“Kingdom Hearts correctly assumed there was a genre of person who sings broadway tunes to themselves when no one’s around, with no training or clean sounding voice because they just want to feel the music.” ... wow? like that’s a really fucking powerful analogy jesus christ amazing video
“Confusing for fans who didn’t play 358 first” Except 358 came out 4 (FOUR) years after kh2. That tutorial segment was designed to be experienced without any prior knowledge of Roxas and his ties with Sora and Axel
@@blxckjxck47 Yeah, common mistake with the side games lol I would have played it if I knew it existed though. I was too young when it came out. I just played whatever my parents got for themselves lol
Bruh, I was about to type "think how we felt back in '05? Imagine how we felt trying to figure out who BHK was during the pre-release days and then getting this long as hell tutorial and not getting the full answer as to who Roxas is until the end of the tutorial."
Dude, that final boss fight is amazing. And the whole 2nd half of the game is pretty much a power trip. From the 1,000 heartless battle to that fight, the game is pretty much like "Yea, it's not *just* because destiny says so anymore... Sora's legit a badass now.". Culminating in the explicit and implicit acknowledgement from Riku, who before then it may have been in question whether Sora could actually keep up with him, or if he was only getting by because he's the chosen one. Nothing can match that feeling of the first time I played that and they both start essentially flash stepping around the boss while attacking. Amazing.
@@dolphinokur6252 In my opinion, it's a sorta. Like, it happened and it is in the lore, it just doesn't matter. It won't be important for the subsequent games, but it did happen story-wise.
I've got to applaud this video to do something I really don't see many other KH videos do- Minus KingK's retrospectives on it. It acknowledges both the flaws in a smart and respectful way, but also gives respect and appreciation where it's due, and not just to the gameplay. Even with how much of a mess everything is in this verse and how admittedly hilarious and cheesy some things are, it's still something that can convey real emotion and friendship, and I'm glad at how that was talked about in the video. Definitely looking forward to more of this.
While I think KingK has the best Kingdom Hearts videos, if you want more of this type I'd recommend checking out Lorerunner's KH videos. They're a little dated but still interesting.
@@seanboglio3605 So in that case someone's opinion on a series isn't valid because they like it a lot for being good. Alright chief. Very epic 10/10 xD.
@@RayOfTruth Agreed, I think KingK's are also very good. I like that these people aren't too blinded by nostalgia to admit how damn stupid the series is sometimes but also not too basic to call everything bad because of all the whack the story brings with it and respect it where it's due.
17:00 This right here is why I can't stand our current, memetic culture of irony, where everyone's afraid to like something with a bit of cheese because it's "cringe". Who cares if it's a little goofy or cheesy?! Cheese means you believe in your work! People will resonate with a story if it's told with sincerity and heart, no matter how ridiculous it sounds on paper! Sure, winking to the camera and going, "lol isn't this all so dumb? Aren't you happy we're so quirky and self-aware?" might be good for a few laughs, but in the end it's stuff like Kingdom Hearts and it's unashamed emotional sincerity that people remember and connect with years down the line.
Reminds me of a child like innocence with a wild imagination. Sure it seems childish to others but to many they resonate with it and love it even with how cheesy it is. I mean is it bad to dream that way or to say how you love your friends with all your heart?
When i first seen this game series i was a stoopid kid and thought it was the best game ever, when i was getting older i realized more and more how cheesy it is
for real, only got into it because of that one yt video on "why I can't show my friends kingdom hearts". Shit was fucking hilarious and wild that I rewatched that shit over and over just for enjoyment and ended up getting curious and here I am, binge playing/watching every kh game so far lmao
@@steampunk1610 I don't think not liking cheese is a bad thing, but I do have to question someone's reasoning when you look at a Disney and Square Enix crossover and expect there to be little cheese.
Rly? I did that too and i thought it was the norm lmao Tbh tho i just havent interacted with the fandom like at all so maybe thats why i thought that lol
358/2 didn't exist back when I played 2 with my friends so you can imagine how we felt back then. I'm mad jelly of the newer fans who can get most of the games on a nice 1.5 + 2.5 compilation. The series was crazy hard to follow back in the 2000's.
That part about the connection between Sora's Destiny to be a hero story theme and Move assist mechanic is actually a pretty big brain thought(Although it loss a bit credible when Combo Master ability is a thing) I always found that KH2 combo modifier is the great contributor to button-mashing reception the game got since it covers so many range and option automatically with way less effort than other option like magic. And compares to KH1, the modifier bearly has a trade-off. Comparing 1 and 2 slide dash and like night and day. But man, I can't wait when you get to KH3. Cause those points about destiny and pull into combat.... Ho boy.... I'm sure you will a lot to say.
I have zero idea why you popped into my recommended, but god DAMN - you’re a fantastic writer. You speaking to Roxas’ intro in KH2 was beautiful. Thanks for this video.
or a psuedo mathematical problem like kingdom hearts 0.2 birth by sleep a fragmentary passage and kingdom hearts X (old name of union x if you don't know) or kh 358/2 days. when i realized how ridiculous the titles were i was like " goddamit nomura are you trying to teach us mathematics or something?".
In kh1 gummi ship was aweful. But kh2 and kh3 GOD DAMN IT'S HOT. Like I actually would like a full game dedicated to gummi ships because of how glorious kh2 and kh3 gummi ship is.
Kingdom Hearts is kinda legendary simply (and cleanly) for the fact that they committed to doing whatever the hell they wanted to. A Final Fantasy crossover with Disney is strange enough, but how many people would take that concept and use it to tell stories about memory erasure, villains in agony at their lack of feelings and identities, armor suits that come to life through sheer hurt and anger, a kid realising his life is some fake VR simulation, and a war being fought with GIANT KEYS?
that person singing broadway to ourself off key with no audience just to feel the music is me, and that perfectly captures what I love about this franchise
@@XentusX At first you're having a really good time. Then you wake up and wonder what the fuck you were doing for 12 hours watching Disney movies and drawing pretty anime boys to run around with them.
