Square Enix The Official Kingdom Hearts Thread

Plus, the Disney worlds served no purpose to the plot. KH1, we were locking the keyholes. KH2, we were chasing the Organization from world to world, who were causing problems on the worlds looking for hearts. KH3 we were...uh...looking for the power of waking? I think? They were just hopping from world to world because at this point, it's what was expected of the franchise.

I think the idea in this game is the power of waking required Sora to gain new experiences and learn something from each world. So it was more about obtaining wisdom and experience as opposed to a literal plot you're preventing. So the world jumping still worked for me.

I just finished the game, and I think if there is one thing I would critique, it doesn't feel like a conclusion. It leaves too many threads open. This was billed as being the end of the journey, but it falls into the same trap ending the others do. Kairi, Riku, and Sora just keep spinning their wheels looking for each other. No doubt there will be another game chronicling Riku seeking Sora, possibly with more emphasis on FF worlds than Disney. But it is still the same core thing we've been seeing since day one (only now, potentially less interesting villains moving forward...we will have to see). Also, the black box plot felt like set-up for another game and had no payoff.

Loved this game overall, but I do feel like while they took many steps forward and the story overall I liked a lot, it takes too many steps back at the end and it doesn't come together as cleanly as I would have liked,
 

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch
Kingdom Hearts III sold an estimated 102,054 digital copies in its first three days in Japan and more digital sales numbers
Published 8 hours ago. 22 comments.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate estimated to have moved another 128,439 units.

KH3-Fami-Digital_02-26-19.jpg


The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has estimated digital sales numbers for the period between December 31, 2018 and January 27, 2019 in Japan, including those for Kingdom Hearts III‘s opening few days and more.

Here are the numbers:

  1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch – released December 7) – 128,439
  2. Kingdom Hearts III (PS4, Xbox One – released January 25) – 102,054
  3. Together! The Battle Cats (Switch – released December 20) – 96,781
  4. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (PS4, Xbox One – released January 18) – 80,096
  5. Resident Evil 2 (PS4, Xbox One – released January 25) – 55,277
  6. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (Switch – released January 11) – 45,955
  7. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PS4 – released December 7) – 36,853
  8. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch – released April 28, 2017) – 31,660
  9. Super Mario Party (Switch – released October 5) – 24,088
  10. Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition (Switch – released June 21) – 20,787
Thanks, Ryokutya2089.
source: Gematsu - Japanese Video Game News
 

PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Kingdom Hearts III: Critical Mode, free and paid DLC in development
Published 17 hours ago. 179 comments.
Tidbits from a new interview with Tetsuya Nomura.

KH3-DLC_02-27-19.jpg


Dengeki Online has published a new interview with Kingdom Hearts III director Tetsuya Nomura, who discusses the addition of “Critical Mode” and future downloadable content.

Here are the notable tidbits:

  • As far as I can see of the specific data, including the download version, sales numbers were good and far beyond my own expectations. We’re currently working on downloadable content, so I don’t quite have the feeling that we’ve finished yet, and I’ve been sleeping less post-release.
  • Before, Critical Mode was not in the original versions, but in the Final Mix versions [of the Kingdom Hearts games], so this time we’re going to release it as an update at a later date. It’s not about simply changing the numerical value to be stronger, we’re readjusting and debugging. Rather than just making it more difficult, we’re making adjustments to pinpoint a level of fun unique to Critical Mode.
  • There is all sorts of speculation in regards to the Secret Movie, but it isn’t so simple that it can be understood at this point in time.
  • While we’ve previously prepared “Final Mix” versions as separate packages, this time I want to add all additional elements through downloadable content. We will offer free downloadable content from what can be done through additional updates, but we’re also planning paid downloadable content to release several elements together as a batch. That being said, paid downloadable content will take a little while to produce, but I would like to finish within the year and have the team move on to its next work.
  • As for the future of the Kingdom Hearts series, while we’ve had various discussions, whether there will be anything, or whether we do something is still up in the air. I already have a full schedule for the rest of the year.
The following tidbits should be considered spoilers (translated by Cory Arnold, as I have not finished—well, started—Kingdom Hearts III yet):

