Kingdom Hearts II Just a Weird Thought

I have no idea what this would fall under, so if this is in the wrong section please feel free to move it.

Ok, so all these discussions about character development that I've recently been reading, most of which pertain to Kairi and how useless she is as a damsel in distress lead to me thinking a rather contorted train of thought- to make a long story short I began wondering how anything would have changed if characters were different genders, I also then recalled that there was a quote Nomura stated about Marluxia orginally being a girl and then at the last moment being modified into a male character. So this ultimately led me to start thinking about all the other...rather "questionable" looking characters. Namely Riku.

If Riku was originally supposed to have been a girl, how would all of KH been altered...especially some of his and Sora's interactions in KH1 and the "conclusion" of this in KH2. Even better yet, I wonder WHY he even looks the way he does (he looks relatively femine yet has a definitively "male" disposition).

I seriously want all people who think this suggestion is odd to actually swap Riku's gender and see how it affects the story. From my perspective it doesn't significantly change much except that there is a secondary love interest available (and provides an even clearer source of jealousy/insecurity) and an actually better (or at least more independent) "female" character...in fact it would be an interesting (or scary to some) plot twist when it came to Xehanort's Heartless appearing. (lol.)

If you have any thoughts or reactions, please comment thoroughly, I'd like to hear others' opinions on this.

 

Wow... that would have been a little wierd. lol when my friend first played the game (she was 9) she thought Riku was a girl. (she didn't get very far in the game) But when she went back to the game she realized her mistake and laughed at herself. That would have significantly changed my view on Sora and Kairi as well... I'll have to discuss this with my IRL friends... It could be a humorous discussion.​

 

Um...no. First off, why would Sora be hanging around two girls who could kick the crap out of him if they really tried? Riku and Kairi might as well be hanging around Selphie.

Second of all, if Xehanort's Heartless had taken over female Riku...that'd be...disturbing. People would start saying that Xehanort's Heartless and Xemnas would make a good couple.

The only good thing that would come out with this idea is that there would be none of that SoRiku yaoi.

Next point, they're wouldn't be any more of those Riku fangirls out there any more. Heck, they might as well make it another FFX-2.

Marketwise, I don't think this would've become AS popular. Sure, it might attract a few more males, but other than that, it'd have probably been dubbed just another FF game.

 

It's an interesting thought, I'll give you that, but it would severly mess up the story, or at least make it...awkward at some parts (mainly the Xehanort's Heartless part). I think he was just meant to have that weird-hair-strange-clothes feeling Nomura usually has for the characters. Afterall if they did intend him to be a girl they would probably have ALOT of last minute changes to alot of the parts of the game. In Kingdom Hearts gender roles are usually played out the same way give or take a few parts here and there.

 

I don't recall ever saying that Riku's personality would be rehashed, I suppose being a Tomboy just wouldn't fly would it? Kairi and Riku (regardless of gender, but it's not within his personality to really hang out with her) could have hung out with Selphie if they pleased, Kairi especially. Also, Kairi never really fought without severe handicaps in her favor, so I don't understand your comment on that. Xehanort's Heartless and Xemnas are the same person, so what exactly were you talking about concerning couples? I also don't recall gender discrimination being a priority for possession.

To clarify on the popularity of Sora and Riku yaoi, it's because they have a better personality combination and more believable or at least, "elaborated on" relationship.

Would you mind clarifying your FFX-2 statement as well? In addition, I believe males WERE the target audience back when the project was started. The ratio of guy-to-girl players has equalized since then (or so they say).

How would it mess up the story? And what sort of changes? The only one that comes to immediate mind would be the race to who would eat the Papou with Kairi, other than that, his lines (to my memory) were fairly neutral and up for intepretation grabs. However if you consider CoM then there would be a more noticable gear-clog if you viewed their relationships as more than just friends.

And Kingdom Hearts was a risk on itself, Disney AND Square Enix- I think a gender role dynamic is a pebble in comparision.

 

Forgive me. I was just babbling and had no idea what I just said. If there was any shred of intelligence in my post, it was probably being mixed up with the fact that I...

Oh screw it, I retract my argument. I can't come up with any decisive proof or evidence to back up my argument at the moment. Also, I don't remember saying anything about Kairi fighting. And the comment about Xehanort's Heartless and Xemnas is basically being compared to those "weird couplings" that have been already made.

As for the FFX-2 statement, I was under the impression that they made FFX-2 because there were people complaining that the girls didn't get that much screen time or whatever.

So, until I can come up with better arguments, I'm backing out of this issue before I get bashed for my ignorance. :sideways:

 

Hmm.

Riku a girl? Strange, but it could have worked, but I think his role is far better male.

I cannot think of any scenes that could have not worked, it just seems a weird concept. I do think that the whole turning into Ansem thing would be strange. It would be strange to hear Ansem talk, and know it is a girl.

 

I was under the impression that Xehanort's Heartless somehow morphed Riku's body (they never really say how he does it in either KH or KH2). Especially when you compare the physical appearance, power and voice pitch.

 

You are right on the plot thing entirely.
If riku was a girl, her name would be-i dont know.rika?with the first kh,kairi and rika (aka riku) would battle for that fruit with sora.so that riku battle would be gone.
there would be lots of changes. it would be kairi,rika and sora battling xemnas in kh2,and there would be constant fighting and squabbling between rika and kairi (if rika had a crush on sora,too).Thats my response.

 

???

To be perfectly honest, I think this would really never comer true since the series has already started!
Anyway, I dont think you could than have Riku in your party, and he was a GREAT fighter!

 

It's a thought-experiment, not a "it should have been", I know what's canon and I know what is purely speculation, this is speculation.

And...I don't quite understand that last part....could you please rephrase that?

