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Why Is Kingdom Hearts Popular?

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Kingdom Hearts, in all seriousness, shouldn't make sense as a successful franchise. The combination of Final Fantasy and Disney just doesn't seem like a right fit. Yet, for some strange reason, the games are incredibly popular and have gathered a gigantic fanbase over the release of only three games. Why is it that so many people flock to them? Jake Handy of NoMoreGameBlogs sets out to answer this question.
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nomoregameblogs - contributor
Published: 96 days 16 hours ago | Article | Sony PSP | Nintendo DS | PlayStation 2 | Gaming
 
 

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Go Gaming Giant - 96 days 16 hours ago
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1 -
can't say ive ever played a game from this franchise so im not sure why its so popular
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Blaze929 - 96 days 16 hours ago
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1.1 -
Well there you go. You need to play the game and at least give it a try. I was skeptical at first with the whole Disney characters but MAN, this series kicks ASS and it just THAT good. I cant wait for the upcoming DS and PSP games then after that, bring on Kingdom Hearts 3.
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nomoregameblogs - 96 days 16 hours ago
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1.2 -
they really are great! i can't wait for 358/2 days, but after this game I think the series could be in need of a little re-boot/re-tooling of the battle system. I enjoyed KH2 a lot, but it was mainly just pressing x and triangle.
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Tony P - 96 days 15 hours ago
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1.3 -
I was sure this series would be crap because of the seeming commercialization, but instead was thoroughly blown away. This is one of those titles that is a LOT better than it looks at first.
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DruePhoenix - 96 days 10 hours ago
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1.4 -
but see here's the thing, what if one has NO interest in playing the game whatsoever? wouldn't it make sense that they don't get why it's so popular? I mean look at the non-gamers that are ga-ga for this game, they don't understand why MOST of us love the games we do...

I think it's just fandom porn, essentially. Also I've never met a single guy that likes the series, not saying that means anything, just an observation.
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FamilyGuy - 96 days 10 hours ago
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1.5 - Stupid Question
It's popular because it's a great game and everyone who plays it tells other that same thing. Basically and action-based RPG, what could be better? Well if it had local co-op it'd of been better, so friends could control you AI companions if you wanted like in Tales of Symphonia..
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MAiKU - 96 days 8 hours ago
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1.6 -
The series is so great because it has a lot to offer to people.

Those who are casual or not really gameplayers at all will familiarize themselves with the recognizable disney characters. Whilst anyone who has played games for over a year should at least know what final fantasy is.

At the time, the story and gameplay was very refreshing. I mean the only bad thing this game has going for it is what it seems to be though when you play it you get something totally different from what you expected.

For me, it was the blend of western and eastern characters in one game, i'm a fan of cross overs in video games. (marvel vs capcom ftw)
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Kamikaze135 - 96 days 16 hours ago
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2 - Hmmm
Disney is very popular and the Final Fantasy series is one of the most popular RPG series. If they threw in Dragon Quest characters, I bet it would sell like hotcakes in Japan.
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Nitrowolf2 - 96 days 16 hours ago
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3 -
this game is amazing, at first i was like "Disney character? lame" but when you try the game out it is really fun. great story also
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Unicron - 96 days 16 hours ago
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4 -
It's great. They just need to up the platforming, expand the levels/exploration, and drop the overbearing HUD.
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olimango - 96 days 16 hours ago
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5 - Enjoy
I wrote this, hope you guess like that article. I think it should spark some good discussion both here and wherever else. That's all I can ask for. ;)
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Avenged Sevenfold - 96 days 16 hours ago
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6 -
The story line is pure beauty and it's so captivating and emotional the whole way through. It may appear as a little kid's game, but I doubt a child would be able to comprehend the plot. Or maybe it's just the mixture of Disney and FF characters? Hmmm....
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TheBand1t - 96 days 15 hours ago
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7 -
I disliked KH1, but nowhere as much as KH2.

I found the main characters incredibly annoying and the villians to be more likeable.
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Tanny92225 - 96 days 15 hours ago
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8 - One reason.
Because finding and beating Sephiroth in KH2 is kickass.
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Avenged Sevenfold - 96 days 15 hours ago
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8.1 -
He was waayy to easy in KH2. In KH1 he was god status.
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nomoregameblogs - 96 days 15 hours ago
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8.2 -
i played through kh2 again just for the sephiroth boss fight. so amazing!
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MEsoJD - 96 days 15 hours ago
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8.3 - You should play
Final Mix +

Fight the Knight from birth by sleep(Even more EPIC).

Damn I wish they brought out birth by sleep in U.S.

All the Japanese text is frustrating.
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edme1 - 96 days 15 hours ago
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9 -
Loved Kingdom Hearts...now Kingdom Hearts 2 not so much, liked the story but everything else was kind of a letdown.
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350ZRunner - 96 days 15 hours ago
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10 - Basically?
Because it has the FF7 characters in it.

Oh it would probably still be popular without them, but I would imagine that without the FF characters and the FF7 characters in general nobody would care that much.

