How I see Kingdom Hearts...

Before starting, I want to let you know that I wasn't sure of what thread category this could fit into, since it's about personal experience. So i'll just put it here for now. If any moderators have an idea of where this thread should be put into, then please let me know. And I apologize if i'm violating the rules somehow. If otherwise, please disconsider these last two sentences.
And before anyone may come up with questions like "your point being?", just know there isn't really an actual "point". The purpose of this thread isn't to bring up any "intelligent, concrete, logical" arguments about the game. I'm really just going to tell about the experience i've had with this game, and how it affected me, in a subjective way. Truth is, I didn't know if this should be kept a secret, or if i should just share it with you guys. Sometimes it can be hard for me to open up about it. But here I am...
Besides, I was wondering if this game also caused a significative effect in your lives. You may also feel free to open up about your experiences with this game here, and how this game affected/inspired you as well, if you want. I mean, it's Kingdom Hearts, right?

This game is amazing. I remember seeing my brother(by father's side) play KH1 in his console, in my father's house. He was addicted to it. And although he didn't let me play it often(for some reason...), I still found it to be really cool. It was the first time i saw it and it was something completely new, yet very interesting and fun.
I only got my PS2 in 2008, I'm afraid. My father gave it to me in my 14th birthday. My mom suspected that it would ruin my studies, since I was having a harsh time studying for the pre-military concours back then. But i managed to solve my school issues in the end. Anyway...

As for how Kingdom Hearts affected/inspired me?
I'll just say... It inspired me a lot.
I mean, i'm not talking about creating fan art or doing cosplay, no. I'm talking about inspiration as a whole. About development of creativity, and perspective.
This game has opened my eyes to MANY possibilities. The way they added Sora(a completely unknown character in comparison to the average Disney characters you often saw in cartoons/movies), who had nothing to do with Disney at all until KH's release, to the vast universe of Disney...
Everytime i played this game, i would find myself seeing everything through Sora's eyes. His neverending search for his friends Riku and Kairi

Spoiler

(maybe Kairi is his girlfriend? Is it safe to tell?)

, not mentioning his entire quest to save the princesses and lock all those keyholes, all the treasure chests and dalmatians that he found on the way, the many trinities, abilities and magic spells that he unlocked throughout his journey along with two silly Goofies

Spoiler

(like Donald and Goofy#YayBadPunsFTW)

that were put there to fight for the sake of their kingdom, the many characters that he met on his way, the many friendships...
It did inspire me a lot. It made me want to be a hero. To create connections with others, and it also gave me this sudden motivation and happiness. And this... Nostalgia, for traveling. Let's say it made me want to travel even more.

... You guys think my thoughts are too complicated? Well, let me resume "How I see Kingdom Hearts", with ONE simple question.
Ever thought about how it would be like, if you could add your own plot to the game? If you could create your own player? Your own "Sora"? And then add your own worlds and characters, including your most favorite characters from cartoons, anime, and even movies? Imagine how it would be like, if you could add Pokemon world to it. Or the Digimon World. Or all those RPG Maker games' worlds, such as Ao Oni's, The Witch's House's, The Crooked Man's, Ib's, Yume Nikki's, Mad Father's, The Sandman's, and all that. Or the Earth from Dragon Ball. Or even Silent Hill, for example.
And add characters like Naruto, Gaara, Sasuke, Luigi(yes, That Luigi), Samus, Link, Kirby, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Freakazoid, Pikachu, Androids 17 and 18(DBZ), Jack Walters(from The Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth), Eric Cartman, Venom, Ellen(from The Witch's House(or Viola, if you'd rather)), David Leatherhoff(from Afraid of Monsters), Gordon Freeman(Half Life), Simon Henriksson(Cry of Fear), Batman(from the LEGO Batman series), Iori(King of Fighters), Chrono(Chrono Trigger), Alucard(Castlevania), Megaman or Bass, Protoman, Shadow(from Sonic) or even Leon, from Resident Evil.

That is just how much it really inspired me.

And it also affected me. Sora's Antiform made me want to accept my duality. And also, just because Sora was covered in shadows doesn't mean i couldn't use his powers for Good, meaning that we don't have to be "all pure, nor innocent, nor correct", just to want to save ourselves and people that we love and care about. I mean... As humans, we are corrupted. Does that mean we can't choose and write our own path? Nor want love, nor friendship, nor to become stronger, enough to overcome our life obstacles and thus, eventually, get OURSELVES rid of the shadows, the Darkness that surrounds and covers us?
Come on, people. I mean, Leon just said it all:

Spoiler

"And there is darkness within every heart."

We can't really avoid it, right? Yet, we have the option to defy it, to fight against it, to control it, to lock it up in a cage and say "No, you WON'T beat me".
Also, just check the beginning of KH1 itself, in which we players are given the option to create our own path, to identify with our virtues, whether they are Strength, Wisdom or Defense, our fears, our goals, our priorities; and with all our choices made, and our paths settled, to face the "Shadows", the odds and take risks in the lives that we now are responsible for.

Whenever I grab the joystick and see it all through Sora's eyes, it makes me feel... free.
It makes me feel what he feels, identify with who he is and why he struggles so much. It gives me independence. Strength. Determination. Faith. Hope. Devotion, towards my dear, and beloved ones.

