KHV's Top 10​

~Worlds~​

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To date, there have been over 35 worlds featured in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. While most of these are Disney, there are still some originally created favorites from the Square Enix side of the department. When traversing through these worlds, it is often to "teach" the characters something, or lead them to a new world. Some worlds may not have a purpose other to entertain select fans. But what is it about the worlds we like? The films they're based off, the musical score, the plot, the enviornment? Once again, KHV's Top 10 explores voters choices and why certain worlds may be more popular than others. So here are KHV's Top 10 Worlds of the franchise.

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#10) HalloweenTown​

Votes: 5​

Average Ranking: 5.4​

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The only Tim Burton world thus far to be featured in the series. Halloweentown is based off the 1993 film; The Nightmare Before Christmas, and comes with a spooky theme to match it's name. Halloweentown is always dark and really captures the fun side of terror with the atmosphere, to the heartless you face. In Kingdom Hearts 2, this world was expanded into "Christmas Town," which being the opposite of Halloweentown, still kept that same atmosphere in the light all around feeling of the season themed world. While everything may seem dark and grey, this world is full of surprises and terrors to keep you returning.​

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#9) Keyblade Graveyard ​

Votes: 5​

Average Ranking: 4.2​

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A barren wasteland of fallen keybladers, the Keyblade Graveyard is the result of the legend of the keyblade war. Where people fought over the light of Kingdom Hearts, which eventually caused darkness to overtake the heart of all worlds with the only remnants of that past being the keyblades scattered all across the world. With nothing but mountains and earth as far as the eye can see, it tall maintains a certain charm about it. In Birth by Sleep, it fulfilled its purpose of being a fitted setting for each character's final battle.​

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#8) Symphony of Sorcery ​

Votes: 6​

Average Ranking: 7.5​

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To all melody and music lovers, you will find yourself immersed into the sights and sounds of Symphony of Sorcery. Based off the 1940 film; Fantasia, the locations and music are based off individual segments. Three of the films classical pieces were also featured as part of completing the world; The Pastoral Symphony, The Nutcracker Suite, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Some of my favorite moments include the rematch with Chernabog (Giant dark satanic monster and final Disney boss in the first Kingdom Hearts) and when Sora and Riku compose the Dearly beloved track together. Based off one of Disney's first films, it still captures the magic of Disney and desire from Nomura, who wanted to do this world for quite some time.

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#7) Beast's Castle​

Votes: 6​

Average Ranking: 6.3​

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Fighting alongside Beast in the first Kingdom Hearts, the player never really gets to see where he and Belle are from. In Kingdom Hearts 2, Beast's Castle appears as the dark and enchanted castle in which beast and his castle staff had turned into their respected cursed forms. The enitre setting of the world takes place in the castle, where everything looks dark and abandoned, save for the grand ballroom. Beast's Caslte is based off the 1991 film; Beauty and the Beast.​

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#6) Radiant Garden ​

Votes: 6​

Average Ranking: 5.6​

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Originally introduced as Hollow bastion, Radiant Garden is home to many Final Fantasy favorites and the human forms of the first 8 members of Organization XIII. A lush and glorious kingdom, it is filled with many fountains, flowers, and a very bright setting. However, this beautiful world only gets to be explored in Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts 2. This was due to Maleficent's take over which transformed the world into Hollow Bastion for over a 10 year gap.​

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#5) The World that Never Was​

Votes: 6​

Average Ranking: 4.8​

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The World that never was is home base to Orgnization XIII, as well as a world engulfed near the darkness. So much in fact, that many a heartless and nobody will be spawning everywhere. The most notable landmark is in the center of the industrial city; The Castle that Never was. Most of the world' exploration takes place inside the nobody themed castle and is heavily featured at the end of Kingdom Hearts 2 and prior to Roxas' mission in 358/2 Days. This dark city world was recently featured in Dream, Drop, Distance as the final world and continues to hold it's setting as one of the worlds closest to the darkness.​

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#4) Destiny Islands​

Votes: 6​

Average Ranking: 4.3​

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The place where it all began; Destiny Islands. One day, you're collecting provisions for a raft and being competitive with your pals, the following night, you find your island being engulfed by darkness, causing you to summon the keyblade and go on a most epic adventure through many worlds. Ahh childhood... Both console games ended with Destiny Islands, both showing lovely CGI, accompanied by a memorable ending, and an Utada Hikaru song. It's featured in every game in the series, but is only playable in the first. Little known fact; If you rearrange "Destiny island," you get "It's Disney Land."​

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#3) Hollow Bastion​

Votes: 8​

Average Ranking: 4.3​

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Hollow Bastion is the heartless-transformed world formerly known as Radiant gardens. It was featured heavily in both Kingdom Hearts console game.It was Maleficent's home base where she assembled the council of Disney villains in Kingdom hearts, and home base to Sora and the previous Radiant Garden residents in Kingdom hearts 2. While there were alternate means of travel in the first game (Lift stops, Bubbles) the second game is more explorable by foot, allowing the player to explore new areas. One area that is shown but cannot be accessed is villain's vale. (The towered base of operations for Maleficent and Pete) while everyone has their reasons for liking this world, one thing I enjoy in particular about it is the music track; "Scherzo Di Notte." Eventually this world is returned to it's original state of Radiant Garden, but based off KHV's voters, this variation of the world holds some favored memories and areas.​

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#2) Twilight Town​

Votes: 9​

Average Ranking: 4.0​

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First seen in Chain of Memories, I didn't recognize this world at all. Originally I was trying to decipher if it was from a Disney film, but I later found out it was an original world. Twilight Town is the home and "birthplace" of Roxas. A very serene and pleasant town, it is one of the more expanded worlds to date in the series. You get to spend your time traversing the areas for a whole week in Kingdom hearts 2 as Roxas, so there is plenty of time to see what the town has to offer; Struggle battles, paid jobs, wide range of space. Twilight Town has an "endless sunset" charm to it, where it always feels like the end of the day. It plays a very emotional role to Roxas and holds some of the more memorable talks a the top of the town's clock tower. Because after a hard day, what's better than sitting with your pals, eating sea Salt ice cream, and watching a never ending sunset. (Though I think I might get annoyed at a sunset that never sets...)​

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#1) Traverse Town​

Votes: 10​

Average Ranking: 3.3​

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So after the traumatic experience of having your home destroyed, you black out and are awoken by a dog licking your face. Dazed and confused, you don't know where the heck you are, only that you aren't home. Yes, to many long time fans, Traverse Town holds a special place in their gaming heart as the first playable world that kick started your journey into the world of Kingdom Hearts. (In the series sense, not the heart of all worlds sense) Many firsts are experienced in this town; first Final Fantasy cameo, first Party members, first Emblem Heartless Boss battle, first magic spell learned, first Summon gained, first world to feature characters outside the Final Fantasy series, and first Secret Disney boss. The 3 district layout is upgraded to 5 in Dream, Drop Distance, where thanks to flow motion, players can traverse through traverse town like never before. While the first 3 districts have a Victorian setting, the 2 added districts hold a more modern appeal. Whatever your reason for liking or disliking the world, Traverse Town was the first to hold your judgement.​

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