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Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts
Celebrating 20 years of the Kingdom Hearts series, Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts is a retrospect and evaluation of the games that form the collective Kingdom Hearts experience, assessing the greater story each chapter adds to, character arcs, lore and much, much more.
This book will recap the events of 'The Dark Seeker Saga' in chronological order, evaluate themes, character arcs and symbolism, and critique the development of the series over the years. Whether new to the franchise or a twenty year veteran, this book is a treasure trove of information, insight and Kingdom Hearts magic.
Contents:
Opening
Foreword
Introduction
The Story So Far: ‘The Dark Seeker Saga’
A Short History
WTF is ‘Kingdom Hearts’?
The Time Line: A Chronological Summary
Square Mouse Ears
Who Is The Audience Here, and How Has It Changed?
Disney Characters
Square Enix Characters
Symbolism & Usage
Composition: The Evolution of Story, Structure and Style
Evolution of the Gameplay Experience
Music & Style
Pacing & Division of Plot
Powers of 3: Trios
Stakes
Critical Mode: Smudges on the Rose-Tinted Glasses
Darkness of the Unknown
Hope & Despair
Body-Snatching & Puppeteering
Identity Crises
Riku as the Fallen Hero: An Arc of Grief and Trauma
Atonement
Isn’t This Bromantic?
Boys, Boys, Boys
Sora & Riku
Axel & Roxas
Lea & Isa
Terra & Ventus
KLAXON: The Feminine Situation
Kairi, Larxene, Aqua, Xion, Olette and Naminé (KLAXON)
The Bechdel Test
Expectations vs. Outcomes
The Many Faces of Master Xehanort
A Man With A Plan
The Author: Nomura as Xehanort
Organization XIII
X: The Recusant’s Sigil
The Pay-Off
Hearts
Lineage of ‘The Chosen’
The Human Heart
Hurt
Re:Completion
Afterword
Secret Report
Acknowledgements
Recommended Resources
This book will recap the events of 'The Dark Seeker Saga' in chronological order, evaluate themes, character arcs and symbolism, and critique the development of the series over the years. Whether new to the franchise or a twenty year veteran, this book is a treasure trove of information, insight and Kingdom Hearts magic.
Contents:
Opening
Foreword
Introduction
The Story So Far: ‘The Dark Seeker Saga’
A Short History
WTF is ‘Kingdom Hearts’?
The Time Line: A Chronological Summary
Square Mouse Ears
Who Is The Audience Here, and How Has It Changed?
Disney Characters
Square Enix Characters
Symbolism & Usage
Composition: The Evolution of Story, Structure and Style
Evolution of the Gameplay Experience
Music & Style
Pacing & Division of Plot
Powers of 3: Trios
Stakes
Critical Mode: Smudges on the Rose-Tinted Glasses
Darkness of the Unknown
Hope & Despair
Body-Snatching & Puppeteering
Identity Crises
Riku as the Fallen Hero: An Arc of Grief and Trauma
Atonement
Isn’t This Bromantic?
Boys, Boys, Boys
Sora & Riku
Axel & Roxas
Lea & Isa
Terra & Ventus
KLAXON: The Feminine Situation
Kairi, Larxene, Aqua, Xion, Olette and Naminé (KLAXON)
The Bechdel Test
Expectations vs. Outcomes
The Many Faces of Master Xehanort
A Man With A Plan
The Author: Nomura as Xehanort
Organization XIII
X: The Recusant’s Sigil
The Pay-Off
Hearts
Lineage of ‘The Chosen’
The Human Heart
Hurt
Re:Completion
Afterword
Secret Report
Acknowledgements
Recommended Resources
548 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2022
4 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 14, 2022
I'm not a Kingdom Hearts player, but I'm reviewing a Kingdom Hearts book.
Before this gets dismissed as sacrilege, some context. I played a bit of the original Kingdom Hearts and some of Kingdom Hearts II, but never finished. How can someone who hasn't completed a Kingdom Hearts game review a book whose subject is the entire series? Well, I'm a gamer who is familiar with other Square-Enix RPGs and various Disney IPs.
If you're like me and wondering, can a non-Kingdom Hearts player enjoy this book? Simple answer: yes. But also, it's complicated. To a casual observer, there are a lot of Kingdom Hearts titles. Word on the street is the story is convoluted. I think of trying to explain the Metal Gear franchise to someone who has never played it. Metal Gear Solid becomes dense in lore and plot with sequels and prequels. Back to Kingdom Hearts and Cruise's book--there are things a backseat gamer or anyone interested in video games and analysis can take away from Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts, and it's a welcome surprise what one can learn.
Hardcore Kingdom Hearts fans should be delighted by this book, but for the uninitiated, at least some familiarity with characters from Final Fantasy, Disney, and Kingdom Hearts will help. Check out recaps of the KH games on YouTube or read reviews or articles about the story first, then dive into this when you're ready.
