THANK GOD. Now everyone can calm their tits, KH fans chill with the crazy and TWEWY fans stop being so hostile.

AH thank goodness. But now I'm getting more curious about this 'Kingdom Hearts Shibuya' lol

I think anyone who views this kind of thing in a completely linear way is missing the point. And sadly, even artist statements like this are usually used by people to back up that kind of linear viewpoint. (Not that I'm blaming Nomura, since you pretty much have to put it like this in interviews.) So people will continue being weird about it in new ways.

Like if I'm understanding the topic right, the real question here is "is Shin Twewy secretly going to end up being a continuation of Kingdom Hearts", and I already didn't think that was going to be the case. But then there are some elements of Quadratum that are definitely references to the TWEWY conception of Tokyo, and I'd be really annoyed if people began saying "those are complete coincidence because Nomura said so" (which they already do due to people not understanding how japanese works).

The thing is that Square has always done this kind of cross-series idea sharing, like Biggs and Wedge showing up in Chrono Trigger, or the numerous shared plot points between Chrono Cross and Xenogears (Xenogears also has alt versions of FFVI characters in it), or even putting a "Cid" in a Dragon Quest spin-off after the merger. But I guess the word "connection" can only mean a linear story continuation to fandoms.

Of course, I think most people bizarrely think Nomura directs the TWEWY games (as well as numerous FF games he only did characters for), so that might be the real problem here.

But le wild ride demands it so!

Oh well. Glad to finally get some closure on that topic but why would he highlight 109 in the secret ending?

Didn't he already say it wasn't the same Shibuya just after 3 was out? Why did people think they'd be connected?

I would say "Well he's only speaking in reference to NEO's Shibuya and not the OG game" but I'd prolly sound nuts.

If he did mean TWEWY as a whole, then why have Sora wake up the same way as Neku?

Why have 104 with the same font as TWEWY's instead of a different number?

Yeah, no shit. The ultimania (was it the ultimania, or something else? I forgot) pitch wasn't talking about the TWEWY and KH canon intersecting, it just talks about Neku and Sora's sorta promise to see each other again. It was a given there'd be no direct intersection; Disney would never allow it, cameos maybe, but a true crossover, I don't think so. What the premise meant then and now is, will KH's version of Neku (who most likely lived in that version of Shibuya(Quadratum?)) ever meet with Sora again, not will TWEWY Neku ever meet Sora?

Someone brought up the Ultimania quote and I'm still not sure why this is so easily misinterpreted except that people just don't know Japanese and it's tripping them up.

He says that Neku promised to meet Sora in Kana!Shibuya. He then says that the Shibuya in KH3 is not Kanji!Shibuya, but Kana!Shibuya. KH-Neku's Shibuya and Quadratum's Shibuya are written [B]the same[/B], not differently. For some reason, I have seen numerous people state that he's saying that Neku's and Quadratum's are spelled differently. That is objectively the opposite of what is written there. (FTR, it was spelled in kana in DDD as well.)

That doesn't necessarily make them literally the same, it could just be a way to denote a "KH version of Shibuya" in general or other similar idea, plus we don't know much about how Quadratum even works at all yet.

The thing is, even going down that line of thought, Shibuya [B]is [/B]spelled with kanji in TWEWY itself (at least in the sources I'm looking at). So as easy as it was to interpret DDD this way, I don't think that the KH versions of the TWEWY cast were ever the "canon" versions, as this spelling difference was established from the beginning. And so, none of this was ever going to have too much bearing on Shin Twewy (aside from more shared ideas, i.e. Shinjuku being important to both Twewy and Quadratum).

Well, TWEWY multiverse is a thing, so some fans can make-believe if they want a crossover.

Haha, well looks like we can finally put this to rest. TBH, I'm not too surprised, as I kinda figured this was the case from the beginning. Especially after the world ended up being named something far different from Shibuya. Admittedly, I wouldn't have minded seeing the TWEWY crew again, but oh well.

Crazy how like the one Square character in all of KH that's hinted at to be the actual original version of themselves from their respective game is Auron.

