To be honest, I've actually always been bothered by the fact that Sora hardly ever mentions his parents or gets worried about them, considering the fact that they were left alone on an island inhabited by heartless. Same with Riku. Kairi at least has a relationship with her grandmother. Although I do get that the story's relationships are about friends, not family.
At the same time, I would have loved it if family relationships got brought up more because they're actually my favorite form of relationship in fiction. When it's not a cliche that is.
One of my biggest but ironically the least important criticism with the first game and kind with the series as a whole. I know parents and family aren't the theme of the series (which, I don't get why friendship and family can't go hand in hand but whatever. That's what the series wanted to do), so they're left out and so far, it hasn't been a big issue.
Regardless, it's still jarring as hell that three of these teenagers are going through an incredible experience in the first game and not once are their parents mentioned. I know if I did, I'd worry about my family constantly rather then just my friends solely. Kingdom Hearts isn't suppose to be realistic in a sense but you got to have some realism to these teenagers otherwise it'll take me out of it. I eventually got over it but it still creeps up and makes me go, "And yet, you still don't care at all? I know the situation has changed as the series progressed so it's not a big deal but still.. Not even a little mention or a sentence you caring about their well being? Something? Are your parents asshats or something because I'm still bothered by this?"
If they were young adults, this would make somewhat sense but you would still care A LOT if the situation is anything like KH1. Anything after, obviously you don't care that much because you know they're safe and you have other important (finding King Mickey) and personal (finding Riku) things to do by the end of KH1. Still though... ughhh. Even in DDD, I still found it weird. They just left AGAIN with no mention of their parents being ok with it after not seeing them for months and not knowing where they are, after realizing that for over year they completely forgot about them.
Granted, they are young and they're teenagers but young teens tend to still be attached to their parents even when they rather be around their circle of friends because... yeah, friends are more fun. And I know the series is trying to establish that connections and love can come from people you form a bond with, not just family. It's one of the things I extremely appreciate about the series because rarely do series do that and make it the main theme of a fantasy series besides Lord of the Rings or Star Wars (kind of). I don't know... it's just weird. Hell, I honestly think it would have been just as powerful for Roxas to mention that he really didn't have a family either and his parents were artificially made. He is not born naturally like everyone, he's just literally a nobody with no one left to care about him. You know how powerfully tragic that would have been? I mean, granted, his story already is and these themes are already apparent anyway but that would be the nail in the coffin that could've worked and hit home for some people.
The only one to me that made sense that he didn't care or mention his family in KH1 was Riku because he already seemed to have a stick up his ass. And even after he regretted it, he mentioned them, "How am I going to face everyone?" I mean, it's vague as all hell and can apply to the whole Island of people but its SOMETHING.
I know its not important and kind of only applied to the first game because afterwards, the complaint doesn't really matter but its still really REALLY jarring, especially in the first game. Like, I get Sora and Kairi going along with the raft idea because of the exciting aspect of seeing other worlds and as a teen that's a pretty exciting thing and they plan to come back anyways, unlike Riku. So of course they could care less about their parents, they're doing what teenagers do anyway: whatever they want, even if its stupid and they haven't fully thought it through without any parental consent. Teenagers do it all the time. But even as a kid playing Kingdom Hearts, I scratched my head when Sora goes through this whole end of the world situation, he's all like, "Where are Riku and Kairi?" And my little kid mind was like, "Dude... I know you like your friends and all but... where the diddly are your Mom and Dad you diddlying weirdo? Why are you not concerned about that at all!?" *sigh*
I'm ranting but seriously, I don't care if the theme of the series is mainly friendship, not mentioning your parent's well being at the very least, especially in the first game, is just weird. I'm not even asking for them to be plot important (which I still think can work) but a small, one line mention here and there isn't enough for me. At least have a sentence or two about them. That's all I want. And yes, I know people are tired of blood relations always being the thing for Fantasy properties and that shouldn't be the crutch but you just can't totally disregard your family unless the series has an in-game, legit reason. Just a mention. Something. Anything. It's just weird. Terra flipping did it. Why the hell not you Sora, the most sentimental character of them all?