As proof of this I go back to KH2 where the boards across the net lit up like a Christmas tree the moment the voice actors were revealed, and 90% of the conversation about them was who was voicing Cloud or Sephiroth.
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Redempteur - 96 days 12 hours ago
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10.1 - exactly!
Add to that the simple fact that the formula describbed in the article is used for almost all square enix-games ( ff13 and ff13 versus being the most expected now )
Release a teaser ..get the hype going ..
and then release a little big of info every 6 weeks to fuel the hype ...
REPEAT
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Enigma_2099 - 96 days 5 hours ago
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10.2 - Coming soon! An exclusive sneak peak... Cloud vs Sepiroth II...
... stay tuned!
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DMasta718 - 96 days 15 hours ago
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11 -
For me, the story and gameplay made me love this series. Plus, Riku is awesome. I like KH2 more than KH1. Felt KH1 Sora was ehh.

I remember when Kingdom Hearts first came out, at first glance, it looked kiddy to me but I gave this game a try cause of Squaresoft. Now, I can't wait for KH3 (If it ever happens)
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ChefDejon - 96 days 15 hours ago
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12 - it has an
amazing story
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super x - 96 days 15 hours ago
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13 -
Kingdom Hearts Popular? no
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LeGenDx - 96 days 15 hours ago
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14 - good story
good characters, fun gameplay, emotional plots.
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ReservoirDog316 - 96 days 15 hours ago
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15 -
I don't know if it's true that it's the hype that makes kingdom hearts so popular, at least for me. I followed none of the hype for any of the kingdom hearts games yet KH1 was the best game I ever played till I played MGS3. It was also my first rpg now that I think about it but I digress.

Kingdom Hearts is just very well put together. Great story, great gameplay and Sephiroth (I actually beat him once in it).
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BeOc - 96 days 15 hours ago
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16 - Well.
It holds an emotional significance to me, cause many of the characters from my childhood are in here + good story (both of them), and ive allways been a huge fan o all Squaresoft games... Can't wait for the third ^^
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Briyen - 96 days 11 hours ago
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16.1 - bubbles sir
that pretty much sums up how i feel, nostalgia

get's me everytime
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MEsoJD - 96 days 15 hours ago
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17 - Its fun plain and simple
I remember getting the kingdom hearts when it first came out thinking it would be whatever(my love of final fantasy made me buy it initially). I found myself not being able to put down the controller for hours on end.

Whether its the story, combat, and etc... it just keeps pulling you in.

Kingdom hearts 2 today still gets much attention on my 60gb ps3(Looks and plays better compared to my old ps2).

My love for this series makes me really yearn for Versus XIII being it was made by the same guy.

My only gripe with the kingdom hearts series is the difficulty isn't too the level I would like it.
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Microsoft Xbox 360 - 96 days 15 hours ago
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18 -
Great story and great gameplay. One of my top games for the PS2.
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Afreelunch - 96 days 14 hours ago
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19 -
I absolutely cannot stand the ridiculous melodrama, ridiculous plot-lines, and ridiculous voice acting. I can't help but ask "why is this popular?" every time I see the title in print. I can barely tolerate Final Fantasy games, let alone their collaborations with Disney.
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cuttlefish80 - 96 days 14 hours ago
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20 -
Personally I think it comes down to world wide fan service. Mixing characters from 2 popular universes is always a recipe for success. Look at Smash Brothers, Capcom vs SNK, Mario and Sonic at Bejing. If you blend 2 or more popular franchises, prepare to make some serious money.

Though I'd admit that all game cross-overs sell well, but if they are treated with some respect and are competent in the play department then the loyal fans are more than happy to overlook any failures that the game has.

In the end if you can capture the imagination of your audience and take them out of their humdrum existence then you stand to gain boatloads of money.

I draw you attention to Harry Potter, these books are by no means work of a literacy genius. However J.K.R. does create and imaginative universe for the impressionable tween market to lose themselves into. The same could be said about Star Wars, and any book written by Stephenie Meyer.
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Xemnas - 96 days 13 hours ago
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21 - Best game Ever
*Fades Back into darkness*
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D3stroy3R - 96 days 11 hours ago
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22 - Also agree
When I first heard about this game, I thought maybe it would suck, but when you understand the plot between Sora and Kari, and the inclusion of the idea of "darkness," and Famous Disney Characters, including the original voice overs, then you production values that are unseen in a game at the time. Still love it and hopefully will play KingdomHearts 3.
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23 Rockxy | 96 days 11 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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Gaurav42 - 96 days 10 hours ago
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24 - this is bullshit journalism
I dont judge a game on the combination of factors in its development, and then say it must not be a good game. thats BS. it plays well, is fun, etc. and thats why i like it, thats why it sells well etc.

END OF STORY!
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TwistedMetal - 96 days 8 hours ago
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25 - Disney and final fantasy is all that needs to be said
If you were a kid watching disney movies like lion king, aladin or watching these movies with your kids it should bring back nostalgia and you should be playeing it for that disney nostalgia alone. also final fantasy is like best rpg series of all time and since its action rpg and kind of a dark story it really just is awesome. I mean clouds in it. keyblades is like light sabers its got a small touch of star wars fill also. disney characters seem more bada$$ and epic. I dreamed this game up when I was a kid at how cool it would be if the disney castle gotten tooken over and stuff like that when i went to disney land.
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supersonicsaga - 96 days 8 hours ago
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26 - I like Disney
I had played FF9 and FF4, so I loved playing this game. It's a realtime RPG. That's probably the best reason.

It's kinda sad, I was in 8th grade middle school when KH1 came out. A 12th grader in highschool when KH2 released. I'm probably gonna be a college graduate when Kh3 comes out. Man I'm getting old!
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BeOc - 96 days 7 hours ago
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26.1 - -
i know how your feeling... times our worst enemy
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