Lol if it makes anybody feel better, KH’s Shibuya (the one Neku references, not Quadratum lol) is just one of millions of versions of Shibuya that are connected to each other based on TWEWY’s theory of alternate realities.

I will admit back when the Ultimania interview released, I was absolutely one of those people, but I mellowed out after realizing Nomura isn’t building a direct multiverse between his series (TWEWY, WoFF) but just a shared concept, especially after ReMind released.

I absolutely think we’re going to get a KH reference but it’ll be a tongue-in-cheek quote or a vaguely vague piece of graffiti. References are easy and commitment-free.

Also TWEWY deserves to be seen on its own, but I also don’t think TWEWY fans should be so dismissive of KH fans when they just want to enjoy the game as well. It’s like FF or Disney fans gatekeeping KH fans because they learned about these characters from KH instead of letting them enjoy these things in their own way.

I’ve been a TWEWY fan since the first time it appeared in Weekly Shounen Jump so many years ago as a blurry scan and my Japanese copy of the game sits proudly on my shelf completed because I was worried it would never get localized. I know what it is like to be a TWEWY fan left out to dry for years. I get that this is our moment, finally, but I don’t mind sharing it with KH fans if it means bringing in new fans. If that means dealing with the endless theories and speculation, I’m cool with it. Just makes it more fun to discuss.

I just want KH fans to not get their hopes up for something. KH is the nexus point for things to crossover, not the other way around.

Double post but lol this news has had the opposite effect on fans hahaha

KH3 Shibuya being a different Shibuya is believable, but both boxarts having the same sky colors just by coincidence isn't.

Verum Rex was also supposed to be a different thing from FF Versus13 and then we got that secret ending...

Guys, guys, don’t get all fussy about it and relax. It’s still technically Shibuya. It’s A Shibuya, just not THE Shibuya. Nomura says the name in the ultimania, albeit in kana characters, and there’s a billboard in the Verum Rex ad that spells out Shibuya in the Latin alphabet. It’s probably what the locals call a district/ward of Quadratum, kinda like how the Emperor calls the Land of Dragons “China.”

With that said, fan culture is gross if you jump into the rabbit hole. Just look into it, don’t actually go in it.

Come on guys, you know how it goes with Nomura, we can't believe anything he says.
He has too long a track record of lies to continue to believe what he tells us :LOL:

Knowing him, it is possible that what he means is that they are not DIRECTLY connected, so what he is telling us is true, but that in (un)reality TWEWY is connected to Verum Rex and this one to KH, acting as a link between the two.

But the truth is that we will not know until the game comes out.

There might be no connection from TWEWY towards Kingdom hearts, but there might be a connection from Kingdom Hearts towards TWEWY. See, this is a classic grammatical japanese subtext. In the original interview we can see he uses the letters こんにちは which can be translated as "not yet but maybe in the near distant future if anyone buys our game" and...
No I am complately making things up at this point.

Honestly I don't really get what the fuss is about.

The Final Fantasy characters featured in KH are not the actual Final Fantasy characters you see in the original FF games or Dissidia entries but just similar individuals having the same name and similar appearances.
They're native and "unique" to the KH universe and have nothing to do with the actual characters from the original/true FF universe even if there are some similarities in back stories or personalities.

The same goes for the TWEWY characters first featured in Dream Drop Distance, they aren't the exact same people featured in the original TWEWY game.

I don't think there will come a point in NeoTWEWY where it's like... "here is an explicit reference to KINGDOM HEARTS, we are in a shared universe with KINGDOM HEARTS". I think it'll play it very much like its own game, referential only to itself, as it should. People have been wanting this for a long time.

But every single part of me believes the same sky on the box art is indicative that the next Kingdom Hearts game will be, in some way, referential toward NeoTWEWY. Considering Quadratum seems more and more to be 'the land of Nomura's video game concepts', I think imagery and ideas from NeoTWEWY will make it into that world.

Hot(?) take, on the subject of TWEWY/Kingdom Hearts.

