Ni No Kuni Theory (Spoilers Ahead!!!)

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Be fore warned. Story Spoilers abundant.

 

So I have been on a NiNoKuni kick last few days, racking up on familiars and training. Then I got to thinking about some of the story aspects in this game. For those who are close to the end or who have beaten the game.....

I think Oliver is having a psychological break down which is causing him to create a faux reality to better help him cope with his trauma. What makes me say this?

1. Hes like 8yo or something. Really young to have to deal with the death of his only parent. He almost seems unphased by the second act. I think this is a sign that he is really in shock and isn't quite dealing with the emotions.

2. Twin Souls concept. Every person in one world has a Other world counterpart and their souls are connected. What this is really? Oliver is using bits and pieces of his real life to form his fantasy world where anything is possible, including reserrecting his mother. Most fiction uses bits of reality to bring the world to life. Oliver is simply making his world more believable to himself.

3. Oliver is running around town in a cape with a wand in his hand. Many of the town folks have noticed it but seem to just be letting him indulge himself in whatever fantasy that allows him to cope. No one can see his friends from the other world either. Magic? Or maybe it is because they are figments of his imagination.

4. Oliver seems to target those in his town who seem just as unhappy as he is to become "Members" of his party. When dealing with some of the twins in the real world they have some really dark issues. One in particular has become verbally AND physically abusive to his Daughter and Wife. Oliver rectifies these things the only way he knows how, with magic. I feel like the entire game's "broken heart" mechanic is metaphorical to the Oliver's good deeds. He interprets his helping people fix their emotional problems as Magical because it makes the possibility of bringing his mom back more believable.

I would also point out that Oliver's story basically follows the line of the 5 Stages of Grief.

Issolation and Denial: He shuts himself into the house for weeks at the start of the game. The Denial(although unknowingly) sets in when he cries on Drippy and he comes to life. This is the start of him losing it...

Anger: this sets in when his psyche creats ficticious villains so he has someone to blame the loss on. This is very common. It came to no surprise to me later on in the game when you find out Shadar the Dark Djinn is actually his Soul Mate who had become completely corrupted by Despair....

Bargaining: Half of Oliver's Adventure is dedicated to him finding any way possible to bring his Mom Back. Searching for Stones and the like. This goes in hand with the "If only i..." concept of this stage.

Depression: There was a small period where he had to come to grips with the above. He kept this tid bit of info to himself as not to alarm his friends. He knew to kill Shadar was to kill himself as well.

Acceptance: Finally he comes to terms with the reality. His mom is not coming back, and that Dark Djinn is him. Meaning he has to accept his part in his mother's death and move on. He battles Shadar to signify this, accepting his punishment (which should have been death) for his sins. Yet he was spared due to Alecia(his Mom) interferense which I feel is his delusion of his mom absolving him of guilt.

Haven't decided what I think of The White Witch and the Zodiarc Council. Maybe they signify the realm that is out of human control. Bad things happen, etc.

 

So what do you all think?