Kingdom Hearts/Awakening

After the cutscene, you gain control of Sora, our main character. You're asked to pick between a sword, shield, and a staff. After choosing one, you have to sacrifice another one. Though it's the first choice in the game, it's crucial because it determines your starting statistics and which abilities will be learned first during leveling up. Here are the stats you'll receive with each combination.

If you want advice on what to choose regarding abilities, that's completely up to you. No matter what, you'll always have the same abilities by the time you reach level 100. As for stats, the choice should be between choosing the shield and staff. If you choose the shield, you will have 2 more item slots by level 100, whereas with the staff, you will have 1 extra MP. (The sword gives you more strength, but that's unimportant as you can easily get and Strength boost item and get maximum strength either way). The choice is up to you.

Once you've made your decision, you'll be transported to another platform. It's time for your first real battle with a Heartless.

You'll encounter a few Shadows now. They're the weakest enemies in the game because of their low-damaging and slow attacks. The annoying thing about them is when they meld into the ground. They will become a literal shadow, and they cannot be hit while in this form. Wait until they come back up from the ground (They'll most likely come up behind you). You shouldn't have too much trouble here. Once they're done for, you'll go to yet another platform.

Here you must examine a door, and then a chest will form behind you. Open the chest. A wooden crate will appear. Pick up and throw it to get a potion. After doing the same with the barrel, the door will open and you'll be transported to an island tree house with 3 children you may recognize.

Each child will ask you one question. You'll choose one of three answers for each one: This is very critical to your pace of leveling up depending on which answers you choose You'll start off in one speed and slowly go to another later on. 1. answers will give you a fast pace, a speedy start, but it slows down after awhile. 2. will keep your pace normal. 3. will make your leveling up process in a slow pace. It start slow, then speeds up later on. Here are all of the possible combination's of the paces.
 * Tidus' Question: What are you so afraid of?
 * 1. Getting old.
 * 2. Being different.
 * 3. Being indecisive.
 * Wakka's Question: What do you want outta life?
 * 1. To see rare sights.
 * 2. To broaden my horizons.
 * 3. To be strong.
 * Selphie's Question: What's most important to you?
 * 1. Being number one.
 * 2. Friendship.
 * 3. My prize possessions.

Like the abilities choice, the leveling pace is totally up to you. The voice will let you know when you'll start. If it says you'll start at dawn, you'll be in a fast pace. If it tells you you'll start at midday, you go to normal pace. If you'll start at the dead of night, you'll be in slow pace. Regardless it's totally up to you. Whether you are a beginner, or looking for a challenge, it's still your choice. Either you accept it, or make new answers to change your pace. Accept if you want to move on, but you won't change it afterwords, so choose your answers carefully.

After accepting your path, you'll move on. You are back in the Awakening. Move up to the light, and you'll be taught about the Start Menu. Battle 10 Shadows. After defeating them, your first safe point appears. You'll be taught about the Safe Point. Use it, and a stairway to another platform. You may want to get your Potion ready first.

Boss: Darkside

 * HP: 240
 * Attack: 2
 * Defense: 2
 * MP Recovery: 0
 * EXP: 18

The Darkside will start off the fight by slamming his arm through the floor, piercing it. Move out of the way to dodge. This attack will give you a chance to release combo on his arm, thus damaging it. However, several Shadows will arise trying to give you a hard time. Just attack the Darkside's arm until it starts rising after about 10 seconds. If you're reckless, you'll want to try running up its arm as it does that, you'll end up seeing its head is one of its weak points, so attack it. You will receive two tech points every strike the head.

You won't have to wait for another attack to attack it more. Defeat the Shadows if you need to. When it's standing straight, the hands are out of reach. Be careful not to fall off. When its chest starts to glow, immediately move between its legs. The Darkside will shoot couples of dark balls out of the glow. You can hit the dark balls back to the Darkside. Its hands are low, so attack one of them. The Darkside will repeat its attack pattern, so it should be easy to follow. Use a potion if you want, but it won't matter if you win or lose the fight. Either outcome will move on with the game, so if you want to save your potion, save it for later on.

After defeating it, or being defeated by it, you'll be transported to your home. Congratulations, you have just completed the tutorial of the game.