History LetsPlay / NerdCubed

* SirSwearsALot: When civilized, he doesn't particularly swear. Due to his HairTriggerTemper, however, it's easy to provoke him into expelling a tirade of curses and the occasional AtomicFBomb if he's particularly enraged.

* FatBastard: The single striped badgers in ''{{VideoGame/Shelter}}''.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Dan wonders in his ''Flight Simulator X'' video if pilots fly really close around the Golden Gate Bridge for fun. [[http://sploid.gizmodo.com/incredible-photo-of-an-f-18-zooming-through-the-golden-1645700221?utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_facebook&utm_source=gizmodo_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow He is completely right, as it turns out]].

** And according to Dan, the London 2012 Olympic Games's (the official video game) keyboard controls.

*** Though in his Nerd Challenge of winning the Olympics in the game, he said if you played with a controller it worked much better.

* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: Repeatedly happens as the ''{{VideoGame/Liero}}'' video goes on.

** In his Bonelab review, a swinging noose appears in front of him: "Oh look, it's the [[UsefulNotes/BritishPoliticalSystem Tories]]! economic plan".

** In his Bonelab review, a swinging noose appears in front of him: "Oh look, it's the [[UsefulNotes/BritishPoliticalSystem Tories]]! economic plan".

* UncannyValley:
** Invoked - Dan repeatedly gets creeped out by the unsettlingly-calm expression on [[{{Website/Cleverbot}} Evie's]] face. And then she starts winking.
** Referenced by name in ''VideoGame/TonyHawksUnderground'' when Dan meets "Mike [[https://youtu.be/sDumiYl19mQ?t=244 Uncanny Valley]]"

* UncannyValley: Invoked - Dan repeatedly gets creeped out by the unsettlingly-calm expression on [[{{Website/Cleverbot}} Evie's]] face. [[NightmareFuel And then she starts winking.]]

* AprilFoolsDay: For April 1, 2013, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDaUQ1JXw8g Dan decided to take a new direction and play]] ''VideoGame/HappyWheels'' with a face cam, not unlike LetsPlay/PewDiePie. [[spoiler:The video only lasts for about two minutes before showing twenty minutes of Website/YouTube's "An error occurred. Please try again later" message.]] Mostly meant as a TakeThat. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxCk23RwmZo For April 1, 2012, ]] Dan also decided to conquer his fears and play ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheDarkDescent''. [[spoiler:Unlike the VideoGame/HappyWheels video, this one is actually a full video of Dan playing "Petz Horsez" 2.]]

** Also Lampshaded in his Microsoft Flight Simulator X video, where he fails all video at one objective: landing the plane.

After a hiatus in summer 2017, his videos have been largely very unique takes on his standard formula, ranging from a video entirely devoted to [[ItMakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext Dan watching VR pornography]] that's only focused on his face to uploading an entire second "season" of his Planet Coaster series [[ArchiveBinge in one day, Netflix-style.]] Basically, he's doing what he wants, and it's awesome.

** Homophobia will REALLY piss him off.

*** A not-quite-as-downplayed one along the same lines is not being allowed to change the field of view.

** He absolutely ''despises'' {{Microtransactions}}. He went so far to put "Every single game with microtransactions" at the top of his worst games of 2013 list and made an entire video ranting on the mobile version of Dungeon Keeper for taking it too far.
*** This one is such a berserk button that Ninja Kiwi sent him a special version of ''[[VideoGame/BloonsTowerDefense Bloons Tower Defense 5]]'' without any microtransactions -- it's his only game on his phone.

** Referenced by name in ''VideoGame/TonyHawksUnderGround'' when Dan meets "Mike [[https://youtu.be/sDumiYl19mQ?t=244 Uncanny Valley]]"

** In his review of ''VideoGame/HuniePop'', when Kyuu tells Dan to say something hardcore, he says "I voted Romney."

--> '''Dan:''' Before we begin, I do have some serious news to discuss. I received a record number of complaints about a video. Nearly a hundred people complained about the last episode of ''Bully'', as it featured THIS GAY KISS! *shows footage of the kiss* Now, a lot of people wanted me to edit out THIS GAY KISS! *shows footage of the kiss* from that episode, but unfortunately, I don't keep raw video files, so THIS GAY KISS! *shows footage of kiss* is going to be there forever. They've also asked me if I would kindly (I say they asked me kindly. They didn't. [[{{GIFT}} They shouted.]]), they asked me kindly if I would not show things like THIS GAY KISS! *shows footage of the kiss* in any future or current videos. Well, I've decided...Jimmy is now bi. Deal with it! *shows footage of kiss* Right, that's people dragged into the 21st century [[FlameWar and the comments section annihilated...]]

* DreamRealityCheck: Dan tests if he is dreaming when he finishes off the Metal Gear RAY in ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' by slapping himself.
-->'''Dan:''' *whak* No, I slapped myself in the face and I felt it, so I'm definitely awake...

* PinchMe: Dan tests if he is dreaming when he finishes off the Metal Gear RAY in ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' by slapping himself.

** Half-way through episode 25 of his ''Videogame/Sonic06'' playthrough.

** In his Microsoft Flight Simulator X video, upon attempting a loop in a 747 and crashing into the houses of parliament:

--> '''Daniel:''' Whoops, I killed the [[UsefulNotes/BritishPoliticalSystem Tories]]!\\

* SoBadItsGood: Dan's in-universe reaction to ''[[Film/TheFastAndTheFurious Fast and Furious: Showdown]]'''s lack of a physics engine and ugly textures and backgrounds. Because of that, he considers it a better game.
** Additionally, he got a good bit of fun out of the silly physics engine in ''VideoGame/FarmingSimulator'' 2011 and 2013 (and their counterpart, ''Ski Region Simulator''), while largely not caring about the rest of the gameplay.

* {{Adorkable}}: Daniel himself, without question. That is, when he isn't being a DeadpanSnarker.

* AbortedArc: Dan's ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' complete series, before the entire "[=NerdCubed=] Completes..." series was axed altogether. However on December 14th, 2013 the ''Completes'' series was announced to be back although ''3 Free Game Friday'' would be canceled due to issues with [=YouTube=].
** As of 24 June 2014, the ''Completes'' series seems to be returning, starting with ''The Simpsons: Hit & Run''.

** All of the ''Airport Simulator'' videos contain a recurring gag in which Dan acts as the airport's PA operator.

-->'''Dan''': "STAND UP, YOU BASTARDS!!!"

** Airport Simulator 2014 has him refer to the driver of the vehicles as [[Literature/HarryPotter Voldemort]], due to the guy's appearance.

* RememberTheNewGuy: [[ParodiedTrope Parodied]] in the ''Tertiary Heist'' when Dan brings up [[LetsPlay/ManyATrueNerd Jon]] to his dad, who has no clue who Jon is. Dan then proceeds to treat Jon as a regular collaborator of the channel. At this moment, we get a brief flashback cut to [[NeverLiveItDown Dan tearing the wings off of the glider in Aerofly FS]], where Jon has been overdubbed talking to the crashing Dan.