KH1 vs KH2-Debate

[The 13th Kenpachi 4,279]

I haven't had a good old fashioned debate in a while!!

Let's get some hype flowing for D23 where we'll see loads of KH3 goodness!!!

 

I was watching SkywardWing's top 5 KH games and was inspired to make this thread. I think I'm one of the few people who actually prefers KH1 over KH2, to me KH1 is the best game in the series.

 

Rules of this-Only compare the original versions of each game and so no HD remix/final mix. Just the vanilla ps2 KH1 and vanilla PS2 KH2. Therefore you cannot mention critical mode and other final mix things.

 

Anyone is free to join, no bashing other opinions.

 

With that being said, EXPLAIN WHY, don't just say 'I prefer KH2 because it's my opinion', give some reasons!

 

To me, KH1 has a better battle system than KH2. KH2 vanilla is far too much of a button masher whilst in KH1 you can't just spam the same combos constantly. Most of your spells, summons and combos can be utilised for multiple situations whilst in KH2 you only need cure, a reaction command and a few mashes of X. Other spells and summons are needless.

 

Sora feels like a small part of a big world in KH1, the worlds capture the Disney atmosphere through the colours and art style very accurately. The worlds feel like worlds and not multiple rooms clustered together, KH1 has the best sense of cohesion.

 

The world narratives are more catered towards the game's plot, the Disney villains are taken down one by one and world by world. Sora Donald and goofy uncover more of Maleficent's schemes as the you complete the worlds. Unlike KH2 where the Disney worlds are more focused on their own individual affairs.

 

Riku is more interesting than in KH2, although his transition into a villain is poorly paced it still gives you enough motivation to defeat him. The boss fights are also more memorable, giant URSULA? Clayton riding the back of a chameleon? Ceberus? Chernabog? Seeing the world of chaos explode? Riku's dark suit battles? Giant dragon Maleficent?

 

Furthermore, KH1 feels more grand and fleshed out, however it is very simplistic. Learning the story of the first keyblade war from Kairi's Grandma and how the worlds are all scattered? That made me want to learn so much more about the lore of this universe.

The whole journey from Destiny Islands to the end of the world feels much more grand and epic. I loved how Sora is so naïve but by the end he seems more knowledgeable, for someone who has the weight of everything on his shoulders he sure doesn't question it! In KH2 he seems a little more whiney and more cringey.

 

The ending of KH1 leaves me with far more questions but is so satisfying too.

 

Those are a few of my opinions, took me a while to write so I'd appreciate if you guys would debate this with me If you think KH2 is better or if you prefer KH1! Remember the rules from above  Don't get the idea I hate KH2, KH2 is one of my favourite games ever but I prefer KH1.

Edited October 25, 2015 by TheNinjasJoint

[Felixx 6,646]

I prefer KH2 because it's my opinion

 

Nah, just kidding.

 

I prefer KH2 because...

 

- the battle system: I LOVE the battle system in KH2, Sora has so many awesome abilites, he has Drive Forms, amazing spells and so on. I love it when the character you're playing becomes OP in the end, and Sora really does. And aside from other people I like button smashing

- the story: To me the story in KH2 is way more interesting. The KH1 story is too cliche for me, some random boy is chosen to wield a big Key and has to save the world, meh. I mean I like the story, but I prefer the story of KH2 with the Organization and the Nobodies.

- Sora: Sora in KH1 has barely any personality, at least to me. That's way better in KH2, even though he got a bit dumb. I love Sora this way. He shows more emotion.

- Riku: I HATED Riku in KH1, he's just like Sasuke in Naruto, arrogant and a jerk. I'm not a big fan of him now but I like him more in KH2. 

- the Organization 13: like I said in the story part, the Organization is a really cool invention in my opinion, and all of them are such unique characters. I actually really like the idea of the Nobodies, I think they're much more ingenious than the Heartless.

- AXEL: there's no Axel/Lea in KH1. That's reason enough I love this character and he has in my opinion one of the biggest character development in the series.