Thank you for that lone glimmer of substance; where you clarified the Keyblade's actual powers. I've been shouting that into the void since it was literally clarified in a cutscene in KH3's San Fransokyo world - when they literally examined his powers. It's a key. It unlocks things, including everything - from a soul from a body, to the way to another shadowy mug in need of slapping via magical metal rod.
Honestly, I hope you make another video covering the series, because despite it having some low points, the games have a really special place in my heart, and I really enjoyed this video!
Cant tell you how much i love this series. Only played 1 and 2 but still love it. Read the mangas as well. I sunk so many hours in designing gummi ships
Just stumbled upon your video and your blend of comedy, analysis and retrospective is really refreshing and enjoyable cant wait to binge more of your videos keep up the great work
2:00 I had to laugh at that. i never thought of it but this could very well happen. (and if not in canon then certainly in an interstitial oneshot) and oh god kh2 is insane with the tech. the blend between magic and physical combos, since both are part of the combo system now, going into drive at the right time and knowing the changes that come with them. and all the hidden teck that exists and you wouldnt think of, like quick run roxas strats (yes this is real) Also kh2 has a working randomizer. YES it has a randomizer. its flippin amazing
I don't think I've ever vibed this much with a kingdom hearts video before. I've seen a lot but I really agree on every point Kbash makes here. For some reason I assumed he didn't like the series. I had a big goofy grin watching this through.
KH2 final mix to me is the absolute peak of the series, the drive forms make you feel absolutely unstoppable and the way your combos build up is so satisfying o the point that even KH3 felt almost crooked, all they had to do was put the part 2 mechanics into 3 without removing drive forms the way they did (the weapon forms are amazing tho) the PC mods are going to be insane once they start building on part 2s own set of mods never mind 3
Holy shit, KBASH YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT KH IN A WAY MANY DIDNT. THE MEANINGFUL ORIGINAL PLOT, THAT FEELING IT CAPTURES AND THE COOL. Amazing. 10/10, KBASH'D THE GOOFY with a Rock. SOLID.
I'm glad someone was able to put into words as to what exactly it is that captures people's attention with Kingdom Hearts. There are flaws like cheesy dialogue and some technical issues here and there but overall I think that the very themes amd concepts introduced with each game really intrigue people. GBA Chain of Memories wad my first game and all I remember about it was being so sucked into the main plot. The theme of strength of character and the plot of forgetting your loved ones is a pretty powerful story to tell. It really caught my attention so I started my journey down the rabbit hole and I can't say that I've ever regretted it. It really says something about a series when objectively you can see that execution is lacking or even fails in some ways yet it manages to pull itself up and even blow your mind for what ends up feeling like the whole experience. I do also agree that the Disney aspect of the series holds it back. Both in what's added and probably what's changed. I personally believe that KH should drop the Disney part of itself. Not in its entirety of course but having played all the games, I can say that the story really does want to go above in beyond but is constantly held back by Disney
The whole thing with auron being in hell in KH is actually kinda appropriate when talking about the theming of his character and the game that he's from. With the metaphor of him fighting "sin" and effectively failing before he dies.
Fun Fact about Mickey showing up to save Sora: It only happens against plot relevant organization 13 fights and keyhole boss fights with a few exceptions. He can only appear once and save him in each fight before dying again will actually give you a game over. Fun Fact about Anti-Form: It's a hidden in game percentage that depends on your location, health, and keyblade. There's no for sure way to activate when you do want to, but having the Two Become One keyblade gives you the highest consistent percent at around 45%
12:24 Dude! I got stuck on the LAST DOOR because of this shit. The one that needs one red, one blue, one green, and 99 total. I had everything EXCEPT the green card. I went from level 60 to level 90 looking for a single green card. From top to bottom. I have never played the game ever again since because of it.
I love how engaging the Story of Kingdom Hearts is! It’s very fun to dissect and deduce, it’s very deep and it has it’s funny and goofy moments. It’s still amazes me how this series exists due to a chance time meeting and an elevator ride. It was inspired by Super Mario 64 with the open world exploration and puzzle solving.
@@pascalsimioli6777 It's the sincerity that matter, that transform even the most simple of story into what which can resonate with the heart. I mean, you really can't said the people that make this fucking clusterfuck of the KH timeline not goddamn dedicated.
@@BabyGirlTiny He wasn't though. Everything that involved Sora becoming a major player in the entire events of Kingdom Hearts was accidental/incidental. He was just a happy-go-lucky kid with a big heart and a love for friendship. Everything that happened to him was a result of others. In that sense, much of what his journey ended up being was making his own fate rather than being dictated by it
@@minhkhangtran6948 Yes and no, sincerity is just an arbitrary value: it can matter to you, it doesn't matter to me in this case. The passion you so much talk about is the same that brought Nomura to remake a knock off Versus XIII out of pity revenge and asked us to pay 70 dollars for it. You call it passion, I call it massive ego. All these concept are too relative, so let's remain on the story: is it properly written by someone with a background in writing? No. Is it original? No. Did it have potential? Infinite.
Kingdom Hearts 2 was and still is my favorite game in the series bar none. Anytime the ending pops up, I shed a tear and remembered how good the entire game was.
I am someone who sings Broadway showtunes when no one is around and a massive Kingdom Hearts fan, so I think you got something right in that ending statement.
this video was absolutely beautiful :') one of my favorite series, despite its blemishes, and your commentary was really insightful and made me appreciate it even more. better than i ever would've dreamed, can't wait for the other parts!!
If for whatever reason someone reading this hasn't played KH2 at least, it really is one of the most fun action experiences you can have on Critical mode. I understand it can be a little off-putting with how fragile you are on that mode, but the gameplay is a rush and you grow to fit it really quickly. I enjoy KH2's combat almost as most as DMC3's. It gets to be that fast and fun. Those end game and post game boss fights are just incredible on Critical mode.
I'm not much of a gamer, or even a Disney fan (at least not lately), but KH 1 and 2 hit all the right notes for me. They were just fun games, with the right balance of nostalgia and new story. I don't even know what it is now though lol
I haven’t ever listened to someone say the patreon names all the way through before, but something about the way you do it is just... mesmerizing. Oh, also good video.
