Launched in 2002 exclusively for the PlayStation 2, did the impossible task of bringing and together in a video game that was not only good but arguably one of the greatest of all time. The original Kingdom Hearts has a charm that’s noticeably absent from the rest of the series. It sets the fo🎐undation for what’s to come, but not without its novelties.
Sora’s first adventure arguably features the best incorporation of Di♌sney Worlds in the se𓆏ries, actually advancing the narrative through them instead of relegating plot to the end of the game. The original Kingdom Hearts feels like a proper journey, and that’s in large part due to the Worlds Sora visits.
Updated on September 24, 2023, by Gary Kay: To newer Kingdom Hearts fans it might seem like the approach to the world design in each entry is pretty similar, an𒆙d while there are consistent elements, each entry in the decades-long series has a unique perspective.
In the original Kingdom Hearts, the worlds were their most open-ended. The multiple lands Sora explored were easy to get lost in and often focused on immersing ourselves in the setting. So, out of all of the worlds Sora visits in the original Kingdom Hearts, which are the best?
14 Atlantica
Atlantica puts in no uncertain terms how distinct differe🀅nt Worlds can be. Taking place entirely underwater, Atlantica is an opportunity to add another layer to Kingdom Hearts, but it 🍃struggles from both a gameplay and story perspective.
Losing 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:a good chunk of Sora’s tool kit simply isn’t fun, and Atlantica’s level design is a bit on the confusing s༒ide. Narratively, as Atlantica is an optional World, there’s not much story progression that can be done. If nothing else, Triton acknowledges the Keyblade, the Keyhole, and other Worlds, showing that Disney characters aren’t just living in a bubble in the KH universe.
13 ✤ Wonderland
Wonderland is a fairly disappointing World in the grand scheme of things. The first World most players will end up visiting, Wonderland is small in scope and doesn't exactly show off Kingdom Hearts' strongest qualities.
The story feels disjointed, tꩵhe level design loops in on itself with just a few oddities to keep you entertain♏ed, and the Alice in Wonderland aesthetic ultimately feels underutilized. While the world does take advantage of unique Alice in Wonderland references, like shrinking and growing, the potential of the world still feels unrealized.
12 Deep Jungle 🍨 🥃
Deep Jungle plays into Kingdom Hearts' platforming sensibilities, something no other game in the series ever attempted with outside of the Flowmotion system (which in itself is nothing like traditional platforming). While Deep Jungle has an incredible aesthetic, memorable bosses, and a strong storyline, the actual level design feels unrefined.
Getting lost in a Kingdom Hearts game is a fun novelty compared to what the series became, but Deep Jungle's samey visuals wear thin faster than you'd imagine. On top of this, the platforming, while entertaining at times, is a little too particular at times for Kingdom Hearts' controls and can end up frustrating.
11 Monstro
Monstro's strengths are also its weaknesses. The World is maze-like by design and deceptively confusing. This makes it one of the most complex areas in the game and truly dungeon-like by nature, but Monsto also errs on being frustrating.
Poison effects are never fun to deal with, and the labyrinthine structure starts to lose its luster the moment you start cycling through rooms. If nothing else, Monstro is at least opti♓onal, but you do miss out on important character development for Riku if you choose 🐽to miss it.
10 🍸 100 Acre ♔Wood
100 Acre Wood gets a lot of flack for being a mini-game World with no🃏 combat (and generally focusing on a story with no bearing on the main plot), but that ignores how nice of a palette cleanser it is. 100 Acre Wood is an opportunity to just indulge in some mindless fun.
Winnie the Pooh and company make for great companions, and Sora essentially taking Christopher Robin’s place in the 100 Acre Wood is a stroke of genius on Kingdom Hearts’ part. Thematically, this World emphasizes the importance of friendship, solidarity, and being together better than any other in the game. It is also interesting to see how Sora's relationship with Winnie the Pooh develops throughout the trilogy.
9 🔯 Dive To The Heart ꦡ
You never forget your first and Kingdom Hearts’ opening is nothing short of legendary. Simple and Clean’s tran🌠sition into the Dive to the Heart is absolutely masterful.
The haunting Destati playing in the background underscores the nature of Sora’s journey brilliantly. Dive to the Heart is a basic tutorial at its core, but it's one of the most memorable parts of the game and unforgettable part of Kingdom Hearts' identity. It is no wonder that the simple idea of Dive to the Heart has been repeated so often in the series.
8 💃 Destiny Islands
Destiny Islands is more or less the back half of Kingdom Hearts' tutorial, picking up where Dive to the Heart left off. Where Dive to the Heart introduces audiences to the game's core combat in a surreal sequence, Destiny Islands is an opportunity to acclimate yourself with the controls while indulging in an atmospheric area that's only around for an hour tops.
Permanently losing Destiny Islands as a World helps set the tone for Kingdom Hearts while establishing Sora's relationship with Kairi and rivalry with Riku. This location is iconic and will always create a wave of nostalgia for any Kingdom Hearts fan when seeing the beach or hearing the relaxing theme.
7 Agrabah
Agrabah is a fan favorite World and for good reason: it's a solid video game level overall with a bunch of variety. The Bazaar is compact with plenty of exits and entrances; the Cave of Wonders is one of the few areas in Kingdom Hearts you can call a full dungeon, and all the boss fights are interesting.
Kurt Zisa ends up showing up in the last act of the game as Agrabah’s Superboss, which makes for a nice reason to revisit Aladdin near the end of the game. Agrabah has♛ become overused throughout the franchise, but its fir𝄹st outing is admirable.
6 Neverland
Neverland is something of a turning point for Kingdom Hearts, placing Sora, Riku, and Kairi into a single World while heavily foreshadowing the endgame. It’s hard to believe Disney Worlds used to be so narratively relevant, considering how poorly Dream Drop Distance an♏d Kingdom Hearts III utilize them.
Neverland is a lot like Agrabah, though a bit smaller. There’s a lot of variety, and Hook’s ship is very dungeon-esque in nature. Shadow Sora makes for a nice recurring villain, and both Captain and Hook and The Phantom serve as challenging story- and super-⭕bosses respectively. Though, the Phantom can be quite a struggle.
5 ꦆ Traverse Town
A World for the lost, Traverse Town, is one of the most iconic settings in Kingdom Hearts. Divided into three Districts, Traverse Town manages to maintain relevance for the entire game, almost serving as a central hub during the story’s transitionary moments.💫 Sora, Donald, and Goofy will return to this World more than any other in the game.
Uncovering new parts of Traverse Town over the course of the story gives the World a sens🐼e of p🔴rogressions others lack. Only Olympus Coliseum comes close, but Traverse Town is actually narratively relevant, with the story’s changing tides affecting the enemies fought and found within the world.