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Kingdom Hearts (series): Difference between revisions
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==Creation and influence== | ===Creation and influence=== | ||
[[File:Sora, Kairi, and Riku (Concept Art).png|thumb|right|250px|Early sketch of Riku, Sora, and Kairi.]] | [[File:Sora, Kairi, and Riku (Concept Art).png|thumb|right|250px|Early sketch of Riku, Sora, and Kairi.]] | ||
The ''Kingdom Hearts'' series is directed by Tetsuya Nomura, who also works as the character designer of the games. Nomura has stated that unlike working with ''Final Fantasy ''characters, keeping the main character Sora alive and interesting over multiple games is a challenge. He has also stated that though many of the Disney characters are not normally dark and serious, there were not many challenges making them so for the story, and despite this, their personalities shine because they maintain their own characteristics. Though Disney gave Nomura freedom in the characters and worlds used for the games, he and his staff tried to stay within the established roles of characters and boundaries of the worlds. When deciding which worlds to include in the game, the development staff tried to take into account worlds with Disney characters that would be interesting. | The ''Kingdom Hearts'' series is directed by Tetsuya Nomura, who also works as the character designer of the games. Nomura has stated that unlike working with ''Final Fantasy ''characters, keeping the main character Sora alive and interesting over multiple games is a challenge. He has also stated that though many of the Disney characters are not normally dark and serious, there were not many challenges making them so for the story, and despite this, their personalities shine because they maintain their own characteristics. Though Disney gave Nomura freedom in the characters and worlds used for the games, he and his staff tried to stay within the established roles of characters and boundaries of the worlds. When deciding which worlds to include in the game, the development staff tried to take into account worlds with Disney characters that would be interesting. | ||
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==Gameplay== | ===Gameplay=== | ||
[[File:Firaga KH.gif|thumb|250px|left|Once protagonists have obtained the Keyblade, they are able to fight using various spells inspired by the ''Final Fantasy'' series, such as "Firaga".]] | [[File:Firaga KH.gif|thumb|250px|left|Once protagonists have obtained the Keyblade, they are able to fight using various spells inspired by the ''Final Fantasy'' series, such as "Firaga".]] | ||
The ''Kingdom Hearts'' series contains both 3rd-person fighting and role-playing game elements. The games are driven by a linear progression to the next story event, usually told in the form of a cutscene, though there are numerous side quests available that provide bonus benefits to the characters. Furthermore, there are allies to aid the main character, Sora. The allies in play rely fully on A.I. controls, though players could later modify and customize their ability usage frequency. The combat system takes on real-time, meaning Sora could engage the enemy directly; various actions, such as attack and magic, are executable, during or after the battle. | The ''Kingdom Hearts'' series contains both 3rd-person fighting and role-playing game elements. The games are driven by a linear progression to the next story event, usually told in the form of a cutscene, though there are numerous side quests available that provide bonus benefits to the characters. Furthermore, there are allies to aid the main character, Sora. The allies in play rely fully on A.I. controls, though players could later modify and customize their ability usage frequency. The combat system takes on real-time, meaning Sora could engage the enemy directly; various actions, such as attack and magic, are executable, during or after the battle. | ||
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Another recurring feature is the World music; all worlds have at least one normal field song and most have at least one battle theme. | Another recurring feature is the World music; all worlds have at least one normal field song and most have at least one battle theme. | ||
===E/E10+ rating=== | |||
Despite instances of mild censorship breaks, the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series keeps a majority of its content "child-friendly". It refrains from using profanity and making sexual references, as well as from dressing its female characters in revealing outfits. While these elements are common in the ''Final Fantasy'' series, ''Kingdom Hearts'' prides itself on maintaining Disney's values. Death and suicide are also not treated realistically in the series, often with characters disappearing, dying off-screen, being revived later, etc. | |||
There are only five instances in the entire series where these rules are broken: | |||
* In ''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories'', Axel uses the words "hell" and "damn". | |||
* The main reason ''Kingdom Hearts II'' received an E10+ rating, however, was the appearance of blood and alcohol in [[Port Royal]]. | |||
* Axel uses the word "damn" in conversation with Saïx in ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''. | |||
* In ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', Maleficent uses the word "Hell" (albeit referring to the plane of afterlife), before facing Aqua and [[Prince Phillip]] in battle. | |||
* "Hell" is used once again in ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'' by [[Sam Flynn]], specifically when he argues with his father, [[Kevin Flynn]], in one of the game's flashback sequences. | |||
==Games== | |||
