[Roxas101]

Okay, so, this is kinda a touchy subject amongst Kingdom Hearts fans. I personally think that they should stop with all the side stories and stick to the main games. I didn't even pick up coded for this reason. I have no intention of picking up Dream Drops Distance when it comes out. I will pick up Birth by Sleep Vol. 2 when it comes out because the first Birth by Sleep was badass. Given from what TN said about releasing a Kingdom Hearts game every year, we won't see Kingdom Hearts III until 2014 if no more side stories randomly appear. The last main game that we've seen was Birth by Sleep and that was after four years. I really don't want to wait another four years for the next main game.

Don't get me wrong. Kingdom Hearts is one of my favorite game series. My number one favorite is Assassin's Creed and I don't bother with the side stories of that game either.

[Keystaff Master]

Roxas101, on 11 May 2011 - 07:04 PM, said:

Okay, so, this is kinda a touchy subject amongst Kingdom Hearts fans. I personally think that they should stop with all the side stories and stick to the main games. I didn't even pick up coded for this reason. I have no intention of picking up Dream Drops Distance when it comes out. I will pick up Birth by Sleep Vol. 2 when it comes out because the first Birth by Sleep was badass. Given from what TN said about releasing a Kingdom Hearts game every year, we won't see Kingdom Hearts III until 2014 if no more side stories randomly appear. The last main game that we've seen was Birth by Sleep and that was after four years. I really don't want to wait another four years for the next main game.

Don't get me wrong. Kingdom Hearts is one of my favorite game series. My number one favorite is Assassin's Creed and I don't bother with the side stories of that game either.

I see your point, but I don't think blaming the "side-stories" would get us KH3 any faster and I'll tell you why. Square has, in my opinion, been dragging their feet quite a lot these days. It takes them YEARS to come out with a new installment in the Final Fantasy series, YEARS. Some of the best games in the series came out in immediate succession (1999 to 2002 was FF8 to FF11 back-to-back and that was with a system change too). I don't know what's happened to Square's work ethic, but it pales in comparison to how they used to be. You can argue different reasons why it takes so long, like the games take more care and programming, but it they were top of the line back in the day and they were able to put them out there so fast I don't see any reason why they cant do it today. They should be able to put out a new FF title every two and a half years AT THE MOST. I mean, they can't even give a release date for game announced in 2006 (Verses). They just don't seem to be up to snuff these days.

The KH games aren't so much just ways just to cash in on the franchise, but ways to fill in needed gaps in the series. The only one we could of did without was Re:coded, but that was honestly just a half ass effort to clean up some KH2 loose ends (because KH2 was ANYTHING but complete). Consider Data Sora thanking Naminé an example and Maleficent and Pete's presence there too. If it wasn't for 358/2 Days Roxas wouldn't be as deep a character and Birth by Sleep filled in some obvious gaps (while also present too many new ones... but meh).

My only complaint is how much older the fanbase is becoming since the original game. I'm 19 now and I played KH1 back in 2002... it just awkward knowing it's been so many years and I haven't even heard word of the third game while MOST game trilogies are being rounded up now or have been (God of War, Mass Effect, etc.).

But I feel you on Assassin's Creed, I feel like I should play Bloodlines... but it's not worth it.

This post has been edited by Keystaff Master: 12 May 2011 - 11:49 AM

[KieranCarden]

Roxas101, on 11 May 2011 - 07:04 PM, said:

Okay, so, this is kinda a touchy subject amongst Kingdom Hearts fans. I personally think that they should stop with all the side stories and stick to the main games. I didn't even pick up coded for this reason. I have no intention of picking up Dream Drops Distance when it comes out. I will pick up Birth by Sleep Vol. 2 when it comes out because the first Birth by Sleep was badass. Given from what TN said about releasing a Kingdom Hearts game every year, we won't see Kingdom Hearts III until 2014 if no more side stories randomly appear. The last main game that we've seen was Birth by Sleep and that was after four years. I really don't want to wait another four years for the next main game.

Don't get me wrong. Kingdom Hearts is one of my favorite game series. My number one favorite is Assassin's Creed and I don't bother with the side stories of that game either.

Kingdom Hearts - September 17, 2002
Kingdom Hearts II - March 28, 2006
Birth By Sleep - September 7, 2010

Why would waiting four years now suddenly be an issue when it's been four years in between every major installment? In fact, if BBS Vol. 2 ends up being anything like the first (which was considered a main installment), then you won't be waiting four years anyway if you plan on picking that up. That's if it's as big as the first though.

You then have semi-major releases in-between wait times. Just to point out, I don't consider the platform important when considering if a release is major or not. These games all significantly added to the main story.

Chain of Memories - December 7, 2004
Re: Chain of Memories - December 2, 2008
358/2 Days - September 29, 2009

Honestly the only game that hasn't really added to anything except to transition into the next game was Re: Coded. The lesser games are more like additional/optional story elements rather than "side-stories". They're all part of the main storyline, just focusing on a different aspect that has yet to be explained. A side-game to me is something that has little or nothing to do with the main storyline. In Kingdom Hearts, that's not the case with any of the games except, again, Re: Coded.

