Heart Of All Worlds:
A Kingdom Hearts Fansite

Greetings here at HOAW:AKHF!!!

it's seems that Kingdom Heart's creator Tetsuya Nomura has plans to reveal a new title next week in the popular Japanese video game magazine, Famitsu.

Our source FF-Reunion has been quoted saying:

"The usual sources for early magazine leaks are reporting that in this week's Famitsu Tetsuya Nomura says to expect a small followup on Versus in next week's issue. Nomura also apparently hints at a new title announcement."

Could Nomura be planning to announce Birth by Sleep Volume 2? Perhaps a new Kingdom Hearts game altogether? Who knows? Remember folks, Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance has already been officially announced.

There still is more to come yet so stay tuned.

Source: FF-Reunion, as well as Marly and StVen of KHInsider.

Greetings one and all. There is fantabulous news today!!!!! Ever since the final mix showed up on youtube, the Secret Episode showed Aqua fight a massive horde of heartless and even a deadly lion-like creature called 'Red Eye'.

Yet none of what that showed was more important than the trailer we have found near the end of the game. It shows clips from various points of KH 1, Blank Points, and it also shows various characters we know and love. the video is called "Zero Point", to which has already been uploaded as we speak onto Videos in the Media section.

It would seem our mystery game was in fact just that: a game itself!!!! Other people thought it was the BBS final mix as the other unannounced title or even a big presentation for 2012. Yet with this bit of news, that is now put to rest. But more importantly the running title for this game is going to be called 'Birth by Sleep - Volume 2'. That's all for now so stay tuned.

P.S. Also stay tuned for a new chapter on TPT volume 3.

Well here we are again!  At long last, our questions have been answered (and in turn, raised many, many more questions) and we have learned what Shinji Hashimoto, Square Enix Producer, has been alluding to for all this time.  At E3, Nintendo announced its newest console: the portable Nintendo 3DS, a 3D gaming system that doesn't require the player to wear those awfully tacky blue and red glasses.  The KH community was sent into an uproar when the title Kingdom Hearts 3D Demo (a working title) appeared on the screen after the console's debut.  Here are some shots from the Nintendo Conference:

Along with this, we also know of two playable characters--Sora and Riku!

Lots of thanks goes out to Nintendo E3 Network and KHDestiny.com!

To make this announcement even better, a trailer was released for KH 3D.  Here's the impressions of the trailer from the wonderful folks over at IGN.com.

The trailer starts off with Sora and Riku sitting out by the starfruit tree on Destiny Islands. Then Riku disappears in a swirling flash of light. Sora calls after him and runs around the island (the game switches to gameplay here).

Sora runs through the island a bit, showing off the locale. Sora is shown using the glide ability, The game cuts again and shows Riku waking up Traverse Town (the main hub world of the PS2 game). He goes into a courtyard and is surrounded by a bunch of Heartless. Then he looks up and stuff gets crazy.

The sky starts raining Soras.

One of the Soras lands and busts out his Keyblade. The game switches back to gameplay mode here and shows Sora bashing the Heartless. After all the Heartless are defeated a huge soldier Heartless boss rises from the ground. Before Sora can battle him he snaps awake, back on Destiny Islands, sitting with Kairi by the starfruit tree. The camera pans up to the night sky and shows the title screen, Kingdom Hearts 3D.

The big question on everyone's mind after seeing the younger versions of Sora and Riku along with what looks like the Giant Nobody from the beginning of KH2 seemed to be, just what kind of game was Kingdom Hearts 3D?  It was thought to possibly be some kind of remake of the first Kingdom Hearts on a portable platform or something else altogether.  Thanks to some tweets from Shinji Hashimoto, it is confirmed that this is a "completely original title."  He explained that "with this and KHRc, two KH games will appear on portable game machines” and that KH3D was the “information with impact” he promised earlier.

Though there wasn't a playable demo, Square Enix did present a 3D movie showcasing the product.  Shinji Hashimoto tweeted, "Everything begins with this video."  Many thanks to adriasang.com for the info.

Okay, you've heard all of the information!  So, what do you think about it?  Worth your time (and moola)? And what in the kind of story could this installment have?  Discuss it all right here in the comments!

Hello everyone!  Today we are fortunate enough to get an interview with KH series director Tetsuya Nomura.  The interview is featured in Gameinformer's July edition, but thanks to KHMedia, we've managed to snag it in advance!  Nomura talks about the mechanics of the game along with a nice bit of info. near the end of the interview that will certainly leave us even more anxious for E3.  Below is a scan of the interview and the actual interview itself.