DDD was horrible. Square Enix characters showing up strictly in cutscenes and having absolutely nothing to do with the gameplay is worse than them not showing up at all. Sure, Neku, Shiki, Beat, Rhyme, and Joshua all showed up in DDD... But did they really? I never had to do anything in the game that had anything to do with them. If they ever show up again, I hope Nomura realizes this half assed approach to including characters isn't going to cut it.

So that kanji/katakana quote meant "Not the original game's Shibuya but DDD's Shibuya".

And here I thought it meant "Not our Shibuya but TWEWY Shibuya"


...of course Spocknoot brought up how TWEWY has like a multiverse of Shibuyas so technically IS TWEWY Shibuya buuuuuuuuuuuut

I don’t even know anymore.

I’m still getting the game though. It’s probably gonna be the first SE game for my PS5. Reviews shot Balan Wonderworld to hell, the Nier remaster has a really weird trophy and is WAAAAAAAAY too depressing to play in a world gone mad and stupid, and LiS:TC comes out in September so this’ll come out first.

Gotta remember to buy the original one for switch…or I can just watch the anime.

Not really surprised since I figured KH's Shibuya would be its own separate entity after MoM. Though I'm disappointed since I was looking forward to Sora playing the Reaper's game and getting to have Noises, lol

Still hope we get to see TWEWY characters again in the future

Even if KH Shibuya is different, I wouldn't put it past Nomura to put KH versions of NEO characters in future games.

All the criticisms of TWEWY's characters implementation in DDD is completely valid, but it's hard for me to dislike their inclusion completely since the interactions between Riku and Joshua were glorious. I just wished most of their dialogue wasn't mostly about explaining the lore mechanics.

Also I'm wondering if the TWEWY cast ever show up in KH again, how will their designs be changed to match the updated models of the KH characters? Neku and Shiki will look even more emaciated if they're not remodeled.

I do not believe this man, he's double speaking or carefully choosing his words. Neo:TWEWY might not have KH in it and I'm skeptical of that being the case because it's perfect another day style content, but you won't convince me that Neo:TWEWY isn't going to bleed in KH. This also the man who says Verum Rex isn't connected/related to the FF VSXIII that was never made, and anyone with eyes and ears can tell you that's a lie.

Why did he have get terse and pause? Because that's what Nomura always does when he needs to tell a half truth, when he's carefully deciding how to word things. You're going to tell me that artwork background is a coincidence, that you bothered to use TWEWY's iconic 104 version of shibuya, and also just coincidentally showed Shinjuku being destroyed in BOTH universes? Not. on. your. life. Even he is telling the truth I will feel no remorse to doubting him.

Personally I believe that the Shibuya's and general Tokyo areas aren't the same, but I kind of expect for the Neo:TWEWY characters to appear in some form in the next KH game. It just seems like an odd choice to create to games that have already overlapped in the crossover series, to take place in the same city districts and there to not be some kind of call out at least.

Plus with KH being the better known series, I have the feeling they might include some Neo:TWEWY to help promote it later on.

I feel bad for Nomura now cuz he can't say anything without people doubting him at this point lol

Like the only thing no one doubts is the no new KH releases in 2021 comment.

And about that I realized that "no new releases in 2021" doesn't mean "No announcements in 2021" so here's hoping for E3 KH ^w^

Although Nomura says there not connected, I’m not 100% convinced on what he‘s saying after all this is the same guy when asked about the Nameless star identity said “ it’s a character who has previously appeared in the series”

He may of not been lying but I don’t really count a character who has just appeared for the first time in KH3 and was only seen for about a minute as a character who has “previously appeared in the series”

I don’t care whether there is a connection between the two games or not, but all I’m saying is Nomura likes to add unexpected stuff in his games so honestly in the next KH game I would not be surprised if he decided to add something to do with NEO: TWEWY into the game

Nomura doesn't lie, he just....tells an untruth.

You guys are part of the problem

Nomura is the liar paradox...y'all know the one. "Everything I say is a lie. Am I telling the truth?"