Keystaff Master, on 12 May 2011 - 11:46 AM, said:

My only complaint is how much older the fanbase is becoming since the original game. I'm 19 now and I played KH1 back in 2002... it just awkward knowing it's been so many years and I haven't even heard word of the third game while MOST game trilogies are being rounded up now or have been (God of War, Mass Effect, etc.).

I've only played the first two God of War games, and from looking into the other games they all seem like recycled content. Don't get me wrong, what I played was fun as hell and would play again, but when you don't change a whole lot coming out with games faster is gonna happen. That's how I see it anyway. Mass Effect isn't as bad as KH, but still had a 3 year wait between the first two games.

[Roxas101]

Keystaff Master, on 12 May 2011 - 11:46 AM, said:

I see your point, but I don't think blaming the "side-stories" would get us KH3 any faster and I'll tell you why. Square has, in my opinion, been dragging their feet quite a lot these days. It takes them YEARS to come out with a new installment in the Final Fantasy series, YEARS. Some of the best games in the series came out in immediate succession (1999 to 2002 was FF8 to FF11 back-to-back and that was with a system change too). I don't know what's happened to Square's work ethic, but it pales in comparison to how they used to be. You can argue different reasons why it takes so long, like the games take more care and programming, but it they were top of the line back in the day and they were able to put them out there so fast I don't see any reason why they cant do it today. They should be able to put out a new FF title every two and a half years AT THE MOST. I mean, they can't even give a release date for game announced in 2006 (Verses). They just don't seem to be up to snuff these days.

The KH games aren't so much just ways just to cash in on the franchise, but ways to fill in needed gaps in the series. The only one we could of did without was Re:coded, but that was honestly just a half ass effort to clean up some KH2 loose ends (because KH2 was ANYTHING but complete). Consider Data Sora thanking Naminé an example and Maleficent and Pete's presence there too. If it wasn't for 358/2 Days Roxas wouldn't be as deep a character and Birth by Sleep filled in some obvious gaps (while also present too many new ones... but meh).

My only complaint is how much older the fanbase is becoming since the original game. I'm 19 now and I played KH1 back in 2002... it just awkward knowing it's been so many years and I haven't even heard word of the third game while MOST game trilogies are being rounded up now or have been (God of War, Mass Effect, etc.).

But I feel you on Assassin's Creed, I feel like I should play Bloodlines... but it's not worth it.

I'll agree with you with "don't blame the side-stories" for the rate of the games. However, I would like to see less side stories and have what ever loose plot holes the Kingdom Hearts series has left to be tied up in the next major game. As I see it, Square-Enix should be concentrating on a way to make a major game that ties up loose ends rather than messing around with side stories in an attempt to tie these ends. I mean, GameInformer stated that Re:coded was "The most skip-worthy entry in the series." That kinda bothers me when I look at some of Square-Enix's other side stories.

KieranCarden, on 13 May 2011 - 10:50 PM, said:

Kingdom Hearts - September 17, 2002
Kingdom Hearts II - March 28, 2006
Birth By Sleep - September 7, 2010

Why would waiting four years now suddenly be an issue when it's been four years in between every major installment? In fact, if BBS Vol. 2 ends up being anything like the first (which was considered a main installment), then you won't be waiting four years anyway if you plan on picking that up. That's if it's as big as the first though.

You then have semi-major releases in-between wait times. Just to point out, I don't consider the platform important when considering if a release is major or not. These games all significantly added to the main story.

Chain of Memories - December 7, 2004
Re: Chain of Memories - December 2, 2008
358/2 Days - September 29, 2009

Honestly the only game that hasn't really added to anything except to transition into the next game was Re: Coded. The lesser games are more like additional/optional story elements rather than "side-stories". They're all part of the main storyline, just focusing on a different aspect that has yet to be explained. A side-game to me is something that has little or nothing to do with the main storyline. In Kingdom Hearts, that's not the case with any of the games except, again, Re: Coded.


I've only played the first two God of War games, and from looking into the other games they all seem like recycled content. Don't get me wrong, what I played was fun as hell and would play again, but when you don't change a whole lot coming out with games faster is gonna happen. That's how I see it anyway. Mass Effect isn't as bad as KH, but still had a 3 year wait between the first two games.

First off, I don't consider platform important when it comes down to main game titles, either.

Secondly, Re: Chain of Memories doesn't make a difference from what was done in Chain of Memories.

Thirdly, Days is an entry in the series that could be played, but doesn't matter if you don't. It's considerably a side story.