The North American versions of Kingdom Hearts games have traditionally included some extras. What kind of bonuses can we expect?

There are a variety of new elements, including Critical Mode, which takes the difficulty beyond Proud Mode; Keyblades, abilities, minigame maps, and songs. We're also unleashing a mystery enemy for North American fans, so hopefully everyone will enjoy the challenge.

How did you decide which Disney worlds would be in Birth by Sleep?

The process of choosing worlds has been the same with every entry. First, we select the worlds that are essential based on the scenario; in this title's case, the three pricess' worlds. Then, to add some variety to the locations we decided to include Deep Space (Lilo & Stitch) and Neverland (Peter Pan). Since Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep takes place before the rest of the games in the series, we decided to include Olympus Coliseum (Hercules) to show the contrast between past and present. We were able to incorporate more locations because of the hardware's capacity, and also because this title carries the same weight as a numbered Kingdom Hearts title.

How did you decide to set Birth by Sleep before all of the Kingdom Hearts games?

We set it before the other games to resolve mysteries that have scattered us thus far, and to clarify what mysteries lie ahead in the series. I hope everyone gets to see the secret ending!

What can you tell us about the new enemy, the Unversed?

Heartless are realizations of darkness in the heart, while Unversed are an existence born of negative emotion. They're similar in essence, but more information will be revealed in due time by a certain individual.

How did you decide on featuring playable heroes in Birth by Sleep with different quests rather than a single protagonist like Sora or Roxas?

Everything is part of one big story, and there is only one final destination. Fans of the series who already know what happens beyond Birth by Sleep may be able to predict where the three are headed. I thought that by separating the story into three prospectives, and having the player choose the order of progression would deepen the mystery, making the journey all the more interesting. Even if you complete one character's story, you'll become more curious as to what happens to the other two, and eager to see to how everything comes to a close for the three.

Can you explain some of the new combat elements?

The main concept for this battle system was to incorporate speed and tension in combat. There are three new systems that comprise the core of the game's battle sytem, and the Command Deck is definitely a key component. Each command has a level assigned to it, and there are several ways to develop them. There is also a charge time for each command, and timing is a crucial factor to using them successfully. You can freely adjust the command column, creating a setup that reflects your personal strategy and battle style.

The Shotlock command is an evolution of the target lock-on, which was one of the few constants throughout the series. You can use it to wipe out multiple enemies at once, or as a special one-shot attack against powerful enemies.

Dimension Link (D-Link) was a concept we took from the scenario and built into the system. It's an extension of the summoning system, and allows you to access other characters' deck commands and special attacks by connecting with them.

What was the inspiration behind the new Command Board?

I personally love board games, and this was a concept I had been working on for years as something I wanted to construct as a system one day. It's not a concept I thought of just for this game, but I think we were able to link it very well with the current command leveling system. It's not just a minigame, but an alternate game whose results affect the main game as well.

What did you want to accomplish with the multiplayer gameplay in Birth by Sleep compared to 358/2 Days?

In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, you could venture to different worlds to accomplish missions, but this time around players can gather in a world called the Mirage Arena to defeat target enemies. Up to three players can play co-op or against each other three-on-three. There are also minigame battles that are new to the series: Command Board and Rumble Racing. We utilized the hardware's wireless capabilities and capacity to the fullest to offer minigames that people can jump right in and out of. This way, people can enjoy the variety of battles and worlds that the game has to offer.

Translations of your interview in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Ultimania seem to confirm that Kingdom Hearts III is coming along with two other games.

Kingdom Hearts III is not a confirmed title. I actually phrased my asnwer for the Ultimania "two titles other than III" to avoid speculation that we were working on Kingdom Hearts III.

Are there any hints you can provide about these new games?

Hints would give away too much, and for Kingdom Hearts we're contractually obligated to keep any information that has not been official released under wraps. However, I can say one of the two projects mentioned above came into existence because we wanted to do something for the North American fans, so we'll be announcing it at E3.

Any chance these new games will spread to consoles that Kingdom Hearts hasn't been on yet like Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, or iPhone?

We have no plans at the moment, but have been discussion opportunities with various parties, so once we've completed the two new projects we'll begin thinking about the next steps.

Final Fantasy Versus XIII is your current primary project. How is it coming along?

