Summary
Kingdom Heartsis a series well-known for blending iconic Disney properties with Final Fantasy sensibilities. Part of the challenge of a series like this is staying faithful to the properties being used while still creating interesting and original throughlines in the main story. While the firstKingdom Heartslaid the groundwork for this style of storytelling, it was mainly its successors that perfected the formula.
No twoKingdom HeartsDisney worldsare made equal, and some get better treatment than others. For that reason, not every world will be covered. The notable exceptions will be copied worlds, such as those inChain of Memories,Coded, andMelody of Memories, but other exceptions will be worlds that, frankly, just dropped the ball. Worlds will be ranked by how much they get out of the properties, how many characters there are and how well they’re represented, and how original it is in terms of story and gameplay. Worlds that appear in several games – different from copied worlds – will be listed as one world.
S-Tier Kingdom Hearts Disney Worlds
Surprisingly, only one standaloneworld fromKingdom Hearts 2made the S-tier. Timeless River is a world hidden in the basement of Disney Castle, and is based on the old Disney cartoons. The whole world is set in black and white, and the mono sound design creates a nostalgic feeling unlike anything else the series has to offer. Sora, Donald, and Goofy are transformed by this world and given classic looks of their own. Nearly every classic Disney character from the black-and-white cartoons appears here, some for whom this was their video game debut. It naturally takes place in the past, and follows a young Mickey Mouse, who at this time was known as Steamboat Willy. It is a timeless tribute to the foundations of the Disney empire.
Speaking of worlds set in the past, Symphony of Sorcery fromDream Drop Distancecrescendos to the top of the greatest Disney worlds inKingdom Hearts. A product of passion, game director Tetsuya Nomura had wanted to make a world based onFantasiasince the development of the firstKingdom Hearts. Players got a taste of that withthe scary Chernabog boss fightnear the end ofKingdom Heartsand the introduction of Yen Sid inKingdom Hearts 2. Symphony of Sorcery is proof-positive of that long-held ambition finally realized. All of the musical vignettes ofFantasiaare represented here, but the major standout is the story. Mickey is not yet a King or a Keyblade Master, and it is up to Sora and Riku, in their own ways, to aid the Sorcerer’s Apprentice on his journey. It is a full circle moment for both the series and its creator.
Starting with the somewhat surprising inclusion of threeKingdom Hearts 3worlds among the best, Toy Box is the product of a long-desired,once-scrapped Disney/Pixar propertygetting its moment in the spotlight. Based on the world ofToy Story, it turns Sora and friends into action figures and employs them to help Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy’s toys stop the Heartless threat. Players are taken from Andy’s room, to his suburban street, to the halls of Al’s Toy Barn, to infinity and beyond. On release, this world did not meet player expectations, largely due to how long players had wanted a Toy Story world. However, looking back, it includes one of the best boss fights in the series, is visually stunning on every level, does tremendous justice to the characters ofToy Story, and is overall one of the best worlds that the series has ever produced.
What may be unexpected to see as one of the best Disney Worlds is Port Royal fromKingdom Hearts 2, but together with The Caribbean inKingdom Hearts 3, it is quite the addition to the franchise. PartKingdom Hearts, partAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, The Caribbean is easily the largest world in the series, giving players free rein of several islands in the open sea on a pirate ship and fulfilling one of Sora’s childhood dreams.
With a hyperrealistic art style, the whole cast of characters is beautifully represented, and having Jack Sparrow as a companion can be quite fun. BetweenKingdom Hearts 2andKingdom Hearts 3, players can expect to explore the stories of The Black Pearl and its cursed crew, as well as the Dead Man’s Chest of Davy Jones. The scale of adventure is grand here, and the amount of bonuscontent to discover inKingdom Heartswill keep players here for hours. Also, Port Royal is still present inKingdom Hearts 3– take notes, Olympus.
Finally, San Fransokyo is a literal metropolis inKingdom Hearts 3whose story acts as a sequel to the source material,Big Hero 6. Here, Baymax has been corrupted, and it is up to Sora and friends to find out why. This is one of the densest and most visually striking worlds in the series, with spectacular boss fights and a touching story to boot, and gives Sora access to one ofthe best keyblades in the game. It is fitting that it is the last Disney World Sora visits before the grand finale ofKingdom Hearts 3. Players may look back at this world as a predecessor to Quadratum, the hub world ofKingdom Hearts 4.
A-Tier Kingdom Hearts Disney Worlds
Starting off the list of worlds that were just shy of perfect, Neverland was one ofthe best worlds inKingdom Heartsoutside the original worlds of Destiny’s Island, Traverse Town, and The End Of The World. It is here that a number of important story threads come to light, including some important plot information regarding Kairi. Peter Pan is a great companion, and the way players get to the world – by being kidnapped by a pirate ship – is unlike anything else in the game. The biggest complaint from players was that, for a world called Neverland, there was very little Neverland present, with the action taking place aboard Captain Hook’s pirate ship and around London’s Big Ben.Birth By Sleepsolved that by bringing players to the island of Neverland, and here, like its companion world in the first game, is the best thatBirth By Sleephas to offer outside of the originalKingdom Heartsworlds.
