From a pure space-saving perspective, the Collector's Edition is a winner. One book versus five or six on the shelf frees up room for other series. If you're in a small apartment or have overflowing bookshelves, the consolidated format is a practical dream. The singles, while slimmer individually, collectively take up more horizontal space. It's a trade-off between vertical and horizontal real estate on your shelf. The big book stands out as a centerpiece, but the singles can be tucked in anywhere. Your organizational style might dictate which format is more appealing for your living space.
Think of it as an archive. You're preserving the story in its most durable, beautiful format. The bonus content is the assurance that this particular version of the narrative will last on your shelf for decades, looking as good as the day you bought it. It's an heirloom for fans.
Can anyone confirm if the English collector's edition has any exclusive short stories or afterwords? I know some Japanese releases had author notes. If not, then it's purely a repackage. The content is the novelized plots of Kingdom Hearts I, Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts II. That's the beginning, middle, and end of Sora's initial quest. It's a satisfying narrative arc if you treat it as a self-contained trilogy, ignoring all the Xehanort prequels and sequels.
Here's a thought: does it matter? Seriously. The novels tell a coherent, emotionally engaging version of the Kingdom Hearts story. If they help someone understand and love this weird, wonderful universe, then they've served a purpose greater than fitting into a canon checklist.
Fandom can get so obsessed with what 'counts.' These books count as a great way to experience the saga. They count as beautiful collector's items. They count as a labor of love by the author. Getting bogged down in whether a line of prose is 'canon' seems to miss the forest for the trees. The forest is an amazing, heartwarming, convoluted adventure about friendship and light versus darkness. The books are a clear path through that forest.
Okay, I've only read the first volume so far. Does the Collector's Edition get into the really weird stuff from the later games, like the data world in Coded? I'm scared to dive in but also incredibly curious.