If you're going to use a timeline for main games and side stories, let me make it a little more accurate. I'm going by the Japanese and English timelines.:

Kingdom Hearts (Main) 2002
Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix (Japan Only) 2002
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (Main) 2004
Kingdom Hearts II (Main) 2005/2006
Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix + (Japan Only) 2007
Kingdom Hearts: Re: Chain of Memories 2008
(Note: These first games are all main games.)
Kingdom Hearts: Coded (Side Story) 2008-2010
Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days (Side Story) 2009
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (Main) 2010
Kingdom Hearts: Re: coded 2010/2011

Now, the Kingdom Hearts series starts off making main games every two years. Fair enough. After Kingdom Hearts II, we don't see a main game until Birth by Sleep. Every other game in between has either been a side story or a remake. And, after Birth by Sleep, we already see a remake of a side story released. Again, that bothers me. Especially when Ubisoft releases a main game every year for the Assassin's Creed series ever since Assassin's Creed II. (I'm not here to glorify Assassin's Creed as oppose to Kingdom Hearts. I'm just saying for the sake of argument.)

Yet again, it could be worse considering Capcom trusted Ninja Theory with Devil May Cry. >_> I think I'd cry if Square-Enix pulled a stunt like that with Kingdom Hearts.

[Keystaff Master]

Roxas101, on 16 May 2011 - 06:31 PM, said:

I'll agree with you with "don't blame the side-stories" for the rate of the games. However, I would like to see less side stories and have what ever loose plot holes the Kingdom Hearts series has left to be tied up in the next major game. As I see it, Square-Enix should be concentrating on a way to make a major game that ties up loose ends rather than messing around with side stories in an attempt to tie these ends. I mean, GameInformer stated that Re:coded was "The most skip-worthy entry in the series." That kinda bothers me when I look at some of Square-Enix's other side stories.

Yeah, I see what you mean and I agree. Personally, I felt the series was at it's peak when it was just KH1, CoM, and KH2. A numbered entry and then a "bridge" entry seemed like a nice formula. I personally love Days and BBS, but I attribute Days to clearing up some of Org. related loose-ends from KH2 and BBS as a set-up for future titles as well as filling in some holes in the past (which, personally, I don't think we really NEEDED but they don't hurt). Personally, if KH was like this:

Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts
Chain of Memories / 358/2 Days
Kingdom Hearts 2
Dream Drop Distance
Kingdom Hearts 3

I don't think it would be too bad. Heh, I really LIKED Re:coded, but I still believe that it could have been ditched. I don't really know how I feel about BBS Vol. 2... I'd rather they just tie up 3D and get to work on KH3 already.

Bottom line, in my opinion (just an opinion), the series would be a little cleaner if KH2 had tied up some of the loose ends right off the bat and was expanded in terms of Org. doings. Then we wouldn't need Days, but Re:coded would be unnecessary.

[Roxas101]

Keystaff Master, on 17 May 2011 - 05:54 PM, said:

Yeah, I see what you mean and I agree. Personally, I felt the series was at it's peak when it was just KH1, CoM, and KH2. A numbered entry and then a "bridge" entry seemed like a nice formula. I personally love Days and BBS, but I attribute Days to clearing up some of Org. related loose-ends from KH2 and BBS as a set-up for future titles as well as filling in some holes in the past (which, personally, I don't think we really NEEDED but they don't hurt). Personally, if KH was like this:

Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts
Chain of Memories / 358/2 Days
Kingdom Hearts 2
Dream Drop Distance
Kingdom Hearts 3

I don't think it would be too bad. Heh, I really LIKED Re:coded, but I still believe that it could have been ditched. I don't really know how I feel about BBS Vol. 2... I'd rather they just tie up 3D and get to work on KH3 already.

Bottom line, in my opinion (just an opinion), the series would be a little cleaner if KH2 had tied up some of the loose ends right off the bat and was expanded in terms of Org. doings. Then we wouldn't need Days, but Re:coded would be unnecessary.

Now, that I wouldn't mind so much. I liked how they bridged Kingdom Hearts I and Kingdom Hearts II with Chain of Memories. It set the stage for Kingdom Hearts II. I liked what they did in Days as well. The only real complaint I have for Days is that it probably would've done better as a PSP game and Birth by Sleep be on the PS3/Xbox360. Birth by Sleep really felt like a PS3 game

And, I agree: They should've tied up a lot more of the loose ends in Kingdom Hearts II and explained more about the Organization within that game as well.

[TheDarkBusterSword_Cloud_Zach]

 I have no intention of picking up Dream Drops Distance when it comes out.

ah, but Dream Drop Distance IS part of the main story. Don't even THINK about not picking it up. I should clear that up, THINK about playing it. I can tell you right now, it's gonna be great!

[Roxas101]

TheDarkBusterSword_Cloud_Zach, on 19 May 2011 - 02:42 PM, said:

 I have no intention of picking up Dream Drops Distance when it comes out.

ah, but Dream Drop Distance IS part of the main story. Don't even THINK about not picking it up. I should clear that up, THINK about playing it. I can tell you right now, it's gonna be great!

I might check out some YouTube gameplay when it comes out or I might even pick it up when it comes out when I know the storyline a bit better.