- the ending: KH2's ending is just perfect, enough said

 

That's at least my opinion

[Trece the Xam ( ▀ ͜͞ʖ▀) 3,859]

I've said many times that story-wise, KH1 has been left aside, and not only story-wise, but also character-wise, Sora was far more interesting and inteligent there, he's just gotten worse, to the point that in DDD I don't even like the character at all, and also, as you said, Riku was far more interesting then. Gameplay-wise, KH1 is very strategic and surprisingly hard compared to KH2, and KH2 gave you a wide variety of combos to smash your foes the way you prefer. I prefer KH2, but I honestly think it's because of Organization XIII, and maybe because it's gamplay is very nice and swift, although it's too easy, while KH1's one can get even complicated in ceirtan fights (both Ursulas, Clayton, Cerberus, SEPHIROTH...).

 

I agree in nearly everything you say, but the Organization is the biggest thing KH has ever had (I honestly wouldn't have started playing if it weren't for them, after all, the first KH game I took seriously was Days), thus making KH2 one of my all-time favourite games (and Days would be too if it weren't because of it's simple gameplay and the lack of exploring that's necesary).

Edited October 25, 2015 by Xamtehwt Trece

[Hero of Light XIV 2,381]

I love all the games, and KH1 is always going to be the great game that started everything, its the core of what makes every game a Kingdom Hearts game. But I will say that I prefer KH2 just a bit more than KH1 because it feels like a natural evolution of the first game, with a lot more of the speed, camera control, and dynamic action that we've come to expect from the series, as well as tons of more battle options. It really does feel like the next natural step to take after the good times that KH1 gives ya.

[Philip Ellwell 5,487]

KH1 for the classic nostalgia it has..ever play seems like it's the first time all over again.

Battle system...eh..It's alright. Can't argue for it, honestly.

Worlds were more interesting in KH1, as a few seem tired and over used later in KH2. 

I prefer KH1 Sora to KH2's for his utter innocence: everything is new to him.

 

I'm not putting a strong argument for KH1 over KH2 here, but those are my personal reasons. 

Edited October 25, 2015 by Jack Vladimir Frost

[Tails 6,692]

I've said many times that story-wise, KH1 has been left aside, and not only story-wise, but also character-wise, Sora was far more interesting and inteligent there, he's just gotten worse, to the point that in DDD I don't even like the character at all, and also, as you said, Riku was far more interesting then. Gameplay-wise, KH1 is very strategic and surprisingly hard compared to KH2, and KH2 gave you a wide variety of combos to smash your foes the way you prefer. I prefer KH2, but I honestly think it's because of Organization XIII, and maybe because it's gamplay is very nice and swift, although it's too easy, while KH1's one can get even complicated in ceirtan fights (both Ursulas, Clayton, Cerberus, SEPHIROTH...).

 

I agree in nearly everything you say, but the Organization is the biggest thing KH has ever had (I honestly wouldn't have started playing if it weren't for them, after all, the first KH game I took seriously was Days), thus making KH2 one of my all-time favourite games (and Days would be too if it weren't because of it's simple gameplay and the lack of exploring that's necesary).

Agreed. Unlike in KH1, Sora is really stupid in the other games. Especially in KH: DDD. 

 

As for this thread, I prefer KH2 over KH1 because KH2 has more flashy attacks plus the fact that there are multiple ways to deal with bosses. And let's not forget that fact that the final mic version of KH2 has the most content out of any KH game so far.

Edited October 25, 2015 by Tails

[A Heartless Nobody 120]

Kingdom Hearts 2 is perfect. Enough said.

[XionRoxasSora 239]

i think i Like KH1 a little more than KH2 because it IS the game that started it all.

[Eternalsleep 175]

I slightly prefer kh 1 over kh 2 mostly because of gameplay in the sense that kh 1 is a lot harder, in kh 2 you really just need drive forms to win any battle. But i do prefer kh 2's story mostly because in kh 1 everything that you do is irrelevant until you reach hallow bastion, that's when i believe the game really picks up and kingdom hearts becomes its own series instead of just a disney battle game.

[Exiblade7 1,917]

I prefer KH2 over KH1 because of the battle system in KH2. In KH1 you only had an attack, magic, and summon commands (and some triangle commands). In KH2 the combos are a lot better and you have an attack, magic, summon, limit, reaction ,AND drive commands and plus the final boss isn't ridiculously hard on normal mode unlike the final boss in kingdom hearts 1. The story in KH2 is a lot more interesting than the story in KH1. 