I have no problem if this really gonna be the case, but on the other hand I cant fully believe Nomura because if I would have something like that in my game I wouldn't say it out loud in public before the release to spoil such a cool thing.

We will see. ?

I always viewed "reconnect" to be used in lieu of "to be continued" until they reached KH3, and "an oath to return" is the new "to be continued."

Both suck, just say TBC lol.

I dunno, feels like he wanted to make something that can lead into a sequel potential. I mean how many times did we see Hype Chan? Twice before she actually got a real introduction? But back in Solo Remix he probably just made her to tease everyone without actually thinking of a real plot until later. ( not a bad thing though, at least for me. )

It's kinda the same thing to other KH Final Mixes. I mean some people agree KHII should've been the real end, much like how OG TWEWY could've ended, but KH II Final Mix happened to link Birth By Sleep with a secret ending, and Solo Remix teasing hype chan as a secret ending. And then KH3's Yozora and 104 secret ending.

It's probably a reminder for him because it feels like Kingdom Hearts will be abandonded for a few years to focus on other games, much like how they abandonded TWEWY.

That said, him saying it's not connected just makes me think he still hasn't come up with anything yet, oh who knows that 104 may not be connected to first TWEWY or Neo, but the future events after Neo. Maybe KH3's sequel and NeoTWEWY's sequel is going to be one game, or it might be a Dissidia sequel overall where not all Final Fantasy characters but entirely Square Enix characters are gathered. Or Verum Rex IS the sequel and TWEWY and KH characters are just supporting characters like what they did to FF characters in KH, they exist but as entirely different beings, but TWEWY in DDD would still be the basis.

Welp, cast the firagas and i-flares on me now, KH and TWEWY fans.

The fanbase lasted 4 months of 2021's new drought before cracking from desperation. ?

Also the 104 thing is just because they can't legally use 109 from the irl building right? I don't think that insinuates a connection but just trying to keep the recreation of Shibuya accurate while staying in the legal clear.

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I think as long as we live in a world where this^ is happening, getting pissed at people for theorizing about the literal same sky on the box art is pedantic

First, Kingdom hearts is already a cross over, i dont think kingdom hearts gonna enter others universe (like TWEWY) BUT TWEWY can enter, and already have in kh3d, as Cloud Squall and others are in kingdom hearts.. but they're different from their original universe.. and have their own story in kingdom hearts.
So obviously , Kingdom hearts there is nothing to do with NEO, but not necessary the other way around .

Both questions was about NEO have something from kingdom hearts, or some kind of continuation of kh... which isnt.

Other thing is, kingdom hearts is already a nomura-verse... ffs....

and what this conversation about "thank god" people cannot see something just because its fun? i dont get it all the bs wrote here.

Goooooooood.

"Ok, I do not believe you."

So... No one is going to mention that the phrasing (at least when translated to english) is the exact same he used about the relation between Kairi and Namine?
How did that end up again?

While I've never really given any thought to there being a crossover between KH & TWEWY with the exception of what happened in 3D, I'm calling bullshit on Nomura's response right now given how he's such a top tier troll. I'm not saying that on his ENTIRE response, but I wouldn't be surprised if there IS some sort of connection between the two just not in anyway the fans are thinking of. I mean look at what he did with FF7R, up to the release of part one he and everyone else on the team that got interviewed were saying, "It's JUST a remake, there's NOTHING that being changed or added!" then SURPRISE!!! WE'VE PUT SOME WEIRD, CONVOLUTED GHOST SPECTER THINGIES INTO THE GAME AND SEPHI IS TRYING TO AVOID HIS DEATH AT THE END OF THE GAME AND THERE'S A DIMENSION WHERE ZACK AND CLOUD MAKE IT TO MIDGAR TOGETHER!!! xD

Honestly, nomura has proven himself to be a giant liar, but I don't think he's lying about this. One thing we have to take into account is that Nomura isn't the director of NTWEWY. hell, he wasn't even the director of og TWEWY. He just does character designs. He doesn't have the authority to say how things go on the writing side like he does in KH.