Kingdom Hearts is filled with otherworldly boss battles, but only one stands out like a phoenix dancing with ethereal grace across the night sky. Before we embark upon a discussion concerning Kingdom Hearts' exceptional boss battles, it may be prudent to first reflect on the evolution of the criteria for appraising video game bosses. This criterion has undergone a major metamorphosis over the past decade; one that owes much to the profound influence of From Software and its iconic Souls series.
I, too, was once beguiled by the Souls formula’s allure, until I got the opportunity to review Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and saw the avowal that accompanied its reviewer press kit. If I were to use the term ‘Metanoia’ to describe what I read, it wouldn't simply be a mere figure of speech, but simply, and without a puff of uncertainty or hesitancy, the truth.
"Unlearn what you have learned," read the opening sentence, and I was immediately enthralled, nay, even spellbound by this mysterious calling. As I delved deeper into the one-eyed wolf's story, I quickly discerned the true essence of this phrase. I was gifted more swiftness and agility than Sekiro's parent series, and equipped with the vengeful ability to rise again from the ashes. Yet, I was forced to stand in close proximity to all enemies, denied any reprieve for keeping a fair distance until the perfect moment arose. Even worse, I was stripped of all build options and weapon choices, things I have constantly relied on in the past.
Surprisingly, this restrictive difficulty compared to the RPG-centric Souls series lingered within me, for I was not simply exploring the Sekiro's new options, but delving deep into a new realm of my being. A wellspring of latent potential inside me was waiting to be unleashed, eager to slice through these newly forged chains. The answers to each boss fight were not locked up in some special armor or weapon, but poured out of my own heart and mind.
The same emotions welled up within me during the epic Yozora fight, the ultimate challenge awaiting players in Kingdom Hearts III's Remind DLC. As the battle commenced, I found myself in the throes of a formidable adversary, able to transport himself through space and time with ease, and launch blistering assaults that left me bereft of any way to counter, parry, or take a single safe step around the field without suffering the consequences.
What's more, his lock-on ability had the power to reduce my maximum HP gauge, evoking the impression he was keenly aware that Sora was a virtual game character which I, the player, had control over. It was as though he understood that I wielded an array of commands and that the life of my character was governed by virtual parameters. His meta-relentlessness was enough for me to know he wouldn't stand by as a passive observer until I used my usual gameplay arsenal to defeat him, as I would with any other boss.
The depths of his self-awareness, even as the fight progressed and the phases changed, showed no signs of abating. In the battle’s later stages, he performed incredible feats, able to make my trusty Keyblade vanish with a flick of his wrist and replicate it with his own sword, mimicking my every move and spell, even executing new, never-before-seen attacks. Moreover, he could deftly pilfer and harness my own potions and items, including the coveted second-revival Kupo Coin. It was as though every tool at my disposal, every technique I had painstakingly honed, all I had once taken for granted, my very sense of mastery and command, simply paled and withered away before the might of Yozora's otherworldly abilities.
He is a reflection of what Kingdom Hearts' bosses should be, as his powers mirror the series' own tendency to constrict and challenge its players since its inception.
No other boss encounter in Kingdom Hearts has felt the same. Yozora's mastery lay not only in his formidable combat abilities, but in his uncanny ability to fight against my very capacity to fight. Still, upon deeper reflection, it becomes clear Yozora is simply embodying the very essence of Kingdom Hearts itself. The very nature of Kingdom Hearts' extreme difficulty option hinges upon limiting the player's choices, as evidenced by the Zero EXP ability exclusive to this specific series.
Sora's ability to defy gravity and execute awe-inspiring movements are intimately linked to his level, as are his HP and MP bonuses. Even the length of his combos, which can be extended through leveling, can be restricted by Zero EXP's cold grip, depriving players of virtually everything the gameplay stands for. Yozora is much more than a grueling secret encounter; he is a reflection of what Kingdom Hearts' bosses should be, as his powers mirror the series' own tendency to constrict and challenge its players since its inception.
It’s amazing how Kingdom Hearts has been espousing the ethos of 'Unlearn what you have learned' long before Sekiro existed. Much like the difficulty kick of the Zero EXP ability, I abandoned a lot of crutches when dealing with Yozora, such as my dependency on combos as well as magic and potions (thanks to his thieving fetish). Instead, I started thinking about how Stitch is actually an overpowered summon; something I would have never thought of under normal circumstances, as embarrassing as it sounds. In contrast to the tumultuous nature of a boss fight, I found peace and progress in letting go, a spiritual serenity that I've only seen characterized in Kingdom Hearts boss fights, and Yozora in particular.
And while some may argue that you could achieve the same effect by simply refraining from spending skill points in other games, the unique nature of Kingdom Hearts makes this experience wholly distinct. The Zero EXP ability, for example, not only works to your disadvantage, but bestows you with hidden boons such as increased damage against bosses, more potent magic casting after landing a successful — albeit limited — physical combos, and the inability to suffer fatal blows no matter how small your HP bar is.
It isn't only about restricting the player, but also shifting their perspective and inviting them to try new fighting mindsets and techniques (something that can't be replicated by just opting out of using skill points), and Yozora's fight isn't any different. It compels you to study his patterns and come up with your own hacks to defeat him (as many players have done already) instead of waiting until his sword dances are over or negating and replacing their damaging effects with your 'flasks' — since he steals them anyway. Here, the very restrictions imposed upon us act as an antithesis to the growth the game affords us, and it's amidst this beautiful dichotomy that I feel compelled to rediscover myself again and transcend my very being.
A subtle shift in perspective, or the absence of one, can often be the catalyst for a wholly different experience, and this is something that Kingdom Hearts understands on a profound level. As I look towards the future, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Kingdom Hearts 4, I do so with a heart full of hope, yearning for more of these transformative and binding fights that allow me to unlearn what I have learned and discover new depths within myself and within the videogames medium.