Haley Joel Osment has been voicing Sora since the release of Kingdom Hearts i?n 2002 and has reprised the role in every subsequent game in the series. However, this talented performer admi?tted that he was ready to say goodbye to his character.

Last month, series director Tetsuya Nomura said?? in an interview that he is already thinking about his eventual retirement and that he has begun the process of passing off the torch to new writers in the upcoming mobile game, Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link. In a recent episode of IGN Arcade, IGN asked Haley Joel Osment about the potential conclusion of?? the ??series after telling him about Nomura's statement.

For starters, Osment was not even aware of the fact that Kingdom Hearts 4 is currently in development until IGN told him personally. He explained this by saying, "I'm always the last to know, because I'm the last step in the process", which makes a lot of sense, since? vo??ice acting is usually one of the final parts of a video game's development process.

Osment believes in Tetsuya Nomura's vision

Osment clearly has a lot of faith in Tetsuya Nomura, as he stated: "I'm sure that he?? has great plans to wrap it up in a satisfying way. And I think that sometimes that's the best thing to do, even if you have something that you love, and you feel like you want to play it forever, to tie it up in a nice way and not let it drag out beyond where the creator want??s it to go. I think that's the way to go".

It's important to point out that Kingdom Hearts 4 is not actually going to be the final game of the series. Far from it, since in reality, it will ma?rk the beginnin??g of the next major story arc after Kingdom Hearts 3 concluded the classic Dark Seeker Saga. Tetsuya Nomura just mentioned his retirement after Young Jump asked?? him about it in an interview, so it's highly likely that he plans on developing a few more entries in the series before leaving his beloved franchise in the hands of Square Enix and Disney.

Regardless of the misunderstanding, Osment clearly appreciates his work in the Kingdom Hearts series, and he will definitely keep voicing Sora for many years to come. If one day, Square Enix decides to retire his character for one reason or another, he is ready to give him a proper goodbye. Curiously enough, Osment also revealed that he tried playing Kingdom Hearts 3 while he was stuck in hi??s own house during quarantine?, but he couldn't get into it because "he hasn't played a video game in a long time".

His longtime involvement with the Kingdom Hearts series

Haley Joel Osment has been the voice of Sora from the series' inception. He was around 13 years old when he recorded his lines for Kingdom Hearts 1 and, around the time, he was famous for his debut role in The Sixth Sense. As expected, his voice was quite different back then, but he still managed to bring Sora to life and eventua?lly became a crucial pa?rt of the character's identity.

Osment reprised his role in all sequels that followed, from the mainline titles like Kingdom Hearts 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3, to handheld games like Chain of Memories, Re: Coded, or Dream Drop Distance. Over the course of more than two decades, his voice got deeper and deeper, but it worked perfectly because Sora was also getting older and more mature with every release. Not to mention that Osment also showed off his range by voicing the villain Vanitas in Birth by Sleep and KH3.

Sora, and the entire Kingdom Hearts franchise, wouldn't be the same without Osment, so it would be unfortunate to have to say goodbye to both of them. He evidently has a lot of appreciation for his role, and he's ready to voice Sora once again, especially if Nomura is directing. Hopefully, we'll get to hear him in the near future when Kingdom Hearts 4 comes out.

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Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is now available on PC, and fans have begun to create some awesome mods for it. One of them includes of a couple of Kingdom Hearts mods that have impressed many on social media, and fans are all over it??.

Mickey can use the Kingdom Key D with Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Kingdom Hearts mod

On Tuesday earlier this week, an X user shared a screenshot of Mickey using his canon keyblade Kingdom Key D in Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. The picture has si??nc?e grown to over 2,300 likes on the platform.

The golden tint of the blade shows during the ending of Kingdom Hearts, in which the beloved rodent helps lock a huge door with Sora. He then appears with the weapon more often in later entries, making its appearance in Epic Mickey: Rebrushed a fun addition for fans.

There are a few current issues with the mod, however. At the time of writing, there's no custom material and it replaces the model and textures, there isn't a keychain, and the paint trail doesn't splash out of the tip of the keyblade—but further updates, should they come, may present a solution to them. Despite You can download the Kingdom Ket D mod from Nexusmods and follow the in?structions there to join in ??on the fun.

In addition to the Kingdom Key D, the developer also added the Star Seeker keyblade on Wednesday, which is the version that Mickey uses in the PSP game Birth By Sleep. Prominent Kingdom Hearts YouTuber TheGamersJoint, in response, noted that he hopes to see the Kingdom Hearts model inside the game.

If you want to keep things vanilla, the base game also has some bonus costumes inspired by classic cartoons like Steamboat Willie, which was the precursor to M??ickey as we know him today.

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Square Enix has added a fascinating new product to their official online store: Two Kingdom Hearts 2-themed skateboard decks that will let fans transform their skate??boards into exact replicas of the ones Roxas and Sora used in th??e original game.

The boards feature illustrations of Roxas and Sora based on official concept art by Tetsuya Nomura on one side, and the other dons detailed designs derived from the skateboards each character could ride on in Kingdom Hearts 2. ?Roxas' is white ?with a black pattern, while Sora's is the opposite.

At the time of writing, you can only purchase these two skateboard decks through Square Enix's Japanese store. According to the official publication, they are both made of Canadian maple, are approximately 200mm wide and 800mm tall, and are available for 29,700 yen each (tax included), which amounts to around 203 US dollar??s. Square Enix is already accepting reservations, as they will release these decks on January 11, 2025.

Skateboarding was a big part of Kingdom Hearts 2

In 2005's Kingdom Hearts 2, players controlling Roxas or Sora could ride on skateboards scattered around several locations to quickly traverse the game's large worlds. These were an efficient method of transportation and also fit perfectly with the rampant skateboarding culture of the early 2000s. While more recent titles, like Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts 3, have ditched these boards in favor of other movement mechanics, like Flowmotion, fans still have a soft spot for these skateboards and would love to see this mechanic come back in future e??ntri??es. No wonder the dedicated Kingdom Hearts fan base reacted to the announcement of these real-life replicas with a lot of excitement.

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Tetsuya Nomura, the renowned Japanese developer who worked as a designer on Final Fantasy VII and directed the entire Kingdom Hearts franchise, recently did an interview for Young Jump magazine, where he revealed what his plans for Kingdom Hearts 4 are.

Per Siliconera, the Young Jump interviewer asked Nomura about the possible conclusion of the Kingdom Hearts series. The legendary developer jokingly responded that he only has a few years left before he retires, so he must consider what comes first. Although he specifically mentions that he at least plans to finish his work on the highly-anticipated Kingdom Hearts 4.

This response may catch fans off guard, since Nomura has barely mentioned his possible retirement in the past. While many of them claimed they?? were saddened by the news, most of them also agreed that, after taking a look at his extensive career working with Square Enix, his statement is completely reasonable.

With the release of Kingdom Hearts 3 in 2019, Nomura finally concluded the Dark Seeker Saga that he established in 2001 with the release of the first installment, meaning that he has been directing this franchise for over 20 years. Not to mention that he's worked on many other Square Enix titles, like Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Passing off the torch to new writers

But the inevitable question is, what will happen to Kingdom Hearts if Tetsuya Nomura retires? It's most likely that Disney and Square Enix will keep pushing for the development of new games, and fortunately for fans, Nomura is already testing the waters with a fascinating experiment: he revealed that he hired new writers that have never worked in the Kingdom Hearts franchise to write scenarios for the upcoming mobile game, Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link.

Ultimately, he is still in charge of writing the main script, but only time will tell if this experiment is going to benefit the franchise or not. The plot of Missing Link will cover a brand-new period in t??he timeline, so I'd be curi?ous to see what new characters and worlds they will meet in this new title. It's at least refreshing to know that Nomura is already hiring new people to bring new ideas to the series.

Another point of interest in the interview was the overwhelming complexity of Kingdom Hearts' story, something that has affected the franchise's reputation over the y??ears. Nomura ??acknowledged that the scenarios he writes can be quite complex, and even revealed that voice actors often have difficulty following the plot of the games. Nevertheless, he and his staff usually help other people comprehend the story, and he even encourages them to ask him about it whenever they need to do so.

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Disney Worlds are arguably the biggest selling point of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, since fans e?ndlessly speculate about the movies they're going to be able to revisit every time Square ?Enix announces a brand-new game

. But some fans recently discovered a strange level that was scrapped from Kingdom Hearts 3, and it left them absolutely dumbfounded. What if Sora, Donald & Goofy visited a world based on the Cars franchise?

Fans discover plans for a Cars World in the files of Kingdom Hearts 3

A group of dedicated fans unveiled a bunch of development screenshots and documents from around 2017, simply known as the "KH3 Premium Showcase Files". Longtime Kingdom Hearts YouTuber & Researcher, 13th Vessel, has posted about this revelation on his Twitter/X account.

There are a lot of interesting parts about this discovery, but the most fascinating one is a text list of the worlds that were in development. It contains 19 different levels, and it includes both playable worlds like San Fransokyo or Toy Box and areas that appear only in cutscenes, like Daybreak Town or Radiant Garden. However, Kingdom Hearts 3 o??nly featured 18 worlds, so fans immediately noticed that there was a standout.

The text at #6, clearly reads "カー��", which translates to "Cars (Tentative)", meaning that at one point Square Enix was planning to include an entire world based on Pixar's sometimes infamous but wildly successful Cars franchise. This not only su?rprised fans but also created a lot of speculation on how this level was going to work.

Was it going to take place entirely within Radiator Springs? Were Sora, Donald? & Goofy going to transform into different vehicles? How was Sora going to fight with his Keyblade? Was it going to have a racing minigame? However, most fans believe that thi??s world was scrapped very early on in development, since this list is only made up of text, and they couldn't find any 3D models of characters or environments either.

The other fascinating findings in the Kingdom Hearts 3 Premium Showcase Files

The KH3 Premium Showcase Files did not reveal any more information on unused Disney Worlds, but there is another fascinating finding that has shocked and amused Kingdom Hearts fans. In the final game, when players enter the Toy Box world (based on the Toy Story franchise) they will immediately witness a high quality cutscene with lots of action and impressive graphics that is promoting a fictional video game called "Verum Rex", which is a parody of Final Fantasy XV. Square Enix created the Verum Rex characters exclusively for use in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, including the protagonist, Yozora, who later appeared in the Re Mind DLC, a secret boss.

The Premium Showcase Files revealed that Verum Rex was not always supposed to be a parody, since its introductory cutscene was originally going to feature Final Fantasy XV characters. A prototype version of this cutscene has models that are extremely similar to Noctis and Stella, meaning that Tetsuya Nomura's plans may have changed at some point in development. Yozora is highly likely to play an important role in Kingdom Hearts 4, so he may have ??chos?en to avoid further using characters from a separate franchise.

Tetsuya Nomura and his team are currently working on Kingdom Hearts 4, so there's a possibility that they may reuse the idea of this scrapped Cars World in this upcoming title. Whether fans wi??ll approve of it or not, depends enti?rely on its execution.

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The PS2 is arguably the best console ever created with many popular franchises like Kingdom Hearts, Devil May Cry, and God of War taking root on the system. Other series really took off during this generation of consoles, like the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Here are the?? 10 best selling PS2 games, ranked by sales numbers.

10. Kingdom Hearts

The strange crossover between Disney and Square truly worked during the PS2 generation of consoles with over 5.9 million copies sold worldwide, as of 2007. Sora, Donald, and Goofy fought against dark creatures called the heartless in Disney worlds we all know and love like The Little Mermaid's Atlantica and Hercules' Olympus Coliseum. The action-RPG system is fast-paced, and lets you summon the likes of Dumbo and Genie to the battle. While the first game hasn't aged the best, the Kingdom Hearts franchise is still beloved worldwide.

9. Final Fantasy XII

After the success of the 10th entry, Final Fantasy XII took us back to the world of Ivalice, featuring kingdoms and olden-style language. It sold over 6 million copies, according to a 2009 interview with Yoshinori Kitase in Gendai. This entry in particular was different from other entries in the series, as it featured a real-time system similar to an MMO. "It was a triumph in many ways with its open world combat flow and groundbreaking (at the time) AI-manipulating gambit system," said our review for the remaster The Zodiac Age.

8. Tekken 5

Tekken 5 is also reported to have sold around 6 million units. This is the fighting game sequel that introduced the fan-favorite characters Asuka and Lili, in addition to the badass Dragunov and Raven. The game has an impressive 88 Metacritic score based on 62 reviews. "Better balancing, a ton of gameplay modes, smarter AI, and high-quality presentational elements are tough things to beat -- but Tekken 5 has all of them," said IGN's review when the game was released in 2005.

7. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

When you combine the reported sales of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Substance, you'll find that a total number of 7.03 million copies were picked up at stores. Launching in 2001, this game was a gigantic step in Hollywood-style storytelling within games. The second title also added a first-person camera for aiming down sights and the ability to hold foes up at gunpoint. Many love this game, despite a s?urpris?ing switch of the main protagonist.

6. Grand Theft Auto III

Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized gaming when it first came out on October 22, 2001 because of its big open world mechanics and mature content. As a result, it sold around 8.3 million copies worldwide. I remember going around my friend's house at nine years old and being amazed at how open the game was, and freaked out by how many atrocities could be performed by the player. A remaster was released for this game, but the less said about that, the better.