Author Cruise makes the book personal and accessible. You'll learn about his interest and entry point into the series. The timeline and chronological summary help. What made this book shine is uncovering little gems that I should've known already, following Square-Enix and some of its key creative talent for over twenty years. A few of these behind-the-scenes points made me understand the creative choices present in Kingdom Hearts and some Final Fantasy games. That crossover is interesting.
My favorite takeaway from reading Simple & Clean is learning the term "ludonarrative resonance." Cruise explains what it is, but I had never heard of it, so before moving on, I did a quick internet search. Most articles I saw referred to "ludonarrative dissonance"--a conflict where story and gameplay execution don't mesh well. I like how Cruise changed the word "dissonance" into "resonance" so there's a fine alignment of gameplay and story to create an engaging experience. Some games excel at this. (On the RPG front, Persona 5/Royal comes to mind.)
Simple & Clean covers a wide range of topics, and aspects of the book went over my head without direct playing experience, but sections on symbolism and the musical styles used in the games are an instant draw. Who doesn't want to read a bit more about composer Yoko Shimomura and singer Hikaru Utada?
This review comes shortly after the trailer for Kingdom Hearts IV was released. I felt inspired by it, and maybe when that game drops, I'll play it. But it's nice to know KH has deep roots, continues to evolve, and this book is a gateway retrospective to the series from the original and everything between to part III. Whether you've played the games or not, check out Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts, and you might be surprised to learn something new, as I did.
Before this gets dismissed as sacrilege, some context. I played a bit of the original Kingdom Hearts and some of Kingdom Hearts II, but never finished. How can someone who hasn't completed a Kingdom Hearts game review a book whose subject is the entire series? Well, I'm a gamer who is familiar with other Square-Enix RPGs and various Disney IPs.
If you're like me and wondering, can a non-Kingdom Hearts player enjoy this book? Simple answer: yes. But also, it's complicated. To a casual observer, there are a lot of Kingdom Hearts titles. Word on the street is the story is convoluted. I think of trying to explain the Metal Gear franchise to someone who has never played it. Metal Gear Solid becomes dense in lore and plot with sequels and prequels. Back to Kingdom Hearts and Cruise's book--there are things a backseat gamer or anyone interested in video games and analysis can take away from Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts, and it's a welcome surprise what one can learn.
Hardcore Kingdom Hearts fans should be delighted by this book, but for the uninitiated, at least some familiarity with characters from Final Fantasy, Disney, and Kingdom Hearts will help. Check out recaps of the KH games on YouTube or read reviews or articles about the story first, then dive into this when you're ready.
Author Cruise makes the book personal and accessible. You'll learn about his interest and entry point into the series. The timeline and chronological summary help. What made this book shine is uncovering little gems that I should've known already, following Square-Enix and some of its key creative talent for over twenty years. A few of these behind-the-scenes points made me understand the creative choices present in Kingdom Hearts and some Final Fantasy games. That crossover is interesting.
My favorite takeaway from reading Simple & Clean is learning the term "ludonarrative resonance." Cruise explains what it is, but I had never heard of it, so before moving on, I did a quick internet search. Most articles I saw referred to "ludonarrative dissonance"--a conflict where story and gameplay execution don't mesh well. I like how Cruise changed the word "dissonance" into "resonance" so there's a fine alignment of gameplay and story to create an engaging experience. Some games excel at this. (On the RPG front, Persona 5/Royal comes to mind.)
Simple & Clean covers a wide range of topics, and aspects of the book went over my head without direct playing experience, but sections on symbolism and the musical styles used in the games are an instant draw. Who doesn't want to read a bit more about composer Yoko Shimomura and singer Hikaru Utada?
This review comes shortly after the trailer for Kingdom Hearts IV was released. I felt inspired by it, and maybe when that game drops, I'll play it. But it's nice to know KH has deep roots, continues to evolve, and this book is a gateway retrospective to the series from the original and everything between to part III. Whether you've played the games or not, check out Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts, and you might be surprised to learn something new, as I did.
May 10, 2022
This is a book that I didn't realize how much I needed.
I've been playing Kingdom Hearts since the original came out on PS2 in 2002. I loved it then, and I've loved each major iteration (and a few of the smaller titles) since. But, if you've played any of them, you know how utterly confusing they can be, especially if you've not played them all—there are over a dozen!
Enter Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts. This book is a massive undertaking that seeks to unify the entire overarching story of Kingdom Hearts including settings, characters, timelines (which are all over the place), and themes. If the Kingdom Hearts games weren't confusing enough, it's clear that not all the pieces fit cleanly together. This is dealt with beautifully, and all of your questions will be answered and ambiguities cleared up.
What I enjoyed most about reading this was that much of it is written in a narrative style, enabling you to go on the journey again with Sora, Roxas, Donald, Goofy, Mickey, and, well, the list goes on. There are so many moments where you'll be reading something familiar (because you recall playing it) but then a story element is clarified in such a way that you feel like you're having these constant epiphany moments.
