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Boss Fight Books #16
Kingdom Hearts II
Light and darkness. Heroes and villains. Final Fantasy epics and... Donald Duck? The Kingdom Hearts series has always walked a fine line between masterfully executed crossover and nonsensical fan mashup, but Square Enix and Disney's intercompany franchise remains beloved throughout numerous sequels, prequels, and remixes. Despite the outlandish premise and convoluted lore, what lies at the heart of Kingdom Hearts is more than familiar to fans of Final Fantasy and Disney alike: friendship.
For games critic and JRPG superfan Alexa Ray Corriea, no game in the series better exemplifies friendship than Kingdom Hearts II. Corriea's close reading of protagonist Sora's struggles and triumphs, his friendship with rival Riku, and his dark journey into oblivion illuminates how the unlikely universe of Kingdom Hearts authentically portrays human relationships better than any solo Final Fantasy or Disney game ever could. Just as Kingdom Hearts II is greater than the sum of its parts, Corriea's exploration of the game's themes and emotional depths reveals how each of us is stronger for the people who surround us.
For games critic and JRPG superfan Alexa Ray Corriea, no game in the series better exemplifies friendship than Kingdom Hearts II. Corriea's close reading of protagonist Sora's struggles and triumphs, his friendship with rival Riku, and his dark journey into oblivion illuminates how the unlikely universe of Kingdom Hearts authentically portrays human relationships better than any solo Final Fantasy or Disney game ever could. Just as Kingdom Hearts II is greater than the sum of its parts, Corriea's exploration of the game's themes and emotional depths reveals how each of us is stronger for the people who surround us.
144 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2017
19 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 8, 2024
A nice little book that actually made me realize some interesting things about the Kingdom Hearts series I never thought of, even after being a fan since the first game came out in 2002. I'm looking forward to replay the game with some new perspectives.
part-read
November 15, 2017A quote that struck a chord with me and my on(-and-off)going quandaries:
Giving up too much of yourself for others can be just as detrimental as being utterly selfish. Fatigue feeds into resentment, and resentment into negativity so deep it’s difficult to settle your state of mind.
April 28, 2019
It seems like a book written for those already familiar with the franchise, but it doesn't offer a particularly deep or insightful analysis of the games' stories, themes, or design. Mainly just surface-level explanations about the storyline that most fans would already know, offering no real reason to read it.
August 7, 2017
I really like Boss Fight Books, and this was a nice entry but it never seemed to rise above simply being a collection of personal essays. KH2 was formative for me artistically, and I liked what the author had to say, good and bad, about the game. I expected/had hoped for a deeper excavation and exploration though. Without that, it never justified needed to be a book. Not that all books need to argue their existence. It's just that when you offer criticism as a book, your audience is going to (and should, I think) expect a greater explanation than individually published essays afford, online or off.
April 3, 2019
The cover for Kingdom Hearts II is lovely. The cover for every book in the Boss Fight books series is lovely. Kingdom Hearts II isolated this repeated friendship symbol (sea-salt ice cream, in popsicle form presumably because soft ice cream would be real tricky to render) for important characters and isolates it in crisp white. It's a basic fact that popsicles are just aesthetically pleasing, and every popsicle cover i've EVER seen has looked as good, if not even better, than Corriea's cover.
Here's a favorite one of mine that's been stuck in my head since I was a child. This is probably the book that started my book cover obsession. It really stands up to the test of time--it still looks modern and stylish.
I've had a mild obsession with Kingdom Hearts since my childhood. I only saw teasers and trailers, and I watched my friend play the second entry in his basement. He never let me play; I was forced to quietly watch and occasionally ask "what's going on?" I was ignored.
The first entry starts with a flash of the Disney Interactive logo. "Don't forget!" our game screams at us; "we're involved with freakin' DISNEY." This reminder is especially important because our intro is JAPANESE ANIME as HELL. We see these black wings amidst a dark, smoky background. Zoom out. It's actually our main character's eyelashes. HA. We've been tricked. But that shot of black wings on a smoky background sure does match the dark, emo plot that's about to follow.
We see Sora's eyelashes so clearly as wings because he's asleep. On-screen text tells us he's been having "these weird thoughts lately." He flashes to standing on a beach, with his best friend Riku thigh-deep in the water ahead of him. Riku isn't facing him, and he's carrying all of his tension in his shoulders. Riku looks as if he's ready to brawl, and he looks like he'd win. For a child/teen/young adult, Riku is BUILT. Sora doesn't notice the tension of the scene, and he smiles and heads towards his friend. But what Sora does suddenly notice is that the shoreline is receding. Receding very quickly. A wave is headed straight towards his friend. Riku, undaunted by the colossal wave headed towards them both (but him first), turns to Sora and reaches out a hand. This cocky smirk appears on his face. Sora runs towards him, with some sick jump cuts breaking up the action of Sora running forwards.
They're both underwater now, and it's almost peaceful. Sora is panicked, but Riku merely reaches out again. Sora flounders to the surface, gasping. He see his friend Kairi on the shore. She beckons in a friendly manner, but instead of touching her, he merely walks a little closer and then continues gasping for air with his hands on his knees. He stares at her face, and then worry begins to appear in her features. The viewer is expecting another wave, but this time the shoreline is calm. Sora turns around to see himself falling from the sky. Then he's inside his falling body. Then he's underneath Kairi, but he's not underneath her in the water. She's standing on a glassy surface, and he's underneath, falling into nothingness. He falls into water again, and his face shows us that he's either unconsciousness or accepted his falling fate. He lands on the bottom, softly, feet planted firmly. The obscured darkness of the floor radiates light underneath Sora's comically large feet. A painted glass portrait of Snow White has been covered by darkness and is now illuminated. Snow White's face is only shown for a brief moment because the radiating outward light began at her skirt. Frantic or joyous white pigeons burst forth from the painted glass as if they've been released at a bride and groom's wedding exit. We pan back to see Sora standing atop a glorious mandala of Snow White biting her poisoned apple and laying a delicate hand over her heart.
This high-production dream is backed up by a Japanese anime-style song with a woman singing emotionally about love, begging someone not to walk away from her. We watch Sora endure this wild experience, and chase his obviously beloved friends around. You can use the song to read more romance into the scene, but it doesn't work as well as a straight romance. He doesn't react as strongly to his female companion. He dashed wildly into an oncoming wave for Riku.
Even though you've just begun, there's a lot to unpack here. It feels a lot like actual dreams you may have had. You remember the terror and love most deeply and vividly even after you wake up. And as Kingdom Hearts continues and tries to become more concrete, it's most relatable and solid when it just focuses on the character's emotions.
