I'd have to agree with you there. The first game was so easily approachable by hardcore and casual gamers alike. Even my wife played it all the way though. When she was done, she liked it so much she re-played again on Expert. To give you a frame of refence on how impressive this is, the last game she played of her own free will was Mario Kart. On the SNES. When it first came out.
But she say down with CoM for five minutes before throwing my GBA(SP) to the ground in disgust. Can't say I blame her.
I refused to let that damn card system beat me, though. I must have spent more time on the card screen than the actual game. Arranging, shuffling, re-shuffling. What I've learned from all that is this:
Never use slights. Ever. In fact, when you level up, spend all your points on increasing your card capacity. Hit points are almost secondary in importance. The only exception is Trinity Limit, and even that one should only be use in your swamped and desperate. NEVER on bosses.
The Zero card is your God. Worship it. There shalt be no card in your deck before Zero. Show your devotion by using at much as possible to card break your foe. Especially bosses. It really loves that.
The best time to heal is when your foe is recharging his deck. Getting card-broke while healing sucks a level of ass never before seen on this mortal coil.
I almost threw the GBA myself when i started Riku's story and discovered I could ht re-arrange my deck. But in the end, it was almost better that way, as I spent less time in the sub-screen and more time using the power of Darkness to kick Heartless ass. I get why Ansem was so ga-ga about Darkness now. It rocks.
LOOK AT ME! I'VE GOT SPOILERS!
Speaking of which, believe it or not, I already sumerised Riku’s story in my last post, Sentenal. Basically Riku is warped to the basement of Castle Oblivion by a man known as DiZ, a being of neither of Darkness nor Light. About the same time Sora and co. are heading for the top floor, losing more memories with every step, Riku is heading up to the ground floor, charged by DiZ to face the darkness -- and the shadow of Ansem within is own heart. He re-visits all the Disney Worlds (AGAIN), only the bosses of each serve as representations of his own weakness and fear of the darkness (correct me if I'm wrong, Mystik3eb, its been a while since I beat it) All the while, Ansem is whispering in his ear to give in to him again, to allow the Darkness overwhelm, him, which would enable Ansem to reclaim Riku's body. King Mickey aids Riku in resisting said temptations, and can also be summoned by way of the Mickey card in battle. Niame also offers to help him seal away the darkness in his heart (after the death of Marluxia, at Sora’s hands) but by now Riku knows that this is something he must do himself
Long story short, the constant temptation eventually backfires on Ansem, as Riku grows more confident through his travels on the lower levels of the Castle. Riku, no linger afraid of the Darkness, can know use it liberally -- but no longer allows it to use him. Beholden to neither the light or the darkness, he faces Ansem one final time, and defeats him, freeing himself. Mickey, inspired and impressed by Riku actions, says something along the lines of: "Until now, I though that darkness was always bad. But you’ve shown me a new path. I want to walk this path with you, and see where it leads."
As the game closes, Riku and Mickey are seen leaving Castle Oblivion, wearing the same cloaks as those worn by the Organization, when they are met by DiZ. DiZ asks Riku if would take the path to darkness, or to light, to which Rikue opts to take the middle path: The Twilight Road to Dawn.
It is worth mentioning that in the course of all that, Riku comes across two other Organization members, whom he defeats handily. It also bear mentioning that Mickey is sure he has met DiZ before, but cant remember where. I think there is a connection between Ansem and DiZ, but I'm not sure what it is. And until the KH2 comes out in the US, I don’t want to know.
SPOILERS END
Whew, i think that's my longest post here thus far...