Halloween Town, based onThe Nightmare Before Christmas, shocked players on first arrival, as it provided one of the most drastic visual changes for Sora, Donald, and Goofy in the game. It also featured one of the game’s more interesting boss fights, with players having to fight Oogie Boogie’s entire manor.Kingdom Hearts 2continued the story by bringing players to Christmas Town as well, and players are provided with one ofthe best keyblades inKingdom Hearts 2. Players should expect to meet the whole cast of characters, to fight alongside Jack Skellington, and for Lock, Shock, and Barrel to guide much of the plot’s action through their recklessness.
A mainstay of theKingdom Heartsfranchise, the only thing keeping Olympus back from all-time greatness is the lack of Coliseum inKingdom Hearts 3. Together, these worlds provide the fodder for some of the most interesting conflicts in the series, including Cloud’s beef with Sephiroth and Auron’s deal with Hades. The Coliseums of Olympus and the Underworld provide some of the best bonus content that the games have to offer. Thelack of Coliseum inKingdom Hearts 3is disappointingbut does nothing to detract from the grandiose scale and verticality of the level. Theories state that the reason for this world being featured so heavily in the series is that it is Tetsuya Nomura’s favorite Disney movie.
Beast is one of the best companions inKingdom Hearts, and players finally get to see him in his element inKingdom Hearts 2with Beast’s Castle. Beast’s world has been restored, including all of his enchanted servants and his love, Belle, but Beast is not acting like himself. His friends theorize that someone is influencing him. It is one of the smaller worlds, but it pays beautiful homage to the world on which it’s based and is a touching capstone on the story started in the first game.
Dwarf Woodlands could not have done a better job implementing the world ofSnow White. Everything — from the Prince’s Castle to the Enchanted Forest and Dwarven Mines, to the Evil Queen’s lair and the Magic Mirror — is represented beautifully. Depending on which of the three main characters players bring to this area, they are left with wildly different stories. Terra strikes a deal with the Evil Queen, Ventus helps the Seven Dwarves, and Aqua has her time to shine, too. It all adds up to a colorful world, withan underratedKingdom Heartsboss fightand a faithful representation of the characters of Disney’s hallmark feature film.
Monstropolis stands out for its unique integration of the world ofMonster’s Inc.andKingdom Hearts. The level design is labyrinthine and vertical, yet not overwhelming in scope. The use ofMetroid-style puzzle gatesadds an extra layer of challenge and accomplishment when players unlock the next stage of the world. Fighting alongside Mike and Sully is an absolute blast, and, fully in tune with the source material, the boss fights are totally out there and include some of the most original designs in the series.
B-Tier Kingdom Hearts Disney Worlds
Depending on who is asked,Kingdom Hearts' Agrabahcan be either the best or the worst world in the series. One of the more interesting parts of the world is how they tied Jafar’s collaboration with Maleficent into his desire to retrieve the magic lamp. The world is surprisingly dense, the enemies are unique, Aladdin is a competent companion, and the magic carpet segments are exciting. The main things holding it back are the amount of backtracking and the confusing level layout.
Based onThe Lion King, Pride Lands upped the ante on Sora-Donald-Goofy transformations by turning them into animals, even though Donald and Goofy are already animals. Donald is transformed into a flying bird, and Goofy is transformed into a turtle, which fits his Defender personality. While a fun gimmick and unlike anything else seen before in the series, it takes some getting used to, as our heroes say themselves. The main highlight here is the cast ofThe Lion King, withSimba upgrading from Summon to companionand the story surrounding how Scar uses the Heartless to take control of the Pride Lands. It’s a worthwhile and memorableKingdom Heartsadventure.
The Land of Dragons was destroyed prior to the events of the firstKingdom Hearts,as evidenced by Mushu’s availability as a summon, andKingdom Hearts 2revives his world for players to experience. Set in the world ofMulan, it takes players all the way from the military’s base camp to the summits of the mountains surrounding Beijing, down into the Imperial City itself. Mulan is available as a companion, and fighting with her in the Imperial Square is a blast. Speaking of, the Imperial Square has one of the most interesting fights inKingdom Hearts 2on the second visit to the world, which getsan upgrade in the Final Mix. It succeeds in its scope, but is fairly lackluster in its story.
Space Paranoids and The Grid can be seen as the same world, given that they are both based on the world ofTron, and Sora, inDream Drop Distance, recognizes it as Tron’s world fromKingdom Hearts 2. Sora’s side of the story inDream Drop Distancecarries a lot of emotional weight, as he struggles to save his friend Tron from the clutches of CLU, but Riku’s story is equally interesting, with a light cycle segment and an unlikely friendship with Sam Flynn. In both Space Paranoids and The Grid, players can expect some of the most colorful and visually striking worlds in the entire series.