The plot lore is a mess, and Corriea acknowledges this. But the point of her book is to clarify what's going on and make meaning out of it. She says in a sentence at the start that it's a mess, but then she treks on. It's admirable but the satisfaction of emerging with a clear logical picture is certainly never realized. Even though I still enjoyed reading it, what I enjoyed were Corriea's description of scenes. She focuses on her interpretation of their emotions--which are clear, logical, and moving. It's why I wrote that description of the opening scene at the beginning of this review. I mimicked her, and I felt that's the strength of her book and Kingdom Hearts as a game. It feels like waking up from a dream. In her pursuit of interpreting the dream, it's enjoyable in itself. Just keep showing me the dream--don't try to explain it.
Here's a favorite one of mine that's been stuck in my head since I was a child. This is probably the book that started my book cover obsession. It really stands up to the test of time--it still looks modern and stylish.
I've had a mild obsession with Kingdom Hearts since my childhood. I only saw teasers and trailers, and I watched my friend play the second entry in his basement. He never let me play; I was forced to quietly watch and occasionally ask "what's going on?" I was ignored.
The first entry starts with a flash of the Disney Interactive logo. "Don't forget!" our game screams at us; "we're involved with freakin' DISNEY." This reminder is especially important because our intro is JAPANESE ANIME as HELL. We see these black wings amidst a dark, smoky background. Zoom out. It's actually our main character's eyelashes. HA. We've been tricked. But that shot of black wings on a smoky background sure does match the dark, emo plot that's about to follow.
We see Sora's eyelashes so clearly as wings because he's asleep. On-screen text tells us he's been having "these weird thoughts lately." He flashes to standing on a beach, with his best friend Riku thigh-deep in the water ahead of him. Riku isn't facing him, and he's carrying all of his tension in his shoulders. Riku looks as if he's ready to brawl, and he looks like he'd win. For a child/teen/young adult, Riku is BUILT. Sora doesn't notice the tension of the scene, and he smiles and heads towards his friend. But what Sora does suddenly notice is that the shoreline is receding. Receding very quickly. A wave is headed straight towards his friend. Riku, undaunted by the colossal wave headed towards them both (but him first), turns to Sora and reaches out a hand. This cocky smirk appears on his face. Sora runs towards him, with some sick jump cuts breaking up the action of Sora running forwards.
They're both underwater now, and it's almost peaceful. Sora is panicked, but Riku merely reaches out again. Sora flounders to the surface, gasping. He see his friend Kairi on the shore. She beckons in a friendly manner, but instead of touching her, he merely walks a little closer and then continues gasping for air with his hands on his knees. He stares at her face, and then worry begins to appear in her features. The viewer is expecting another wave, but this time the shoreline is calm. Sora turns around to see himself falling from the sky. Then he's inside his falling body. Then he's underneath Kairi, but he's not underneath her in the water. She's standing on a glassy surface, and he's underneath, falling into nothingness. He falls into water again, and his face shows us that he's either unconsciousness or accepted his falling fate. He lands on the bottom, softly, feet planted firmly. The obscured darkness of the floor radiates light underneath Sora's comically large feet. A painted glass portrait of Snow White has been covered by darkness and is now illuminated. Snow White's face is only shown for a brief moment because the radiating outward light began at her skirt. Frantic or joyous white pigeons burst forth from the painted glass as if they've been released at a bride and groom's wedding exit. We pan back to see Sora standing atop a glorious mandala of Snow White biting her poisoned apple and laying a delicate hand over her heart.
This high-production dream is backed up by a Japanese anime-style song with a woman singing emotionally about love, begging someone not to walk away from her. We watch Sora endure this wild experience, and chase his obviously beloved friends around. You can use the song to read more romance into the scene, but it doesn't work as well as a straight romance. He doesn't react as strongly to his female companion. He dashed wildly into an oncoming wave for Riku.
Even though you've just begun, there's a lot to unpack here. It feels a lot like actual dreams you may have had. You remember the terror and love most deeply and vividly even after you wake up. And as Kingdom Hearts continues and tries to become more concrete, it's most relatable and solid when it just focuses on the character's emotions.
The plot lore is a mess, and Corriea acknowledges this. But the point of her book is to clarify what's going on and make meaning out of it. She says in a sentence at the start that it's a mess, but then she treks on. It's admirable but the satisfaction of emerging with a clear logical picture is certainly never realized. Even though I still enjoyed reading it, what I enjoyed were Corriea's description of scenes. She focuses on her interpretation of their emotions--which are clear, logical, and moving. It's why I wrote that description of the opening scene at the beginning of this review. I mimicked her, and I felt that's the strength of her book and Kingdom Hearts as a game. It feels like waking up from a dream. In her pursuit of interpreting the dream, it's enjoyable in itself. Just keep showing me the dream--don't try to explain it.
February 28, 2024
Homegirl spent the first 30% of the book complaining about how bored she was by the opening of the game. 30%.
December 26, 2019
(click the image below to watch the video review)
I’m reviewing all of the Boss Fight Books releases, so subscribe to my YouTube channel to be sure you don’t miss future reviews.
I'll say this right away because I need to get it out: Kingdom Hearts 2 is an unfortunate blemish in the Boss Fight Books catalog.
Where other books blend personal anecdotes, with explorations of the subject game's development, history, legacy, and plot to create a compelling narrative full of personality and insight, Alexa Ray Corriea's Kingdom Hearts 2 focuses almost entirely on the game's plot. The book is simply a retelling of the game's narrative. Nick Suttner did something similar with Shadow of the Colossus, and while that book was better than Kingdom Hearts 2, it wasn't much better.
So why does this exposition heavy approach not work? Kingdom Hearts is a series defined by its incomprehensible plotline. Though I've only played the first game in the series, conversation among fans and critics alike often focus on the absurdity of the storyline. It’s impossible to follow.
On the surface, exploring the plot with a book like this seems like it could be a good approach. Perhaps Corriea could smooth out some of the wrinkles and make some sense of the plot. But she doesn't. She acknowledges the absurdity of the plot then spends 90% of the book confirming that absurdity.
There are two moments in the book that approach something like a good path. Later in the book, Corriea touches on sexist adventure hero tropes, spending a lot of time on the lack of female antagonists, highlighting that those who do exist are too often vapid and without personality. She even touches on, though ever so briefly, I think a single sentence, the sexist portrayal of male antagonists as idiots who are easily persuaded to fight on behalf of a vapid female character without personality. In other words, the Kingdom Hearts games don't try to escape these sexist tropes. The problem with the author's handling of the subject here is that she's only giving examples. She never offers any insight or adds to the conversation about the sexist portrayal of video game characters. And that sucks.
The other part I actually really, really liked, but the treatment was so brief I kinda felt cheated a little bit, is the chapter called Bad Romances and Bad Bromances. Here Corriea starts to explore the way male friendships are often presented in video games.
Maybe fans of Kingdom Hearts, those who have played more games in the series than my one game in the series, will be more forgiving of this book. But as a fan of many Boss Fight Books whose subject games I haven't played, I don't feel fandom should be necessary. Besides, based on some reviews from Kingdom Hearts fans on Goodreads and Amazon, this book didn't hit home with some of those fans either.