 

Are you saying Riku looks girly because he has long hair? Thats stupid if you are, he has guy's eyes, and he has alot of muscles, girls with muscles=not that hot. Sora would probably be in love with Kairi and Riku. And Riku is a girl/boy name just so you know. If Kairi was a guy, then that'd totally change the story, because she would have been stronger to take care of herself.

 

u kind of missed the point...the topic was to picture riku as a girl and to see how it would affect the story...
-----

Anyway to answer the topic: To me, Riku would be like Paine from FFX-2, kind of aloof but really powerful. Riku (as a girl) would always push Sora around, I think and probably taunt him, even though Riku might have feelings for sora or be jealous of him. She would always challenge Sora and egg him on to bring out the best of him, and he would do the same thing...they would be rivals...

As for Kairi...since Kairi wouldnt be the only girl main character, she might have a personality change. While Riku would always challenge sora and such, Kairi would be kind of quiet and timid...and would probably be the voice of reason...Sora would probably like her because shes kind and isnt like Riku...after all...falling in love with a rival? Doesnt really make sense.

I still would like Riku as a boy though. I think its cooler, although i would still play kingdom hearts/ like it if Riku was a girl from the beginning

 

I never said that! (And look at Marluxia, everyone calls him gay or girly because of his HAIR COLOR, despite having one of the most masculine physical builds and voices out of all of them!) As for your "muscles" comment, look at TIFA she can function perfectly on her own and she isn't all that muscle-y (so that kills your comment there). I also find it a bit troubling that build-aesthetics make a character based on your comments. ]8

And yes I am aware the the unisex name, which makes me PONDER THINGS. Also, I think your comment that the story would be TOTALLY different is hilarious, as I comment on Riku being a girl, not Kairi being a guy.

But what really wins the prize here is your comment concerning the gender barrier you have set up (ref to the bolded red).

Also I have made a bullet-list about how the story would have "changed" if Kairi was indeed, male, all other parts of Kairi's non-visual characterization held constant.
-Be a PRINCE of Heart (which is to say, why is it limited by gender?)
-Not be Sora's love interest (in the eyes of heterosexual-pairings-only players)
-Omit the Papou scene entirely! -KH1 Exlusive!- *Note that by omitting this scene, the story would not have changed
-Omit the dancing scene entirely! -KH2 Exclusive!- *Again, note that by omitting this scene, the STORY would not have changed
-Male!Kairi's interest in Sora would become a sheerly platonic/friendship interest! (which need I remind you, save for the Papou and dancing scenes, is what it APPEARS TO BE!)
-If Kairi was indeed male there would be A RIOT because a male main character being in DISTRESS would mean breaking the SquareEnix norm, and breaking the mold is a bad thing [/sarcasm].

Anyway, that concludes my response to you...I should also take this time to say I support them being mutual best friends the most.

This comment interests me because who says you can't like your rival? The connotation of "rival" merely means someone you compete with but does not always necessarily mean it is done 24/7, this is what creates the distinction between "rival" and "bully", correct?

 

Yeah, that makes since. It seems like girls (no offense cause I am I girl!) would fight more over a guy than guys generally over a girl.

 

Y'know. That got meh thinkin'. XD

At least we wouldn't have to deal with this yaoi crap the fangirls put out. : p

Xehanort's Heartless possessin' Riku would have probably contributed to fetishes. XD

 

I actually thought Riku was a girl when I first played the game, then I learn he was a guy when he talked. If he was a female, that would totally alter the game and I don't think it'll be as popular.

 

Riku was jealous because of Donald and Goofy for the same bond. So I don't quite see it the same as you may. In fact I just see it as slightly different reasons but he does have the capacity for jealousy over competitive bonds (in Riku's case in-game, being friends with Sora, and in theoretical Female Riku's case, Kairi or just being forgotten).

Sorry but I see the Riku/Sora thing as being more realistic than the Sora/Kairi impeccable, no-arguments relationship. And character-speaking Riku has at least five times the character traits and development than Kairi.

As for that last line, that makes no sense in a G to PG rated game. Also, there are fetishes regardless of the gender set up. They exist. ]8

How would it alter the game? (Given Gender Change and the single, papou-event aside aside.) And why not as popular? Guys doubtless would like the concept of two girls fighting over one guy and girls have more than enough "male characters" to oogle at. (Speaking from the most lowest more shallow, and eye-candy seeking perspective obviously.)

 

whoa whoa whoa slow down a minute...

riku's a guy?



lol
just kidding

 

I honestly think that if Riku was changed into a female, most of the things in KH wouldn't have happened at all, especially the Ansem Heartless taking over Riku's body, which considering this is a kid's game, is honestly a bit creepy. While Riku those have feminine contours, the muscles, clothes, and overall face made me scertain that he was a male. In my opinion, if the hints of Sora and Kairi are still there, as well as Riku (female), being called Sora's best friend, the coupling fandom would be divided in half, depending on the clues that it will have for both. Think of Inuyasha. Or the Aerith/Cloud/Tifa love triangle that has people in constant debate. It will depend on taste. That's from the pairing standpoint.

For alone, Riku wouldn't have such a deep, or integral main plot in the first place as well, probably will just be in equal status as Kairi in the supporting friends category, though more likely, if Riku would have the same type of personality and Kairi stays the same, he'll be more popular. Though it doesn't escape on the fact that he'll be a damsel in distress as well if a girl. Is a usual trend that hero saves his two potential love interests. If you have two heroines, with one guy in the middle, fans would ultimately complain due to the obvious favoritism if female Riku got the same plot and character development.

In other words, a lot of things would change. It wouldn't be the same game concerning the trio. Elements to fit the bill of two girls and one hero, will be inscripted.