Bustin' Up the Beach

Entry #3:

Our character opens his eyes, only to meet the bright sun and the sound of waves hitting the sand. We seem to be back on that island. Only, things feel a little different this time. More… real.

And our hero sits up, yawning, essentially implying that he had been fast asleep until this very moment. He is suddenly greeted by another character, Kairi, who calls him Sora. He has a moment to contemplate his strange “dream” before they discuss their plans of leaving the island to go on an adventure. A third character, named Riku, shows up and they promise to finish the raft together to see different worlds.

Here, we are then left to explore the island on our own. Though, of course, with a raft to be built, our hero, Sora, must find the supplies. Delegated by Kairi, you scour the island for what she needs.

Exploring the island, however, you discover that you can actually challenge the few island inhabitants to a sparring match. With nothing to lose, you do just that,  finding that you actually grow stronger and gain values called “experience points” each time you win.

Analysis:

In this entry, we learn something that we would have expected to learn at the very start of the game: the protagonist’s name. Up until this point, his name was never spoken. In fact, we have never heard him say a word, either. The only words he has been “saying” before this point in the game have been “chosen” through us, the players. This is not unlike The Story of the Grail, in which the readers never learn the protagonist’s name until very far into the actual story itself. Also similarly, we only learn his name because it was inquired by, by another character. In Kingdom Hearts, we learn Sora’s name through Kairi’s greeting to him. In a way, the mentioning of Sora’s name is, in a way, a breaking of the ice. In previous entries, we, the players, have been unsure about the course of the story due to its introduction’s dream-like quality and allegorical feel. Even when characters were present, they did not feel to be real. Our suspicions of this dream are confirmed as Sora awakens, and also seems to have seen the same things we have, but also with no idea what they mean. In this sense, both player and protagonist are as inexperienced as each other.

Plotwise, the story takes a turn and sets up what seems to be the main quest and goal of the game: to journey and explore the other worlds outside the island. The three friends, Sora, Riku, and Kairi, make an informal oath that they will go together, signifying at their strong friendship. This oath triggers ideas and memories of the oath in relation to the grail and a number of quests, but the way it was brought up more playfully than in our readings (such as Percival or The Noble Tale of the Sankgreal) makes its meaning slightly ambiguous, for now. One can expect the game to come back to their friendship and promises.

And of course, one cannot really be on a quest or adventure without the tests and trials to make one stronger. As Sora explores the island, we, the player, have the option of challenging and sparring with its inhabitants. Sora may not be a knight, but from his personality and the way others address him, neither is he one to turn down a challenge, as well as the chance to be tested and grow stronger. Chivalry, of course, plays just a large a role. When Kairi, a female protagonist, was introduced, our hero’s crush was made quite evident. Many knights from our readings strive to save or prove themselves to their “damsels,” and Sora is no exception to this archetype. Of course, the final choice is up to the player on whether or not the challenges will be accepted. Taking on the challenges and winning will take more time, but in return, you will receive experience points, allowing Sora, your character, to grow stronger. Choosing not to will merely speed up your progress through this stage of the story. This is just merely one of the side quests Sora may encounter throughout the course of the story – and like Percival, you are left with a choice: to continue with the main quest of finding “the grail,” or to complete all the tasks and woes that appear before you without discrimination.

Expectation: Oath, Test, Inexperienced, Knight, Chivalry

Term: Chivalry