With Kingdom Hearts III’s release finally announced for early next year, it’s time for Square Enix to ramp up the hype and showcase some of the upcoming new worlds. The trailers shown at this years Microsoft and Square Enix presentations have given Disney fans something to cheers about with the introduction of a new world and the return of a familiar one. Sora and friends will be returning to the Pirates of the Caribbean alongside Captain Jack and then hop a gummy ship over to Arendelle in the world of Frozen!
Kingdom Hearts trailers always seem to leave the viewer asking more questions and the few releases this week were no exception with the return of several Organisation XIII members including Larxene, Xigbar, and Luxord to name a few. Their roles in the sequel are shrouded in mystery, but it seems as though they are searching once more for seven pure hearts of light – whether they be new ones or existing, that still remains unclear. A number of new characters including Anna, Elsa, and Olaf make their appearance debuts in Kingdom Hearts III and while it’s not clear who’ll be figingting along side Sora the battles within the world of Frozen look stunning and super fun, not to mention fast paced.
The trailer also hints at the fates of two of the series more prolific characters, Aqua and Roxas, both of whom have strong ties to Sora. Roxas still exists within Sora’s heart but this may only be a temporary arrangement, as he surely will be needed for the final battle against Xehanort. On top of this we learn of Aqua’s fate and things don’t appear to have ended with her escape of the world of Darkness cost free…
Next we move onto the open seas to join Jack Sparrow and the world of Pirates of the Caribbean. This time it would appear that the story follows on the cinematic stories more faithfully as the events of “At Worlds End” are seen to take place. Sora, Donald, and Goofy all appear to have given a new look for their second venture into the swashbuckling world, which I am so here for! Not only does the the world appear to be more fully fleshed out but the battles within are all over the place, including underwater, in the air, and along assailable walls.
Of course there is more to be seen in the second trailer, including the introduction of two previous antagonists from earlier games, including Birth by Sleep’s Vanitas, and Chain of Memories’ Riku Replica. It would appear that all the loose ends of the Xenanort saga are finally being tied up and as to how they’ll come together is still anyone’s guess at this point. As an added bonus we finally get to see both Kairi and Axel appear right at the end of the trailer, with Kairi sporting a new look that compliments both Sora and Riku’s Kingdom Hearts garbs.
On top of the trailers shown at E3, Kingdom Hearts has also announced a Deluxe edition of the game which will come with a steelbox cover, a collectible pin and artbook for those looking to get that extra little bit of magic thrown in to their experience. Kingdom Hearts III is slated for a worldwide release on the 29th of January, 2019 on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Even though it is still a while away from release I can’t help but feel excited that it’s finally on its way.
About the Author
Kieren Munn
A typical gaymer, I enjoy most RPG's, Platformers, and Fighting games. I started gaming early with Sonic the Hedgehog, Mortal Kombat and Alex the Kidd on my Sega Mega Drive. This started a "healthy" obsession that has spanned 5 generations of consoles, and I won't be stopping anytime soon.
