Sora’s side: a long-winded mystery that is slightly unsettling with the memory-loss and all, but is a story shrouded in nostalgia that sweetly pushes the whole Friendship Is Magic trope. The conflict reveals new depths to the characters (especially Sora), but Sora’s optimism prevails and we result in a hopeful ending.
Riku’s side: RIKU MUST GRAPPLE WITH HIS DARKNESS ONCE MORE ALL WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT FROM FRIENDS, WHILE CONSTANTLY BEING REMINDED OF HIS PAST MISTAKES AND HOW PATHETIC HE IS FOR BEING SCARED OF BECOMING EVIL AGAIN DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE IS A CHILD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANY MORE.
Me, suitably horrified: I thought this was a kids game.