The Different Combat Systems in 'Kingdom Hearts'
Introduction
The Kingdom Hearts series is without a doubt one of the most beloved video game franchises of all time. Its unique blend of RPG and Action elements, combined with its colourful cast of characters, have had a major impact on gamers all over the world.
A major part of the series has always been its unique combat system. Each game in the series has its own take on the combat system, with new mechanics added to the mix that help to keep things fresh. In this blog post, we'll take a look at the different combat systems in Kingdom Hearts and how they stack up against each other.
Kingdom Hearts 1
The original Kingdom Hearts was released in 2002 and featured a unique blend of action and tactics-based combat. Each battle was a mix of puzzle-solving and time management, as you had to figure out how to use each character's abilities to defeat your enemies.
The Player could switch between the three active characters with the press of a button.
The Player was able to assign commands to each character that would be executed in order.
Each character had numerous magical spells that could be used in battle.
Magic could be combined with physical attacks to create powerful combo attacks.
The combat system of the original Kingdom Hearts was very tactical and rewarding. You had to plan out each battle and make use of each character's abilities if you wanted to have any chance of success.
Kingdom Hearts 2
The sequel to the original Kingdom Hearts was released in 2005 and included a major overhaul of the combat system. The addition of the Reaction Commands system made battles more dynamic and dynamic.
The Player could now initiate special moves by pressing a button at the right time.
The Player could use a variety of special attacks to deal huge amounts of damage to enemies.
The Player could also use a variety of defensive techniques to protect themselves from enemy attacks.
The Player could now equip different armor and weapons that influenced the character's stats.
The combat system in Kingdom Hearts 2 was definitely more action-oriented than its predecessor. The Reaction Commands system added an element of unpredictability to the battles, making them more challenging and exciting.
Kingdom Hearts 3
The latest installment in the Kingdom Hearts series was released in 2019 and featured another major revamp of the combat system. This time, the battle system was heavily inspired by the action games of the PlayStation era.
The Player had access to a variety of special moves, including powerful combo attacks and magical spells.
The Player could also make use of new team-up attacks with other characters.
The Player could now equip special “Keyblades” that changed the character's abilities and stats.
The Player could now customize each of their characters with different combat styles and equipment.
The combat system in Kingdom Hearts 3 combined the tactical elements of the first game with the action-oriented elements of the second game. The addition of the Keyblades and the customizable characters allowed for more strategic battles, while still maintaining the fast-paced action of the series.
Conclusion
Each installment in the Kingdom Hearts series has its own unique take on combat, and all of them have their own merits. The original game was more tactical, the second game focused on action, and the third game combined the two. No matter which game you choose, you're sure to have a blast!