KINGDOM HEARTS (universe)

The KINGDOM HEARTS universe refers to the ' series' collection of characters, stages, and properties that hail from SQUARE ENIX's series of action role-playing games involving a crossover of various Disney settings based in a universe made specifically for the series and characters from SQUARE ENIX's ' games who make appearances and interact with the player and the Disney characters. The series centers around the main character Sora's search for his friends and his encounters with Disney and FINAL FANTASY characters on their worlds. As a pseudo spin-off of the FINAL FANTASY series, it is tell apart from it so KINGDOM HEARTS get acknowledged with its own distinctive symbol, that being the crown that can be spotted is all the logos from the KINGDOM HEARTS games.

Franchise description
In 2002, a collaboration between SQUARE ENIX and Disney Interactive Studios lead to the creation of the KINGDOM HEARTS series, a crossover between Disney and FINAL FANTASY settings.  is the first game in the series, and was released in Japan on March 28, of that year for the PlayStation 2. This was Tetsuya Nomura's first time in a directorial position. KINGDOM HEARTS introduced most of the main characters for the series and established the plot's framework involving hearts and the dark beings known as the Heartless. It also established the role of Disney characters in the series, with character cameos from the FINAL FANTASY series. KINGDOM HEARTS was released in North America on September 17, 2002, and featured additional content that was not in the original Japanese version. The game was later re-released exclusively in Japan as KINGDOM HEARTS Final Mix on December 26, 2002. Final Mix includes the content from the North American release and additional enemies, cut scenes, and weapons.

The second game in the series is . It was released on the Game Boy Advance in Japan on November 11, 2004 and in North America on December 7, 2004. Chain of Memories was touted as a bridge between the two PlayStation 2 titles, introducing and previewing plot elements that would be explored in the next game. The gameplay is based on a card system; player-composed decks of cards, with each card allowing the player to perform an action in battle, such as attacking or using magic.  is the third game in the series, set one year after Chain of Memories. It was released in Japan on December 22, 2005 for the PlayStation 2. The game further explored the "heart" concept by involving the Nobodies and "bodies". The gameplay is similar to that of the first KINGDOM HEARTS game, with the addition of more options to attack enemies and the Reaction Command, which utilized the triangle button to perform context-sensitive actions in battle and interaction with characters and the environment. KINGDOM HEARTS II was revised into KINGDOM HEARTS II Final Mix, which contained more material than the original release, such as additional cutscenes and bosses. KINGDOM HEARTS II Final Mix was released with KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories, a remake of Chain of Memories containing polygon graphics instead of the sprites used in the original Game Boy Advance game. This collection is titled KINGDOM HEARTS II Final Mix+ and was released in Japan on March 29, 2007.

The fourth title in the series to be released is , which takes place after KINGDOM HEARTS II and explains various plot holes. The game was released episodically for mobile phones in Japan from November 2008 to January 2010, and a Nintendo DS remake titled KINGDOM HEARTS Re:coded was later released worldwide.  is the fifth title in the series, released for the Nintendo DS in May 2009. The game is set primarily between Chain of Memories and KINGDOM HEARTS II, revolving around Roxas' time in Organization XIII and his motives for ultimately leaving the Organization to pursue the answers he seeks to questions about his existence. The sixth title, , released for the PlayStation Portable in January 2010. Taking place ten years before the events of the original KINGDOM HEARTS, this game introduces Terra, Ventus, and Aqua as new protagonists and reveals the origins of the series' antagonist Xehanort. The seventh title, , released for the Nintendo 3DS in March 2012. This game is set after the events of KINGDOM HEARTS Re:coded and follows Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery exam while introducing "Dream Eaters", which serve as both enemies and allies.

The next installment to be developed for home consoles, , was revealed in 2013. Nomura would later admit that the game was announced to the public far too early, with the title facing slow development partially due to the simultaneous development of FINAL FANTASY Versus XIII (later renamed ') and '. After many years of development and several development updates, KINGDOM HEARTS III was finally released in January 2019 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This game takes place after Dream Drop Distance and concludes the "Dark Seeker Saga" that began with the original game. The story follows Sora on a journey to regain his lost "Power of Waking" while Riku and King Mickey search for the Keyblade wielders featured in Birth by Sleep.

There are multiple versions of each of the main KINGDOM HEARTS games. They each had a release in Japan, North America, and the PAL region; the titles were also re-released in Japan with new content. Both SQUARE ENIX and Disney released numerous types of merchandise before and after the release of the games. Merchandise ranged from toys and figurines to clothing items and jewelry. Two of the games, KINGDOM HEARTS and KINGDOM HEARTS II, had a soundtrack released to coincide with the video games. These were followed by a nine CD complete set which featured both soundtracks and unreleased tracks. KINGDOM HEARTS has been published as a trading card game by the Tomy corporation of Japan. An English version of the game was released in November 2007 by Fantasy Flight Games. The video games have also been adapted into a manga and novel series.