I’m reviewing all of the Boss Fight Books releases, so subscribe to my YouTube channel to be sure you don’t miss future reviews.
I'll say this right away because I need to get it out: Kingdom Hearts 2 is an unfortunate blemish in the Boss Fight Books catalog.
Where other books blend personal anecdotes, with explorations of the subject game's development, history, legacy, and plot to create a compelling narrative full of personality and insight, Alexa Ray Corriea's Kingdom Hearts 2 focuses almost entirely on the game's plot. The book is simply a retelling of the game's narrative. Nick Suttner did something similar with Shadow of the Colossus, and while that book was better than Kingdom Hearts 2, it wasn't much better.
So why does this exposition heavy approach not work? Kingdom Hearts is a series defined by its incomprehensible plotline. Though I've only played the first game in the series, conversation among fans and critics alike often focus on the absurdity of the storyline. It’s impossible to follow.
On the surface, exploring the plot with a book like this seems like it could be a good approach. Perhaps Corriea could smooth out some of the wrinkles and make some sense of the plot. But she doesn't. She acknowledges the absurdity of the plot then spends 90% of the book confirming that absurdity.
There are two moments in the book that approach something like a good path. Later in the book, Corriea touches on sexist adventure hero tropes, spending a lot of time on the lack of female antagonists, highlighting that those who do exist are too often vapid and without personality. She even touches on, though ever so briefly, I think a single sentence, the sexist portrayal of male antagonists as idiots who are easily persuaded to fight on behalf of a vapid female character without personality. In other words, the Kingdom Hearts games don't try to escape these sexist tropes. The problem with the author's handling of the subject here is that she's only giving examples. She never offers any insight or adds to the conversation about the sexist portrayal of video game characters. And that sucks.
The other part I actually really, really liked, but the treatment was so brief I kinda felt cheated a little bit, is the chapter called Bad Romances and Bad Bromances. Here Corriea starts to explore the way male friendships are often presented in video games.
“While Riku and Sora are not in love, the boys’ friendship is one of the deepest and most moving relationships of any kind that I’ve seen in a video game. And part of why it works is because it’s not a romance. Without sexual tension or expressed desire of any kind, these relationships appear as the deepest forms of male intimacy: mutual dependence, connectedness, and respect.” (pg. 93)
Maybe fans of Kingdom Hearts, those who have played more games in the series than my one game in the series, will be more forgiving of this book. But as a fan of many Boss Fight Books whose subject games I haven't played, I don't feel fandom should be necessary. Besides, based on some reviews from Kingdom Hearts fans on Goodreads and Amazon, this book didn't hit home with some of those fans either.
April 10, 2019
As with the best books in this series, Ms. Corriea has a deep passion for the game she's writing about and it had a profound impact in her life. Over a number of chapters, she makes a great case for why this series is capable of deeper reflection than it would seem for a game with Donald, Goofy, and Cloud McCrono-face the protagonist (Sora). She does a great job blending the history of the series as well as pulling in information from later games to show the deep universe the creator put together in this series. It's a game I own, but never got to play as I got it in college and from that point on I've had trouble finding the time needed to complete a jRPG. After reading this book, I'm keen for my kids to play it during that magical 9-14 years old where jRPG melodramatics play so hard. (And I think part of why FF6 and Chrono Trigger hit me so hard while I never really got into FF7 - FFX)
If you read this close to when I'm publishing this review, you should definitely check out the Boss Fight Book Humble Bundle. More often than not the books are great like this one and really showcase how a game can be so transformative for the player.
If you read this close to when I'm publishing this review, you should definitely check out the Boss Fight Book Humble Bundle. More often than not the books are great like this one and really showcase how a game can be so transformative for the player.
March 4, 2022
I’m giving this 4 stars. I’ve played KH 1 but not 2. This is a deep dive into the story and themes of KH 2.
If I was a big fan, I would love it. But I’m not a fan and was just reading out of interest.
Because of that I have absolutely no idea what the hell the author was talking about!!! KH is known for its bonkers storyline and this just proves it.
BUT it’s very well written, detailed and even quite enjoyable even though I had no idea what they were talking about most of the time, hence 4*
Fans will love it
If I was a big fan, I would love it. But I’m not a fan and was just reading out of interest.
Because of that I have absolutely no idea what the hell the author was talking about!!! KH is known for its bonkers storyline and this just proves it.
BUT it’s very well written, detailed and even quite enjoyable even though I had no idea what they were talking about most of the time, hence 4*
Fans will love it
October 28, 2019
Un libro que se enfoca en narrativas personales, especulaciones y teorías sobre lo que significa Kingdom Hearts II. Hace algunas rápidas disertaciones sobre los símbolos, la estructura y los personajes (arquetipos o estereotipos). Nada muy profundo o elaborado; pienso que muchas de sus conclusiones son igual de locas o elaboradas que la misma historia principal.
Hasta entonces había encontrado algo más interesante en los libros de esta editorial, como el proceso de creación, el trabajo en equipo o un compendio de inspiraciones, pero este se enfoca totalmente en el punto de vista de un jugador y su experiencia. Eso hace más difícil su lectura: habrá gente quien esté de acuerdo, gente que no; pero al final esta lectura no es más que tiempo de ocio, difícilmente provocará otra cosa que la satisfacción de pertenecer al club de Mickey.
Hasta entonces había encontrado algo más interesante en los libros de esta editorial, como el proceso de creación, el trabajo en equipo o un compendio de inspiraciones, pero este se enfoca totalmente en el punto de vista de un jugador y su experiencia. Eso hace más difícil su lectura: habrá gente quien esté de acuerdo, gente que no; pero al final esta lectura no es más que tiempo de ocio, difícilmente provocará otra cosa que la satisfacción de pertenecer al club de Mickey.
October 20, 2017
A must have for any Kingdom Hearts fan!! If you don't have this and you're a fan of the game, shiiiiet I don't know what you're doing.
January 16, 2021
This book compares Mickey Mouse to King Arthur, and has you agreeing. It’s great, is the point.
November 5, 2022
There's a great book to be written about why we love pop culture that sucks. This is not that book, and it's frustrating to read the author relentlessly tell you how terribly written and half-assed this game is and refuse to acknowledge or unpack that at all.
