@ me when you've decided to quit the series. As a kid I could see how some people would be into it. As Final Fantasy geeks I could see how some found it appealing, and as Disney fans. However, as an adult, as good as the art and production is, I can't really understand what the continued pull of the franchise is, because it isn't the story that it spends so much time indulging in. It's a poorly written storyline.
In a gaming milieu where the MO is super deliberate and contemplative and inquisitive and all that, Kingdom Hearts allows me to indulge. I really hate the lame anime power of friendship thing but it just really works here for me. Maybe it's because the concept of hearts and light and darkness are so natural to its world. Maybe it's because the power of friendship is lame when played out in dialogue but is so hype in gameplay with stuff like Duck Flare. Or maybe it's actually really lame and I know it but then Simple and Clean started playing and I cried like I did when I first played, but it just works.
- That was undeniable proof that we totally owned you lamers.
- Who else will I eat ice cream with?
- They'll pay for this! *Mickey uncloaks to reveal his sk8terboi fighting gear.
- Did somebody mention the door to darkness? *Cuts to a shot of Emo Cult Leader Mickey*
- Winnie the Pooh freaking astral projecting for no reason.
- Take care of Riku. *Cuts to Repliku lying on the floor looking like he just got killed by the girl from The Ring*
- Darkness within darkness awaits you!
- Xion's whale scream
- I knew it all along. You and Kairi smell the same.
- Sora, it's Sephiroth! - Donald Duck
Those are all silly. But within the sincerity and heartiness of Kingdom Hearts, it works. Like, Xion has no real reason to exist and the whole Ansem is actually someone's Heartless reveal shows the game's disregard for consistency and sharp writing. But who cares? Xion won me over when she gave me sea shells as I was in a coma. Mickey is treated with utmost respect and reverence, always being referred to as The King or Your Majesty. So yeah. Kingdom Hearts allows me to indulge. That the storyline reads like something Nomura came up with after binge watching Disney movies in between taking a course on psychoanalysis is a delicious plus.
Oh, and it has really hype boss fights.