Oh man, I've been waiting for this video, even though I never asked. Just one line in your Trials of Mana review, "Action games with RPG elements, I love that stuff," made me wonder if you'd like Kingdom Hearts. So glad you did. Great video! Keep up the good work!
Man for real, we have almost the EXACT same opinions on MOST games. You straight up deserve my first Patreon support I've ever given. Keep up the great content!!!!!!
Easily one of my favorites; KH2FM is honestly the quintessential edgy prepubescent game that I would recommend to all introverts when growing up, it'll make you look back at those times with a smile, rather than just cringe and regret. KH1 is the formative game you play when you're kid that shapes your tastes and decent part of who you are, and KH2 is the chance to look back at your infancy and determine that it had value at an age where it seems natural to want to reject your previous persona and desire to reinvent yourself, maybe the person you turned out to be is alright after all, maybe accepting the past is okay, maybe you're okay, and that's a really nice thing to realize at a teen age.
For me I like when KH comes up with plots for the Disney worlds like Neverland and Monsto in KH1 Timeless River, Space Paranoids and Olympic Coliseum in KH2 (Neverland in BBS was pretty good if I remember) Toy Box, Monstropolis, in KH3
Wow this dude gets it. I dont agree with everything you say but you understand Sora really well and communicate what makes the series so special. Great video.
KBash, you need to fight the Terra boss on crit. It is honestly one of the best final fights I've ever experienced. It turns the game on its head and fully expects mastery of every mechanic. I loved how much work it was to learn the game in a way I never had before. 103 attempts for me to beat it (im not very good at games) but I loved every second I put into doing it. It's incredibly punishing but well worth the time and effort. I know people are kind of divided on the fight but I can't recommend it enough. As per usual, amazing work! I'm on another KBash binge after your video on SRPGs. Thanks for all the great content!
I'm glad to know it wasn't just me who had problems with the bosses, Cerberus, Ansem 2 and dragon Maleficent destroyed my soul as a kid, oh and GBA Marluxia as well
We should have played the second game as either Roxas or Riku (or heck, Kairi) with their own Disney friends. Sora had nothing to do in kh2 and only was the protagonist because he was the protagonist of 1. Roxas and Riku were the characters with emotional arcs.
Love when people praise this game at its core, happy I got the opportunity to grow up with it and to hear other people who did or who learned of it and resonated with it like I have since I was a child.
Kbash, i heard in another video briefly where you mentioned you probaly wouldnt do this show much longer. i cant remember which, ive seen every episode you have. that being said, im so happy you have so many patrons who support you. im a broke bitch so i cant financially help you but WE LOVE YOUR VIDEOS PLEASE NEVER STOP MAKING THEM. :)
Wow. What a fantastic video. Arguably your best one. One can see really see the growth of your content, and I hope it only gets better from here. I think you really captured the essence of what makes Kingdom Hearts special to fans and why it's a dud franchise to others. By the way, those final boss battle sequences only get longer. Especially Dream Drop Distace. God damn.
This was a super great review, and definitely reflected my feelings on these games, even though I haven't played them hands on (I watched my sister play 😁) Thanks for not harking on the series too hard, but keeping it real enough to not sound like a total KH simp.
Your video concept is dead on point it you are elaborating on a lot of good stuff is constantly amazing of what you're you're saying and staying at the same time you are totally reading this heroines story arc to the T as you go keep up the good work I love it you like some of the others are understanding his truest purpose of being the wielder of the blade
I like that it's sora's destiny to be a hero not because he was chosen by another person, but because he was chosen by the weapon itself... because he's a good person. he's the kind of person who WOULD be a hero if given the chance, and wouldn't sacrifice others for his own gain.
While I played the first two games and the one on the DS with the confusing name (358/2 Days I think it was called) I don't really consider myself a fan of the series as a whole as I did lose interest over time, but I have a lot of respect for the game and it's beginnings. It was a pretty risky idea to go with, but I'm very glad they did. I would much rather see something that seems outlandish on paper go into production without the guarantee of success than something by-the-numbers that has been done and re-done to death, essentially rendering it as a rose by any other name if you take my meaning. While I also think there is a limit before something becomes innovation for its own sake and nothing else, I still like to see interesting and creative ideas encouraged and fully realized provided the final product is treated with care in its other aspects as well. Kingdom Hearts in its inception is an interesting example of exactly that despite its flaws. I remember liking the first game and I enjoyed the second even more, but there were times I was frustrated with both and I distinctly recall going through a brief point in my life where the word "heart" began to annoy me as a result of how often it's repeated. Although my interest in the series waned over the years, that's not to say it doesn't deserve its fans, nor is my built up disinterest an indicator that it isn't worth the time of those who still enjoy the series as a whole. At the end of the day, it was a creative idea that paid off and I would like to see more of that kind of unique thought a little more often than we sometimes do these days.
I don't even like this series that much but you made some compelling points. People love this series for more than just the novelty of the Disney/Square crossover, the lore and storytelling and character building are fairly top notch. I personally can't get into how silly and convoluted it got between II and III with all the spin off titles and it would cost me an arm and a leg to afford all those games and systems to play them, but I appreciate how the story is so deeply sincere in its messages at its core.
I’m gonna be real, Sora’s character in KH1 and CoM were outstanding, one being a great hero’s journey where you see a realistically immature but somewhat intelligent young man and the other where you see a hero on the psychological brink of collapse. KH2 Sora, however, is disappointingly a typical young child protagonist. Doofy, happy all the time, making stupid decisions because he’s just that darn nice, and being generally slow on the uptake. He still has some great emotional moments in that game, but as the series progresses he just keeps going down that path. It’s because I love Sora’s character that I felt he was done dirty in later games as all the development from the first game got replaced with “I’m basically Goku now!”
