It’s an exciting time to be a Kingdom Hearts fan. The game’s spectacular trailer from this past E3 unveiled Tangled and Hercules worlds and Disney has announced that the game will be making yet another appearance at its D23 Expo in Anaheim this month. Tetsuya Nomura has also teased that a new world will be announced “very, very soon” and D23 Expo is most likely the place.
Here’s what I’m hoping we’ll see at D23 Expo for Kingdom Hearts III.
A Release Date
Ever since E3 2013, we’ve had the same irritating message at the end of every trailer: “Now In Development.” With an internal release date/window already decided at Square Enix, it would be great to finally hear when the game will be releasing. It’s been almost 10 years since Kingdom Hearts II first released in Japan, so fans have been waiting for a long time for the next numbered entry in the series.
A simultaneous worldwide release date might be possible as well with the recent confirmation by Final Fantasy XV’s Hajime Tabata that the next Final Fantasy will be released at the same time around the world. Here’s hoping that we’ll hear more about a release date or simply a release year this D23.
New Songs by Yoko Shimomura and Utada Hikaru
For me, the Kingdom Hearts series soundtrack’s unforgettable. From the main themes of the series, Simple and Clean and Dearly Beloved, to the memorable boss battle music, Yoko Shimomura’s work is delightful to listen to. So far, however, we haven’t heard any new pieces of music for Kingdom Hearts III as previous trailers have used previous music from the series. What makes this even more exciting is that ever since Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, the series has had an orchestral soundtrack, so how will a new numbered installment sound? Also how will the themes of Tangled and Hercules sound in the new game? I can’t wait to hear the results.
Utada Hikaru hasn’t yet been confirmed to contribute the main theme of Kingdom Hearts III yet either. Her previous entries, Hikari (Simple and Clean) and Passion (Sanctuary) have been fan favorite songs to listen to time and time again. Most of the marketing for Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II have also used her music too, and as the trailers have been more releasing more often, we should eventually hear her new song or perhaps a completely new singer/band. A recent drawing of Utada Hikaru by Kingdom Hearts director Tetsuya Nomura, however, was displayed on her newest album, so perhaps this is a hint towards her reprising role.
Hopefully, we hear both of their possible works and collaborations at D23 Expo. Perhaps they could even have a live performance.
A Playable Demo
Even though I’d be incredibly jealous, a playable demo at D23 Expo would be a great indicator that Kingdom Hearts III’s close to being released. In game development, once there’s a playable build of a game, the project’s usually close to being final. It would be a fantastic confidence booster for those who think the game is far away.
With Square Enix reportedly hiring external developers (2) and using the productive Osaka studio, we could see this game release next year. If attendees of the show can play a part of the game, it would be a strong sign that Square Enix’s nearing completion.
A Big Hero 6 World
SPOILERS OF BIG HERO 6 BELOW
At E3 2015, Square Enix showcased a completely new world based on the 2010 Disney film, Tangled. Shortly afterwards, Nomura stated that new worlds will be shown “very, very soon.” D23 Expo seems to be the place to reveal a new world and I can’t think of anything better than San Fransokyo. The stories intertwine so perfectly.
In the film, Hiro loses his brother, Tadashi, after a fire breaks out. To find out what happened, he eventually leads to a recourse decision to end the life of the man with the kabuki mask as he struggles to deal with the lose of his brother. The story of Big Hero 6 is a struggle between light and dark. Hiro eventually decides not to kill the man in the film, but what if Master Xehenort used the boy’s hatred for his own gains that Sora and Hiro will later foil?
Akin to the Kingdom Hearts series, friendship between the Big Hero 6 team is also a major part of the film. These two elements could easily interweave into the Kingdom Hearts storyline. Plus, exploring the wonderfully designed city of San Fransokyo with its blend of American and Japanese cultures would be mystifying.
Story Trailer
Lastly, I want to know more about the story of Kingdom Hearts III. According to the initial press release, we know that Sora, Donald, and Goofy are searching for the Key to Return Hearts, while Riku and King Mickey are trying to find more of the Guardians of Light. Meanwhile, what’s Xehenort doing and who are the other Seekers of Darkness?
The press release also said that Kingdom Hearts III will have a more mature Sora. Will there be a darker story? How will the Disney characters from Tangled and Hercules (and the original Final Fantasy characters) look in Unreal Engine 4 and the Kingdom Shader? A story trailer could give us more of an insight on what direction Kingdom Hearts III will take.
What do you hope to see announced during D23 Expo for Kingdom Hearts III? Let us know in the comments below!
