Why Kingdom Hearts is A Success

Jeels · June 5th, 2007, 10:34 PM

So, I was browsing around when I found this really interesting article, written by Jeffrey Cottrell at RPGamer.com, that answers a question I'm sure many would like to dicuss, what is it that makes Kingdom Hearts so popular, and so enjoyable? Please note, this is a very, very deep analysis, and does contain spoilers from the first game. To those that will take the time to read it, make sure to comment on what you think either through the forums or through our comments system. I truly found the article below a joy to read, and hope to hear everyone's opinions on it!

Kingdom Hearts Insider - Kingdom Hearts 2 II 3 III Final Mix is where it's at. ^_^ Make sure to comment on your thoughts.

The Merovingian · June 5th, 2007, 10:36 PM

hm. well we all know why kh is a success. why a deep analysis of it.
oh well it wouldnt hurt to read it.
Edit: i read it and am very impressed. the guys very knowledgable. i can understand why now i guess.

♫ · June 5th, 2007, 11:14 PM

I love it when he says at the end:' Kingdom Hearts was destined to success. '

cuz its true.

Kaigon · June 5th, 2007, 11:17 PM

He makes a very good point.
Mickey Mouse has been my idol since I was a wee lad
And Final Fantasy have been my favorite games ever since I played IV (I believe it was called II at the time though)
The prospect of meeting Mickey and Final Fantasy characters in one place was the game's whole appeal to me...
Of course Mickey was only there for like two minutes and my favorite FF character Kain wasn't featured...
However Sora was my Mickey (the shoes, shorts, and prepubescent voice)
And Riku's role was just like Kain's except he wasn't a dragoon...

neon6 · June 5th, 2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaigon

He makes a very good point.
Mickey Mouse has been my idol since I was a wee lad
And Final Fantasy have been my favorite games ever since I played IV (I believe it was called II at the time though)
The prospect of meeting Mickey and Final Fantasy characters in one place was the game's whole appeal to me...
Of course Mickey was only there for like two minutes and my favorite FF character Kain wasn't featured...
However Sora was my Mickey (the shoes, shorts, and prepubescent voice)
And Riku's role was just like Kain's except he wasn't a dragoon...

Did you know Sora was based on King Mickey?

1ne · June 5th, 2007, 11:41 PM

interesting, never really thought of it like that. It definetly makes sense though.

EeL · June 5th, 2007, 11:55 PM

Wow, this guy is intelligent! He so deeply analysed it and it makes total sense! Good find monkeybutt!

Bobo Kitty · June 6th, 2007, 12:30 AM

Wow, that was, um, deep. I played it after my friend convinced me that if you ingore the disney characters, it is a fun game. I mostly ingore symbolism, but that is just me. The reason I liked it was because of the story line and the original characters. Shun me if you want, everyone has their own opinion. ^w^

MPC1301 · June 6th, 2007, 12:35 AM

This was a great analysis, although I thought that it maybey could have been even thourogher if the author mentioned anything about the whole confrontation with Ansem in the very end of the game. I think that the whole reason for putting in Ansem was basically so that the game could go out in a bang, and(although many will not agree with me on this) so that it wasn't ended as a little kids' Disney game, but a complex mix of what seemed to have more FF elements. What I mean is that if the game ended after you defeated Malificent, rescued Kairi, and closed the "big keyhole", they could've worked off the whole confrontation with Riku now being Ansem to make a sequel, although it would be a very easy way to end the game, and that's not what Square's all about. To make it more complicated, they seperated Sora, Kairi, and Riku, all in different ways, and left you thinking that all of the bad guys were defeated. However, an underlining subject was under our noses(the nobodies, and, if you count KH:FM, organization XIII), so it seems as if Square and Disney really did have a backup plan to make a sequel, if their first game in the franchise was popular enough. To sum up the game with a suspensful twist, you could also unlock the secret video, Another Side, Another Story, to even further your want to know what happened to Riku, Kari, Sora, and, of course, the "Blode Haired Kid." The developers of this game did an outstanding job of not only luering in all types of audiences with the combination of Final Fantasy and Disney characters, they drug you in so deep with all of the brilliant plots to make you hungry for more.

Shinjuku · June 6th, 2007, 12:36 AM

Nah you're not the only one cause I kinda played it for the same reason Bobo. Except I fall into the category of people when KH1 first was coming out saying WTF. When I seen X-play review it, or Extended play at the time. It was only then that I brought the game, and loved it.

EeL · June 6th, 2007, 12:38 AM

t must have been tough to ignore the Disney characters, I mean the whole game practically has Disney everywhere...

Bobo Kitty · June 6th, 2007, 12:47 AM

Ture ture, but its hard to explain. To me, it was more of a chore, yet it made, how should I say this, the "storyline" so much sweeter, you know?

shadowmind · June 6th, 2007, 12:48 AM

That was like WOW, I never thought of it that way, so in the end the people that thought that kh was destined to flop it was the complete reverse^_^. To who ever wrote that it was Awesome!!! If I could rate it some how I would rate it 100000000000000/5* Very good article and now kh has a whole new meaning to me. :thumbsup:

EeL · June 6th, 2007, 12:52 AM

Bobo Kitty, I think I understand what you mean...:thumbup: IMO KH is definitely no chore...lol.

Aqua · June 6th, 2007, 01:26 AM

I really admire this analysis. It does seem that the most successful stories are the ones that draw on basic archetypes. Yet, I wonder about how KH:COM and KH2 change one of these archetypes somewhat. It mentions "c) the inherent danger of darkness, as the Heartless are represented as beings of shadow, emerging from the ground or quite literally from Sora's shadow." and Light and darkness are nearly universally regarded as opposing forces, one representing goodness and nobility, one representing vileness and treachery." In KH1, I see these differences, yet later, darkness is not made to be evil in itself. Riku is told to use his "darkness", and King Mickey mentions "the world is made of both light and darkness". This might affect how some people relate to and understand the games.