i know

i get what your saying about the fluff though just completely disagree in any way that a 42 minute video should be seen as a turn off

because 42 minutes is honestly a mild length
the average duration of content i personally consume is anywhere between 2-4 hours

and those videos aren't exactly niche and unknown

so its very questionable to see people say that a 42 minute video is not clickable specifically because its just a 42 minute video

poor pacing is an entirely different issue and has nothing to do with clickability

also sorry @karmic cipher for turning your feedback thread into video length debate lmao

[karmic cipher]

It's ok but let me comment on length of the video. I agree with some stuff you said and it aligned with my thinking. The reason why I chose Onimusha was completely on random and because the game is fairly short. So I figured I wouldn't have much to say. I underestimated my OCD. Since this is my first time writing, recording and editing I didnt really know how written words would translate into the actual run time. I personally abhor long videos where a guy would just say what's happening on the screen as he goes. I'm not interested in doing videos like those , that seem self-indulging and to me personally boring. I would rather play the game myself instead of listening to someone talk about it. I absolutely detest time wasting and it's one thing I plan to avoid with my videos if I actually make more. So obviously I tried to avoid that with this vid 100%.

I tried to cut down as much as possible but everything I would cut, would hurt the structure of the script. There are many small details and foreshadowing and brick jokes and references throughout this video and the structure was the most important to me. To be visually and contextually entertaining to even those who are not familiar with the game itself but especially to those that are. I overestimated the onimusha audience though. I mean their numbers . Especially those willing to listen to my accent 😄

I understand I asked a lot from a viewer, especially since I'm a nobody but I couldn't settle for less. I had to establish my humor, my point of view, the way I perceive the details and in what way I find them amusing. I'm not a pretentious twat, I just wanted to try and make someone smile.

[karmic cipher]

I agree with this and I understand and corelate. Read my response above. That being said, I wasn't delusional that I would get massive audience or followers. But according to my analytics, my vid was never shown in anyones feeds lol.

[karmic cipher]

And on the tittle and the thumbnail, you are right. It is a door. I wasn't interested in clickbaiting so I chose the title that is the opposite of that but also reflects me in some way. I would never click on a video called "WHY ONIMUSHA WOULD MAKE YOU NOSTALGIC FOR THE GOOD OLD DAYS" for example because it feels disingenuous and thats one thing I wouldn't want to be. With this tittle and the thumbnail I envisioned only THOSE who can see past it, would give it a real chance. But if you have some suggestions I will obviously take them in consideration cause who knows, maybe my thinking is wrong. Shit thumbnail is a shit thumbnail so if you still think its shit, I will probably change it.

[delicate oyster]

I treat clickbait sort of like a toupee, everyone says they are bad because they only notice the bad ones

If its good, you dont notice you got clickbaited

If that makes sense

So I found anticlickbait mindset is a trap

[cursive wigeon]

I never actually thought of it this way but if I look through my YT history it makes a lot of sense

[delicate oyster]

great example is Mr Beast, ALL of his thumbnails are like clickbaity to the max but you have thousands of comments saying "I love MR Beast because he actually delivers and isn't clickbaity"

He literally is the king of clickbait but its ok as long as you leave your audience sastified

they wont notice if you do