A Darker Kingdom Hearts?

[Death Penalty]

So apparently the team working on this game is the team that was working on Kingdom Hearts, and Versus is supposed to play a lot like a darker version of the series. I have to say, I find that to be an enormous bonus. Whatever one thinks of the series, KH sports one of the best (if not the best) action RPG battle systems out there. It's fast, it's pretty, and it enables the player to pull off spectacular moves and finishers along with your typical button-mashing conquering. Admittedly, KH is a little easy, but if this ends up being a more serious game I'm hoping that will bring with it a more intense difficulty.

As much as I myself do enjoy KH, I have always longed for a similar RPG with more serious elements, more epic design, and so forth. I can only see something like Versus being an excellent endeavor, and I really hope it pans out in the long run. The fact that two characters have segments of their name relating to 'darkness' makes me a little iffy about the storyline, but meh. I'll reserve judgment there.

Anything you guys would like to see different from Kingdom Hearts? Anything you hope they keep from that franchise?

[Dirtyred70]

I just hope they maintain the unrestrained battle system KH has always stayed true to. Since Nomura wanted the game to mimic flashy fight scenes similar to Advent Children, aesethics will play a major role in gameplay (as with all FF titles). ^_^

So...yeah, I really wouldn't mind FFvXIII being a darker version of KH; assuming a more compelling plot will be used...

[Syriani]

The plot of KH wasn't bad, until it hit CoM. Then it became annoying with the recycling of the "save kairi" plot, and the Organization just doesn't provide any good characters to really work with since they're all supposed to be a bit bland and emotionless.

The first trailer I saw for FFXIII versus drew me in, but besides that, I like what direction I believe they're going with. After KH2 I was wishing they could take the battle system and drag it to a more mature game and storyline, which is what I hope they do with FFVIII versus.

[Death Penalty]

The plot of KH wasn't bad, until it hit CoM. Then it became annoying with the recycling of the "save kairi" plot, and the Organization just doesn't provide any good characters to really work with since they're all supposed to be a bit bland and emotionless.

The first trailer I saw for FFXIII versus drew me in, but besides that, I like what direction I believe they're going with. After KH2 I was wishing they could take the battle system and drag it to a more mature game and storyline, which is what I hope they do with FFVIII versus.

I actually thought that the Organization members had rather vibrant personalities, and enjoyed them a lot. It's one thing that I hope they keep consistent with Versus, and I can't see them not since it looks like only their original characters will be in the game. Totally agree though, using the mechanics (or at least a good dose of them) from KH in a more mature setting could potentially have the end result of a completely epic game.

[Falsate]

I hope the Action in this game will be different and more cinematic. I love with the camera angle is just smooth rather than following the player roughly unless it needs to.

When I heard about the battle system being similar to KH, I immediately sparked the idea that it will be quite flexible. I'm thinking they will try to do something a long the lines of KH and Crisis Core fused. I felt KH has more freedom than Crisis Core in combat because Mid-Air plays a higher role.

Also, I think darker storylines are far more interesting because they seem to be more enigmatic than the casual games. It might be months after you play the game before you actually connect 'a -> b' and 'd -> z'. Whatever it may turn out to be.

[Syriani]

Cinematic isn't necessary, just a smooth continuous action battle system. I've noticed lately with FFXIII that it is still a bit more laid back in terms of staying out of continuous action, which disappointments me a bit. Still, with the more action/RPG style that I think Nomura is going for appeals to me much more.

[Falsate]

Cinematic battles are necessary for me. The whole point of trying to 'emulate' Advent Children action is to make sure battles have some sort of cinematic action packed in. With any Action game, it will always be continuous which is just plain and redundant to say.

[chaosblade77]

I remember someone mentioning something about battles being similar to Dissidia. I've only played that game for a few minutes, but I could see something like that. Not sure how that compares to KH since I've never bothered to play those games.

[Falsate]

It's actually pretty good. People say that Crisis Core and Dissidia are the games that properly executed KH's battle system.

I think he said it will be a battle system similar to KH, which is good to hear that we will get some axis freedom? Hopefully.

[Dirtyred70]

It's actually pretty good. People say that Crisis Core and Dissidia are the games that properly executed KH's battle system.

