Changed Opinions on KH Games

[Launchpad]

The thing about KH2 is that it's a very particular experience compared to 1, 3D, and 3 (my favorite games). You sort of have to concede things and nerf yourself in order to enjoy it.I think of it as a game thst is almost like adrenaline, you're always supposed to be moving straight forward, not taking any time to breathe, explore, level up, whatever. Even the hallway design is a part of that, trying to discourage you from doing anything but going forward. I just generally enjoy platforming, exploring, grinding in games which is why it's lower down the list in my rankings.

But it feels like a very long and full game with the FM additions. Getting to lvl 99 happens without trying (unlike 1 or 3), just from following the natural sequence of the game. I particularly felt like the Drives benefitted in FM, too--the addition of Dodge Roll on top of another form (not to mention all the new synthesis recipes) just fill out things more. I used to always think the game dumbed down SDG, but I suppose the game was attempting to highlight how different the state of things are after what they accomplished in 1, that they don't have to be as serious or worried now. Plus something about the scene after they meet Mickey at the train station, it's almost as if D&G think this might just be one last adventure with Sora before they all return home and they just want to enjoy the experience this time after thinking they'd never see one another again at the end of 1. That's how I look at it more now anyway.

Oh, despite KH2 being one of the most smartly crafted KH games, it still has the most things that stick in my craw. I've got more beef with KH2 than any other title, mostly BECAUSE of its pedigree as the supposed followup to KH1. Like, you say that KH2 is a game where you keep moving forward without side stuff, but I can't even chalk that up as a positive when you have to grind the stupid drive forms to get the movement abilities that make Sora feel complete. There's so much nonsense minigames that exist only to waste time, like guiding Lumiere to lanterns, hitting a prison door until enough orbs come out, finding the correct cube in a room of cubes, just so much not-fun stupid shit that it feels insulting to even include...

But, putting it next to KH1 and KH3... I forgive KH2, because KH2 is fun. Because it succeeds in areas that KH1 and KH3 don't even approach. It is the KH game with the fancy combat, so nowadays in the fuller context of how meticulous KH1 is, and how grand KH3 is, I can moreso get behind how narrow and laser focused KH2 is.

 

[Elysium]

That first paragraph sounded critical--I guess it is to some degree, just in the sense I still prefer 1, 3, and 3D's way of doing things--but it was more explaining how I came to understand and enjoy the game. I recognize they wanted you to constantly be moving, not stopping. Once you accept it, it can be more enjoyable for what it is.

I'm still not overly fond of Drives, but I came to appreciate them a little more when using them to handle the Mushrooms and Data Battles. It was interesting to learn all these little things about how the different Drives can be used since I was forced into using them. Mostly before FM, I would never use them except to lvl them up fast enough to get the growth abilities and that was it. I guess in a lot of ways I would fight with the game to make it more like I wanted to be rather than trying to accept it as it is.

I can't remember right off--did the Drive Forms level up two levels fewer in original release versus FM? Or were they the same amount?

 

[Guernsey]

I will admit that I was too critical of the overall story of the games but I am still not a fan of how they approach the writing of the games. It could say more about me than it does about the writing practices but I still think the games could be more episodic as opposed to serialized.