banner img
  • Home
  • Forums
  • Register
  • Contact Us

Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory Releases November 13 2020

Otocoto reveals history of how Kingdom Hearts got approved by Eisner

Dark Road: Chapter 2 - The Presence of Darkness

  • All
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Features
  • Editorials
  • Merchandise
  • KINGDOM HEARTS Dark Seeker Saga
  • KINGDOM HEARTS III
  • KINGDOM HEARTS Melody of Memory
  • KINGDOM HEARTS Union χ Dark Road
  • MOBILE
  • The World Ends With You
  • NEO: The World Ends With You

RECENT DISCUSSION TOPICS

  • What does this scene means?
  • Lucky emblems lore?
  • Where is Kingdom Hearts going? Yozora VS Kairi & friends?
  • Is anyone going to talk about how kh3 is 2 years old today?
  • More Playable characters moving forward
  • The Caribbean World
  • I've found the next game opening
  • WHAT IF: PIXAR Worlds Are Connected To Quadratum?
  • A Wishlist for the Future Part 2:Final Fantasy Characters
  • Characters who remind you of Xehanort ...

MULTIMEDIA

  • Submissions
  • Avatars
  • Signatures
  • Wallpapers
  • iPhone Wallpapers
  • PSP Wallpapers
  • PS Vita Wallpapers
  • Video Game MIDI files
  • Video Game Music
  • Anime Downloads

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Elsa, Anna, Rapunzel, and Kairi make up four of the new Princesses of Heart. Come theorise who the last three Princesses will be!

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to Kingdom Hearts News!

Enter your email address:

   

KHINSIDER

  • Membership FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Staff
  • Affiliation

POLL

Who do you prefer to play as in Kingdom Hearts 3D?

Sora - 100%
Riku - 0%

Total votes: 1, but the poll doesn't work yet
View details
read the related article >>

Kingdom Hearts Dark Road details revealed

Details
Published on February 19, 2020 @ 03:01 am
Written by Joey
Tweet

Square Enix have released information on what exactly Kingdom Hearts Dark Road is, while highlighting the connection the game will have with Union X.

Kingdom Hearts Dark Road will be a brand-new game available within the Union X app and can be launched from the Union X title screen. The game will feature card gameplay while you play as a Young Xehanort traveling with Eraqus across Disney worlds such as Agrabah.

Additionally, the gameplay will feature high speed battles that require quick reflexes to flick during combat.

KINGDOM HEARTS DARK ROAD
Exhilarating, high speed battles that depend on reflexes!

Uncover Xehanort’s past—


* DARK ROAD will be a standalone game which can be played without playing Union χ.

◆KHUX & KHDR Link Campaign
The more complete your KHUX Medal Album is, the more points you can earn in KHDR to trade in for Cards to be used in battle!

image


* Note
・This campaign will only occur once for the release of KHDR.
・Only players who have played KHUX before the release of KHDR will be eligible. Any progress made to the Album following the release of KHDR will not reward any points in KHDR.
・The Medal Album can be viewed by opening MENU > Other > Album in "KHUX".

 

COMMENTS

+ Reply

Ryuman

February 19, 2020 @ 03:10 amOffline

comment graphic

So it's not a million miles away from UX, but not quite the same. I'm feeling a little optimistic about the points system for getting cards. Obviously that can still be monetised to hell but right now there is a bit less of a hardcore gacha vibe.

FudgemintGuardian

February 19, 2020 @ 03:12 amOffline

comment graphic

Chaser

February 19, 2020 @ 03:13 amOffline

comment graphic

Agrabah and emblem heartless? How the heck is this going to work?

Absent

February 19, 2020 @ 03:13 amOffline

comment graphic

I'll stick to KHinsider's YouTube.

OneDandelion

February 19, 2020 @ 03:17 amOffline

comment graphic

so another gotcha game, cool.

All reused assets and KHUX was already starved for content. they must have like 5 people working on these mobiles games. jesus.

bambii

February 19, 2020 @ 03:21 amOffline

comment graphic

This is underwhelming. The only potential silver lining I can conjure is that, perhaps, this means they’ll be phasing out Union X soon. Which ~hopefully~ might mean they can move onto releasing it as a cutscene movie à la Back Cover.

But honestly if I see another copy-and-paste Agrabah I’m gonna lose my mind ?

The_Echo

February 19, 2020 @ 03:21 amOffline

comment graphic

I'm relieved that it's not actually a completely separate app.
Wonder why they made a separate Twitter account, that being the case.
Should we consider Dark Road a separate game, or just lump them together as Union χ Dark Road like the logo?

Also, the gameplay is markedly different from the normal game, and feels a bit nostalgic for χ[chi]
I'm excited.

Sign

February 19, 2020 @ 03:25 amOffline

comment graphic

Japanese notice does state that this is the "double feature" Nomura mentioned in September.

Chaser

February 19, 2020 @ 03:26 amOffline

comment graphic

Sign

Not that it really needed the confirmation at this point but the Japanese notice does state that this is the "double feature" Nomura mentioned in September.

English tweet confirms this too :)

Sign

February 19, 2020 @ 03:27 amOffline

comment graphic

Chaser

English tweet confirms this too :)


I don't care about them >:(

They can't even be bothered to be consistent in their messaging.

FudgemintGuardian

February 19, 2020 @ 03:35 amOffline

comment graphic

I'd like to know how the heck they're gonna explain how there's Emblem Heartless around...

user avatar

AR829038

February 19, 2020 @ 03:36 amOffline

comment graphic

Great.
Same childish chibi art style.
Same reliance on cards/medals (no evidence yet that this will be another gacha mechanic, but I'm 100% sure they're going to go that route—it IS the exact same team, after all, and these people have proven they have NO shame...)
And more Agrabah... UUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!
They couldn't even be bothered to separate it and give it its own app.
I can only pray that they won't manage the story the same way they've managed Union X. If they put this out in little drips the same way, I'm not playing, even if it's free.
I'm so disappointed in Nomura that this was the best he could do as a way to tell Xehanort's story. I can only hope that making it on this device and making it essentially an outgrowth of the UX application means that there isn't actually much story he wants to tell, and that this whole story will be over and done in quick order—a small little side story like 0.2.
I can't even say I'm that excited to see more of Scala in this game. Not if it's like this. I want to see more of it in a real game, not mangled and warped into this bite-size world with its bite-size avatars and two-dimensional art style.
God, I just hope this game crashes and burns. I know only a little bit about it, and I already hate it. I just want it to die quickly so Nomura/Square Enix can finally take the hint that we don't want these godforsaken mobile games. Give us the story on the consoles they deserve to be on! I never thought I'd miss the days of handhelds...

SweetYetSalty

February 19, 2020 @ 03:38 amOffline

comment graphic

I don't know what I had hoped for this game, but eh? I'm not into mobile games so I'll just follow the news on this one. If I know KH like I think I do, this game will introduce a girl that is very important to Xehanort and Eraqus that we never heard about and she will play a role in Xehanort's downfall to darkness by either dying or being in some limbo state for Xehanort to save her, he forgets about her and falls in love with darkness instead and he and Eraqus never speak of her until it becomes relevant. Don't let me down Kingdom Hearts XD

The_Echo

February 19, 2020 @ 03:39 amOffline

comment graphic

FudgemintGuardian

I'd like to know how the heck they're gonna explain how there's Emblem Heartless around...

All Heartless come from Darkness, and have no physical bodies by default
So they're time traveling :^)

I'm kidding but like, this is a very real possibility for why Heartless are in UX/Daybreak Town at all. Remember when your Foreteller said it felt like someone was bringing the Heartless there?

user avatar

AR829038

February 19, 2020 @ 03:39 amOffline

comment graphic

FudgemintGuardian

I'd like to know how the heck they're gonna explain how there's Emblem Heartless around...

I have two guesses.
1. They won't.
2. This could take place back during Eraqus and Xehanort's exam days, and one of the Secret Reports by Xehanort stated that one of the exercises they went through was to go through the worlds of the ancient Keyblade wielders from the Union X days. Maybe this means the Book of Prophecies is around at this time, and maybe it conjures up those worlds (and the Emblem Heartless) from the future just as it did during Union X.

Oracle Spockanort

February 19, 2020 @ 03:39 amOffline

comment graphic

hahahahahhahahahahaahah paying UX players already have an advantage over Dark Road players because of their medal collection THANKS I HATE IT

The only way they can make me visit Agrabah again is if Eraqus, Xehanort, or any one of the other new characters flirts with Cassim the hottest dad ever

God, I hate this. I really hate this, but I'm too curious to not try it out. I don't think this is going to work out the way they expect it to. UX is slowly dying and the reception to this is rather tepid.

Venitas

February 19, 2020 @ 03:41 amOffline

comment graphic

I really hoped they wouldn't but they did anyway

user avatar

AR829038

February 19, 2020 @ 03:46 amOffline

comment graphic

Oracle Spockanort

hahahahahhahahahahaahah paying UX players already have an advantage over Dark Road players because of their medal collection THANKS I HATE IT

The only way they can make me visit Agrabah again is if Eraqus, Xehanort, or any one of the other new characters flirts with Cassim the hottest dad ever

God, I hate this. I really hate this, but I'm too curious to not try it out. I don't think this is going to work out the way they expect it to. UX is slowly dying and the reception to this is rather tepid.

If I'm being honest, I would rather take another Coded over this. I'm at the point where I'd rather have a narratively pointless game that's at least fun to play over another lore-balloon that feels like such an unbearable, years-long slog. I'm more certain now than ever, these mobile games are in fact the WORST thing to ever happen to this series, and I want it to STOP!

Face My Fears

February 19, 2020 @ 03:46 amOffline

comment graphic

So is this an actual story that will be completed in the one download of the game or do I have to wait years with separate updates to get the full story?

Also, is the Agrabah that they visit Data Agrabah from KHUX or the real Agrabah from 50 or so years before KH1?

Also, how are embless heartless there if Ansem creates them 50 or so years from when the game takes place?

Chaser

February 19, 2020 @ 03:47 amOffline

comment graphic

Face My Fears

So is this an actual story that will be completed in the one download of the game or do I have to wait years with separate updates to get the full story?

The latter.

user avatar

darknessofheart

February 19, 2020 @ 03:49 amOffline

comment graphic

At this point, I'd rather another 3 hour movie to what is being shown here.

Face My Fears

February 19, 2020 @ 03:50 amOffline

comment graphic

Chaser

The latter.

OMFG. I'm just going to stick to KH3 and wait for the cinematic version of KHUX/Dark Road. If it was a one-shot deal with the full story, I would have actually tried to find a way to play it.

SweetYetSalty

February 19, 2020 @ 03:51 amOffline

comment graphic

So does this mean Union X is ending soon to be replaced by this?

user avatar

PARACOSMIC-M

February 19, 2020 @ 03:51 amOffline

comment graphic

Something to consider: Speed and reflexes being integral to the gameplay will prolly make it impossible for me and many other disabled people to play. This was the case with the classic kingdom games too; I didn’t have enough range of motion or speed to play most of them. Not to derail the thread, but what do you all think the chances are of Dark Road having accessibility options?

Chaser

February 19, 2020 @ 03:53 amOffline

comment graphic

SweetYetSalty

So does this mean Union X is ending soon to be replaced by this?

No, they're going to run concurrently with each other. Though apparently Union X hasn't been making as much money for Square Enix as the other mobile games so who knows if this desperate ploy for money will work and keep both games going.

PARACOSMIC-M

Something to consider: Speed and reflexes being integral to the gameplay will prolly make it impossible for me and many other disabled people to play. This was the case with the classic kingdom games too; I didn’t have enough range of motion or speed to play most of them. Not to derail the thread, but what do you all think the chances are of Dark Road having accessibility options?

There's an auto option for battle. That might make things easier for those with disabilities? But without playing we ultimately don't know if it will be fully accessible :(

user avatar

AR829038

February 19, 2020 @ 03:54 amOffline

comment graphic

PARACOSMIC-M

Something to consider: Speed and reflexes being integral to the gameplay will prolly make it impossible for me and many other disabled people to play. This was the case with the classic kingdom games too; I didn’t have enough range of motion or speed to play most of them. Not to derail the thread, but what do you all think the chances are of Dark Road having accessibility options?

So, not to downplay your concerns, but, wouldn't all the KH games then be barely accessible to people with such handicaps? After all, reflexes and timing are kind of salient gameplay aspects of this series—I don't really know how you get through them without being at least a little capable with regards to reflexes/speed. I can't imagine that the "speed/reflex" timing they're talking about here is much more intensive than the kind demanded of those playing the main games.

Chaser

No, they're going to run concurrently with each other. Though apparently Union X hasn't been making as much money for Square Enix as the other mobile games so who knows if this desperate ploy for money will work and keep both games going.


There's an auto option for battle. That might make things easier for those with disabilities? But without playing we ultimately don't know if it will be fully accessible :(

Sounds like they're flailing as they fall off the cliff. Let both of them just die already. Let Nomura remake them into real games if the story is really that important.

SweetYetSalty

February 19, 2020 @ 03:58 amOffline

comment graphic

Chaser

No, they're going to run concurrently with each other. Though apparently Union X hasn't been making as much money for Square Enix as the other mobile games so who knows if this desperate ploy for money will work and keep both games going.

That's so evil! It makes me wonder if they even know what they want to end Union X on? Still making stuff up as they go along I see.

Oracle Spockanort

February 19, 2020 @ 03:59 amOffline

comment graphic

mobile games make me cry I’m so sad

AR829038

So, not to downplay your concerns, but, wouldn't all the KH games then be barely accessible to people with such handicaps? After all, reflexes and timing are kind of salient gameplay aspects of this series—I don't really know how you get through them without being at least a little capable with regards to reflexes/speed. I can't imagine that the "speed/reflex" timing they're talking about here is much more intensive than the kind demanded of those playing the main games.


Nah, KH on various settings is still playable even for people with disabilities. You can button mash a lot of the games which is what I do as a primary strategy. More difficult bosses do require some more strategy but it’s all still accessible on lower settings if you need to take that route.

Prior to ReMind, the super bosses were optional and had nothing to do with story progression as well, so any player at any skill level could enjoy the full story.

Sign

February 19, 2020 @ 04:00 amOffline

comment graphic

Insisting that we cover KHX all those years ago continues to be my best idea ever.

Face My Fears

OMFG. I'm just going to stick to KH3 and wait for the cinematic version of KHUX/Dark Road. If it was a one-shot deal with the full story, I would have actually tried to find a way to play it.


You could consider watching the 10 minutes of cutscenes goldpanner and I slave over each month to provide? Especially since you're dabbling in UX-related theories, it's important to keep up to date with new developments.

user avatar

AR829038

February 19, 2020 @ 04:00 amOffline

comment graphic

Oracle Spockanort

mobile games are


Nah, KH on various settings is still playable even for people with disabilities. You can button mash a lot of the games. More difficult bosses do require some more strategy but it’s all still accessible on lower settings if you need to take that route.

Prior to ReMind, the super bosses were optional and had nothing to do with story progression as well, so any player at any skill level could enjoy the full story.

Okay. That makes sense.

user avatar

darknessofheart

February 19, 2020 @ 04:01 amOffline

comment graphic

With regards to Disney Worlds, the only possible redeeming quality I could think of is if there are new characters. If this takes place 75+ years before KH3, it would be a cool opportunity to introduce some unique history to Disney characters.

But now that I think of it, I don't think Disney would ever allow that, especially in a mobile game. Please don't tell me Xehanort runs into the same characters, even though it's decades before they should even exist.

Ballad of Caius

February 19, 2020 @ 04:01 amOffline

comment graphic

My expectations for this were low, but holy eff. And I'm pretty conservative. Watch the Emblem Heartless appear because the Book of Prophecies has been passed down and Eraqus' line and that's what they're using to train. Also, I don't think Dark Road will phase out KHUx. I think it's a complimentary feature to try and breathe some life into KHUx before they finally shut it down.

SweetYetSalty

February 19, 2020 @ 04:03 amOffline

comment graphic

They are traveling through time right? So Eraqus is now a time traveler? Huh. So are Terra and Aqua the only non time travelers from the BBS era?

user avatar

AR829038

February 19, 2020 @ 04:03 amOffline

comment graphic

Ballad of Caius

My expectations for this were low, but holy eff. And I'm pretty conservative. Watch the Emblem Heartless appear because the Book of Prophecies has been passed down and Eraqus' line and that's what they're using to train. Also, I don't think Dark Road will phase out KHUx. I think it's a complimentary feature to try and breathe some life into KHUx before they finally shut it down.

That was my theory, too (about the Book of Prophecies). Although, to be fair, KH3's Secret Reports written by Xehanort did already hint at this, so at least it doesn't come out of thin air like a lot of Nomura's ideas.

Ballad of Caius

February 19, 2020 @ 04:04 amOffline

comment graphic

AR829038

That was my theory, too (about the Book of Prophecies). Although, to be fair, KH3's Secret Reports written by Xehanort did already hint at this, so at least it doesn't come out of thin air like a lot of Nomura's ideas.

What specifically do the Secret Reports say?

Chaser

February 19, 2020 @ 04:05 amOffline

comment graphic

Ballad of Caius

What specifically do the Secret Reports say?

Secret Report 2

Mark of Mastery Journal—

Some days have passed since I set off on my journey to prepare for the Mark of Mastery examination. Eraqus asked for leave to undertake the same pilgrimage, but apparently I am to be first to tour the worlds written of in the old fairy tales.

Until a few short years ago, I'd known only my own world, a speck of land surrounded by sea. But how I'd dreamed of, yearned for the World beyond... And, granted guidance from the future, I left that nest behind. As I treaded the path to my master's side, I came in contact with darkness in many forms. I knew even then, as by instinct: terrifying as its power was, it could be harnessed. Mastered.

Eraqus is a blueblood, descended from the very first masters in the age of fairy tales. But I did not come this far to indulge in adulation. I will be his peer. His equal. And to do that, I must learn to wield the power born from both darkness and light in proper balance.


—Xehanort

Oracle Spockanort

February 19, 2020 @ 04:06 amOffline

comment graphic

darknessofheart

With regards to Disney Worlds, the only possible redeeming quality I could think of is if there are new characters. If this takes place 75+ years before KH3, it would be a cool opportunity to introduce some unique history to Disney characters.

But now that I think of it, I don't think Disney would ever allow that, especially in a mobile game. Please don't tell me Xehanort runs into the same characters, even though it's decades before they should even exist.


We’ll see Xehanort meet Aladdin and it’s gonna be all sorts of dumb

MATGSY

February 19, 2020 @ 04:07 amOffline

comment graphic

Well at least I know it'll run on my Kindle Fire.

SweetYetSalty

February 19, 2020 @ 04:08 amOffline

comment graphic

Is Xehanort going to fight Jafar and send him to the lamp for the 100th time in this series?

Ballad of Caius

February 19, 2020 @ 04:08 amOffline

comment graphic

Chaser

Secret Report 2

Mark of Mastery Journal—

Some days have passed since I set off on my journey to prepare for the Mark of Mastery examination. Eraqus asked for leave to undertake the same pilgrimage, but apparently I am to be first to tour the worlds written of in the old fairy tales.

Until a few short years ago, I'd known only my own world, a speck of land surrounded by sea. But how I'd dreamed of, yearned for the World beyond... And, granted guidance from the future, I left that nest behind. As I treaded the path to my master's side, I came in contact with darkness in many forms. I knew even then, as by instinct: terrifying as its power was, it could be harnessed. Mastered.

Eraqus is a blueblood, descended from the very first masters in the age of fairy tales. But I did not come this far to indulge in adulation. I will be his peer. His equal. And to do that, I must learn to wield the power born from both darkness and light in proper balance.


—Xehanort

Thanks! Hmm. Xehanort did call Scala the nexus from which all worlds spring. Maybe Scala has a special property that makes it easier to travel to those worlds?

Oracle Spockanort

February 19, 2020 @ 04:11 amOffline

comment graphic

Eraqus: wow a new world!
Xehanort: ...I don’t like sand...it’s coarse and irritating, and it gets everywhere

Face My Fears

February 19, 2020 @ 04:11 amOffline

comment graphic

Sign

Insisting that we cover KHX all those years ago continues to be my best idea ever.



You could consider watching the 10 minutes of cutscenes goldpanner and I slave over each month to provide? Especially since you're dabbling in UX-related theories, it's important to keep up to date with new developments.

I watch the cutscenes and am very appreciative and thankful that you guys work on them. It's just I'm kind of weird in that I like to earn the cutscenes, it feels just weird loading up cutscenes for KH that I didn't already unlock by playing the game.

user avatar

darknessofheart

February 19, 2020 @ 04:12 amOffline

comment graphic

If Xehanort is touring worlds projected from the future, then it's no wonder why he considers them a mess. The future worlds are ravaged by darkness because of what his future self does.

SweetYetSalty

February 19, 2020 @ 04:13 amOffline

comment graphic

So is Wonderland and Neverland going to be worlds in this too? Aren't they usually a shoe-in for redoing KH worlds? How is this going to work in the KH timeline...which is already crazy.

user avatar

AR829038

February 19, 2020 @ 04:13 amOffline

comment graphic

darknessofheart

If Xehanort is touring worlds projected from the future, then it's no wonder why he considers them a mess. The future worlds are ravaged by darkness because of what his future self does.

That would actually be kind of an ironic twist.

Chaser

February 19, 2020 @ 04:14 amOffline

comment graphic

SweetYetSalty

So is Wonderland and Neverland going to be worlds in this too? Aren't they usually a shoe-in for redoing KH worlds? How is this going to work in the KH timeline...which is already crazy.

Honestly, after seeing Agrabah I'm just expecting all the UX worlds to be reused for Dark Road without any new worlds (for a long while at least). So I see Wonderland being reused but I don't see Neverland being included (yet).

user avatar

AR829038

February 19, 2020 @ 04:15 amOffline

comment graphic

SweetYetSalty

So is Wonderland and Neverland going to be worlds in this too? Aren't they usually a shoe-in for redoing KH worlds? How is this going to work in the KH timeline...which is already crazy.

Wonderland, perhaps, but not Neverland. If this is supposed to be the pilgrimage mentioned in the Secret Reports, and if that pilgrimage is indeed to all the worlds the ancient Keyblade wielders traveled to, then unfortunately, it looks like we'll just be getting the exact same worlds as Union X, all over again. Which makes sense, because it means the development team won't have to make any new assets for new worlds besides Scala.

kingofgame981

February 19, 2020 @ 04:15 amOffline

comment graphic

Walking through the story in Eraqus and Xehanort's perspective is a high selling point, but looking at it now, I still hate it. Especially now seeing Agrabah again, gosh, there is nothing I hate about KH more than Agrabah. Funny to see they kinda revamp the X[chi] system into this game and breathed in a bit of COM gameplay vibe. And I cried in laugh when I saw the logo: Union X Dark Road.

I will stick with youtube anyway.

The_Echo

February 19, 2020 @ 04:19 amOffline

comment graphic

The screenshot is said to be of a development build. Agrabah could just be a placeholder location.

I fully expect reused worlds, but that doesn't necessarily mean it'll just be "Aladdin feat. Xehanort" or that there won't be new/DR-exclusive worlds.

appleboy82791

February 19, 2020 @ 04:20 amOffline

comment graphic

I expected Dark Road to be another cash grab like KHUX turned out to be. My bar was set pretty low.

But this... this is worse than I could have imagined. They don't even have the decency to make it it's own game. This is how we're going to have to see Xehanort's story...

What is happening to KH?

This is my nightmare...

Chaser

February 19, 2020 @ 04:21 amOffline

comment graphic

The_Echo

The screenshot is said to be of a development build. Agrabah could just be a placeholder location.

I fully expect reused worlds, but that doesn't necessarily mean it'll just be "Aladdin feat. Xehanort" or that there won't be new/DR-exclusive worlds.

Remember how long it took for them to create the Wreck-it-Ralph world. It took so long people though the new Disney world had been cancelled. I really don't expect Dark Road to get any new Disney worlds for a long time.

SweetYetSalty

February 19, 2020 @ 04:22 amOffline

comment graphic

Chaser

Honestly, after seeing Agrabah I'm just expecting all the UX worlds to be reused for Dark Road without any new worlds (for a long while at least). So I see Wonderland being reused but I don't see Neverland being included (yet).

So I'll get to see Xehanort and Eraqus chase the White Rabbit, meet the Cheshire Cat and stand trial for no reason at all. Wouldn't be a KH Disney rehash without those.

Eonstar890

February 19, 2020 @ 04:25 amOffline

comment graphic

Anyone else feel like brand new game was kind of false advertising? I really wonder how in depth this will be if it is sharing app space with UX...

Oracle Spockanort

February 19, 2020 @ 04:29 amOffline

comment graphic

Eonstar890

Anyone else feel like brand new game was kind of false advertising? I really wonder how in depth this will be if it is sharing app space with UX...


Yes. I think the marketing of this was entirely misleading and really scummy. But to be clear, they never stated it was a new game, only a new experience/new project. I do think they shouldn’t have marketed this as it’s own “standalone”, though. Standalone would mean it doesn’t need to piggyback off of UX, or give UX players a bonus for having large collections of medals to give DR players better cards.

Right from the get-go they should have stated this was linking to UX. It would have kept all of our expectations in check.

The_Echo

February 19, 2020 @ 04:48 amOffline

comment graphic

Oracle Spockanort

Right from the get-go they should have stated this was linking to UX. It would have kept all of our expectations in check.

They did say that UX players would get something for DR.

And considering the game can be played independently of UX, I'd say that qualifies as standalone.
It's like the mobage version of an HD collection. Two games sharing one launcher.
I'm willing to bet it'll even be an optional download, like other than the update to change the title screen, UX players won't have to go and install DR unless they actually want to play it, and vice versa.

As for keeping KH fans' expectations in check... short of revealing everything all at once, that's just not possible.
You give this community and inch and they'll go 5000 miles. One teaser and everyone's suddenly acting like all their wildest theories are coming true.
Like some people were actually convinced this would be a full 3D game like Mobius without any evidence whatsoever.

Oracle Spockanort

February 19, 2020 @ 05:00 amOffline

comment graphic

The_Echo

They did say that UX players would get something for DR.


Yeah but that could have been just like any pre-registration bonus for any mobile game. Plenty of games offer bonuses to people who have X or Y game and join Z game.



And considering the game can be played independently of UX, I'd say that qualifies as standalone.It's like the mobage version of an HD collection. Two games sharing one launcher.



I can see the argument



As for keeping KH fans' expectations in check... short of revealing everything all at once, that's just not possible.



I see nothing wrong with them having just revealed at least these details during the initial announcement. Nothing has changed between then and now except it is a different day.



You give this community and inch and they'll go 5000 miles. One teaser and everyone's suddenly acting like all their wildest theories are coming true.
Like some people were actually convinced this would be a full 3D game like Mobius without any evidence whatsoever.



Which is why they should have just revealed these little details to begin with to keep from the unnecessary speculation and wild guessing. All it did was create disappointment, not hype.

Also I can see why people thought it might be 3D. They marketed the game with a screenshot from KH3. Even X[chi] was tactful enough to be marketed using an illustration with the target art design of the game.

Hirokey123

February 19, 2020 @ 05:07 amOffline

comment graphic

So as someone who has been playing UX since basically the beginning and back since its Browser Days actually, I'm a little excited. UX in terms of gameplay is actually in a really great place now, it has been for awhile. They've had a lot learning they did and taken in a lot of feedback to improve the game. It's still a gacha game unfortunately but at it's actually pretty decent as a game. The problem is UX bears a lot of the scars so to speak of all the growing it did. Lots of dead mechanics, lots of excessive resources that no longer have purpose, and they messed up the power creep early on (they again got much better at that later on) that kind of messed up the direction the combat had to go. Since people pay for these medals they also couldn't do nerfs and tweaks they basically just had to keep trucking on. UX needs clean up it can't have, so starting over using what they've learned and making a new game without all the baggage is the right move.

Now let me run a little analysis because it actually seems fairly different combat wise....

The combat system right away looks more action based if only because on the left side you can see a turn order and there are two people, YX and YE. We know there are more characters as well to come it may be that you will actually have a party like FF mobile game or really any square RPG ever. UX has played around with temporary party members but they were more a single extra attack. From the look of things Eraqus gets multiple turns that implies at the very least two characters to control with decent depth.

On the subject of the cards I get not Chi or UX vibes but flick rush vibes. You most likely flick the cards up rapidly to perform attacks, there is no visible AP or anything like that so I'm guessing it has to do with that HUD that the cards are sitting in as it looks like it's either emptying or refilling. The handling of the buffs at the top is strange it looks like the exact same buffs twice, my guess is this has something to do with Eraqus and YX like it's showing both their buffs twice or something. The heartless number could either be how many heartless you have slayed collected or how many heartless you've yet to slay. BP is probably a currency or exp of some kind.

Something to note is that while at first glance the system seems like the same cards we've known, the potion stands outs. The shadow and queen of hearts look like damage medals/cards with the attribute on them. But the potion has a shield instead of an attribute, this implies it doesn't deal damage but is instead pure support. Neither Chi or UX had something truly like that which makes me think that this is more like CoM than either of those (well chi sorta did but only sorta), with attack and non-attack cards. Chi had potions but they were used to continue a failed battle they couldn't be used in battle.

Those keyblades absolutely look designed to evolve and transform, at the same time the card we see has a picture of the keyblade on it which is puzzling. Is it showing that the keyblade is increasing the damage of the cards or are the cards increasing the damage of the keyblade's attack?

With the story I am going to prematurely assume that my initial theory that the pilgrimage to the world written in fairytales was YX traveling through the worlds of UX somehow, was correct. This would probably be where YX actually met Ventus and other ancient wielders. If not the real things then holograms of them or something and thus explain how he knew of them.

Chaser

February 19, 2020 @ 05:09 amOffline

comment graphic

It's weird because we also know what happens right after Xehanort's done with his pilgrimage.



MoM: So?

YX: Yeah. It wards off darkness. It's useful.

MoM: Told ya! So, how'd it go? The tour?

YX: I learned the reason for my existence.

MoM: Ohhh? Tell me more.

YX: All around the world, people live seemingly peaceful lives. They believe themselves to be moral and virtuous but it's all an act. Darkness lurks in the pit of everyone's heart. Their light is a total farce.

MoM: Sounds like your trip around the world opened your eyes but you got more than you anticipated. Must've seen a lot of darkness.

YX: Those who are week, and who desire greater power, simply strip the strong of their power, and convince themselves they've earned it. That's how people become tainted by darkness. They believe what they want to believe using hollow reasons as justifications. They repeat this cycle, and their darkness grows.

MoM: So you're saying the weak feel the need to justify their actions to maintain a sense of self. Can't let that slide?

YX: No, it's better they be ruled by darkness. People carry delusions of having power, but it's a lie. They are but sheep pretending to be wolves. Though I admit, I can understand why.

MoM: Oh, never heard that one before, a Keyblade wielder willing to side with the darkness? Why not just let them be until the darkness consumes them?

YX: Because left alone, the world would fall to chaos. There needs to be order.

MoM: You sure about that? Why not just sit back and watch it play out?

YX: Understanding hearts is difficult; more so the emotions within. I simple realise that it's easy to dismiss what you don't comprehend.

MoM: All right, all right... The world needs you, I'll grant you that one.

YX: I don't know what I can do, but I will act. What comes next is too important.

MoM: I suppose letting false light dictate the future might be a.... pretty lousy move. So? You can make a change, you have that power. What do you want from the world?

YX: Power, eh? Who knows? My training's coming to an end, and the exam's not far off. Maybe I can gain some clarity then.

MoM: You're letting the exam decide? Listen to me, the results don't matter. You believe the world needs you. Sounds like you already know where you're headed.

YX: It's funny. Somehow I can sense where I'm supposed to go, and what I'm supposed to do. Yes, even this coat, there's something familiar about it, as if I'm meant to wear this.

MoM: No... you'll ditch it soon.

YX: What do you mean?

MoM: I mean that one day you're going to outgrow it.

YX: How so?

MoM: If you truly possess great power, the darkness can't control you. You won't need a silly old coat to stay safe. In fact, you'll be the one controlling the darkness instead. Me, on the other hand, I'm too much of a scaredy-cat to ever take mine off.

YX: Who are you really? Some kind of fortune-teller?

MoM: Well, I could lie and tell you that's what I am, when I'm actually a brilliant artist, or even a scholar. I could tell you I dream of world peace when I'm actually planning for its destruction. The truth is what you see with your eyes, not what you hear.

YX: So, you're name?

MoM: What I just ---. Never mind, I guess there's no harm. My name is ---. I'm a Lost Master.

YX: Lost... Master...

MoM: May your heart be your guiding key.



From this conversation, we can infer that Xehanort will meet up with the Master of Masters at least once to get the coat. We know that Xehanort encounters people with light and those with darkness who are pretending to be light. It sounds like we'll be hanging around with the villains, but it'll be a Disney retread once again.

We know what lessons Xehanort takes away from his journey, so at the moment I'm just scratching my head at what else could we possibly learn from this story when we know the end result?

I know it’s always “it’s all about the journey” but can that really apply to a mobile game that exists to only make money through gacha and the main bulk of the story is stuff we have experienced like 11 times now?

GreyouTT

February 19, 2020 @ 05:14 amOffline

comment graphic

[IMG width="387px"]https://i.imgur.com/O8vx6oU.png[/IMG] [IMG width="385px"]https://i.imgur.com/RJPECbz.png[/IMG]

Anyway, it's Flick Rush! I actually enjoyed that part of DDD so this'll be fun. I am sad that it isn't a completely new game though. It would've been awesome to have revamped worlds that aren't split up by missions like Peace Walker. Still I'll definitely enjoy the gameplay for this.

Hirokey123

February 19, 2020 @ 05:15 amOffline

comment graphic

My guess is that from the sound of it YX met and was betrayed by someone, like how Sora suffered a serious betrayal by Riku, Donald, and Goofy in KH1. But unlike Sora who can understand hearts and the emotions within and was able to bounce back and take it in stride. YX who finds understanding hearts difficult ultimately took his betrayal to heart and it literally killed his hope for the people and the world, turning him pessimistic and hopeless.

The_Echo

February 19, 2020 @ 05:17 amOffline

comment graphic

Oracle Spockanort
Which is why they should have just revealed these little details to begin with to keep from the unnecessary speculation and wild guessing. All it did was create disappointment, not hype.
I disagree with the notion of organizing news releases around an unreasonable fanbase, but that's neither here nor there.



Also I can see why people thought it might be 3D. They marketed the game with a screenshot from KH3. Even X[chi] was tactful enough to be marketed using an illustration with the target art design of the game.


They used a shot of Xehanort from KHIII because he's the star of the game. χ[chi] had no such cast members they could market with pre-existing assets.
They also teased the announcement the day prior with an illustration in the same vein as UX's current key art.
Chaser

We know what lessons Xehanort takes away from his journey, so at the moment I'm just scratching my head at what else could we possibly learn from this story when we know the end result?
We knew Riku would defeat Roxas and DiZ would stick him in a computer.
We knew Xehanort would become Ansem's apprentice.
We knew the Keyblade War would happen.

Obviously more will happen in Dark Road than what we know. There's a reason they blurred out most of the key art.

Chaser

February 19, 2020 @ 05:25 amOffline

comment graphic

Hirokey123

My guess is that from the sound of it YX met and was betrayed by someone, like how Sora suffered a serious betrayal by Riku, Donald, and Goofy in KH1. But unlike Sora who can understand hearts and the emotions within and was able to bounce back and take it in stride. YX who finds understanding hearts difficult ultimately took his betrayal to heart and it literally killed his hope for the people and the world, turning him pessimistic and hopeless.

It’s Kingdom Hearts, Frozen style!

The_Echo

Obviously more will happen in Dark Road than what we know. There's a reason they blurred out most of the key art.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Bit hard to care about new characters when they haven’t existed anywhere else and the mobile game characters get thrown to the side and the story is dragged out over four years.

Sign

February 19, 2020 @ 05:38 amOffline

comment graphic

I'm mostly okay with this because UX's main story is hands down KH at its best. If Nomura can match that quality of writing for DR then I'm fine with putting up with more of, well, this.

Face My Fears

February 19, 2020 @ 05:39 amOffline

comment graphic

If Nomura was going to reuse assets, why didn't he just make Dark Road like 0.2. Throw in Young Xehanort and Eraqus. Have them visit the Disney worlds that we visited in KH3 and that's it. Even if it's just 3 of those worlds, I can see Toy Box (using Stinky Pete or Lotso Bear's backstory as the story they witness), Monsters University (or Waternoose's backstory), and an original story with Calypso in The Caribbean.

After all the spinoffs that we've endured, THIS is how Xehanort gets his story told!? We get two separate games that are basically KH1 retellings (CoM/Coded), one game that explained stuff that should have been in KH2 and also went out of its way to introduce then write out a character (Days), and another game to set-up KH3 because Nomura ended KH2 somewhat definitively and decided to retcon/add story elements (BbS). Nomura went out of his way to have actual console releases for those games and Xehanort, one of the games most interesting characters with a backstory EVERY FAN is curious about and clearly a backstory RELEVANT to the main plot... gets a mobile game with visits to Agrabah for the millionth time?

Referencing another thread, I'd rather any Disney straight to VHS film plot in a main console game over a mobile game visit to Wonderland/Agrabah that's data/foretold in the Book of Prophecies/whatever... and we all know that's coming in this game.

Hirokey123

February 19, 2020 @ 05:45 amOffline

comment graphic

Hey did anyone notice that there seems to be new attributes in play?

At first it looks like it's just red=power, green=speed, and blue=magic like Chi. However on the page that shows more details there is a blue rhapsody heartless card with a blue icon but the icon is a dream wand not the sword. There is also a red card that is a potion with the shield. So all and all we see..

Red, blue, and Green Cards
Upright and Reverse Cards
Sword, Wand, and Shield cards

Also I think this game will probably be structured more like an actual adventure, because this looks like it was YX/YE's pilgrimage that changed Xehanort. It was a journey not a day to day life for years on end, that heartless counter up there also implies either you kill or have to kill a lot of heartless meaning a large world or at least more enemies to fight. KHUX missions did not have anything close to 64 heartless in its missions they were much more bite sized.

OneDandelion

February 19, 2020 @ 05:49 amOffline

comment graphic

Face My Fears

If Nomura was going to reuse assets, why didn't he just make Dark Road like 0.2.

Call it what it is. It's a shameless money grab gotcha game that they know will make profits. They even had the nerve to advertise it as a new game when it's reusing assets and launched from within the KHUX app.

The .2 route is what they should have done and what the fans deserve after the complete mess that was KH3, but they're just exploiting us with this. Frankly, it should be seen as an insult and Nomura had his role in trying to hype it up as well as their twitter contest.

It's 100% a gotcha game scam and they're including it within KHUX so you're tempted to download both and be exploited by 2 gotcha games at the same time. And while I do enjoy the story of KHUX it's taken them years to construct a narrative that amounts to around 10 pages of a novel. The pace is abysmal, and now we're expected to believe they can maintain two of these games and that its worth investing time into. Ugh, I'll be honest I want this game to flop, hard.

GreyouTT

February 19, 2020 @ 06:00 amOffline

comment graphic

Face My Fears

Referencing another thread, I'd rather any Disney straight to VHS film plot in a main console game over a mobile game visit to Wonderland/Agrabah that's data/foretold in the Book of Prophecies/whatever... and we all know that's coming in this game.

I would be happy and mad if Aladdin 3 was in Dark Road.

Happy that Aladdin 3 is finally a thing in KH.
Mad that it's not in 3D for the glorious turtle city.

Absent

February 19, 2020 @ 06:25 amOffline

comment graphic

Can’t wait for the subtext between Xehanort and Eraqus.

Sign

February 19, 2020 @ 06:32 amOffline

comment graphic

i need
better quality artwork ?

[ATTACH type="full" alt="1582093967220.png"]12268[/ATTACH]

Edit: Here's another one:

SuperSaiyanSora

February 19, 2020 @ 06:34 amOffline

comment graphic

SweetYetSalty

Is Xehanort going to fight Jafar and send him to the lamp for the 100th time in this series?


Yknow, if this actually happens... Seeing as how 75+ years later, he gets shoved in a lamp AGAIN by a goofy teenager, a dog and a duck, maybe the guy should retire. Just go be an accountant or something.

darknessofheart

If Xehanort is touring worlds projected from the future, then it's no wonder why he considers them a mess. The future worlds are ravaged by darkness because of what his future self does.


If this is what happens, then the Master of Masters must be laughing deep to his core. Poor kid never stood a chance. And the MoM is just gonna stand there and be like "Oh yeah, it's a shame about the the worlds, darkness really sucks, huh?"

Sign

I'm mostly okay with this because UX's main story is hands down KH at its best. If Nomura can match that quality of writing for DR then I'm fine with putting up with more of, well, this.


Yeah, I've always said this, but if UX ever gets the full console treatment, it'd be the best Kingdom Hearts game to date (plot-wise).

Hirokey123

February 19, 2020 @ 06:34 amOffline

comment graphic

Sign

i need
better quality artwork ?

[ATTACH type="full" alt="1582093967220.png"]12268[/ATTACH]

Man if there wasn't already enough evidence that Brain was the Dandelion that Eraqus was descended from, your comparison makes it even more obvious.

user avatar

kristi-swat

February 19, 2020 @ 07:03 amOffline

comment graphic

I have an idea how emblem heartless works: it’s MoM following Xehanort from behind the scenes and using his Book of Prophecies

Dast

February 19, 2020 @ 07:07 amOffline

comment graphic

Hirokey123

Hey did anyone notice that there seems to be new attributes in play?

At first it looks like it's just red=power, green=speed, and blue=magic like Chi. However on the page that shows more details there is a blue rhapsody heartless card with a blue icon but the icon is a dream wand not the sword. There is also a red card that is a potion with the shield. So all and all we see..

Red, blue, and Green Cards
Upright and Reverse Cards
Sword, Wand, and Shield cards

Also I think this game will probably be structured more like an actual adventure, because this looks like it was YX/YE's pilgrimage that changed Xehanort. It was a journey not a day to day life for years on end, that heartless counter up there also implies either you kill or have to kill a lot of heartless meaning a large world or at least more enemies to fight. KHUX missions did not have anything close to 64 heartless in its missions they were much more bite sized.

I really hope that you are right but am not sure, particularly about the structure of the story. The journey that YX takes described in the Secret Reports is taken without Eraqus, so I think what we see could be the boys' training using the BoP, allowing the same slow paced, disjointed narrative of KHUX. Although if there are fewer main characters it might not be so bad.

The gameplay does look more fun than UX, but that isn't hard; it's the most boring thing I have ever played and I forgive the KH games a lot of stuff but I couldn't slog through all the tedious gameplay to earn the cutscenes myself. Despite all this, I have already redownloaded the app and am playing again to get a bigger bonus when DR goes live, so I guess it's not a bad business model.

AdrianXXII

February 19, 2020 @ 07:18 amOffline

comment graphic

So much for hoping this would be a more fun and fulfilling experience than Union Cross... Not that I could even play it, seeing Union Cross hasn't opened up on my phone for months now.

Also it's pretty telling that all reactions I've seen to this so far have ranged from "meh" to "Thanks I hate it". This is a story that many were curious about for years and the moment we get any detail on it, all excitement just died. It seems to me that they'll just be reusing assets from UX, if Agrabah isn't just a placeholder, which isn't all that promising either.

Seeing this is the double feature, I take it UX and DR will play into each other, which could be interesting in 2 to 5 years when the story really gets going. It feels a bit silly to call these two games when they're in the same app and basically running on the same system.

user avatar

EternalDream

February 19, 2020 @ 08:26 amOffline

comment graphic

E...emblem heartless?

Nomura why.

Stop. Just stop. Anything but fighting the very things he himself creates 65 odd years into the future. Not like this.

It being essentially an add-on to UX really doesn't do it any favours. I wasn't expecting a different art style or significantly different gameplay, but I had some hope it would at least make SENSE without being shoehorned in with time travel/projection bs like UX.

Sigh.

darknessofheart

If Xehanort is touring worlds projected from the future, then it's no wonder why he considers them a mess. The future worlds are ravaged by darkness because of what his future self does.


Wouldn't this completely undermine Xehanort's character if it turns out it was all set up by the MoM and his BoP anyway? I like the MoM and all, he looks and sounds like a really great 'villain'. But I'd rather not have that be at the expense of Xehanort...

TheGreatEphemera

February 19, 2020 @ 09:04 amOffline

comment graphic

Whilst everyone is talking about the game being mobile.
Can I just say that the screenshot depicting cartoon Scala Ad Caelum looks amazing.

MrFranklin95

February 19, 2020 @ 09:41 amOffline

comment graphic

*sigh* ... I just... I mean... well... god, I got the biggest headache reading this.

Does... does Noruma care? Like, does he actually care about any of this? I'm not saying giving what the fans want and only that but the way he's telling this story; is this truly the best he and his team can do with this material?

I dont know. I REALLY don't want to sound ungrateful because I love this series. I really do. I just spent the last six hours STILL trying to beat Yozora and still failing miserably because I enjoy KH that much. I liked KH3 despite it's still many glaring issues that Noruma seems to want to ignore. But there's still some genuine merit left for this series and it's not like these mobile games are easy to make. Clearly, the devs still work hard on these games...but good lord man... what the actual ....

I'll admit, maybe I'm being slightly dramatic but man, I'm generally more optimistic about KH then most fans I listen or talk too. Even when I have problems, I still find ways to have fun with this series for what it is. I even had my fun with UX despite its darker moments but this is just... this just left biggest taste of "you've got to be kidding me" in my mouth. Like, I'm honestly baffled.

Why are we doing this? And especially like this? Do they not know that UX's numbers are just going down for VERY obvious reasons. Do they not know that this whole thing would be much better off and probably more successful as an online MMO console game with a complete story we don't have to wait months for and without having like three or four different versions of it? A Xehanort game that doesn't included a card system that NO ONE asked for?

Look, I'm still a fan, I dont think I'm anywhere near abandoning the series because there are things the recent entries have done right and at the end of the day, they don't really owe us anything. If this is how they want to tell the story, fine. You do you but I'm gonna be honest, this is making me worried for the future of this series and this is already on top of a lot of questionable decisions the series is already making.

Could this be fun? I honestly doubt it. If this is a way for them to breathe some new life into UX, this is a horrible strategy. I can't see this doing anything but pissing people off. Say what you want about the impossibility of a console version of UX and A Xehanort game but those titles would've been far more well received and garnered some actual hype this whatever the hell this is. This just does not look fun at all.

And if this is all just for money, then again, this is not a good strategy. Because the only people playing UX are hardcore fans and even they are getting sick of it. And now you add this on top of that. Sure, a console version of these games would cost a pretty penny but I have no doubt in my mind that they would have a higher percentage of getting its money back then this.

I don't know what more I can say about it, this is just mind boggling. This is the first thing in KH that I can honestly say that I really hate. And I know, I havent played the game yet and I'm not going too. I honestly see no reason for this game to exist in it's current form and its gameplay system is a HUGE turn-off.

Holy mother of God and I thought the whole Yozora thing was really unnecessary and one of the possible bad signs of where this series is going but that has some genuine intrigue, at the very least (and a pretty fun boss fight.) This is just... *sigh* what are we doing...?

Well, I guess I'll just have to wait and see. At least it'll make for some nice YT videos.

Violet Pluto

February 19, 2020 @ 12:47 pmOffline

comment graphic

Kind of tired, just woke up. This is exactly what I expected. A game that uses the UX graphics seeing that we knew it was by the same team, happy that they didn't just reuse the battle system of UX, though didn't expect that they both launched from the same app (unfortunate seeing that my phone doesn't have enough space to download UX) also glad because maybe the staff can make a better balanced game this time.

Knew that the fans would be disappointed but it's nothing new. Still irritated that people are blaming Nomura for this, when this is the only way he was ever going to put this story out. Square shut the first version of this down after all, and I'd rather a mobile game than not have it at all. Also yes, this is a cheap alternative to actually making a new game; that's probably why Square greenlit it.

Emblem Heartless are back (?) development picture, but they could have used Shadows if they wanted to though it might just be an oversight or placeholder. If they are Emblem Heartless, it might have something to do with the fact that the emblem in KH3 can be seen in Scala ad Caelum as a part of their Language so it could be that Xehanort used a previously existing symbol on those Heartless. Iunno.

okhi12

February 19, 2020 @ 12:48 pmOffline

comment graphic

We can definitely say that the KH series took the dark road.
I knew this would happen... what a let down, anyway. Well, as many others I won't invest my time in this kind of game and will follow the story on youtube instead.
I really hope this thing doesn't succeed and more and more people keep leaving Union X. I hate all gacha games in existence. I never wanted KH to follow this path, but X/UX paved the way and here we are. And it will get worse until people stop playing these things so that they are not profitable anymore.
Please Square, start development of DDD2 or whatever the next proper game is and forget about smartphone games forever.

Oracle Spockanort

February 19, 2020 @ 01:07 pmOffline

comment graphic

Violet Pluto

Kind of tired, just woke up. This is exactly what I expected. A game that uses the UX graphics seeing that we knew it was by the same team, happy that they didn't just reuse the battle system of UX, though didn't expect that they both launched from the same app (unfortunate seeing that my phone doesn't have enough space to download UX) also glad because maybe the staff can make a better balanced game this time.

Knew that the fans would be disappointed but it's nothing new. Still irritated that people are blaming Nomura for this, when this is the only way he was ever going to put this story out. Square shut the first version of this down after all, and I'd rather a mobile game than not have it at all. Also yes, this is a cheap alternative to actually making a new game; that's probably why Square greenlit it.

Emblem Heartless are back (?) development picture, but they could have used Shadows if they wanted to though it might just be an oversight or placeholder. If they are Emblem Heartless, it might have something to do with the fact that the emblem in KH3 can be seen in Scala ad Caelum as a part of their Language so it could be that Xehanort used a previously existing symbol on those Heartless. Iunno.


I think more than ever with KH3’s success, Nomura had more than enough sway to pitch a Xehanort game to SE. It’s not like they needed to go as big as KH3. They could have easily kept it as a budgeted game with the old look, but just kept it more polished. Or made a 0.2 type game reusing KH3 and 0.2 assets if they wanted to go with the new style.

...And maybe he did and this is what SE offered him. You are right about that. I don’t agree with people being personally mad at Nomura but I do think it is fair enough to point some blame at him if they are reusing Emblem Heartless and Agrabah and it’s tied to a game people have ...it just seems lazy.


okhi12

We can definitely say that the KH series took the dark road.
I knew this would happen... what a let down, anyway. Well, as many others I won't invest my time in this kind of game and will follow the story on youtube instead.
I really hope this thing doesn't succeed and more and more people keep leaving Union X. I hate all gacha games in existence. I never wanted KH to follow this path, but X/UX paved the way and here we are. And it will get worse until people stop playing these things so that they are not profitable anymore.
Please Square, start development of DDD2 or whatever the next proper game is and forget about smartphone games forever.


There are multiple KH projects in development by four teams (DR is one). One will be announced sooner rather than later.

Ryuman

February 19, 2020 @ 01:27 pmOffline

comment graphic

Considering they have those other new projects, I don't think another (albiet smaller) console game was really on the table for this. Especially when it was the UX team who apparently approached Nomura about doing this.

user avatar

PARACOSMIC-M

February 19, 2020 @ 01:44 pmOffline

comment graphic

AR829038

So, not to downplay your concerns, but, wouldn't all the KH games then be barely accessible to people with such handicaps? After all, reflexes and timing are kind of salient gameplay aspects of this series—I don't really know how you get through them without being at least a little capable with regards to reflexes/speed. I can't imagine that the "speed/reflex" timing they're talking about here is much more intensive than the kind demanded of those playing the main games.


Got ninja’d by Oracle, but even though there’s a lot of speed and timing requirements, if you play the game on easy it’s not impossible! You’re right about the games being barely accessible though. In my case, KH is only playable because most of the time you can get by using one button >< KH3 was actually the first game I ever beat, and even easy mode was pretty physically taxing.
But even if the main games aren’t that accessible, people with disabilities still enjoy kh and games like it. Before I found a way to play it myself, other people helped me. From what I’ve seen mobile games tend to be more accessible because of the turn based battle system, which gives people plenty of time and doesn’t need a lot of gestures. UX was like that, and playing on my own was fun. I was just concerned I might need assistance again for Dark Road.

Chaser

There's an auto option for battle. That might make things easier for those with disabilities? But without playing we ultimately don't know if it will be fully accessible :(


Having auto battle like UX should help a lot with accessibility! Good to know they’re keeping that, thanks for the info!

Ballad of Caius

February 19, 2020 @ 01:46 pmOffline

comment graphic

Per this thread and Twitter, reception for this game is horrendous. I think it may change once we get to see more about the story and gameplay. I'll definitely give the game a try.

user avatar

AR829038

February 19, 2020 @ 01:52 pmOffline

comment graphic

PARACOSMIC-M

Got ninja’d by Oracle, but even though there’s a lot of speed and timing requirements, if you play the game on easy it’s not impossible! You’re right about the games being barely accessible though. In my case, KH is only playable because most of the time you can get by using one button >< KH3 was actually the first game I ever beat, and even easy mode was pretty physically taxing.
But even if the main games aren’t that accessible, people with disabilities still enjoy kh and games like it. Before I found a way to play it myself, other people helped me. From what I’ve seen mobile games tend to be more accessible because of the turn based battle system, which gives people plenty of time and doesn’t need a lot of gestures. UX was like that, and playing on my own was fun. I was just concerned I might need assistance again for Dark Road.


Damn. Sorry you have to deal with that.

SweetYetSalty

February 19, 2020 @ 02:37 pmOffline

comment graphic

okhi12
.
Please Square, start development of DDD2 or whatever the next proper game is and forget about smartphone games forever.

This. I'm still a little curious about Xehanort's backstory, but for now I'm ready for DDD2 (hopefully with Kairi) I'm just not into mobile games. I'm one of those rare people that only uses their phone for making phone calls lol, so this doesn't appeal to me. But at the same time I feel like I'm missing out on so much KH lore. I barely know what's going on in Union X beyond the major plot points. I don't know much about the character's personalities so far so I don't feel that connected to them as I should, and that makes me sad given they'll likely be in KH4 and I don't even have a favorite yet :(

And their bringing back battle cards? I sucked at Re:Chain of Memories. I had to Youtube it because I couldn't grasp the concept of cards, so bringing something similar to that intimidates me.

ZinC Podzzz

February 19, 2020 @ 03:01 pmOffline

comment graphic

Oh gosh this already seems like it will be confusing. How are there emblem heartless? Is it some weird "this is a copy of the original story but it's not exactly the same but still the same" like KHUx again? I feel like they could have come up with some more original worlds and heartless.

FudgemintGuardian

February 19, 2020 @ 03:04 pmOffline

comment graphic

The_Echo

All Heartless come from Darkness, and have no physical bodies by default
So they're time traveling :^)

I'm kidding but like, this is a very real possibility for why Heartless are in UX/Daybreak Town at all. Remember when your Foreteller said it felt like someone was bringing the Heartless there?
Agh, me no want!

AR829038

I have two guesses.
1. They won't.
2. This could take place back during Eraqus and Xehanort's exam days, and one of the Secret Reports by Xehanort stated that one of the exercises they went through was to go through the worlds of the ancient Keyblade wielders from the Union X days. Maybe this means the Book of Prophecies is around at this time, and maybe it conjures up those worlds (and the Emblem Heartless) from the future just as it did during Union X.
I'm thinking it's 2. I've also been thinking maybe Dark Road will have Xehanort getting hold of the book and this is how he was able to accomplish all the things he did later.

ZinC Podzzz

February 19, 2020 @ 03:05 pmOffline

comment graphic

FudgemintGuardian

I'd like to know how the heck they're gonna explain how there's Emblem Heartless around...

Exactly! I mean, they're smart! Couldn't they have come up with something more interesting and simple? Maybe just new kinds of pure blood heartless or even a new enemy type. Maybe it could be a new thing, and by the end of it Xehanort defeats the source of it and that's why we wouldn't see them in future games. Just something that makes sense and that you won't have to make a new rule or explanation for!

Veevee

February 19, 2020 @ 03:33 pmOffline

comment graphic

I can't wait to go to Agrabah again, pointlessly run around for 10 "story" quests and smack enemies with my rock-paper-scissors ptw cards! That's like, miles away from Ux. So excited.

Sakuraba Neku

February 19, 2020 @ 05:02 pmOffline

comment graphic

Seems like a desperate way of having new fans installing the Union X app to play Dark Road and hope one day they try Union Cross too, so Square can suck more money from the fanbase. The only cool thing is that we can play with young Eraqus and young Xehanort, but everything about this is so boring that's still a no from me.

I will be following the main story updates on youtube whenever they get released..One day they will remake this as movie for PS5 ou PS6 anyway...

Xblade13

February 19, 2020 @ 07:29 pmOffline

comment graphic

MrFranklin95

*sigh* ... I just... I mean... well... god, I got the biggest headache reading this.

Does... does Noruma care? Like, does he actually care about any of this? I'm not saying giving what the fans want and only that but the way he's telling this story; is this truly the best he and his team can do with this material?

I dont know. I REALLY don't want to sound ungrateful because I love this series. I really do. I just spent the last six hours STILL trying to beat Yozora and still failing miserably because I enjoy KH that much. I liked KH3 despite it's still many glaring issues that Noruma seems to want to ignore. But there's still some genuine merit left for this series and it's not like these mobile games are easy to make. Clearly, the devs still work hard on these games...but good lord man... what the actual ....

I'll admit, maybe I'm being slightly dramatic but man, I'm generally more optimistic about KH then most fans I listen or talk too. Even when I have problems, I still find ways to have fun with this series for what it is. I even had my fun with UX despite its darker moments but this is just... this just left biggest taste of "you've got to be kidding me" in my mouth. Like, I'm honestly baffled.

Why are we doing this? And especially like this? Do they not know that UX's numbers are just going down for VERY obvious reasons. Do they not know that this whole thing would be much better off and probably more successful as an online MMO console game with a complete story we don't have to wait months for and without having like three or four different versions of it? A Xehanort game that doesn't included a card system that NO ONE asked for?

Look, I'm still a fan, I dont think I'm anywhere near abandoning the series because there are things the recent entries have done right and at the end of the day, they don't really owe us anything. If this is how they want to tell the story, fine. You do you but I'm gonna be honest, this is making me worried for the future of this series and this is already on top of a lot of questionable decisions the series is already making.

Could this be fun? I honestly doubt it. If this is a way for them to breathe some new life into UX, this is a horrible strategy. I can't see this doing anything but pissing people off. Say what you want about the impossibility of a console version of UX and A Xehanort game but those titles would've been far more well received and garnered some actual hype this whatever the hell this is. This just does not look fun at all.

And if this is all just for money, then again, this is not a good strategy. Because the only people playing UX are hardcore fans and even they are getting sick of it. And now you add this on top of that. Sure, a console version of these games would cost a pretty penny but I have no doubt in my mind that they would have a higher percentage of getting its money back then this.

I don't know what more I can say about it, this is just mind boggling. This is the first thing in KH that I can honestly say that I really hate. And I know, I havent played the game yet and I'm not going too. I honestly see no reason for this game to exist in it's current form and its gameplay system is a HUGE turn-off.

Holy mother of God and I thought the whole Yozora thing was really unnecessary and one of the possible bad signs of where this series is going but that has some genuine intrigue, at the very least (and a pretty fun boss fight.) This is just... *sigh* what are we doing...?

Well, I guess I'll just have to wait and see. At least it'll make for some nice YT videos.

I saw the Yozora stuff as an actual breath of fresh air coming to the future of Kingdom Hearts. What is everyone's problem with Versus XIII anyway? Yeah it was never finished, but it looked interesting.

Compared to this shoehorned mobile focus, it seems like a genius idea lol.

ShardofTruth

February 19, 2020 @ 07:45 pmOffline

comment graphic

My excitement died with the screenshots, this looks like just another soft reboot of KHUX. Maybe some old features from KHX return with the cards like fully explorable worlds, but I'm not too optimistic.

That Starlight variant of the Master's Defender though, I'm a bit intrigued to say the least.

GreyouTT

February 19, 2020 @ 07:56 pmOffline

comment graphic

Xblade13

I saw the Yozora stuff as an actual breath of fresh air coming to the future of Kingdom Hearts. What is everyone's problem with Versus XIII anyway? Yeah it was never finished, but it looked interesting.

Compared to this shoehorned mobile focus, it seems like a genius idea lol.



I find it kinda funny that the fanbase just spent a year complaining about the lack of Final Fantasy, and some are now complaining about stuff from an FF game getting combined into KH.

MrFranklin95

February 19, 2020 @ 07:58 pmOffline

comment graphic

Xblade13

I saw the Yozora stuff as an actual breath of fresh air coming to the future of Kingdom Hearts. What is everyone's problem with Versus XIII anyway? Yeah it was never finished, but it looked interesting.

Compared to this shoehorned mobile focus, it seems like a genius idea lol.


Here's my issue... it seems very forced in a lot of different ways.

I'm not saying it doesn't have ANYTHING going for it because there is some stuff like I about it. For one thing, which is the saving grace for me, I like Yozora's character. I like his attitude and I'm curious about his backstory. I love his weapon designed and it seems to have something to do with his red eye, which gives me more reason to be interested in his character.

But the things that bother me... for one thing, its his design. I'm honestly shocked this is not a bigger issue for other fans but he pretty much looks like Riku with slightly different features. So much so, the game itself even points it out and it bothers me so much. It's already bad enough that we have two different characters that look exactly like each other with no interaction about it whatsoever. This just reeks of that. It just runs me the wrong the way way that Noruma pretty much didnt bother give him a different look altogether. Maybe there's a purpose, I don't know, which is why I'm holding back my criticism a little bit but still. And if according to the secret episode, if that's not what he actually looks, then what was the point of making him like Riku and not give me a different design?

Another problem is his backstory. While I find it interesting, clearly Noruma is still salty about what about what happened with FFv13 and I honestly don't blame him. I'm glad he has a chance to do his story but I have a big fear that its inky to backfire. FFV13 and Kingdom Hearts are two completely different games, conceptually and tonally. I just feel like merging these two things together requires precise storytelling that I don't know if Noruma is up to the task for. I like Noruma as a storyteller but this doesnt feel like a genuine direction for the story of Kingdom Hearts. It feels like he's forcing a story and character into a franchise that doesnt need it.

And this speaks to why I have mixed feelings on this Worldline aspect of the story because I feel like the only reason its included is so that he can include Yozora without having to explain anything deeper. Because removing it from the story doesn't change anything about the foretellers storyline, which is why I feel like its really unnecessary as a plot point. And speaking of the Foretellers, I don't know what Yozora has anything to do with UX at all. It's different from Roxas or Xenmas or YX where they feel mysterious but also they can tie into the overall story in a way that makes sense in different types of theories. Yozora feels VERY different. He feels completely seperate from everything that going on. And you would think Luxord being included would help with that but that just makes things even more confusing. How and why is Luxord there if he is part of the ancient Keyblade era? So is Yozora not from a different worldline and if he is, how did Luxord gain the ability to universe hop?

There are just a lot of aspects about Yozora that really leave me with mixed feelings but I'm willing to see what happens.

RetroPokeFan

February 19, 2020 @ 08:31 pmOffline

comment graphic

Veevee

I can't wait to go to Agrabah again, pointlessly run around for 10 "story" quests and smack enemies with my rock-paper-scissors ptw cards!


ALADDIN: "Hey there Xehanort, Abu has gone missing again! Can you help me out and spend the next 300 or so chapters searching for him?"

Xehanort sighs.

XEHANORT: "Ah shit, here we go again!"

Ballad of Caius

February 19, 2020 @ 09:55 pmOffline

comment graphic

ShardofTruth

like fully explorable worlds, but I'm not too optimistic.

This would be neat. Could mean that monthly updates are actually worlds. And it could work, seeing as how they already have all of the work made out in KHUx.

MATGSY

February 19, 2020 @ 10:01 pmOffline

comment graphic

RetroPokeFan

ALADDIN: "Hey there Xehanort, Abu has gone missing again! Can you help me out and spend the next 300 or so chapters searching for him?"

Xehanort sighs.

XEHANORT: "Ah shit, here we go again!"

Xehanort will age 75 years just looking for the damn monkey.

palizinhas

February 19, 2020 @ 10:12 pmOffline

comment graphic

Eraqus aged so well in comparison because he skipped looking for Abu day.

Face My Fears

February 19, 2020 @ 11:04 pmOffline

comment graphic

Oracle Spockanort

I think more than ever with KH3’s success, Nomura had more than enough sway to pitch a Xehanort game to SE. It’s not like they needed to go as big as KH3. They could have easily kept it as a budgeted game with the old look, but just kept it more polished. Or made a 0.2 type game reusing KH3 and 0.2 assets if they wanted to go with the new style.

...And maybe he did and this is what SE offered him. You are right about that. I don’t agree with people being personally mad at Nomura but I do think it is fair enough to point some blame at him if they are reusing Emblem Heartless and Agrabah and it’s tied to a game people have ...it just seems lazy.




There are multiple KH projects in development by four teams (DR is one). One will be announced sooner rather than later.

A console Xehanort game using KH3 assets could have also been done to appease other stuff fans were looking for in KH3: Disney boss fights. If Xehanort is still a good guy, he could have actually fought villains. Nomura could have even got Jungle Book into the game. I wouldn't expect the worlds Xehanort visits to be as big as KH3's own, but I just wish Xehanort actually got a real game. I don't know if Nomura is the one that chose a mobile game for Xehanort, but he should have been thinking in the long term. If he could make a Xehanort 0.2 type game a success, then maybe he could get a spinoff game for his love Yozora down the line. Even without much info or history with Yozora, I can imagine Nomura never giving Yozora the mobile game treatment and begging for a full console game which makes me sad.

Sign

February 19, 2020 @ 11:22 pmOffline

comment graphic

Face My Fears

A console Xehanort game using KH3 assets could have also been done to appease other stuff fans were looking for in KH3: Disney boss fights. If Xehanort is still a good guy, he could have actually fought villains. Nomura could have even got Jungle Book into the game. I wouldn't expect the worlds Xehanort visits to be as big as KH3's own, but I just wish Xehanort actually got a real game. I don't know if Nomura is the one that chose a mobile game for Xehanort, but he should have been thinking in the long term. If he could make a Xehanort 0.2 type game a success, then maybe he could get a spinoff game for his love Yozora down the line. Even without much info or history with Yozora, I can imagine Nomura never giving Yozora the mobile game treatment and begging for a full console game which makes me sad.


I mean, I was with you until that last part. You seriously need to reel in your imagination when it comes to Yozora.

Foxycian

February 19, 2020 @ 11:28 pmOffline

comment graphic

Well that’s underwhelming... but fans wanted to explore Xehanort origins for long time now so I can coop up with that.

user avatar

disney233

February 20, 2020 @ 12:09 amOffline

comment graphic

Agrabah.....emblemed Heartless....more continuity thrown out the window? And if I had to guess, Agrabah'll just be a retelling of the first movie.........again. But hey, if that's so, people get a Snake Jafar fight......again.

user avatar

Imaginationer XII

February 20, 2020 @ 12:15 amOffline

comment graphic

Chain of memories style,I guess..

SweetYetSalty

February 20, 2020 @ 12:27 amOffline

comment graphic

disney233

Agrabah.....emblemed Heartless....more continuity thrown out the window? And if I had to guess, Agrabah'll just be a retelling of the first movie.........again. But hey, if that's so, people get a Snake Jafar fight......again.

Oh was there a Snake Jafar fight in one of these games? Jafar's been a boss in so many games I lost track. Which one did Snake Jafar appear in, may I ask? I think I might have missed that one XD

user avatar

disney233

February 20, 2020 @ 12:35 amOffline

comment graphic

SweetYetSalty

Oh was there a Snake Jafar fight in one of these games? Jafar's been a boss in so many games I lost track. Which one did Snake Jafar appear in, may I ask? I think I might have missed that one XD

Take a guess.

Sign

February 20, 2020 @ 01:06 amOffline

comment graphic

Imaginationer XII

Chain of memories style,I guess..

Looks more like KHX meets Flick Rush.

user avatar

darknessofheart

February 20, 2020 @ 01:27 amOffline

comment graphic

RetroPokeFan

ALADDIN: "Hey there Xehanort, Abu has gone missing again! Can you help me out and spend the next 300 or so chapters searching for him?"

Xehanort sighs.

XEHANORT: "Ah shit, here we go again!"


This will be Xehanort's breaking point into becoming a seeker of darkness.

The_Echo

February 20, 2020 @ 01:52 amOffline

comment graphic

Sign

Looks more like KHX meets Flick Rush.

The interface is very reminiscent of the system used by Yakuza Online.
χ[chi]'s combat was entirely automated and randomized, making it a very passive experience.
Mechanically this system is a lot closer to Uχ's model, but with more of an ATB-style flow rather than strict turn orders.

user avatar

Xagzan

February 20, 2020 @ 02:13 amOffline

comment graphic

This has nothing to do with the game mechanics but is anyone else wondering why the Master bothered with the whole giving his keyblade and the eye to Luxu to pass down so he could see the future, if he can just travel there himself and be hanging out with young Xehanort?

user avatar

darknessofheart

February 20, 2020 @ 02:28 amOffline

comment graphic

Xagzan

This has nothing to do with the game mechanics but is anyone else wondering why the Master bothered with the whole giving his keyblade and the eye to Luxu to pass down so he could see the future, if he can just travel there himself and be hanging out with young Xehanort?


I think he needed to know the future while in the past in order to write the BoP and ensure there was some type of control over the keyblade war's last phase. The book is what kept the Fortellers largely following their roles and ambitions because of the last page.

Afterwards, I think the MoM began to make strategic steps in the future to ensure that someone could overwrite the last page, which turned out to be Sora.

His meeting with Xehanort may have been one of those moves. After all, if it wasn't for Xehanort, none of the characters would've become heroes of light. Roxas, Xion, and Namine would have never existed, Sora and Riki wouldn't be welders, etc.

Soldier

February 20, 2020 @ 02:34 amOffline

comment graphic

*Looks at thread title*
Oh good! new info! hope it at least shows what the actual game will look like
*Reads previous posts*
..... What the HECK!
You've got to be kidding me?!?! Agrabah AGAIN!? and emblem heartless no doubt. Does anyone else remember when the heartless were a legitimate issue/threat and had an established lore on why they were there. They were the invasive species of the game, ruining the ecosystem with little opposition compared to their sheer numbers.
Now, they're just used as generic enemies when it would probably be more coherent to just use Disney armies like I suggested in another thread.
The reason for them being in this game better not be time travel, because that excuse is getting old. If it's just illusions like in COM, that MIGHT make things better.
And Agrabah, really? even some of the most stalwart defenders of that world being in the franchise on this forum are getting sick of it, and you know you've messed up when you do that.
Wasn't planning on purchasing it at first, now I definitely won't. Guess Nomura needs more pocket change
#Nomuragohome.

The_Echo

February 20, 2020 @ 03:09 amOffline

comment graphic

Soldier

Wasn't planning on purchasing it at first, now I definitely won't. Guess Nomura needs more pocket change

I mean... it's a free download either way

Oracle Spockanort

February 20, 2020 @ 03:46 amOffline

comment graphic

Imaginationer XII

Chain of memories style,I guess..


No, flick rush

Absent

February 20, 2020 @ 03:48 amOffline

comment graphic

I hope they don't bring up that anxiety inducing luck based feature that happens when you tie with commands. I remember flicking like crazy to get three of a kind before the AI.

SuperSaiyanSora

February 20, 2020 @ 06:36 amOffline

comment graphic

I'm gonna be honest... I think while it's fine to be disappointed, some of the reactions all around the internet like "Kingdom Hearts is ruined!" and "THIS IS THE WORST THING TO EVER HAPPEN!!!" are absolutely outta pocket lmao. Freaking out so much, even Chicken Little is like "damn bro chill." Let's all relax and eat some Sea Salt Ice Cream.

First off, I know it's cool to #BlameNomura for everything regarding KH, but let's not forget the interview he did not that long ago when the UX Team came to him with a "groundbreaking idea" which will become the "double feature". He didn't come up with it, they did. Proof:

[URL unfurl="true"][/URL]

In regards to KH scenarios, I wrapped up the story for Re Mind, as well as the two story quests for UX. All that is left is to finish the remaining two story quests. However, I have received another mysterious request... Let’s just say this request involves an unannounced 3rd story line for KH. Once I complete this mysterious request, I’ll complete the 2 remaining story quests for UX.
And once all of that is complete, the 3 story lines will ○○○○○○○……
Very intriguing, right?

Now that things have calmed down after the release of KH III, the KH Series has been growing with many more phases with many things in the horizon. Please continue to love and support KINGDOM HEARTS Union χ[Cross]!
The other day, some UX Staff members came to me for some shocking consultation. I think a revolution of change may fall upon UX.
The hint is “double-feature.”
Until next time!


Secondly, while it would've been great to have a full console game for Xehanort (and it's not impossible to get this in the future eventually), remember that Nomura himself said that he didn't have the time to do it, because the saga wouldn't end if he did. But with the Foretellers/Master of Masters coming to the forefront, Xehanort defeated, and Union X possibly reaching its climax with all the mysteries currently unfolding, it might really be important for us to know what exactly Xehanort saw that made him change.

What's the "quickest" (Iol not really when you look at UX BUT technically...) way to get the story out? A Union X-style mobile phone game. Dev time wouldn't be as strenuous as a fully-fledged AAA title, the art style and system is familiar so it's not requiring a huge overhaul (which is why it'll be in the UX game launcher), and despite what people say, we all DO care about the story very much. So when you consider what would be the most efficient, this makes a ton of sense. Everyone would love a 0.2/BBS style Xehanort game, but if our choices are either UX-style or nothing, at least we're getting something. Besides. When UX JP updates the story every month, it's a big discussion on KH Twitter. The fact that we have potentially TWO stories updating every month makes things a lot more active, so while it's not the A1 idea we all want, it's a lot better than silence from DDD to X[Chi] to BBS 0.2.

Thirdly, I'm interested in the premise of the battle system. On the left-side, it has something that reminds me of FFX's CBT (or Conditional Turned-Based Battle/Count Time Battle), where it shows the Act List and how many turns Xehanort and Eraqus have before the Enemy strikes. They've said it's more fast-paced, so this is most likely going to be less like UX where you just use all your medals in one turn and hope it's enough to defeat your enemy before they nail you on their turn, and more like a turn-based system with the cards either doing different attacks or having certain abilities attached to it (so one card does damage x0.5, one card could paralyze the enemy, meaning you gain an extra turn, and so on).




What's interesting is that there's no HP bars for the enemy. Instead, there's a Heartless icon and BP icon with numerical values, a back button and an Info button... So there's most likely more to this new system than what we can see from one screenshot. Next to Xehanort's HP Icon, we see Status Boosts, three small icons with a space between the next three, so three might be for Xehanort and the other three for Eraqus. The more I'm looking at this, the more I think that there's definitely a lot of reworking done into this system, so I'm gonna remain optimistic! I'm digging it.

Also, you can see in the empty slot where the cards are held, the emblem for the Book of Prophecies is present. Maybe like the medals in Union X, the Book of Prophecies is granting them powers throughout this experience. As a matter of fact, it's strange how Eraqus and Xehanort even had an opportunity to explore the Age of Fairy Tales, because as far as we know through regular time-travelling means, that shouldn't be possible. There's that weird machine thing that was revealed in the latest UX update, and we saw that machine all the way back in KH1, but as far as we know... That machine was never finished (unless it eventually was?), so that might not be it either.

The only other idea I have is that the whole world tour is a projection itself, sort of like what was going on in UX, but in reverse. Young Xehanort and the Master of Masters are shown meeting in the ReMind trailer (YX was given the black coat by the MoM), and MoM seemed to know all about YX going on that journey. So it couldn't have been the first time they met. What if he was the one that allowed all this to happen, and that's why Emblem Heartless are showing up? Timeline-wise, they shouldn't exist. But if it's all a projection, it would make sense. The precedence is there.

Overall though, I think while it's natural to be disappointed, I think we should wait and see because there might actually be more to this than we know. Of course, it doesn't help that there's barely any information out, but they did say it's a standalone title, so there'd have to be reasons for this. If not, they could've just done what they did for the Keyblade War and make it a special event or something.

MATGSY

February 20, 2020 @ 10:03 amOffline

comment graphic

disney233

Take a guess.


Oh hey, that's one of my videos. Neat.

DraceEmpressa

February 20, 2020 @ 10:03 amOffline

comment graphic

CMIIW, but didn't they say UX will be shut down next year? And DR is part o UX? Does it mean both story will wrap up next year anyway?

user avatar

yuyayuzu

February 20, 2020 @ 10:53 amOffline

comment graphic

well, I didnt expect much but still has a littlw hope for good gameplay or at least some action game and action mobile game do exist but okay. Never mind , they are not jusy good at creating decent mobile game anyways so I dont think I will even install this.

Chaser

February 20, 2020 @ 11:01 amOffline

comment graphic

DraceEmpressa

CMIIW, but didn't they say UX will be shut down next year? And DR is part o UX? Does it mean both story will wrap up next year anyway?

No, they just detailed some of the months when the story anyone cares about will be updated.

Alpha Baymax

February 20, 2020 @ 12:43 pmOffline

comment graphic

I'm so glad... that Nomura made us aware that there is two other unannounced Kingdom Hearts project in development. This is the worst reveal for a Kingdom Hearts game to date. I get it, video games are a profit venture, and maximising profits while minimising costs is what every business strives to do, but this game just reeks of monetisation just by looking at it.

At least Xehanort's story is over. If we're going to be moving past the Xehanort saga then I want the new console titles to not have direct connections to Xehanort. If there's going to be lore carried on from Dark Road then let it be the other original characters involved that provide us with important connections.

GreyouTT

I find it kinda funny that the fanbase just spent a year complaining about the lack of Final Fantasy, and some are now complaining about stuff from an FF game getting combined into KH.


That's not at all comparable. That's like saying Axel and Reno are the same characters, they're not. The Final Fantasy characters retain the DNA of their source material, the Kingdom Hearts characters inspired by Final Fantasy characters are still original characters with drastically different purposes.

drew0512

February 20, 2020 @ 01:00 pmOffline

comment graphic

I was expecting something like this so I'm not surprised or really disappointed. It makes sense to connect it with UX so no surprises here either. It's hard to get excited about the story though, considering that UX updates once in a lifetime.

user avatar

disney233

February 20, 2020 @ 01:01 pmOffline

comment graphic

MATGSY

Oh hey, that's one of my videos. Neat.

My fault, mate. I didn't know.

Ballad of Caius

February 20, 2020 @ 03:55 pmOffline

comment graphic

SuperSaiyanSora

I'm gonna be honest... I think while it's fine to be disappointed, some of the reactions all around the internet like "Kingdom Hearts is ruined!" and "THIS IS THE WORST THING TO EVER HAPPEN!!!" are absolutely outta pocket lmao. Freaking out so much, even Chicken Little is like "damn bro chill." Let's all relax and eat some Sea Salt Ice Cream.

First off, I know it's cool to #BlameNomura for everything regarding KH, but let's not forget the interview he did not that long ago when the UX Team came to him with a "groundbreaking idea" which will become the "double feature". He didn't come up with it, they did. Proof:

[URL unfurl="true"][/URL]

In regards to KH scenarios, I wrapped up the story for Re Mind, as well as the two story quests for UX. All that is left is to finish the remaining two story quests. However, I have received another mysterious request... Let’s just say this request involves an unannounced 3rd story line for KH. Once I complete this mysterious request, I’ll complete the 2 remaining story quests for UX.
And once all of that is complete, the 3 story lines will ○○○○○○○……
Very intriguing, right?

Now that things have calmed down after the release of KH III, the KH Series has been growing with many more phases with many things in the horizon. Please continue to love and support KINGDOM HEARTS Union χ[Cross]!
The other day, some UX Staff members came to me for some shocking consultation. I think a revolution of change may fall upon UX.
The hint is “double-feature.”
Until next time!


Secondly, while it would've been great to have a full console game for Xehanort (and it's not impossible to get this in the future eventually), remember that Nomura himself said that he didn't have the time to do it, because the saga wouldn't end if he did. But with the Foretellers/Master of Masters coming to the forefront, Xehanort defeated, and Union X possibly reaching its climax with all the mysteries currently unfolding, it might really be important for us to know what exactly Xehanort saw that made him change.

What's the "quickest" (Iol not really when you look at UX BUT technically...) way to get the story out? A Union X-style mobile phone game. Dev time wouldn't be as strenuous as a fully-fledged AAA title, the art style and system is familiar so it's not requiring a huge overhaul (which is why it'll be in the UX game launcher), and despite what people say, we all DO care about the story very much. So when you consider what would be the most efficient, this makes a ton of sense. Everyone would love a 0.2/BBS style Xehanort game, but if our choices are either UX-style or nothing, at least we're getting something. Besides. When UX JP updates the story every month, it's a big discussion on KH Twitter. The fact that we have potentially TWO stories updating every month makes things a lot more active, so while it's not the A1 idea we all want, it's a lot better than silence from DDD to X[Chi] to BBS 0.2.

Thirdly, I'm interested in the premise of the battle system. On the left-side, it has something that reminds me of FFX's CBT (or Conditional Turned-Based Battle/Count Time Battle), where it shows the Act List and how many turns Xehanort and Eraqus have before the Enemy strikes. They've said it's more fast-paced, so this is most likely going to be less like UX where you just use all your medals in one turn and hope it's enough to defeat your enemy before they nail you on their turn, and more like a turn-based system with the cards either doing different attacks or having certain abilities attached to it (so one card does damage x0.5, one card could paralyze the enemy, meaning you gain an extra turn, and so on).




What's interesting is that there's no HP bars for the enemy. Instead, there's a Heartless icon and BP icon with numerical values, a back button and an Info button... So there's most likely more to this new system than what we can see from one screenshot. Next to Xehanort's HP Icon, we see Status Boosts, three small icons with a space between the next three, so three might be for Xehanort and the other three for Eraqus. The more I'm looking at this, the more I think that there's definitely a lot of reworking done into this system, so I'm gonna remain optimistic! I'm digging it.

Also, you can see in the empty slot where the cards are held, the emblem for the Book of Prophecies is present. Maybe like the medals in Union X, the Book of Prophecies is granting them powers throughout this experience. As a matter of fact, it's strange how Eraqus and Xehanort even had an opportunity to explore the Age of Fairy Tales, because as far as we know through regular time-travelling means, that shouldn't be possible. There's that weird machine thing that was revealed in the latest UX update, and we saw that machine all the way back in KH1, but as far as we know... That machine was never finished (unless it eventually was?), so that might not be it either.

The only other idea I have is that the whole world tour is a projection itself, sort of like what was going on in UX, but in reverse. Young Xehanort and the Master of Masters are shown meeting in the ReMind trailer (YX was given the black coat by the MoM), and MoM seemed to know all about YX going on that journey. So it couldn't have been the first time they met. What if he was the one that allowed all this to happen, and that's why Emblem Heartless are showing up? Timeline-wise, they shouldn't exist. But if it's all a projection, it would make sense. The precedence is there.

Overall though, I think while it's natural to be disappointed, I think we should wait and see because there might actually be more to this than we know. Of course, it doesn't help that there's barely any information out, but they did say it's a standalone title, so there'd have to be reasons for this. If not, they could've just done what they did for the Keyblade War and make it a special event or something.

Adding to this post: perhaps the bonuses that Xehanort has are granted by Eraqus. Judging by the fact that there are more characters yet to be revealed, it's possible we might get a partner system where, depending on the partner that we have assigned, we get different bonuses.

SuperSaiyanSora

February 20, 2020 @ 06:08 pmOffline

comment graphic

Ballad of Caius

Adding to this post: perhaps the bonuses that Xehanort has are granted by Eraqus. Judging by the fact that there are more characters yet to be revealed, it's possible we might get a partner system where, depending on the partner that we have assigned, we get different bonuses.


It's possible! One big change from UX is that we have a Party System now. Every battle in UX is solo, and needs to be finished in one turn (because enemies will kill you if you don't). But here, since it looks like FFX's CTB-style system is a feature, we're probably not going to be GG'd after our first turn... Unless all party members need to defeat the enemy before the enemy attacks in return.

So in terms of bonuses, I'd like to imagine that certain characters might have certain abilities that could be a lot of help. One character could be more of a heavy-hitter, while another one has stronger magic. Another party member is fast, so they attack more frequently. And one could be where they have more healing properties so they have HP-Regen or something. There's a lot they could do with this.

Plus, since there's more than one party member in use, this probably means if one character is KO'd, it's not game over -- that's only if your party gets completely wiped.

GreyouTT

February 20, 2020 @ 09:54 pmOffline

comment graphic

Alpha Baymax

That's not at all comparable. That's like saying Axel and Reno are the same characters, they're not. The Final Fantasy characters retain the DNA of their source material, the Kingdom Hearts characters inspired by Final Fantasy characters are still original characters with drastically different purposes.



Except they did a 1:1 remake for part of a trailer for Versus13 with Yozora. That is going WAAAAY past just being inspired by it.

The_Echo

February 21, 2020 @ 01:43 amOffline

comment graphic

Alpha Baymax
This is the worst reveal for a Kingdom Hearts game to date. I get it, video games are a profit venture, and maximising profits while minimising costs is what every business strives to do, but this game just reeks of monetisation just by looking at it.

Reactions like this are honestly kind of baffling to me
It's as if this is the first time Square has announced a Kingdom Hearts mobile game
Except it's literally an update to the existing mobile game

Feels sort of like "where were you for the last seven years"

MrFranklin95

February 21, 2020 @ 02:21 amOffline

comment graphic

The_Echo

Reactions like this are honestly kind of baffling to me
It's as if this is the first time Square has announced a Kingdom Hearts mobile game
Except it's literally an update to the existing mobile game

Feels sort of like "where were you for the last seven years"


I don't think that's the reason people are extremely disappointed by this move. I think fans can deal with a mobile game. Hell, they dealt with that fact for years now and have given it the benefit of the doubt despite its increasing disappointment.

It's the fact that this just feels very uninspired and a waste of time and resources. Plus, and I feel like I can say this with confidence, most fans don't want this. Even if a Xehanort game only has the possiblity of being a mobile game, I think fans would rather it be it's own thing with a new art style and gameplay mechanic that doesn't reek of monetization that feels so far remove from what people enjoy about KH's gameplay. But even then, I think the dev tems knows that a game focusing on Xehanorts origin is more then worthy of a console game. So to only produce it as a mobile game that only exists as an expansion to an already polarizing game reeks of desperation and it's not a good look.

UX's numbers are dwindling and this move is not going to help. Fans are ready and are practically demanding UX to be on console, full-on FF14: a realm reborn style with a complete story. Even if we'd have to wait a few years for it, it would be worth the time and energy; far more then this. This was just not the right direction to go and I don't fans are going to respond it as well the devs think they will.

Chaser

February 21, 2020 @ 02:51 amOffline

comment graphic

MrFranklin95

I don't think that's the reason people are extremely disappointed by this move. I think fans can deal with a mobile game. Hell, they dealt with that fact for years now and have given it the benefit of doubt despite its increasing disappointment.

It's the fact that this just feels very uninspired and a waste of time and resources. Plus, and I feel like I can say this confidence, most fans don't want this. Even if a Xehanort game only has the possiblity of being a mobile game, I think fans would rather it be it's own thing with a new art style and gameplay mechanic that doesn't reel monetization that feels so far remove from what people enjoy about KH's gameplay. But even then, I think the dev tems knows that a game focusing on Xehanorts origin is more then worthy of a console game. So to only produce it as a mobile game that only exists as an expansion to an already polarizing game reeks of desperation and it's not a good look.

UX's numbers are dwindling and this move is not going to help in the slightly. Fans are ready and are practically demanding UX to be on console, full-on FF14: a realm reborn style with a complete story. Even if we'd have to wait a few years for it, it would be worth the time and energy it far more then this. This was just not the right direction to go and I don't fans are going to respond it as well the dev's think they will.

This this this 100%!!!

Sign

February 21, 2020 @ 03:00 amOffline

comment graphic

I don't think they're concerned about the game aspect and really only care about getting the story told. Nomura wasn't able to make a console prequel like he wanted, presumably because SE higher ups wanted to get KH3 over and done with. So UX team comes to him with an offer, to use their game as the vehicle he needs to tell the story he wants. It's much lower budget and they'd be able to recycle loads of assets, something the suits would be pleased with.

Or at least that's how I'm rationalizing this to myself.

user avatar

Xagzan

February 21, 2020 @ 03:19 amOffline

comment graphic

darknessofheart

I think he needed to know the future while in the past in order to write the BoP and ensure there was some type of control over the keyblade war's last phase. The book is what kept the Fortellers largely following their roles and ambitions because of the last page.

Afterwards, I think the MoM began to make strategic steps in the future to ensure that someone could overwrite the last page, which turned out to be Sora.

His meeting with Xehanort may have been one of those moves. After all, if it wasn't for Xehanort, none of the characters would've become heroes of light. Roxas, Xion, and Namine would have never existed, Sora and Riki wouldn't be welders, etc.


Hmm, well also, how is Xehanort's in his 90s in present time, as one of the new cutscenes indicates, while in the flashbacks he and Eraqus are around the same age, and yet older Eraqus is clearly not even close to 80?

Chaser

February 21, 2020 @ 03:26 amOffline

comment graphic

Sign

I don't think they're concerned about the game aspect and really only care about getting the story told. Nomura wasn't able to make a console prequel like he wanted, presumably because SE higher ups wanted to get KH3 over and done with. So UX team comes to him with an offer, to use their game as the vehicle he needs to tell the story he wants. It's much lower budget and they'd be able to recycle loads of assets, something the suits would be pleased with.

Or at least that's how I'm rationalizing this to myself.

Which is all fine, we all enjoy the UX story and enjoy its updates, even if they’re very infrequent and the global version is 6 months behind, so once Dark Road gets rolling I’m sure we‘ll all be excited for its story.

The problem is it’s putting this story into a gacha heavy game while reusing a bunch of assets from X and UX and being a bit illogical (Agrabah and the emblem heartless) has everyone concerned.

At the end of the day, I think that if the UX team hadn’t convinced Nomura to do this then it should have gone to Tomoco Kanemaki for a novel.

All we can go off is what Square Enix decided to show and they showed off a world that fans do not want to explore again, old assets being flipped (like the Queen of Hearts SR card from the original X being cut out and put into a new card for this game, shown below, and the King Mickey card is just a screenshot from CoM), confusion and disappointment over their world selection and enemy choice, and we all know how bad the monetisation of KHUX is and we know that Dark Road will follow that (a 5 pull mercy in KHUX requires 15,000 jewels, which is about 300 jewels shy of the top jewel pack that can be purchased for real money, which down here is $160 AUD).

Absent

February 21, 2020 @ 03:27 amOffline

comment graphic

MrFranklin95

I don't think that's the reason people are extremely disappointed by this move. I think fans can deal with a mobile game. Hell, they dealt with that fact for years now and have given it the benefit of the doubt despite its increasing disappointment.

It's the fact that this just feels very uninspired and a waste of time and resources. Plus, and I feel like I can say this with confidence, most fans don't want this. Even if a Xehanort game only has the possiblity of being a mobile game, I think fans would rather it be it's own thing with a new art style and gameplay mechanic that doesn't reek of monetization that feels so far remove from what people enjoy about KH's gameplay. But even then, I think the dev tems knows that a game focusing on Xehanorts origin is more then worthy of a console game. So to only produce it as a mobile game that only exists as an expansion to an already polarizing game reeks of desperation and it's not a good look.

UX's numbers are dwindling and this move is not going to help. Fans are ready and are practically demanding UX to be on console, full-on FF14: a realm reborn style with a complete story. Even if we'd have to wait a few years for it, it would be worth the time and energy; far more then this. This was just not the right direction to go and I don't fans are going to respond it as well the devs think they will.



Basically this.

OneDandelion

February 21, 2020 @ 05:10 amOffline

comment graphic

Chaser

Which is all fine, we all enjoy the UX story and enjoy its updates, even if they’re very infrequent and the global version is 6 months behind, so once Dark Road gets rolling I’m sure we‘ll all be excited for its story.


As much as I love the KH story even I am beginning to question Nomura's dedication to this. Animating scenes in KHUX is easier than animating scenes of South Park. If Nomura simply wanted to tell a story then the mobile games are great vehicles to do that, but they are so drawn out and infrequent that one can only assume that either he doesn't care or he plays a part in this monetization scheme. I mean it's either that or his hands are truly tied by SE/Disney.

Given how his disappointment with FFXIIIVersus is common knowledge at this point I would like to believe the latter, but then I have to question why he remains at SE all these years if they're so creatively stifling to him. It's insane to think that KH came out 18 years ago and in the last 10 years all we've gotten is .2, Back Cover & KHUX, DDD, and KH3. From 2002-2010 they produced KH1, KH2, CoM, 358/2 days, coded, and BBS. So either SE/Disney is a huge pain in the ass or the PS4 and mobile are just too hard to develop games for, who knows.

Chaser

February 21, 2020 @ 05:27 amOffline

comment graphic

OneDandelion

As much as I love the KH story even I am beginning to question Nomura's dedication to this. Animating scenes in KHUX is easier than animating scenes of South Park. If Nomura simply wanted to tell a story then the mobile games are great vehicles to do that, but they are so drawn out and infrequent that one can only assume that either he doesn't care or he plays a part in this monetization scheme. I mean it's either that or his hands are truly tied by SE/Disney.

Given how his disappointment with FFXIIIVersus is common knowledge at this point I would like to believe the latter, but then I have to question why he remains at SE all these years if they're so creatively stifling to him.

why do we keep bringing Nomura into this? I know I said “the Ux team convinced Nomura to do this” but I was paraphrasing how they proposed the concept to him for approval.

I think the only time Nomura gets involved with Ux is writing some of the dialogue for the main story. I believe the rest of the time it’s either ripped from the Disney film or it’s someone else just writing some filler dialogue.

As far as we know it’s not his decision to put the story quests out at an infrequent pace. It could be Square Enix’s decision, it could be bitgroove’s decision, we don’t really know. But there’s a whole team of people who work on KHUX every day and are the ones who make these decisions.



the PS4 and mobile are just too hard to develop games for, who knows.


Current gen games are different beasts to previous gens. 5 years for modern AAA games are pretty much the standard at the moment.

The_Echo

February 21, 2020 @ 06:06 amOffline

comment graphic

MrFranklin95

I don't think that's the reason people are extremely disappointed by this move. I think fans can deal with a mobile game. Hell, they dealt with that fact for years now and have given it the benefit of the doubt despite its increasing disappointment.

It's the fact that this just feels very uninspired and a waste of time and resources. Plus, and I feel like I can say this with confidence, most fans don't want this. Even if a Xehanort game only has the possiblity of being a mobile game, I think fans would rather it be it's own thing with a new art style and gameplay mechanic that doesn't reek of monetization that feels so far remove from what people enjoy about KH's gameplay. But even then, I think the dev tems knows that a game focusing on Xehanorts origin is more then worthy of a console game. So to only produce it as a mobile game that only exists as an expansion to an already polarizing game reeks of desperation and it's not a good look.

UX's numbers are dwindling and this move is not going to help. Fans are ready and are practically demanding UX to be on console, full-on FF14: a realm reborn style with a complete story. Even if we'd have to wait a few years for it, it would be worth the time and energy; far more then this. This was just not the right direction to go and I don't fans are going to respond it as well the devs think they will.

Y'know, like, I get it.
I've been praying for a console remake ever since χ[chi] ended service. Obviously a canon browser/mobile game isn't what any of us ever wanted and the potential of a console version of the story is extremely promising.

I just feel like this announcement having such an intensely negative reaction is a bit... out of step? Disproportionate?
Like it's weird seeing just how genuinely angry people are, compared to how things were when Dark Road was first announced.
End of the day none of us are playing KH mobile games for any reason other than because it's canon.
So as long as we're getting new story, the rest shouldn't really be that big of a deal, I don't think.

I especially think it's weird that people are mad DR isn't a second, separate app. I thought being a mobile game at all was a problem?
But having two mobile games would be more desirable than having two stories in one mobile game?
For me, that was like "thank God," but I guess everyone else really wanted another mobile game...

Face My Fears

February 21, 2020 @ 06:10 amOffline

comment graphic

I would have taken a graphic novel drawn by Nomura over this "game". KH is fun to play and I love the story, but it's bothering me that gameplay seems to be taking a backseat for these "games". I tried KHUX on a phone that could play it and I just didn't find it fun at all.

OneDandelion

February 21, 2020 @ 06:13 amOffline

comment graphic

Chaser

why do we keep bringing Nomura into this?

Because he’s the creative director and has the final say on everything. My point is Nomura has the power to speed this up but he doesn’t. Many people including myself want to believe that Nomura has the best intentions for the series and the fans at heart but frankly I’m starting to believe it’s more or less just a job for him at this point.

Oracle Spockanort

February 21, 2020 @ 06:14 amOffline

comment graphic

OneDandelion

As much as I love the KH story even I am beginning to question Nomura's dedication to this. Animating scenes in KHUX is easier than animating scenes of South Park. If Nomura simply wanted to tell a story then the mobile games are great vehicles to do that, but they are so drawn out and infrequent that one can only assume that either he doesn't care or he plays a part in this monetization scheme. I mean it's either that or his hands are truly tied by SE/Disney.

Given how his disappointment with FFXIIIVersus is common knowledge at this point I would like to believe the latter, but then I have to question why he remains at SE all these years if they're so creatively stifling to him. It's insane to think that KH came out 18 years ago and in the last 10 years all we've gotten is .2, Back Cover & KHUX, DDD, and KH3. From 2002-2010 they produced KH1, KH2, CoM, 358/2 days, coded, and BBS. So either SE/Disney is a huge pain in the ass or the PS4 and mobile are just too hard to develop games for, who knows.


It is important to point out that the shift wasn’t 10 years ago, the shift started in 2013 post-KH3D. This is when Yoichi Wada stepped down and Yosuke Matsuda came in as president of Square Enix. He eliminated pretty much all mid-tier development at SE to focus on AAA and mobile developments.

AAA games ARE beasts to develop. An average development cycle for any AAA game is five years, although some developers will cut corners to cut that down into 3 years or even 2. Developers with tried and true development processes and tons of available assets can probably also accomplish 2-3 years.

The problem mostly stems in the fact that SE isn’t really making mid-tier games anymore. If they do, they see it as a huge gamble. Blockbusters and mobile games are easier to make money off of.

Also developing on older tech is also rather hard, too. KH3D was developed on a modified version of BBS’s engine which was solid but rather janky. Unreal Engine is probably a gold standard now for SE because it is an engine with a lot of documentation and support.

And therein lies a problem: it’s still costly to develop a game with that engine. And knowing Nomura, they wouldn’t have gone backwards from KH3. There would be no mid-tier budgeted development (even if us fans would probably be fine with something that didn’t look like KH3 but closer to KH3D). He would keep pushing for better graphics, better gameplay, better this and that because he always wanted to push the limits of the hardware and engines his teams were developing on. It has been his thing since FF8 when he drew Squall with a coat that had feathers because he wanted to see how the developers would handle rendering it in the game.

And I imagine Yasue and the Osaka team also the same. They would only want to push forward.

I’m tired so I think I lost the plot of my response a bit, but my point is that...we were never getting what we wanted because SE doesn’t make these kinds of games anymore and Nomura and the KH dev team probably wouldn’t go backwards and also the UX team were probably the only reason this project got off the ground anyways BECAUSE it was cheap to develop.

The_Echo

February 21, 2020 @ 06:24 amOffline

comment graphic

OneDandelion

Because he’s the creative director and has the final say on everything. My point is Nomura has the power to speed this up but he doesn’t. Many people including myself want to believe that Nomura has the best intentions for the series and the fans at heart but frankly I’m starting to believe it’s more or less just a job for him at this point.

Nomura writes the main story updates himself, and I don't know if you've noticed, but the man kind of hasn't stopped working a day in his life since 2001 if not earlier
2.8, KHIII and FFVIIR were all in development at the same time at one point, in addition to Uχ
Not to mention whatever role he has in merchandising, event organizing, special appearances, and more minor projects like his Miku crossover, Batman Variant Arts, designing characters for other games...
He even told us how a special something-or-other came up suddenly and he had to stop writing the Uχ updates he was working on to deal with it.

The guy's got a lot on his plate, literally all the damn time. The fact that Uχ has the ability to pad things out with Disney worlds is probably a lifesaver for him.

Oracle Spockanort
He would keep pushing for better graphics, better gameplay, better this and that because he always wanted to push the limits of the hardware and engines his teams were developing on. It has been his thing since FF8 when he drew Squall with a coat that had feathers because he wanted to see how the developers would handle rendering it in the game.

He actually did this in FFVII too. The modelers asked him not to design any characters with dresses because it would be difficult to model and animate

So he gave Aerith a dress

GreyouTT

February 21, 2020 @ 06:45 amOffline

comment graphic

What Chaser and Spock said are basically why I feel a Switch exclusive game will never happen.

On another note this also has the perk of all future console games using the same (obviously updated as Unreal updates) engine as 3 going forward. So that'll likely cut costs and dev time a bunch.

And I only see them having one mobile app at a time (as evidence by the fact that they just combined DR into UX as if it were a ReMix collection), so that means a lot less series fragmentation going forward as well.

So in conclusion:

[IMG width="346px"]https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/490/511/148.jpg[/IMG]


Of course I hope the next mobile game has a new everything. There's so many ways a mobile KH could go, like a semi-3D world in the vein of Castelia City in Pokemon B&W. The possibilities are endless!

MrFranklin95

February 21, 2020 @ 07:09 amOffline

comment graphic

So basically, "Kingdom Hearts will never have any spin-off games that focus on other stories unless they are mobile." That's... really disappointing. Like at the very least, a Xehanort game, a Union Cross on console, and DDD2 shouldn't be too much to ask for a series that I feel like should be expanding beyond its mobile limitations to gain new fans and new ground in its story but also in the media and gaming landscape before KH4 gets started but I guess it is. And I understand why, it's not like I expect those things to happen all at once but still... I guess it just shows that gaming isnt same as how it was in the early 2000s and 10s.

Man, I feel old...

Well.. at least I hope DDD 2 still happens, which I think it will. It just sucks that a console version of UX seems incredibly unlikely even though at this point, it's in pretty high demand and would do a lot to tie people over between DDD 2 and KH4.

This whole thing is just... ugh. I hate it. I just want KH to be the best it can be. And I dont want to I sh*t on anyone who is perfectly fine with this but it just feels like the only thing fans can do is compromise or get beaten down so much by disappointment that they just have to accept outcomes they don't like deep down while Sqaure Enix and Noruma just do whatever they want regardless they know fans will buy anyways. Even when they do listen, like with Re: Mind, it's not executed in a way that's completely satisfying.

I'm still excited by things for the future of this series. I'm excited for the foretellers arc, I think MoM is the perfect villian and breathe of fresh air from Xehanort and I hope (even thought it's a pipe dream but I'm holding out hope) thag DDD 2 is the Destiny trio game come true but ...a lot of things about the series right now is very demoralizing and I haven't felt this way about the series at all since I've played it back in 2006. Things have disappointed me before but not to this extent were I feel very... sad about how this is going to turn out.

But... maybe that's a bit dramatic. Again, I'm still excited about certain aspects of the series and I still REALLY like KH3 and I love its ending. And in a lot of ways, I do believe Noruma still cares at some level but now... I can kind of feel the burnout; and maybe that's due ti the way this company as treatws him and the fact that it feels like he hasn't a break in a almost a decade but the passion feels almost completely gone... and if that's the case, maybe Noruma should... I don't know, take a break? Maybe let someone else take charge for this new arc? And again, all this might not be on Noruma entirely and it would be foolishly to think so. Sqaure as a company hasn't been making good decisions in the past decade and a change in leaders may have done some good in some cases but in others, a lot decisions feel like a step backwards that is willing to sacrifice creativity for monetary gain and prioritizing certain series over others.

I don't know, I just love Kingdom Hearts. There is so much potential in this series for it to be one of the best franchises in gaming. I just dont want it to crash and burn due to its creative heads feeling burnout and not putting enough into a franchise that deserves more due to how unique its story and even its characters are.

And again, I'm not saying that Nomura and his dev team don't do enough. I don't want to sound ungrateful but Kingdom Hearts really needs that EXTRA push to become more then what it is right now. KH3 made a lot of good steps forward for the franchise but it also created a lot of steps backwards; some due to probably laziness and cost but also some that isn't really there own fault.

And of course, I'm not in the production, so it's hard to say if that's the ENTIRE case. There are just certain things that even Noruma can't control but either way, it doesn't look all that great from the outside and THIS just felt like a giant punch in the face because I strongly feel like this is going to backfire so hard.

redcrown

February 21, 2020 @ 07:52 amOffline

comment graphic

Oracle Spockanort

It is important to point out that the shift wasn’t 10 years ago, the shift started in 2013 post-KH3D. This is when Yoichi Wada stepped down and Yosuke Matsuda came in as president of Square Enix. He eliminated pretty much all mid-tier development at SE to focus on AAA and mobile developments.

AAA games ARE beasts to develop. An average development cycle for any AAA game is five years, although some developers will cut corners to cut that down into 3 years or even 2. Developers with tried and true development processes and tons of available assets can probably also accomplish 2-3 years.

The problem mostly stems in the fact that SE isn’t really making mid-tier games anymore. If they do, they see it as a huge gamble. Blockbusters and mobile games are easier to make money off of.

Also developing on older tech is also rather 2, too. KH3D was developed on a modified version of BBS’s engine which was solid but rather janky. Unreal Engine is probably a gold standard now for SE because it is an engine with a lot of documentation and support.

And therein lies a problem: it’s still costly to develop a game with that engine. And knowing Nomura, they wouldn’t have gone backwards from KH3. There would be no mid-tier budgeted development (even if us fans would probably be fine with something that didn’t look like KH3 but closer to KH3D). He would keep pushing for better graphics, better gameplay, better this and that because he always wanted to push the limits of the hardware and engines his teams were developing on. It has been his thing since FF8 when he drew Squall with a coat that had feathers because he wanted to see how the developers would handle rendering it in the game.

And I imagine Yasue and the Osaka team also the same. They would only want to push forward.

I’m tired so I think I lost the plot of my response a bit, but my point is that...we were never getting what we wanted because SE doesn’t make these kinds of games anymore and Nomura and the KH dev team probably wouldn’t go backwards and also the UX team were probably the only reason this project got off the ground anyways BECAUSE it was cheap to develop.


So is this a guarantee that if they ever make more of the "period of absence" games, they'll most likely be mobile? That's a huge bummer if so, and makes me hold onto my wallet even harder. It's shut closed concerning KH now, if this is how it's going to be.

How much more money would it have been to develop it as a mid-tier/PS2 era animated game? As you've said most fans would probably have been perfectly fine with it, enough fans bought the handheld games to turn a profit I assume; it would be cheaper to make now more than ever.


Face My Fears

I would have taken a graphic novel drawn by Nomura over this "game"


Agree. I wasn't even that invested in the Xehanort game and I'm still disappointed. I really feel for fans who have been waiting for a Xehanort backstory game for years. That, and it's hugely telling of how this series will roll from now on; an even worse direction than I thought.

SuperSaiyanSora

February 21, 2020 @ 07:54 amOffline

comment graphic

GreyouTT

What Chaser and Spock said are basically why I feel a Switch exclusive game will never happen.

On another note this also has the perk of all future console games using the same (obviously updated as Unreal updates) engine as 3 going forward. So that'll likely cut costs and dev time a bunch.

And I only see them having one mobile app at a time (as evidence by the fact that they just combined DR into UX as if it were a ReMix collection), so that means a lot less series fragmentation going forward as well.

So in conclusion:

[IMG width="346px"]https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/490/511/148.jpg[/IMG]


Of course I hope the next mobile game has a new everything. There's so many ways a mobile KH could go, like a semi-3D world in the vein of Castelia City in Pokemon B&W. The possibilities are endless!


Yeah. It's funny how things go. People want all the games to be on one platform, berate the hell outta Nomura and Square for the multi-platform releases... And then ask for a Switch exclusive game after all of that lol. Never mind the fact that Square is clearly pretty biased to PlayStation (especially when it comes to KH releases).

I'm personally not bothered by a lot of what people are saying, because I guarantee you... Let five years have gone by, and people eventually would've said, "We need Xehanort's backstory, I don't even care if it's in a mobile phone game, just tell me the story!" I've seen this all play out before, and I'm grateful we're getting anything at all, because we really could've gotten nothing for Xehanort.

A console game for Xehanort would be cool, but resources are a thing, and Nomura did say already that he couldn't make the game before. He was right to say that the saga wouldn't end if he did it, because think about how much time that would take. You'd have that game, the side game before KH4, and presumably KH4 after that. Even though there's four teams, that's still a lot to deal with. If the Xehanort game came first, that's more time waiting on what's coming next. With all that to consider, a mobile game's the easiest to get out the door.

...And we don't even really know what's coming in Dark Road, literally we only have a couple of screenshots and maybe a paragraph of information. If that. It already looks different enough from UX, but because the art style is the same, the characters are in a desert, and people see the cards, it's all of a sudden the worst thing in the world. I'm gonna wait before I get upset, because I know how tides change when more information comes in.

Chaser

why do we keep bringing Nomura into this? I know I said “the Ux team convinced Nomura to do this” but I was paraphrasing how they proposed the concept to him for approval.


Cause he's the face of the operation, so I guess it's just easy to blame him instead of considering the fact that one man isn't an island, and he can't just do whatever it is he wants -- the man is still an employee at Square Enix and despite how much reputation he has, he still has to run things by the higher ups. If he had as much freedom as people think he does, Versus XIII would've been released, his vision for DDD's original ending would've stayed, and KH3 would've come out in November-December 2018. And that's not even bringing Disney into the conversation.

Let's not forget that he's also the Director for the Final Fantasy VII Remake... Which has a WAY less margin of error compared to any Kingdom Hearts game to date.

I'm not saying Nomura always makes great decisions, but people can't put everything on him. There's literal teams of people in this company that have business meetings to discuss stuff like what to do next.

GreyouTT

February 21, 2020 @ 08:15 amOffline

comment graphic

MrFranklin95

So basically, "Kingdom Hearts will never have any spin-off games that focus on other stories unless they are mobile." That's... really disappointing. Like at the very least, a Xehanort game, a Union Cross on console, and DDD2 shouldn't be too much to ask for a series that I feel like should be expanding beyond its mobile limitations to gain new fans and new ground in its story but also in the media and gaming landscape before KH4 gets started but I guess it is. And I understand why, it's not like I expect those things to happen all at once but still... I guess it just shows that gaming isnt same as how it was in the early 2000s and 10s.

Man, I feel old...

Well.. at least I hope DDD 2 still happens, which I think it will. It just sucks that a console version of UX seems incredibly unlikely even though at this point, it's in pretty high demand and would do a lot to tie people over between DDD 2 and KH4.

This whole thing is just... ugh. I hate it. I just want KH to be the best it can be. And I dont want to I sh*t on anyone who is perfectly fine with this but it just feels like the only thing fans can do is compromise or get beaten down so much by disappointment that they just have to accept outcomes they don't like deep down while Sqaure Enix and Noruma just do whatever they want regardless they know fans will buy anyways. Even when they do listen, like with Re: Mind, it's not executed in a way that's completely satisfying.

I'm still excited by things for the future of this series. I'm excited for the foretellers arc, I think MoM is the perfect villian and breathe of fresh air from Xehanort and I hope (even thought it's a pipe dream but I'm holding out hope) thag DDD 2 is the Destiny trio game come true but ...a lot of things about the series right now is very demoralizing and I haven't felt this way about the series at all since I've played it back in 2006. Things have disappointed me before but not to this extent were I feel very... sad about how this is going to turn out.

But... maybe that's a bit dramatic. Again, I'm still excited about certain aspects of the series and I still REALLY like KH3 and I love its ending. And in a lot of ways, I do believe Noruma still cares at some level but now... I can kind of feel the burnout; and maybe that's due ti the way this company as treatws him and the fact that it feels like he hasn't a break in a almost a decade but the passion feels almost completely gone... and if that's the case, maybe Noruma should... I don't know, take a break? Maybe let someone else take charge for this new arc? And again, all this might not be on Noruma entirely and it would be foolishly to think so. Sqaure as a company hasn't been making good decisions in the past decade and a change in leaders may have done some good in some cases but in others, a lot decisions feel like a step backwards that is willing to sacrifice creativity for monetary gain and prioritizing certain series over others.

I don't know, I just love Kingdom Hearts. There is so much potential in this series for it to be one of the best franchises in gaming. I just dont want it to crash and burn due to its creative heads feeling burnout and not putting enough into a franchise that deserves more due to how unique its story and even its characters are.

And again, I'm not saying that Nomura and his dev team don't do enough. I don't want to sound ungrateful but Kingdom Hearts really needs that EXTRA push to become more then what it is right now. KH3 made a lot of good steps forward for the franchise but it also created a lot of steps backwards; some due to probably laziness and cost but also some that isn't really there own fault.

And of course, I'm not in the production, so it's hard to say if that's the ENTIRE case. There are just certain things that even Noruma can't control but either way, it doesn't look all that great from the outside and THIS just felt like a giant punch in the face because I strongly feel like this is going to backfire so hard.


I think ya might be jumping the gun a bit. I'm pretty sure a Re:X will happen eventually (parts of Daybreak are even already made), and nothing's a foregone conclusion. There's also that sweet HD Collection money to be had from a Days/Coded/X collection which is like hanging a carrot in front of the SE exec's faces.

Plus like I said they have the overall engine ready to go, that shaves at least a year or two off the development time and saves a ton of money (why do you think AC and CoD can come out so quickly? It's not just the multiple teams, I'll tell ya that!).

Also they just got a new team, hard to say there is no push when there's news like that. >.>

MrFranklin95

February 21, 2020 @ 09:29 amOffline

comment graphic

GreyouTT

I think ya might be jumping the gun a bit. I'm pretty sure a Re:X will happen eventually (parts of Daybreak are even already made), and nothing's a foregone conclusion. There's also that sweet HD Collection money to be had from a Days/Coded/X collection which is like hanging a carrot in front of the SE exec's faces.

Plus like I said they have the overall engine ready to go, that shaves at least a year or two off the development time and saves a ton of money (why do you think AC and CoD can come out so quickly? It's not just the multiple teams, I'll tell ya that!).

Also they just got a new team, hard to say there is no push when there's news like that. >.>


I probably am. I really hope it does happen. I guess the impact of this news has made me seriously pessimistic about the teams for KH projects are going to bother to do if this is how they're going to treat the game for their main antagonists and think ,"No, this isnt gonna exhaust fans at all"

But you're right, they do have everything they need to make other projects that are more worthwhile then a Xehanort game. There's still hope but I won't lie and day this didnt dampen my excitement a bit. I would've rather they just not do this at all but who knows? Maybe the story is worthwhile.

Besides, DDD 2 is still likely to happen with Kairi as the main character, so I'm more excited about that then anything. Honestly as long as they give that, I'm a happy camper. I honestly can't say if UX on console will happen but like you said, it is still possibility. And it would be a great move but would also depend on the gameplay if do it but I see no reason for them to not use KH3 gameplay with some new added combos and abilities. Plus, creator creation on console? Oh boy, the possibilities!!

OneDandelion

February 21, 2020 @ 03:20 pmOffline

comment graphic

Oracle Spockanort

It is important to point out that the shift wasn’t 10 years ago, the shift started in 2013 post-KH3D. This is when Yoichi Wada stepped down and Yosuke Matsuda came in as president of Square Enix. He eliminated pretty much all mid-tier development at SE to focus on AAA and mobile developments.

AAA games ARE beasts to develop. An average development cycle for any AAA game is five years, although some developers will cut corners to cut that down into 3 years or even 2. Developers with tried and true development processes and tons of available assets can probably also accomplish 2-3 years.

The problem mostly stems in the fact that SE isn’t really making mid-tier games anymore. If they do, they see it as a huge gamble. Blockbusters and mobile games are easier to make money off of.

What qualifies as "mid-tier" at SE though? I wouldn't call KH1, KH2 and BBS mid tier games and they came out at a rapid pace compared to what we've got over the last 8 years. They have still published and developed a lot of games between 2012-2020 - they've even made room for some experimental obscure stuff like Dragon Quest Builders. And they've been pushing remakes like crazy. Even if you don't want to count the number of square enix subsidiary companies, SE has a tremendous number of resources. As far as I can tell it could only mean that SE has not wanted to invest in KH despite it being a successful franchise, or that Nomura has been busy on other projects and they trust no one else to develop a KH game in his stead.

But the equally big issue is that the games that are produced don't even have a good amount of new content. DDD offered us a couple hours of obscure content and KH3 only gave us maybe 2 hours of actual plot development, being generous. KHUX is the personification of this series over the last 8+ years where the story has been placed on an IV drip and we're expected to wait while they shove remakes, dlc, and $15 weekly passes to their mobile gotcha game in our faces.

Maybe I was too harsh on Nomura and maybe others are right to say "he hasn't taken a break since 2001". Maybe his creativity is being stifled. I've bought all the games and I'd like to think those things are true but when you develop a failure like KH3, make me pay half the games value for mediocre DLC, misrepresent the truth that there are two "new" games in development with KHDR. how can anyone be expected to keep faith? I know people like Xehanort, but why would anyone want to sacrifice the progress of the story of this series when it's already taking forever to get anywhere.

I never thought I would want the KH series to end, but here we are. If AAA games mean that I have to sacrifice storytelling for DLC and gotcha games then gaming as a story telling medium is dead. I'd rather KH was a novel at this point, maybe then the characters other than Sora would get some development as well.

GreyouTT

What Chaser and Spock said are basically why I feel a Switch exclusive game will never happen.


I would bet money the next game will be on switch lol. Any lore heavy/side game is going to be produced on the cheapest most accessible level possible and that is 100% the switch right now.

Ballad of Caius

February 21, 2020 @ 06:40 pmOffline

comment graphic

GreyouTT

What Chaser and Spock said are basically why I feel a Switch exclusive game will never happen.

A Switch exclusive game can happen. The Switch has been selling like hot pancakes and now more than ever with the Lite. If not, then a multiplat can happen.

GreyouTT

Of course I hope the next mobile game has a new everything. There's so many ways a mobile KH could go, like a semi-3D world in the vein of Castelia City in Pokemon B&W. The possibilities are endless!

That depends on mobile gaming trends. I imagine that, when they were brainstorming and conceptualizing KHUx, they were trying to see how well they could convert the KHx experience into KHUx. I imagine they observed mobile gaming trends and tried to mix and match what were the best combinations.

Also, it would be interesting to see how Dark Road performs. If it does well, there may be a possibility that Nomura may be more than inclined to put untold stories he wants to write via this format.

GreyouTT

February 21, 2020 @ 09:24 pmOffline

comment graphic

OneDandelion

I would bet money the next game will be on switch lol. Any lore heavy/side game is going to be produced on the cheapest most accessible level possible and that is 100% the switch right now.


It's really not that much cheaper. The Switch is an HD console just like the others, and Nintendo themselves underestimated just how much more money, time, and work goes into making HD games (granted most of them learned this on the WiiU, but some had to learn it on the Switch). Not to mention it requires switching to an older version of Unreal that actually works on it and backporting all the stuff from 3's current version. All of that ups the costs a lot.

Ballad of Caius

A Switch exclusive game can happen. The Switch has been selling like hot pancakes and now more than ever with the Lite. If not, then a multiplat can happen.


Multiplat is what I would bank more on tbh. I would be genuinely surprised if a Switch exclusive game happened.

Ballad of Caius

That depends on mobile gaming trends. I imagine that, when they were brainstorming and conceptualizing KHUx, they were trying to see how well they could convert the KHx experience into KHUx. I imagine they observed mobile gaming trends and tried to mix and match what were the best combinations.

Also, it would be interesting to see how Dark Road performs. If it does well, there may be a possibility that Nomura may be more than inclined to put untold stories he wants to write via this format.


The trending games are pretty varied in terms of gameplay: [IMG width="612px"]https://i.imgur.com/3KRUuyWr.jpg[/IMG]

In the top 10 alone there's four 3D action games, two tactics games, and three 2D/2.5D games, and Yu-Gi-Oh. Not to mention Honkai at 11, which is a 3D beat 'em up.

Sign

February 21, 2020 @ 09:27 pmOffline

comment graphic

OneDandelion

I've bought all the games and I'd like to think those things are true but when you develop a failure like KH3, make me pay half the games value for mediocre DLC, misrepresent the truth that there are two "new" games in development with KHDR. how can anyone be expected to keep faith?


It's pretty easy considering none of this is actual fact.

MATGSY

February 22, 2020 @ 12:26 amOffline

comment graphic

GreyouTT

It's really not that much cheaper. The Switch is an HD console just like the others, and Nintendo themselves underestimated just how much more money, time, and work goes into making HD games (granted most of them learned this on the WiiU, but some had to learn it on the Switch). Not to mention it requires switching to an older version of Unreal that actually works on it and backporting all the stuff from 3's current version. All of that ups the costs a lot.

Multiplat is what I would bank more on tbh. I would be genuinely surprised if a Switch exclusive game happened.

Pretty much the only way an exclusive happens is if Nintendo's publishing it themselves. Which isn't entirely implausible considering DQXIS or MUA3.

OneDandelion

February 22, 2020 @ 02:30 amOffline

comment graphic

GreyouTT

It's really not that much cheaper. The Switch is an HD console just like the others, and Nintendo themselves underestimated just how much more money, time, and work goes into making HD games (granted most of them learned this on the WiiU, but some had to learn it on the Switch). Not to mention it requires switching to an older version of Unreal that actually works on it and backporting all the stuff from 3's current version. All of that ups the costs a lot.

As opposed to creating brand new assets for a AAA PS4 game, developing for the switch is cheap. You seem to be exaggerating the time and effort it takes to reduce poly count on models "backporting" stuff from KH3. If they are designing brand new worlds, characters, heartless, etc all of that stuff will be easier to develop for the switch from scratch. A ridiculous amount of money goes into the character/environmental details of AAA PS4/XBOX1 games and the gameplay often suffers for it. Look at Anthem as one of the most recent examples of this.

Sign

It's pretty easy considering none of this is actual fact.

Nope, just a popular opinion. I loved the boss fights, but that doesn't make up for the shitty pace of the story progression and nonexistent character development.

No one can argue KH3 didn't perform well with respect to sales, it's just rather insulting when all of that money as well as their scummy gotcha game sales is now being funneled into the FF7 remake project instead of rewarding a long loyal fan base with the content they deserve. Instead we're like hamsters in a cage desperately trying to lick the last bits of water left in our little hamster water bottles trying to draw meaning from symbols on toys in toy box lmao. but I digress, you're right, it's just my opinion

GreyouTT

February 22, 2020 @ 03:55 amOffline

comment graphic

OneDandelion

As opposed to creating brand new assets for a AAA PS4 game, developing for the switch is cheap. You seem to be exaggerating the time and effort it takes to reduce poly count on models "backporting" stuff from KH3. If they are designing brand new worlds, characters, heartless, etc all of that stuff will be easier to develop for the switch from scratch. A ridiculous amount of money goes into the character/environmental details of AAA PS4/XBOX1 games and the gameplay often suffers for it. Look at Anthem as one of the most recent examples of this.


I think you misread my post. I'm talking about the engine when it comes to back-porting from KH3. The actual code, nothing else. Code written using an engine that doesn't support a console is not gonna work in an older version that does. It's going to need re:coding and lots of changes.

The point before that was that making an HD console game takes more effort than a SD handheld game. The Switch is an HD console, and models/graphics made for it will still take the same amount of time as other HD consoles. So the excuse that it's cheaper goes out of the window.

OneDandelion

February 22, 2020 @ 05:40 amOffline

comment graphic

GreyouTT

I think you misread my post. I'm talking about the engine when it comes to back-porting from KH3. The actual code, nothing else. Code written using an engine that doesn't support a console is not gonna work in an older version that does. It's going to need re:coding and lots of changes.

The point before that was that making an HD console game takes more effort than a SD handheld game. The Switch is an HD console, and models/graphics made for it will still take the same amount of time as other HD consoles. So the excuse that it's cheaper goes out of the window.

I still don't understand. The switch is capable of using Unreal Engine 4, what code needs to be rewritten? it's all using C++ and uscript as far as I know so I don't think they'd have to redo code on any assets they're porting over. And even assuming it was an older version of UE4 that didn't use the same code for some weird reason I don't think they're changing the code enough that it would "up the cost a lot"

And just because a console is "HD" doesn't mean it's hard to develop for. If you're just talking about resolution that's a one man job, there are plenty of HD indie games. The difference between the switch and the ps4 is the level of detail and the amount of stuff they can simultaneously fill the screen with. Switch is easier to develop for because people don't expect AAA PS4 level graphics on the switch. Obviously it still takes more time than a handheld game, but making a game on switch rather than PS4 would probably shave a year off development time at least and save money

GreyouTT

February 22, 2020 @ 07:41 amOffline

comment graphic

OneDandelion

I still don't understand. The switch is capable of using Unreal Engine 4, what code needs to be rewritten? it's all using C++ and uscript as far as I know so I don't think they'd have to redo code on any assets they're porting over. And even assuming it was an older version of UE4 that didn't use the same code for some weird reason I don't think they're changing the code enough that it would "up the cost a lot"


Libraries and references can be different between versions. They'd have to scroll through the code and take out anything that references something from a newer version and change it to fit the old one (not to mention the bug testing). But yeah, I guess it wouldn't be too different. And thinking about it, I can't remember where I read about the current version of UE4 not supporting Switch nor can I find something about it. Sooo that's a whoops on my part, sorry about that.

EDIT: I know what got me confused. I was thinking about IdTech. The engine Id games use. The recent version of that has no Switch support. I am once again sorry for my mix up.

But, there is also the fact that they would have to change things to accommodate the Switch's different architecture, which would require changing code. Then there's testing for that code, and so on. There's more to the process of switching consoles than just making the changes or a simple copy and paste. That's all also using development time for a new game.

OneDandelion

And just because a console is "HD" doesn't mean it's hard to develop for. If you're just talking about resolution that's a one man job, there are plenty of HD indie games. The difference between the switch and the ps4 is the level of detail and the amount of stuff they can simultaneously fill the screen with. Switch is easier to develop for because people don't expect AAA PS4 level graphics on the switch. Obviously it still takes more time than a handheld game, but making a game on switch rather than PS4 would probably shave a year off development time at least and save money


The difference isn't that big my man. The Switch is between the WiiU and PS4, and the WiiU was already somewhat more powerful than the 360. Just look at DOOM, OBSERVER, and Warframe comparisons.


Heck, here's Hellblade:
[IMG width="570px"]https://nintendoeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/hellblade-comp.jpg[/IMG]

The cost would not change much, if at all.

Ballad of Caius

February 22, 2020 @ 12:34 pmOffline

comment graphic

Unreal Engine 4 has an optimization engine for Nintendo Switch. They could develop a game that isn't very graphically and performance demanding on then optimize it for the Switch.

MATGSY

February 22, 2020 @ 09:37 pmOffline

comment graphic

Ballad of Caius

Unreal Engine 4 has an optimization engine for Nintendo Switch. They could develop a game that isn't very graphically and performance demanding on then optimize it for the Switch.

If Witcher 3 can get ported, I'm half-convinced KH3 can at this rate.

Ballad of Caius

February 23, 2020 @ 02:40 pmOffline

comment graphic

MATGSY

If Witcher 3 can get ported, I'm half-convinced KH3 can at this rate.

Debatable. I think a lot of graphical and performance sacrifices would have to be made. And with the fact that many Nintendo Switch owners also have a console, it would be a bit redundant to make all of that sacrifice.

If rumors of a Switch Pro are true, then that could raise the probabilities of a KH3 port.

MATGSY

February 24, 2020 @ 08:26 amOffline

comment graphic

Ballad of Caius

Debatable. I think a lot of graphical and performance sacrifices would have to be made. And with the fact that many Nintendo Switch owners also have a console, it would be a bit redundant to make all of that sacrifice.

If rumors of a Switch Pro are true, then that could raise the probabilities of a KH3 port.

I'm doubtful of a Switch Pro, "slightly more powerful Switch" isn't really a super compelling selling point. PS4 Pro didn't sell itself on being more powerful nor did XB1X, they were both sold on being 4K machines specifically. New 3DS wasn't sold on being a more powerful 3DS, it was sold on improved 3D with wider viewing angles. So what exactly would be the hook for an upgrade Switch? 1080p in handheld? Faster load times? Joycons no longer drifting? IDK, nothing comes to mind as marketable that's also feasible in the switch's lifetime. The improved battery is about as much as I'd expect for an advanced model.

In any event, the main problem with an "exclusive" Switch game is that there's no inherent reason for it to not be multi-platform. At which point more people buy the Playstation version instead & complain online that Switch held it back.

Alpha Baymax

February 24, 2020 @ 04:35 pmOffline

comment graphic

OneDandelion

No one can argue KH3 didn't perform well with respect to sales, it's just rather insulting when all of that money as well as their scummy gotcha game sales is now being funneled into the FF7 remake project instead of rewarding a long loyal fan base with the content they deserve. Instead we're like hamsters in a cage desperately trying to lick the last bits of water left in our little hamster water bottles trying to draw meaning from symbols on toys in toy box lmao. but I digress, you're right, it's just my opinion


Now wait a minute, are we forgetting about this statement by Nomura?

Sign

Will you tell us about any plans for future KH projects?
"We still need some time with regards to mainline Kingdom Hearts, but first up the KH UX team will have a surprising announcement tomorrow. Aside from the KH3 and KH UX teams, we actually have two new teams in operation, and from them, one title will be coming surprisingly soon".


This right here completely contradicts your statement.

OneDandelion

February 24, 2020 @ 05:55 pmOffline

comment graphic

Alpha Baymax

This right here completely contradicts your statement.

Unless, you know, he's misrepresenting the truth and those "new teams" are composed of the same people who were working on KH3 and KHUX. But when has SE or Nomura ever misrepresented the truth before?

I'm sure you're right. Some of the profits are definitely going into developing future KH games

Absent

February 25, 2020 @ 01:27 amOffline

comment graphic

I am more of Team I Will Believe When I See It. A lot of things happen behind the scenes and nothing is promised so anything can go south easily.

Violet Pluto

February 25, 2020 @ 02:32 amOffline

comment graphic

OneDandelion

Unless, you know, he's misrepresenting the truth and those "new teams" are composed of the same people who were working on KH3 and KHUX. But when has SE or Nomura ever misrepresented the truth before?

I'm sure you're right. Some of the profits are definitely going into developing future KH games

You may be right, however there is currently more proof for what Alpha Baymax said than for your assertion. Currently there is no reason to say that this is definitely what Nomura was talking about especially because in the original translation it said that there was something coming soon from the Union X team, which was obviously Dark Road and then said that there were two new teams and a new title coming.
Sign

We still need some time with regards to main line Kingdom Hearts, but first up the KH UX team will have a surprising announcement tomorrow. Aside from the KH3 and KH UX teams, we actually have two new teams in operation, and from them one title will be coming surprisingly soon.

Now, like you said this could be a lie; the future will tell if anything underhanded is happening, but I would like to wait and see first.

Rydgea

February 25, 2020 @ 02:35 amOffline

comment graphic

I've never thought the aesthetics of UX cheapened it, but the pacing has always been a real issue. And christ on a cracker, its Agrabah is the most Agrabah that ever Agrabahed.

Even with my rose-colored glasses on and the Follow-KH-off-a-Cliff blood oath at my breast, I can see why a lot of gamers aren't excited for this.

Being intrinsically linked with KHUX and #TeamWhale is not exactly inspiring a playthrough from me, personally. The way UX, in particular, has been told and rebranded and made into one of the worst projects of the HD collection is a very disjointed microcosm of some of the worst attributes the KH series posesses as a whole.

Face My Fears

February 25, 2020 @ 06:35 amOffline

comment graphic

Does anyone know the likelihood of KHUX and Dark Road being turned into films like Back Cover? Was there ever a discussion by Nomura on why he chose to create Back Cover?

Honestly, I feel like KHUX and Dark Road having so much crucial main story information locked into a mobile game is a horrible idea. I thought Nomura learned from the complaints about multi-systems that the series suffered from before and when it seemingly was fixed... we have to deal with KHUX and Dark Road. I know that I can just YouTube videos or read up on the story, but shouldn't Nomura actually WANT us to play these games and have fun with them? Even if I were able to play KHUX or Dark Road, the one time I played KHUX on someone else's phone, I didn't have ANY fun at all playing it.

Chaser

February 25, 2020 @ 06:59 amOffline

comment graphic

Face My Fears

Was there ever a discussion by Nomura on why he chose to create Back Cover?

I don’t believe so but it’s easy in retrospect to see why it became a movie. 2.8 acted as “everything you need to know going into KH3” so it did its job of telling the consumer who the Foretellers are, who MoM and Luxu are, and who Ephemer is.

Maybe closer to the release of the next game that requires knowledge of Union X they’ll make something that’s accessible outside of mobile audiences.

DraceEmpressa

February 25, 2020 @ 01:55 pmOffline

comment graphic

Alpha Baymax

Now wait a minute, are we forgetting about this statement by Nomura?



This right here completely contradicts your statement.

And we got DR now, which is like, both yes and no as a new game. Unless he meant a brand new game, legit on console? or the statement means "there will be new games to both console and mobile" ?

Violet Pluto

February 25, 2020 @ 02:36 pmOffline

comment graphic

DraceEmpressa

And we got DR now, which is like, both yes and no as a new game. Unless he meant a brand new game, legit on console? or the statement means "there will be new games to both console and mobile" ?

In his statement he mentions a new project by the KHUX team, but then also says that there are two new teams and projects being worked on besides the KH III team. Since Dark Road is headed by the KHUX team, if that was what he was talking about with the first statement that means there are two other projects that we don't know about be they videogames or something else.

Ballad of Caius

February 25, 2020 @ 05:26 pmOffline

comment graphic

Chaser

I don’t believe so but it’s easy in retrospect to see why it became a movie. 2.8 acted as “everything you need to know going into KH3” so it did its job of telling the consumer who the Foretellers are, who MoM and Luxu are, and who Skuld is.

Maybe closer to the release of the next game that requires knowledge of Union X they’ll make something that’s accessible outside of mobile audiences.

Maybe they'll just make another one of those short YouTube videos we got reviewing the series close to KH3's release.

Recon

February 25, 2020 @ 10:01 pmOffline

comment graphic

Yeah, that’s gunna be a no from me, dawg

DraceEmpressa

February 26, 2020 @ 07:20 amOffline

comment graphic

Violet Pluto

In his statement he mentions a new project by the KHUX team, but then also says that there are two new teams and projects being worked on besides the KH III team. Since Dark Road is headed by the KHUX team, if that was what he was talking about with the first statement that means there are two other projects that we don't know about be they videogames or something else.

But didn't Nomura said KH3 wouldn't have anymore DLC bc the console game team already moved on and working on new game? So other than the UX/DR team, there's is also KH3 team that's already working on new game, and two other more projects? CMIIW?

Violet Pluto

February 26, 2020 @ 10:19 amOffline

comment graphic

DraceEmpressa

But didn't Nomura said KH3 wouldn't have anymore DLC bc the console game team already moved on and working on new game? So other than the UX/DR team, there's is also KH3 team that's already working on new game, and two other more projects? CMIIW?

To be honest, I don't know. In the interview that I was quoting, he only mentions what can be assumed to be Dark Road and two new teams each heading up a project. If the main KH3 team is working on a game now, it could be that it is too early to say anything or that it is part of their non-KH duties. That's what I can guess but I don't have any concrete answers for why he didn't mention them in this interview.

Ballad of Caius

February 26, 2020 @ 02:51 pmOffline

comment graphic

The KINGDOM HEARTS III devteam, to the best of my memory, took a couple of days off and then they returned to continue development on the next KH title. It is also to the best of my memory that only a fraction of the KHIII dev team was used to develop Re:MIND. Meanwhile, the KHUnionCross devs pitched the Dark Road idea to Nomura, he liked it and now they're co-developing KHUx and DR. That leaves us with two other teams working on something KH related.

OneDandelion

February 26, 2020 @ 04:52 pmOffline

comment graphic

Ballad of Caius

The KINGDOM HEARTS III devteam, to the best of my memory, took a couple of days off and then they returned to continue development on the next KH title. It is also to the best of my memory that only a fraction of the KHIII dev team was used to develop Re:MIND. Meanwhile, the KHUnionCross devs pitched the Dark Road idea to Nomura, he liked it and now they're co-developing KHUx and DR. That leaves us with two other teams working on something KH related.

That's the optimistic take. Well, I hope you're right.

Ballad of Caius

February 26, 2020 @ 05:38 pmOffline

comment graphic

OneDandelion

That's the optimistic take. Well, I hope you're right.

I'd like to think that, even though it's been years since Square Enix approved mid-tier development projects, there's a possibility that Nomura pitched something akin to the Days/coded/BBS days where. Maybe we'll get KINGDOM HEARTS 3.5: Riku & Kairi Drop Distance? Birth by Sleep Vol. 2? Because if the main KH team is working on something and the KHUx team working on KHUx and Dark Road; what are the other two doing? I doubt it's anything Yozora because I think a Verum Rex game would be something Nomura want taken by a Business Division.

user avatar

ComeGuardianSubmit

February 27, 2020 @ 10:02 pmOffline

comment graphic

Gacha in anno domini 2020? Huge yikes.

Reminder that KHUX still hasn't answered any of its questions it dredged up years ago ahaha.

Are you ready for drip-feed monthly 5 minute textscenes that go nowhere? Because when KHDR "releases" in either April or August, that's all you'll be getting. Oh wait, thats all you're getting RIGHT NOW with KHUX, and DR is merely a continuation of that.

I know, it's nearly effortless cashgrab from SE but goddamn i wish the same devs doing the mobile crap could be used instead to produce some more KH3 content. I'd pay another $30 for additional character episodes and more post game content

Aqua’sLight

February 29, 2020 @ 02:04 pmOffline

comment graphic

I’m actually excited! I’m not fan of the graphics and gameplay but we will explore scala properly this time ?

MATGSY

March 7, 2020 @ 02:12 amOffline

comment graphic

Ballad of Caius

I'd like to think that, even though it's been years since Square Enix approved mid-tier development projects,

Well WoFF & the Trials of Mana remake seem pretty mid-tier.

Ballad of Caius

March 7, 2020 @ 04:51 pmOffline

comment graphic

MATGSY

Well WoFF & the Trials of Mana remake seem pretty mid-tier.

True, we could argue that they're recently more open to this sort of project.

saintfighteraqua

March 8, 2020 @ 01:38 amOffline

comment graphic

I just want to delete the boring, microtransaction memory hog UX has become.
I didn't have high hopes for this, to be honest. But this is just...

Iustus

March 11, 2020 @ 08:25 pmOffline

comment graphic

I wonder if ANYTHING serious will happen in that game. For example in UX is some kind of threat supposed to come closer.. but since the first X Chi on the browser there wasn't really happening something. They just talk all the time about it...

Yeah, Keyblade War, Darklings and Data worlds... But whats the point of Xehanort and Eraqus running through deserts of Agrabah without ANY context of the story? Will they continue the story in 5 monthly story quests as they did in UX?

Whats so important that they need to do another side-cashgrab-paytowin-time-steal-travel-darkness-light game?

KeybladeMasterJr

March 17, 2020 @ 04:50 pmOffline

comment graphic

Cards

RetroPokeFan

March 17, 2020 @ 09:56 pmOffline

comment graphic

KeybladeMasterJr

Cards

Eraqus: "You just gotta believe in the heart of the cards, Xehanort!"
Xehanort: "Huh, who told you that?"
Eraqus: "Oh, it's from my teacher. He constantly says it all the time."

Ballad of Caius

March 18, 2020 @ 01:11 pmOffline

comment graphic

RetroPokeFan

Eraqus: "Oh, it's from my teacher. He constantly says it all the time."

Hatredboy

April 20, 2020 @ 08:42 pmOffline

comment graphic

I'm very sad to discover that this game is for IOS and Android and not only that gameplay is the same Kingdom Hearts Union X... I really hope they would create the whole cutscenes as they did with Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover from Kingdom Hearts 2.5 remix back then...But...if, one day they publish this game access PS4 or PS5 game where I can play as Xehanort.....I will die happier... Because he's my favourite as I don't care about their negative opinions of him...Know why...? I knew he was never a villain from the start! The more thee event unfold, the more mysterious path to find more secrets! I'm curious how Ansem or Master of Masters connect to Xehanort. Ah, let's not forget that Xehanort's new keyblade up there! How did they move to Land of Departure from their hometowns!? I too am interested to know what Luxu was looked like when he first met Xehanort and give him No Name Keyblade. How did he fell in the darkness? Besides,how did Xehanort know about the power of waking? Did he tried to save someone else but soon learnt the truth and decided to leave one dying for nothing? Who is true mastermind and villain than Xehanort?

However, there's one thing more I want to know... How did Kairi move to Destiny Island from Radiant Garden? Did Kairi meet Xehanort the Apprentice somehow? Either way, I'm interested to find out!

Oracle Spockanort

April 21, 2020 @ 01:02 pmOffline

comment graphic

Hatredboy
However, there's one thing more I want to know... How did Kairi move to Destiny Island from Radiant Garden? Did Kairi meet Xehanort the Apprentice somehow? Either way, I'm interested to find out!


This was already answered by the series over the years. Kairi and her grandmother would use the library at the castle, and Apprentice Xehanort noticed Kairi had a heart of light. He didn’t know if she was a Princess of Heart or not, but that didn’t matter.

Ansem Report 11: [...] Supposing that there is a close relationship between the Princesses and the Keyblade, it seems likely that they will resonate with each other...

I have chosen one special girl. I do not know if she possesses a power like that of the Princesses. But, there is a chance, and this is an experiment. She may lead me to the place where the one holding the key is...

I shall send her off to the ocean of other worlds.


He literally chucks her into space to see if she would find a way to another world where there would be Keyblade wielders.

Aqua’s protection spell on Kairi’s necklace kept her safe and helped to guide her to a safe world, which also happened to be a world with potential wielders lol.

GreyouTT

April 21, 2020 @ 09:14 pmOffline

comment graphic

Oracle Spockanort

He literally chucks her into space to see if she would find a way to another world where there would be Keyblade wielders.


Hatredboy

April 22, 2020 @ 07:43 amOffline

comment graphic

Oracle Spockanort

This was already answered by the series over the years. Kairi and her grandmother would use the library at the castle, and Apprentice Xehanort noticed Kairi had a heart of light. He didn’t know if she was a Princess of Heart or not, but that didn’t matter.

Ansem Report 11: [...] Supposing that there is a close relationship between the Princesses and the Keyblade, it seems likely that they will resonate with each other...

I have chosen one special girl. I do not know if she possesses a power like that of the Princesses. But, there is a chance, and this is an experiment. She may lead me to the place where the one holding the key is...

I shall send her off to the ocean of other worlds.


He literally chucks her into space to see if she would find a way to another world where there would be Keyblade wielders.

Aqua’s protection spell on Kairi’s necklace kept her safe and helped to guide her to a safe world, which also happened to be a world with potential wielders lol.

I see. How intriguing! Thanks though.

Robby24

April 23, 2020 @ 11:46 amOffline

comment graphic

They had to transfer it to a PC. But, apparently, they did not want to have a competitor for their 14th.

Oracle Spockanort

April 23, 2020 @ 03:35 pmOffline

comment graphic

Robby24

They had to transfer it to a PC. But, apparently, they did not want to have a competitor for their 14th.


What?

KeybladeLordSora

April 27, 2020 @ 05:55 pmOffline

comment graphic

Robby24

They had to transfer it to a PC. But, apparently, they did not want to have a competitor for their 14th.

Um....what?

VanxesMegaKHFan

June 18, 2020 @ 02:20 pmOffline

comment graphic

[ATTACH type="full"]12725[/ATTACH]

+ Reply

footer image

Since 2003, KINGDOM HEARTS Insider has been the largest fan community and news resource on the web for the series. We are your one stop shop for all your KINGDOM HEARTS news, media, discussion, and fandom, from the original, to Birth by Sleep, KINGDOM HEARTS 3, and beyond!

  • Video Game Music
  • Zophar's Domain Emulation
  • Final Fantasy Extreme
  • KH World

©2016 KHInsider. KINGDOM HEARTS official artwork, trailers, characters, merchandise, and music is copyrighted to Square Enix and Disney.
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
Please read our privacy policy for more information | Legal Information