Kingdom Hearts 2.eight & three: new worlds, launch, story timeline and past – every thing you could know

The world of the Japanese RPG and Disney’s most well-known films are set to collide as soon as once more with Kingdom Hearts three. Here’s our information to every thing Kingdom Hearts – previous, current and future.

One of gaming’s greatest and most stunning successes of the PS2 period got here within the type of a crossover that on the time appeared weird and nearly unthinkable – the RPG world of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy and the lands of Walt Disney’s most profitable animated films.

It all labored, although – Kingdom Hearts went on to turn into certainly one of Square Enix’s best-selling video games ever, solely really eclipsed by the groundbreaking Final Fantasy 7. A profitable sequel quickly adopted, however regardless of that Kingdom Hearts has been on the back-burner for nearly a decade. One spin-off after one other has launched, all pretty respectable in high quality, none unhealthy, but in addition none with the spectacle or scope of a full Kingdom Hearts launch.

It’s been a very long time, however eventually Sora and mates are coming again – correctly, and to consoles. Kingdom Hearts 3 is coming and there’s even a prequel game being launched individually beforehand – so what do you could know? Here’s every thing you could know, from story and timeline refreshers to KH3’s new gameplay options and pre-order particulars. Let’s do that.

Kingdom Hearts three launch date – When is Kingdom Hearts three popping out?

Okay, so, bear with me a bit of right here: because it stands proper now, we don’t know precisely when Kingdom Hearts three is popping out. However, we do have info that we are able to use to slim it down a bit. For a begin, all indicators level in the direction of a 2017 launch being a possible factor. We’ll replace this web page as quickly as any additional info involves mild.

Kingdom Hearts three was originally announced back in June 2013 at Sony’s E3 Press Conference for that year, however concepts round it had been swirling round because the completion of Kingdom Hearts 2, with the event of Final Fantasy 15 (then Final Fantasy Versus 13) delaying the launch considerably.

Before Kingdom Hearts three launches, nevertheless, there’s a prologue chapter – Kingdom Hearts HD 2.eight Final Chapter Prologue (sure, that’s the actual identify), which was announced back in September 2015. That’s popping out fairly quickly. But first, er, what’s it?

What is Kingdom Hearts 2.eight for PS4? All about Dream Drop Distance HD, X Back Cover, and Birth By Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.eight Final Chapter Prologue is a ludicrously-named bundle of video games that exists to assist get gamers prepared to leap into the world of Kingdom Hearts once more with Kingdom Hearts three.

The meat of the bundle comes within the type of some remastered content material from Kingdom Hearts spin-offs, however then there’s two all-new ‘chapters’ additionally included on the disc which can be a direct lead-in to Kingdom Hearts three. For some motive it’s coming completely to the PS4 regardless of the actual fact Kingdom Hearts three is coming to Xbox One as effectively.

Included is:
• Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD
  Previously generally known as Kingdom Hearts 3D (Dream Drop Distance, three Ds, get it?) on the Nintendo 3DS, this title has been remade and remastered for the PS4. Changes embrace contact display screen pushed mini-games being totally rebuilt to make use of new console-friendly mechanics, a re-balancing of fight encounters and enemies, and naturally vastly upgraded visuals to point out the sport off in HD for the primary time. Notably, this recreation contains a world primarily based on the newer Tron film, which to me is a little bit of a promoting level as a result of who doesn’t love Tron?!
• Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover
  Kingdom Hearts X Back cowl isn’t even a recreation, however reasonably is a film that’s round an hour in size that goes into element on main off-screen elements of the Kingdom Hearts backstory, revealing occasions that assist set into movement every thing seen within the video games. As the identify suggests it’s considerably associated to Kingdom Hearts Unchained X, the mobile-based KH title.
• Kingdom Hearts zero.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage
  This is the a part of the bundle that Kingdom Hearts followers are most excited for. Birth By Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage is an all-new mini-episode that takes place after the occasions of Birth By Sleep, the Kingdom Hearts PSP title that was remastered for PS3 as a part of Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix. This sees you play as Aqua from Birth By Sleep and contains a world primarily based on the traditional Disney film Cinderella. The gameplay methods of Birth By Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage are primarily based on these you’ll see in Kingdom Hearts three, so whereas this chapter is just brief followers can deal with it as a taster for a way the complete KH3 will look and play.

