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Young Jump Interview with Tetsuya Nomura

Posted by Meilin Lee : Sep 18, 2024 at 3:02 PM ( 0 , 503 )

In a recent interview with Young Jump magazine, Kingdom Hearts series director, Tetsuya Nomura, got a chance to talk a bit about the series, discussing things such as the deeper meaning behind the logo change for KH4, how much information is shared with his staff regarding the plot and characters, and when he sees himself retiring (and how the future of Kingdom Hearts factors into that). Please check out the translated interview below (courtesy of KH13):

"Many of your works have complex settings, but how do you manage to bring them all together for when you have to record the voice lines?"

Nomura: Honestly, I don't think they understand everything either on the day of recording. When the staff other than myself explain the settings and characters to the voice actors during recording, they sometimes ask me to confirm if it’s okay to do it like that, and there are times when I have to say “no, it's not okay” (laughs).

But there's no way around it, because I'm the only one who understands the parts of the characters that haven't been drawn, so I'm the only one who can think about the complex story in all the different directions it could go. On the other hand, I also actively encourage the staff to question and point things out to me.

"Is there something like a setting reference book?"

Nomura: I have some things that I personally write down to remember. Including periods that are not depicted, I write down the footsteps of important people and future developments.

"So you don't share that information?"

Nomura: Of course not, I keep that to myself. (laughs). However, I do make sure that the staff know what they need to know by writing setting explanations all at once in the middle of the scenario.

"In the Kingdom Hearts series, there are many foreshadowing elements that span the series, so how do you keep track of those?"

Nomura: As I’ve mentioned previously, I write a lot in my notes, but I also make sure the staff remember, and I like watching videos, so I watch playthrough videos and reviews on YouTube. Basically, rather than looking back at my notes, I make sure the staff remembers what happened in past titles.

"This year, Kingdom Hearts Missing Link is also scheduled for release on mobile devices. Do you have any concerns that by developing important stories for apps and portable game consoles, you will end up with more players who can't keep up with the story?"

Nomura: Honestly, I do. (laughs) That's why we're developing a story that takes place in a time frame that's much earlier than the Kingdom Hearts timeline on consoles. However, as people say, “The newly announced Kingdom Hearts IV is really more like Kingdom Hearts XIII”, as there are natural connections, even with non-numbered titles, and I think that will allow people to enjoy the series even more deeply.

However, this time, both Kingdom Hearts Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV have been created with a stronger focus on being new titles rather than sequels. For example, as a new experiment, we have had staff who have not been involved in the Kingdom Hearts series before participate in writing the scenario. Of course, I will be editing it in the end, but I don't think it will be positioned as a work that needs to be done in the sense that the writer who has never been involved in the 'Kingdom Hearts' series is creating a new base.

After all, Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link is better described as a blank history, so it is also based on the premise that there are things missing. If you know about it, you can enjoy it more deeply.

"Just as it is difficult to catch up with a long-running manga series from the very first title, the Kingdom Hearts series has so many titles that it seems to have the same problem. What are your thoughts in regards to new fans that might try playing these series?"

Nomura: That’s what I'd like to know (laughs). As I mentioned earlier, I'm thinking of Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV as a kind of reset. I felt like I'd finished with Kingdom Hearts III and wanted to start again, so I've brought in new writers and even changed the logo to make it easier for new people to get involved.

"Ah, so that's what the change of logo was about."

Nomura: If you remember how the ending of Kingdom Hearts III goes, you'll understand that Sora ends up like that because he's “resetting” the story in a way, so Kingdom Hearts IV should be easier to get into than before. I think that if you like the series, you'll feel like 'this is it', but I'm also hoping that as many new players as possible will play it.

"At the beginning of Kingdom Hearts, there is a monologue that goes: "I've been having these weird thoughts lately. Like...is any of this real, or not?" What does that mean?"

Nomura: The name “Quadratum” didn't exist at that time, but the idea was there. It was a long preparation for the day when I would reach this point (laughs).

