Kingdom Hearts -- I just don't really get why it's so popular

[infohippie]

For me, I can sum up KH in two words: Worlds Collide. It takes the grown-up seriousness of Square with the child-like innocence of Disney. I rather enjoyed the second game better as it had a lot of plot twists, (I found the gameplay easier) introduced a lot of new characters and plot twists. Like perhaps all games, it is the story of a person growing up, exploring the world, losing some innocence, but at the same time maintaining ties to that innocence in order to make sense of things. I really like being able to see all these worlds through different eyes. And I love the additional story elements added in to the Disney worlds. I also like the light v dark kind of elements and the character growth. I like to think that even parts of the Disney world can grow up a bit too. The series has a lot of emotional moments.

I'd say it's one of my three top game series, and probably the only one of those that's still currently on-going. I pick story as the most important driving force in gaming for me personally.

Wow, that was a well thought out and interesting reply, thank you. I still think KH is not for me but that showed me what appeal it can hold for other people.

Personally, I really dig it, and wish it was more popular and more respected. But I guess I see it's not for everyone. If the mere hint of Mickey's ears makes you cringe, this is not the game for you.

This is indeed why KH is not for me, but thank you for your explanation.

 

[Mr Pantomime]

Because whats not to love about flying a space ship made of gum through dimensions for the sole purpose of bludgeoning various blobs of darkness?

 

[pharaoh malik]

Because whats not to love about flying a space ship made of gum through dimensions for the sole purpose of bludgeoning various blobs of darkness?

I do hope that's a joke.

Because I'm laughing.

Also I don't think they are made out of gum per say, but 'gummies' whatever.. the hell that is...

 

[Nicarus]

I like it because they do what I thought was impossible. I remember watching the commercials for the first game and thought "Awesome!" up to the point I saw Disney characters. Then it was "Ah crap...". Then I saw my brother play the game, and it hit "Awesome!" once again.

 

[Lukyo]

My theory is Disney and Final Fantasy nostalgia. When I first saw the commercial for Kingdom Hearts with a surreal song by Utada Hikaru and very familiar Disney characters I was flabbergasted. My first though was "Holy cow. I NEED to play this!"

 

[Lukyo]

My theory is Disney and Final Fantasy nostalgia. When I first saw the commercial for Kingdom Hearts with a surreal song by Utada Hikaru and very familiar Disney characters I was flabbergasted. My first though was "Holy cow. I NEED to play this!"

 

[Asuka Soryu]

Anime
+
Disney
+ Good music
= Anime explosion of childhood nostalgia with gigantic Key's for weapons. Come on man. Come on.

 

[Deathkingo]

I think it's called an opinion. Apparently people have different ones. It's all a bit confusing.

No! I agree with the OP and everyone is wrong but me and him!
/ragequit

 

[DanielDeFig]

I have the first two games (Well I have KH & KH2) and I really didn't understand the whole point of any of it, like the story or why Sora has the power of the keyblade or whatever.

This. Forgive me if i seem rude here, and correct me if i'm misinterpreting. BUT, this seem like a classic case of: "Huh? the story? I dunno, wasn't really listening".

when i first saw the title of your post i assumed you hadn't played this series, so i was gonna write about how it mashes Disney and Final Fantasy into good JRPG games overall. Since you've played it, you already know this, and you seemed to enjoy the combat which is a big part of why they are good games.

All that amounts to, are some of the main reasons why it's a good game series, and you seem to recognize some of it. Why the series is so popular and why it has such a large fan base is it's biggest positive point game-wise as well: the story. It is amazing. At least us fans and the critics think so. Its also really well implemented and presented in the games.

If you weren't paying much (or any) attention to the story, then i urge you to go back and play again. Don't skip any cutscenes, listen and watch closely, approach it like a book or a movie praised for its story.

If you don't like the story personally or find that you can't get into it properly, then maybe the story isn't for you. Don't think that makes you strange or weird, everyone's different, not everyone is going to like a story irrelevant of how well it's presented.

 

[pharaoh malik]

If you're against Goofy and Donald, two of the recent games, "Birth by Sleep" and "358/2 Days" don't feature Sora, Donald, and Goofy as the protagonists. BBS is getting rave reviews both for story and gameplay.

As for the story-line questions you don't know yet, 1- yeah, there's plenty yet to explore, hence the sequels. 2- Try reading the Ansem/Secret/Xehanort Reports, they fill in a lot of gaps.

If you have a PS2, and I know you do, I recommend you track down Re:Chain of Memories. It was the first game I managed to play, and it made me fall in love. I *liked* the card-based battle system (in addition to the regular way, so I'm not weird) and I like the story. Also has what I think is some of the saddest moments of the series.

Alright I'll check it out. C: Thank you for your opinion.

