a lot of people go around claiming that Riku is the deepest most well done characters in Kingdom Hearts... and I just don't see it

 

Like okay, in KH1 he's basically Gary Oak, or Sasuke, or Vegeta, or any other generic rival type character. But that's not the Riku anybody seems to care about. It's what came after. His u turn, into a completely different character

 

a character that REFUSES TO CHANGE

like man, people hate how they keep reusing Sora's KH1 outfit, but I'm more tired oft hem reusing the same personality for Riku despite his 'growth'

 

Like let's look at hain of Memories. Probably the most reasonable depiction. He still retains some of the cockiness he had in KH1, which is easily contrasted with Sora's CoM depiction. He's also pretty upset with himself over giving in to the darkness, which, you know, makes sense. The events of KH1 JUST happened, it makes sense to carry that over

 

So the game ends with Riku realizing that darkness isn't something he can get rid of. He owns it, and uses it in tandem with the light. This is summed up with his final words where he refuses the path of light or dark, and instead takes the path between

okay, so far so good right?

So where do we see him next?

 

358/2 Days

 

Where he talks about how he gave in to the darkness and that makes him a phony, and he broods and complains, darkness darkness darkness. ultimately his arc ends with him... giving in to the darkness. which is now a bad thing, I guess. despite this Riku retains his sense of self, yet again proving he can walk the path of light and dark

 

So then KH2 rolls along and

Riku's arc is

oh no

I gave into the darkness

that's so terrible

I can't let anybody see me

because I'm so dark

darkness oh no

brood brood

angst angst

how will I face anybody

and then this ends with Riku regaining his body and darkness powers, again showin us that Riku can walk the path of light and dark

 

This plot point of darkness permeates SO DEEPLY into Riku's character 'growth' that it shows up again in Re:Coded where Data Riku somehow has darkness inside him waiting to be exploited despite not being the same Riku or going through any of the same events as the real Riku. The darkness is just... there

and he feels bad

and complains

and broods and angsts

 

But don't worry, next game KH3D!

Where Riku doesn't think he deserves to try being a keyblade master because

darkness

darkness

blah

blah

 

holy carp just shut up about the darkness its been like two years

 

I'm sorry, but beside the original drastic shift after KH1 Riku hasn't really grown as a character at all

and no, his constant inflicting of self harm as 'penance' doesn't count. Real character growth would have him learn to deal with the ramifications of his actions, not learn to be okay with Sora not caring that he destroyed the world and tried to kill him

 

Oh jeez guys

are we seriously doing the "you just don't get it" line now?

 

People say he's a well developed character because most of them like to fangirl over his design and and the whole "lone-wolf" cliche.

These quotes are the main reason why I think RIku is overdeveloped and overhyped as a character. Yes, I can appreciate the anti-hero archetype, but for crying out loud, his actions and struggles are seriously detracting attention away from Kairi and even Sora, the supposed main character of the freaking series. But I'm assuming this has more to do with his looks rather than his actions

Is it weird that in the face of all the evidence of why I shouldn't like Riku, I like Riku? What a strange world we live in that we can still find things to enjoy in things despite the thing's flaws.

 

Or- get this- even because of thing's flaws?

 

Really though, when Riku isn't moping about darkness, he tends to be a genuine badass. He's actually really cool, he just needs to get over his guilt thing already.

Or- get this- even because of thing's flaws?

 

Really though, when Riku isn't moping about darkness, he tends to be a genuine badass. He's actually really cool, he just needs to get over his guilt thing already.

 

There are a lot of characters I like (predominantly in KH) that I enjoy not because they're legitimately deep or compelling, or because of their bearing on the plot, but just because I like their presence. Aqua is a good example of that. She's pretty flat and static as a character, but I love destroying everything with her magic. I like the way she moves and the way she carries herself. I like the way she cares about her friends and the way she's able to protect all those NPCs from getting eaten by Unversed. Does that mean she's wonderfully developed? Psh, nope, she's pretty much the same as she was starting out. But the reasons I listed are all good enough for me, so it's a similar case with Riku.

These quotes are the main reason why I think RIku is overdeveloped and overhyped as a character. Yes, I can appreciate the anti-hero archetype, but for crying out loud, his actions and struggles are seriously detracting attention away from Kairi and even Sora, the supposed main character of the freaking series. But I'm assuming this has more to do with his looks rather than his actions

Speaking of look,this also apply to Sephiroth too,I know he's a villain but bear with me a bit

 

People like to fangirl over Sephiroth and how amazing he is,and while sure I liked Sephiroth in Crisis Core and a little bit in 7,he's in no way,shape or form the best FF villain at all.

That's like saying Squall is better than Zidane.

 

I don't know who the other guy is in that comparison.

 

Also, I was mostly joking... mostly...

Edited December 12, 201410 yr by Firaga Sensei

I don't know who those characters are.

 

.

Oh come on you don't know Final Fantasy?Like those two,alongside Cloud were some of the most popular Final Fantasy characters especially during the Ps1 era

Oh come on you don't know Final Fantasy?Like those two,alongside Cloud were some of the most popular Final Fantasy characters especially during the Ps1 era

 

No. How many times have I said that in public on the forums?

No. How many times have I said that in public on the forums?

Well I wasn't there when you said it

 

Btw,Leon in the KH series is actually Squall from Final Fantasy 8

Well I wasn't there when you said it

 

Btw,Leon in the KH series is actually Squall from Final Fantasy 8

 

Obviously, I know that.

Obviously, I know that.

But you just said you didn't know who Squall is

But you just said you didn't know who Squall is

 

I edited my post before you quoted it, and I was referring to the Zidane guy. Take a gander.

Edited December 12, 201410 yr by Firaga Sensei

That's like saying Squall is better than Zidane.

It's funny how Squall has better character development in the KH games than he ever did in Final Fantasy VIII.

It's funny how Squall has better character development in the KH games than he ever did in Final Fantasy VIII.

Yep,kinda ironic if you ask me considering that the game he starred as the main character gave him less character development than the game in which he was a supporting NPC

Riku's Chain of Memories writing was brilliant, but after that he should have had confidence, and DDD was just horrible.