September 4, 2025
i can't believe how much i wrote about this, but it was fun to write, so whatever. i think the surprise of finding depth in kingdom hearts sparked a creative (or at least verbose) mood.
this was the most engrossing Boss Fight book i have read out of three so far. that surprises me- partly because i had considered Kingdom Hearts a big joke, but mostly because it is the least autobiographical of the three. that’s something i really liked about the entries on Earthbound and Bible Adventures. it seems that some readers take issue with the inclusion of the authors’ personal stories (and if you are one of those readers- hahaha, you are a DORK.)
there is a comparatively small amount of personal stuff in this one, wherein Corriea unabashedly expresses her love for her siblings and best friend. that was very sweet to read. overall, it was more like a set of focused essays than the other Boss Fight books i’ve read. this format was used to good effect.
it’s been a long time since i have played a kingdom hearts game. the primary things i remember, other than the addictive gameplay, are the pervasive sense of shallow artificiality (disney and final fantasy characters alike felt like overmedicated zombies, and the original characters all seemed bogus, too), the apparently capricious metaphysics, the many contrived scenarios which added up to a plotline more contrived than the sum of its parts (a lot more contrived than can be reasonably expected from a game where 50% of the dialogue consistis of the words: Heart, Darkness, and Keyblade). for a kids’ game, it was sure hard to understand, and in a universe populated by lobotomized mascots and catchphrase-wielding twinks, it felt like an effort to understand better would not be well rewarded. better to just enjoy the schadenfreude of watching stupid Cloud Strife being forced to hang out with stupid Hercules. i think i’ve belabored the point enough - to me, kingdom hearts 1 and 2 (the ones i’ve played and, as far as i know, the most widely played of the series) were unintentionally hilarious, laughably convoluted, and extremely fun.
i am happy to say, disney stuff aside, this book has led me to respect (and, finally- comprehend!) these games on their own terms. as for the disney stuff (i guess i am including the FF stuff under the disney umbrella- Squall felt as much like a xanax casualty as Minnie Mouse and Aladdin did, and, unless i’m really thinking about the games, i tend to forget there even were final fantasy characters in kingdom hearts. i have a flow chart in my head about why that makes all the final fantasy guys honorary disney guys but i’m digressing too much), i’m sure not even a deep personal relationship with Walt himself could make me see the disney aspect of KH as anything other than Very, Very Funny. but that’s fine- i like for things to be funny! even though the disney brand was almost always front and center in the games, the book was mercifully light on discussing its inclusion, (barring the chapter on Mickey Mouse’s role). despite being “almost always front and center,” the disney elements of kingdom hearts always feel more like clutter that our hero is stepping around to get to point B, even when they have major plot significance. it’s of utmost importance but also, like.. whatever. once you’re done with the Mulan bullshit, everything zooms out and Mulan’s world is returned to its proper place as a hermetically sealed ant farm floating in space. here, the author has spared us any serious disney minutiae and i think that was a very good choice.
Corriea did what i thought impossible- explained the lore and logic of kingdom hearts. these games have stuck with me into adulthood primarily as an example of something that does not make sense, and cannot make sense. kingdom hearts is HEAVY on vibe, but light on explanation. for non-super-fans like myself - i think i can speak for the group - this comes off as the designers saying “who gives a fuck, it sounded cool.” apparently it was a design choice. apparently there are also a lot more of these games than i realized and they all complete the puzzle. some reviewers of this book have indicated that the more exegetical sections are just rehashing the series. i don’t plan on being a super fan at any time in the future or playing any of the handheld games (or KH3, for that matter), so this rehashing is no problem for me. perhaps i am an ideal reader. who knows how much i simply missed or had not remembered since i played these games a long time ago, but this collation of the entire series-so-far definitely rescued KH 1&2 from the “does not make sense” category. the stylish, Matrix-tween gnosticism and angsty dualistic vagaries actually conceal substance. there’s a point to it all. having the script flipped on me this way is a pleasurable kind of thing, i guess it "lights up" some "neurons" or something. there was actually something to the metaphysics, the whole “Nobody” thing actually has a rationale, and the sometimes overwhelming vacuity was by design. go figure! with new perspective it feels like the game had some really intriguing themes underneath the gloss of “darkness this, darkness that.” i don’t find the simulation theory compelling at all but even the Matrix-y elements seem to have been handled interestingly. and Twilight Town was using duration as a medium? that’s sick to me, even if it is famously annoying in execution. i am definitely interested in replaying these games when i’m reunited with my PS2 someday (wow, this is the third review i’ve written that refers to something i have in a box at my parents’ house).
the piece on intense male friendship was interesting to me, i don’t have anything to say about it really, but it was a good inclusion in the book. also, it is kind of glaringly obvious that women and girls are melted stuck to the back burner in kingdom hearts, but Corriea’s discussion of the fact did not feel unnecessary. It’s worth thinking about. even if it’s a silly game, it is a game for kids and to my understanding it was one of the more notable games to be loved by girls and boys alike during the PS2 era. even as a boneheaded teenage boy, some of of my biggest questionings about this inscrutable series were “what the fuck is going on with Kairi? why do these guys even like her? what is she getting out of any of this?”
i liked this book. if you read the review, then you know that. you also know i think kingdom hearts is fucking silly and fun to play, and also that i like to type way too much. the writing in this book is straightforward, but not lacking. one of my first thoughts after i finished was that this would be great for a kid to read after finishing the game. some critical and theoretical discussion in plain language (not esoteric gobbledygook, and also certainly better than what you’ll find in online discussions), about something you’re keenly interested in (the game you just bothered playing all the way through) could go a long way for a tween. there might be a lot more of that kind of thing out there than i realize, but i was definitely not reading anything thoughtful about video games when i was a kid. maybe kids are getting that from the glut of video essays on youtube now, but i think books are better than videos.
speaking of videos, in the middle of proof-reading this review, i got the urge to watch some KH2 gameplay footage. holy shit, this game really is funny. now i am wondering if the book just tricked me into taking it all seriously. well played, if so.
this was the most engrossing Boss Fight book i have read out of three so far. that surprises me- partly because i had considered Kingdom Hearts a big joke, but mostly because it is the least autobiographical of the three. that’s something i really liked about the entries on Earthbound and Bible Adventures. it seems that some readers take issue with the inclusion of the authors’ personal stories (and if you are one of those readers- hahaha, you are a DORK.)
there is a comparatively small amount of personal stuff in this one, wherein Corriea unabashedly expresses her love for her siblings and best friend. that was very sweet to read. overall, it was more like a set of focused essays than the other Boss Fight books i’ve read. this format was used to good effect.
it’s been a long time since i have played a kingdom hearts game. the primary things i remember, other than the addictive gameplay, are the pervasive sense of shallow artificiality (disney and final fantasy characters alike felt like overmedicated zombies, and the original characters all seemed bogus, too), the apparently capricious metaphysics, the many contrived scenarios which added up to a plotline more contrived than the sum of its parts (a lot more contrived than can be reasonably expected from a game where 50% of the dialogue consistis of the words: Heart, Darkness, and Keyblade). for a kids’ game, it was sure hard to understand, and in a universe populated by lobotomized mascots and catchphrase-wielding twinks, it felt like an effort to understand better would not be well rewarded. better to just enjoy the schadenfreude of watching stupid Cloud Strife being forced to hang out with stupid Hercules. i think i’ve belabored the point enough - to me, kingdom hearts 1 and 2 (the ones i’ve played and, as far as i know, the most widely played of the series) were unintentionally hilarious, laughably convoluted, and extremely fun.
