Damn, TN, you and your Xion hate essay
I love it when you say that, considering that I'm the "Xion hate extremist" (except, you know, I'm talking more about her impact on plot than actual
character) to
you so much, you spread it around all the time, when there are worst people out there who hate her for the mere fact that she's a "Mary Sue" or even that she exists altogether. And it's even more funny how everyone can express anything negative about another character, and barely get flack for it. Yet, when I write on the fact that I found she did nothing to greater KH universe (and in the end, affects my overall opinion on the
game itself, not just her), I'm labeled, because she's apparently your favorite, and you hate anything even close to bad mentioned about her. Apparently, there's no difference between "role" and "character" for you.
If you can't take opinions, and are mad enough to judge, then don't read it. Lord knows why I decided to reply to this.
But really, even if Xion was really there to further the storyline and was really unneeded (just like pretty much all the Organization members apart from Xemnas, Xigbar and Roxas), you need more vision. A good eye can quickly reveal room for expansion of Xion in way not relating to Xion as a person that can stretch into BbS and KH III, such as bringing the perspective into replicas, for one. Even if Nomura put much emphasis on Xion because how she was made was a nice concept, it is highly doubtful he would take it as the only consideration to put Xion in such a perspective.
Actually, the Organization played more importance. You got the Apprentices, which are deeply rooted to Xehanort, and the research they began which paved the way for, the whole series, basically. They are even worth it to be in
BBS, because while not in the forefront, they are connected to the backstory. Saïx and Axel, also, apparently, will appear. Marluxia and Larxene played a high role in
CoM, more so Marluxia, because their plans affected the main hero, as well as the story passing over to
KH2 and Days. Without them, half of
358/2 Days wouldn't be interesting or even be such problematic to the two Soras affected because the real Sora wasn't mind raped, nor made to recover. They directly are the cause of a lot of things, which can't be simply written out or never mentioned, because it's hard to find another alternative if Marluxia and Larxene never existed or they didn't do the things they did. That makes eleven Organization members out of the XIII that did something that is all over the series. Not different games of it, the
series.
Xion was there to merely further the storyline in
358/2 Days, okay, plot device, but done in such a way, that if you take her out, nothing can really be different or have any consequences. It's why she can easily be written out and forgotten by everyone. Which they
had to do, or else a mess would be made for the sequel. And I
am keeping an open eye. I said that unless Xion is going to be of such importance in any future or upcoming title, I remain with my opinion until it's actually portrayed.
Then we have the RAX trio, with Xion helping keep Roxas occupied while Axel ran off to CO. Would you rather they removed Xion and let Roxas hang around for several weeks with hardly any insight into the story? It is very hard to develop a character without the use of another, and Xion rather helped fulfil that role while Axel was gone.
They could've given more insight elsewhere for Roxas's development (it's not like what Xion and Roxas talked about in that short period of time that Axel was out is groundbreaking enough to
be there). They showed him eating ice cream by himself and still doing missions, but while he does so, he also could have errands in the process while Axel was away. Hang out with some of the Organization members, explore Twilight Town more, and even keep interaction with HPO. In fact, I believe that showing him all alone in the clock tower would give even more depth and sadder meaning about how much Axel actually meant to him when it was just the two of them. And it strengthens
their friendship, which was the original anyway, and what some people finally wanted to see.
So it's not like it would be a loss.
Also, for your say that Xion did not affect Deep Dive, you are forgetting the reason Roxas or Riku did not cut each other as they passed. I had always wondered why, and Xion helped explain that. For a more minor role, during KH II, I had wondered why Roxas left TWTNW with Axel shouting at him, then ended back there for his bout with Riku, which is also explained by Xion.
