Sora on 08 Jul 2007 03:41 pm
Kingdom Hearts III compared to Final Fantasy
Personally I hope that Sora, Riku, and Kairi don’t appear for long in the third game. Unfortunately the series seems to be completely unlike the Final Fantasy series. While this fact is indeed true, I will try to compare and contrast as well as I possibly can.
To begin with, they both have you starting off with relatively unfamiliar characters. None of the characters are ever the same, except for boss names and magic, in any Final Fantasy game, which adds an air of mystery as to what kind of storyline the game could have and what kind of weapons could you possibly wield. In Kingdom Hearts, however, you start the first game with a small boy and play around on an island until you have to fight. In the second game, however, you play as a character you already know, but he doesn’t remember anything about the past, except for his dreams, which makes you think that he is a relatively new character until he has yet more dreams. The second game has you start off thinking, “Where am I? Why am I here?” until you realize that you have to play as Sora again.
While Kingdom Hearts combines many different characters from different games, Final Fantasy creates completely new ones and forces you to run the gauntlet with unfamiliar people doing unfamiliar tasks. KH also is too familiar with the gamer, who has supposedly played the first game (which I unfortunately was unable to do) and all you do is mash X repeatedly while saying to yourself, “Aren’t keys usually blunt?” The basic plotline is just that; basic. You hit X and you destroy heartless.
I may be unqualified to talk about FF and KH because I have only partially played FFVII and almost beaten FFIII (Nintendo DS), and also only partially played KHI and beaten KHII, but I can get the general gist of both games. I do not believe that any thing used in Kingdom Hearts I or II can be used in the third game. The first two did the same worlds with little variation, and over used any and all plots. On the contrary, almost anything from any FF game (except 7) can be used as they are all different. What the programmers need to understand is that they need to break down old barriers they set up with the first two games, set high standards for the third, and then break those.
Again I have rambled on and off the topic, so please enjoy my ramblings and I hope I haven’t offended any freaky fan-kids.
Thanks to KingdomHearts3.net reader Kyo for this submission!
on 10 Mar 2008 at 1:55 am 60. cloud hatake
i don’t care crap worth of the theories or ff compare. all i know is that i can compare about how much i like both!!! and FFVII ROCKS. i already beaten it, and seen the movie
on 07 Mar 2008 at 1:49 pm 59. the frogman
i completly agree with Dannecia about the fact that are two completly different games. but i also agree with whoever the fruitcake was that wrote this ridicluos article (excuse any and all of my spelling) that they should have broken more barriers within the KH series. however the FF series did that with each game but in all seriousness comparing the two games is like comparing pickles to cake (u get the idea dont seriously do this) it shouldnt be done…. having played ffvii(only beating the first disc i havent had much time to beat the rest of the game yet) along w/ several other FF’s i must say this guy needs help….. Leonhart178 also has a point that this fruit should not be talking. well ty all for reading my rant:)
on 02 Jan 2008 at 12:05 am 58. Dannecia
Reading over some of the previous responses, some people have a REALLY strong opinion about this topic. I’ve personally played both Kingdom Hearts games and a few in the Final Fantasy series, but I REALLY liked them both. I completely respect everyone else’s opinions, but I think these two kinds of games can’t be compared. They are very different games that offer very different kinds of plots and battle sequences.
The few Final Fantasy games that I’ve played have all been thoroughly entertaining, and that’s mostly because because of the storyline. My favorite was (and still is)FFVII. It has a deeply moving story, and I admit that I’ve cried while playing it. Kingdom Hearts has a great storyline too, but it does have a childlike innocence. I still love it though–sometimes the storylines in FF wear me out. I mean that as a good thing, though! ^__^ The kinds of worlds in both games are different, but again, that’s because of the story. The worlds in Kingdom Hearts are simple, but full of life. Final Fantasy worlds are magical and ooze off feeling. But I think if you just focus on the characters and their stories, and world can seem amazing.
I won’t touch on the whole battling things, only because I’m the kind of person who plays mostly for the story. But I do prefer the battling in Kingdom Hearts, only because the random encounters don’t take you to a new screen. It gets a bit annoying when I’m in a rush to get somewhere. But for the most part, I think both games are incredible, but picking which to play depends on your mood, I guess.