5. Final Fantasy X

Final Fantasy X was the best-selling PS2 game in the series at over 8.5 million copies, according to a 2013 press release. This was a big deal back in 2001. FFX was the first game in the RPG franchise to have voice acting with James Arnold Taylor as Tidus and Hedy Burress a??s Yuna. The elaborate love story between the two main characters also attracted many to the RPG. Composer Nobuo Uematsu also constructed a musical masterwork in the game's soundtrack, with standout tracks like "Movement in Green," "To Zanarkand," and of course, the epic battle theme.

4. Gran Turismo 4

The Gran Turismo series was huge during the PS2 generation, as its modern competitor Forza was yet to take shape. It drew 11.76 million racing fans to buy the game from store shelves in 2004. This game was praised for its fantastic graphics at the time and simulation mechanics. "Gran Turismo 4 is the Encyclopedia Britannica of driving, with more than 700 distinct sets of wheels to prove it, and introduces you to it with the restrained reverence of a martial arts instructor," said Eurogamer's review. "It wants?? you to win through training and discipline, not brute force and c??hrome elbows to the side paneling."

3. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

The Grand Theft Auto series began to take over the industry with its next entry, Vice City. It sold a total of 14.2 million copies worldwide (according to the Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition book). This entry took us back to the '80s; the theming was exceptional, with a fantastic soundtrack and neon throughout the city everywhere. It also features an engaging narrative following Tommy Vercetti, voiced by Goodfellas actor Ray Liotta. "The game of fast cars and ruthless criminals packs more action and excitement into the first few hours than can be found in the entirety of most games," said IGN's 2003 review.

2. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec

Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec accelerated excitement from the PlayStation 2 fanbase even more, with almost 15 million copies sold in 2001 and beyond. It brought incredible visuals for racing enthusiasts at the time, and likely convinced many to take the leap from the PS1 to the PS2. The official website says the game added "impairing sunglare, shimmering heat waves, real-time reflections" and more to make this game as realistic as possible at the time. There was also an Arcade mode and a Simulation mode added to Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec to make it as appealing t??o ?a wide audience as possible.

1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Arguably the best of the PS2 trilogy, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is on top of the best selling PS2 games list with 17.33 million copies reportedly purchased by PS2 players around the world, according to the Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition. Playing as Carl Johnson, you're living in the '90s, trying to save Carl's family after his mother was murdered and trying to flee corrupt cops who frame him for homicide. The game has an amazing 95% Metacritic average rating from 80 outlets.

Game Informer gave it a perfect score, saying "San Andreas breaks the video game mold and emerges as something far greater." (Via Metacritic) Despite a terrible remaster much later on, it seems to still hold a place in many fans' minds as one of the best i?n the series.

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Given the anticipation for the long-awaited Steam releases of the Kingdom Hearts games, it should come as no surprise to hear that they're selling well. In less than 24 hours, the HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX compilation has rocketed up the platform's sales charts and is currently the top-selling Steam game, outperforming even Helldivers 2 and Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, the latter of which only launched today.

While the series has been available for PC owners via the Epic Games Store since 2021, Steam users have obviously wanted to see it launch on their platform of choice. I have to imagine a decent number of these sales are a result of established fans buying the games again (I should know, I'm one of them). Aside from them being playable on Steam Deck, Square Enix is discounting the whole series by 31% until July 11. So, the HD 1.5+2.5 collection, which consists of four games and two cutscene compilations, is g?oing for $34.49/£27.59. You can even get? the whole series (seven games in total) for $68.99/£58.64, which is a frankly amazing deal.

Admittedly, the Kingdom Hearts 2.8 collection and Kingdom Hearts 3 aren't performing as strongly, and are ranked much lower in the Steam sales chart. They also have smaller player counts according to SteamDB, peaking at only 186 players (for KH2.8) and 817 players (for KH3). By comparison, the HD 1.5+2.5 collection peaked at 6,809 players and, at the time of writing, has 4,336 concurrent players.

It makes sense for the HD 1.5+2.5 collection to be the most popular. It's the cheapest of the three offers, it includes more games, and it's also the recommended starting point for new fans, covering the first eight years of Kingdom Hearts content. As such, KH2.8 and KH3 could sta?rt to pick up in player count in the comin??g weeks or months.

It'll be interesting to see how long the HD 1.5+2.5 collection stays at the top of the sales charts but, regardless, this has hopefully proved to Square Enix that there's an audience for future Kingdom Hearts games on Steam. With any luck, Kingdom Hearts 4 will come to PC the same day as its console counterpart, which isn't too far-fetched considering Square Enix wants more multiplatform titles in the future. Presumably, KH4 is at least in deve??lopment for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, but there's been no official confirmation on rel?ease platforms.

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The day has finally arrived. After three years of Epic Games Store exclusivity, the Kingdom Hearts series will make its debut on Steam later today, and Square Enix?? has handily shared exact launch times for when the games will be availa??ble for purchase.

We already have a breakdown on exactly which Kingdom Hearts titles will be available but, as a quick reminder, there will be seven games across three separate compilations (plus three movies), and you can purchase all of them as part of a Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece collection. As for when you can actually start playing them, below is a list of release times for every timezone as provided by Square Enix:

• Los Angelesâ€?am PDT June 13
• New Yorkâ€?2pm EDT June 13
• Brazilâ€?pm BRT June 13
• Londonâ€?pm BST June 13
• Berlinâ€?pm CEST June 13
• Tokyoâ€?am JST June 14
• Australiaâ€?am AEST June 14

At the time of writing, no prices have been shared??, but I have to imagine th??e games will cost about the same as they do on other platforms:

• Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIXâ€?49.99/£39.99
• Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologueâ€?59.99/£49.99
• Kingdom Hearts 3 + Re Mindâ€?59.99/£49.99
• Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpieceâ€?89.99/£79.99

While this is a meaty collection of games, and perfect for anyone looking to get into Kingdom Hearts, it doesn't include any of the mobile games. Said mobile games can't be played anymore, but you can still download them to watch their cutscenes (or watch them on YouTube) if you crave extra lore and backstory. What's more puzzling, though, is that this Steam line-up doesn't include Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, a rhythm game spin-off released after Kingdom Hearts 3. It's available on every other platform, including the Epic Games Store, and yet there's been no mention of a Steam release. Hopefully, it's only a matter of time since aside from being a very fun game in its own right, it has important plot details that help lead into Kingdom Hearts 4.

Speaking of Kingdom Hearts 4, the game was sadly absent from Summer Game Fest, and while there have been rumours of it launching in 2025 or 2026, Square Enix has yet to share any official info. Given the publisher intends on "aggressively pursuing" a multiplatform strategy going forward, perhaps we'll see KH4 launch on consoles and PC at the same?? time, which would be ideal.

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The Kingdom Hearts games previously made their way to PC via the Epic Games Store, and now it's Steam's turn. Square Enix an??nounced plans to dump a bucketload of intertwining lore on Steam, with three separate t??itles and a comprehensive bundle launching on June 13, 2024.

Titles on the way to Steam include Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts III + ReMind DLC. All of those compilations can also be snagged together in the Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece bundle, which comes in way above the legal limit of Kingdom Hearts content. 

If you're new to Kingdom Hearts, or if you understandably just need a refresher on what these individual releases include, here's a breakdown. Naturally, you'll want to ??start at the beginning with:

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX

The saga starts here, with four games and two collections of remastered HD cutscenes. The games are Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep FINAL MIX. When you're ready to sit back with some popcorn and a story-tracking notebook by your side, you can watch more cinematics in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

A pair of games and an HD movie bridge the gap between the first collection and Kingdom Hearts III. This release packs Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD with Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-, which takes players directly into the third entry. For an even deeper dive into the timeline and more info on the Foretellers, you'll need to check out the included KINGDOM HEARTS χ Back Cover movie.

Kingdom Hearts III + ReMind

The final piece of the puzzle (for now) is contained here. In addition to the main Kingdom Hearts III game, this one comes with the ReMind DLC that followed, introducing new features, some challenging boss fights, and?? more. 

Amazingly, the Kingdom Hearts series has been kicking around crossovers that previously seemed improbable for over 20 years. In that time it's established a sprawling saga of its own, and more people getting a chance to experience it all is definitely a good thing. ??Just don't let any negative word of mouth sour you on Goofy and Donald. They're your FRIENDS and you need to trust them to make good decisions, okay?

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Lately, there has been chatter of Kingdom Hearts, everyone's favourite mash-up of Disney magic and Final Fantasy-esque action, getting a movie adaptation. These rumours come courtesy of Disney fan site The DisInsider and film industry insider DanielRPK, but I'm not here to discuss the validity of their claims. Rather, I want to talk about how if Disney really does want a Kingdom Hearts movie, it faces an inc??redibly steep uphill ??battle.

I can imagine pitches for a Kingdom Hearts movie adaptation have floated within Disney for a while, especially in more recent years. After decades of embarrassments, video game movies have been popping off lately, with the likes of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the Uncharted movie, and both Sonic the Hedgehog movies proving profitable for their respective IP holders. Kingdom Hearts is a big name, big enough for non-fans to recognize it, and its inclusion of beloved Disney characters would undoubtedly attract people who don't even know what a Sora is. However, I do not think you can meaningfully translate Kingdom Hearts from a v??ideo game into a movie; not without some audience-alienating compromises.

You'd have to assume any Kingdom Hearts movie would be based on the original 2002 game which, despite the series' reputation for having extremely complicated lore, does feature a fairly simple storyline. A young boy named Sora sets out on an adventure spanning multiple Disney worlds, alongside Donald Duck and Goofy, to save the universe from dark monsters while searching for his missing friends. I'd say that's an apt and easy to understand summation of Kingdom Hearts' story, but it also barely scratches the surface. There is a lot going on in Kingdom Hearts; too much to condense into even a two-hour movie. Movie adaptations typically and understandably cut out chunks of their source material in order to fit their runtime, but when it comes to Kingdom Hearts, ??there's nothing you can cut without it feeling incredibly jarring.

One of the main draws of the series is getting to visit all these faithful recreations of worlds based on beloved Disney movies. The first game alone is full of gems, from the madcap world of Wonderland from Alice in Wonderland to the gothic streets of Halloween Town from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Besides some of its outlandish story beats, this is what general audiences know Kingdom Hearts for, so you'd think a movie would make this a big focus. The problem is you wouldn't be able to fit all of the first game's nine Disney worlds into a rough runtime of two hours. Plus, with how self-contained most of these worlds are, only occasionally nudging the main plot forward, jumping from one to the next would feel incredibly jarring, even if Disney cut the number down to, say, only three worlds. It'd feel like one of those old direct-to-video Disney sequels, like Atlantis 2, which claimed to be movies but were clearly ha??stily stitched together standalone episodes of a TV show that never got off the ground.

On top of that, making the Disney visits the priority risks giving little time to the elements original to Kingdom Hearts. In the game, the opening hour is spent introducing Sora, his friends, and his island home before it's all taken away from him. This is followed by his meeting with Donald and Goofy and learning abou?t their quest, the threat of the Heartless, and the magical weapon known as the Keyblade. It's the kind of set-up you can't condense into the first 20 minutes of a feature-length film, not without it being haphazardly rushed or confusing to anyone who's not touched the games.

So, is the answer to prioritize those elements and maybe skip over the Disney world stuff? Well, no, because then you're eliminating an easy way of getting non-fans to watch the movie. I know some game fans wish the series would ditch the Disney element completely, but it's a key part of its identity. Take that away, and you have another typical Square Enix RPG. Even if a movie were to put less emphasis on them, Disney characters would still be present, but would your average Disney lover be willing to sit through a Kingdom Hearts movie if the only characters to make an appearance were Donald, Goofy, and maybe Mickey Mouse himself? I don't think so. Perhaps the only other alternative would be to completely overhaul the first game's story to better fit it into the style of a ??movie, but then you're left with something completely unrecognizable to fans.

No matter what, it feels like a direct movie adaptation is a no-win situation. It's why I think the smartest thing to do would be to follow Amazon and Bethesda's example with their Fallout TV show, and have a completely original plot set within the Kingdom Hearts universe. That way, you can craft a story that's perfectly suited to the medium of film, rather than awkwardly truncate roughly 30 to 40 hours of video game. Unfortunately, that's not entirely viable either, since it'd only really appeal to established fans. The average movie-going audience is far less likely to be intrigued, especially if it requires a deep understanding of Kingdom Hearts lore. Knowing this series, I can absolutely see a potential movie incorporating important plot points mandatory for understanding Kingdom Hearts 4 or something, like Sq?uare Enix did with the mobile games.

If anything, the structure of Kingdom Hearts would be a much better fit for a Disney+ TV show. In the games, each world acts like their own story arc, and can quite easily be condensed into one or two episodes. A show could even expand upon each world with new story elements. Die-hard fans already know there was a pilot for such a TV show back in 2003 that obviously never got the greenlight. If Disney wants to bring a new audience to the games, a Disne??y+ series ??would be a smart way of doing it.

I would not be surprised if this rumoured movie is real, but ultimately gets shot down before any actual progress is made for whatever reason. Some pitches simply never get off the ground. However, the current climate could embolden Disney to give it a shot. Cross-promotion works as evidenced by Amazon's aforementioned Fallout show increased sales and player counts for Bethesda's games.

