I have finished Kingdom Hearts II and my top three thoughts in no particular order include:
This is sincerely one of the most delightful games I have ever played. It’s exactly the right mix of narratively complicated and mechanically refined to keep me invested even when I’m struggling to progress. The story and characters are taken exactly as seriously as they need to be without losing the whimsy that ties the crossover concept together. I so wish I had played these games when I was younger but it’s such a privilege to experience this series for the first time regardless.
Sora and Roxas are both objectively fantastic characters for many reasons. On a personal level I feel like these two were created in a lab to put me specifically in an emotional chokehold. If you had told me three months ago that this series would introduce a rival duo to Siffrin and Loop from In Stars and Time for the title of “most beautifully tragic pair of video game characters I know of” I would not have believed you. Fucking ow (affectionate)
When I said to my older brother (long-time KH fan) while playing KH1 “Riku and Sora lowkey talk to/about each other like scorned lovers” I meant it in a silly way. I did not realize that these two would continue to yearn for each other in a completely unironic and increasingly intense fashion nor that the development of their dynamic would very soon have me grappled by the throat. It has been years since a romantic ship has occupied my brain so powerfully and I don’t know what to do other than make a Tidal playlist and devour Soriku fic like a man starved. Please send help (and also more song and/or fic recs).
In summary I am rapidly becoming so bananas bonkers about this series and I can hardly wait to finish watching this 358/2 Days compilation so I can play Birth By Sleep. Roxas backstory my belovedddd 🥹
