Why is Kingdom Hearts II So Popular? 91
kukyfrope writes "The long awaited sequel to the popular RPG Kingdom Hearts finally hit North America late last month, and in just those few days easily outsold all other games in March. GameDaily examines why nobody can resist the magic of Disney and Square together in Kingdom Hearts II and why the Kingdom Hearts series has been so successful."
Re:I wonder the same thing. (Score:1)
Re:I wonder the same thing. (Score:2)
Re:I wonder the same thing. (Score:2)
I'm currently replaying through Kingdom Hearts II on Proud ("hard") Mode (as in, the PS2 is on next to my computer and I've got KH2 paused) but you have to admit: the gameplay in KH2 is, simply put, lousy. It's far too easy (mashing X will get you through almost anything) and in sections far too gimicy (complete silly minigame, beat up now-vulnerable boss, repeat).
The only reason to play the game is, honestly, for the story. If you don't care about the story and don't want to watch the cutscenes, there'
Re:I wonder the same thing. (Score:1)
I think the little gimiks are fun, to be honest. It's a good game to play when I want a good story without having to think too much about the game. Sure, that turns a lot of people off, but it allows me the sense of escape that I'm looking for.
To each his own, I suppose.
Re:I wonder the same thing. (Score:1)
Also, the Tron world kicks ass!
OMGBISHIES (Score:3, Funny)
Re:OMGBISHIES (Score:1)
Re:Magnesium Panties? (Score:2)
Re:OMGBISHIES (Score:2)
And the FFanbois get modpoints today. Too bad, cause you're right.
Just one question: "Magnesium-panties?" Sounds hot(pun intended).
Re:OMGBISHIES (Score:2)
Re:OMGBISHIES (Score:2)
I just don't get it. He wasn't that cool of a villain. All he had going for him was the whole operatic theme music.
Re:OMGBISHIES (Score:2)
Re:OMGBISHIES (Score:2)
I am pretty sure that if you had operatic theme music that played whenever you did ... anything, people would assume you were cool too.
Re:OMGBISHIES (Score:2)
Seriously. Squeenix needs to put the entire FF7 cast out to pasture.
Re:I find the popularity of Kingdom Hearts II... (Score:5, Funny)
Micky goes to see his lawyer.
His lawyer says to him, "I'm sorry Mickey, but you can't divorce your wife because she's insane."
Mickey says, "I did't say she was crazy. I said she was fucking Goofy."
Re:I find the popularity of Kingdom Hearts II... (Score:2)
Or as Brak (from Space Ghost) says (Score:1)
Because she's Crazy!
Good question (Score:1, Troll)
Re:Good question (Score:1)
It has a surprisingly complex and mature story (Score:3, Interesting)
**SPOILER ALERT!**
Basically, you have really the story of two people - Roxis and Sora, one of whom only exists because of a mistake from the other one. So right there you have the question - who am I? If my memories and self are absorbed by another, what point does "me" have? And when I choose to give that up for the greater good, will "I" be remembered - or am "I" just a shell, with no real identity of my own?
So, sure, it's simple and silly and rote at times, but there's actually some good gameplay here (I think the action commands are cool when boss fighting). Not "game of the year", but "pleasant low calorie diversion".
Re:It has a surprisingly complex and mature story (Score:1)
OTOH, I see that as being 'good gameplay'
It really is as simple as 'Hit X mindlessly, a
Re:It has a surprisingly complex and mature story (Score:1)
It's the pokemon effect (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:It's the pokemon effect (Score:1)
Re:It's the pokemon effect (Score:2)
interesting... Too bad my wife and I both enjoy it.
Re:It's the pokemon effect (Score:2)
Re:It's the pokemon effect (Score:1, Troll)
Re:It's the pokemon effect (Score:2)
Re:It's the pokemon effect (Score:2)
Becuase of Marketing? (Score:2)
Reviews aren't everything... the game is fun (Score:4, Insightful)
I still decided to pick it up. Now, while there are a LOT of cutscenes which can get annoying, I actually enjoy the gameplay. Sure, it isn't the hardest game in the world, and a lot of it is just mashing of the X button, there's still something satisfying about going into battle with 20 enemies and taking them all out.
Now, while the stories for each of the "sub worlds" (Agrabah, Halloween Town, etc) technically just follow their particular movie, it all ties into the story fairly well. Now, I am a Disney fan, but as a 24 year old I don't exactly go out and buy every piece of Lion King memorabilia or see every new Disney movie... so I definitely didn't buy the game based on the fact that Disney characters are in it. But the story is enjoyable.
So, put a good storyline, great characters, and fun, simple gameplay together and you have a quality game IMO.
Re:Reviews aren't everything... the game is fun (Score:1)
PLEASE.
Re:Reviews aren't everything... the game is fun (Score:2)
Gummi Ships are indeed in the game... however, this time it's actually somewhat entertaining. Sure, it's still pretty much impossible to die, but there's certain treasures and things that you can get by defeating certain enemies. The graphics are much better, and the controls are a lot better.