That's not the only example; Nintendo's enjoyed a boost in sales thanks to the Mario movie (per this financial report), and The Last of Us saw renewed interest thanks to its own TV adaptation. A well-made movie combined with the launch of Kingdom Hearts 4, whenever that is, could be huge for Disney and Square Enix. I do not envy whoever is put in charge of such a project, though, because it is far too easy to get catastrophically wrong, resulting in a product that fails to sell Kingdom Hearts to pote??ntial new fans while angering the ??ones it already has.

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There's no question that Sephiroth is an icon, striking fear into players even remotely familiar with the villain. Just the opening notes of his theme song, One Winged Angel, are enough to get the heart racing. But Sephiroth didn't make a name for himself with Final Fantasy alone. A particular Disney and Square Enix collaboration, Kingdom Hearts, introduced the villain to a new era of fans, and his appearances in that series are just as menacing, if not more so, than his Final Fantasy 7 presence.

If players missed out on Sephiroth's 1997 Final Fantasy 7 debut, it might be hard to discern why fans go gaga over the character. Heralding a planet-ending event and haunting protagonist Cloud Strife throughout FF7, Sephiroth presented himself as a fearsome villain from the get-go. However, for some of us, Sephiroth's anxiety-inducing encounter in Kingdom Hearts is what truly cemented him as a terror.

In 2002, found myself on the other end of Sin Harvest, and it was in this Disney amalgamation that the One-Winged Angel left an impression that still lingers. See, I wasn’t really old enough to get on the FF7 wave when it was hot, and it wouldn’t be until years later that I experienced the title. So, for me, Kingdom Hearts was the game that introduced Sephiroth?. And man, what an introduction that was.

Sora's Platinum match

As players near the end of Kingdom Hearts, they can r??evisit the Olympus Collesuem to participate in new tournaments. One of these is the Platinum match, which sheds many of the boss fight conventions experienced up to that point. It pits Sora against Sephiroth in a fight most players will initially lose.

Unti??l encountering the Platinum match, I barreled my way through enemies without much preparation. Sure, some grew a little tedious, but after retreading a few zones to nab a few easy levels, I cleared obstacles in a flash, though nothing prepared me for a fight requiring speed and quick-thinking to match a demigod. 

After starting the Platinum match, Sephiroth teleports into the arena and wordlessly readies his weapon as his theme song builds. The powerful villain doesn't sprint or e??ngage in a reckless assault. No. Much more hauntingly, Sephiroth slowly walks towards me as if to say, “Oh, are you here too?�as One Winged Angel blasts over the arena. This unabashed display of badassery sets the tone.

Thanks to his massive sword, Sephiroth could reach me from nearly anywhere, and his impossibly fast sword swipes met me whenever I faltered. If I tried to close the distance with a brute-force approach, he would completely ignite his surroundings in a fiery tempest. Alternatively, if I tried to play the backfield, Sephiroth could teleport and leap around the arena to line up an attack. There was no safe foot??ing. 

By some miracle, I was able to push the One-winged Angel enough to start taking me seriously. Then the big attacks came out, summoned meteor showers or, even worse, that Sin Harvest move that takes Sora down to one HP and zero MP in the blink of an eye. It’s all I can muster to stay alive through the assault, meekly chipping at? his health here and there. All the while, it doesn't even look like Sephiroth breaks a sweat.

Faster than I realize, it’s already over. Sephiroth catches me in ??the center of one ??of his fire attacks, and in my haste to heal, I stop right in front of his sword. The first time I lost the Platinum match, it felt unwinnable. But that’s precisely what drove me to throw myself at it again and again until I eventually scraped by.

Sephiroth's Dark Depths

While Kingdom Hearts might have led to me think I knew what to expect from Sephiroth, his second appearance continued to throw curveballs. The battle occurs in a rocky area with more room than the previous bout, but maneuverability worked against me. Throughout Kingdom Hearts 2, I unwisely neglected the painstakingly-slow-to-unlock movement and traversal abilities, and that made my Sephiroth rematch all the more imposing. The villain moves around a lot more in Kingdom Hearts 2, often teleporting behind or taking to the sky, and I h?ad no means to defend against t?hese hit-and-run tactics.

In stark contrast to his previous appearance, Sephiroth charges as soon as the fight starts with an attack that’s only avoidable via an unexpected quick-time event. This wasn’t t?he only time he tried to catch me off guard with the deadly strike, it randomly happens throughout the fight. It’s something I had to always stay on the lookout for, as the blow has the potential to end the match instantly. Without giving me a chance to counterattack, Sephiroth moved back to familiar tactics, teleporting and leaping around, testing my defenses with his blade.

Difficulty felt exaggerated by the fact that nearly all of Sephiroth's attacks could bring me down to critical HP, and he'd unleash onslaughts back to back without care. This quickly backed me into a new game of attrition, with Sephiroth effortles?sly whittling away my health while I scrambled to keep my head above water. We danced around that arena for what felt like hours, with Sephir??oth laying out one spectacular display of strength after another and me panic healing and scratching slices off his health with quick combos.

When I finally bested Sephiroth again, a scene shows him literally brushing some dirt off his armor like he’s brushing off our maddening encounter. In the ultimate insult to injury, Sephiroth concludes that only Cloud can offer him a real challenge before sending me off to fetch th?e ex-SOLDIER for ??him. Ouch man, that hurts.

Reintroducing Sephiroth

The Kingdom Hearts series offered Square Enix an opportunity to grow Sephiroth's fame and notability. The character was already a fearsome antagonist to those who first met him in FF7, but Kingdom Hearts would open the door for the One-winged Angel to transcend h????is own universe. It would have been easy to use Sephiroth for a throwaway cameo like Tidus or Selphie, but the more substantive approach paid off.

Before Kingdom Hearts, Sephiroth only existed to me as an enigmatic legend I heard about from friends�older siblings or on online forums. But once Kingdom Hearts presented the terrifying foe, his reputation suddenly made sense. Going through the toils of preparation and practice to beat Sephiroth in these Disney games is forever cemented in my memory. It forced me out of my comfort zone and got me thinking in a game that primarily encouraged button mashing. And no doubt, whether players like the character or not, Kingdom Hearts ensured Sephiroth lived up to his hype.

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Kingdom Hearts and Street Fighter 2 composer Yoko Shimomura will receive a Lifetime Achievement t??rophy during the D.I.C.E Awards this year. It will occur on February 15 at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

"I myself am very surprised," said Shimomura on Twitter (through a translation provided by the platform). "I'm very honored.?" She also mentioned this is ?"possible thanks to [our] support."

Who is Kingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura?

Yoko Shimomura is a game composer known for her decades of work in the industry. She's behind the scores of Street Fighter 2, the Kingdom Hearts series, Super Mario RPG (with a re-orchestrated soundtrack for the remake), Final Fantasy XV, and the Parasite Eve franchise. Her vivid and illustrious music has now been recognized by her peers in the indust??ry.

"Dearly Beloved," the main menu theme from Kingdom Hearts, is arguably her most notable song. What impresses many is that each game has its own take on the original piano-led track. For example, there's a swing version of the track in the rhythm game Melody of Memory.

“I was playing the beginning of the game, set in the Destiny Islands, and I was struck by a lot of imagery about the sea," said Yoko Shimomura to Square Enix. "Dearly Beloved just came to my mind one day, while I was thinking about that - picturing the sea and the waves.�/p>

Streamed through IGN, the D.I.C.E. Awards will be hosted by Kinda Funny's Greg Miller and IGN's Stella Chung. The finalists for Game of the Year include Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3, Cocoon, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

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Get your wallets ready because the soon-to-be "Dearly Beloved" Sora amiibo is on its way. The latest Super Smash Bros. amiibo arrives on February 16.

Pre-orders have started to pop up at retailers, though it already seems like folks are clamoring to get their own Sora. It will likely be available at usual retailers, though. Sora marks the last Super Smash Bros. character to get an amiibo.

Better summon your bank account for this Sora amiibo

The Sora amiibo clocks in at the standard $15.99 that other Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo have cost. If you aren't able to? pre-order Sora, you'll likely have to face the wrath of the second-hand market?.

Just like the rest of the Smash Bros series, Sora takes on the same pose as his appearance in the character select screen in Ultimate. He's giving a big smile as he holds the keyblade over his shoulder. His attire is based on Sora's original costume from the first game. It's one of his best looks, but that might be my nostalgia talking.

The amiibo can be used in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and will learn from your attacks as it levels up. You can use it in amiibo battles online and in regular Smash matches. It would be cool if it had some integration with Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, but right now, there's no other usage announced.

Something else you should know about Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

You may have forgotten this, but if you have a Melody of Memory save file on your Switch, you'll unlock a new song in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It's the "Dearly Beloved" theme from the rhythm game's main menu. It's an upbeat, jazzy take on the track that works well in battles within Ultimate.

_{This story has been updated to reflect pre-orders and pricing going live at some retailers.}

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Let's be honest, Kingdom Hearts 4 isn't coming anytime soon. So fans of the series may want to look elsewhere to get their fix of the Disney-verse. Luckily, with closed beta recruiting beginning today, Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link may not be all that far away.

Square Enix confirmed that Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link is arriving in 2024. Also, between today and November 19, iOS and Android users in the UK and Australia can sign up to potentially be chosen for the title's upcoming closed beta. In total, roughly? 3,000 participants will be selected across the two platforms. To commemorate the announcement, the publisher also?? dropped a new trailer for the game:

As for the Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link closed beta schedule, iOS users are up first. Square Enix revealed that invitation emails will be going out around November 28, with the closed beta spanning from November 29 to December 8. Selected Android users will follow, with their closed beta launching at some point in January 2024. Square Enix recommends following the Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link X account for future news on the Android beta.

Not much is known about the new mobile title to this point. At the game's initial reveal, we were told that the adventure would depart from Scala ad Caelum and instead take place in the real world. The Heartless would once again be a focal point as players experience a brand new story. And if these words mean nothing to you, feel free to check out Destructoid's full Kingdom Hearts timeline explained.

Today's trailer describes the upcoming game as a "GPS Action RPG". It's unclear how exactly GPS is incorporated, but you do see a real-world global map with various chests scattered about. Though the trailer also states you can "?travel the world without stepping outside".

The trailer also teases the ability to adventure through various Disney worlds and collect D??isney characters to aid you. In a couple of quick battle clips, we can see Mickey, Pinocchio, Winnie the Pooh, Ariel, Woody, Aladdin, Rapunzel, Tinker Bell, S??imba, and a few others.

As far as Kingdom Hearts 4 goes, we don't know much about that project either, aside from a teaser trailer. We do know a general timeframe that we will have Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link on our phones. Square Enix states in today's new trailer that the game will release?? sometime in 2024. Unless, of course?, you're one of the lucky 3,000 that gets to try the game out early.

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I was in the passenger seat of my cousin’s Mazda 3 as we sat in the drive-thru line at Whataburger. To pass the time, I thought to do what anyone else would do in my position �explain the ever-complicated lore of Kingdom Hearts. It should be stated that my cousin is in his early 20s�and hasn’t seen or heard anything about this franchise since he watched me play Kingdom Hearts II back in 2006.

You can imagine the look of horror on his face as I break down �game-by-game �a very abridged summary of what happens in Kingdom Hearts. It was a very entertaining car ride. But then, he asked me a question that took me by surprise: ‘do you remember Mushroom Kingdom Hearts?�/p>

That’s a very good question. Do you?

The crossover of all time

Mushroom Kingdom Hearts was an April Foolsâ€?prank pulled by Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) in their April 2007 issue. It was slated as a brand new spinoff or sequel to Kingdom Hearts in the era between Kingdom Hearts II and 358/2 Days. The associated article boasted that “over 41 Nintendo charactersâ€?would be joining the already stacked roster.?? 

I recall being a dumb little child, seeing this, and actually believing it was real. And here I am, a dumb, fully-grown adult using my position as a writer for Destructoid to tell you that I still wish it was real. To add, I believe we have never been in a better position to make Mushroom Kingdom Hearts real.

I’ll start with the most obvious point in favor of this Disney x Square Enix x Nintendo polyamorous triad: as of late, it seems as if the series is somehow re-entering the realm of video games. In Kingdom Hearts III, the Toy Box world features advertisements for a game called Verum Rex, and the main character of this game, Yozora, is very much tied to Sora in some way. ?If Tetsuya Nomura is planning to take a video game character and throw him into the world of another video game character, he could just as easily let Sora team up with Mar??io and Luigi to defeat a heartless Bowser. It’s a scenario simply begging to happen.

Also, it’s not as if Mario hasn’t been making some cross-dimensional moves lately. The fact that Mario + Rabbids is now a franchise is proof enough of that. If that’s allowed to exist, there is no reason at all that we can’t toss Sora, Donald and Goofy into a world based on Splatoon or Donkey Kong where they become giant anime monkeys or inklings. Can you imagine a boss battle with a heartless Mr. Grizz? Or, maybe King K. Rool gets tempted to e??mbrace the darkness by Maleficent an??d Pete? I’m salivating.

I know some readers might be inclined to point out that Disney and Nintendo are both notoriously protective of their IP, and wouldn’t let this crossover happen in a million years. But, hear me out: the two companies have already worked together to bring Sora to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, so the precedent for collaboration is already there. Also, Square and Nintendo have a rich history of teaming up to bring us titles such as Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and the early days of the Final Fantasy series.

I know that it’s very unlikely this will ever happen, let alone be considered by the powers that be. But, that won’t stop me from saying that it absolutely should happen. Mushroom Kingdom Hearts is such an excellent crossover idea for a series of which the foundation is a cros??sover.