  • (Will there ever be a chance to talk about the members of the Organization whose true names are unknown and Isa’s scar?) If there is a sequel, then we may have the opportunity, but I don’t know what I want to do with that yet.
  • (It was pretty well explained how Roxas and Ventus were able to be revived, but could you shed light on how exactly Xion was able to be revived and enter the real Organization XIII?) I think it’s something that people could guess, but we plan to explain it in downloadable content.
  • (We think players who finished Kingdom Hearts 3 are interested in the girl Lea and Isa are looking for as well as the Nameless Star in the Final World. Could you give some sort of hint as to who they are? Did they appear in any of the previous games?) I think you can guess who the girl is if you consider both the secret movie and the secret reports. As for the Nameless Star, we’ll find out in the future.
  • (What kind of place is Scala Ad Caelum, which also appeared in the final trailer? It seems to resemble Daybreak Town from Kingdom Hearts Union χ; are they related?) Scala Ad Caelum and Daybreak Town have a connection that can be understood if you look carefully.
  • (Who were those people in black clothes who appeared in Scala Ad Caelum?) They are replicas.
Kingdom Hearts III is available now for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Thanks, Games Talk.
source: Gematsu - Japanese Video Game News
 
I think the idea in this game is the power of waking required Sora to gain new experiences and learn something from each world. So it was more about obtaining wisdom and experience as opposed to a literal plot you're preventing. So the world jumping still worked for me.

I just finished the game, and I think if there is one thing I would critique, it doesn't feel like a conclusion. It leaves too many threads open. This was billed as being the end of the journey, but it falls into the same trap ending the others do. Kairi, Riku, and Sora just keep spinning their wheels looking for each other. No doubt there will be another game chronicling Riku seeking Sora, possibly with more emphasis on FF worlds than Disney. But it is still the same core thing we've been seeing since day one (only now, potentially less interesting villains moving forward...we will have to see). Also, the black box plot felt like set-up for another game and had no payoff.

Loved this game overall, but I do feel like while they took many steps forward and the story overall I liked a lot, it takes too many steps back at the end and it doesn't come together as cleanly as I would have liked,
Ugh the attempt to redeem Xehanort and the Black Box just made me rage. It clearly was meant to be sequel bait along with Sora being lost. I just wanted them to have a happy ending like KH2.
 
KH2 had a FAR, FAR, FAR more satisfying ending than 3 did. Which is....weird.

The KH3 ending -- the ending to the entire Dark Seeker Saga -- was just empty.
 
KH2 had a FAR, FAR, FAR more satisfying ending than 3 did. Which is....weird.

The KH3 ending -- the ending to the entire Dark Seeker Saga -- was just empty.
Majority of my problems were development and pacing:

The replica program subplot was obviously needed to continue from CoM to bring back Roxas and Namine, which I thought was just unnecessary cause I thought they were happy merging back with Sora and Kairi.:whatever: But it just took away from other story points. Rescuing Aqua could have come much earlier along with waking Ven. I wouldn't have minded if we got a tutorial session for newcomers with Kairi and Axel ala the Digital World in KH2. Just so we can see them train. I wanted to play more characters other than Sora or more time with others in Riku and Aqua's case. They crammed so much towards the end that it felt rushed.
 

PlayStation 4
Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far restocked in the U.S.; launches March 15 in Canada and Latin America, March 29 in Europe
Published 1 day ago. 59 comments.


Get the entire Kingdom Hearts saga (pre-III) for $39.99.

KH-Story-So-Far_03-01-19.jpg


Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far, which has been sold out following its initial release in the United States in October 2018, has returned to U.S. retailers such as Best Buy and GameStop, and will launch in Canada and Latin America on March 15, followed by Europe on March 29, publisher Square Enix announced.

Here is an overview of the collection, via Square Enix:

In Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far, Keyblade wielders can relive the magical adventures of Sora, Donald Duck, Goofy and friends as they attempt to stop the Heartless invasion that threatens their universe. Fans will travel to iconic Disney locales and join forces with beloved Disney and Final Fantasy characters in order to fight back against the threat of darkness and bring back light to all worlds.

The compilation includes the following games:

  • Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix
    • Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
    • Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories
    • Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (HD Remastered cinematics)
    • Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
    • Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix
    • Kingdom Hearts Re:coded (HD Remastered cinematics)
  • Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue
    • Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD
    • Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep –A fragmentary passage–
    • Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover (movie)
Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far is available for PlayStation 4.
source: Gematsu - Japanese Video Game News
 
Was going to get this (Xbox) but read too many people saying if you did not play the others then you miss out on too much so I did not bother.
 