i am happy to say, disney stuff aside, this book has led me to respect (and, finally- comprehend!) these games on their own terms. as for the disney stuff (i guess i am including the FF stuff under the disney umbrella- Squall felt as much like a xanax casualty as Minnie Mouse and Aladdin did, and, unless i’m really thinking about the games, i tend to forget there even were final fantasy characters in kingdom hearts. i have a flow chart in my head about why that makes all the final fantasy guys honorary disney guys but i’m digressing too much), i’m sure not even a deep personal relationship with Walt himself could make me see the disney aspect of KH as anything other than Very, Very Funny. but that’s fine- i like for things to be funny! even though the disney brand was almost always front and center in the games, the book was mercifully light on discussing its inclusion, (barring the chapter on Mickey Mouse’s role). despite being “almost always front and center,” the disney elements of kingdom hearts always feel more like clutter that our hero is stepping around to get to point B, even when they have major plot significance. it’s of utmost importance but also, like.. whatever. once you’re done with the Mulan bullshit, everything zooms out and Mulan’s world is returned to its proper place as a hermetically sealed ant farm floating in space. here, the author has spared us any serious disney minutiae and i think that was a very good choice.
Corriea did what i thought impossible- explained the lore and logic of kingdom hearts. these games have stuck with me into adulthood primarily as an example of something that does not make sense, and cannot make sense. kingdom hearts is HEAVY on vibe, but light on explanation. for non-super-fans like myself - i think i can speak for the group - this comes off as the designers saying “who gives a fuck, it sounded cool.” apparently it was a design choice. apparently there are also a lot more of these games than i realized and they all complete the puzzle. some reviewers of this book have indicated that the more exegetical sections are just rehashing the series. i don’t plan on being a super fan at any time in the future or playing any of the handheld games (or KH3, for that matter), so this rehashing is no problem for me. perhaps i am an ideal reader. who knows how much i simply missed or had not remembered since i played these games a long time ago, but this collation of the entire series-so-far definitely rescued KH 1&2 from the “does not make sense” category. the stylish, Matrix-tween gnosticism and angsty dualistic vagaries actually conceal substance. there’s a point to it all. having the script flipped on me this way is a pleasurable kind of thing, i guess it "lights up" some "neurons" or something. there was actually something to the metaphysics, the whole “Nobody” thing actually has a rationale, and the sometimes overwhelming vacuity was by design. go figure! with new perspective it feels like the game had some really intriguing themes underneath the gloss of “darkness this, darkness that.” i don’t find the simulation theory compelling at all but even the Matrix-y elements seem to have been handled interestingly. and Twilight Town was using duration as a medium? that’s sick to me, even if it is famously annoying in execution. i am definitely interested in replaying these games when i’m reunited with my PS2 someday (wow, this is the third review i’ve written that refers to something i have in a box at my parents’ house).
the piece on intense male friendship was interesting to me, i don’t have anything to say about it really, but it was a good inclusion in the book. also, it is kind of glaringly obvious that women and girls are melted stuck to the back burner in kingdom hearts, but Corriea’s discussion of the fact did not feel unnecessary. It’s worth thinking about. even if it’s a silly game, it is a game for kids and to my understanding it was one of the more notable games to be loved by girls and boys alike during the PS2 era. even as a boneheaded teenage boy, some of of my biggest questionings about this inscrutable series were “what the fuck is going on with Kairi? why do these guys even like her? what is she getting out of any of this?”
i liked this book. if you read the review, then you know that. you also know i think kingdom hearts is fucking silly and fun to play, and also that i like to type way too much. the writing in this book is straightforward, but not lacking. one of my first thoughts after i finished was that this would be great for a kid to read after finishing the game. some critical and theoretical discussion in plain language (not esoteric gobbledygook, and also certainly better than what you’ll find in online discussions), about something you’re keenly interested in (the game you just bothered playing all the way through) could go a long way for a tween. there might be a lot more of that kind of thing out there than i realize, but i was definitely not reading anything thoughtful about video games when i was a kid. maybe kids are getting that from the glut of video essays on youtube now, but i think books are better than videos.
speaking of videos, in the middle of proof-reading this review, i got the urge to watch some KH2 gameplay footage. holy shit, this game really is funny. now i am wondering if the book just tricked me into taking it all seriously. well played, if so.
July 11, 2018
I have read six or seven of the boss fight books and this is the nadir. It has no balance and is just a written run through of the game. Alternates between boring and impenetrable. This is only for those who love the game, not for anyone interested in the intersection between game and culture.
September 26, 2017
Alexa Ray Corriea, the author of the 16th Boss Fight Books entry, has long worked in this industry, most notably as an editor at Gamespot, and currently at FANDOM. This entry in the series is focused on Kingdom Hearts II, part of one of the most unlikely and confusing crossover story in gaming. As the author so points out, it's rather hard to have imagined that a fusion of Disney and Square-Enix could actually result in anything good. And yet, they pulled it off expertly, both in terms of gameplay and narrative.
As a reminder of how many of the books work: they are almost always a mix of the author's experience of the game, input from the creators or members of the developing team and often a slow recap of the narrative or game progression. Some readers have complained about this last element, mostly because they went in without knowledge of it being part of how Boss Fight Books are structured.
I never actually got to play Kingdom Hearts, the first, simply due to the fact that I did not have a PlayStation 2 console. I eventually did get one extremely late in its life cycle, secondhand. What spurred me to jump again on the console-owning bandwagon was another RPG: Persona 4 was announced and I wanted to be ready!
This is a little story for another time.....
Kingdom Hearts II wasn't my first game in the series though. I played a lot on handhelds, and one of my favorite GBA entries was Chain of Memories. It did well to recap things for me, as well as give some preparation for the second opus. A friend of mine purchased KH2 as soon as it came out, didn't like it as much as I hyped for it and let me play it first!!
Frankly, I did not care about the beginning being slow at all. All I could think of: this is freaking Kingdom Hearts II!!!!!!! A lot of people could have written this book and probably give off a similar feel to how the author experienced the journey. Personally, I could not have gone as in-depth as she did in her analysis of how gender is characterized. I won't spoil by saying much, but Alexa Ray Corriea does a great job of noticing such things. I do not remember seeing it that way, maybe because I'm a guy?
Going through the sections of the book retracing Sora and Roxas' journey, I noticed just how much I forgot. There are some worlds that I remember vividly, and the first few hours with Roxas are clear in my mind. But when she notices some parts, I was floored to find a huge abyss in my mind!