But, more than that, it's such a brilliant prank that I completely forgot about until it came bubbling back to the surface whilst at Whataburger. I suppose all I'm saying is that, with Kingdom Hearts 4 coming soon �or, before I beco??me geriatric, at least �it's not entirely impossible to make a trip down ??the warp pipe to let Sora, Donald, and Goofy meet Mario, Luigi, and Toad.

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Disney fans are dreaming of what Kingdom Hearts 4 worlds we're going to see: and at this point, with how much Disney owns, there are a ton of possibilities. Some may be hoping for a beautiful Kingdom Hearts Elemental world to explore, and one artist named Rhael on Twitter (also known as @Hallsth_Eien) depicted Sora and the gang as residents of Elem?ent City.

T??he fan art shows Sora, Donald, and Goofy furiously riding one of the bikes from the movie, each with their own customized appearance. We also see a few keyblade designs inspired by the Pixar flick.

A Kingdom Hearts Elemental world with Sora and Kairi

One of the best parts of the 2023 animated film is the romance between Ember and Wade. They're fire and water, two different elements that obviously aren't supposed to mix. There's one particular scene, in which they risk themselves to touch each othe?r's hands: with utter bewilderment, they find out they can indeed be together.

It's absolutely adorable, and Sora and Kairi are depicted as fire and water reaching out for their hands. It shows how a scene like this could work in a Kingdom Hearts Elemental world.

Additionally, we see Donald and Goofy as a tree and a formation of clouds. The cloud-inspired design for Donald works well. The white fluffy texture of th??e clouds looks like the ruffles of his feathers. Meanwhile, the leaves flowing from Goo?fy's head match as a great replacement for the dog's floppy ears.

A special keyblade design

Sora's Elemental keyblade, depicted by Rhael, is a cute reference to the film, which showcases water and fire coming together to create glass. This is a big factor of the movie, and it would fit neatly as a keyblade design. Currently, we only know Kingdom Hearts 4 features the Quadratum realm, but some fans also believe there's a tease for Star Wars' Endor within the announcement trailer. It has been confirmed there will be Disney worlds within Kingdom Hearts 4 at least, so hopefully Elemental's Element City will be one of them.

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Nintendo has announced a Sora amiibo, featuring the Kingdom Hearts protagonist as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The company also dated The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom figures and the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 duo.

Finally, the time has come, and no, you aren't seeing things. Nintendo's Sora amiibo is the real deal, as revealed in today's direct, and will launch in 2024. For his Switch figure, Sora sports his original Kingdom Hearts look, just as he does in Smash. He'll look perfectly out of place next to your Sephiroth ??and Cloud amiibo on the shelf.

The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom also got an u?pdate on its figures. Both Zelda and Ganondorf make their debut on November 3, 2023.

Finally, Nintendo announced new Xenoblade Chronicles 3 amiibo launch on January 19, 2024. The next duo features another pair to collect, this time with Noah and Mio. They're another 2-pack, just like Pyra and Mythra from back in July.

Even if you aren't really itching to get your hands on a Sora amiibo, the latest Nintendo Direct showed off quite a few surprises. Games like Trace Memory saw an enhanced port announcement, and Super Mario RPG showed off new footage. Quite a big day for older games making ???a return to strut their stuff on the Switch.

For a full list of characters, including the Sora amiibo, we gave full lineup readily available.

Update - The next wave of amiibo are up for pre-order - except Sora

The second round of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom amiibo, as ??well as the Noah and Mio amiibo, have gone up for pre-order at multiple retailers in the US. That includes Be??st Buy and GameStop.

The Sora amiibo is not available for pre-order at the time of this update. Typically retailers provide online pre-orders for figures that have a release date, a?nd w??ith Sora's "TBA 2024" window, we'll need to wait a while until that comes into focus.

The post Nintendo announces Sora amii?bo, dates Zelda and Xenoblade figures ??(Update) appeared first on Destructoid.

I just can't wait once we set sail! It will be great!

Fortnite is a bustling home for creativity after the Creative 2.0 tools were released, and a Kingdom Hearts fan has actually recreated Destiny Islands in the game for others to enjoy. In a video posted by HiddenxRoxas on Twitter Monday, the Destiny Islands area was showcased within Fortnite, and the video has been watched by over 60,000 people. It's still a work-in-progress by creator iamintehmafia, but some key elements of the introductory world are? replicated very well with the Unreal Engine.

Our hearts led us here with a guiding key

[caption id="attachment_378730" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

If you use the Island code 3604-1677-0449, you'll be dropped into the small world of Destiny Islands in Fortnite. You're placed where Sora first wakes up in the original Kingdom Hearts. You'll see the waves rushing into the sand, the crooked palm trees, and the charming wooden bridge that takes you to an offshore area. The waterfall and rooms around the higher sections of the map are also around this user-generated location. You'll also notice the HP and MP meters from Kingdom Hearts on the bottom right. 

The main aim of this island is to collect all the coins around the area. It's an easy task, but this place is more about exploration than anything else. On the offshore island, you can actually see Sora and Kairi sitting on a tree gazing at the ocean view. It calls to mind the sad Kingdom Hearts 3 ending when Sora is taken to Quadratum.

Can you see the cave from Kingdom Hearts' Destiny Islands in Fortnite?

[caption id="attachment_378731" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

As you collect more coins, a path will open up, revealing the cave where the keyhole lies. You'll see Sora's cute drawing of him and Kairi sharing a paopu fruit, and an Organization member. If you accept the darkness that he offers, the world furthers into the night, and creatures begin to attack you. Unfortunately, a keyblade doesn't come to your hand, but as it's a work-in-progress, perhaps more elements wil??l be introduced la??ter.

There is no music to be had in this Destiny Islands recreation as of yet, so I recommend playing a version of it in the background. Kingdom Hearts characters are currently not in the game, but there have been hints that Sora could join Fortnite with a survey from Epic Games showing interest, according to FN News.

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They've got a friend in you

Sometimes you need a friend to succeed against the greatest foes. Just like Woody & Buzz in the Toy Story films, you can also have ?great compa?nions in gaming.

They'll guide you to the next location, give your character moral support, or someti??mes eve??n support you in battle. Here are the best companions in gaming history, ranked.

10. Midna (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)

[caption id="attachment_374779" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

The most memorable companion in The Legend of Zelda series is Midna. Her cheeky nature intrigues you as she gives a sly grin whenever you question her motives. That laugh is still in the back of my head too, even though I played Twilight Princess over a decade ago. Seriously, Nintendo, bring Twilight Princess HD to the Switch already.

She also helps Link turn into a wolf and take? out foes in one fell swoop. Whenever the emotional track "Midna's Lament" plays, you also remember the moments in which the character is on the brink of death. You care about the character and want to make sure she's safe. That's a sign of a great companion.

9. Donald & Goofy (Kingdom Hearts)

[caption id="attachment_374913" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

As you'd expect from Mickey's best pals, Donald & Goofy are extremely loyal to Sora. They were tasked with following the key in the first game and have since grown a strong relationship with the keyblade wielder. Goofy surprisingly acts as the voice of reason in the group, giving the teenager advice, while Donald becomes the irrational-but-kind comedic relief. They're extremely helpful in the games, healing Sora whenever he's in trouble or teaming up for powerful attacks like Trinity Limit and Duck Flare, among others. They're even looking for their lost friend in the Kingdom Hearts IV reveal trailer within the darkness of Hades' Underworld.

8. Pey'j (Beyond Good & Evil)

[caption id="attachment_374915" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Ubisoft[/caption]

One of the best companions in gaming that very few have heard of is Pey'J. He's the uncle of the protagonist Jade in Beyond Good & Evil. He's a charming little pig that provides humor along the way as he encourages Jade to follow through on her plans. Without a father, Pey'J becomes that figure for her, providing valuable advice to the heroine. He's also a technical whiz, building elaborate boots that lift him off the ground and help Jade solve puzzles. Play Beyond Good & Evil and realize how cool Pey'j is in this game.

7. Sully (Uncharted series)

[caption id="attachment_374916" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via PlaySta????tion's YouTube Channel[/caption]

Someone that's always been there for Nathan Drake through thick and thin is Sully from the Uncharted series. Seeing potential in the youngster, Sully practically raised him to become a treasure hunter from when Nate was a teenager. During Nate's adventures, Sully has hilarious?? banter with the protagonist as he keeps up with the death-defying platforming ahead, despite his age. He's very loyal and treats Nathan Drake like a son. Their relationship is very sweet, and this comradery makes Sully one of the best companions in gaming history.

6. Atreus (God of War series)

[caption id="attachment_374922" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via PlayStation[/caption]

The father-son relationship in the Norse-era God of War series is impeccable. Before Kratos teamed up with Atreus, he was ferocious, blunt, and, quite frankly, lacking in depth. However, as the relationship grew between Atreus and Kratos, the walls of his stoicism began to crumble. He finally began to care about the well-being of someone's safety, and it showed another side of the Greek god. It strengthens further in God of War: Ragnarok as Kratos learns to give his son more freedom and lets Atreus become who he wants to be. The natural progre?ssion of this father-son dynamic is astonishing and should be praised. Other than the story elements, Atreus is helpful with setting up attacks for his dad ??and can cause damage with his bow and arrows.

5. Kazooie (Banjo-Kazooie series)

[caption id="attachment_374925" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via Super Smash Bros' YouTub?e Channel[/ca??ption]

There are few other platforming duos that are more iconic than Banjo and Kazooie. In the Nintendo 64 era, they were the bee's knees as Kazooie helped the bear climb tough hills and glide across Treasure Trove Cove. The speech between the characters is endearing, even though Kazooie can be irrational from time to time. They also appeared as an exciting duo character in the Super Smash Bros. series. Hopefully, one day, Microsoft will finally remake Banjo-Kazooie or even develop a new entry for the?? Xbox Series X and S. Let's cross our fingers.

4. Ellie (The Last of Us Part 1)

[caption id="attachment_374928" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via PlayStation[/caption]

There is a reason why Ellie is featured on the front of the cover rather than Joel. In The Last of Us Part 1, she is a key component of why the game has connected to so many fans around the world. This companion, like Atreus, grows throughout the adventure as she begins to trust her father figure and is trusted to wield a gun to protect herself. Throu??gh her funny humor and sharp wit, Ellie is a great counterpart to Joel's furious nature. They work together as a duo so well, which makes the sequel devastating??. By the end of the game, we truly believe how much Joel cares for Ellie due to the horrendous acts he pulls against the Fireflies to save her.

3. Clank (Ratchet & Clank series)

[caption id="attachment_374929" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via PlayStation[/caption]

Clank is a quirky robot that stands (or hangs on) by Ratchet's side (or back). With his goofy laugh, the robot offers funny remarks about Ratchet's adventures. The two play off each other well as Clank provides the brains of the operation, while Ratchet is the brave warrior taking out waves of enemies with his cavalcade of guns. Their friendship is believable, and both the lombax and the robot go out of their way to help each other. Sometimes, it's even to their detriment, as we see in Rift Apart. 

2. Tails (Sonic the Hedgehog series)

[caption id="attachment_374930" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Sega[/caption]

Despite his young age, Tails is a genius inventor that helps Sonic in every way he can. Their friendship is endearing and has led them to many adventures, especially in the original Genesis/Mega Drive trilogy. One of the coolest moments is when Tails pilots the Tornado and escorts Sonic in Sky Chase Zone. In Sonic Heroes, he also helps Sonic and Knuckles fly through t??he air and land on the other side of hard-to-reach platforms. Sonic and Tails' friendship is like the hedgehog looking after a little brother; it's adorable. Tails is easily one of the best companions in gam?ing.

1. Luigi (Super Mario series)

[caption id="attachment_374932" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Mario's longest companion and brother, Luigi, has always been by his side. As a fellow plumber, he has assisted Mario through many levels, fought goombas with his brother in the portable RPG series Mario & Luigi, and win tennis games as a duo. He was also successful in saving Mario in Luigi's Mansion, despite his huge fear of ghosts. While Mario and Luigi don't have the depth of Joel and Ellie's relationship, they are inseparable in the hearts and minds of many Nintendo fans around the world. Luigi's shy personality matches well with Mario's brave and upbeat quirks. It's evident from the movie adaptation of the series that M??ario and Luigi are an amazing team in the final battle against Bowser.

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More potential to discover

With the success of Castlevania and the Cyberpunk Edgerunners anime series, it is clear that game an?ime adaptations are worth investing in. They can heighten a franchise’s standing among the mass audience and attract new fans to each game.

Castlevania and Cyberpunk Edgerunners elevated the worlds they were based on. They had unique art styles, engaging characters, and intriguing storyl??ines that should inspire any game anime adaptation. Here are a few we’d love to see follow in that same pattern.

Bloodborne

[caption id="attachment_369924" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via PlayStation[/caption]

The best live-action and anime adaptations take the source material and run with it. That’s what a studio should do with Bloodborne. It can take the gorgeous gothic world of Yharnam and layer it with a mysterious story loosely based on the game’s lore. It would be creepy, have a gripping art style, and be a huge win for Sony. Maybe it would even lead to a Bloodborne sequel at some point in the future.