The reason that Roxas and Riku did not cut each other as they passed was because they first needed to clear the way of the Heartless to begin fighting each other (not to mention they were highly curious if you see how they both stared). It isn't exactly smart to have a one on one battle, when there are creatures interrupting. It really isn't rocket science, and there was no need for the explanation with Xion. Just watching the scene and the movements can give you a clue that the Heartless were too much, and Roxas saw this guy there to help him out. And whatever he wanted will wait until it's over. Which occurred. The reason why Riku was in the skyscraper was not because of Xion: it was because they needed to get Roxas. Didn't he even say this to Sora in
KH2, and that Roxas probably wanted to meet him anyway? Diz coming right after was all a part of it. There's no plot hole in that, at all. Roxas leaving Axel and TWTNW was also explained by Roxas himself: to find out why he wields the Keyblade, and who he is. And it was hinted, from his attitude, that Axel did something for him to act that way. We never saw it, but it was obvious that they had a bump in their friendship there. I said it before, all the events leading up to those are loose enough where anything can be added. Unless, once more, Xion has a higher role somewhere that goes beyond
358/2 Days that need her in there.
As for your Riku Replica rant, you have to consider the meaning of tragedy: A very sad event or situation, from my thesaurus. Riku Replica fought for himself, being more selfish, and lost, making it not very sad. On the other hand, Xion fought for Roxas and Sora, willingly choosing to sacrifice herself in order to defy Xemnas' goal. Even if she died the way she wanted, the sense of self-sacrifice makes us feel for her, after all, who would willingly kill himself or herself easily? This is what makes us sad, her heart-wrenching sacrifice. The dying speech, in fact, makes it more of a tragedy because of the self-realization and the task she delegated to Roxas in an act of trust, to correct her mistake when she is gone, again emphasising to us her oncoming demise.. Riku Replica pales greatly in contrast, in the sense of tragedy.
It's that said tragedy that was expected long ago, and it just fits with the overall "feel sorry for me" spiel that the whole game had and the typical character archetype. Of course, it will work, and it always works, but a death will not make me like a character. I can sympathize, certainly, but that would not automatically make anyone part of my favorite character roster. I would have like a hundred characters then. If they can't build a lasting impression on me in the first instance, if they didn't die, then what? That's what I look for.
And, wait. How does being lost not make it sad while Xion's constant bowing head, frowning, and questions of "who am I"s is? Yes, he was selfish, but he also changed and accepted his fate. Riku Replica didn't have friends, he didn't have good people guiding him and telling him what would be the best decision for everyone, to do the right thing (do you
honestly think that Xion came up to the conclusion she did on her own? She didn't). He doesn't have happy memories of his own like Xion to be alright with returning, and in the end, truly died. No conscious, no anything. Truly.
Died. You know what Riku Replica had? He was mind raped with someone else's memories, he was used and manipulated, especially by Axel in the end, he was lied to, and he held on to Naminé because it was honestly, the only thing he had to work towards to. He was in a cave of bad guys, and thus, was going to be antagonistic. But his life was much more merciless, all while trying to find himself and wanting to be his own person. The only ones who even came close to caring for him were Riku and Sora.
So yeah, I would feel more tragic about that guy, than someone who had a life and was joyous for awhile, yet was alright with dying in the end. Riku Replica had a bad rub for him, but it wasn't all in your face and shoved, which I appreciated.
And that's about it... Yea... Since I can never change anyone's opinion of Xion's personality, even if some think of her as such, one must consider what she was dealing with: isolation at being completely different from others, dilemma based on her own composition and ability to affect others etc. She's like Namine, except she takes her own initiative to seek her own meaning while Namine needs Axel to get her going.
Naminé needs Axel to get her going? Of course she did. You're talking of a girl that has been pressured, forced, isolated, and put down all the time, as well as threatened by those who were near her. She was never able to do what she wanted. So it's no wonder why it was almost a d
ream that she was freed. The moment she set off, she did what she had wished of doing. And after that, she gained the confidence to go her own way as shown by
Days and
KH2. Xion had more freedom in comparison, but needed both Riku and Axel to help her around about what to decide. All she was doing meanwhile was running away, making trouble, while she comes to a conclusion about what to do. In her Secret Reports she even said Riku saved her, but Axel told her to think. And then it was vice-versa. You make it sound like she was this driven character when in reality, she was given advice and told things as anyone else was, and was indecisive. In fact, that was actually Riku's role, and even Naminé had her word in.