Enchanted Dominion is anchored by the overwhelming presence of Maleficent, a major antagonist in theKingdom Heartsseries. Based onSleeping Beauty, the world lives up to the title of its property, as most of the world is asleep. The notable exceptions to this rule are Maleficent, the Three Fairies, and Prince Phillip. The world itself is gorgeous and grand, which makes up for the lack of life, but it isn’t enough to be one of the best.
La Cite des Cloches, based onThe Hunchback of Notre Dame, is a worthwhile world for an underrated Disney movie. Count Frollo is still a villain, and Quasimodo is still an enduring force of good. Of the Parises that have been represented inKingdom Hearts, this is one of the better ones. Players can expect to explore the town square, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Court of Miracles, and the vistas change depending on whether Sora or Riku visits.
Kingdom of Corona is bright, colorful, and cheery. Based onTangled, the character models are some of the best in the series. It is one of the first worlds players will visit inKingdom Hearts 3, and it definitely has the vibe of a starter world. The threats are minimal, the activities are peaceful, and the story is charming, despite a rather shoe-horned section involving an Organization 13 member. It is the most calming Disney world inKingdom Hearts 3, which serves as both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.
C-Tier Kingdom Hearts Disney Worlds
Barely a world, Hundred Acre Wood is based on the world ofWinnie the Pooh. The whole story takes place inside of theWinnie the Poohstorybook, and the stakes could not be lower. While the friendship between Sora and Pooh-bear is heartwarming, the gameplay here is at best a series of mini-games that border between somewhat enjoyable and frustrating. Sora doesn’t even bring Donald and Goofy into this world, which speaks to how little actually goes on here. It’s probably for the best that this world is completely optional. If it ever gets brought back, Nomura shouldintroduce some Heartless to the Hundred Acre Wood.
Monstro and Prankster’s Paradise both take place inside the world ofPinocchio. Monstro can best be described as a grotesque labyrinth taking place inside the belly of the titular whale. The story here is rather gripping, but it gets lost in the maze of the level itself. Prankster’s Paradise inDream Drop Distanceexpands the world ofPinocchioto include Paradise Island, where most of Sora’s story takes place, but nearly all of Riku’s story takes place – surprise – inside Monstro.
Disney Castle/Disney Town should bethe center of theKingdom Heartsuniverse. It is seen in nearly every game, is the home of King Mickey, and is the headquarters of Donald, Goofy, Minnie, Chip, Dale, and virtually every important character in the Disney canon. Despite that, the Disney Castle ofKingdom Hearts 2serves more as a bridge for more interesting experiences, such as the Timeless River, and Disney Town inBirth By Sleepwas little more than a fairground for various mini-games. It’s a core world that deserves more love and attention.
Castle of Dreams deserves more love, mainly because it took the shrinking and growing mechanics of Alice’s Wonderland and made them fun. Based on the world ofCinderella, players get tofight a giant cat inKingdom Hearts. The boss fights are interesting, including an enchanted stagecoach, but the world leaves players with a sense of wanting more.
Deep Space is the space section ofLilo and Stitch, a movie that mainly takes place in Hawaii. The level design feels inspired byDisney’s Stitch: Experiment 626, but toExperiment 626’s credit, there was at least a little Hawaii present. Stitch, Dr. Jumba, Captain Gantu, and the Grand Councilwoman are present, but there is no Pleakley or Lilo. Having Stitch as a party member is about as fun as one can expect, but the absence of crucial characters and locales sets this world back. Hopefully, in future titles,Lilo and Stitchget theKingdom Heartstreatmentthey deserve.
Country of the Musketeers, based onThe Three Musketeers, is equal parts beautiful and forgettable. The set pieces are magnificent, and the areas feel grand, but the story has a certain appeal to it. Players get treated to more of Mickey in the past, with Pete looking to stop the future King. It’s a story that players have seen before, and it doesn’t do enough differently to warrant a second look.
Arendelle, based onFrozen, is a vast, white world inKingdom Hearts 3. The characters are all modeled faithfully, and nearly the whole cast is here, but the world itself, while beautifully rendered, feels empty. It’s hard to break the feeling that this world exists as a pit stop to more interesting worlds. Still, considering the overwhelming success ofFrozen, there’s a good chance that players will revisitArendelle inKingdom Hearts 4.
To Atlantica’s credit, it may have been one ofthe first underwater worldsmodeled in full 3D. That doesn’t erase some glaring mechanical issues that come with that moniker. As if players didn’t get enough enjoyment out of the world in the firstKingdom Hearts, Atlantica makes a comeback inKingdom Hearts 2, this time as a musical mini-game.
