Fans of the Kingdom Hearts titles are used to ready extraordinarily lengthy occasions between mainline releases. After Kingdom Hearts II on the PS2, the sequence veered into spinoff territory, with no correct sequel for the complete PS3 technology. Finally, in 2019, we bought the long-awaited conclusion to what we might study was the Dark Seeker Saga. However, in typical Kingdom Hearts vogue, the tip of the saga was on no account the tip of the story for Sora, Riku, Kairi, and all their Disney and Final Fantasy pals. Both a secret ending, boss, and DLC all pointed towards a brand new period on the horizon. The solely query was how lengthy it will take till we noticed what it will be.
For Kingdom Hearts’ 20th anniversary occasion, followers had been handled to one thing most didn’t count on to see so quickly: A full reveal of Kingdom Hearts IV. Not a facet story, prequel, interlude, or dream, however an precise direct continuation from the place Kingdom Hearts III appeared to depart off. Not solely did Square Enix merely state that the sport existed however a full trailer was proven. This trailer is brief however full of data and issues to take a position about. The full image isn’t clear but, however we’ve unlocked all of the secrets and techniques we will thus far to share every thing we learn about Kingdom Hearts IV and the brand new Lost Master Arc.
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Release date
The huge downer for the reveal of Kingdom Hearts IV is that no launch date was given. There’s not even a window of what yr Square Enix thinks this title could be prepared. However, we will speculate a bit. In our hearts, we don’t see this recreation popping out earlier than 2024. On one hand, we do see what appears to be actual (although clearly early) gameplay within the trailer. On the opposite hand there are reviews that the sport is at present utilizing Unreal Engine 4, however is planning on switching to Unreal Engine 5. While that switch is supposedly not too troublesome, it should most likely take a while and create some setbacks within the course of. Either approach, it wouldn’t be the primary time we bought a trailer approach, approach upfront of a Kingdom Hearts recreation really popping out.
Platforms
There are not any platforms introduced for Kingdom Hearts IV but. The Kingdom Hearts sequence has historically been PlayStation solely, however Kingdom Hearts III launched on each Xbox One and PS4 and got here to Switch and PC later. Past video games within the sequence have additionally not too long ago been ported to Xbox and PC, and it looks as if the purpose of bringing the complete sequence to those new platforms was to construct up these audiences for a brand new Kingdom Hearts IV. We gained’t know for positive till later, however we expect this might simply come to all platforms — perhaps even Switch through streaming — concurrently or near it.
Aside from that, this ought to be a current-gen unique. Given the minimal two years we predict earlier than this recreation comes out, we ought to be far sufficient previous the PS4 and Xbox One to have totally devoted current-gen video games.
Trailer
The announcement trailer from the 20th anniversary occasion in Japan is, thus far, all we have now by way of footage. Even so, there’s fairly a little bit of very attention-grabbing stuff packed on this brief teaser on the finish of a sequence of trailers.
Once we get to the Kingdom Hearts IV part, we open with the direct message of this being The Lost Master Arc. We see some breathtaking pictures of the identical modern-day metropolis, closely impressed by Tokyo, we noticed briefly within the secret ending of Kingdom Hearts III, which we study is known as Quadratum. A voiceover, which is difficult to position as acquainted because of it being in Japanese, talks in typical cryptic Kingdom Hearts model. Apparently speaking to Sora, the voice advises him to depart that world if he’s too filled with despair. Meanwhile, an enormous darkish mass types within the sky earlier than we lower to extra textual content stating, “The heart resides within the soul, which in turn is guided by fate to its rightful place.”
New footage of one other amazingly realized forest location, with a waterfall and river, is proven. We lower to Sora for the primary time, asleep on a sofa, sporting a brand new outfit. He opens his door to a mysterious red-haired lady named Strelitzia (apparently an essential character in Kingdom Hearts Union Cross) who fills him in that he’s been sleeping for a full week since he appeared in that world. She describes the world as one thing like an “after world” for folks like them, maybe implying that she isn’t from Quadratum both.
The black mass from earlier than returns, now forming right into a extra disfigured model of one thing just like the Darkside enemy from previous video games, terrorizing the folks on the road and lifting automobiles with darkish powers. Sora, the hero at coronary heart that he’s, rushes in to do battle, summoning his iconic Keyblade.
As the battle involves an finish, the voiceover continues and we see two cloaked figures sporting the identical black coats as Organization XIII as soon as did. He finishes by saying that if Sora decides to depart that world, he shouldn’t count on to return to the one he got here from.