Overall... This game is incredible. It gave me the "painting board", and the "palette"(not literally, but still).

Sorry if I drifted off a bit during the text. It wasn't my intention. And I apologize if i wasted your time with the TONS of words... I just really felt like i needed to put this all out. It was a bit hard at the start and it actually took me longer than I was expecting... lol
Anyways, I guess that's pretty much it. If you guys ever happen to identify with any of the things i said, then once again, you may feel free to share your experience as well. After all, I really made this thread to vent.
Well, and to anyone who read this... Regards.

 

this text was just beautiful, you and I feel very similar about this game. Kingdom hearts is more than just a fanfiction that a bunch if fourth graders could have come up during recess. It is a wonderful piece of art that creates a strong moral foundation for every child that plays it. Its the equivalent of the poster with the Kitten that says "hang in there"

About your what if Scenario, that is precisely how I felt when if first played it when I was little Kingdom hearts is the foundation for my entire nerdyness because it planted this thought into my brain!(which i also explained in my first kingdom hearts retrospective video)

all I can say is keep the admiration and fanboyness alive and may your heart be you guiding key ;)

 

What a nice post. :D
I have lots of gripes with the direction of the series itself but KH1 will always be a favorite to me. It's still my favorite to be honest. It wasn't flawless itself but to me it still feels like the most "solid" entry. Even if other fans disagree, I think everyone can admit KH1 felt different from the rest of it's series.

 

I'm glad you guys also appreciate the game as much. To be honest, yes. I was speaking mostly for the first game since it had many more features than the second one. But I think i can speak for KH2 as well, since the game showed me something that wasn't present at the first sequel: the Drive Forms.
And i meant everything i said when i talked about the Antiform. It's something that i couldn't get in the first game. I'm aware of the many things people said about it, for not being able to use magic spells, nor summon command, nor party assistance, nor cure items, nor nothing. But, i don't really care. It means so much to me that, just the fact that it deprives me of many things alone, itself doesn't deprive me of the joy that it gives me when i play it as Anti Sora. And i'll admit, strategy doesn't really matter to me, since i'm more of a "striker" guy when it comes to rpg, anyway(just too bad i can't use stealth, but it's totally cool to me, people. It's Kingdom Hearts!).

Spoiler

Now, you can imagine the power that i chose at the beginning of KH1. :p

Oh, and taking the chance to thank whoever created the Antiform cheat code...

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Hey You, whoever you are who created the Antiform cheat code, Thank You Very Much! It means a LOT to me! :D lol

Thank you guys for taking the time to both read and reply it, btw. It actually means a lot to me. :)

 

KH2 only had two real problems. Whoever wrote the dialogue was high and it was too easy.
Sadly the writing and even mistranslated parts are forever, but the final mix fixed the too easy part. Even despite those issues it was still a fun one to play.

Sometimes people rant just to whine I think. Granted I've done a lot of complaining as the series went but I always try to give a detailed reason as to why.

KH1 & 2 in particular, despite what anyone says, gave you options. If you wanted to be a "striker" you could. If you wanted to be a master mage, you could. If you wanted to mix things, you could. Everything thing had a use if you gave it one.
KH1 even went the extra mile and rewarded you for testing other features with it's tech point system. If you guard something right, counter or exploit an enemies weakness (like ice heartless hate fire) then you got extra exp for it.

For that reason I don't get the drive form complaints. You literally don't have to use it.

Anti was my fave form as well. If not only for how silly it could be. Even the way it hangs from ledges is hilarious.

 

Hah! I got quite excited when i saw Anti Sora hanging from the ledge for the first time. But I also like it because it gives you far more speed than usual, and it allows you to do some great combo sequences(which don't require a keyblade at all, and i believe that's also a cool thing to notice.)}
Another thing i liked was(if you've already gone far enough in KH2 and "abused" the power of the Antiform), you must probably have noticed that the Antiform model changes depending on the world you are in.

Spoiler

For instance:
[Average]Anti Sora model =/= [Christmas Town]Anti Sora =/= [Halloween Town]Anti Sora

 

Every form changes depending on world to a degree. Like SantaSora's minor details change, HalloweenSora's mask changes, TronSora's colors change, etc. It's really cool to see them all in both limit form and anti form I think. Limit form is really neat in Trons world to me. I think Anti's best variant is HalloweenSora due to his already creepy outfit.

Anti also places limitations on you. You can't pick up HP orbs, your magic is sealed, you don't gain experience and you can't deactivate it while enemies are around. On easier modes this can make it very fun since you'd be typically overpowered.

 

I know. I don't mean to brag or anything, but it's not like i really need those.
And it's not like you're trapped in this form forever, either. The drive gauge still depletes as time passes, and the Antiform eventually goes away, thus giving you back all the resources you need(although I would always go back to Antiform. :p).

 

Didn't say ya did.
lol Tell that to other fans. I like it but some treat being in anti form as a death sentence.

 

I'm aware of that. They even made threads about it.
I'm only able to use it that often because of the cheat code, though. But if they still don't want it, they can always play the game without the Antiform code and try their best not to trigger it through the "counter".