We’ve heard the horror stories of back seat drivers, who like to direct a driver on how to drive or how to get to a place right? Well dear readers, and friends, take that and apply it to a child, who sits next to you while you play your game of choice. What you have is a child that will demand you to get every single treasure chest, and will display their displeasure when you don’t do it right away, going as far as saying “I told you to go do that!” Yes, a true back seat gamer is on my hands it seems.

In my case it’s Kingdom Hearts II, a game I know my daughter loves to watch, and seems to have a toddler like crush on Roxas, Sora’s nobody from the game. Please, picture the following if you will.

“Mom! Go to the mermaid world!” Not a single please, but an outright order from this demanding young gamer in training. Knowing full well she’ll pitch a fit and not wanting to deal with the childish storm when I’m trying to relax, I go to the “Mermaid World” as she calls it and have shirtless older Sora swim around, but before I can make my escape at the save point she demands. “Under the Sea!” Oh how she loves watching the screen when the characters sing. So begrudgingly I take part in the musical, timing my button massing skills to the beat to get a good score while my daughter sings her merry little heart out. You think she’d be content with just that. Oh no, she isn’t. “Again!” She cried when the Clear sign flashes across my screen.

Groaning inwardly I hit the retry button, and test my skills again, and wondering if my happy, little girl will be content with two sessions of the song. Low and behold for the next half hour again and again I play this mini game in Atlantica, the world of mermaids. Grinding teeth, and eyebrow twitching I complete “Under the Sea” again having lost count after the fourth time, and look at my daughter who is happily clapping along. At the songs end, she turns her large brown eyes upon me and says. “I want to see Pooh next.”

With a twitch in my eyebrow I carefully ask. “Why?” Her child like response, wonders of all wonders, is cheery and glad. “Because he’s my best friend.”

Oh dear heart of mine, be still for just a moment. My daughter is smiling at me, that look. The look no mother can stay mad at. So with a nod I board the gummi ship and head to Hollow bastion, fight through some heartless and head straight to Merlin’s house, the base of Operation for Leon, Yuffie, Cid, Aerith, and Merlin. Running past the NPC’s, I enter yonder cherished book.

More mini games await us as Sora enters 100 Acre Wood. From jumping, to flying, and playing Cave guardian. There are many fun things to do with Pooh bear and his friends. As the hours pass by I have had enough of Pooh and his friends, and want to continue on with the story. I’ve almost finished the game so why the heck not?

However, when I reach “The World That Never Was”, my daughter hides her head under a blanket, and declares. “Turn it off mommy it is time for bed!”

Looking at the clock I realize it is so, it is eight PM and I am yawning wide yawns. Oh that little scoundrel, happy as she is, has just made me play two hours straight of nothing but mini games. With a sigh of regret, I save and turn the PS2 off, and look at the now black screen as the TV goes off. With a chuckle and shake of my head I say to myself “I’ll finish this game yet.”