Final Fantasy X

[caption id="attachment_369925" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Final Fantasy XV saw a promotional anime mini-series based on the lead protagonists�friendship. However, we haven’t received a full-on anime series based on any of the franchise’s entries. That is absolutely bizarre, considering the grand source material. Final Fantasy X has one of the strongest narratives that a game anime adaptation could ask for. Each character ?has a great? story arc, and the romance between Tidus and Yuna would tantalize viewers until the very end.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

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Fire Emblem: Three Houses would make a compelling anime series you’d want to catch every week. Each character is well-written, and there’s a compelling plot about three factions forged between former friends. There could be intense fight scenes that play out on the battlefield, making every spell and swing of the sword look stunning in animated form. A studio could also add additional scenes that bring more nuance to the original game’s plot. There’s a lot of potential for an anime based on a game as dramatic as Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Kid Icarus

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Kid Icarus: Uprising is a thrill, despite its terrible control scheme on the 3DS. Part of what made the game’s fans toughen out the awkward controls is the script. The banter between Pit and Palutena is hilarious and would be perfect for a comedy. The action would be spectacular as Pit soars across the sky and shoots down foes. There were a few anime shorts to promote Kid Icarus: Uprising, but it would be outstanding to get a full show.

Kingdom Hearts

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Even the most dedicated of fans would admit that the Kingdom Hearts lore is hard to follow. However, an anime based on the series could help with that. Rather than a full game, an anime recapping the events of the mobile games Unchained X, Union X, and Dark Road would be fantastic. The dramatic story of the Foretellers and other influential characters from those games is essential for future Kingdom Hearts games, as they’re positioned to be the next antagonists of the series. Rather than watching cutscenes from the now-defunct mobile game, it would be great to get? an anime retelling to?? keep mainstream fans informed.

The Legend of Zelda

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The Legend of Zelda is begging for an anime. You have engrossing characters, the gorgeous land of Hyrule, and a mighty antagonist for the hero to defeat. Breath of the Wild specifically would be fantastic for a game anime adaptation. You have the dramatic story of keeping Hyrule safe from Ganondorf, the growing relationship between Link a?nd Zelda, and mighty battles against the likes of Master Khoga and the Divine Beast encounters.

Metal Gear Solid

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One of the greatest game series in the eyes of many is Metal Gear Solid. However, it is so difficult to get into nowadays. Almost every game in the series isn’t available natively on the PS4 and PS5. Also, the older titles on the PS1 and PS2 have awkward controls by modern standards. An anime series based on the espionage titles would be amazing, especially with how the narrative has been praised over the years. It would catch up potential fans who missed the Metal Gear Solid franchise in its prime a?nd i?deally prepare them for a remake.

Metroid

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The Metroid series is rich in lore and stunning sci-fi world design. It would lend itself to some beautiful animated scenes and grandiose battle scenes with Ridley and other aliens across the galaxy. With Metroid Prime 4 around the corner, an anime based on this cult-favorite series could bring Samus Aran into the limelight. If the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher could make Geralt a household name, it could work for Metroid.

A new Street Fighter anime

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With today’s animation styles and an energetic sequel on the horizon, a new Street Fighter anime would be perfect. It could give the characters more depth and get folks invested in the battles of Street Fighter 6. Additionally, the fight scenes would look spectacular and take inspiration from the splash effects from the latest game. Ideally, this anime could give us more backstory on the events of Street Fighter 6.

Xenoblade Chronicles

[caption id="attachment_370409" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Another Nintendo franchise that’s waiting for a game anime adaptation is Xenoblade Chronicles. Imagine seeing the stunning Gaur Plains brought to life as Shulk and the gang stroll around the environment. Furthermore, the engrossing story would capture anime fans who have never given the series a chance. The music could be adapted beautifully too. To quote Shulk, “I’m really feelin�it!�/p>

The post 10 game series that deserve anime adaptations appeared first on Destructoid.

My friends are my power!

Sora has enlisted the help of many Disney and Final Fantasy characters over the years, and Kingdom Hearts summons have provided a great way for players to get the upper hand on the Heartless and Nobodies. With Tinkerbell giving constant healing, and Peter Pan lifting?? Sora off the ground for some aerial attacks, there were plenty of awesome summons to pool from in order to create this list.

While not all Kingdom Hearts summons are useful (we're looking at you, Chicken Little), plenty of them can greatly assist Sora and his friends, both o??ffensively and defensively.

Here are the seven best Kingdom Hearts summons.

7. Peter Pan (Kingdom Hearts II)

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While not as powerful as you'd like, Peter Pan's summon is still useful in tight situations. While protected, pixie dust flies across the battlefield while Sora attacks his foes from the air. Photos of So??ra's Neverland adventure with Peter Pan also appear on-screen, which makes for a great callback. The attacks don't last long, making this summon lower on the list. Regardless, "The Flying ?Boy" can save Sora in a pinch if used correctly.

6. Bambi (Kingdom Hearts)

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The original KH has summons based more on utility than dominance on the battlefield; that is the case with Bambi. While this creature is merely a small deer, Bambi makes our list of the greatest Kingdom Hearts Summons because they release a ton of MP bubbles around themselves. If you need to utilize a Blizzard spell or an awesome ability like Sonic Blade, Bambi? can stock you up quickly. What a "Thumper" of a Summon!

5. Simba (Kingdom Hearts III)

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One of the very few characters to appear in all three Kingdom Hearts games Simba is a powerful summon for Sora in KH3. He turns into a massive source of fire for the keyblade wielder. When he roars, the surrounding area is scorched and every time he jumps and collides with a foe, it causes damage. At the end of the sequence, Simba unleashes a burst of fire that wipes out all of your enemies in the vicinity. With how powerful each consecutive attack is, Simba is one of the best Kingdom Hearts summons.

4. Ariel (Kingdom Hearts III)

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Despite originating from one of the worst worlds in Kingdom Hearts history, Ariel is a fantastic summon in KH3. Sora and the redhead mermaid dive in and out of the water, damaging foes with every impact. However, you can also splash water towards enemies mid-dive, adding another way to deal a blow to their HP meter. This "Sea Spectacle" attack is essential for some players who want to defeat the secret boss of KH3 Remind, ??as you can avoid incomi??ng combos while this move is active.

3. Genie (Kingdom Hearts II)

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Agrabah's Genie provides some stellar attacks in Kingdom Hearts II. Taking inspi??ration from Sora's drive forms, he provides alternate attacks depending on the outfit he is wearing, and they're all pretty powerful. The Master Form h??as the Arcana, which has Genie spinning in the air, sending out magical projectiles. In this form, he can easily wipe out a wave of heartless with his attacks. The gimmick of Genie wearing cosplay for Sora's drive forms also provides a nice visual touch.

2. Meow Wow (Kingdom Hearts III)

[caption id="attachment_369917" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Meow Wow is an adorable Dream Eater that deals a massive amount of damage to its opponents in Kingdom Hearts III. Sora rides the creature as it bounces on its foes, and the creature grows larger every time it hits the ground. Once you've pumped it up to a full size, you can release the air in the balloon-like animal, which strikes foes with a powerful blast as it whips around the battlefield. Meow Wow is surprisingly effective against tough bosses and a large crowd of heartless or nobodies. It's one of the best Kingdom Hearts summons ever.

1. Tinker Bell (Kingdom Hearts)

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Tinkerbell has come in clutch in many Kingdom Hearts playthroughs throughout the years. In "End of the World", Tinkerbell is an essential carry, healing you as you strike down the Heartless. Tinkerbell never leaves your side during the battle, unlike every other summon in the series. And what makes her greater still is that she'll revive you completely if you lose all of your health. This comes at the cost of losing her presence by your side, however. For these reasons and more, Tinkerbell is arguably the greatest Summon in Kingdom Hearts.

The post Best Kingdom Hearts Summons, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

'Don't Think Twice' about these spells

Throughout the years, some of the best Kingdom Hearts spells have Sora summoning fireballs or using balloons as projectile weapons. Most Kingdom Hearts games have their own exclusive spells, like Water and Re??flect; the latter of which is o?ne of the most beloved enchantments in the series.

Today, we're listing the best Kingdom Hearts spells based on their effectiveness in battle and cinematic flair on-screen. Let's hope Donald is better at healing Sora after readi??ng this.

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10. Magnet (KH2)

The Magnet spell is introduced in Kingdom Hearts 2 and pulls your opponents towards one orb. For a few seconds, you can work in an air combo unrestrained from the encroaching Heartless and Nobodies ??around you. Magnet can also combo with other spells?? like Thunder and Fire, making it a useful utility in combat.

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9. Thunder (KH3)

Thunder has been in the Kingdom Hearts series since the very beginning. It's an effective AoE (Area of Effect) attack that takes out multiple enemies at the same time. However, it seems to be less powerful than the likes of Fire and Blizzard. In Port Royal (the Pirates of the Caribbean world in KH2), Th?under can be used to completely stun Barbossa's minions in place.

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8. Water (KH3)

Water is the newest spell in Sora's arsenal. It's one of the best spells in Kingdom Hearts because it has a wide AoE and looks absolutely stunning as the waves flop to the side. It's also glistening in the sunlight, especially in Tangled's world. Water looks gorgeous in Kingdom Hearts 3, but it also bumps opponents into the ai?r, allowing for follow-up attacks.

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7. Blizzard (KH3)

Another form of water is ice, and Sora can unleash his frosty powers with Blizzard. In Kingdom Hearts 3, the spell is heightened as it forms a trail on the ground. Sora can ride it like Tony Hawk on a skateboard. You can then get a quick flowmotion attack from it. In addition, ene?mies will freeze on the spot when Sora hits them with ice?.

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6. Balloon (Dream Drop Distance)

One of Sora's silliest (but most effective) spells in the Kingdom Hearts series is Balloon. Only featured in Dream Drop Distance, this spell causes a ton of unexpected damage toward your foes when struck, including major bosses. It's also quite thrilling to see the offensive balloons flying all over the arena. The game might have some of the worst worlds in the series, but Balloon is awesome to use.

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5. Aero (KH1)

Aero is an absolute godsend in the original Kingdom Hearts. Before it was turned into an offensive spell, Aero was used as a shield to protect Sora. You still take damage, but each attack struck on Sora while Aero is active is lessened significantly. This was helpful in bosses with attacks that are hard to avoid, like the Ursula battle and the Ansem (X??ehanort's Heartless) final boss.

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4. Fire (KH1)

A spell that's iconic to Kingdom Hearts fans is Fire. It's the first that we unlock in the series and is still one of the best you can use. It causes a lot of damage, and its fireballs can be launched quickly one after the other. The spell looks particularly impressive in Kingdom Hearts 3 wi??th all of the fiery particle effects occurring in the modern game.

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3. Gravity / Zero Gravity (KH1 / Birth By Sleep)

One of the most useful spells in the original Kingdom Hearts is Gravity, renamed to Zero Gravity in Birth By Sleep. It takes bigger Heartless types and reduces their health almost to zero. For anyone who has ever ventured into Wonderland, you know how annoying the Battleship Heartless can be. It flies around Sora at a fast pace and then charges at the keyblade w?ielder. The Gravity spell can bring these ships down to earth. Utilizing this power of gravity to counteract these Heartless with a big health meter is a good tactic to implement.

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2. Reflect (KH2)

Reflect is one of the coolest spells in gaming. It allows Sora to neutralize incoming attacks and it can stack however long the game allows you to. Then, once you've finished Reflect, it will release a circle ??of white spell damage around the keyblade-wielding hero. It made fighting bosses like Sephiroth easier, and it truly looks sick when you pull it off. Reflecting a big attack from the One-Winged Angel and other foes gives such a rush. It is overpowered, but man, Reflect was fun while we had it.

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1. Cure (KH1 and beyond)

The most important spell in the Kingdom Hearts series is Cure. It may be simple, but its healing properties are essential for every player to keep Sora alive. It can cancel out attacks if you have Leaf Bracer equipped, and a beautiful animation floats above Sora's head whenever he heals himself. It's usually of a flower. As you can see in the image above, Square Enix adds a nice touch to KH3's version with petals floating around the area.

The post Best Kingdom Hearts spells, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

A legendary cast of characters

The best Kingdom Hearts characters have a ton of personality, have been through hardship, or simply have powerful and exciting abilities that dynamically elevate the series' battle scenes. A key element why Kingdom Hearts resonates with so many people is not just th?e non-stop action; but the passion behind the cast's motivations.

Characters like Sora and Roxas aren't afraid to express their emotions: to cry, to scream, to love, to smile. And many of the legendary series characters are more intriguing than the average RPG cast, and it's refreshing to see heroes, (or in some ra??re cases, villains), that we are able to relate to.

Warning: There are spoilers for Kingdom Hearts 3 and Kingdom Hearts 3: Remind in this list.

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10) Xigbar/Luxu

One of the best factors of the Kingdom Hearts narrative is how it intrigues its fans with subtle nod??s and mystery.

Xigbar is certainly one of those characters that make you think. If you've played and finished Kingdom Hearts 3, you'll know he is in fact Luxu, the Master of Masters' right-hand man. His witty humor makes him a great foil for Sora, and his boss battle in KH2 is phenomenal.

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9) Goofy

Despite his clu??msy origins in cartoon form, Goofy is a reliable ally for Sora. He's the one in the Keyblade Hero 3 ?that gives the spiky-haired hero valuable advice and is the level-headed person in the group.

He's endearing and kind which makes him a gr??eat friend!

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8) Master of Masters

We really don't know much about the Master of Masters, but from his few appearances so far, fans have been intrigued by his presence. He seems to have everything planned with the Book of Prophecies i?n h?is mind and has a strangely goofy (not our pal Goofy) vibe from him.

