Kingdom Hearts III and Fulfillment | PostMesmeric

[@KingKlonoa]

You and I agree almost to the letter about this game! It's everything I could have wanted. I know it isn't perfect, but none of the Kingdom Hearts games are. People seem to operate under the assumption that the other games are untouchable, and as much as I adore this series, I could never pretend that the series was without its problems. The series has always been about blistering highs that outweigh the lows, or at least it tries to be. I think that's a great thing!

[@apathy2454]

KingK 💯

[@danieltinsleykhvsff9622]

Will you be making a retrospective of this game soon.

[@maverickay5807]

Its the KingK!

[@CyDi]

Thank you for this video. I don’t think I can put into words how much I agree with everything you said. Enjoying the game so much, while being surrounded by so many disappointed voices, felt really weird. I’ve seen so many people who really did enjoy KH3, but still general opinion about it is that it’s disappointing disaster. And I hate that. But when the best way that I can describe why I love this game, is how sincere, pure, and confident it is, then it’s fully understandable that not everyone gets it. It’s a game, that isn’t ashamed of being a game, which shouldn't be so rare. And yeah, I always say about this series that it has a heart of gold, which probably doesn’t mean much for someone who doesn’t like it, but if you do like it, you fully understand the meaning behind ‘heart’. It seems like one guy had cool, but weird idea for a game, and got one of the biggest game budgets to make it, and I love it. These games are something special to me, and I feel like there is so much honesty, passion, and love behind them, that any flaws disappear when I play them. And well, these games are flawed, but when I played KH3, only thing that hindered my enjoyment, was it’s difficulty. I wish critical mode, would have been in the game on release, but it’s too late for that. I love how satisfyingly challenging 1, 2, CoM, and BBS were, and only the secret boss gave me that. But still combat was a lot of fun, with how fluid it was, but could have been even better with some challenge sprinkled on top. Well, now you can play it on critical, but second playthrough is not the same. Personally I liked Frozen and Tangled worlds, story and gameplay. I didn’t enjoy both movies, but playing these movies as a game, and experiencing these stories with Sora and gang, was fun in a way. Still wish it was handled like Pixar worlds, but corporate shit and stuff, what can you do. I mean, alright, Frozen story was handled awfully, gotta admit that. I’m also glad that someone shares my opinion about how great exploring disney worlds was in KH1. And there was so many amazing moments in this game, Aqua coming back from world of darkness, and not believing it, was so damn perfect. When Donald and Goofy speak through your controller, to wake Sora up inside, was so amazing. Other keyblade wielders helping you, when you see their names, as names of players from mobile game, and using that as a command is soooooooooooooo good. When my 2 favourite characters come back, and their themes are remixed together, and they are 10 times stronger than Sora in that one fight. And when Kairi is still the worst character in the series. Man, this game was so good. I’m not always fan of happy endings, but after years of tears, suffering, and hurt, that sweet ending is so well-earned, and that bitter one last second before credits start rolling. It ends the series on so satisfying note. Sorry for rambling, just wanted to share my thoughts, even if they're basically mirroring the video. I love this game, and seeing someone who sees it in a similar way just warms my heart. Thanks again. Also Nomura looking hot with that new FF7R trailer, new character designs are basically what I imagined in my head while playing FF7. Which is also something that I didn’t enjoy in KH3, there is something off about many characters, the shining plastic look of it, I didn’t really feel it. The game is beautiful in many ways, but there is something incohesive in the new art style that was slightly pulling me out of the experience. Oh god, it's too long, what have I done.

[@kenshokram]

Uncompromised Nomura narrative is just unsalvageable. This game did nothing for me outside of looking beautiful and having some really fun worlds to move around in. After all these years I think I only truly love KH1, and I've played them all.

[@lupeylycan]

Really glad to see someone who understands Xehanort conceding wasn't just a weak redemption, it was a concession of ideals. Of him, after all this time serving as an opposite to what Sora stands for, admitting to his inferior philosophy. To me it's so much more meaningful to have this arc close off with Sora, the boy who can reach anyone, finally reaching Xehanort rather than some generic action sequence where Xehanort is killed off with a giant sword because that's what Kingdom Hearts is about, bonds and connections. Instead of winning the war with brute force and hatred and intense violent death, Sora wins with heartfelt resolve and the will to mend what's been broken. It isn't about Xehanort 'getting off easy'. It's about making Xehanort realize that true power is not the coldness of isolation, that the heart doesn't return to darkness, and that maybe there are people who understand what it means to save humanity better than he does. That it's not too late, 'not for them'. It's the closure of accepting defeat.

[@kevinmay9151]

OMG thank you for finally understanding. Also people seemed to forget that kingdom hearts is the battle FOR light, and darkness was born out of the GREED of light. Literally everybody, both good and bad, having been fighting for light, whether that means they wanted the world to be purged in it or they will find lingering Will's of people and empower those lights.