That’s what I’ve been saying! And it had knock-on effects on the whole plot structure. We went from a kid who lives a fairytale, to second-guessing those fairytales and picking his psyche apart, to...Goku. We completely lost the psychoanalytic surrealism that made the first games so mind-melting to the kids playing it. The swapped existential crisis-inducing deconstruction for textbooks of lore dumps ):
You know, I didn’t even mind the regression in KH2 because I figured, well the kid lost memories of his change through puberty and I assumed Roxas had his more serious personality stored away. But then I realized...THIS is the Sora we’re stuck with?? No growth, just the shonen Mc personality?
@@ziongamer6905 Honestly as weird as it is, the only time I really didn't like Sora was in Dream Drop Distance. I feel that was Sora at his absolute worst.
@@staticshock4239 Oh absolutely without a doubt agree!! It would’ve been awesome to contrast Soras child body with a more mature mindset, what a missed opportunity.
Thank you for the criticism of boss designs, there are so many discrepancies between gameplay and boss design that drive me batshit. I love this series with my entire fuckin heart but oh man I feel this entire video
KH2 Is still my favorite story and gameplay wise, but KH1 Final Mix made me appreciate the 1st game some more and how its probably the most coherent story in the series.
so because i was dumb child I bought KH2 first and it was my "intro" to the series (i had seen some friends play the start of 1 and wanted to get it myself) that entire ride was magical. Honestly to this day I will still say all the phases of xemnas belong up there as some of the best final boss fights in gaming, there's just so much spectacle and the music tracks are all phenomenal. As much as I enjoyed all the other games I will still put 2 as the penultimate entry to the series with BBS being a close second.
Never got to experience this franchise as a child until this summer at the age of 19. What a fucking experience man, never expect to get so into it and just binge EVERY game in such a short period of time. Yeah, of course, the plot has a bunch of issues but god damn it has its amazing moments and the music, god the fucking music is out of this world. Glad I got to experience KH now than never :)
“Kingdom Hearts correctly assumed there was a genre of person who sings broadway tunes to themselves when no one’s around, with no training or clean sounding voice because they just want to feel the music.”
... wow?
like that’s a really fucking powerful analogy jesus christ
amazing video
I had to take a minute to let that sink in... its just perfect
Yea it just kneecapped me with how on point it is
Yeah, I about cried.
I feel naked, that sentence exposed me so much.
Never has 5 lines hit as hard
“Confusing for fans who didn’t play 358 first”
Except 358 came out 4 (FOUR) years after kh2.
That tutorial segment was designed to be experienced without any prior knowledge of Roxas and his ties with Sora and Axel
I remember seeing the “you were never supposed to exist Roxas” scene in 2007. That crap hit hard.
I play the games in release order
What was really confusing was never knowing Chain of Memories existed
@@AluraAlua yes that was honestly the confusing part for alot of people cause they dismissed it as a spin off
@@blxckjxck47 Yeah, common mistake with the side games lol I would have played it if I knew it existed though. I was too young when it came out. I just played whatever my parents got for themselves lol
Bruh, I was about to type "think how we felt back in '05? Imagine how we felt trying to figure out who BHK was during the pre-release days and then getting this long as hell tutorial and not getting the full answer as to who Roxas is until the end of the tutorial."
Sora and Riku deflecting the lasers back to back is the best moment in the whole series for me
FUCKING SLICING FLOATING BULDINGS WAS THE HYPEST SHIT EVER MAN
I've literally played the few final bosses multiple times just for that part and I regret nothing!
It gave me plus 1 biceps spamming triangle and x though..
When they first meet up in 3 (not tryna spoil for anyone) was the one for me
Dude, that final boss fight is amazing. And the whole 2nd half of the game is pretty much a power trip. From the 1,000 heartless battle to that fight, the game is pretty much like "Yea, it's not *just* because destiny says so anymore... Sora's legit a badass now.". Culminating in the explicit and implicit acknowledgement from Riku, who before then it may have been in question whether Sora could actually keep up with him, or if he was only getting by because he's the chosen one. Nothing can match that feeling of the first time I played that and they both start essentially flash stepping around the boss while attacking. Amazing.
There are no Spinoffs in KH, that's the scariest thing. Everything is part of the Lore :O
Recoded feels like on tho tbh
@@dolphinokur6252 In my opinion, it's a sorta. Like, it happened and it is in the lore, it just doesn't matter. It won't be important for the subsequent games, but it did happen story-wise.
You forgot about kingdom hearts V cast
Ux is a spinoff though
@@lostsouls1919 Nope. That's got huge plot significance.
"the mechanics are S I M P L E A N D C L E A N"
uuhhhhhhhh
When you walk away
You can hear me say
Pleeeeeeaasseee oh babyyy don't go
Is the way that you're making me feel tonight.
It's haaard to let it go HOLD ME 🎵
K-bash: You linger in the air a bit too long for my taste
Ah, so he's learned how to speak like a HeartsTuber
Can't wait until he gets to the Osaka Team games
You know K-bash is serious when he time-stamps the video into segments
That's true.
We opening with a Devil May Cry reference? Hell yeah, brother
Vergil with a smile stares at me from the closet at night
Buster boys.
Vergil looks like my uncle
Imagine a Vergil boss fight in Kingdom Hearts.
@@LuckiSir He gets a remix of Taste the Blood, Devils Never Cry, or Bury the Light as his boss theme.
I've got to applaud this video to do something I really don't see many other KH videos do- Minus KingK's retrospectives on it. It acknowledges both the flaws in a smart and respectful way, but also gives respect and appreciation where it's due, and not just to the gameplay. Even with how much of a mess everything is in this verse and how admittedly hilarious and cheesy some things are, it's still something that can convey real emotion and friendship, and I'm glad at how that was talked about in the video. Definitely looking forward to more of this.
While I think KingK has the best Kingdom Hearts videos, if you want more of this type I'd recommend checking out Lorerunner's KH videos. They're a little dated but still interesting.
Not valid from a dude whose profile name is roxas.
@@seanboglio3605 So in that case someone's opinion on a series isn't valid because they like it a lot for being good. Alright chief. Very epic 10/10 xD.