Edited October 25, 2015 by Luke Fon Fabre

[MythrilMagician 6,963]

I prefer Kingdom Hearts 2 over the first game. The first game was great to play, but gameplay wise, it's rather dull and repetitive. Nothing to really spice things up, but I can't blame Square Enix for that because every first installment to every game series is like that.

 

I honestly found the first game more easily to spam with magic than the first one. It was so easy to replenish your MP bar and unlike KH2, Cure didn't use the whole MP bar.

 

I also loved the new gameplay mechanics in Kingdom Hearts 2. It's always nice to see something new being experimented with. The drive forms, reaction commands and new touch on the limits were really nice.

 

I also found KH2 to be more challenging. You could easily fly through the bosses in KH1, but in KH2, it was a pain. Groundshaker, Xaldin, Xigbar, Luxord and Saïx were all really tough to beat.

 

But one thing that bothers me about EVERY. KH game is the final boss. They were all too damn easy. Especially Ansem and Xemnas.

 

And in regards to story, it's a tough comparison. Kingdom Hearts made a good introduction to the series, but Kingdom Hearts 2 explained a bit more of the lore.

[DaxovanHearts 452]

I really loved KH2 because of the story. While it was a bit of a button masher, the bosses were larger and far more epic in terms of scale. The music was also amazing, too, and made Kingdom Hearts 2 one of the more iconic games in the series. Furthermore, the story set the stage for the rest of the series; the secret movie introduced Ven and the gang, Xemnas and Organization XIII, Roxas, and basically if Kingdom Hearts II was any different we would have a completely different trajectory of the series. That's how important it was. 

[Trece the Xam ( ▀ ͜͞ʖ▀) 3,859]

I really loved KH2 because of the story. While it was a bit of a button masher, the bosses were larger and far more epic in terms of scale. The music was also amazing, too, and made Kingdom Hearts 2 one of the more iconic games in the series. Furthermore, the story set the stage for the rest of the series; the secret movie introduced Ven and the gang, Xemnas and Organization XIII, Roxas, and basically if Kingdom Hearts II was any different we would have a completely different trajectory of the series. That's how important it was. 

 

In my opinion KH2 would have been the perfect ending for KH, so they just gave us a lot of stuff that proved us there were going to be more titles, stuff like what you said (think about it, if it wasn't for the Secret Endings, the one of the bottle with the King's message or the one with Terra, Aqua and Ven facing Xehanort, at least I would have thought that KH2 could have been the end of KH; actually, I've read somewhere that KH2 was meant to be the last title, but I don't think it was from a legit source).

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

The first Kingdom Hearts is definitely a masterpiece, to be sure, and it definitely has an amazing story, and it's the beginning of the grandiose saga we've come to know and love as the Xehanort Saga!  While I love the first game, I find myself loving the second one more!  I mean, don't get me wrong, both games are stupendous, and while I like that all the worlds have their little secrets that you can unlock as you progress in the game in KH1, I love KHII more because of the scope it has!  We are introduced to the rest of Organization XIII, and not only do we get to fight them!  No, we get to witness the dilemmas of Roxas, Namine and Axel!  Those poor souls!

 

I love how Kingdom Hearts II foreshadows many things alluding to the past and to the future, and Ansem The Wise was a character I thought was stupendous! (Even more so because Christopher Lee voiced him, bless his soul!)  The way he planned out his revenge against his betrayers was truly something, and I just loved the whole mystery surrounding the many loose plot threads scattered throughout the game, which we'd later know the answers to most of these mysteries!

 

The combat, the scale, the worlds, the feels!  Gahh!!! So much awesomeness! X_X

 

I'm not saying that I don't feel this way about KH1, because I certainly love that game to death as well! (Lol, I love all the games in the series. X3) But, one of my absolute favorites is Kingdom Hearts II!

[Headphone Jack 1,147]

i enjoy KH2 more because of it's flashier gameplay and how it manages to give closure to the story up to that point. KH1 is still a good game though, but i just enjoy it less than KH2.