(Sorry if my writing seems as bit scattered! >_
on 22 Nov 2007 at 1:18 am 57. Ookami_7
Sorry, but Kindom Hearts is much more then you appear to know. The characters grow and evolve throughout both games, and the combat system is more complicated then pressing X over and over. If you don’t have strategy, you will die, end of story. Plus, if they didn’t use Sora, Riku, and Kairi in the third game, fans would be very disapointed, and the game probably wouldn’t sell many games after the first release. Personally, I think that the third game will allow you to switch, at will, between Sora, Riky, and King Micky. They already showed this capability in KH2 when they allowed players to play as both Riku, and the King, in special instances. I beleive they will expand this in the third game, though Sora will have the most customization.
on 04 Nov 2007 at 3:42 am 56. taskfro
i agree yet disagree
i mostly agree with every thing said
but
kh is more complicated than just pressing X
there is also:
magic
summon
limit
drive
reactions
but, you might be wrong with other stuff too, idk
cause i too have only played part of KH, beaten KH2
& played few FF games(FF X-2, FFVII:DOC, FFXII)
on 14 Sep 2007 at 5:40 am 55. auron_roxas
I can’t swing wither way In this matter. ff x is one of the greatest games I’ve ever played as well as kh 2. Both games have great storylines amazing graphics and are well worth the cost of both. Kingdom hearts 1 is also a great game and ffVII is great too
on 11 Sep 2007 at 4:49 pm 54. Rpg lover
Id have to say they are both VERY good games…and way to diffrent to tell whats better. Im just glad that they are both there for me to play. The more the better right?
on 04 Sep 2007 at 1:54 am 53. Ashen Lionheart
Also (sorry for the double-post), one of the theories concerning the next Kingdom Hearts game is that the keyblade war will involve the worlds, and that they will not be as self-contained as before. I’m really looking forward to this: in a time before the existence of the “World Order” Donald is so obsessed with, when Square can mess with the plotlines of Disney movies.
Also, getting rid of Sora, Riku, and Kairi would likely be a suicide move by Square. Although dropping into a new world for every Final Fantasy is fun, Kingdom Hearts is an altogether different universe, one where you’re meant to see a continuous story evolve and grow as time goes by. Personally, I prefer this to Final Fantasy. I like seeing characters evolve gradually, as opposed to all at once.
The Final Fantasy plotlines could be more thoroughly exploited, I’m looking forward to seeing FF I-VI worlds in future games and if Square doesn’t put Final Fantasy characters in except as cameo’s like they’ve been doing so far I will harvest their souls (Ironically, I learned how to do this from Sephiroth).
I personally prefer the Kingdom Hearts series for two reasons: One, it presented us with a cosmos which we grew familiar with in the first game, and is slowly showing us pieces of it that we did not see earlier (primarily because at the time they did not exist, but if you’ll just stop meta-gaming for a bit it’s rather enjoyable), such as introducing the Organization in CoM and defining them in KHII. I really like following the story of ONE character over multiple games. Two, I prefer button mashing to stale, psuedo-turn based combat like in FF XII that is horribly reminiscient of its predecessors, and I don’t think the FPS gimmick in FF XIII will work out very well either (though I won’t deliver a final judgment until I actually play it).
on 04 Sep 2007 at 1:44 am 52. Ashen Lionheart
I’m curious, what’s the difference between mashing X and pressing it every four seconds as you slough through random monster battles that you could (literally) beat with your eyes closed?
on 01 Sep 2007 at 5:34 am 51. Kannr
Alright I’ve never played ANY of the final fantasies so I’m not going to comment on them, but I just wanted to say KH2 is NOT a bleedin’ X-masher!!! If you DO actually pay a small amount of attention to the “abilities” section of the pause menu, you would know you can assign different buttons to different actions!!! I’m not sure how the hell you might beat sephiroth without using square to make the combos last longer or to block his attacks (not to mention knock the bastard(no offense intended FF fans)into the air). If this silly author HAD in fact truly played KH2, he would KNOW mashing X would only get you killed repetatively, even on the simplest setting. Oh, by the way, KH2 RULES! KH1 was incredible too.
on 28 Aug 2007 at 1:00 pm 50. Mogett
In reply to your first comment - you know very little about me or my habits, my friend, and I advise you keep speculation to yourself.
Secondly, this article is a comparison between Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts. My reply merely outlines my opinion in the matter, and highlights a point I thought interesting. I didn’t post in order to talk solely about Final Fantasy - I posted to chip in with my thoughts on this article and the differences between the two games.
Thirdly - you’re not offering any actual evidence or rebuttals, you’re simply claiming that KH is better, /end. Care to back that up with some solid assertions or defences?
Oh, and mate - the Final Fantasy series has at -least- thirteen games in it. Not eight. Check your facts.
on 25 Aug 2007 at 9:10 am 49. Common
Ok first off, Mogett, get a life you lazy person, games like KH and FF werent made for adults, get off your mom and dad’s couch go make a living you sorry ‘adult’. second off, Your gender confused, you gave FF way to much credit.