His personality makes him such an odd antagonist, and the intrigue makes him one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters.

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7) Xemnas

Xemnas is a badass antagonist in Kingdom Hearts 2.

The Organization XIII leader has dual blades, and his battle skills with these laser swords would put even Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul to shame. Xemnas is a?lso an antagonist who has a just cause for his actions. He wants himself and his fellow Nobody Organization members to have hearts again but can only do so by making Sora defeat the Heartless. Therefore, he?? causes chaos throughout the worlds.

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6) Xion

Xion is another nobody stuck with a dreaded path ahead of her. Those who have played 358/2 Days know that she's a fun, charismatic chara??cter that's similar to Sora in many ways. Roxas and Axel get to know her throughout the game as she struggles to wield the keyblade.

The story behind her existence is a fascinating mystery that begins to unravel ??as the days continue. By the end, your heart will be broken as a friendship is torn apart by fate.

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5) Aqua

Another character Kingdom Hearts fans love (myself included!) is Aqua. She is strong-willed, disciplined, and has a sharp wit about her that few other Kingdom Hearts characters possess.

She has a stern exterior, but when it comes to her friends, she will do anything in her power to protect them, especially Ven, who drifted to sleep for a decade before she could rescue him again. She's one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters in my?? mind because of her adept abilities and stren??gth.

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4) Axel/Lea

Axel (or Lea) is a Nobody that nearly everyone loved as soon as he appeared on-screen. He has a rambunctious persona??lity an??d likes to work outside the lines.

His unpredictable nature and break-the-rules flair helped him gain a buddy in Roxas. He also goes through a tragic story as he's forced to take out his own best friend, who has lost their memories. Axel is just plain one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters: "got it memorized?"

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3) Roxas

The character that has arguably lost the most in the Kingdom Hearts series is Roxas. He loses his friends, has his body completely taken away from him, and is told that he wa??s never meant to exist. It's quite tragic! During his time in Twilight Town, he tries to think positively. He is loyal to his friends like Hayner and Axel.

However, Roxas is less trusting of others than Sora in many ways. It makes for a refreshing change of pace from Sora's happy-go-lucky approach. He's more critical, able to think on his feet, and is a sharp wise-cracker. He also has a wonderfully dramatic theme song. Hopefully, we get another game with Roxas again, his badass dual-??wielding style included.

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2) Sora

To some, Sora can be a nuisance. He's loud and obnoxious at times. However, what makes Sora one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters is his compassion for others. Unlike many video game protagonists, he is willing to show his feelings. He begs on his knees to see Kairi again towards Organization XIII member Saix. He cries when the Guardians of Light fail in one fell swoop in Kingdom Hearts 3. 

That willingness to show his emotions, within a genre filled with masculine protagonists, is a breath of fresh air. ?He's super r??elatable.

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1) Riku

It can be argued that Riku has the most character progression of all of the cast in the KH series. He grew accustomed to the darkness as Maleficent convinced him to twist him into a servant. He betrayed his best friend Sora for the we?llbeing of Kairi, (even fighting against him). Then, after Xehanort's Heartless took over his body, Riku suffered for a long time, even taking the for?m of the person he hates.

But he took that form to protect Sora and fight off the powerful (and angry) Roxas. Riku has an amazing character arc as he tries to reconcile his past mistakes. His struggle is the reason why he's the best Kingdom Hearts character.

The post Best Kingdom Hearts Characters, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

May your heart be your guiding key!

One of the most iconic weapons from all of video gaming is the keyblade of Kingdom Hearts. As you unlock new keychains, this strange weapon changes form, creating styles that adapt to the various Disney and Final Fantasy worlds Sora visits.

The best keyblade designs in Kingdom Hearts history include a dramatic tone, a well-placed callbac??k to a Disney classic film, or a reference to the friendships that Sora and other characters have gathered across their adventures. Here's a breakdown of ten of these cool styles?.

Kingdom Key

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You have to start with the O.G. This simple but cherished keyblade design features the iconic crown as the blade end and a Mickey Mouse symbol as a keychain. The metallic shine and the bright yellow hilt make Sora's default keyblade pop on the screen. Whe?never you see it, you'll get a blast of nostalgia.

Dual Disk

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Any fan of Tron would get a kick out of this keyblade. It has the shape of the light cycles used to traverse the data scape. In addition, there's a little glow that emanates from this design, making it one of the best keyblades due to how unique it is. This might come from one of the worst worlds in the series, but it sure looks cool.

Ever After

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Whenever you think of the movie Tangled and its world in Kingdom Hearts 3, you think of the bright, colorful visuals. That is reflected within the Ever After keyblade. Rapunzel's Tower is symbolized perfectly by this keyblade, w?ith the golden strands across the weapon as the princess' hair. The grass is represented by the hilt's green composition. What makes it even better is Rapunzel's weapon of choice, a frying pan, is the keychain of Ever After.

Grand Chef

[caption id="attachment_367038" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

This Ratatouille-inspired keyblade looks magnifique while Sora is fighting the heartless and nobodies of Kingdom Hearts 3. The shining lights of the Eiffel Tower are showcased on the main section of the keyblade, while the rat Remy nestles on top. The transformation it takes fittingly turns into a frying pan that exudes? fire as you strike. Gusteau's cookbook is also used as a keychain, making for a neat reference to the Pixar movie.

Fenrir

[caption id="attachment_367027" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via Destructoid[/caption]

One of the coolest weapons in all of gaming is the Buster Sword from Final Fantasy 7, so it's neat to see Kingdom Hearts 2 taking on a spin with the overall design for a keyblade. Bandaged up and metallic in nature, this keyblade holds weight in battle. While it does cause a "Negative Combo" effect, which reduces your attack string by 1, Sora looks like a badass while carrying Fenrir. The design more than makes up for it. You can also see the Fenrir symbol that Cloud carries in the film Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children as the keychain.

Oathkeeper

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The Oathkeeper is one of the more precious keyblade designs in the Kingdom Hearts series. It's emblematic of Sora and Kairi's relationship. The hero promises to bring back her lucky charm in the first game and then returns it when they finally see each other again at the end of Kingdom Hearts 2. This keyblade returns in Kingdom Hearts 3: Remind, and its transformation has Sora lancing at enemies quickly, disappearing into light as he dashes from place to place. The last form that this keyblade helps form is Sora d?uel wielding both Oathkeeper and Oblivion. There's nothing cooler than having two keyblade?s at once.

The Stroke of Midnight

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The Stroke of Midnight is a neat keyblade as it references the beloved castle from Cinderella and the Magic Kingdom theme park. It features the ever-important glass slipper at the end of the keychain. It also helps Ventus, Aqua, and Terra in landing critical hits early on each playthrough of Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep.

Ultima Weapon

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With long-range and high offensive and magical stats attached to it, the Ultima Weapon is one of the best keyblades in Kingdom Hearts history. After getting all of the Orichalum+ in the game and finding other essential resources, this weapon is synthesized as proof of all your hard work. It's also a neat reference to the Final Fantasy games it is partly inspired by, as it shares its name with many other powerful weapons in that series, including FF7. 

Way To The Dawn

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Riku's original keyblade from the first Kingdom Hearts shows his initial struggle with the darkness and how it's betwixt with his presence as a force for good. The dark black and red of the core keyblade clashes with the lighter feather hilt. There's a heartless symbol dangling on the keychain and a creepy blue eye staring toward your soul when you look at it. The eye may actually be important, knowing recent information from the Master of Masters. Regardless, it's a cool keyblade that fits the harsh journey Riku took from the first Kingdom Hearts through 358/2 Days and KH2. 

Wheel of Fate

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Exploring the Carribean in Kingdom Hearts 3 was a thrilling adventure for fans of the series, and once completing this world, they received the Wheel of Fate keyblade. It has the masts and flags of a pirate ship on the keyblade itself. The wooden steering wheel also acts as the point of the keyblade. It's a fantastic design that embellishes the pirate?? spirit. The transformation also has Sora joust with the keyblade, maki??ng a stabbing motion rather than swinging it around. The differentiation in the combat makes the Wheel of Fate one of the best keyblades in the series.

The post 10 best keyblades in Kingdom Hearts history appeared first on Destructoid.

With a smile and a song

Over the past two decades, the Kingdom Hearts series has? wowed its audience with powerfully emotional music fitting for the keyblade wielder's grand adventures. From the calming wonder of "Dearly Beloved" to the rocking "Rage A?wakened," composer Yoko Shimomura brings a magical sound to each game.

With this list, we'll discuss the best Kingdom Hearts songs from Sor??a's beginnings on Destiny Islands all the way up to his stepping foot in Quadratum. Let us know your favorites in the comments section below as this article is just scratching the surface.

There will be spoilers for the Kingdom Hearts series within this article. You have been warned!

10. The 13th Struggle (Kingdom Hearts 2)

//youtu.be/dAAnOQxL5HI

"The 13th Struggle" successfully brings the chaos of an Organization XIII battle and turns it into musical form. The threat of danger s??ignaled by the constant deep strings, the manic melody, and the heavy percussion all make this an epic battle theme that will keep your blood pressure rising until the end of the fight.

9. Edge of Existence (Kingdom Hearts 3)

//youtu.be/yVl3QRNkb8A

In the mysterious new world of Scala ad Caelum, this music piece by Yoko Shimomura heightens the drama unfolding in the story of Kingdom Hearts 3. The combination of brass, strings, and percussion all make for an epic t??rack to explore this final level with. In addition, there is a beautiful few seconds of the piano playing that spins off from the main melody, adding to the mystery of this long-forsaken place.

8. Rage Awakened (Kingdom Hearts 2)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa7SyxcKTbs

Epic is one word to describe "Rage Awakened." During the boss ??fight with the Enigmatic Soldier, the stakes are raised and the music elevates with a rocking backdrop. The strings in this piece tell of the soldier's sad past as the thunderous drumming reflects his might as he strikes you do?wn over and over again.

7. Vector to the Heavens (Kingdom Hearts 3 Re Mind/ Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days)

//youtu.be/g3xFtfdQwoI

In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, two friends are torn apart by fate, and "Vector to the Heavens" is an emotional piece that also works as a battle theme. Piano forward in 358/2 Days, this song hits you to your core as the stunning Xion's theme is impacted with drama from the strings and secondary piano backdrop. The central theme of Kingdom Hearts' "Dearly Beloved" is also woven through it as Xion is deeply connected to Sora and decides to return to him. The Kingdom Hearts 3 Re Mind version takes a wholly different?? approach with a ??rocking guitar and deep drum baseline. Both work well within the context of each game.

6. Destati (Kingdom Hearts)

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Yoko Shimomura is a master of bringing atmosphere to her music, and "Destati" absolutely nails it. In the deep darkness of End of the World, the chilling vocals of the choir mixed with the dramatic piano all make for a groundbreaking piece. It's absolutely incredible how the pace picks up as the strings and percussion begin to reveal themselves throughout it. The Kingdom Hearts 3 rendition of this song is also striking.

5. Traverse Town (Kingdom Hearts)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKOXLOsA2tA

If you want to talk about nostalgia, "Traverse Town" is certainly that. It's like a warm hug. The jolly melody embraces Sora and the gang as they explore the characteristic town. While it's not as epic as a  song like "Destati," the song is a wonderful jazzy piece that elevates the world and makes us feel welcome within it. This context also makes sense as Traverse Town is a place many have escaped to, like Pinocchio and Leon (Squall). The charming vibe of Traverse Town's theme makes it one of the best Kingdom Hearts songs in existence.

4. Lazy Afternoons (Kingdom Hearts 2)

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If you want some chill vibes after a long hard day, you can't go wrong by listening to "Lazy Afternoons." This is the song in Kingdom Hearts 2 that sets the tone for Roxas' version of Twilight Town. The beautiful playing of the flute next to the melancholic strumming of the guitar ?makes this yet another nostalgic-sounding piece. There is a subtle use of the xylophone in the background, calling you back to fonder times. If you want a n??ice Sunday walk, it's recommended to play this while strolling through your hometown streets.

3. Scherzo Di Notte (Kingdom Hearts)

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When Sora enters Hollow Bastion, it is a time of uncertainty. He loses his keyblade, his friends, and almost his hope. However, he carries on forward with The Beast beside him. "Scherzo Di Notte" carries that brave attitude onward with strong instrumentals and a marching drum?? beat in the background. The melody is upward and onward, while the brass instruments add wavering one-off melodies that stray away, representing Sora's struggles. It's an epic piece th??at is fitting for a late-game world such as Hollow Bastion.

2. Roxas / The Other Promise (Kingdom Hearts 2)

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Roxas' story throughout the majority of the Kingdom Hearts series is emotional. He is pulled away from his friends, stuck inside Sora's heart, and holds anger within him. He is the counterbalance to Sora's upbeat attitude, but Roxas holds much compassion within him too. His theme, otherwise known as "The Other Promise," shows that perfectly. The flute playing is absolutely tragic as the ?melody is beautifully charming while the backdrop of the piano is emotionally strained. The playing mid-way through the track in "The Other Prom??ise" version is then intensified, adding to the drama.

"What I try to remember is not to repress your emotions," Shimomura said in an interview with Hatalabo (translated by KH13). "If you need to cry, cry outrageously [..], especially since music is an expression of emotion." She also mentioned, "the more expressive you are emotionally the more expressive the music becomes." You can certainly hear the emotion in this piece by the legendary game composer, and that is why it's one of the best Kingdom Hearts songs.