[The 13th Kenpachi 4,279]

Well, i guess I'm on my own about KH1 being the best

 

 

 

I prefer Kingdom Hearts 2 over the first game. The first game was great to play, but gameplay wise, it's rather dull and repetitive. Nothing to really spice things up, but I can't blame Square Enix for that because every first installment to every game series is like that.I honestly found the first game more easily to spam with magic than the first one. It was so easy to replenish your MP bar and unlike KH2, Cure didn't use the whole MP bar.I also loved the new gameplay mechanics in Kingdom Hearts 2. It's always nice to see something new being experimented with. The drive forms, reaction commands and new touch on the limits were really nice.I also found KH2 to be more challenging. You could easily fly through the bosses in KH1, but in KH2, it was a pain. Groundshaker, Xaldin, Xigbar, Luxord and Saïx were all really tough to beat.But one thing that bothers me about EVERY. KH game is the final boss. They were all too damn easy. Especially Ansem and Xemnas.And in regards to story, it's a tough comparison. Kingdom Hearts made a good introduction to the series, but Kingdom Hearts 2 explained a bit more of the lore.

 

i enjoy KH2 more because of it's flashier gameplay and how it manages to give closure to the story up to that point. KH1 is still a good game though, but i just enjoy it less than KH2.

 

 

I slightly prefer kh 1 over kh 2 mostly because of gameplay in the sense that kh 1 is a lot harder, in kh 2 you really just need drive forms to win any battle. But i do prefer kh 2's story mostly because in kh 1 everything that you do is irrelevant until you reach hallow bastion, that's when i believe the game really picks up and kingdom hearts becomes its own series instead of just a disney battle game.

 

 

I prefer KH2 over KH1 because of the battle system in KH2. In KH1 you only had an attack, magic, and summon commands (and some triangle commands). In KH2 the combos are a lot better and you have an attack, magic, summon, limit, reaction ,AND drive commands and plus the final boss isn't ridiculously hard on normal mode unlike the final boss in kingdom hearts 1. The story in KH2 is a lot more interesting than the story in KH1. 

 

In the worlds during KH2, you were really just jumping from place to place bashing heartless. Whilst in KH1 for most worlds, to get from point A to point B you had explore more of the area and solve little puzzles along the way. You had to pay attention to dialogue in order to know where to go but in KH2 your told what to do. The puzzle solving in KH1 was such a blast and really made you think. Like in HB in the waterways!

Edited October 26, 2015 by TheNinjasJoint

[Felixx 6,646]

Well, i guess I'm on my own about KH1 being the best          In the worlds during KH2, you were really just jumping from place to place bashing heartless. Whilst in KH1 for most worlds, to get from point A to point B you had explore more of the area and solve little puzzles along the way. You had to pay attention to dialogue in order to know where to go but in KH2 your told what to do. The puzzle solving in KH1 was such a blast and really made you think. Like in HB in the waterways!

I agree with you on the world part, that's why I didn't say anything about them in my post. I prefer the KH1 worlds, because of the reasons you mentioned. Except for Deep Jungle, this world is too confusing, I had no clue where to go

[Exiblade7 1,917]

Well, i guess I'm on my own about KH1 being the best

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the worlds during KH2, you were really just jumping from place to place bashing heartless. Whilst in KH1 for most worlds, to get from point A to point B you had explore more of the area and solve little puzzles along the way. You had to pay attention to dialogue in order to know where to go but in KH2 your told what to do. The puzzle solving in KH1 was such a blast and really made you think. Like in HB in the waterways!

I'd have to agree with the worlds being a little bit more interesting than the worlds in kingdom hearts 2. Even though I prefer kh2 over kh1 that's the thing that kh2 really lacked. 

[The 13th Kenpachi 4,279]

There's got to be someone who agrees with me, i know you're out there!

 

Okay fine, I'm pulling out the trump card that will make every fanboy upset

This guy is a way cooler 

 

than this guy

 

 

Billy Zane makes you actually feel scared, Paul St Peter is absolutely amazing too but Xemnas seems too soft to be a villain. He's not intimidating or scary enough. Also, when playing KH2 what motivation do you have for killing Xemnas other than 

 

"He's the leader of the organization"

He didn't really do anything to Roxas and Xion by his own hands before you mention than them.