If you want to talk about FF then go to a FF website, dont come to random other places and rambal about how it is bad because you think a diferent game is better. Third off, KH is already better then FF and its had 2 games of it out so far, and you know how much FF has had out so far?
8! So stop complaining because KH is better then FF. So all you KH haters and FF lovers just keep telling your selves lies (while you seat on your mom and dad’s coach you sorry ‘adults’).
on 22 Aug 2007 at 11:28 am 48. Mogett
Firstly, the quality of the current replies amuses me no end. People, you’ll be taken much more seriously if you brush up on your spelling and grammar.
Secondly, I agree wholeheartedly with the OP. The story and character depth of most of the Final Fantasy series (bar FFI and possibly FFII) are, without much in the way of doubt, of higher quality than Kingdom Hearts I and II - I don’t know about CoM, as I have yet to play it. The characters and locations in Kingdom Hearts are, generally, rather flat and uninspired. Although, the places designed mostly by Square do show a great deal more depth than the Disney components. The tiny, stale worlds - Twilight Town, Radiant Garden and the World That Never Was are both fully original and massive, I noticed - are rather piddly when compared to, say, Balamb Garden or Zanarkand.
Those of you who believe the plot is, ehem, “elegantly weaved” are heaping unecesary praise onto a rather tepid storyline, IMHO. Kingdom Hearts one and two were certainly mildly complex and entertaining, but held nowhere near the quality of storytelling I generally expect from Square. Granted, the games are aimed more at children than adults - this is also reflected in the frantic gameplay, by the by - but regardless, it’s folly to compare the two standards of storytelling. Square wins, /end.
Gameplay can be summarized in a few lines - KH is a button masher and Final Fantasy is a strategy game. Personally, I find Final Fantasy a great deal more entertaining, but that’s just me - you can’t really compare the two.
Finally, in regard to breaking new ground - I greatly enjoyed the Form system and whatnot in KHII, but it’s mostly the same game with a new look. If you want to see the true creative genius in work, look at the last few Final Fantasy games. All of them are recognisable as Final Fantasy, but Square are daring to experiment with new and possibly damaging ideas.
Anyway, /endrant.
on 15 Aug 2007 at 11:21 pm 47. Shakespeare
*comes out of hibernation*
In response to ‘ME’, this is a prime example of Ebert’s Law. If you take a bite of cake and spit it out and say it’s horrible, the chef can’t counter and say ‘Well, let’s see YOU make a better cake! Until you do, my cake is good.’ The article writer doesn’t have to be able to make a better game to be able to criticize a game.
Now for my $.02:
Who cares if KH and FF are different? If you’re starting a new game series, isn’t the entire goal of the project to be different from everything else out there?
You could say the storyline of FF is ‘basic’, too. ‘You get into random encounters and kill monsters that are carrying money and items for some reason. The player is left wondering why rubbery goo-monsters carry money in the first place.’
Plus, it’s not the programmer’s responsibility to break down any barriers; leave that to the writers. It’s what they’re paid to do.
(I’ll probably write a full-fledged rebuttal editorial to this; consider this post a preview.)
on 15 Aug 2007 at 9:02 am 46. ME
WTF were you thinking kyo! KH is good because of the characters and plotline!!!!!!!! The plot is elegantly weaved and, to top it off, YOU’re critisising the KH staff and storyline/plot. I think that since your so unhappy about the KH series, YOU should go and stuff yourself firstly, and then see if you can do BETTER than ALL the KH staff and come up with a better storyline too! You just like attacking other people! Like i said, LETS SEE U DO BETTER!!!!!!!!!
on 15 Aug 2007 at 4:50 am 45. Reese
Of course, you COULD compare FF and KH if they had the same plot of game, but you have already explained that they don’t. How are you comparing them? Are you comparing their plots, or which is better?? I’ve only played FFX and FFX 2 of the FF series, and every KH except the final mixes. Kingdom Hearts 3 should be different. I think it should be more intense and should follow a more… let’s say, roller-coastery (lol) plot. Hopefully the whole Sora, Kairi, & Riku story will come down to them living happily ever after, and let’s end it at that. I am also hoping that KH3 won’t (and I know it won’t looking at it’s secret trailer) come down to 3 hundred years later with one of Sora’s descendents finding and learning how to use the Keyblade. I rather like the idea that the three ’strangers’ Venn, Terr, and Aqua may be related to our three friends.