For the most part, the series takes place in sequential order. The first game in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' timeline is ''Kingdom Hearts χ'' and intersects chronologically with the beginning of ''Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover'' and the ending of ''Kingdom Hearts Union χ'', followed by ''Kingdom Hearts Dark Road'' taking place many years later and ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' and ''Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-'', which take place approximately 60 years after that again. The first ''Kingdom Hearts'' takes place 10 years after ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' and intersects chronologically with the ending of ''Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-''. The direct sequels to ''Kingdom Hearts'' are ''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories'' and ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''. The sequel to ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' is ''Kingdom Hearts II'', which takes place one year after ''Kingdom Hearts'' and intersects chronologically with the ending of ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''. ''Kingdom Hearts coded'', which takes place shortly after Xemnas's defeat and King Mickey's return to Disney Castle at the end of ''Kingdom Hearts II'', leads into ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'',<ref>[http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/09/21/kingdom_hearts_3ds_next Kingdom Hearts 3D is Next]</ref> which sets the stage for ''Kingdom Hearts III'' and the conclusion of the "[[Dark Seeker Saga]]".<ref>Weekly Famitsu interview, Novermber 17, 2010: '''Tetsuya Nomura''': "''Kingdom Hearts 3D'' connects to ''Kingdom Hearts III''; I plan on showing how they evolutionarily progress. [...] both the system and the story are tied to ''Kingdom Hearts III''. It's likely that the ending of ''3D'' will continue into the story of ''KH3''."</ref> | |||
The main games of the series and their remasters, remakes and companion releases, along with their original release dates follow: | |||
#'''''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}''''' (2002) | |||
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Final Mix]]'' (2002) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories]]''''' (2004) | |||
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories]]'' (2007) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]''''' (2005) | |||
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix]]'' (2007) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts coded]]''''' (2008–2010) | |||
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'' (2010) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]''''' (2009) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''''' (2010) | |||
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix]]'' (2011) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''''' (2012) | |||
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD]]'' (2017) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts χ]]''''' (2013-2016) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Union χ]]''''' (2015-2021) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover]]''''' (2017) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-]]''''' (2017) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''''' (2019) | |||
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind]]'' (2020) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Dark Road]]''''' (2020-2022) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory]]''''' (2020) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link]]''''' (TBA) | |||
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts IV]]''''' (TBA) | |||
===HD collections=== | |||
All titles of the series are collected in some form between five releases: | |||
*''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX]]'' (2013), including HD remasters of | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'' | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories'' | |||
**all ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' cutscenes | |||
*''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX]]'' (2014), including HD remasters of | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix'' | |||
**all ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' cutscenes | |||
*''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue]]'' (2017), a compilation introducing | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-'', an original short game | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD'', an HD remaster of ''Kingdom Hearts 3D'' | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover'', an HD theater video that ties in the events from ''Kingdom Hearts χ'' | |||
*''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX]]'' (2017), including | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX'' | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' | |||
**a theater mode for ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'' (DLC) | |||
**an additional scene for ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' (DLC) | |||
*''[[Kingdom Hearts The Story So Far]]'' (2018) | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX'' | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue'' | |||
*''[[Kingdom Hearts All-In-One Package]]'' (2019) | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts The Story So Far'' | |||
***''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX'' | |||
***''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue'' | |||
**''Kingdom Hearts III'' | |||
===Spin-offs=== | |||
*''[[Kingdom Hearts V CAST]]'' | |||
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Mobile]]'' | |||
Two flash games were created to promote canon, important entries to the series: | |||
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Gummiship Studio]]'' | |||
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Magical Puzzle Clash]]'' | |||
==Phases== | |||
The chronology of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series is separated into three phases, according to series director, Tetsuya Nomura. | |||
*The ''[[χ series]]'' is set in the ancient past, long before the adventures of Sora. It consists of ''Kingdom Hearts χ'' and its related titles. | |||
*The ''[[Dark Seeker Saga]]'', or the ''1st Phase'', portrays the conflict against Master Xehanort and his various incarnations. It spans all titles between the first ''Kingdom Hearts'' game to ''Kingdom Hearts III''. | |||
*The ''[[Lost Master Arc]]'', or the ''2nd Phase'' began with ''Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind'' and will contain future titles of the series. | |||
==Story== | ==Story== | ||
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===The Final Showdown=== | ===The Final Showdown=== | ||
In order to thwart Master Xehanort's plans, Sora, Donald and Goofy embark on a quest to find Seven Guardians of Light and the "Key to Return Hearts", while Riku and Mickey search for previous Keyblade wielders. | In order to thwart Master Xehanort's plans, Sora, Donald and Goofy embark on a quest to find Seven Guardians of Light and the "Key to Return Hearts", while Riku and Mickey search for previous Keyblade wielders. | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||