[@superlombax1561]

Kit Naoki Honestly, the thing that annoys me most about it is Eraqus coming back through Terra’s heart and dissipating off with Xehanort all buddy buddy like he wasn’t responsible for ‘killing’ him and screwing over his apprentices’ lives all for a scheme a decade in the making, especially since we hadn’t seen anything from Eraqus’s side that showed that he realized why Xehanort was doing the thing he did and forgiving him within Terra’s heart. At least a scene like that would’ve made it flow a bit better, but as is, it just seems to come out of nowhere. You could say that the chess game kinda builds up to that, but those were much much younger versions of Eraqus and Xehanort, way before Xehanort pulled all the junk he did, including scarring his best friend’s face and delivering the finishing blow with intent to kill. Also, the fact that none of the Wayfinder Trio get to talk to Xehanort at all besides I guess technically Terra.

[@noporbebe]

You and your videos are super underrated, I don't know why you don't have more subs, you certainly deserve them. Thanks for the videos.

[@TheMangoViking]

As someone who hasn’t really played the games, this was an interesting watch. Hearing your journey as a fan, especially leading up to a big release like this, is refreshing.

[@Itama22]

This might be a good spot to find some ingredients.

[@PixelPoizon]

Solid video, mirrored a lot of my own thoughts about this game. Sure, it has some flaws but I dont think it deserves the hate its getting.

[@greendaleforever]

If you think the final hours of the game were woven into a great structure of wrap up, the ReMind added portions that further improves on that. More interactions, personal moments between key characters and a chance to see noteworthy people in action besides Sora

[@TheLPRnetwork]

it's fine not criticize something you love. Just glad you tried your best to understand it. (i openly criticize the game so muh because i love it) You were clearly satisfied with the game (after several playthroughs) knowing the game did what it did. Meanwhile many others and i are a mixed bag knowing what the game didn't do. It wasn't a downgrade nor a huge improvement over the "recent" instalments. it's easy to compare this game to every KH game after BBS, but when compared to the era before BBS, things get really murky yet strait forward.

[@megasoniczxx]

You know weirdly enough, despite the fact that I can write a literal essay on the amount of things I have problems with in this game, I still love the heck out of it, arguably more than a game that I thought I wanted that I ironically feel more disappointed by despite it being the mechanically superior game (DMC5). I don't know what it is but this game just exudes fun for me and i'm not kidding when I say I can't really put into words why because in my head i'm constantly being frustrated by things like how sora's movement feels clunky, limits/team attacks are now based on RNG instead of you being able to select them, the core enemies are cancer and I want them to die, etc. Needless to say, I have a lot of issues with this game but t's probably my favorite game so far this year and the first one in a long time that I have a hard time putting down. Because for every issue I do have there are a lot of things I really love, the combat system feels good again (and critical mode definitely helps a little), we finally got the toy story world we wanted, worlds feel fun to explore and the inclusion of lucky emblems gives them more longevity, the soundtrack is admittedly a bit 'meh' for me but it still has some bangers, and it feels like a proper continuation of gameplay that we should've gotten years ago.

[@BingBangPoe]

Let's hope the DLC will add another difficult and the Sephiroth Battle.

[@aleedocious]

You are amazing at this

[@simonhylander1945]

regardless of my own opinion on the game. really nice video

[@FFGAir]

Love your videos man!

[@waqas2926]

Love your vid,keep up the good work :)

[@roiitzkovich4545]

Dude, I know you said you are not good at video games, but you MUST try critical mode. Many people who said the game was boring regret their feelings.

[@samuraijack1057]

Just curious, which manga was this where the main villain surrendered?

[@kevinmay9151]

These weird feelings are what kingdom hearts is all about

[@Antiformed]