In Super Smash Flash 2
The KINGDOM HEARTS franchise makes a sensational debut in the Super Smash Flash series as a new franchise in Super Smash Flash 2.

Characters

 * : The hero and main protagonist of the KINGDOM HEARTS series, and a wielder of the Keyblade. He is an upbeat teenager with a strong sense of justice and an unrelenting heart, he is also impulsive and quick to anger, but he is always sincere about what he says and does. As a fighter, Sora utilizes his Keyblade as his main weapon whom he can conjure offensive spells in most of his attacks. His Final Smash is the Trinity Limit, in which he creates a flash of energy alongside Donald and Goofy that traps opponents.

Assist Trophy

 * Riku: One of Sora's friends, when summoned he will jump forward and back while spinning his Keyblade, Way To The Dawn.

Stages

 * The World That Never Was: The world of recurring antagonists Organization XIII. A simple stage with four large platforms joined by two sloped platforms.


 * Twilight Town: A place located in between light and darkness. As the name implies, this world's sun is always in the same position in the sky, as such, it is in an endless sunset. A middle-sized stage, matches takes place on three buildings of the town, one can spot the characteristic train station clock tower in the background.

Media with elements appearing in the Super Smash Flash series
The following list consists of media from the KINGDOM HEARTS universe that appears in Super Smash Flash 2.


 * Sora, who debuted in this game as its main protagonist, appears as a starter character in SSF2.
 * His weapon, the Kingdom Key, originates from this game.
 * Sora's in SSF2 is based on his standard three-hit combo from this game.
 * Sora's up smash in SSF2 uses Aeroga, which originates from  but made its series debut as magic in this game.
 * Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder, which Sora utilizes during Command Deck in SSF2, which originate from  but made their series debut as magic in this game.
 * Strike Raid, Sora's neutral special move in SSF2, originates as a technique in this game.
 * Trinity Limit, Sora's Final Smash in SSF2, originates as a Special Ability in this game.
 * Donald Duck and Goofy, who made their series debut in this game, appear during Sora's Trinity Limit in SSF2 with their designs from this game.
 * Sora's ninth and tenth costumes in SSF2 are based on Goofy and Donald Duck, respectively.
 * Sora's eleventh costume in SSF2 is based on Kairi, who debuted in this game.
 * Riku, who debuted in this game as one of Sora's friends, appears as an Assist Trophy in SSF2.
 * Sora's twelfth costume in SSF2 is based on Riku.
 * The victory theme of Sora in SSF2 is a remix of an excerpt of the Hikari theme from this game.


 * Sora's up smash in SSF2 is based on Aeroga's functionality in this game.
 * The stage Twilight Town in SSF2 originates as a world this game.
 * Sora's eighth costume in SSF2 is based on Roxas, who debuted in this game.


 * Sora's design in SSF2 is based on his appearance in this game.
 * Sora's forward tilt, dash attack, down smash, up throw, and down throw in SSF2 are based on Upper Slash, Sliding Dash, Explosion, Slapshot, and Finishing Leap, respectively, which originate as abilities in this game.
 * Sora's forward aerial and back aerial in SSF2 are based on the default aerial finisher in this game, with forward aerial being that of one target and back aerial being that of multiple targets.
 * Aerial Recovery, Sora's up special move in SSF2, originates as a technique in this game.
 * Sora's Trinity Limit in SSF2 is based on the finishing attack of the technique from this game.
 * Sora's second, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh costumes in SSF2 are based on his Valor Form, Wisdom Form, Master Form, Final Form, and AntiForm, respectively, from this game.
 * Riku's design in SSF2 is based on his appearance in this game.
 * His weapon, the Way to the Dawn, originates from this game.
 * The stage The World That Never Was in SSF2 originates as a world this game, particularly taking place on the Altar of Naught.
 * Rowdy Rumble, a dramatic remix of one of the boss battle themes in this game, plays as Twilight Town's alternate music track in SSF2.
 * Sacred Moon, a dramatic remix of one of the themes that plays on The World That Never Was in this game, plays as The World That Never Was's main music track in SSF2.
 * Darkness of the Unknown, a rock remix of one of the themes that plays during the battle against Xemnas in this game, plays as The World That Never Was's alternate music track in SSF2.


 * Sora's character-specific Break the Targets stage in SSF2 is based on the Cavern of Remembrance from this game.
 * Sora's sixth costume in SSF2 is based on his Limit Form from this game.


 * Command Deck, Sora's down special move in SSF2, originates as a mechanic in this game.


 * Flowmotion, Sora's side special move in SSF2, originates as a technique in this game.


 * Don't Think Twice, an upbeat instrumental remix of the one of the main theme songs of this game, plays as Twilight Town's main music track in SSF2.

Trivia

 * KINGDOM HEARTS is one of five universes to debut in the Super Smash Flash series before being inducted in the official series, the other four being ', ', ', and '.