 

Ansem on the other hand took over your best-friend's heart, turned him evil and assisted in the destruction of your home! He helped separate you and your best friends from each other. He created the problem in the first place. Xemnas didn't do much. 

 

World of Chaos was far more epic than Xemnas' final form, and a lot more difficult. 

 

[Trece the Xam ( ▀ ͜͞ʖ▀) 3,859]

There's got to be someone who agrees with me, i know you're out there!

 

Okay fine, I'm pulling out the trump card that will make every fanboy upset

This guy is a way cooler 

sod.jpg

 

than this guy

 

xemnas2.jpg

 

Billy Zane makes you actually feel scared, Paul St Peter is absolutely amazing too but Xemnas seems too soft to be a villain. He's not intimidating or scary enough. Also, when playing KH2 what motivation do you have for killing Xemnas other than 

 

"He's the leader of the organization"

He didn't really do anything to Roxas and Xion by his own hands before you mention than them.

 

Ansem on the other hand took over your best-friend's heart, turned him evil and assisted in the destruction of your home! He helped separate you and your best friends from each other. He created the problem in the first place. Xemnas didn't do much. 

 

World of Chaos was far more epic than Xemnas' final form, and a lot more difficult. 

 

To be honest, I prefer Xemnas. Why? I honestly don't know, maybe because he's part of the Organization (and as I said in my post, it's probably the best thing KH has ever had). Also, in DDD Xemnas was really interesting, to the point that I liked him even more. I must also say that Nomura has stated that Xemnas is the strongest KH character, and for some reason, I tend to like strong characters.

 

Anyway, yeah, the final boss in KH is defenitively harder than in KHII, although in my first play through, Xemnas was incredebly hard for some reason, even harder than Ansem, but as I said, that was only the first playthrough, from then on, Xemnas was easy, and Ansem, not so much.

Edited October 26, 2015 by Xamtehwt Trece

[Jermaine 79]

The good thing about kh1 vs kh2 is they both have things that make them special, and aren't directly comparable. 2 isn't just an upgrade, it's just another great game. I prefer 1, but have no animosity towards those who like 2 better because it really comes down to preference. For me, it's close, but I like 1.

 

Now if you try and argue BBS or DDD, we got beef....... :angry: :angry: :angry:

[The 13th Kenpachi 4,279]

The good thing about kh1 vs kh2 is they both have things that make them special, and aren't directly comparable. 2 isn't just an upgrade, it's just another great game. I prefer 1, but have no animosity towards those who like 2 better because it really comes down to preference. For me, it's close, but I like 1.

 

Now if you try and argue BBS or DDD, we got beef....... :angry: :angry: :angry:

going to make that thread in a bit

[cabbage5k2 8]

The best way through which to decide my decision will be to expatiate because I like to see myself type excessively to explain... okay, I can't lie, I'm bored and like to see myself type a lot.  Can't damn me for honesty now .

 

Ahem, anyways, let's begin.

 

The story in Kingdom Hearts I is a bit more simplistic in terms of total plot.  Simply, an ordinary boy is given an extraordinary gift to save the world from an imposing evil.  Simple right?  Not necessarily, as there are several villains within this tale, all of whom are trying to accomplish their own goals.  And this is where I have to give the first game some credit, the villains really do all have an actual point of being in this game.  Maleficent and company are trying to gather the seven princesses of heart of create and then open the final keyhole to release an unfathomable darkness upon the worlds, and they actual do share correspondence with each other (however brief such a gathering may be).  Hence, when you see said villains within the arc of the game, you actual gain the feeling of stopping them from accomplishing a quite devious task.  As we all know, the true villain was ultimately pulling their strings, Ansem, seeker of darkness, in order to not only create the final keyhole, but use it to open Kingdom Hearts, which would unleash a gigantic stream of darkness.  An imposing villain, who corrupting Sora's dear friend Riku, hence making both him and you a purpose towards beating him, not only to save the worlds, but also to save your friend from his clutches.

