Video Game Micro-thoughts: #1

Kingdom Hearts 2 FM is a hard game.

That "Critical" difficulty is no joke—I've died probably over 100 times by now. But, that's the most fun part of the game. The learning of new skills and techniques while learning how enemies work forces me to micromanage which strategies are useful, and which are not. Attack, defend, reflect, run, fly. With every new attempt at a boss, I learn something new and try something different. I'm doing some hard reading (Patience level has increased by +2.5!).

I am less afraid of scary enemies and more determined to hold my ground, waiting for their next strike. Attempting to button-mash the x-button will lead to prolonged suffering. If I'm lucky, it'll lead to childish victory. I don't want that—I want to win. But first, I have to learn how to die strategically. This is what makes a win feel like an achievement, a reward screen like a medallion, a final strike like a dopamine rush.

These are wins worth dying for.