I like rambling! Rambling is COOL! O.o
on 10 Aug 2007 at 11:16 pm 44. Fabala
Okay - as you say, “here’s MY two cents.” I have played all the FFs and both KHs. They’re both great, although I do NOT believe you can even compare the two as to which series is better or which, worse, even though they are both RPGs. KH is more like an action/rpg, whereas the FFs (at least, the later ones) are more like strategy RPGs. That’s just for starters. There’s the battle system (totally different in each series), the character development, complexity, and depth (much broader in the FFs). Both are fun. I have replayed FFs more, for different purposes each time, but KHs are just plain fun.
on 29 Jul 2007 at 5:57 am 43. pagen
hi i gr8ly think this new game will b quite imressive lol i really liked the other 1s but i still think my best game of all time wud b ff7
on 27 Jul 2007 at 7:34 pm 42. WarTalon
I disagree with this article mostly becasue in Final Fantasy while they all bear the same title they are meant to be different games with different stories.
But Kingdom Hearts I and II are sequels which entitles major use of the same characters and story elements. So how can u ask them to break barriers when they havent even been completly set up.
on 27 Jul 2007 at 4:51 am 41. #0|The Outsider
Jet fuel!
on 27 Jul 2007 at 4:49 am 40. samanosuke
no idea where this guy got the idea that kh is unoriginal. you go around with a magical key and vanquish darkness along the way searching for your friends and teaming up with DONALD AND GOOFY,not to mention meeting ff characters that hevily interact with the disney characters, wich is something i would have never beleived conseivable before kh came out.
on 21 Jul 2007 at 1:02 am 39. Seress
ok honestly i think both games r f**K**g amazing for what they r theres nothing really to compare they both have there ups and downs i like the fact that your not attacking with something that would probably kut u in half and the story is amazing because of sora and kairi but also because of riku and every final fantasy karacters i also like how sephiroth is the hardest thing in both games and if hes not in the thirsd that will really suck anyways they both win beotches
on 18 Jul 2007 at 1:48 am 38. Josh77spazz
hahaha! i agree with adam. it would be funny to see that! i would probly rob a store with one.
“Gimme all the money or I’ll hit with this giant key!”
“….ok”
on 18 Jul 2007 at 1:43 am 37. lea
hey any one here ?? so bored right now…
on 18 Jul 2007 at 1:42 am 36. Josh77spazz
i hope zidane is in kh3 if the characters are still sora, riku and kairi
on 17 Jul 2007 at 3:29 am 35. Ryu_Ken
Alright, I’ll start this off by listing the games I’ve beaten:
FF:7,8,9,10,10-2,12,Tactics,DoC,KH,KH2,KH:CoM
Played: FF:1,2,3,4,5,6,MysticQuest
Now, Although I did go around thinking, “Aren’t keys usually blunt” I thought the Kingdom Hearts games didn’t hold back. I believe KH2 broke down quite the number of barriers that KH had established, and the story stayed fresh and innovating.
Yes, Maybe the main characters weren’t new and original, but they still remained interesting, what with finding out that Sora and Kairi had nobodies.
However, in the end, it’s the addition of final fantasy that really gives the game it’s boost. Without the final fantasy bits thrown in, the game wouldn’t have been half as good.
on 15 Jul 2007 at 7:17 am 34. Burn
I’ve only played FF 12 and all of Kingdom Hearts games(except Chains), but there are some major differences I see. First off, I have enjoyed all of the games mentioned above. However, one thing KH should consider for their next game is having more exploration. FF 12 is huge!! And so much detail goes into each place. In Kingdom Hearts, the worlds are always too small, which is a shame since I would love to explore more. As for the story, KH is definitely more intriguing. But then again, I have only played FF 12 and I heard there are way better story lines in earlier FF games. Anyways, my .02 cents
on 14 Jul 2007 at 7:26 pm 33. Kyo
Kyo here.
Alright, amongst all the negative criticism that I have recieved on this article, I still stated that I had not played many FF games. While this is true, I still am able to hear many things about the other FF games from friends and online.
Sorry for any anger I have caused anyone.
on 14 Jul 2007 at 3:53 am 32. winterburn
yea the guy who wrote this article is right he is unqualifide (he says that 4th paragraph 1 sentence) to talk not because he hasnt beaten maney of the game because he doesnt no what he is talking about although i have played and beaten most of the final fantasy games and beaten all of KH1 and KH2 hes wronge and it must have taken him really long to beat KH1 and KH2 if all he did was press x i completly dis agree with him….was he high or drunk when he wrote that article????
on 14 Jul 2007 at 2:07 am 31. Leonhart178
Ok First even if you hate ff8 READ MY WRITING!
That Numskull shouldn’t be saying Anything.
(i havn’t beaten many games but played up till the end on most)
I have beaten : FF VIII, KH2, FF IX, and played
FF, FF II, FF III, FF IV, FF V, FF IV, FF VII, FF X, FF XII, KH, and KH COM.
he doesn’t know what he is talking about!!!!!
where i come from that is Herecy
and Heretics were burnt at the stake!