"So it was actually a foreshadowing that took 20 years!? Then, do you see a future where the Kingdom Hearts series will be completed?"

Nomura: If this isn't a dream, then I only have a few years left until I retire, and it's looking like: will I retire or will I finish the series first? (laughs) However, I'm making Kingdom Hearts IV with the intention of it being a story that leads to the conclusion.
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More Kingdom Hearts OSTs Added to Streaming Services

Posted by Meilin Lee : Aug 16, 2024 at 9:27 AM ( 0 , 846 )

In a surprise move, Disney and Square-Enix today have released the soundtracks of 358/2 Days, Re:coded, Birth by Sleep, and Dream Drop Distance to streaming services (Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music), giving fans the chance to stream many great tracks from these games, many of which haven't been included in the HD 1.5 and 2.5 OSTs!

The tracks for Days, Re:coded, and BBS are compiled under the same album, while the tracks from DDD are in a separate album. Be sure to check it out if you have any of the above listed subscription services!

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'Kingdom Hearts' Now Available on Steam!

Posted by Meilin Lee : Jun 13, 2024 at 2:33 PM ( 2 , 1,838 )

After making a surprise announcement of it last month, the 'Kingdom Hearts' series has finally been released on Steam, with 'Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 HD ReMIX', 'Kingdom Hearts 2.8 HD Final Chapter Prologue', and 'Kingdom Hearts III' (including DLC) now available to download for Steam players:

Additionally, all three collections (purchased under the 'Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece' package), are available at a discounted price of $68.99 until June 27th:

And to celebrate the Steam release, Square-Enix is holding a Kingdom Hearts/Steam Deck sweepstakes (more information here), with the following prizes up for grabs:

1st Place: Tetsuya Nomura Signed Steam Deck OLED 1TB | KINGDOM HEARTS INTEGRUM MASTERPIECE | HiGround Keyboard Selection (Crystal Collection or Topograph Collection) | 1st Choice of KH Merch (See T&Cs for list)

Key Bearer Status Winner: Steam Deck OLED 1TB | KINGDOM HEARTS INTEGRUM MASTERPIECE | HiGround Keyboard Selection (Crystal Collection or Topograph Collection) | 2nd Choice of KH Merch (See T&Cs for list)

#KHonSteam Winner(x1-2) - Dependent on Community bonus: Steam Deck OLED 512GB | KINGDOM HEARTS INTEGRUM MASTERPIECE | 3rd/4th Choice of KH Merch (See T&Cs for list)

General Pool Winner(x3): Steam Deck LCD 256GB (Dependent on Community Bonus) | KINGDOM HEARTS INTEGRUM MASTERPIECE

Lastly, a special message was posted by Hikaru Utada in celebration of the Steam release, discussing the recent re-recording of "Hikari/Simple and Clean":

EDIT:

Here are comments made by Tetsuya Nomura, celebrating the Steam release:

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'Kingdom Hearts' Series Coming to Steam

Posted by Meilin Lee : May 20, 2024 at 11:28 PM ( 3 , 2,571 )

Three years since the 'Kingdom Hearts' series was first released on PC through the Epic Games Store, it has been announced today that the series will soon be accessible to PC players via Steam:

As indicated above, 'Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX', 'Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue', and 'Kingdom Hearts III' (including the Re Mind DLC) will be available on Steam starting June 13th!

EDIT:

A trailer to commemorate the Steam release (along with a newly recorded version of 'Simple and Clean') has been released:

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Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link' Android Closed Beta Scheduled For Next Month

Posted by Meilin Lee : Mar 29, 2024 at 6:13 PM ( 2 , 2,897 )

After announcing earlier this year that the Android closed beta test for 'Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link' would be postponed, Square-Enix made an announcement today that the game's closed beta test will finally be scheduled next month from April 25th till May 2nd:

The lucky players who'll get to be chosen for this closed beta test will be notified sometime around April 19th!

EDIT:

It was announced earlier today that the Android closed beta test will be postponed a week to May 2nd to account for feedback from the previous closed beta, and that there will be a closed beta for iOS devices at the same time!

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