Kingdom Hearts

[Dirty Duck]

Question, is it worth the effort to try and learn the Kingdom Hearts lore?

As someone who loved the first game, tried with 2 and 3 and lost the lore a bit - then tried the other side games and completely had no idea what the heck was going on even after googling stuff - I'd say no.

As someone who played them all in order back in 2021 I actually don't think the series is that complicated. The plot is a little bit convoluted at points but the important beats of what's happening are relatively straightforward. I was explaining to my girlfriend only the other day about how the main confusing thing is that games that seem like "side games" are actually just main entries regardless of them lacking a number. Going from KH2 to KH3 is bizarrely kind of like going from MGS1 to MGS4. 358/2 Days, Birth By Sleep, and Dream Drop Distance may all seem like they're just spin off titles for handhelds but they all contain important plot developments or characters that will then show up in KH3 leaving you scratching your head.

[Roger]

I've only played KH2, I've heard about the series of games Duck has mentioned hence why I never bothered with KH3. But with KH4 having a radically diferent art style. I feel like I'll be even more confused with the characters now.

[Dirty Duck]

I've only played KH2, I've heard about the series of games Duck has mentioned hence why I never bothered with KH3. But with KH4 having a radically diferent art style. I feel like I'll be even more confused with the characters now.

That more art style likely won't be for the whole game. Like in KH2 where Sora became a mermaid or a lion depending on the world he was in the segments we've seen for KH4 are in a world that's affected how he appears to make him more realistic.

...or at least I hope LOL

[Dirty Duck]

The opening movie of the cancelled Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link has leaked(?)

[Dirty Duck]

NateDog your thoughts? I was excited to see it actually show some Disney stuff but I only watched Coco once and so was a little disappointed by it being the first world shown, feels a little bit box tick-y. That being said though the world environment does look very nice so I guess there's that. I'm very surprised that Sora hasn't returned to his usual proportions..I really thought that look was going to be for the Unreality worlds only, like Quadratum. I do think in this trailer Quadratum was what I liked the look of most by a long shot-I do wish we got that Verum Rex game. The Mickey, Donald, Goofy stuff all feels a little bit much to me. Like playing as them briefly in KH3 felt like a sort of anime victory lap reward to cap off the Seekers of Darkness storyline or whatever it was called.

[DeadSoldier]

On sadder news...
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/17/arts/...-dead.html

[Bread]

NateDog your thoughts? I was excited to see it actually show some Disney stuff but I only watched Coco once and so was a little disappointed by it being the first world shown, feels a little bit box tick-y. That being said though the world environment does look very nice so I guess there's that. I'm very surprised that Sora hasn't returned to his usual proportions..I really thought that look was going to be for the Unreality worlds only, like Quadratum. I do think in this trailer Quadratum was what I liked the look of most by a long shot-I do wish we got that Verum Rex game. The Mickey, Donald, Goofy stuff all feels a little bit much to me. Like playing as them briefly in KH3 felt like a sort of anime victory lap reward to cap off the Seekers of Darkness storyline or whatever it was called.

To be honest, I felt like the Disney worlds in KH3 all felt a little bit...fanservicey? I guess there could be an argument made that they always have been, but it just felt like these worlds not longer have any particular relevance to the actual plot anymore, and it was all just lazy "let's chuck in Frozen, Toy Story and Big Hero 6, people love those films".

[NateDog]

NateDog your thoughts? I was excited to see it actually show some Disney stuff but I only watched Coco once and so was a little disappointed by it being the first world shown, feels a little bit box tick-y. That being said though the world environment does look very nice so I guess there's that. I'm very surprised that Sora hasn't returned to his usual proportions..I really thought that look was going to be for the Unreality worlds only, like Quadratum. I do think in this trailer Quadratum was what I liked the look of most by a long shot-I do wish we got that Verum Rex game. The Mickey, Donald, Goofy stuff all feels a little bit much to me. Like playing as them briefly in KH3 felt like a sort of anime victory lap reward to cap off the Seekers of Darkness storyline or whatever it was called.

I think Coco fits thematically very well and it is very colourful so I'm happy with it. Early days on whether the Disney worlds are sort of chucked in there or actually feel like they add to the story and universe though, as it has been a while since that has been the case. Seems to be a clear connection here between what we've seen so far though (Coco, Donald and Goofy in the Underworld). I do want to see Star Wars but really Nomura has a habit of showing off too much sometimes and given we've been kept waiting so long I imagine it'll be the same case here so the later the better on that. Sora looks fine to me here, I know people complained about the Quadratum realistic style but I'd say there's a chance he'll be this way in most worlds while he's still, well, you know. The Donald and Goofy bits look fun to me, I imagine it's all to tie things back in together as we could see Sora fighting alone a bit in this. But it isn't fun that I can actually heal myself with Donald, very unrealistic.

On sadder news...
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/17/arts/...-dead.html

Unbelievably sad news. She seems like she really had a lot of struggles to deal with. I've seen what post-partum depression can do to a person firsthand with my partner, there were many stages where I worried she was very close to going to end up going one step too far and she could do nothing to control any of it. Kairi's theme always held a certain sadness for me and it's going to feel even more sorrowful now and going back to KH and KH2. RIP.

[Roger]

Oh yeah. I definitely have no idea what the hell is going on with this game. Time to watch a 10 hour deep dive lore video for this. Idk why but I am getting some uncanny valley vibes here and there. Could be old age getting to me.

[NateDog]

Oh yeah. I definitely have no idea what the hell is going on with this game. Time to watch a 10 hour deep dive lore video for this. Idk why but I am getting some uncanny valley vibes here and there. Could be old age getting to me.

10 hours deep dive video would probably only just cover up to Birth By Sleep. Strap in for a much longer ride Roger.