Once Kingdom Hearts 2.eight has been launched, just a few months later the whole works of Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2 will likely be collected right into a bundle on PS4. These rereleases beforehand graced PS3, however we’re now getting a rerelease of a rerelease and… oh look, I’ve gone cross-eyed. Moving on…

Kingdom Hearts 2.eight PS4 Release Date – When is Kingdom Hearts 2.eight popping out?

After a number of ready we all know the ultimate launch date for Kingdom Hearts 2.eight, and it’s shut – you’ll have the ability to get your arms on the sport on January 24. That’s a simultaneous launch for each Europe and North America, whereas Japanese followers will truly get it a bit of sooner than that.

An preliminary launch date of December was announced at E3 2016, however there was a little bit of chopping and altering of Square Enix Japan’s launch schedule after Final Fantasy 15 did not make its originally-planned September launch, slipping to November.

The recreation was introduced again in September 2015, and its existence ties up the final of the remaining Kingdom Hearts spin-off materials that was left over. Between 2.eight and Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix and a couple of.5 HD Remix, every thing Kingdom Hearts has been dragged to an up-to-date HD format off numerous handhelds aside from the present cell phone solely launch.

Where to Pre-Order Kingdom Hearts 2.eight for PS4

Considering we don’t even have a completely ultimate launch date but, it’s a bit of early for Kingdom Hearts 2.eight’s pre-order marketing campaign to be in full swing – and because it stands proper now, we’re not totally certain if the sport could have a variety of pre-order bonuses or a particular version for launch, although Square Enix video games of this dimension and significance normally are likely to.

Right now the sport may be pre-ordered from Amazon US for $59.99 prepared for its launch on an as-yet-undisclosed date in December. Amazon UK have it for £38.99. We’ll replace with extra info and extra retailers as we wing our approach in the direction of launch.

Where to Pre-Order Kingdom Hearts three for PS4 and Xbox One

Given that Kingdom Hearts 2.eight isn’t even out but and certainly doesn’t actually have a concrete launch day, it’s additionally a bit of bit early to be speaking about Kingdom Hearts three pre-orders. There’ll little question be restricted editions, particular editions and pre-order bonuses, however none of these have been introduced as but.

At the minute you possibly can pre-order the game (with a really optimistic December 30th 2016 estimated launch date) from Amazon US for $59.96. Amazon Prime customers get a further saving on high. It’s available for £43.99 from Amazon UK. When Square announce extra info round their plans for Kingdom Hearts three’s launch – seemingly after Final Fantasy 15 is out of the best way – we’ll return to and replace these headings with the very best offers and bonuses, so set your bookmarks!

Kingdom Hearts Timeline: What order do you have to play Kingdom Hearts in?

Okay, so, right here’s the factor concerning the Kingdom Hearts collection: it’s fairly complicated. There’s a number of totally different video games that happen at totally different instances, and it turns into troublesome to observe every thing. So, let’s deal with these two questions right here and now. You wish to play Kingdom Hearts three, and presumably additionally Kingdom Hearts 2.eight. If you wish to refresh your reminiscence, or when you’re new to the collection, what order do issues happen in? Well, let’s clear this up…

Kingdom Hearts video games in Release Order:
• Kingdom Hearts (PS2, 2002 / PS3, 2013 as KH 1.5)
• Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (GBA, 2004 / PS2, 2007 / PS3, 2013 as KH 1.5)
• Kingdom Hearts 2 (PS2, 2005 / PS3, 2014 as KH 2.5)
• Kingdom Hearts Coded (Mobile, 2008 / DS, 2010, PS3, 2014 as KH 2.5 – cutscenes solely)
• Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (DS, 2009 / PS3, 2013 as KH 1.5 – cutscenes solely)
• Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep (PSP, 2010 / PS3, 2014 as KH 2.5)
• Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance (3DS, 2012 / PS4, part of KH 2.8)
• Kingdom Hearts: Unchained χ (Mobile, 2016)
• Kingdom Hearts 2.eight (PS4, 2016)
• Kingdom Hearts three (PS4/Xbox One, TBA)