I mentioned in one of my replies giving the main series another go. Also somebody said I wasn't paying attention or something. But uhm, I was paying attention. I play JRPG's because I like story..but yea, I didn't get it -- but maybe it's because I wasn't reading the secret reports and what not.

I will definitely give it another one of these days. When I'm done being obsessed with RE4... >w>

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I can't speak for everyone, but I really liked the first game because it was, for want of a better term, magical. The overarching plot, characters and settings all had that irresistible Disney flavor, while retaining Square's unique fantasy elements. It was like going to a Disneyworld park based on Final Fantasy. Pure awesome.

Maybe my problem with it was Donald and Goofy. Really hard to take it seriously when I'm being followed by two idiots the whole gameplay. (Not that Sora is the definition of intelligence, but he is sort of cute and likeable enough.)

One of the main reasons I loved the first Kingdom Hearts was that it wasn't serious. It had all the traits and trappings of a Final Fantasy game without the melodramatic speeches and depressing backstories. Incidentally, this is what killed the second KH game for me. It got too serious, and therefore horrible.

this. although the 2nd game wasn't KILLED, it did get some major negative points for trying to take itself so seriously. serious businezzzzz

square enix = popular as fuck

Disney = popular as fuck

ff series = popular as fuck

combine all three into a action rpg game being developed by them...hmm...

popularity for the win. the game is not bad at all and it has that disney magic and ff magic wrapped up into a ball of fun, so its nostalgia mixed in with a decently lighthearted jrpg which is magic to me

 

[The Heik]

I have the first two games (Well I have KH & KH2) . I played them both once through and that was that. Everybody seems to love the game so damn much and I just don't understand what I'm missing. I was thinking perhaps I should give it another go or something, and maybe open my mind to it some more.

I guess I just expected to like it since I like the JRPG genre well enough and the KH battle system was way fun . Buuut I don't know, something felt missing to me, and I really didn't understand the whole point of any of it, like the story or why Sora has the power of the keyblade or whatever.

There are likeable parts and I had enough fun to get through both of them, and I love Disney so getting to go explore the other worlds was fun. I guess I just expected to like it more.

So why is this game so popular?
What is it that I'm missing? (Or not missing?)
Do you like the series?


Maybe my problem with it was Donald and Goofy. Really hard to take it seriously when I'm being followed by two idiots the whole gameplay. (Not that Sora is the definition of intelligence, but he is sort of cute and likeable enough.)

I personally like the series. The combat is a good mix between fun and challenging, and the story is original in setting. Being able to go from Pirates of the Caribbean to Tron to Vintage Disney means that one will ikely find a favourite place.

I do know that a part of its popularity is the fact that everyone's favorite characters from Disney, Final Fantasy and the like are there, and some cases playable (I personally squealed when I found out that I could have Auron on my team for the Underworld).

But despite it's pandering to the lion's share of fan groups, it's always kept the plot original, the characters generally fun to watch, and like I said before, the combat is both creative and fun (you get to kill 1000 Heartless in one go! If that doesn't classify as freakin' awesome I don't know what does!)

aside:As to your issues with the plot and such. Near as I can tell, the Hearts of the world are kind of equivalent to the state/morality of the worlds. When a world loses its heart, the world suddenly becomes a force of Chaos, and if the universe goes too much into Chaos, things go pear-shaped. but if the side of Order has too much control the smae thing happens(pretty much becomes a situation of either extreme = Death). So the keyblade-wielders act as a balancing force, preventing either side from gaining too much power, thus maintaining the balance of life.

And the reason why Sora has the Keyblade is that the keyblades are driven by the determination of their wielder. Sora might not be the coolest or most badass of the KH universe, but the little bugger sure is tenacious.

 

[bluecrimson]

I say it's the character development of Organization XIII and the love triangle between Sora, Riku, and Kairi.

I forgot. Was it Kairi or Riku that was the focus of the love triangle?

In all honesty, the series was more enjoyable when it didn't take itself so seriously and just let you explore. I can't even tolerate the new games because it takes itself too seriously for what it is. I like the playful aura the first game had about it, and the KH story, as said by others, gets worse the more you complicate it.

 

[Dfskelleton]

I have a friend who loves it, but I don't really get it, or almost anything that has been made in Japan really. But he probably doesn't get Silent Hill, so we all have oppinions I guess.

 

[Optimystic]

I don't get it either. People say it's about the story and what not but when you have a kid who uses a oversized sword as a weapon beating a man who is a false god and another guy who KILLED a false God with a giant sword story is out the window.

What the hell are you talking about?

Sephiroth became a false God and Cloud killed him, and Sora, a kid beat both them in Hades little tournament place.

Oh, still how does that ruin the story for you?

Because it makes not the slightest bit of sense?

Unless Sora is secretly God or something.