While we’re short on information about the newly revealed Kingdom Hearts 3DS, it would seem it is not a port but a new game. However, it is not “Kingdom Hearts 3.”
In an interview earlier today, we asked Nomura about the state of 3, and whether it would even be on a console, given the Kingdom Hearts series’ recent stint on handhelds.
September 7, 2010. That’s when you can pick up the new Kingdom Hearts game, named Birth By Sleep. After the disappointing and oddly named DS version, we’re understandably a bit wary, but this one is coming to your PSP, both via UMD and PSN download. That might be worth the price of admission right there.
The story concerns three characters of appropriately androgynous appearance, Ventus (latin for wind), Aqua and Terra, as they travel to unexplored Disney-themed worlds. Here’s us, hoping that the developers populate these worlds with more than just a couple of disney characters and empty level environments. Seriously. We mean it. Like every other movie trailer, we really want to trust that the best stuff is yet to come, not just crammed into the 30 seconds or so of the launch trailer.
Enjoy the screenshots and launch trailer, and let us know what you think.
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Sarah LeBoeuf of Gamervision writes: "When Kingdom Hearts came out in 2002, I thought there had never been a game more made for me. A Squaresoft role-playing game that merged classic Disney characters with some memorable faces from the Final Fantasy franchise, yet delivered an entirely new and enthralling story and addictive action-RPG gameplay? Done and done. Even before I played it, I knew I loved it, and after playing it multiple times, I loved it even more. I anxiously awaited the release of Kingdom Hearts II, even shelling out for a limited-edition art book strategy guide in early 2006, despite the fact that new games were a rare luxury because of my financial situation at the time. I was living in a tiny studio apartment in Philadelphia, and I vividly remember spending that spring sitting in front of my tiny television, continuing Sora’s story as I had waited to do for almost four years."
In the recently released Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania, the Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura discusses the future of the series. He reveals that 2 titles other than Kingdom Hearts 3 are in their concept stages and he hopes to release one this year. Details about the changes made in the North American version of the PSP title are also revealed.
Ve3tro writes: "With the announcement of the Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep release date in Europe we also have several new screens for you guys."
VG247: Square Enix announces Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep for a European summer release.
The North American version isn’t a straight localization. Square Enix is enhancing it with more multiplayer options, an extra boss fight, and more multiplayer modes. An interview snippet also mentioned rebalancing the game by nerfing Megalfare and powering up bosses, but those changes are still unconfirmed
KingdomHeartsUnion.com writes, "The voice of Larxene joins Kingdom Hearts Union! In this episode of KH Union Kyle and Fozzie interview voice actress Shanelle Gray, the voice of Larxene in Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days."
Josh Keaton, the voice actor behind Young Hercules in the 1997 Disney film ‘Hercules’, will be reprising his role for the upcoming Western release of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep.
FinalFantasyUnion.com writes, "Inline with Final Fantasy XIII’s release, we have some exclusive content lined up for everyone who’s dug into the game, or maybe hasn’t dug in yet. We’ve previously done interviews with voice actors and actresses from the Kingdom Hearts series on our KH podcast (Kingdom Hearts Union), so we figured it was about time we make a few phone calls and try at some Final Fantasy XIII voice actor and actress interviews; so today we’re happy to announce that we will be interviewing Ali Hillis, the voice of Lightning in Final Fantasy XIII, in the coming week!
Best part, we want fan questions for the interview. The interview will be a special episode of our dedicated Final Fantasy podcast (aptly named Final Fantasy Union on the iTunes Store), so you will indeed hear Ali Hillis’ voice yourself, and possibly hear her answer your own question for her. "