1. Dearly Beloved (Kingdom Hearts 2)

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For any great JRPG, you need an amazing main menu theme, and the Kingdom Hearts series delivers that in spades. "Dearly Beloved" is an awe-inspiring piece that has chronicled Sora's journey up to this point. It's highly adaptable, with each title in the series having an alteration on the piano-led track. Kingdom Hearts 3's version sounded momentous as it was the last entry in the Dark Seeker saga, while Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory has an eccentric jazzy take on the familiar song.

After much consideration, Kingdom Hearts 2's version of "Dearly Beloved" is the one that stands out the most. It has a sensational held string section at the top of the number with a stunning harp elevating the introduction. The piano then hits alongside the sweeping strings, stirring the heartstrings. It's melancholy and has plenty of tones within the piece that revolves around the main piano melody that resembles the adventurous and dramatic spirit of the game. This version of "Dearly Beloved" is simply perfect, and the piece itself has been featured in the ClassicFM Hall of Fame six times, according to KH13.

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These Disney worlds are not wishes your heart makes

The Kingdom Hearts series is known for its wondrous world design and impeccable recreation of Disney classics. However, as Sora strikes down the heartless one by one, the worlds he explores sometimes drag down the whole experience. They ?make you wish you were just watching the movies that inspired them.

From Sora feeling like the third wheel in the world of Arendelle to playing arduous mini-games in 100 Acre Wood, here are the ten worst Kingdom Hearts worlds.

10. Prankster's Paradise (Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance)

[caption id="attachment_361614" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Pinocchio is one of the most cherished Disney classics, and yet Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance's interpretation of it is so forgettable. It's hard to remember a story element, boss, or landmark to find in this world. What saves it from being further down the list is being able to rail over the rollercoaster track w??ith the Flowmotion mechanic and the gorgeous music by Yoko Shimomura.

9. The Grid (Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance)

[caption id="attachment_361613" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

While the Rinzler battle at the end of the world is exhilarating, the rest of The Grid is absolutely dull. The environments are unimaginative open spaces with dark lighting and little wonder behind the art design. The Tron world in Kingdom Hearts 2 was colo?rful, unique, and had intriguing areas to discover; it also has the light cycle mini-game that fits right into the canon of the world that Sora is stepping into. The repetitive electronic music in The Grid also gets irritating after ten minutes, and the storyline matters so little to t??he overall narrative. To add to all that, the live-action actors like Jeff Bridges look creepy with their low-poly models in this 3DS game.

8. Deep Space (Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep)

[caption id="attachment_362004" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Lilo & Stitch is a beloved Disney film, and yet its world in Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep is lackluster. The reason? It's all set in the spaceship where Stitch is imprisoned. We don't get to explore the sandy beaches of Hawaii and surf along the waves. No, we have to find our way through a bland white ship, an annoying vertical area that req??uires plenty of platforming (not one of the series' strengths), and an awkward pinball-like exterior section that feels out of place. The boss ??fight with Gantu in Ventus' playthrough also leaves much to be inspired.

7. San Fransokyo (Kingdom Hearts 3)

[caption id="attachment_362362" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

San Fransokyo is a bad first impression of what Kingdom Hearts 4's Quadratum could be like. There is some neat Japanese-inspired architecture s?pread across the area, but it has so little to do. There aren't any side quests like cooking in a fast food restaurant or defending citizens from the heartless.  It's also jarring that the world has invisible walls with Hiro calling you via video chat every time to move out of the area.

The original concept art for San Fransokyo in Kingdom Hearts 3 had so much? promise. The idea is that the Baymax from the end of the movie, left in an interdimensional rift out of power, turns into a darker version of itself. The storyline in this world went for something way more forgettable, however. One of the few entertaining moments in this world is seeing Sora sitting alongside Hiro and his friends on the film's Asian interpretation of the Golden Gate Bridge. It had a neat flashback to Roxas hanging out with his friends with sea salt ice cream on the clock tower.

6. Arendelle (Kingdom Hearts 3)

[caption id="attachment_362363" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

As one of the most successful Disney movies ever, Frozen was inevitably selected as a Kingdom Hearts 3 world, and it failed to impress during Sora's third adventure. The storyline within Arendelle hardly includes Sora, as the Frozen characters barely interact with him. There's also a pointless recreation of the scene where Elsa ?sings "Let It Go." We could just watch the movie instead. Sora, Donald, and Goofy don't even team up with the powerful princess and instead are stuck with a buff snowman lacking in personality as a party member.

Square Eni?x had to pad out the story with a confusing maze out of ice. The strange waymarking and level design within this area leave players scratching their heads before they eventually escape. While the snow does look beautiful in Kingdom Hearts 3 with Sora leaving footprints on the ground, Arendelle felt like it was thrown in because it was mega popular rather than a well-rounded world to experie?nce. At least the music stirs your heart as Sora ventures through this wintry landscape.

5. Monstro (Kingdom Hearts)

[caption id="attachment_362364" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Monstro is one of those Kingdom Hearts worlds that hasn't aged well. The insides of the whale are strung with untextured, alien-like blobs on the walls, and the overall level design makes you want to tear your hair out. The hallway placement is in a random manner as you traverse from chamber to chamber. It's hard to memorize which doorway goes where. This, mixed with the terrible camera in Kingdom Hearts, makes for an arduous experience.

While there's a lot of character development within this world for Riku and Sora, this is one part of the original game many fans grimace at the thought of.  The boss is also quite annoying as it poisons Sora whenever it touches the ground; thankfully, it's ?re??????????????????????????latively easy if you use the Aero spell that helps defend the keyblade wielder.

4. 100 Acre Wood (Kingdom Hearts)

[caption id="attachment_362365" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

While Winnie The Pooh is a childhood favorite for many, the Kingdom Hearts games make his adventures so boring. It's supposed to be the one area that you feel safe in and take a break fr??om battling the heartless. On the other hand, there are some mini-games that are time-consuming, irritating, or will make your b??rain go numb.

For example, the mini-game in which you're protecting Pooh from bees requires you to stand on a? branch and strike the bees as they come by. This lasts for minutes, but it feels five times longer wh??ile playing it. These mini-games truly test your patience.

Thankfully, this world is completely skippable, but it will give you valuable resources if you complete each chapter within the 100 Acre Wood, like an upgraded Stop spel??l and the Bambi summon. What makes it worse is that you have to collect torn pages in hidden areas of the game to gain access to each location of the 100 Acre Wood.

3. Atlantica (Kingdom Hearts)

[caption id="attachment_362366" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Atlantica is commonly critiqued by the Kingdom Hearts ??fanbase, and for good reason. The controls feel awkward, your move set is limited due to Sora's new merman form, and both of Ursula's boss fights are annoying to deal with. In addition, getting around is awkward, especially towards the latter half of the world, where you have to ride a dolphin to get to Ursula. It's never explained in any of the cutscenes, and when you do find the dolphin, tons of enemies spawn around it before you can grab its tail.

Getting back to Ursula, she's the final boss of the Atlantica world, and, my gosh, she's a nuisance. The only way to attack Ursula is ??by hitting her head, but she keeps casting spells that cause serious damage. Sometimes, it's really hard to avoid her incoming spells because of the awkward controls, and it's difficult to connect moves because of her frantic movement and Sora's limited move set. Atlantica truly is one of the worst Kingdom Hearts worlds in existence.

2. Disney Town (Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep)

[caption id="attachment_362367" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Mini-games are the scourge of the Kingdom Hearts series, and most of your time in this world is spent playing them. From janky volleyball with fruit to the kind of kart racing you'd expect from a cheap Mario Kart clone, Disney Town is a curse on Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep. There's also a rhythm mini-game with Chip and Dale that feels out of sync. What makes it worse is that this sickly sweet world feels incredibly out of place within one of the darkest stories within the Kingdom Hearts canon. It's so bright, colorful, and silly that it doesn't match the tone Birth By Sleep is going for at all.

1. Deep Jungle (Kingdom Hearts)

[caption id="attachment_362368" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

While Tarzan is a nostalgia blast from the tail-end of the Disney Renaissance era, Square Enix plagues fans' memories of the film with terrible level design. The game doesn't clearly tell you where to go to activate the next story element, and even after multiple playthroughs of Kingdom Hearts, you'll get lost in the manic natu?re of Deep Jungle.

While the story is rock solid as it builds the relationship between Donald and Sora, Deep Jungle is simply a mess. Swinging around on the vines in this world is also awkward as you have to time your button presses between each jump. You'll fall many times due to the tim??ing of these swings, the bad camera, and the strange jumps that Sora makes while platforming.

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Groove to the beat

When you ask a rhythm game fan to list their favorite titles, good money says that they'll start rattling off a bunch of games you can't actually play. Many of the "best" rhythm games are available only to those with access to a halfway-decent arcade or expensive peripherals. Most of those expensive and inaccessible games are excellent, but what are the odds that you'll actually play Dance Dance Revolution A20 or Rock Band 3 in the near future?

If you're like me and only have a couple of modern consoles and a halfway decent PC, it can be hard to break into rhythm gaming. Thankfully, there are plenty of top-tier titles readily available on modern platforms. They might not be quite as good as the finest offerin?gs at a Round1, but they do have the undeniable bene?fit of being playable.

10. UNBEATABLE [white label]

[caption id="attachment_356563" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via D-CELL GAMES[/caption]

UNBEATABLE, a rhythm game with the panache and style of an anime fighting game, probably won't be out until the end of 2023. Its "demo," UNBEATABLE [white label], is out right now, and beyond being?? an impressive taste of what's to come, it's a??lso one of the best rhythm games on PC.

UNBEATABLE [white label] is less of a demo and more of a companion piece to UNBEATABLE. The game has its own story, which is currently incomplete (per developer D-CELL GAMES, it will be completed with a series of episodic releases). More importantly, it's got a killer soundtrack and truly engaging visuals. It's a real treat, especially at the low low price of free. While I'm pretty excited for UNBEATABLE, I'm more than happy to spend more time with [white label].

9. Incredibox

[caption id="attachment_356565" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via So Far So Good[/caption]

I'm not sure if Incredibox counts as a "rhythm game," but it has the "rhythm" tag on Steam and it rocks, so I'm including it. Incredibox is a kind of music production toy which involves layering diff??ere??nt loops over one another to create awesome music. It's almost impossible to make something that sounds bad.

Incredibox doesn't have a lose state and it doesn't involve tapping anything to the beat, so it might not be a rhythm game in the same way the other titles on this list are. Still, I have often felt that the joy of rhythm games comes from the imitation of "creating" music, and Incredibox is a pretty natural evolution of that concept. If you love music,?? it's at? least worth checking out.

8. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

[caption id="attachment_356567" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

I really wanted to put a Theatrhythm game on this list. Unfortunately, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and its sequel, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call are both trapped on the 3DS, and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival is an arcade exclusive. So, while we wait for the Theatrhythm series to return to modern home platforms in February, I'll give this spot to another Square Enix/indieszero collaboration: Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory.

This isn't just a consolation prize - Melody of Memory is great. It's probably the easiest game on this list, but it's got nearly every song from one of the best franchise soundtracks in video game history. Rhythmic "combat" is an idea that's been tried before, and it's not at its deepest here, but it's undeniably very satisfying. There are plenty of games that can rigorously test your dexterity and sense of rhythm, but when you just want to feel good tapping away at some beautiful music, it's tough to do better than Melody of Memory. It's one of my favorite Kingdom Hearts games, and it??'s also an excellent rhythm game in its own right.

7. Trombone Champ

[caption id="attachment_356568" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Nothing in Trombone Champ sounds "good," but that's not really the point. This uproariously funny title ??places you in control of a "tromboner" (the game's word, not mine) and gives you free rein to play whatever music you want. There is a beatmap here, but the game absolutely will not help you hew to it at all, which means that most of your tromboning will consist of playing a note that's either just barely wrong or entirely wrong.

There might be a way to get good at Trombone Champ. I'?ve never seen it happen, and I've never tried to do it. I'm happy to be the world's worst tromboner. It's funnier this way.

6. Metal: Hellsinger

[caption id="attachment_356104" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Funcom[/caption]

Metal: Hellsinger recently found its way onto my list of personal favorites from 2022, and with good reason. This rhythmic first-person shooter actually feels like both a rhythm game and a first-person shooter. What's more, it feels like a good rhythm game and a good first-person shooter.

If you enjoy heavy metal, DOOM (2016), and rhythm gaming, then this game is pretty narrowly targeted at you. Even if you don't like any of those things, though, you probably won't be able to resist falling for Metal: Hellsinger's charms. How many games feature Troy Baker as a talking skull narrating over a Matt Hea??fy solo?

5. Rhythm Doctor

[caption id="attachment_356569" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Rhythm Doctor is phenomenal. This charming early access rhythm game is deeper and more interesting than most fully released games of the past several years. Rhythm Doctor is set in a struggling cardiac hospital that makes the decision to employ a remote intern. Your job is to restart patients'? hearts by tapping ?one button to the beat.

It's not as heavy as it sounds - in fact, Rhythm Doctor is quite goofy. The game's world is vibrant and zany, populated by really interesting characters (not exactly a common thread in rhythm games). It also wrings a very?? impressive amount of mechanical complexity out of just one button, and, ??of course, the music is amazing.