It certainly wouldn't be a great game on its own, but it's not as annoying as it was in the first one.
Not sure but... (Score:2)
Easy ... (Score:4, Insightful)
The reason KH2 is so popular is that there hasn't been a decent RPG out for almost a year -- not one that I've wanted to buy, anyway. More, there won't be another big-name RPG out until FF12, which is supposedly delayed until Thanksgiving.
That said, it's a very great game in its own right. But it's arriving in the middle of a giant drought for the RPG market.
Re:Easy ... (Score:1, Insightful)
What dought?
FFIV Advance
Mother 3
Oblivion
All have come out very recently, Im just about done with FFIV advance, and have just started Oblivion. Maybe you need to broaded your catagory from PS2 RPGs to just RPGs in general.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Easy ... (Score:1)
I hate it when people consider these story-heavy action adventure games "RPGs", especially when they discount the rare real RPG that is occasionally released! The point of an RPG, for those who have forgotten the meaning of those three letters, is to play a role. You make meaningful choices that define, at least to some extent, who your character is, and then enjoy the story that unfolds around your character. Sora is not your ch
You may not have heard of it (Score:2)
Errr... (Score:2)
Re:Errr... (Score:2)
Marketing (Score:1)
2) The actual gameplay of the game and the level design received hardly any coverage prior to release
3) Most fans pre-ordered to make sure they received a copy, not knowing what the game was like
4) EB and other stores received bonus gifts for employees if they sold enough KH2 strategy guides and games
5) The game appeals to many, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tron, and many other popular franchises are featured in the game. Every level i
Re:Marketing (Score:1)
Well, Tron 2.0 played pretty well.
Childhood Dreams, Bought And Paid For (Score:5, Funny)
This game is simply another act, shamelessly tacked onto the prostituted play that is your emotional life. You love Kingdom Hearts because it is Disney, and without Disney, you know no other happiness. Outside the warm succor of your donald duck duvet and mickey mouse pyjamas, joy, contentment and love are cold and distant concepts which you cannot hope to achieve alone.
So come! Gather once again to suckle and the great and monsterous teat of one of the most terrible enterprises to have ever existed. Let Kingdom Hearts II once again show you the pleasures of being a shallow false happiness junkie. All the while Mother Disney will smile with her sweet and duplicitious grin.
Re:Childhood Dreams, Bought And Paid For (Score:2)
Like many office buildings, the one in which I work gives its conference rooms names with a common theme. In this particular building, the theme is Disneyland Attractions, and the biggest conference room is name "Mickey's Toontown." Now, when Gary Wolf inve
So have you heard? (Score:2)
Thats right: They're replacing him with a girl! [bbc.co.uk]
Disney is evil, and this is just incontrovertible proof. If they get Pixar to do a film with the girl, Pixar is evil, too.
Re:So have you heard? (Score:2)
Back to Pixar: I've only seen one of their movies, A Bug's Life. It wasn't bad, but it t
Re:So have you heard? (Score:2)
Have you seen The Incredibles"? Of the Pixar movies I have seen, it was clearly the best. It's still a kid's movie, but there was plenty for me to enjoy too.
Sonny Bono owns you (Score:1)
AC wrote: "Someone is a little bitter."
I am bitter. Repeal this [wikipedia.org] and I'll start buying Disney products again.
Disney and Copyright Law (Score:1)
You have to love Slashdot users (Score:2)
Anyone stopped to think that maybe Kingdom Hearts was just a lot of fun to play?
Re:You have to love Slashdot users (Score:1)
Tron (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Tron (Score:1)
When I saw the worlds of the sequal, I wanted to try them all out (with the exception of the Little Mermaid world, what's worse they sing in this game) but riding a light cycle and battling the MPC were both entertaining.
Additonally, rather than just playing in the world, you interact with t
The power of love and hate (Score:1)
Everyone can relate to love and hate. Someone above also put it very well in saying that there's something for everyone in this game.
In addition to that, this game is being judged with great intensity... only games that have the power to incite this kind of adoration (or in the case of a few people, loathing) are truly timeless.
Being able to get through the game by mashing X? I call it the "Street Fighter effect" - you certainly could do this if you
Re:The power of love and hate (Score:1)
Try that on a recent iteration of SF.
It don't need to be perfect (Score:1)
Why is it popular? (Score:1)
In a Nutshell... (Score:2)
2) Square Fanboys + Disney Fans adds some more to #1
3) OMGMINIGAMEZ!!! For the ADD crowd (disappointing to at least 1 member of group #1)
It's all in the name. (Score:1)
Look at the kind of music that sells. It's all "I love" this and "lady lumps" that.
Re:It's all in the name. (Score:1)
Secondly, speaking from the point of view of someone who saw them live a few years ago, I'll admit that the BEP are fairly good. I guess any group that releases the same album 4 times with different names and lyrics can become popular.
The PS2 is so last Gen (Score:1)
KH2: Not a Good Game (Score:1)
Re:KH2: Not a Good Game (Score:1)