Kingdom Hearts video games in story order:
• Kingdom Hearts: Unchained χ (Mobile, 2016)
• Kingdom Hearts X: Back Cover (PS4, part of KH 2.8)
• Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep (PSP, 2010 / PS3, 2014 as KH 2.5)
• Kingdom Hearts: A Fragmentary Passage (PS4, part of KH 2.8)
• Kingdom Hearts (PS2, 2002 / PS3, 2013 as KH 1.5)
• Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (DS, 2009 / PS3, 2013 as KH 1.5 – cutscenes solely)
• Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (GBA, 2004 / PS2, 2007 / PS3, 2013 as KH 1.5)
• Kingdom Hearts 2 (PS2, 2005 / PS3, 2014 as KH 2.5)
• Kingdom Hearts Coded (Mobile, 2008 / DS, 2010, PS3, 2014 as KH 2.5 – cutscenes solely)
• Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance (3DS, 2012 / PS4, part of KH 2.8)
• Kingdom Hearts three (PS4/Xbox One, TBA)

If you’ve already performed the video games and wish a refresher on the usually convoluted, criss-crossing story, the late GameTrailers produced an awesome one-hour video breaking it down right into a extra comprehensible format… or at the least as near comprehensible as Kingdom Hearts will get. Here it’s:

Now on to the larger query: Which Kingdom Hearts video games do you have to play earlier than 2.eight and three?

What to play earlier than enjoying the brand new Kingdom Hearts video games

If you ask us, the best choice is to disregard a few of the spin-offs, at the least initially, and concentrate on the principle collection. The greatest approach to do this now’s with Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix for PS3, which incorporates the unique KH plus a remastered Chain of Memories and the story from KH 358/2 Days as a film.

After that, grab Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix, which equally consists of KH2 and a remastered Birth By Sleep, plus the story from Coded as a film. In getting these two packages you get the 4 KH video games that really matter, plus some additional story background.

Remember additionally that Kingdom Hearts 1.5 and a couple of.5 are being collected in a single bundle for PS4 – however you’ll have to attend till later within the Spring and till after 2.eight when you’d reasonably play these releases on PS4 over PS3. The fundamental distinction between the variations is that the PS4 model runs at 60fps.

If you resolve you need extra info after KH1 and KH2 you possibly can play the spin-offs and watch the flicks included within the 1.5 and a couple of.5 releases. Don’t neglect Kingdom Hearts: Unchained X, both – being on cell, it’s free and so is a straightforward one to suggest.

Is Kingdom Hearts 1.5 coming to PS4, Xbox One or PC? What about Kingdom Hearts 2.5 for PS4, Xbox One or PC?

If you learn the above part, you’ll have come away with our suggestion that you simply check out Kingdom Hearts 1.5 and Kingdom Hearts 2.5 in order for you both a refresher on the collection or what to see what it has to supply for the very first time. Given that these remasters are fairly current and solely launched in 2013 and 2014 respectively, one query is all too frequent once they’re talked about: are they coming to PS4? What about Xbox One? Or PC, for that matter?

The present reply is: No, they’re not. However, Square Enix has been making a concerted effort on PC lately – all-new Japanese RPG I Am Setsuna is getting a day-one Steam release, whereas there’s now quite a lot of Final Fantasy titles out there on Steam. The current PS2 to PS3 HD Remaster of Final Fantasy 10 and 10-2 took some time longer however did ultimately launch on PC.

The final time Kingdom Hearts 2.eight and Kingdom Hearts three Co-director Tai Yasue was requested about PS4 and Xbox One ports of the HD Remasters he wouldn’t rule them out, underlining that the idea is certainly on Square Enix’s radar.

We’ve received our fingers crossed that the 2 Kingdom Hearts remasters will observe an analogous trajectory, ultimately ending up on each PC and current-generation consoles earlier than the time Kingdom Hearts three launches. Be ready to dig out your PS3 if not, nevertheless – that’s at present the definitive model of these video games.