4. Crypt of the Necrodancer

[caption id="attachment_356570" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Crypt of the Necrodancer is so simple that it hurts my brain. Literally all you do is move around a dungeon to the beat, attacking enemies simply by bumping into them. There are some basic buffs and item pickups, but at its heart, it's exactly what it looks like. It's all about reading and responding to patterns in the most simple manner possible, and it's wildly addictive. Every time I start playing Necrodancer, I lose hours to it.

On its face, Crypt of the Necrodancer is very basic. And yet, there's nothing else quite like it. Necrodancer uses its simplicity to its adv?antage to create one of the most? enjoyable rhythm experiences out there.

3. Beat Saber

[caption id="attachment_356571" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Beat Games[/caption]

Alright, this might be stretching the boundaries of what you can actually play. You do need a virtual reality headset and a decent amount of space to play Beat Saber, which will immediately make it a tough sell for many. But a Meta Quest 2 costs less than most current-generation consoles, and once you're past that (admittedly tall) hurdle, it's tough to do better than Beat Saber.

Beat Saber is a game about hitting blocks with lightsabers to the beat, and it feels great. It's the kind of motion control magic that lights up something primal in the human brain. It's fun to hit stuff, it's fun to feel the beat, and it's fun to ply Beat Saber.

2. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone

[caption id="attachment_356573" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega[/caption]

When you hear the words "rhythm game," you probably instantly picture something that looks like a Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA game. Colorful button prompts float across the screen in front of a video of anime girls dancing. You tap the right button when the prompts line up. Occasionally, you hold those buttons, or you slide the analog stick. Yes, this is rhythm gaming perfected.

Every Project DIVA game is pretty similar and pretty great. If you've only got a Switch or a PC, Mega Mix is a fine option, too. I've included Future Tone on this list simply because it's the one I play the most, but it's hard to go wrong with any Project DIVA g??ame. These are the rhythm game-iest rhythm games around, and they're good for scratching any musical gaming itch.

1. Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun!

[caption id="attachment_356574" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

Like Project DIVA, you can pretty much insert any Taiko no Tatsujin game into this spot. The series hasn't changed a bit in over twenty years. You press one button when the note is blue and another button when the note is red. Mindlessness becomes meditation becomes mastery. This is Taiko no Tatsujin.

The secret to picking your favorite Taiko no Tatsujin game is simply looking at the tracklist. I like Drum 'n' Fun because it's got the best One Piece opening and the best Super Mario Odyssey track, but you can really pick whichever game has your personal favorite songs. This one gets bonus? points for being one of the few rhythm games that you can play with just about anybody. The barrier to entry is very low thanks ?to incredibly simple controls, but true mastery can be extremely difficult.

The post 10 best rhythm video games you ca?n actually buy, r?anked appeared first on Destructoid.

It's time to d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-duel

A list of the most challenging boss fights ever is necessarily flawed. I, of course, have not played every video game, and I have not encountered every boss fight in the video games that I have played. I am also only one person, an??d I can only speak for my own experiences. I have watched o??ther players blitz through boss fights that took me hours and vice versa. By its very nature, this list is subjective and very personal.

Still, I've played an awful lot of video games, and I've bumped up against an a??wful lot of bosses. I may not be able to compile an objective, definitive list, but I think I can offer a pretty good one. With that in mind, I'd like to take a trip down memory lane to revisit some of the most frustrating big bads I've ever had the displeasure of fighting.

10. 50/20 - Ultimate Custom Night

Ultimate Custom Night acts as something of a digestif for the Scott Cawthon-helmed era of Five Nights at Freddy's. The game features a grand total of 50 discreet enemies whose behavior can be tweaked by the player. Setting all 50 enemies to level 20, their maximum level of aggression, allows you to try out 50/20, the most demanding single night in Five Nights at Freddy's history. It's pretty tough.

FNaF, at its best, is a series about balancing spinning plates, and playing through 50/20 means balancing a truly incredible number of plates. All 50 foes require different reactions, and it's nearly impossible to k??eep up with each of them at their most aggressive. It's a nontraditional "boss fight," but a truly challenging one.

9. Thunderblight Ganon - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

I'm not a big fan of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's combat. The game is a wonderful physics sandbox, but I've always fou??nd it a bit lacking as an action RPG. My distaste for the game's so-so fighting is at its peak in the ridiculously frustrating Thunderblight Ganon fight. The other three Divine Beast Ganon fights are reasonably forgettable, but this one i??s memorable for its controller-smashing difficulty.

Thunderblight Ganon is incredibly quic?k and incredibly strong. Getting shocked in its first phase is basically a death sentence, which means dodging and flurry-rushing is just about the only viable strategy. Later phases are even more irritating and gimmicky. This is one of those boss fights that's both very tough and very annoying.

8. Sephiroth - Kingdom Hearts

Speaking of tough and annoying...

Kingdom Hearts is another action RPG with combat that I just don't jive with. The movement is subpar and the camera is utterly miserable. It's generally ??not too tough to push p?ast those issues in the main game, but the optional bosses are downright irritating. Sephiroth is easily the most difficult of these, demanding that the player learn every intricacy of a distressingly inelegant combat system.

7. Starscourge Radahn - Elden Ring

Yes, of course FromSoftware is on this list. Not to spoil too much, but FromSoftware is actually on this list a few times. The studio's most recent game, Elden Ring, is littered with obscenely difficult boss encounters. Many will no doubt wonder how I could leave off legendarily tough battles with characters like Malenia, Blade of Miquella or the Elde?n Beast.

Truth be told, I can't include those fights on this list because I never got to them. I got stuck on Starscourge Radahn, who likes to obliterate my beloved horse without a second thought. I'm sure there are tougher boss fights in Elden Ring, but I'm not sure when (or? if) I'll ever encounter them. So Radahn gets the spot.

6. King Dice - Cuphead

There are plenty of ultra-tough boss fights in Cuphead, but the penultimate challenger, King Dice, has to be the hardest. That's because King Dice isn'?t just one deliriously challenging enemy - he's somewhere between four and ten.

The King Dice battle is actually a boss rush comprised of randomly selected mini-bosses. There's an outside chance that you might get lucky and only face easy enemies during this fight, but you're much more likely to get wiped out over and over again, forcing you to start over from the beginning. The final battle in Cuphead is pretty tough, but this second-?to-last fight is the one that truly tests you on the skills you've developed to this point.

5. Genocide Sans - Undertale

There are a few optional bosses on this list, enemies that you must seek out for yourself. Few bosses are quite as optional as Sans, though. In order to face Sans, you have to kill every single enemy in Undertale, undertaking the "Genocide Run," a route that is significantly more challenging (in terms of both gameplay and emotion) than anything else in Undertale.

The capstone to that incredibly difficult run is one last incredibly difficult fight. Genocide Sans is notoriously tough. If the philosophical weight of wiping out every charming character in Undertale isn't enough to deter you from a Genocide Run, Sans might be. Undertale's "combat" is mostly about dodg??ing, and Sans throws an incredible n?umber of obstacles your way at an incredibly high speed.

4. Ornstein and Smough - Dark Souls

I told you FromSoftware would be back. "Dark Souls" is practically synonymous with "tough boss fights," and the double-header that is Ornstein and Smough might be the toughest boss fight in the entire series. In the first phase??, you'll challenge two absurd powerhouses at once. After you bring down one of them, the fight gets even harder, since the surviving enemy becomes ultra-powerful in the second phase.

Ornstein and Smough is one of many choke points in Dark Souls. It's where tons of players bounce off simply because they can't progress (I'm happy to announce that, unlike Starscourge Radahn, I actually have beaten these two). Once you get past this point, though, you are truly ready for anything Dark Souls can throw at you.

3. Yozora - Kingdom Hearts 3

I promise the outsized presence of Kingdom Hearts on this list isn't just a consequence of my fondness for the series. Some of these boss fights really are astonishingly difficult. Yozora, the final boss of the Kingdom Hearts 3 Re:Mind DLC, is one such duel.

The original Kingdom Hearts 3 is laughably easy. The game's impressive combat system is held back by the fact that there are very few compelling fights in the campaign. Thankfull??y, the post-launch DLC offers up plenty of excellent oppo?rtunities to flex your Keyblade mastery. Yozora is lightning-fast and his crossbow attacks deal a ton of damage, making this one of the most challenging boss fights ever. Also, he's voiced by Dylan Sprouse in English. Kinda weird.

2. Gabriel, Judge of Hell - Ultrakill

Ultrakill, the ??super-fast, super-violent indie darling FPS, has plenty of memorable fights. The most memorable, though, has to be Gabriel, Judge of Hell, the final boss of Act II. Gabriel is yet another super-quick high damage dealer who demands that you make the most of your toolkit.

Thankfully, your toolkit in Ultrakill is immense. Bringing down Gabriel by making the most of the weapons at your disposal is extremely satisfying - but you really need to know what yo??u're doing to get to that point.

1. Isshin, the Sword Saint - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Bring it in for FromSoftware's third and final appearance on this list! Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice might be FromSoft's most difficult game ever, and the final boss, Isshin, the Sword Saint, is the perfect culmination of the game. Sekiro really asks that?? you meet?? it on its terms, and Isshin exemplifies that philosophy expertly.

This fight demands a comprehensive understanding of Sekiro's combat, from parries to Mikiri Counters to lightning reversals. It is what all good f?inal boss fights should be: a test to see what the player has learned. Remember: hesitation is defeat.

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Cblogs of 12/10 to 12/16/2022

-Darrenhupke announces the availability of his book detailing C??apcom's entire PS1 library of games.

-Virtua Kazuma wonders if Virtua Quest was Sega's answer to Kingdom Hearts.

-MSonicfan rants about Sonic and the s???heer number of Badnicks he has to deal with.

-TheBlondeBass updates everyone on the progress of his game, Mirama, in this dev blog.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the soundtrack of Final Fantasy IX and traditional Irish Music.

-Beatlemaniaxx goes over everything they read or watche?d this year.

-ChronoLynxx opens this week's TGIF foru??m for r??andom community discussion.

Thanks for the blogs this week, folks! And thanks to Lord Spencer for the recap. If you wanna join in on the HOT TAKE party, then head on over to the Cblogs section right now. Spill your thoughts on all matters gaming, and you will find yourself recapped on this here front page next week. In addition, we've bee??n informed that there are some issues with the blog editor currently. We will try and get this looked into.

The post Cblog Recaps: Which is you?r favo??rite Capcom franchise? appeared first on Destructoid.

Why are we even here?

A couple of weeks ago, I ranked every Kingdom Hearts game, worst to best, and I placed Kingdom Hearts Dark Road right at the bottom without hesitation. That title, in my memory, was a clumsy cash grab with bland design decisions that largely served to funnel ?players back into i??ts real-cash shop. You know, a gacha game.

In August 2022, though, Dark Road went offline. The game remains accessible with an overhauled shop, and, crucially, no in-app purchases. Everything is now available with in-game currency. I always want to give games more chances, and I often feel bad for games that are deemed "bad" by everyone, so I figured it was time to try Kingdom Hearts Dark Road again. I downloaded the game once more and played it front-to-back, and I purchased and upgraded every single card. I saw everything Dark Road had to offer. It gave me a headache.

Not in a "Kingdom Hearts" way

To be clear, every Kingdom Hearts game breaks my brain a little bit. The series' reputation for convoluted lore is earned (if occasionally exaggerated). This time, though, I wasn't puzzled by the plot. In fact, Dark Road's narrative is reasonably straightforward for a Kingdom Hearts game, and it mig??ht be one of my favorite stories in the whole series.

No, what hurt my head this time around was the simple discovery that this game, with its gacha systems removed, barely functioned. The gameplay consists entirely of upgrading a deck of cards and playing them in bat??tle. The process of actually playing cards is so uninteresting that there's a toggle allowing the game to do it for you automatically, which means most of the game is simply upgrading your deck with new cards.

How do you get those new cards, you ask? Well, when the game launched in 2020, you could spend premium currency to pull them at random. You could earn that currency by "playing" (i.e., watching the auto-battle run its course), or, of course, you could move things ?along a little quicker by paying real money. So the game's sole active mechanic was spending money.

What now?

As of August, spending money in Kingdom Hearts Dark Road is totally impossible. Gacha pulls are no longer random, and cards can be purchased with in-game currency at a fixed price. So what happens to a game whose sole active mechanic is spending money when it can no longer siphon money from the player? What is Kingdom Hearts Dark Road without gacha mechanics?

Well... not much. It's basically a crappy idle game. All you can do is generate currency to spend on c?ards that help you generate currency faster, and the easiest way to far?m is just to turn on the game's auto-battle and walk away. It used to be a game about one thing (spending money) and now it is a game about nothing.

Not all gacha (kind of)

Obviously, this experience is not representative of all gacha games. Kingdom Hearts Dark Road was already an especially thin game at launch, so it makes sense that it's barely a game now. Other gacha titles like Genshin Impact or Fire Emblem Heroes could survive a fully free-to-pay model while remaining at? least moderately engag?ing.

Still, the thing I found telling about playing Dark Road in 2022 was simply how cynical the whole thing felt. After letting the game idle for hours on end, it became apparent to me that it was, for a brief moment, genuinely viable for Square Enix to make a game into a storefront for nothing. Kingdom Hearts Dark Road never actually sold anything worthwhile. Your real world money wouldn't buy you anything other than a sense of investment in a bad game. Now that you can't even buy that, Dark Road is ?nothing more than the ghost of a money-printing machine.

The post Playing a gacha game with no gacha broke my brain appeared first on Destructoid.