It's fine to come to such a feel-good conclusion based on your own personal experiences, although I think many will simply take this as "validation" that all people who have issues with the game are WRONG and that they were really "right all along that this game is just perfect and haters will hate!" This video talks about 'fulfillment' yet does not even attempt to tackle issues such as, how little FULFILLMENT the ending and story ACTUALLY gives you. Many bought this expecting THE END of the entire current story, but all it does is continuously raise questions and add NEW plot threads that are left dangling AGAIN! You don't get to satisfyingly kill Xehanort the way Xemnas or Ansem were. You don't get all three heroes on the island together at the end-- in fact Kairi and Riku never once speak to each other in the ENTIRE GAME. I'm serious! They don't exchange a SINGLE WORD. When Kairi dies, Sora cares immensely while Riku doesn't even react. Everyone acts like they just took Kairi along for the hell of it and never expected her to be any help. The 13 Norted villains get almost zero actual explanation or development in terms of motives. Larxene outright refuses to give ANY motive! Fulfillment, would be Sora, Riku and Kairi fighting the Nort Court. (Kairi is on your team in HALF of ONE single battle, only to be KIDNAPPED AGAIN AND REPLACED by Xion.) Fulfillment would be getting to use Session again with Riku against Saix. Fulfillment would be doing what Endgame did and NOT having a big exit door with an arrow marked "THIS WAY TO THE NEXT PRODUCT->" in the credits, like with Luxu and the Foretellers, until DLC at least. Many of your points I agree with and I totally understand your perspective on how to you, it was satisfying. But I have followed this series for almost 15 years, and I know I'd speak for many people from my ancient Livejournal days (who almost certainly played this day 1 with childlike glee) that the game does an unsatisfying job of answering a shitload of plot questions. The time travel segment (which you also didn't touch on) is not explained well enough at all, leaving the entire ending feeling tainted. It feels like you just watched and played through Nomura's conflict of writing himself into a corner for the sake of a cool cutscene, and then having to scribble and zig zag Sora and friends back out of that corner with impossible magic time/dimension bullshit that even he probably doesn't really understand. Also, again on the topic of 'fulfillment', we have Pete and Maleficent, whose 'arc' from KH2 is given NO payoff whatsoever-- in fact all of their scenes simply make them look more and more inconsequential to the narrative. They walk right up to Sora, point out that they could easily kill him right then and there (as he is apparently weakened) but decide not to for no reason. Then they find Pandora's Box in Olympus and instead of, you know, just taking it with them to use, they throw it away. The scene exists solely to be a reference. The game is full of these moments of what I'd honestly call "unfulfillment". Small examples: maxing out your own ship in POTC world unlocks the Black Pearl for you to sail instead of the ship you just finished upgrading (and it's not particularly better either). Though early worlds are littered with team-up attacks, reaction commands, and situational combo moves for allies, nobody during Keyblade Graveyard battles gets anything. (The game's rushed status is most glaringly on display in KBGY; bosses and traps here were not designed for you to have Glide which was clearly a last-minute addition.) So while I like the points you have made, I just cannot agree with the claim this game was fulfilling, in fact I think there's a lot of evidence that Nomura just has serious issues with payoff. I think the graphics are incredible, but those incredible graphics are almost totally squandered on meandering story scenes 90% of which are not compelling. Absolute standouts and probably the main reasons to play the game:- Woody vs YX scene- Sully yeeting Vanitas- Aqua realizing she is out of the dark realm and crying- Nort Court- Twewy crossover tease

[@roxas1802]

Yup. Definitely had quite a few missed opportunities. Still enjoyed it overall though.

[@TheUltimaGhost]

Pretty much this

[@NobodyXChallengerYT]

It’s comical that KH3 didn’t even make my top 3 most played games for PlayStation 2019 Wrap-Up. KH2 beat it with just 32 hours. I think the “fulfillment” that you speak of is exactly what makes me so angry every time I think of KH3- as a game, as a story, as a journey. As much as I’d like to give credit to the small moments that you spoke of, I also just can’t help but acknowledge how much of that we didn’t get for... literally the rest of the game. To Kingdom Hearts 3’s credit, it tried to juggle two really difficult things: 1) Congregate an entire arsenal of characters in a satisfying way and 2) Provide an equally satisfying conclusion for all of them. It had parts where it succeeded with (1), but (2) is where it really failed. The successes of (1) can’t mitigate the monumental contrivances that really prevented (2) from being successful, in my opinion. It was just so egregious. And I’m not gonna excuse its failure just because what it tried to do is difficult. KH3 tried to cram what was essentially _Avengers: Infinity War_ and _Avengers: Endgame_ in the same game, while having several more hours of wiggle room than just 6 hours of film, and it still failed! What. Gives? Where I think all of these flaws are exacerbated is in the really shitty moments where they so VAGUELY tried to do 3) Introduce new plots. And while we’re here, let’s be real- they’re shoehorned in for the sweet, sweet DLC money 💰. I don’t think I could ever forgive KH3. It has legitimately destroyed any faith I had in KH as a competent series with good combat and storytelling- to the point where I have zero interest in the DLC or any future games. At least I’ll always have an English version of KH2FM to stick to.

[@superlombax1561]

Ivan21234 You pretty much summed up my main issues with the game. I still don’t entirely hate it, but I still feel the disappointment greatly every time I think about it’s problems and how, imo, it could’ve been easily resolved.

[@taylord5381]

Call me dumb but where does that 'brace yourself' come from?

[@antenna_prolly]

I suppose you could say this game survived modernization much better than others?

[@Inanis_Cor]

225

[@HYDRAdude]

I usually like your stuff but this video was really weak. Your "review" was basically you just saying "I like it even though others are saying it's bad, but I'm not really going to explain why", why you felt that needed 26min I'm not sure. Also, 2000 words isn't really that much, just saying.