Kingdom Hearts three Gameplay – New Features, Magic, Keyblade Transformations, Wall Running and extra

Kingdom Hearts three seems prefer it’s going to be a reasonably important leap over the earlier recreation within the collection – however that’s what you get when a recreation collection takes a great 10+ years between full releases. The recreation appears to be taking lots of the options and concepts explored in spin-offs like Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep and Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance and increasing them whereas additionally including some all-new options match for a full-scale title.

This recreation can also be the primary on the Unreal Engine for the collection, and it reveals, with UE4 however to some critical work to create some extremely crisp animation-style visuals. Here’s a few of the recreation’s headline new options, and we’ll replace this heading as extra are introduced:

• Attraction Flow
  Having mined a number of the Disney film catalogue, Square Enix has now determined to look to a different space of nice success for Disney – theme parks. Attraction Flow permits Sora and his mates to carry out spectacular super-moves which can be primarily based on the rides from traditional theme parks.

  The first revealed was an assault primarily based on the traditional spinning teacups park trip, however since then strikes primarily based on the Big Magic Mountain prepare and Pirate Ship rides have additionally been proven. Attraction Flow will likely be triggered beneath ‘certain battle conditions’, although it hasn’t been defined what these circumstances are but.

• Keyblade Transformations
  This function hasn’t been given a typical Square Enix/Nomura-ish foolish identify but, however I’m certain it is going to – however this new function is straightforward sufficient. Sora’s keyblades can remodel into quite a lot of objects, together with a pair of (child-friendly trying) weapons or a chariot.

  Keyblades are nonetheless upgraded and swapped out like another RPG gear all through the sport, however every keyblade will now have its personal distinctive transformation in battle.

• Wall Running
  It’d be wonderful if Square handle to provide this function a foolish identify because it’s remarkably easy – Sora can now run alongside partitions, and that is usually a part of an expanded and extra traversal moveset for the participant.
• No More Reaction Commands
  It appears a bit of bizarre to record one thing the sport gained’t have, however Kingdom Hearts 2’s response instructions had been a tad garbage and it’s a great factor they’re gone. Reaction instructions had been QTE-style moments in fight the place you needed to hammer on Triangle rapidly. They gained’t be missed.

Kingdom Hearts three – Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar Worlds – Will they function?

It’s been a very long time since Kingdom Hearts 2, and one of many key fan questions round Kingdom Hearts three and the way forward for the collection typically pertains to a serious growth on the earth of Disney because the final recreation: Disney’s 2009 acquisition of Marvel Comics and all their properties, and likewise for Disney’s $four billion buy of LucasFilm, the huge Hollywood secure that in fact owns Star Wars.

The subsequent query is pure: with the worlds of Iron Man, Thor, Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones all now technically a part of the Disney household, what are their probabilities of showing in Kingdom Hearts three as worlds? After all, Kingdom Hearts’ main goal in its earliest growth was to be an thrilling Disney mash-up.

Beyond that, what additionally about Pixar? Disney truly owns the CG animation big, however they’ve so far been handled individually to creations from Disney Animation Studios – the 2 CG films confirmed to look in Kingdom Hearts three to this point are primarily based on Big Hero 6 and Tangled – each Disney, each CG, however not Pixar. Pixar’s secure consists of the likes of Frozen, The Incredibles and naturally Toy Story.

As it stands proper now, no worlds primarily based on any of those collection’ have been introduced for KH3 – however Square Enix and Disney haven’t dominated something out, both.

“Disney’s companies are all very different,” Kingdom Hearts collection boss Tetsuya Nomura said way back in 2013 when quizzed about the Marvel and LucasFilm buys. “Sometimes the answer is ‘absolutely no,’ and sometimes the answer is, ‘…hmm, we don’t know…’”

Later that yr Nomura went on the record with a Final Fantasy fan site to say that it’d be ‘great’ to have Star Wars or Marvel worlds in Kingdom Hearts, however he once more reiterated the issue in how Disney properties are managed and acquiring the right permissions.