KH2, the book, goes through the motions of a good Boss Fight Book. Nevertheless, having some direct input from members of the development team or even the publisher helps us readers delve with more accuracy into their motivations and goals during the genesis of the game. PAst books have analyzed existing interviews and facts to speculate on such points. It was quite like interpreting the words of long-dead poets, how sure can one truly be that we think they meant is what they truly mean? I believe creator access sufficiently reduces doubt in this case.
Overall, this was an awesome book by a good author who reminded just how much I truly enjoyed this unlikely mashup of universes and genres. I highly recommend it and the game too! Any JRPG fan who hasn't played it yet, if they exist, should definitely correct this grave misstep. You guys are missing out...
As a reminder of how many of the books work: they are almost always a mix of the author's experience of the game, input from the creators or members of the developing team and often a slow recap of the narrative or game progression. Some readers have complained about this last element, mostly because they went in without knowledge of it being part of how Boss Fight Books are structured.
I never actually got to play Kingdom Hearts, the first, simply due to the fact that I did not have a PlayStation 2 console. I eventually did get one extremely late in its life cycle, secondhand. What spurred me to jump again on the console-owning bandwagon was another RPG: Persona 4 was announced and I wanted to be ready!
This is a little story for another time.....
Kingdom Hearts II wasn't my first game in the series though. I played a lot on handhelds, and one of my favorite GBA entries was Chain of Memories. It did well to recap things for me, as well as give some preparation for the second opus. A friend of mine purchased KH2 as soon as it came out, didn't like it as much as I hyped for it and let me play it first!!
Frankly, I did not care about the beginning being slow at all. All I could think of: this is freaking Kingdom Hearts II!!!!!!! A lot of people could have written this book and probably give off a similar feel to how the author experienced the journey. Personally, I could not have gone as in-depth as she did in her analysis of how gender is characterized. I won't spoil by saying much, but Alexa Ray Corriea does a great job of noticing such things. I do not remember seeing it that way, maybe because I'm a guy?
Going through the sections of the book retracing Sora and Roxas' journey, I noticed just how much I forgot. There are some worlds that I remember vividly, and the first few hours with Roxas are clear in my mind. But when she notices some parts, I was floored to find a huge abyss in my mind!
KH2, the book, goes through the motions of a good Boss Fight Book. Nevertheless, having some direct input from members of the development team or even the publisher helps us readers delve with more accuracy into their motivations and goals during the genesis of the game. PAst books have analyzed existing interviews and facts to speculate on such points. It was quite like interpreting the words of long-dead poets, how sure can one truly be that we think they meant is what they truly mean? I believe creator access sufficiently reduces doubt in this case.
Overall, this was an awesome book by a good author who reminded just how much I truly enjoyed this unlikely mashup of universes and genres. I highly recommend it and the game too! Any JRPG fan who hasn't played it yet, if they exist, should definitely correct this grave misstep. You guys are missing out...
August 15, 2022
For a book about one of my least-favorite games that I played to completion, I sure enjoyed reading it!
Author Alexa Ray Corriea writes with a swift, natural, and engaging style that helped this 120-page book breeze by in a couple short reading sessions. Her enthusiasm for Kingdom Hearts, while profound, is healthily tempered by thoughtful critical analysis at any moment where the average reader may be asking "wait, what is this game about?"
I don't begrudge anyone their favorite things; lord knows I've got plenty of strong attachments of my own to media that are often seen as divisive and/or cringe. But I have to be honest and say that I've never liked Kingdom Hearts, I've never enjoyed playing Kingdom Hearts, and I'm frustrated that I still keep playing Kingdom Hearts games because I want to know what the heck everyone else sees in them.
Corriea's account of the series' middle chapter (which is actually, like, the fourth game they made, or maybe it's actually the fifth chronologically, or — you know what? Forget it) does a good job of explaining bits of what made this game so special to her and her friends and family, which is genuinely sweet and relatable. I enjoyed her character studies in particular, especially the disappointing lack of agency or depth for Kairi/Naminé and the disarmingly heartfelt friendship between Sora and Riku.
There was one thing that I really hoped the book would dig into but it never quite materialized. I really hoped that the author would pull back the camera even further in many spots and ask questions like: what does this bizarre cross-media mashup of two giant entertainment corporations say about the modern entertainment landscape? How do we process our genuine feelings of attachment to flawed media? What are the merits and limitations of a story with such obvious shortcomings and convenient unresolved plot holes inserted intentionally to keep fans guessing? Those are the questions I find myself less sure of than ever before, and while it's not the author's job to answer them, I would've loved to see how she framed and approached them.
I would've also liked to see more direct citations of interview sources where appropriate. The notes section at the back is fairly opaque, and it would've been nice at points to jump to specific interviews to see the surrounding context. A lot of the citations come from fan translations of Japanese-language interviews, so I understand that sourcing may be a bit challenging, but a little more specificity could have made this book a bit more valuable to future readers.
Overall, I'd say this is one of the better books in the Boss Fight series. If Corriea ever decides to write a follow-up to explain what the heck Kingdom Hearts III was about, I'll absolutely buy a copy. :)
Author Alexa Ray Corriea writes with a swift, natural, and engaging style that helped this 120-page book breeze by in a couple short reading sessions. Her enthusiasm for Kingdom Hearts, while profound, is healthily tempered by thoughtful critical analysis at any moment where the average reader may be asking "wait, what is this game about?"
I don't begrudge anyone their favorite things; lord knows I've got plenty of strong attachments of my own to media that are often seen as divisive and/or cringe. But I have to be honest and say that I've never liked Kingdom Hearts, I've never enjoyed playing Kingdom Hearts, and I'm frustrated that I still keep playing Kingdom Hearts games because I want to know what the heck everyone else sees in them.
Corriea's account of the series' middle chapter (which is actually, like, the fourth game they made, or maybe it's actually the fifth chronologically, or — you know what? Forget it) does a good job of explaining bits of what made this game so special to her and her friends and family, which is genuinely sweet and relatable. I enjoyed her character studies in particular, especially the disappointing lack of agency or depth for Kairi/Naminé and the disarmingly heartfelt friendship between Sora and Riku.
There was one thing that I really hoped the book would dig into but it never quite materialized. I really hoped that the author would pull back the camera even further in many spots and ask questions like: what does this bizarre cross-media mashup of two giant entertainment corporations say about the modern entertainment landscape? How do we process our genuine feelings of attachment to flawed media? What are the merits and limitations of a story with such obvious shortcomings and convenient unresolved plot holes inserted intentionally to keep fans guessing? Those are the questions I find myself less sure of than ever before, and while it's not the author's job to answer them, I would've loved to see how she framed and approached them.
I would've also liked to see more direct citations of interview sources where appropriate. The notes section at the back is fairly opaque, and it would've been nice at points to jump to specific interviews to see the surrounding context. A lot of the citations come from fan translations of Japanese-language interviews, so I understand that sourcing may be a bit challenging, but a little more specificity could have made this book a bit more valuable to future readers.
