r/KingdomHearts

Ive only played with Ventus so far, and finished his story last night. I know the Wayfinder trio isn't the happiest tale, but I wasn't expecting it to be this brutal. I'm glad I ended up waiting so long to play it, as I dont think younger me a few years ago would appreciate it as much.

I had fun playing/watching 1, recom, 2, 358/2, ReCoded (DS), and 3, years ago, but as I've replayed them recently, I have a new appreciation for the series in general.

I see people still act like KH3 killed their family in the alley, and it bugs me slightly. I see why people didn't like KH3, its does feel rushed, and the combat overall is easier than the previous mainline title, the wait lead to long time fans creating a better game in their head, and KH3 was setting up KH4 dud go Nomura wanted Versus XIII.

So I just want to say KH3 is my favorite game in the franchise. I love this game so much compared to KH1 and KH2, along with the side games (I never finished Re:CoM since the card gameplay didn't vibe with me, but I watched the story and it was decent). Anyway onward to why I like KH3.

1. The Worlds - The worlds on KH3 -for the most part- are some of the best in the series in my opinion with maybe the exception of KH1. KH3's worlds were so dynamic and large woth out ever really feeling empty -minus Big Hero 6- and all of them were gorgeous. I love how you can go back after you completed them and see Olympus rebuild or people walk about Corona. This is the first game since KH1 where the worlds truly felt alive to me. Even Arendelle my least favorite world in the game (due to its story) is still a blast to play through because its so pretty and the enemies of the world are fun to fight for the most part. I also love ther vericality of KH3 worlds blending the size of DDD with the interactivity with KH1. My issue with KH2 was always how flat and barrens the worlds felt flat, due to the developers having to assume Sora doesn'thave the Drive form abilites unlocked. KH3 Disney worlds felt more dynamic and accounted for KH3 faster pace moveset and verticality. KH3 worlds also has to best character moments for Disney characters since Beast in KH2. Woody calling Young Xehanort a lonely bitch, Sully and Mike throwing away Vanitas, Hero reuniting with Baymax, of Jack always having fun banter with Luxord once more. Yes the other half of the worlds follow their files but KH2 did this as well, as did BBS and KH1 to a lesser degree.

2. Combat - The combat though easy is still fun. Coming between enemies in this game makes me feel like Dante from DMC. The Ketblades and the form changes are excellent additions to the gameplay flow (I found myself using them more than Drive Form) adding more to Sora's arsenal and allowing more build variety. The Kingdom Key actually being a viable Keyblade for the entire game and the ability fo upgrade Keyblades and a wonderfully addition so players can keep their favorite weapon instead of switching every other world. The enemy variety is my favorite in the series, alot of the Heartless seem to match their world better than some in the older games (mostly the psp games). The attractions were fun my issue with them was moreso the music rather than gameplay and how often they can appear. I think reducing the rate of attractions to a couple of specific moment will help and not having Hand in Hand replace the battle music.

3. Bosses - KH3 has in my opinion the best overall boss roster. While KH2 has higher highs it also has lower lows (like the fire and blizzard lords, Genie Jafar, Atlantica, etc). Most bosses in the Disney worlds were memorable like in KH1. Bosses also have more arena variety than in KH2, like Mother Gothel's fight being around the tower with bumpy terrian, the King of Toys fight toy city arena, The Dinosaur Heartless in Big Hero 6, Davy Jones on the ship, the Replicas in Scala. Most fights in KH3 has fantastic arenas, unlike previous games having mostly flat rectangular or flat circular arenas. KH2 - DDD has this problem alot of these arenas which get boring after a while. One of my favorite fights in the series in Armored Xehanort due to the arena variety, going from a vertical arena, to an underwater arena, and ending in a ruined Scala is so cinematic while keeping the fight fresh without adding to many new moves. The final gauntlet also is good, from the Demon Tide, into the Lich fights, with the team fights making it feel different than just refighting Organization XIII again in the story (though I would've liked some 1v1 rematches), the Xehanort Triple threat is a really good fight with the best track in the base game, and the Scala fight - Xi Blade Xehanort are all fantastic fights. I do think KH2 final gauntlet is better overall, with the individual fights and the Xemnas final stretch is more climatic feeling.

4. Story - I know alot of people do not like KH3 story but I personally love it. The Disney worlds each added enough to the main plot -with the exception of Arendelle and Pirates. Olympus re-esfablishes the main crew and shows the Organization is up to no good, while also setting up Maleficent and Pete's goal in the next saga. Toy Box reintroduces Young Xehnort and follows the themes that everyone has a heart while also setting up the replicas through Young Xehnorts comments before Woody roasts him. Corona reintroduces Sora, Donald, Goofy to Marluxia, and reminds Sora of CoM to some extent while also introducing the New Princesses of Heart for later stuff, alongwith Gothel and Rapunzel mirroring Nanime and Marluxia thematically. Monstropolis revives Vanitas and the Unverse. San Francokyo further hints at the Replicas as it also introduces Dark Riku and further thematic show that everything as a heart. this leaves Pirates and Arendelle which retred Corna and Olympus, but Pirates gets the excuse of Luxord and Jack having the best banter between a kh Character and a Disney one. The final segment is great two, with Terranort getting Zetta Flared and the Demon Tide taking out each character one by one. Giving Riku a moment to save Sora while Sora is awake thematically repaying him for all the times Sora saved Riku. The Dive through the Heart sequence after the Final World is such a powerful moment to me, and I already went through the boss gauntlet. I actually like Xehanort's final moments, and felt they were appropriate (I'll do a seperate post breaking it down). My biggest complaint is the lack of a middle point like KH2 had, and its not that hard of a fix. Move saving Aqua and Ventus to the middle of the game to give the Keyblade Gravyard and Scala room the breath, I thank that would dramatically fix the fast pacing od the story.

Anyhow games are subjective. I understand why people do not like Kingdom Hearts 3, my issue is moreso how everyone acts like it killed their dogs and drank their milkshake when at worse its average. If you hate KH3 thats fine, but I love it. With the base game being my favorite in the series, and the DLC only adding to it.

I really want Keyblade-specific formchanges and transformations to stick around to some extent, as I think the weapon variety they provide in 3 are very welcome. I'm sure what the "Build" gameplay thing is in the KH4 screenshots, but I really hope it's not a replacement for them

Also, I want accessories and armor to have a greater variety of abilities attached to them like in 3. More fine-tuning and customization.