There's some fan speculation that Birth By Sleep A Fragmentary Passage (aka the story of how Mickey lost his shirt) was originally the opening to this game.
 
It would sort of make sense, in the same way that the entire Roxas prologue was done for KH2. But even if it was intended to be the opening to KH3 from a writing perspective, I'm glad they did it before. There was a lot of stuff in Fragmentary Passage that played funky. The physics were off a lot of the time.

If they kept it as part of KH3, I'm not sure they would've really seen those problems and fixed them.
 

PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Kingdom Hearts III stop-motion Toy Box trailer
Published 14 hours ago. 19 comments.
The Bring Arts figure collection comes to life.


KH3_03-04-19.jpg


Square Enix has released a two-minute stop-motion trailer for Kingdom Hearts IIIinspired by its Toy Story world.

This video showcases Square Enix’s “Bring Arts” figure collection, featuring toy forms of Sora, Donald, and Goofy, as they battle against a hoard of heartless invading Andy’s Room. The Bring Arts figure collection is available as a bundle with the Deluxe Edition of Kingdom Hearts III on the Square Enix Online Store.

Kingdom Hearts III is available now for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Watch the trailer below.

source: Gematsu - Japanese Video Game News
 

PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Kingdom Hearts III update to change Olaf’s Japanese voice following actor Pierre Taki’s arrest
Published 5 hours ago. 53 comments.


Another Pierre Taki story.

KH3-Olaf-Voice_03-14-19.jpg


Square Enix will release an update for Kingdom Hearts III in Japan that changes the Japanese voice of Olaf, who appears in the game’s Frozen-set world Arendelle, the company announced.

In Japan, Olaf is voiced by Pierre Taki, who was recently arrested for allegedly using cocaine in violation of Japan’s drug control law.

Taki also appeared in a major role in Sega’s Yakuza spin-off Judgment for PlayStation 4, and Sega responded to the news of his arrest by voluntarily halting shipments and digital sales of the game in Japan.

Further information about the Kingdom Hearts III update, including its contents and release period, will be announced at a later date.

Kingdom Hearts III is available now for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
source: Gematsu - Japanese Video Game News
 

PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Kingdom Hearts III ‘Critical Mode’ update launches April 23
Published 3 days ago. 173 comments.
Nomura: "We’ve changed things up from the previous games."
KH3-Critical-Mode_04-22-19.jpg


Kingdom Hearts III will add Critical Mode via a free update on April 23 PT / April 24 JST, Square Enix announced.

“We’ve changed things up from the previous games, so I hope you enjoy,” director Tetsuya Nomura said in the announcement.

Kingdom Hearts III is available now for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

From the same place



PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Kingdom Hearts III ‘Critical Mode’ update now available
Published 23 hours ago. 20 comments.

A new high-difficulty mode awaits.
KH3-Critical-Mode_04-24-19.jpg


Square Enix has released the “Critical Mode” update for Kingdom Hearts III.

Here is an overview of the update, via Square Enix:

In this update, players can embark on–or relive–the adventure of a lifetime with Sora and friends in the all-new Critical Mode, an additional high-difficulty mode that will challenge players in their fight against the darkness.

Critical Mode will challenge even the most skilled Keyblade wielder to be more tactical as they battle formidable foes. In this new mode:

  • Maximum HP and MP are halved.
  • The frequency of situation commands and magic is lowered.
  • Sora can perform new abilities exclusive to this harder difficulty mode.
Additionally, this update adds the feature for players to carry over their Keyblades to a new game. Keyblades that are carried over will return to their default strength, but through this optional feature, players can utilize Keyblades otherwise not obtained until later in the game from the beginning.

Kingdom Hearts III is available now for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

source: Gematsu - Japanese Video Game News
 
Not a fan of the Epic store either, eh? :hehe:

Hopefully the exclusivity is timed to 6-12 months. I already have a bad feeling about FF7R being exclusive to EGS as well...

Also, the prices are ridiculous.
 
I mean both universes overlap in their philosophies better than original Disney properties. :o
 
I still haven't played the Remind DLC for III. Trailer was cool enough. I will play it, but I hope actually ENDS this time
 

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