Come December 2014 Kingdom Hearts three Co-Director Tai Yasue poured gasoline on the hearth by once more hinting there might be some movement on the issue of properties like Star Wars, Marvel and Frozen. “I can’t go into specifics,” he mentioned, “but there’s a lot of new Disney stuff and we have our plates full.”

“Nothing’s off-limits, we’re considering all of the worlds,” he added.

Fingers crossed. We’ll replace this part as and when something contained in the stomach of the beast that Mickey Mouse constructed stirs.

Kingdom Hearts three Worlds – What Disney Classics are within the recreation?

An enormous a part of the attraction of Kingdom Hearts is its Disney mash-up nature, one thing personified in the rather loud fan cries to see now-Disney properties from Marvel, LucasFilm and Pixar folded into the game. However, trying previous these thrilling new potential additions, what different worlds are going to look in Kingdom Hearts three?

We don’t know every thing but, however we do have some confirmations – each of the return of acquainted favourites and a few thrilling all-new additions. Here they’re:

• Twilight Town
  Perhaps unsurprisingly the Kingdom Hearts collection’ iconic all-original city location is to make a return within the third entry. One of the primary trailers for the sport confirmed off this new incarnation of it, with Sora battling Heartless there as he did within the unique KH recreation all these years in the past.
• Mt. Olympus
  Revealed in short clips in Kingdom Hearts three’s E3 2015 trailer, collection staple Mount Olympus can also be set to return. This world is predicated off the Hercules animated Disney function, in fact. The trailer confirmed Sora, Donald and Goofy battling Heartless within the Olympus Coliseum, which has turn into a daily KH location.
• Kingdom of Corona
  Also revealed within the Kingdom Hearts three E3 2015 trailer, Kingdom of Corona is an all-new world for the Kingdom Hearts collection and is predicated on the Disney Animation Studios CG function Tangled. In the trailer there’s a glimpse at Sora battling new plant-themed Heartless outdoors what’s recognisably Rapunzel’s tower from the film. It’s been confirmed that, in fact, Rapunzel herself will play a serious position on the earth.
• Big Hero 6 World
  This world has been introduced through a particular announcement video, however apart from a chunk of cool-looking idea artwork we’re but to see it in motion. This is the second new world primarily based on a CG Disney Feature, and is in fact primarily based on the film Big Hero 6. The much-loved Baymax from that film will make an look, in fact, and idea artwork reveals Sora driving him.
• Land of Departure
  Another world glimpsed within the E3 2015 trailer, collection regulars Master Xehanort and Master Eraqus are seen enjoying chess in what’s visibly the Land of Departure, the hub world from Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep. What isn’t clear is that if this location will merely be for story sequences or if it’ll function playable gameplay too – regardless of the case, will probably be within the recreation in some type.
• Real of Darkness
  The Realm of Darkness gained’t function in Kingdom Hearts three, however is the first focus of the brief aspect story A Fragmentary Passage, which is included as one of many new additions in Kingdom Hearts 2.eight. The part of the Realm of Darkness the place Aqua finds herself in that recreation contains a shattered fragment of the world of Disney’s Cinderella animated function.

Kingdom Hearts 2.eight Trailers and Gameplay Videos

Square Enix has launched just a few movies showcasing Kingdom Hearts 2.eight, exhibiting not solely what the remastered model of Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance seems like but in addition exhibiting off the all-new chapters added to the sport to assist fill in story gaps earlier than Kingdom Hearts three.

First up, right here’s the announcement trailer for the sport which first debuted at Tokyo Game Show 2015.

A number of brief months later Square Enix revealed one other new trailer for the sport, this time at Jump Festa 2015. This trailer affords up a whopping 5 minutes of footage of the bundle.

It was months till Square Enix launched one other video, however once they did it was a giant one, as part of their E3 2016 showcase. This video was the primary Kingdom Hearts 2.eight trailer to concentrate on the all-new chapter of the sport the place gamers take management of Aqua.

After this the trailers just about got here thick and quick. First up there was Tokyo Game Show 2016:

Then arguably essentially the most fascinating of the trailers – a single trailer that’s devoted to the all-new story sequences featured in A Fragmentary Passage, the brand new prequel story that prepares gamers for Kingdom Hearts three.

