From what I'm seeing regarding Sora, a lot of arguments center around the negotiation aspects of the character. Though this may or may not be a hurdle, I don't even think he's in the race. Sitting on the bench and part of the team, maybe. But in the race?...not likely. Why? Because I don't think Sakurai views him the same way as other iconic and requested video game characters for one reason: his popularity is centered in a non-gaming company.
Think of it this way. Every character in Smash is impactful, iconic, popular, legendary, interesting, etc., because of their games. Because of this, some of them have TV shows, movies, toys, and other merchandise. However, it's always the games that define them. Even Pokemon with its incredibly impactful anime, I would argue, is still more defined by the games. (Pokemon Go anyone?) Sora is defined by Disney, a non-gaming company. If all of the Final Fantasy characters/aspects were never there and Mickey was the player's main character, I guarantee the game would still be uber successful. Why? Because it's basically Smash Bros, but with Disney universe. There is no part of that concept that wouldn't succeed. Imagine Kingdom Hearts without any Disney elements. None. Would it even be the same game?
I think Sakurai wants to bring gaming worlds together in this, the greatest of all gaming crossovers. Adding Sora would add in a world that isn't uniquely a gaming one, which I think violates that principle.
Don't get me wrong, Sora seems like an interesting pick and has a huge following. I just don't feel like he's as much of a gaming icon as he is a Disney one. And that, to me, makes me feel like he is almost in the same box as Goku and Iron Man.
What a work of art. I call this one:
The lengths a Smash fan will go to "disconfirm" a character. It's a bit of a lengthy title I know, but I feel like it truly
captures the essence of this work.
Being serious, let's attack this argument.
Because I don't think Sakurai views him the same way as other iconic and requested video game characters for one reason: his popularity is centered in a non-gaming company.
Like Square Enix did nothing for the Kingdom Hearts series? Kingdom Hearts started out as Disney x
Final Fantasy, which certainly drew people in and made them stay. There's a reason a large criticism of KH3 is a lack of Final Fantasy characters.
Every character in Smash is impactful, iconic, popular, legendary, interesting, etc., because of their games.
What else does Sora have besides a game? It's not like he's in any cartoons or movies or anything. Just the Kingdom Hearts games and some cameos/guest appearances in Final Fantasy games.
Even Pokemon with its incredibly impactful anime, I would argue, is still more defined by the games. (Pokemon Go anyone?).
How about you compare the response to Ash winning the League to Sword and Shield news and tell me which got people more excited. Or how the games
continually try to get closer to the anime. Or how the trading card game literally helped Pokémon blow up and become the mass franchise it is today. At this point, the mainline Pokémon games are a sideshow compared to the franchise as a whole.
Sora is defined by Disney, a non-gaming company. If all of the Final Fantasy characters/aspects were never there and Mickey was the player's main character, I guarantee the game would still be uber successful.
You mean like the
Epic Mickey series? I mean yeah, those games did well, but nowhere
near as well as Kingdom Hearts has. You can compare the overall sales and longevity and it clearly shows.
Imagine Kingdom Hearts without any Disney elements. None. Would it even be the same game?
Kingdom Hearts has
more than enough original content to carry itself at this point. Like, you can argue that the Disney aspect is the main draw like
NonSpecificGuy
, but Kingdom Hearts can (arguably) stand well on its own without it. Have you even played the series? Because I get the feeling that based on your argument you have not.
I think Sakurai wants to bring gaming worlds together in this, the greatest of all gaming crossovers. Adding Sora would add in a world that isn't uniquely a gaming one, which I think violates that principle.
No better way to argue a point than with the classic words "I think." They pretty much prove you're arguing an opinion based on an opinion, and there's no fact at all in this argument.
Don't get me wrong, Sora seems like an interesting pick and has a huge following. I just don't feel like he's as much of a gaming icon as he is a Disney one.
>Sora
>Disney icon
I'm sorry, but even as one of Sora's biggest supporters I wouldn't
dare call him a Disney icon. Mickey Mouse, Iron Man, and Elsa are Disney icons. Sora is
lucky to show up as a silhouette on a D23 Gold Print behind those characters. There's a reason Disney acknowledging Kingdom Hearts makes news when it happens:
because they never do. Kingdom Hearts is at most a high B tier franchise for Disney compared to their other series.
And that, to me, makes me feel like he is almost in the same box as Goku and Iron Man.
Has he been mentioned with Goku and Iron Man? No. Therefore, he is not in the same box as them. He's not even anywhere
near the box they're in. Since Kingdom Hearts is a video game. Not a cartoon, not a movie, not a book.
A video game.