It seems unbelievable, but 20 years have passed since Square Enix made a splash with the release of their first Kingdom Hearts . Originally released for the PS2, the title was a massive sales success, boosted by several key factors: firstly, the Japanese company's strong track record with role-playing games and a Final Fantasy saga at its peak , but also the prominent appearance of numerous Disney characters.
an explosive mix
The spirit that beats beneath the Kingdom Hearts series is practically a winning formula, despite its somewhat uneven trajectory. After a meteoric start with two absolutely colossal installments in just three years, both sales hits on the PS2, the Japanese developers quickly relaxed, leaving us for several years surviving only on handheld versions and remakes of those games for the main consoles, offering nothing more than purely narrative value.
Since the second installment arrived in 2005, until 2019 (14 years later!) we could only enjoy minor adaptations (except for the PSP version), HD versions and half-updates of the originals for Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS or Nintendo 3DS without fully utilizing the hardware of machines like PS3, Xbox 360, PC and even PS4 and Xbox One for which Kingdom Hearts III, for example, arrived when the reign of its generation was practically over.
https://youtu.be/mcm_dfhnP8Q
That's why now, with the recent announcement of Kingdom Hearts IV , Square Enix wants to make up for lost time , give the franchise a new boost, and erase the criticism leveled at the third installment, which left many fans disconnected from what had been one of the favorite RPGs of millions of gamers. After all, we can't think of a winning formula like blending Tetsuya Nomura's highly personal narrative with extraordinary turn-based battles reminiscent of Final Fantasy , and of course, mixing it all with characters from universes like those of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.
Anyway, if you want to review with us all the games that have appeared so far, this is your chance to jump on the Kingdom Hearts bandwagon.
All Kingdom Hearts games
These are all available titles.
Kingdom Hearts (2002)
This PS2 title marked a turning point for the role-playing genre, especially for games inspired by those Squaresoft (now Square Enix) had developed in the late 90s for the PSX within their superb Final Fantasy series . The story of these heroes in their fight against the Heartless marks the beginning of a collaboration with Disney that has lasted for more than two decades.
This title led to later remakes and improved versions as well as editions inspired by its success, such as the VCAST (broadband service) or mobile versions for the phones of the time, which in the latter case only contained socialization functions, not actual games.
Kingdom Hearts Final Mix arrived in Japan as a way to release the US and European versions of the original game, adding certain extras and previously unreleased content. It wasn't until 2013 that Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX was released for PS3, allowing next-generation players to enjoy one of the most iconic titles of the previous decade—a game that masterfully blended the Disney universe with Square Enix's own established universes.
Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories (2004)
Two years after the smash hit of the first game came Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories for Game Boy Advance, which could be considered a sequel, although it was actually conceived as a kind of bridge between the two official PS2 games. That is to say, it continues the story of the battle against the Heartless . This time, Sora, Goofy, and Donald have the mission of finding King Mickey and Riku, on a path full of dangers where they will have the ever-friendly Pluto as an ally. In this cartridge, we will meet the so-called Organization XIII, and its gameplay is inspired by card games where the hand we draw decides our fate in the adventure.
Due to the success of this title, a version for PS2 called Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories was released in 2007. It was launched in Japan as a second disc included with Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix . However, in the US, for example, this remake was released independently a year later, in 2008, without requiring the purchase of the second installment in the franchise. It replaced the 2D graphics of the Game Boy Advance title with polygonal 3D environments.
Kingdom Hearts II (2005)
Kingdom Hearts II is the second official title for home consoles but the third in the series. It was released in late 2005 in Japan and almost a year later in Europe, following a similar path to the first installment but delving into new dangers and threats. Thus, the Nobodies were introduced , which players had to defeat using improved attack options and a new reaction control system that delighted fans. This game received a version with more content and an English voice track two years later… in 2007, thanks to Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (2009)
With the Nintendo DS enjoying worldwide success, Square Enix decided to expand its franchise in 2009 with a cartridge that places its story between the end of Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and the beginning of Kingdom Hearts II, revealing important events related to the story of Sora and his companions. In this cartridge, we meet Roxas and Organization XIII, and learn the reasons that led him to defect. Another great game in the series.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)
The fifth title in the saga arrived on the wonderful PSP in early 2010, and its story takes place a decade before the first Kingdom Hearts , allowing us to discover some relevant events that explain what we saw in 2002 with the first title for PS2. This Birth by Sleep takes us to three different scenarios, each focusing on one of the main protagonists: Aqua, Ventus, and Terra, who at this point in the story are apprentices of Master Eraqus.
In this UMD (the format used for PSP games), we'll have to search for Master Xehanort in three separate initiation journeys that will intertwine throughout the adventure. Needless to say, if you're a fan of the lore of these titles, what's recounted here is essential for a better understanding of what happened in the first PS2 game. Incidentally, there was a Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix released in 2011.
Kingdom Hearts Coded (2011)
This game has its own story because it wasn't a standalone release. The Nintendo DS cartridge was simply a compilation of a series of puzzle games originally released episodically for mobile phones. This version, sold outside of Japan, was available as Kingdom Hearts Re:coded in both the US and Europe starting in 2011. Chronologically, the events it tells take place after Kingdom Hearts II , which you might remember from that strange message in Jiminy Cricket's journal: "We must return and free them from their pain." From there, along with King Mickey, they create a digital copy of Sora to embark on the adventure.
Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance (2012)
The penultimate (so far) title in the franchise appeared on the superb Nintendo 3DS in March 2012, telling the story of the events that took place immediately after Kingdom Hearts Coded and Sora's famous adventure inside Jiminy Cricket's journal. Riku joins Sora to travel to the dream world and learn what happened before the first Kingdom Hearts . It is the first game by Square Enix to include characters not only from the Final Fantasy series , but also from another creation by Tetsuya Nomura for the Nintendo DS: The World Ends With You.
Kingdom Hearts III (2019)
The eighth title in the franchise is the latest to date and wasn't received as expected after 14 years since its last official release on a home console. This time, PS4 and Xbox One will have a story continuation of the Nintendo 3DS game, becoming the final chapter of what has been called the Seeker of Darkness saga . Sora returns to join Riku, Donald Duck, Goofy, and King Mickey in their quest to find the seven Guardians of Light and the famous "Key to Return Hearts." A major new addition is the arrival of iconic Pixar characters and settings to the universe of these games.
The game received a lot of criticism upon release, with many accusing it of not being as extensive or varied as the previous two console installments. The story also failed to impress, with negative reviews criticizing its simplicity and lack of relevance until the final hours of gameplay. This resulted in scores and ratings far below what was typical for the franchise. Didn't you like it either?