@@RayOfTruth Agreed, I think KingK's are also very good. I like that these people aren't too blinded by nostalgia to admit how damn stupid the series is sometimes but also not too basic to call everything bad because of all the whack the story brings with it and respect it where it's due.
Same
That ending was beautiful honestly
RIGHT?!? I felt so seen.
True solidarity tbh
I honestly felt my eyes well up a bit there.
Absolutely! I really appreciated the effort he put into his writing!
17:00 This right here is why I can't stand our current, memetic culture of irony, where everyone's afraid to like something with a bit of cheese because it's "cringe". Who cares if it's a little goofy or cheesy?! Cheese means you believe in your work! People will resonate with a story if it's told with sincerity and heart, no matter how ridiculous it sounds on paper! Sure, winking to the camera and going, "lol isn't this all so dumb? Aren't you happy we're so quirky and self-aware?" might be good for a few laughs, but in the end it's stuff like Kingdom Hearts and it's unashamed emotional sincerity that people remember and connect with years down the line.
Reminds me of a child like innocence with a wild imagination. Sure it seems childish to others but to many they resonate with it and love it even with how cheesy it is. I mean is it bad to dream that way or to say how you love your friends with all your heart?
When I first seen this game series I never thought i'd fall love with it because how cheesy it can be but damn it, I love it all.
When i first seen this game series i was a stoopid kid and thought it was the best game ever, when i was getting older i realized more and more how cheesy it is
@@yorshka6955 not like being cheesy is a bad thing
I only played it because I went to the world of tres orchestra and got all the spoilers as possible
for real, only got into it because of that one yt video on "why I can't show my friends kingdom hearts". Shit was fucking hilarious and wild that I rewatched that shit over and over just for enjoyment and ended up getting curious and here I am, binge playing/watching every kh game so far lmao
@@steampunk1610
I don't think not liking cheese is a bad thing, but I do have to question someone's reasoning when you look at a Disney and Square Enix crossover and expect there to be little cheese.
“Let’s have a fun battle against Larxene-“
*Fucking dies*
“I will come back later!”
Why is this so accurate
Yes
Hearing someone else played 358/2 before 2 and understand what's going on in the opening hours is kinda surprising for me.
It’s not that difficult but people can barely pay attention to anything as is so when you meet any level of complexity, it’s difficult for people.
That was the order in 1.5+2.5
Rly? I did that too and i thought it was the norm lmao
Tbh tho i just havent interacted with the fandom like at all so maybe thats why i thought that lol
I never minded org XIII I just took it at face value that it was a threat for Sora to stop
358/2 didn't exist back when I played 2 with my friends so you can imagine how we felt back then. I'm mad jelly of the newer fans who can get most of the games on a nice 1.5 + 2.5 compilation. The series was crazy hard to follow back in the 2000's.
That part about the connection between Sora's Destiny to be a hero story theme and Move assist mechanic is actually a pretty big brain thought(Although it loss a bit credible when Combo Master ability is a thing) I always found that KH2 combo modifier is the great contributor to button-mashing reception the game got since it covers so many range and option automatically with way less effort than other option like magic. And compares to KH1, the modifier bearly has a trade-off. Comparing 1 and 2 slide dash and like night and day.
But man, I can't wait when you get to KH3. Cause those points about destiny and pull into combat.... Ho boy.... I'm sure you will a lot to say.
I love these games so much that its actually similar to Stockholm syndrome.
I relate ;)
I have zero idea why you popped into my recommended, but god DAMN - you’re a fantastic writer. You speaking to Roxas’ intro in KH2 was beautiful. Thanks for this video.
*ah yes, Nomura the "I want to make a game with the word BY in the title cause I've never seen one" genius.*
or a psuedo mathematical problem like kingdom hearts 0.2 birth by sleep a fragmentary passage and kingdom hearts X (old name of union x if you don't know) or kh 358/2 days. when i realized how ridiculous the titles were i was like " goddamit nomura are you trying to teach us mathematics or something?".
K-Bash:Complains about getting anti-form a lot in the end
Also K-bash: I really like this keyblade that gives me anti-form constantly
"Why are gummi ships?" Padding. Anticipation. Variety. Shooty shooty. More Yoko love.
In kh1 gummi ship was aweful.
But kh2 and kh3 GOD DAMN IT'S HOT.
Like I actually would like a full game dedicated to gummi ships because of how glorious kh2 and kh3 gummi ship is.
Woah, no mention of the Sephiroth battle?? As an edgy 13 year old who was obsessed with FF7 Crisis Core, that shit was transcendant for me.
Watch this kid roxas go through his “Data day.” I don’t know if that was intentional but kudos
Kingdom Hearts is kinda legendary simply (and cleanly) for the fact that they committed to doing whatever the hell they wanted to. A Final Fantasy crossover with Disney is strange enough, but how many people would take that concept and use it to tell stories about memory erasure, villains in agony at their lack of feelings and identities, armor suits that come to life through sheer hurt and anger, a kid realising his life is some fake VR simulation, and a war being fought with GIANT KEYS?
that person singing broadway to ourself off key with no audience just to feel the music is me, and that perfectly captures what I love about this franchise
I turn 31 years old and i still cant play this series without crying multiple times
A kingdom hearts video? They'll pay for this.
I mean... they literally did.
But I know where you're coming from.
they already did
But KBash is sorry about the ice cream!
Finally someone who appreciates the intro to Kh2 as much as me
I have a save file dedicated to leveling Roxas up to 99 and one just to fight Axel right before you wake Sora...I fucking love the intro to KH2 lol
I’ve always heard about how good kingdom hearts was but I never tried it myself. I have a friend that played it all the time back in the day
Kingdom Hearts The Story So Far on discount on PS4 (Every games toKHIII)
I'd recommend trying it.
Kingdom Hearts all in one package exists for $40... I'm picking it up so i can play all the games.
If you have Xbox. All of the games including 3 are on Gamepass
Whatever you do don't play critical mode first data bosses in kh2 are harder then anything in dark souls
@@brandongilbert5927 HA.....try all pro codes on every main story boss in KH3.....on CRITICAL....I have🧐
equip scan
equip scan
equip scan
KBASH PLEASE EQUIP SCAN
My first exposure to the series was the translated manga series of the first game and I didnt even recognize the ff characters
Kingdom Hearts is basically the aftermath of drinking 2 Liters of cough syrup and a bottle of Adderal.
