In 2002, Square Enix joined forces with Disney to create Kingdom Hearts. Now we look back at the classic action RPG series, and ahead to what comes next.
A brief history
The first Kingdom Hearts was released back in 2002 on the PlayStation 2. The game had players controlling Sora, the hero of the series and wielder to the keyblade, and his constant companies Goofy and Donald (among others), as they traveled through worlds based on Disney creations including Peter Pan, Aladdin and The Lion King. In the Final mix version you was able to fight a secret boss called Unknown who was a hooded figure and was later revealed to be Xemnas, The leader of organization XIII in Kingdom hearts 2 and it also included more cut scenes that were not in the original. Some reviewers thought that Square Enix and Disney teaming up was ‘ridiculous’, I think Square Enix proved them wrong.
In 2004 Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories was released on the PlayStation 2 and GameBoy Advanced. The game had card based battles that fans either hated or loved. It was a change of pace from the first game and took a while to get used to it. The game included a new enemy known as the Nobodies and they would guide Sora through Castle Oblivion.
In 2005 Kingdom Hearts 2 was released on the PlayStation 2 again and most fans would consider this one to be the best in the series. It included new worlds to travel such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Mulan. It also had some worlds from the first game. Kingdom Hearts 2 also included the Enemy’s known as Nobodies, whose main goal is to collect enough hearts to be able to get their own hearts. This one also had a final mix version which included more cut scenes and a theater mode. It also included a drive form, known as limit form.
In 2008 on the DS, we got Kingdom Hearts: RE:Coded. This game was first released in Japan as a mobile game and got released in the west on the DS. In it you play as data Sora to try and to fill the holes in Jiminy’s diary and try to uncover the secret message that appeared. Next in 2009 again on the DS, we had Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 days which introduced a new character called Roxas. Roxas worked for the Nobodies to get hearts with the keyblade. 7 days after Roxas joins a new nobody called Xion joins. The game moved form letting the player choose the world they want to go to in favor of mission based gameplay.
After Kingdom Hearts 358/2 days, we got Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, released on the PSP. The game let the player choose from 3 characters, know as Terra, Ventus and Aqua. This game is a prequel to the original game. It included new enemies known as the Unversed and new worlds such as Cinderella and Snow White. The game introduced Master Xehanort who is the main villain of the series and Vanitas who is Ventus darkness. In the Final mix version you could unlock extra content where you play as Aqua in the realm of darkness as you try and find a way out and learn more about the story. If you never got the chance to play the games, you can now get them on the PlayStation 3 with Kingdom Hearts 1.5 and 2.5. Which contain all final mixes in them.
In 2012 Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance was released on the 3DS. In this game you are able to control Sora and Riku as you try and pass the mark of mastery. The game introduced a new feature in which you can jump off walls and ceilings and introduced a new enemy known as dream eaters. The game is considered as one of the best handheld Kingdom Hearts game and one of the best RPG game on the 3DS. It will also be remade for the PlayStation 4 as part of Kingdom Hearts 2.8.
In 2013 Kingdom hearts X (chi) was a browser game. Gamplay involves players navigating a custom avatar through Disney worlds fighting enemies along with taking down bosses in multiplayer matches. A version of the game was release on mobile known as Kingdom hearts Unchained X It was released in 2015 for Japan and 2016 in the west. Kingdom hearts X is a prequel to the series as a whole, set 100 years before the events of Kingdom hearts. It takes place during the keyblade war which established the organization of the Kingdom Hearts universe as of the original game.
Now what’s next for the franchise. So far we know that Kingdom Hearts 2.8 is set for a release in 2017 and includes Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep 0.2 and Kingdom Hearts: X (Chi) Back Cover. It is a Playstation 4 exclusive. Then we have Kingdom Hearts 3 which was announced in 2013 and set for release next year. It will include new worlds and features and be available for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. And with all of the game being released on the PS4 in March of next year, you really could not find a better chance to start this amazing franchise.
Kingdom Hearts 0.2 is a epilogue to Birth by sleep and a prologue to the upcoming Kingdom hearts 3. It follows Aqua journey through the realm of darkness. So far all we know is that you will enter Cinderella’s castle and find yourself in a different and leaving that brings you to yet another world.
The franchise has come a long way the first game and continues to grow with each installment. It’s an RPG lite, with shades of Zelda or Secret Of Mana, the game offered much more arcade action than the traditional turn-based RPG Square was more famous for. One particular highlight of the game was finding scraps of a book from One Hundred Acre wood, which then allowed you to visit the home of Winnie the Pooh.
It is certainly one of the franchises I have played over the last fourteen years that I look back on with genuine fondness, and a desire to play through again, mainly to try and figure out the complicated story that has lead fans to want more sequels.