After the title drop, we get a tiny bit extra footage of Donald and Goofy wandering round a pitch black surroundings in search of somebody solely known as “he” that they hope can assist them. A blue flame sparks behind them, catching their consideration, earlier than a voice asks the place they suppose they’re going. The pair seem frightened already, however freak out after turning round and the blue fireplace erupts right into a purple blaze.
The ultimate phrases to cap all of it off are, “Magic in the Making.”
In phrases of story, properly, issues are sophisticated. To begin off, the title of this new arc, The Lost Master Arc, most likely refers to a personality referred to as The Master of Masters, who was a Keyblade Master from Kingdom Hearts X. He wrote one thing known as the Book of Prophecies, and solely confirmed up within the mainline video games throughout the ending of Kingdom Hearts III in a cloak. How this performs into… properly, something, is past our information.
Considering Kairi’s destiny on the finish of Kingdom Hearts III, and Sora’s on the finish of the Re:Mind DLC, it’s clear that the rationale Sora is in Quadratum, no less than initially, is to reunite as soon as once more with Kairi. Obviously issues gained’t go to plan, although. All we will hope, for now, is that this new arc can lower down on the overly advanced nature the primary arc had, no less than a bit bit.
As for Donald and Goofy, all indicators level to them both in search of, or no less than by accident encountering, Hades. The blue flame seems like a lifeless giveaway, regardless of us not being acquainted with the Japanese voice. Why they’d be in search of him, or in search of somebody within the underworld, may very well be something. Hades has proven to be tied in with the sequence’ largest unhealthy guys in a approach the opposite Disney villains aren’t, and we’ve by no means thwarted him for good, so he’s a stable decide to carry again.
Gameplay
A good bit of the trailer was no less than made to appear to be gameplay, although it may be a bit arduous to imagine primarily based on how good it regarded. At the very least, we count on loads of adjustments between this and the ultimate product, but it surely ought to be protected to say huge issues are coming.
First, the slow-motion model of motion from Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts III is again, however even smoother than ever. Sora leaps, spins, slides, and even makes use of his Keyblade as a grappling hook to seamlessly glide across the metropolis surroundings. Quicktime occasions, or response instructions perhaps, appear to be coming again. We see Sora counter the enormous heartless’s punch by reworking his Keyblade right into a drill, hinting that type adjustments may even be coming again, earlier than launching it like a missile.
Unfortunately we don’t get to see the tip of the battle, however the scale and spectacle look past something we’ve seen but.
The UI can be on display screen, however appears equivalent to the Kingdom Hearts III model, main us to imagine it’s a placeholder for now. Unfortunately we will’t learn any of the textual content on the UI, so if there may be something thrilling there, sorry.
Also, apart from Quadratum, the one different world we see is that forest space. Eagle-eyed viewers observed one unusual element in a shot of the river that appears quite a bit just like the foot of an AT-ST, the mechanical strolling tanks from the Star Wars sequence. This could be the primary time the Kingdom Hearts sequence has crossed over with that franchise, however contemplating it’s a Disney property, is totally attainable. Again, that’s pure hypothesis — no worlds exterior Quadratum are confirmed, but it surely isn’t inconceivable Sora may get his first lightsaber Keyblade. You can choose for your self by wanting on the prime proper of the above screenshot.
Multiplayer
Kingdom Hearts IV shouldn’t have any multiplayer modes. The solely video games within the sequence that did have them had been spinoff titles, and even then they had been sectioned off to minigames and enviornment challenges. This sequence has at all times been in regards to the story, characters, and journey, so we hope it stays true to that. Unless it does embrace some odd facet video games that haven’t any relation or influence on the primary story, we’d desire a pure, centered single-player expertise. Still, we will’t say for positive till Square Enix confirms it in some way.
DLC
Kingdom Hearts III was the primary title to get any DLC, and it turned out to be actually good. If it’s dealt with the identical approach for Kingdom Hearts IV, with it being principally postgame content material and lets us play as new characters, we’d be all for some DLC in a while to carry us again into the world of Kingdom Hearts. Personally, we really feel it’s well beyond due for Riku to star in his personal story, if he doesn’t no less than seem as a playable character in the primary recreation. Again, that is all wild hypothesis.
Pre-order
We’re years off from Kingdom Hearts IV gracing our screens and hearts. Though it pains us to say it, there gained’t be any information on easy methods to pre-order Kingdom Hearts IV for fairly some time, however primarily based on previous video games, you have to be wanting ahead to any particular editions they announce. If they sustain with their previous ones, there shall be some superior goodies included any main Kingdom Hearts fan will need. Once they do present up, we’ll let all of the pre-order particulars right here.
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