Yeah, basically.
And somehow it works to a certain point
@@XentusX At first you're having a really good time. Then you wake up and wonder what the fuck you were doing for 12 hours watching Disney movies and drawing pretty anime boys to run around with them.
@@paperboy1116 Its just one of those really good fever dreams you have every now and then lol
21:27 I completely forgot about this, but to think about how there’s two is really interesting....
Two what?
@@PSNragglefraggle1 Two people, consisting of Sora & the Kingdom Key working tandem with each other.
This is the best I've heard the ending of 2 summarized. That still feels like the high point of the series to me.
Thank you for that lone glimmer of substance; where you clarified the Keyblade's actual powers. I've been shouting that into the void since it was literally clarified in a cutscene in KH3's San Fransokyo world - when they literally examined his powers. It's a key. It unlocks things, including everything - from a soul from a body, to the way to another shadowy mug in need of slapping via magical metal rod.
Honestly, I hope you make another video covering the series, because despite it having some low points, the games have a really special place in my heart, and I really enjoyed this video!
Cant tell you how much i love this series. Only played 1 and 2 but still love it. Read the mangas as well. I sunk so many hours in designing gummi ships
358 was my first kh game back when I was just 12 and that game hit HARD
So underrated. The story DESTROYED me, but the customization defined me as a gamer for life.
Kingdom Hearts is love, Kingdom Hearts is life.
Words were never so right
Words were never so right
Just stumbled upon your video and your blend of comedy, analysis and retrospective is really refreshing and enjoyable cant wait to binge more of your videos keep up the great work
2:00 I had to laugh at that. i never thought of it but this could very well happen. (and if not in canon then certainly in an interstitial oneshot)
and oh god kh2 is insane with the tech.
the blend between magic and physical combos, since both are part of the combo system now, going into drive at the right time and knowing the changes that come with them. and all the hidden teck that exists and you wouldnt think of, like quick run roxas strats (yes this is real)
Also kh2 has a working randomizer. YES it has a randomizer. its flippin amazing
I don't think I've ever vibed this much with a kingdom hearts video before. I've seen a lot but I really agree on every point Kbash makes here. For some reason I assumed he didn't like the series. I had a big goofy grin watching this through.
I'd recommend KingK's Kingdom Hearts videos. Feel a bit like this but with spending more time on individual games.
I wonder how you'll feel about BBS onward.
I low-key doubt he'll make a video about it but then again I could see another "how KH fell from grace" video if he does
No doubt there'll be disappointment with the spoonfuls of Disney sugar in KH3, but it'd be interesting to see his reaction to BbS
@@m0ckyzo185 Then it's probably for the best that this vid ends on such a high note.
KH2 final mix to me is the absolute peak of the series, the drive forms make you feel absolutely unstoppable and the way your combos build up is so satisfying o the point that even KH3 felt almost crooked, all they had to do was put the part 2 mechanics into 3 without removing drive forms the way they did (the weapon forms are amazing tho) the PC mods are going to be insane once they start building on part 2s own set of mods never mind 3
Holy shit, KBASH YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT KH IN A WAY MANY DIDNT. THE MEANINGFUL ORIGINAL PLOT, THAT FEELING IT CAPTURES AND THE COOL. Amazing. 10/10, KBASH'D THE GOOFY with a Rock. SOLID.
Kh1 is genuinely one of the best rpgs I've ever played along with ffX and Chrono trigger
It's always nice to find another chrono trigger fan
Oh yes KH and Chrono Trigger, good times... Btw please square gives us more CT, please...
Yo I love FFX and Chrono Trigger
Still waiting for the Chrono trigger remake too...
With square bringing more SaGa games, I would love to see Kbash talking about the series, specially since he already talked the Mana games
KH2 is my favorite game of all time. The franchise means so much to me.
Your experience and mine differ so much in chain of memories. I never felt like I didn't have the cards I needed to progress
I'm glad someone was able to put into words as to what exactly it is that captures people's attention with Kingdom Hearts. There are flaws like cheesy dialogue and some technical issues here and there but overall I think that the very themes amd concepts introduced with each game really intrigue people. GBA Chain of Memories wad my first game and all I remember about it was being so sucked into the main plot. The theme of strength of character and the plot of forgetting your loved ones is a pretty powerful story to tell. It really caught my attention so I started my journey down the rabbit hole and I can't say that I've ever regretted it. It really says something about a series when objectively you can see that execution is lacking or even fails in some ways yet it manages to pull itself up and even blow your mind for what ends up feeling like the whole experience. I do also agree that the Disney aspect of the series holds it back. Both in what's added and probably what's changed. I personally believe that KH should drop the Disney part of itself. Not in its entirety of course but having played all the games, I can say that the story really does want to go above in beyond but is constantly held back by Disney
The whole thing with auron being in hell in KH is actually kinda appropriate when talking about the theming of his character and the game that he's from. With the metaphor of him fighting "sin" and effectively failing before he dies.
Fun Fact about Mickey showing up to save Sora: It only happens against plot relevant organization 13 fights and keyhole boss fights with a few exceptions. He can only appear once and save him in each fight before dying again will actually give you a game over.
Fun Fact about Anti-Form: It's a hidden in game percentage that depends on your location, health, and keyblade. There's no for sure way to activate when you do want to, but having the Two Become One keyblade gives you the highest consistent percent at around 45%
12:24 Dude! I got stuck on the LAST DOOR because of this shit. The one that needs one red, one blue, one green, and 99 total. I had everything EXCEPT the green card. I went from level 60 to level 90 looking for a single green card. From top to bottom. I have never played the game ever again since because of it.
Same exact thing happened to me
I love how engaging the Story of Kingdom Hearts is! It’s very fun to dissect and deduce, it’s very deep and it has it’s funny and goofy moments. It’s still amazes me how this series exists due to a chance time meeting and an elevator ride. It was inspired by Super Mario 64 with the open world exploration and puzzle solving.