Who knows when Kingdom Hearts IV will be out, but I feel totally ready for it, and more excited to see this series continue than ever.
I've been playing Kingdom Hearts since the original came out on PS2 in 2002. I loved it then, and I've loved each major iteration (and a few of the smaller titles) since. But, if you've played any of them, you know how utterly confusing they can be, especially if you've not played them all—there are over a dozen!
Enter Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts. This book is a massive undertaking that seeks to unify the entire overarching story of Kingdom Hearts including settings, characters, timelines (which are all over the place), and themes. If the Kingdom Hearts games weren't confusing enough, it's clear that not all the pieces fit cleanly together. This is dealt with beautifully, and all of your questions will be answered and ambiguities cleared up.
What I enjoyed most about reading this was that much of it is written in a narrative style, enabling you to go on the journey again with Sora, Roxas, Donald, Goofy, Mickey, and, well, the list goes on. There are so many moments where you'll be reading something familiar (because you recall playing it) but then a story element is clarified in such a way that you feel like you're having these constant epiphany moments.
Who knows when Kingdom Hearts IV will be out, but I feel totally ready for it, and more excited to see this series continue than ever.
November 9, 2022
Simple and Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts is every bit as comprehensive and detailed as its predecessor, and I applaud the author for his retrospective and passion for the franchise. As he recalls his introduction to the series, I too recall mine, being at an awkward age where Disney characters in a video game weren't 'cool'. It was only in adult life did I first play this series and I am yet to play Kingdom Hearts III.
I have played each of the main series multiple times and know the stories and characters inside out. That being said, this book has sp many details that I realise that there are things which I missed in a number of world's which I will go back and revisit from a new perspective. This book has a great analysis on the characters, the trilogy between them, the mythology, the allies and the enemies, which read like a compelling thesis as much as a book, such was the quality of the writing and the arguments put forward.
Overall, I love the idea of videogames being studied as an artform in storytelling, design, world building, music, and character, and where best to start than with this book. As a Square Enix/Squaresoft fan, I look forward to seeing the same deep analysis to other games from this author.
I have played each of the main series multiple times and know the stories and characters inside out. That being said, this book has sp many details that I realise that there are things which I missed in a number of world's which I will go back and revisit from a new perspective. This book has a great analysis on the characters, the trilogy between them, the mythology, the allies and the enemies, which read like a compelling thesis as much as a book, such was the quality of the writing and the arguments put forward.
Overall, I love the idea of videogames being studied as an artform in storytelling, design, world building, music, and character, and where best to start than with this book. As a Square Enix/Squaresoft fan, I look forward to seeing the same deep analysis to other games from this author.
August 28, 2022
I went into this book as an avid Kingdom Hearts fan that, while not having played every single game, possessed a working knowledge of most of the main plot elements/themes of the series. This novel filled in all gaps in understanding I had with the series and also fleshed out some of the more well-known concepts and ideas. The level of analysis present here is laudable, and the way Cruise guides us through the various topics of discussion helps pull the various narrative strings together nicely.
For any fans of the series, I couldn't recommend this enough! Anyone who has at least a passing interest in Kingdom Hearts will have something to gain from reading this novel. Not only does it lay out the entire story of the series from start to present, it dives deep into the series' history, philosophy, characterizations, and more.
Thank you for writing this, Jamie L. Cruise. It was an absolute godsend for a diehard fan like me who doesn't necessarily have the time anymore to go back and play every series entry I missed as a kid.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
For any fans of the series, I couldn't recommend this enough! Anyone who has at least a passing interest in Kingdom Hearts will have something to gain from reading this novel. Not only does it lay out the entire story of the series from start to present, it dives deep into the series' history, philosophy, characterizations, and more.
Thank you for writing this, Jamie L. Cruise. It was an absolute godsend for a diehard fan like me who doesn't necessarily have the time anymore to go back and play every series entry I missed as a kid.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
July 14, 2022
What an insightful and fascinating read! Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts is a thought-provoking and informative read that covers everything related to Kingdom Hearts.
I enjoyed learning how the author got introduced and devoted to the series. I loved that a massive chronological summary of the games was included because it was very useful in connecting the games I played, the ones I haven’t played, and the plot together. I also found the in-depth analysis of of the themes, symbolism, character arcs, critiques, and music insightful because it helped me to gain a better understanding of the series.
Overall, this is a well-written and intriguing read about Kingdom Hearts that’s accessible to everyone. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about Kingdom Hearts.
I enjoyed learning how the author got introduced and devoted to the series. I loved that a massive chronological summary of the games was included because it was very useful in connecting the games I played, the ones I haven’t played, and the plot together. I also found the in-depth analysis of of the themes, symbolism, character arcs, critiques, and music insightful because it helped me to gain a better understanding of the series.
Overall, this is a well-written and intriguing read about Kingdom Hearts that’s accessible to everyone. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about Kingdom Hearts.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews