News ► Nomura Discusses Demo Feedback, Sora, and the Final Battle with Game Informer

[Dandelion]

The E3 interviews keep rolling in! This time, Game Informer's posted a brief interview where Series Director Tetsuya Nomura discusses dealing with demo feedback, Sora's personality, and looking forward to the final battle in KINGDOM HEARTS 3.

The Premiere Event held in May gave press, influencers and VIP guests a chance to play the first-ever live demo of Kingdom Hearts 3. The development team has since made several adjustments based on the feedback from the demo, but Nomura admits that gathering critiques of the game was actually not their original intention:

"The event wasn’t really to get feedback from anyone,” Nomura says. “It was to show it to everyone and hope everyone there would spread the word and the details about the game. That being said, I didn’t really go around asking for feedback, but the dev team, myself included, does look at all the comments that are online. It’s not that we will change things just because one person says this or that, but we’ve been constantly testing the game. We’ve been in QA for a while now, so we’re constantly adjusting the game based on that feedback and some of the comments online have been taken into consideration."

KH3 will bring about the long-awaited conclusion to the Xehanort saga. Sora has faced Master Xehanort and his incarnations numerous times throughout the series. No matter what obstacles he's pitted against or threats he encounters, Sora always manages to endure and keep a bright smile on his face. But will he be able to maintain that unfaltering optimism this time?

"He is a very bright character in general, but there will be many serious themes with Sora that involve [him] in Kingdom Hearts III. There will be a few times where Sora will be on the edge of despair, but because he’s so bright and he has that personality, he quickly brings it back to a neutral state. I think that’s a strength he has, and another strength he has is this trust and believe in others. I think that’s always been what helped him through the storyline and I think that will be another driving factor for him in Kingdom Hearts III."

Nomura went on to talk about the Keyblade design process and preferred order to play the series. When asked about what he was most looking forward to in KHIII, Nomura ended the interview with this:

“There are so many great things to see that it’s really difficult to say [just one thing]. I think what we’ve done as an action game with the combat mechanics is just really great, and the story is a culmination of past decade and more. Of course, there are a lot of surprises that are even greater than the Aqua’s surprise [in the Frozen trailer]. But I think I just want to say that the last battle in the game is something I want everyone to see as well as this new original location that I’ve really wanted to create for a long time now. If I had to say just one though, it’d be the last battle.”

You can read the rest of the interview here.

What do you think Nomura is setting up for the Final Battle? Let us know!

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[gosoxtim]

There are so many great things to see that it’s really difficult to say [just one thing]. I think what we’ve done as an action game with the combat mechanics is just really great, and the story is a culmination of past decade and more. Of course, there are a lot of surprises that are even greater than the Aqua’s surprise [in the Frozen trailer]. But I think I just want to say that the last battle in the game is something I want everyone to see as well as this new original location that I’ve really wanted to create for a long time now. If I had to say just one though, it’d be the last battle.

my bet the final battle will be in inside kingdom hearts unless we going some where that conneted to kingdom hearts

He is a very bright character in general, but there will be many serious themes with Sora that involve [him] in Kingdom Hearts III. There will be a few times where Sora will be on the edge of despair, but because he’s so bright and he has that personality, he quickly brings it back to a neutral state. I think that’s a strength he has, and another strength he has is this trust and believe in others. I think that’s always been what helped him through the storyline and I think that will be another driving factor for him in Kingdom Hearts III."

this sounds like there going to be angst moments but sora persoity balences it out

 

[Zettaflare]

Would be cool if the location for Sora and Xehanort's final battle was in the old man's own Station of Awakening.

 

[OathkeeperRoxas XIII]

Inside Kingdom hearts or what happens when the X-Blade is forged

 

[TruestSyn]

I think the final battle will be at Daybreak town in the World Without Borders.

 

[Ballad of Caius]

I don't think it's Daybreak Town. Nomura said it's in a world he's been meaning to create for a long time now, and I think this is what he referenced in a past interview concerning something he's been meaning to do ever since he got to work into Final Fantasy.

But it could be Daybreak Town if the count the World Without Borders as the original thing Nomura has been wanting to do, and Daybreak Town a part of it.

 

[radiantmemories]

Maybe the location he has wanted to put in the game for a long time is the Destiny Island mainland? He said original, so it has to be unique to the KH universe. And that is an important location that we haven't gotten to see yet.

Also, note that he mentioned the last battle and the new location as two separate things he wants fans to see. The new location doesn't have to be the location of the final battle.

 

[ebenbork]

Could that have been the first piece of info he's ever mentioned about Cable Town to the public?

 

[shady543]

I find it interesting that this confirms that there's going to be a lot of moments where Sora feels down, but he's gonna pulls through instantly. I guess those people who complain about Sora's character development and 'want him to snap at least once' are going to be disappointed again lol. I admit I'd also like to see some character development from Sora as well, but at the same time I understand why they make him the way he is because it seems to be literally the reason he's able to save the day. :\

Also for the final battle my bet is on Kingdom Hearts as well.

 

[Darkspawn]

I think Kingdom Hearts will be a fully explorable world. I just don’t think Keyblade Graveyard will cut it as the final dungeon.

 

[Zettaflare]

I'm just hoping he doesn't lash out at Donald and Goofy during his lower moments again. I hated that in CoM.

 

[shady543]

is it bad that i actually enjoyed that scene. xD

But nah, I agree that Donald and Goofy shouldn't get it, especially since they've been there with him for like the entire journey, and the majority of the time it actually seems like its them that makes him snap out of it and go back on track.

 

[Aramagon]

Maybe Xehanort will succeed in his plan and the worlds will once more be reunited into a single, merged one. How cool could that be? Maybe with each area transition, you also change the Party so it's even more diverse, so in one area you're fighting with Hercules and Sulley, while on the other you're fighting with Rapunzel and Baymax?

End of the World already felt like a version of this, so maybe this time Nomura wants to make this world 100x times better.

 

[Platinum End]

I hope that the KH team takes in the feedback and consideration for the combat aspect of the game. I want Abilities just like in KH 1 and 2. If they can add that then i will be A ok. Only thing is if they hadn't intended on adding abilities to the game and if they do, then that would mean they would have to re-adjust all the boss fights according to the abilities gained throughout the story but we shall see. As for the final battle, i can't see Sora winning the fight against an old man who is very knowledgable unless he learns from Sora after defeat lol.

 

[Chaser]

I hope that the KH team takes in the feedback and consideration for the combat aspect of the game. I want Abilities just like in KH 1 and 2. If they can add that then i will be A ok. Only thing is if they hadn't intended on adding abilities to the game and if they do, then that would mean they would have to re-adjust all the boss fights according to the abilities gained throughout the story but we shall see. As for the final battle, i can't see Sora winning the fight against an old man who is very knowledgable unless he learns from Sora after defeat lol.

No need to fear, Nomura has said KH3’s level system is like KH1/2’s, which had abilities unlock at levels.

 

[TruestSyn]

No need to fear, Nomura has said KH3’s level system is like KH1/2’s, which had abilities unlock at levels.

I don't want to sound whiny, but I know early in KH2's life people had issues with Finishing moves, did anybody confirm if that's staying? I don't think BBS or DDD had that kind of system, I remember killing many bosses starting a combo, but I'd prefer not to have to pull off finishers. There are many moments in KH 2 where I had all my combo pluses on and enemies would keep hitting revenge value before I pulled off a finisher (before I realized a lot of magic counts as a finisher even as a first cast) like the Hyenas and Pete. Now that I've learned more from Level 1 strategies it's not an issue, but it'd be nice to know. I'm guessing we'll get set abilities from bosses and important battles as well? I think there was a term for them like event battles or whatever, when you see the panning camera and when you finish the screen does the boss flash/boom/slow mo.

 

[Chaser]

I don't want to sound whiny, but I know early in KH2's life people had issues with Finishing moves, did anybody confirm if that's staying?

I wish I had thought of that when fighting the Rock Titan, I would have tested it out. I hated needing to use a finisher move to defeat a boss (thank gosh for magic though).

I'm sure there's some video out there of someone not using the train attraction flow where they chip away at the Titan's head.

 

[Alpha Baymax]

I am so intrigued to see whatever's more of a shock value than Aqua being a Seeker of Darkness. Like, I feel that's the epitome of being surprised because so many of us were so confident in her being a guardian of light.

 

[Megavoltage]

I think the only thing that can top Aqua getting Norted is Sora getting Norted. He's the messiah who everyone revolves around then BAM he gets Norted and is the true final boss battle.

 

[shady543]

^ oh shit don't give me kaine flashbacks :'(

But I think this interview somewhat confirms that Sora is not getting norted? Im personally more concerned about Roxas since he was meantioned to be the biggest secret, somehow more than Aqua being norted. Unless that just means 2nd playable character (which Im hoping since duel weild Roxas is the best thing), Im scared for him. If he does some stupid sacrifice to save Sora or some shit I will eat my shoes. :/