Funny how you keep saying that Sora was fated to be the hero even though narratively he wasn’t supposed to be
Yeah also even if that's the case...so what? Oh boy, a chosen one story, what a novel concept from Nomura the Geni(tal)us
@@pascalsimioli6777 It's the sincerity that matter, that transform even the most simple of story into what which can resonate with the heart. I mean, you really can't said the people that make this fucking clusterfuck of the KH timeline not goddamn dedicated.
The narrative disagrees heavily with his comment because narratively, yes he was
@@BabyGirlTiny He wasn't though. Everything that involved Sora becoming a major player in the entire events of Kingdom Hearts was accidental/incidental. He was just a happy-go-lucky kid with a big heart and a love for friendship. Everything that happened to him was a result of others. In that sense, much of what his journey ended up being was making his own fate rather than being dictated by it
@@minhkhangtran6948 Yes and no, sincerity is just an arbitrary value: it can matter to you, it doesn't matter to me in this case. The passion you so much talk about is the same that brought Nomura to remake a knock off Versus XIII out of pity revenge and asked us to pay 70 dollars for it. You call it passion, I call it massive ego. All these concept are too relative, so let's remain on the story: is it properly written by someone with a background in writing? No. Is it original? No. Did it have potential? Infinite.
"But the mechanics are SIMPLE AND CLEAN."
You have earned a new subscriber. That was glorious.
Kingdom Hearts 2 was and still is my favorite game in the series bar none. Anytime the ending pops up, I shed a tear and remembered how good the entire game was.
I am someone who sings Broadway showtunes when no one is around and a massive Kingdom Hearts fan, so I think you got something right in that ending statement.
this video was absolutely beautiful :') one of my favorite series, despite its blemishes, and your commentary was really insightful and made me appreciate it even more. better than i ever would've dreamed, can't wait for the other parts!!
358 came out after 2, though. All of us were confused.
If for whatever reason someone reading this hasn't played KH2 at least, it really is one of the most fun action experiences you can have on Critical mode. I understand it can be a little off-putting with how fragile you are on that mode, but the gameplay is a rush and you grow to fit it really quickly. I enjoy KH2's combat almost as most as DMC3's. It gets to be that fast and fun. Those end game and post game boss fights are just incredible on Critical mode.
I feel the same with KH3 crit, not AS great but super fun experience
You say it’s hard to listen to xemnas ramble on about kingdom hearts, but cmon we all loved listening to his voice don’t deny it
I'm not much of a gamer, or even a Disney fan (at least not lately), but KH 1 and 2 hit all the right notes for me. They were just fun games, with the right balance of nostalgia and new story. I don't even know what it is now though lol
I haven’t ever listened to someone say the patreon names all the way through before, but something about the way you do it is just... mesmerizing. Oh, also good video.
This series fits your video presentation style perfectly.
Oh man, I've been waiting for this video, even though I never asked. Just one line in your Trials of Mana review, "Action games with RPG elements, I love that stuff," made me wonder if you'd like Kingdom Hearts. So glad you did. Great video! Keep up the good work!
Man for real, we have almost the EXACT same opinions on MOST games. You straight up deserve my first Patreon support I've ever given. Keep up the great content!!!!!!
0:00 that Dmc4 reference thou
Easily one of my favorites; KH2FM is honestly the quintessential edgy prepubescent game that I would recommend to all introverts when growing up, it'll make you look back at those times with a smile, rather than just cringe and regret. KH1 is the formative game you play when you're kid that shapes your tastes and decent part of who you are, and KH2 is the chance to look back at your infancy and determine that it had value at an age where it seems natural to want to reject your previous persona and desire to reinvent yourself, maybe the person you turned out to be is alright after all, maybe accepting the past is okay, maybe you're okay, and that's a really nice thing to realize at a teen age.
3:41 was this just an excuse to flex your yugioh collection?
For me I like when KH comes up with plots for the Disney worlds like
Neverland and Monsto in KH1
Timeless River, Space Paranoids and Olympic Coliseum in KH2
(Neverland in BBS was pretty good if I remember)
Toy Box, Monstropolis, in KH3
Wow this dude gets it. I dont agree with everything you say but you understand Sora really well and communicate what makes the series so special. Great video.
Thanks for being a conduit for consciousness to entertain collective consciousness
KBash, you need to fight the Terra boss on crit. It is honestly one of the best final fights I've ever experienced. It turns the game on its head and fully expects mastery of every mechanic. I loved how much work it was to learn the game in a way I never had before. 103 attempts for me to beat it (im not very good at games) but I loved every second I put into doing it. It's incredibly punishing but well worth the time and effort. I know people are kind of divided on the fight but I can't recommend it enough.
As per usual, amazing work! I'm on another KBash binge after your video on SRPGs. Thanks for all the great content!
I like how this stops at kh2 like it should have lol
I'm glad to know it wasn't just me who had problems with the bosses, Cerberus, Ansem 2 and dragon Maleficent destroyed my soul as a kid, oh and GBA Marluxia as well
Man this is such an underrated channel cant wait to see this channel subscriber count reach up there
Why do i love listening to that opening so much?
We should have played the second game as either Roxas or Riku (or heck, Kairi) with their own Disney friends. Sora had nothing to do in kh2 and only was the protagonist because he was the protagonist of 1. Roxas and Riku were the characters with emotional arcs.
Love when people praise this game at its core, happy I got the opportunity to grow up with it and to hear other people who did or who learned of it and resonated with it like I have since I was a child.
Kbash, i heard in another video briefly where you mentioned you probaly wouldnt do this show much longer. i cant remember which, ive seen every episode you have.
that being said, im so happy you have so many patrons who support you. im a broke bitch so i cant financially help you but WE LOVE YOUR VIDEOS PLEASE NEVER STOP MAKING THEM. :)
Wow. What a fantastic video. Arguably your best one. One can see really see the growth of your content, and I hope it only gets better from here. I think you really captured the essence of what makes Kingdom Hearts special to fans and why it's a dud franchise to others.