Overall, I'd say this is one of the better books in the Boss Fight series. If Corriea ever decides to write a follow-up to explain what the heck Kingdom Hearts III was about, I'll absolutely buy a copy. :)
July 5, 2018
So this book took me about 8 months to read. It’s small, only 256 pages on my small iPhone, so it’s not a good thing it took me forever to actually get “into it” on about the 100th page, but then again I’m also not a kingdom hearts fan.
Here’s why I’ll give it 4 stars:
This is a good book if you like the Kingsom Hearts series despite not knowing what the hell is happening. Author Alexa Ray does an outstanding job writing a succinct summary and providing brief, somewhat limited but also enjoyable theories about the remaining mysterious or downright non-explained parts of the games.
Ray would probably argue that the writing of these games is strong. I, like everyone else who played these games and have no idea what the heck is happening, would (rightfully) argue otherwise; that the writing is awful, which is why we don’t know what’s happening. And I still say that; the writing of KH games is terrible.
But! Despite that, you may very well still like these games, whether for the gameplay, the fun Disney/Square-Enix mashup, or whatever.
So here’s what I can say: Alexa Ray, in this book, ameliorates as best as I’ve read, in as brief, clear and interesting manner possible, the convoluted mess of the KH storyline. By doing this, I think it’s possible that you will be able to have more fun and take more away from the KH series in the future, ether replaying older games or taking on new ones.
So I think the book opens weakly, which is why I shelves it 3-4 times over a period of months. But eventually it clicks, it’s a fun Wikipedia article basically that clears up everythinggn with KH neatly and concisely, and chances are good when you finish you’ll want to go boot up a game in the KH series, which I think is the highest compliment a person can give a book like this; I think that’s the whole point, even.
So it’s good! It really is. Even for someone like myself, who played most of the KH games but has no real affection or even interest in the series, it made me want to go and replay these games.
(And if you’re wondering why I bought this book, it was part of a really good Humble Bundle deal that was books-based-on-video games. It was he book I was least interested in of the lot, and yet the only one that I have finished after all these months. So another compliment, that!
Here’s why I’ll give it 4 stars:
This is a good book if you like the Kingsom Hearts series despite not knowing what the hell is happening. Author Alexa Ray does an outstanding job writing a succinct summary and providing brief, somewhat limited but also enjoyable theories about the remaining mysterious or downright non-explained parts of the games.
Ray would probably argue that the writing of these games is strong. I, like everyone else who played these games and have no idea what the heck is happening, would (rightfully) argue otherwise; that the writing is awful, which is why we don’t know what’s happening. And I still say that; the writing of KH games is terrible.
But! Despite that, you may very well still like these games, whether for the gameplay, the fun Disney/Square-Enix mashup, or whatever.
So here’s what I can say: Alexa Ray, in this book, ameliorates as best as I’ve read, in as brief, clear and interesting manner possible, the convoluted mess of the KH storyline. By doing this, I think it’s possible that you will be able to have more fun and take more away from the KH series in the future, ether replaying older games or taking on new ones.
So I think the book opens weakly, which is why I shelves it 3-4 times over a period of months. But eventually it clicks, it’s a fun Wikipedia article basically that clears up everythinggn with KH neatly and concisely, and chances are good when you finish you’ll want to go boot up a game in the KH series, which I think is the highest compliment a person can give a book like this; I think that’s the whole point, even.
So it’s good! It really is. Even for someone like myself, who played most of the KH games but has no real affection or even interest in the series, it made me want to go and replay these games.
(And if you’re wondering why I bought this book, it was part of a really good Humble Bundle deal that was books-based-on-video games. It was he book I was least interested in of the lot, and yet the only one that I have finished after all these months. So another compliment, that!
August 19, 2025
Really wanted to like it. I waited like 3 months for this bc it was on back order for a while.
I have no interest in dunking on a woman in games journalism, but this book has a lot of the kh timeline wrong, which lead to some incorrect logic in her arguments, and a lot of shallow critique. Much of this book feels incredibly uncharitable towards the writers and developers, which feels strange knowing that Alexa Ray Corriea has worked in the writers room at gaming companies?
It feels like this was really rushed out, and I’m surprised at least the editor didn’t fact check against the kh wiki. I largely blame the editor, because these mistakes should have been caught in the manuscript, or should have been fixed at some point in the last few years in an updated edition of the book.
One of my biggest gripes—Kairi and Namine *do* pass the Bechdel test, multiple times, sometimes even when speaking to each other. I went and double checked (again something the editor really should have done). I really think the feminist analysis needs work. A lot of it is just stuff the fandom at large believes, and maybe this is why it went under the radar. But that’s why I think it’s necessary to be mindful and critical.
Mainstream narratives are often the ones that are full of stereotypes. Why is it that the fandom is so fixated on Kairi in relation to Sora? Why does her value have to be based on if she’s in a relationship with him or if she’s fighting the same way he does? It seems there is a paradoxical tension that demands she be Sora’s girlfriend after years of distance, and not have that relationship be taken advantage of by any enemy force (ie, calling her a damsel), and also be her own person, and also that she wield a keyblade at exactly the same strength as Riku and Sora, and never have any struggles in doing so, or she will be considered weak and anti-feminist.
I think the meme of Kairi has haunted her, and will continue to haunt her, regardless of any writing decisions in the future. She was considered *by the western fandom* to be Soras useless, annoying damsel gf in the first game, and that’s all she will ever be seen as, ironically.
I have no interest in dunking on a woman in games journalism, but this book has a lot of the kh timeline wrong, which lead to some incorrect logic in her arguments, and a lot of shallow critique. Much of this book feels incredibly uncharitable towards the writers and developers, which feels strange knowing that Alexa Ray Corriea has worked in the writers room at gaming companies?
It feels like this was really rushed out, and I’m surprised at least the editor didn’t fact check against the kh wiki. I largely blame the editor, because these mistakes should have been caught in the manuscript, or should have been fixed at some point in the last few years in an updated edition of the book.
One of my biggest gripes—Kairi and Namine *do* pass the Bechdel test, multiple times, sometimes even when speaking to each other. I went and double checked (again something the editor really should have done). I really think the feminist analysis needs work. A lot of it is just stuff the fandom at large believes, and maybe this is why it went under the radar. But that’s why I think it’s necessary to be mindful and critical.
Mainstream narratives are often the ones that are full of stereotypes. Why is it that the fandom is so fixated on Kairi in relation to Sora? Why does her value have to be based on if she’s in a relationship with him or if she’s fighting the same way he does? It seems there is a paradoxical tension that demands she be Sora’s girlfriend after years of distance, and not have that relationship be taken advantage of by any enemy force (ie, calling her a damsel), and also be her own person, and also that she wield a keyblade at exactly the same strength as Riku and Sora, and never have any struggles in doing so, or she will be considered weak and anti-feminist.
I think the meme of Kairi has haunted her, and will continue to haunt her, regardless of any writing decisions in the future. She was considered *by the western fandom* to be Soras useless, annoying damsel gf in the first game, and that’s all she will ever be seen as, ironically.
January 6, 2020
Corriea's book is mostly well-written and very engaging, making me want to catch up on and finally finish the Kingdom Hearts series. My only major complaint is the consistency in focus between chapters. I know that Boss Fight Books allows each author to play around with genres, balancing personal and critical material in each book, but this text in particular wavers between chapters. Some chapters make personal connections between Corriea's life and the game (the approach I was expecting and wanting see more developed since I know a bit about Corriea's personal issues that she shared on the What's Good Games podcast) while others dive a little deeper into critical interpretations of the game with little reference to Corriea or the game's impact on the larger cultures and/or societies in which it was released. In the end, the bulk of the book is a summary of the series with some light analysis of the themes and characters, and it's successful in delivering this content.
The best recommendation that I can give for this book would be to really consider your personal expectations before reading it. If you are familiar with the games and want to hear a well-constructed summary and some thoughtful analysis of the major aspects of the series, this is a perfect text for you. If you are looking for a deep-dive that critically analyzes small aspects of Kingdom Hearts II, an examination of the larger impact of the game, or a more developed memoir for Corriea and her experience with the game, you won't be as satisfied with this book. I found it to be a very enjoyable read, and I expect I will return to it again in the future.
The best recommendation that I can give for this book would be to really consider your personal expectations before reading it. If you are familiar with the games and want to hear a well-constructed summary and some thoughtful analysis of the major aspects of the series, this is a perfect text for you. If you are looking for a deep-dive that critically analyzes small aspects of Kingdom Hearts II, an examination of the larger impact of the game, or a more developed memoir for Corriea and her experience with the game, you won't be as satisfied with this book. I found it to be a very enjoyable read, and I expect I will return to it again in the future.
July 12, 2020
Definitely one of the better books written in the anthology series. While others in the series tend to write a lot about their own personal history interwoven with their particular games dogma, Alexa briefly writes about her experiences with the Kingdom Heart series while making more of a connection to mankind’s morality and nature. The bulk of the book really rests in explaining the core belief of the story and the deep relationships fostered within.
Kingdom Hearts is a game series I have always found too daunting to begin and this book only strengthens that fear. But at least through reading about it and seeing videos of it, I’m able to glimpse a fraction of what it’s all about as well as why people love it so much.
Kingdom Hearts is a game series I have always found too daunting to begin and this book only strengthens that fear. But at least through reading about it and seeing videos of it, I’m able to glimpse a fraction of what it’s all about as well as why people love it so much.
February 23, 2025
A deeply moving documentary of a game that meant a lot to the author. Correia goes all in on this series title and makes an enormous contribution to the entire series as she has experienced it.
I did see one thing that stood out to me. She mentions the pure relationship the two male lead characters have and has a very interesting perspective on it that is so telling in how she sees the romantic relationship of the damsel in distress that is part of the overarching story. What that says about the game. What it says about her own life choices.
The world must face such questions. We all come from somewhere. There is no continuing story if our generation continues in its current trend.
I did see one thing that stood out to me. She mentions the pure relationship the two male lead characters have and has a very interesting perspective on it that is so telling in how she sees the romantic relationship of the damsel in distress that is part of the overarching story. What that says about the game. What it says about her own life choices.
The world must face such questions. We all come from somewhere. There is no continuing story if our generation continues in its current trend.
May 7, 2019
An excellent read!
If you’re a fan of the game, or the series of Kingdom Hearts, this is worth the read. It’s an opinionated piece, like an analysis of the game, mechanics, and plot similar to what you’d find on a YouTube video doc.
While I didn’t agree with all of the points the author made, it did open my eyes to another perspective on such a beloved game. It was interesting to see how similar our experiences were, and how we took away different things (some times the same thing).
The chapters on Kairi’s character and Sora & Riku’s relationship was particularly eye-opening, and verbalize thoughts I could never put into words. In general, it just made me think about the game in a different light and added to my overall thoughts of the series.
If you’re a fan of the game, or the series of Kingdom Hearts, this is worth the read. It’s an opinionated piece, like an analysis of the game, mechanics, and plot similar to what you’d find on a YouTube video doc.
While I didn’t agree with all of the points the author made, it did open my eyes to another perspective on such a beloved game. It was interesting to see how similar our experiences were, and how we took away different things (some times the same thing).
The chapters on Kairi’s character and Sora & Riku’s relationship was particularly eye-opening, and verbalize thoughts I could never put into words. In general, it just made me think about the game in a different light and added to my overall thoughts of the series.
July 16, 2023
I really enjoyed the parts of this deep-dive that related directly to Alexa’s experience playing the series with family and friends, and sharing a deep experience with them. The exploration of Ricky’s existence as the only true 3-dimensional character was also very good, but the rest of the book feels like it exists simply as a recap and explainer for the world and story, which while useful to establish some ground to work off of also feels like wasted pages. Would have much rather read more about how the game (and the entire series) impacted her and her relationships with friends and family.
August 11, 2018
Utterly love this game series, being my favourite since I was small. So to be given this book was just as brilliant as actually playing the game. A really well written inisight and overview into particular plot points, devices and themes surrounding the games, including excerpts from interviews with Tetsuya Nomura, and justified critique of some of the more questionable design and story decisions. Perfectly balanced and a joy to read. Finished in less than a day!
August 7, 2017
This was my first experience with the Boss Fight Books series. Despite the title, Kingdom Hearts II, this volume provides a recap of the previous and future installments of the Kingdom Hearts series as well. Alexa Ray Corriea offers insight into the complexities of the series, while acknowledging and pardoning some of the flaws along the way.
April 22, 2022
With apologies to the game's fans, I find Kingdom Hearts lore really offputting: obscure, smarmy, and unfocused. I bounced off the first game in the series after only a few hours. I am also a heartless monster that does not like Disney films. That I made it through this book is a testament to the skills of the author. But, I would recommend this only to Kingdom Hearts fans.
July 11, 2017
5 stars
Insightful, well researched and personal, an easy recommendation to any Kingdom Hearts fan. Purchased KH 1.5 + 2.5 remix earlier because this book gave me an intense need to replay the game.
Insightful, well researched and personal, an easy recommendation to any Kingdom Hearts fan. Purchased KH 1.5 + 2.5 remix earlier because this book gave me an intense need to replay the game.
March 24, 2018
Best book on the series. Not only does it thoroughly explain the vagueness the game gives the players but it goes into so much detail about the friendships, relationships, characters and the series itself.
February 13, 2025
I don't know that this book was bad, it just wasn't what I was looking for. It ended up being something of an essay or analysis of the game's (and series) plot points and psychology. Just not interesting to me.
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