 

Now, in Kingdom Hearts II, there are more villains running about the place, with Maleficent doing... something in this game, alongside a group called Organization XIII.  Now, to make things simple without giving myself a headache, Org XIII simply wants to create Kingdom Hearts through a different methodology, mostly accumulating enough hearts to physically create it instead of unlocking it with the final keyhole creating through the princesses of heart.  The problem is that unlike the first game, in which the goals of the villains intercrossed in a way that made defeating each set of them worthwhile to both you the player and Sora, in Kingdom Hearts II, many of the villains you defeat just feel as if one is going through a checklist when they're defeated.  Maleficent... doesn't accomplish anything in this game... at all.  She actually does create the final keyhole... okay, to be fair, she only gathers the princesses of heart, with Sora himself actually being the one who creates it through some wizardry, but she's the one who actually gathered them upon that place.  In II, meanwhile, she mentions gathering the heartless to create an army of them... but nothing really comes from it.  It feels half-baked in other words, filler where more pertinent content could have been implemented.  And in terms of the Disney villains involvement within the plot of II... there's really none.  To be fair, they're only symbollically involved in I, but that involvement still allows them to be part of the actual plot of the game.  In II, they have little to no correspondence with Maleficent (only Oogie Boogie does if my memory serves me correctly), and with her partner Pete... well, he influences event so insignificantly that he might as well only exist in the first visit to Hercules Colliseum (where he actually does serve a purpose).  Thus, half of the villains are already just checks to check off on the "things Sora must do because he's Sora" list.

 

Now, the Organization itself... while probably the most interesting thing in this entire series... about three or so of the members don't really do anything in this game.  Xaldin merely chases after the Beast for the entire game, and really doesn't appear anywhere else, thus serving a similar role as that of... well, any of the Disney villains sadly.  Demyx... yeah, I'm really not sure about him to be honest , but he doesn't do a lot either (but it fits his character simultaneously).  Lastly, Luxord is just criminally underused, he doesn't even appear until more than half the game is done, and then he's... just another check mark . 

 

Now, for the other ones, Xigbar only encourages Sora to defeat more heartless from what I remember, but I could be missing something here.  Saix kidnaps Kairi after Axel tries to kidnap her.  Axel is an entirely complex character, but he strikes me as being more of an anti-hero in this tale, thus can't be included in a discussion of the villains fairly (although I'll include him later).  Now though... Xemnas wins to terms of best villain.  It took me replaying this game in the KHII.5 to realize this, but he actually manipulates Maleficent to a more cunning decree than Ansem did.  He makes it where she thinks she's winning over the organization by gathering the darkness and sending the army to conquer the worlds when he fully understands and comprehends the power of the keyblade.  Thus, he develops his plans solely around Sora defeating these heartless that Maleficent and company mindlessly toss around in order to create Kingdom Hearts and thus allow the Organization to become perfect hosts for Xehanort proper.  Thus, this is truly long-term planning on his part, and it's quite subtle as well.  That... and his battle music is awesome.  There, that's the true reason .

 

Yeah, I've been at this long for a while now, thus I'll continue with this another time.  The verdict?  Both... have their advantages and disadvantages really.  Kingdom Hearts I balances out the villains roles, where even the most minor villains, with a few exceptions (Clayton, the heartless in Wonderland, etc) actually have an impact upon the overall plot of the game (however symbolic that may be), while many of the villains in Kingdom Hearts II are just generic fights tossed on top of mostly generic copy-paste movie plot lines that make visiting these worlds a chore (more on that in a future post though).  Meanwhile, Kingdom Hearts II has Xemnas, a quite devious villain who happens to have both great fights and a great theme.  So yeah, it's pretty balanced so far.  Next up, if anyone wants to read more of my babbling, will be the heroes of these games.

 

Edit:  Just realized how long this was, apologies about that.  And please correct me on any mistakes if you see them, haven't studied the plot in great detail for quite a long time now, so there's probably errors in here.

Edited November 4, 2015 by cabbage5k2

[KH4Real 749]

I'll say KH1 over KH2 cause the gameplay feels more right and ofcourse the nostalgia.