Just started playing

Hey all, just started playing Kingdom Hearts (first one) and I chose Expert mode, but im kinda stuck early in the game, Guard Armor I believe the boss is called is just killing me over and over, I even struggle sometimes against the common enemies in the area, I'm wondering if it was a bad decision to chose the Sword and give up the Wand/Magic? Also really want to play Expert as I hear Normal is just too easy, I'm by no means a new gamer but never played KH

There are techniques to beat almost every single enemy.

I don't recall much about guard armour, but when he starts marching towards you, if you block his foot while he's marching, he's disabled temporarily. I'm pretty sure this is true for almost all of his attacks.

Just get the timing right. Oh yeah, that invisible monster on the Tarzan world is going to be hell for you, I struggled on expert and I'd consider myself a KH pro.

Expert mode is totally worth it if only for the Sephiroth fight, dude.

If I remember right, the weapon you choose only affects what level you receive certain skills.

Cerberus is easyish, just quite time consuming. If you have the dodge roll ability, equip it, and a lot can be achieved by jumping on his back and doing air combos. Stay out his way when he starts his bite attack combo, and when you do move in for an attack, make sure you hit him from the side.

Also, the questions asked by tidus, wakka and selphie affect how fast you level up.
Don't quote me on this. It is correct, but I may have night and day the wrong way around.

Night: level slowly at the beginning, and quickly as you reach higher levels.
Midday: level normally for the entire game.
Morning: opposite of night.

I'm struggling to do the tournament at the coliseum, specifically the timed one ;o am I supposed to do it now or come back later? I'm lvl 24/21/26 (sora/donald/goofy) and have scan/counter attack/sonic blade (no idea how sonic blade is supposed to work)/mp haste/critical plus/guard, I clear em kinda fast but only really have 12-15 seconds left when it gets to the stage just after killing the two fat things (feet, hands, bunch of other stuff)

quote Afran

I'm struggling to do the tournament at the coliseum, specifically the timed one ;o am I supposed to do it now or come back later? I'm lvl 24/21/26 (sora/donald/goofy) and have scan/counter attack/sonic blade (no idea how sonic blade is supposed to work)/mp haste/critical plus/guard, I clear em kinda fast but only really have 12-15 seconds left when it gets to the stage just after killing the two fat things (feet, hands, bunch of other stuff)

If you're talking about the barrels, take all your combo+ off.
If not, then you don't ever need to do them. The later in the game, the more tournaments are unlocked.

Beating enemies comes down to learning their maneuvers and being patient. As with all KH games you learn the cycle in which an enemy attacks or is vulnerable and attack in the window of opportunity. Don't get greedy, you'll probably pay for it in deaths.