Finally one other trailer was launched set to a remix of Utada Hikaru’s ‘Simple & Clean’, the enduring track that has turn into generally known as the Kingdom Hearts collection’ fundamental theme tune.

Kingdom Hearts three Trailers and Gameplay Videos

When Kingdom Hearts three was introduced, it got here as one thing of a shock – with Square Enix so centered on Final Fantasy Versus 13, which that yr would turn into Final Fantasy 15, Kingdom Hearts was about the very last thing anyone anticipated… however it arrived.

There’s been quite a lot of trailers since then, and we’ll function the very best and most essential ones right here – however let’s begin with that first stunning announcement trailer from E3 2013.

It was a few years earlier than Kingdom Hearts three surfaced once more, and when it did it emerged with an all-new gameplay video exhibiting off the very first in-game footage of Sora working and and battling acquainted enemies.

This video, the primary of a fea, options Disney reps proudly confirming the primary all-new world for Kingdom Hearts three – a world primarily based off the Disney CG traditional Tangled.

This 2015 trailer reveals one other new world for Kingdom Hearts three, and was first proven on the D23 Expo 2015. This is one other Disney CG title being added to the world of Kingdom Hearts – the world of Big Hero 6.

Kingdom Hearts 2.eight and Kingdom Hearts three News Updates

Kingdom Hearts information all the time appears to come back out at a barely totally different charge to information of different video games, maybe as a result of Square Enix and Disney collaborate on when new info on the collection will get launched. We’re overlaying all the large information right here on VG247, and we’ll replace this record with a unbroken round-up of the largest Kingdom Hearts 2.eight and Kingdom Hearts three information.

• Kingdom Hearts 3 announced for PS4
• Kingdom Hearts 3 will release on Xbox One
• Kingdom Hearts 3: Nomura exploring new Disney IP for next-gen instalment
• Kingdom Hearts 3 follows Dream Drop Distance, Nomura discusses combat & tech
• Kingdom Hearts: Star Wars, Marvel content “would be great”
• Kingdom Hearts 3 is not the end of the series
• Kingdom Hearts 3: new trailer shows combat, skills and enemies – watch here
• Kingdom Hearts 3 video shows more new gameplay, with Tetsuya Nomura commentary
• Kingdom Hearts 3 is fuelled by Nomura’s “burning anger”
• Kingdom Hearts 3 switches to Unreal Engine 4
• PS4 and Xbox One owners may one day get to play first two Kingdom Hearts games
• Kingdom Hearts 3 could feature Marvel and Star Wars characters
• Lovely Kingdom Hearts 3 trailer shown at E3 2015
• Kingdom Hearts 3 has “far bigger” worlds than previous games in the franchise
• Kingdom Hearts 3 director knows the game’s release date, but he’s not telling
• Big Hero 6 to be featured in Kingdom Hearts 3
• Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue announced for PS4
• Watch new Kingdom Hearts 3 and HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue gameplay
• Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 out this December, here’s a new trailer

Kingdom Hearts three Official Website, Twitter, YouTube and More

The Kingdom Hearts fanbase is totally rabid, and Square Enix is doing its greatest to leverage that with a robust internet presence for the sport. First factor’s first – in order for you the most recent Kingdom Hearts 2.eight and Kingdom Hearts three information, positively take into account bookmarking this web page, as will probably be always up to date with the most recent information as and when it comes.

For a extra official contact take into account visiting the official Kingdom Hearts website. That web site additionally has a portal dedicated to just Kingdom Hearts 3, too.

If social media is extra your pace, you can follow Kingdom Hearts on twitter @KINGDOMHEARTS and in addition subscribe to their official YouTube presence. There is, in fact, an official Facebook page as well.

If the unofficial speaks to you extra, there’s a thriving neighborhood there, with a large number of welcoming Kingdom Hearts and Square Enix fan websites and communities on-line. Nova Crystallis, KHInsider, Mognet Central and KH Union are all fantastic locations to begin for that.