What started as a chance encounter between then SquareSoft game producer, Shinji Hashimoto and a Disney executive in an elevator would culminate into one of the iconic crossovers ever to be seen in the medium of video games. Kingdom Hearts first saw release in the US on September 17th, 2002, for the Playstation 2, and was heralded for its captivating mixture of serious Final Fantasy storytelling / characters with the lighthearted and endearing nature of Disney worlds / characters. Taking the roll of an original character by the name of Sora, he and his friends, Riku and Kairi, are whisked away on an epic adventure across a vast assortment of worlds. Meanwhile, Donald and Goofy are also on a quest to locate their missing king Mickey, who has set forth to investigate the disturbing occurrences of suddenly disappearing worlds. Discovering Sora is the bearer of a magical weapon known as the Keyblade, he joins Donald and Goofy on a journey to find their friends and aid those in need across the many worlds they come across.
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| Promotional concept art for original Kingdom Hearts. |
There is something just so inherently interesting about taking part in the many familiar worlds / stories of Disney movies, and watching them unfold in both similar and divergent ways as these new forces make their way into the stories. Aside from this entrancing collision of universes and enriching narrative, the gameplay features an also satisfying mix of action-adventure and RPG elements, much akin to notable Square titles like Secret of Mana or Secret of Evermore. This makes for a fast-paced and fluid combat system, filled with the spectacle of lots of stylish and flashy moves / spells. They're relatively simple mechanics, but they deliver just enough of a rush to help construct what feels like a more dire and important saga to be told. After a pseudo-sequel in the form of Chain of Memories for the GBA, Kingdom Hearts II would release in the US on March 28th, 2005.
With new worlds to explore, tightened mechanics, flashier moves (like freaking dual-wielding keyblades!), and a continuing and deeper narrative, there was a lot to be excited for in this true sequel. And the world of Kingdom Hearts was expanded upon in very interesting, if not the start of somewhat convoluted ways, exploring the concepts of new creatures called Nobodies and their ties with the Heartless. It also setup the series for what would be a much anticipated trilogy that holds the promise of much needed resolution to a long, emotional journey. Fans would continue to wait though as what followed next were many more spin-off / side-games, offering new stories, history, and lore to the Kingdom Hearts universe. While these may have satiated some's needs, they ultimately felt a little shallower compared to the series' main numbered entries. Thankfully, the wait will soon be over, as Kingdom Hearts III finally has a determined release date of January 29th, 2019. It's been a long wait for this exciting conclusion, 14 years in fact! But with every new glimpse at this climatic finale, the wait looks so far to have been well worth the wait. Until then, let's enjoy dreaming a little longer what new worlds and wonders this last entry will beholden upon us.
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