Unresolved threads from Kingdom Hearts I are expanded upon in Chain of Memories, but come to the end of Reverse/Rebirth– the latter’s post-game– it’s made clear that Kingdom Hearts II will be tasked with wrapping everything up. Kingdom Hearts I and Chain of Memories work in conjunction to set a very specific stage for Kingdom Hearts II to play out.
Then came Chain of Memories, a GBA ‘side game’ developed alongside Kingdom Hearts II with the explicit purpose of forming a more meaningful connection between Kingdom Hearts I and II. All the same, both the ending and the secret ending made it clear that while the main plot was resolved, there was still more story left to tell. Kingdom Hearts I may have ended on a cliffhanger, but it was a self-contained story for the most part.
Kingdom hearts 2 series#
Especially since the series did indulge in finality once before.Īlthough only the third game in the series, Kingdom Hearts II was the franchise’s natural, emotional climax. Why feign finality when anyone paying attention can tell Kingdom Hearts isn’t going to end anytime soon? It’s not as if III doesn’t resolve the story beats that defined Kingdom Hearts’ first story arc, but it’s hard not to feel disappointed that Kingdom Hearts III ended up as little more than just another piece of the puzzle. Think of the context around Kingdom Hearts III’s release: Union x was actively pumping out new lore on smartphones, Back Cover brought the series’ story further back than ever, and the distinct lack of content at III’s launch (most notably Critical) all but confirmed work was still to be done on the final entry of the Dark Seeker saga. Even Xehanort himself hasn’t been retired as a character, with Dark Road outright featuring him in the lead role. Plots that had been building for years are resolved, but with an assurance that there’s more to come for everyone involved. It can leave one feeling as if the story waltzed right past its natural stopping point. But the introduction of the ‘Dark Seeker Saga’ as a mere concept opened a new door for the franchise: one where the end was nowhere near in sight. There had been anticipation building for Kingdom Hearts IIIfrom as early as 2005, and as more & more games released, it seemed as though the third numbered installment would be destined to wrap up the series’ growing plot threads. The phrase ‘Dark Seeker Saga’ seems to have popped up for the first time in 2012 –in volume 1242 of Weekly Famitsu– and has defined Kingdom Hearts’ story so far ever since. What’s perhaps more surprising than the fabric of Kingdom Hearts’ existence, however, is the fact it took the series 12 games and 17 years to tell one complete story arc.
A seemingly inexplicable crossover between Disney and Final Fantasy, the series quickly took on a life of its own, carving itself an important role in the video game medium’s history.
These problems and more were completely solved when Kingdom Hearts II came out, just four years later, fixing all of the our gripes while expanding Kingdom Hearts from an adorable mash-up into its own, remarkable series, earning it a spot on our list of the 100 best games ever.The Other Promise: The Finality At The Heart Of Kingdom Hearts II “You make a good other.”įew franchises have been able to weave a story as complex, convoluted, and endlessly charming as Kingdom Hearts. The combat was a little bit sloppy, the story wasn’t up to Square’s high standards, and the means of traveling between the different Disney worlds, called the “Gummi Ship,” was a flawed game mechanic that took away more than it added. The pairing turned out to be absolutely wonderful and – dare we say – magical.īut it had its issues. But once Kingdom Hearts released in 2002, this concept proved to be remarkably fruitful for fans of both parties.
Kingdom hearts 2 full#
It seemed like the silliest crossover in history, didn’t it? Square Enix’s Final Fantasy series, full of emotional and (relatively) mature protagonists clashing with Disney’s historically kid-friendly characters didn’t make a lick of sense at first – honestly, we feared that both companies involved had lost their minds.
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