I think he said it will be a battle system similar to KH, which is good to hear that we will get some axis freedom? Hopefully.

I also read from another source (can't remember where OR if it was reliable, so don't kill me) that Versus will have a battle system that will be sort of a cross between KH & FFVII: Dirge of Cerberus (3rd person shooter). That would make for kick-ass gameplay, but like I said...don't know if it's reliable info.:rolleyes:

[LostCookies]

Well probably the only thing it will have in common with KH is the battle system seens as the plot will be different and they are obviously stylisticly different.

[Moklin]

It's actually pretty good. People say that Crisis Core and Dissidia are the games that properly executed KH's battle system.

I think he said it will be a battle system similar to KH, which is good to hear that we will get some axis freedom? Hopefully.

kh batle system sucks but yeah, its derivances are great. CC´s and Dissida´s gameplay are awesome. I hope we have something like that in Versus.

[Neal]

Maybe a spin off character that is basically Sora but technically not loses his copy of Dirty Harry on Blu-Ray and steals it from HMV, but then the ending is that he turns himself in because it's the right thing to do.

[Falsate]

kh batle system sucks but yeah, its derivances are great. CC´s and Dissida´s gameplay are awesome. I hope we have something like that in Versus.
I'd take KHII's battle system over CC because I like the freedom.

I think they should try to evolve the battle system more just like they did with the ATB.

[Ikkin]

Well probably the only thing it will have in common with KH is the battle system seens as the plot will be different and they are obviously stylisticly different.

They also have the theme of friendship and connections between people in common, though Versus is obviously going to focus on a different side of that. They'll probably also share Nomura's tendency to focus on character over plot and consequent ability to tear your heart out with bittersweet endings. ;)

[kadzapz]

They also have the theme of friendship and connections between people in common, though Versus is obviously going to focus on a different side of that. They'll probably also share Nomura's tendency to focus on character over plot and consequent ability to tear your heart out with bittersweet endings. ;)



oh, bittersweet endings nomura style... I just love it ..

[AngelCaelum]

Is versus turning out a bit deja vu[in relation to KH]?
I mean this whole thing about 'seeing the light' during Noctis and Stella's conversation just reminded me of KH straight away. =O

but i like the whole fact that Nomura is basing the battle system on an advanced version of KH. ^-^ that is awesome!;)

[Ikkin]

Is versus turning out a bit deja vu[in relation to KH]?
I mean this whole thing about 'seeing the light' during Noctis and Stella's conversation just reminded me of KH straight away. =O

Nomura does seem to have a few favorite motifs, themes, and images that show up whenever he's director. Light/darkness is one of those motifs, of course - but sleep/awakening is another big one. Theme-wise, friendship is an obvious one, along with sacrifice. There are a few others that function below the surface, though, with the biggest one of those being the idea that there can be good things that are mutually-exclusive, which can force sympathetic people apart. The images, I think, are the things most likely to cause deja-vu, though - just think of how many times and in how many ways the phrase "We'll go together" has been used in Kingdom Hearts and Advent Children.

[Dire]

As long as I don't see any Disney characters mixed with in my Final Fantasy games, it's all good!

[Gd_Master16]

I like the idea of a darker FF, but I hope its not too dark. Its good to have those happier moments through the game.

As for the look of the game so far I like it. Its going in a totally different direction than 13. Honesty I would be ok with there only being those 4 main characters in versus that theyve shown so far... 'Course that got me wonderin'... do you think theyll do something like Kingdom Hearts where you have a few main character that you keep but add and lose guest characters as you go along? That might be interesting...

[Ikkin]

I like the idea of a darker FF, but I hope its not too dark. Its good to have those happier moments through the game.

I don't think you need to worry about that all too much. Nomura's shown an interest in the everyday happiness of his characters that's actually pretty rare in videogames, and has stated directly that he intends that to be a part of Versus.

Of course, there's another side to that - tragedy is a lot more painful when the characters feel so familiar. Which is probably the point.

(Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days demonstrates this kind of feeling, I think. Really, by the end, that game reached a point where I'm wondering how much further he can take it without "shooting the shaggy dog")