By the way, those final boss battle sequences only get longer. Especially Dream Drop Distace. God damn.
This was a super great review, and definitely reflected my feelings on these games, even though I haven't played them hands on (I watched my sister play 😁) Thanks for not harking on the series too hard, but keeping it real enough to not sound like a total KH simp.
Nice vid as always. I was hoping to hear KBash retell the horror of facing that dirty sommabish. But another time hopefully
I just beat Melody of Memory and I've been replaying BBS. Very excited for this.
I wish I could give this video multiple likes.
"So you're telling me I can erase Dognald and Goopy to become GOD?
YES
YEEEEES"
I've never related to something more than this
Your video concept is dead on point it you are elaborating on a lot of good stuff is constantly amazing of what you're you're saying and staying at the same time you are totally reading this heroines story arc to the T as you go keep up the good work I love it you like some of the others are understanding his truest purpose of being the wielder of the blade
I like that it's sora's destiny to be a hero not because he was chosen by another person, but because he was chosen by the weapon itself... because he's a good person. he's the kind of person who WOULD be a hero if given the chance, and wouldn't sacrifice others for his own gain.
While I played the first two games and the one on the DS with the confusing name (358/2 Days I think it was called) I don't really consider myself a fan of the series as a whole as I did lose interest over time, but I have a lot of respect for the game and it's beginnings. It was a pretty risky idea to go with, but I'm very glad they did.
I would much rather see something that seems outlandish on paper go into production without the guarantee of success than something by-the-numbers that has been done and re-done to death, essentially rendering it as a rose by any other name if you take my meaning. While I also think there is a limit before something becomes innovation for its own sake and nothing else, I still like to see interesting and creative ideas encouraged and fully realized provided the final product is treated with care in its other aspects as well.
Kingdom Hearts in its inception is an interesting example of exactly that despite its flaws. I remember liking the first game and I enjoyed the second even more, but there were times I was frustrated with both and I distinctly recall going through a brief point in my life where the word "heart" began to annoy me as a result of how often it's repeated.
Although my interest in the series waned over the years, that's not to say it doesn't deserve its fans, nor is my built up disinterest an indicator that it isn't worth the time of those who still enjoy the series as a whole. At the end of the day, it was a creative idea that paid off and I would like to see more of that kind of unique thought a little more often than we sometimes do these days.
I don't even like this series that much but you made some compelling points. People love this series for more than just the novelty of the Disney/Square crossover, the lore and storytelling and character building are fairly top notch. I personally can't get into how silly and convoluted it got between II and III with all the spin off titles and it would cost me an arm and a leg to afford all those games and systems to play them, but I appreciate how the story is so deeply sincere in its messages at its core.
I’m gonna be real, Sora’s character in KH1 and CoM were outstanding, one being a great hero’s journey where you see a realistically immature but somewhat intelligent young man and the other where you see a hero on the psychological brink of collapse. KH2 Sora, however, is disappointingly a typical young child protagonist. Doofy, happy all the time, making stupid decisions because he’s just that darn nice, and being generally slow on the uptake. He still has some great emotional moments in that game, but as the series progresses he just keeps going down that path. It’s because I love Sora’s character that I felt he was done dirty in later games as all the development from the first game got replaced with “I’m basically Goku now!”
That’s what I’ve been saying! And it had knock-on effects on the whole plot structure. We went from a kid who lives a fairytale, to second-guessing those fairytales and picking his psyche apart, to...Goku. We completely lost the psychoanalytic surrealism that made the first games so mind-melting to the kids playing it.
The swapped existential crisis-inducing deconstruction for textbooks of lore dumps ):
You know, I didn’t even mind the regression in KH2 because I figured, well the kid lost memories of his change through puberty and I assumed Roxas had his more serious personality stored away. But then I realized...THIS is the Sora we’re stuck with?? No growth, just the shonen Mc personality?
@@ziongamer6905 Honestly as weird as it is, the only time I really didn't like Sora was in Dream Drop Distance. I feel that was Sora at his absolute worst.
@@staticshock4239 Oh absolutely without a doubt agree!! It would’ve been awesome to contrast Soras child body with a more mature mindset, what a missed opportunity.
Great thing that KH3 basically improved his character a lot from KH2-DDD and brought him to his full potential.
KBash, I have been critical of you in the past, but you have improved immensely.
Love those intros... you pick the best clips to express them yelling lines.. A1 buddy love the videos
Thank you for the criticism of boss designs, there are so many discrepancies between gameplay and boss design that drive me batshit.
I love this series with my entire fuckin heart but oh man I feel this entire video
Awesome one, KBash! Had to rewind every minute from laughing. Great analysis too, and I loved the ending! Congrats on reaching your Patreon goal :)
KH2 Is still my favorite story and gameplay wise, but KH1 Final Mix made me appreciate the 1st game some more and how its probably the most coherent story in the series.
I remember opening my ps2 on Christmas with KH2. Good times with the gummy ships
so because i was dumb child I bought KH2 first and it was my "intro" to the series (i had seen some friends play the start of 1 and wanted to get it myself) that entire ride was magical. Honestly to this day I will still say all the phases of xemnas belong up there as some of the best final boss fights in gaming, there's just so much spectacle and the music tracks are all phenomenal. As much as I enjoyed all the other games I will still put 2 as the penultimate entry to the series with BBS being a close second.
oh i need that kh2 secret boss fight reaction
Holy shi%t man, your segment in the 20 min. mark was really insightful. Thanks for that, and congratulations on the awesome review!
P.S.> Like everyone has noticed: "Mechanics are Simple and Clean" LOL
You sound like Hayner lmao. Listening to Hayner delve deep into KH lore is hilarious
Never got to experience this franchise as a child until this summer at the age of 19. What a fucking experience man, never expect to get so into it and just binge EVERY game in such a short period of time. Yeah, of course, the plot has a bunch of issues but god damn it has its amazing moments and the music, god the fucking music is out of this world. Glad I got to experience KH now than never :)