TGS07: More Kingdom Hearts DS, mobile, PSP details emerge
Tetsuya Nomura has a lot on his hands
After yesterday's quick announcement, Square Enix has revealed a little more info regarding its forthcoming Kingdom Hearts trio, currently only confirmed for Japan (though western releases are almost certain to follow given the phenomenal success of the franchise – over 11 million copies sold since first appearing in 2002).
In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, the DS game, you discover the untold story of the Organisation XIII character, Roxas, by exploring a variety of Disney worlds in both single- and multiplayer missions.
Reassuringly, Tetsuya Nomura has been confirmed as the game's director. And if that name means little to you, then simply know that he boasts Final Fantasy V-VIII, FFX, FFVII Advent Children and the original Kingdom Hearts amongst his credentials.
Nomura is also looking after the PSP's Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, a tale of a new trio of heroes told across three scenarios and, according to the developer, utilizing "groundbreaking technology" of Sony's handheld. What this means exactly is yet to be made clear, although Square Enix is promising to introduce new features on top of the traditional controls, game mechanic and visual style of the series.
The story takes place before the events of the first Kingdom Hearts, before Sora took up the Keyblade, a weapon of phenomenal power able to grant its wielder the ability to save the world… or destroy it. The disappearance of Xehanort, a Keyblade master, and his apprentice – thought to be a foreshadowing of great disaster to come – prompts another master to send his three apprentices to seek the duo out. Quite why the master doesn't go looking for them himself, given the severity of the situation, is beyond us but it does at least provide the set-up for the story that ensues.
Finally, Kingdom Hearts coded sees you journey through a variety of Disney worlds. Set after the original game in the series, the game begins with Jiminy Cricket returning to Castle Disney to organise his journal, when he suddenly discovers a mysterious message: "We must return to fee them from their torment".
Unable to recall the source of the text, Jiminy brings it to the attention of the King, who wastes little time in digitising the contents of the journal (really, we're not making this up) and launches an investigation. But within the world created from the cricket's journal, a virtual Sora awakes on Destiny Island. And thus begins a new adventure…
The mobile game – again directed by a presumably very busy Tetsuya Nomura – promises to offer a graphical level beyond what is expected of the platform and marks the first collaboration between Square Enix and the Walt Disney Internet Group.
Right, that should keep Kingdom Hearts fans going until news on the western versions of the games emerges, at which point you should expect to hear from us again (particularly if you've clicked 'Track It!').
