It has been 16 years since we started our Kingdom Hearts journey and 13 years since Kingdom Hearts II, and now it is finally time to get excited about Kingdom Hearts III. Square-Enix and Disney recently held a premiere event in Los Angeles to kick-off the build-up for the game’s release.
Before getting a chance to demo the game, director Tetsuya Nomura and co-director Tai Yasue told the assembled crowd a little bit about what went into crafting the next numbered installment of Kingdom Hearts.
They mentioned that the theme of Kingdom Hearts III is resolution. While hopefully this does not mean it is the final game in the series, it will resolve some the ongoing elements of the franchise. The popular mobile game Kingdom Hearts Union Cross foreshadows that the light will be defeated, and Kingdom Hearts III will see our heroes battle the darkness.
Despite the theme of “resolution,” the creative team is well aware of how long the franchise has been around. Therefore, fans can start with Kingdom Hearts III, however they hope there experience with the game with encourage them to try out earlier installments.
They recounted the story of how producer Shinji Hashimoto ran into a Disney executive in an elevator when Square and Disney shared the same office building. Tetsuya Nomura happened to overhear a conversation about the game, and pitched himself as the director. They always knew that it would be difficult to settle on just one Disney world so they created a setting where they could travel to several.
The team at Square-Enix had always wanted to use a Pixar world, however they never had a chance to do so until now. Kingdom Hearts 3 will let players enter the world of a Toy Story-themed Toy Box and the world of Monstropolis from Monsters Inc. Other Disney worlds include Big Hero 6, Tangled, Hercules, and yet-to-be announced worlds.
We had the chance to play the Toy Story Toy Box and Mount Olympus from Hercules. The Toy Box really helps you realize how far gameplay has come since Kingdom Hearts II. While the controls, look, and story all feel familiar, the level of detail and interactivity of the world have really been taken to the next level. There are two fun elements of the Toy Box that should be mentioned. The first is that you get to jump into a giant toy robot as part of the level that lets you have unique gameplay without feeling forced. The second is that the toy store in the level is made special for the game. This is not a re-do of Al’s Toy Barn, but a toy store that is inspired by the mix of cultures that have made both Square and Disney successful.
While we have previously been to the world of Hercules through Coliseum levels, we are now seeing the game expand into the diverse world of Olympus filled with gods and titans. The level has a unique vertical feel. Co-director Tai Yasue mentioned that he was inspired by Yosemite, and once he mentioned that, it all made sense. The vertical design of the Yosemite mountains are given a Disney touch that I think will make this level a sleeper favorite.
Disney fans will love the new “Attraction Flow” mode which summons “Main Street Electrical Parade” versions of popular attractions such as Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. They are very powerful and tons of fun to use.
Also a nice touch for fans are throwback minigames inspired by handheld games of the 1980’s. You know, those LCD games you would get at Toys R Us before Gameboy. What makes them so much fun is that they are inspired by classic Mickey Mouse shorts including “Giantland,” “The Karnival Kid,” “Musical Farmer,” and “The Barnyard Battle.”
Obviously we are all waiting for more information about Kingdom Hearts III. They shared that they hoped to announced the release date in early June, but no matter when it is released, I can’t wait to play the game some more. The creative team’s commitment to creativity, storytelling, and serving fans, makes this my most anticipated video game in the last decade.