Developement is progressing smoothly, but starting with E3 and through winter, there are a number of titles I am involved in that will be announced. And of course, the company as a whole has many upcoming projects, so we'll take it one step at a time. We do have plans to officially showcase the title at a certain point.

 

Source: KHMedia

Well, there you have it?  What do you think about that third to last question?  Could one of the games mentioned be Re: Coded?  Maybe both games are something we haven't even heard of yet!  Nonetheless, we have a lot to look forward to this month at E3!

Hey, guys!  I hope you're prepared for some great news!  FF-Reunion and bent.co.jp have have put up some scans of the recently-released Ultimania for Kingdom Hearts Birh by Sleep, which HEARTSATION has luckily translated for all of us English-speakers.  Here's a tidbit from an interview with director Tetsuya Nomura, who discusses the future of the franchise! 

“About the next title, Kingdom Hearts 3 depends on Final Fantasy XIII Versus, but development of the next title is already underway. There are two titles other than Kingdom Hearts 3 in conception, and I think I’ll release one within this year.”

“As from next year, I want to put out a title with multiple main characters.”

“The series won’t end in Kingdom Hearts 3, more like the conclusion of the Xehanort saga.”

“It’s not the case that when Sora’s story is over another hero’s story will begin; Sora will be the hero until the end.”

~♥~

The Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania goes on sale March 25th, compromising everything about Birth by Sleep. Fans of the series definitely won’t want to overlook this book! Here are a few of the points you won’t want to miss!

Point 1 Detailed data on all the commands are revealed!

Fine detail on the commands, which reach into the hundreds, and variations such as ‘variation according to additional input’, ‘variation when the command level rises’, ‘variation when a symbol mark is obtained in dimension link’, ‘variation according to the number of locks in shoot lock’ are explained in a huge reveal. If you make use of this information, you’ll definitely be able to fight in a more efficient style!

Point 2 You can look up each method of obtaining deck commands!

Divided into six categories: obtained in a cutscene, obtained in a treasure chest, obtained at a shop, obtained from an enemy, obtained through a mini game, and obtained though command chain, the methods for obtaining deck commands are perfectly explained. Of course, there is also an integrated complete list, and so please use it as you see fit!

Point 3 All the standard corners are covered!

Everything expected to be contained in a Kingdom Hearts Series Ultimania, from a game system analysis as well as a walkthrough for the scenarios is provided, along with a mini game guide, enemy walkthrough, and fully detailed maps. When you can’t figure out what to do next, it provides complete support through your play through!

Point 4 Take a deep look at the story of the Kingdom Hearts series!

The Kingdom Hearts series is brimming with mysteries, examine closely the new facts of their origins established in this title. Decipher the meaning of all the reports in the Xehanort Report Commentary section, as well as explanations for the mysteries of the series up until now in the Kingdom Hearts 20 Mysteries section. And round it off reading the discussion on the new mystery founded in this title in the corner called The Mystery Continuing in the Next Title.

Point 5 Don’t miss the interview with director Tetsuya Nomura!

Every Ultimania has an interview with Tetsuya Nomura fully loaded with intriguing secrets about the series, and you won’t want to overlook this one either! About the mysteries shown in the secret event scenes, about the next title, and about the Kingdom Hearts series from here after… Among other things making it well worth reading!

In addition, there is the 30 Secrets section and a complete guide to getting the Secret Reports, an art gallery, a Q&A with developer staff, and other points you won’t want to miss. You’ll definitely want to check out this 656 page book containing information on everything Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep!

 

 

I'm sure you all have something to say about this news!  What do you think the two games other than KH3 could be, and what game could they possibly have kept secret that's so close to competion?  Discuss right here in the comments!

Sources:  FF-Reunion, Bent.co.jp

Translation: HEARTSTATION

Hey, everyone!  We have another Famitsu interview with Tetsuya Nomura.  From what I know, he talks about Birth by Sleep and the next game in the series, the Mystery Game.  Sorry, I haven't read this one, because it contains spoilers, so please don't talk to me about it!  I'll restart my computer if I have to.  Because it does contain those nasty spoilers, the interview is once again in the forum in the Behind the Door section under the topic Spilers: Full Nomura Interview.  If you don't want to take the trouble of navigating through the sight, you can just click here.

Another warning:  Does contain Spoilers!

Thanks to Lissar and krexia from KHInsider for translations.

Hooray, another interview!  I hope your eyes have recovered from the last one.  Luckily, this one isn't quite as long.  Famitsu had an interview with series director Tetsuya Nomura, where he talked about possible changes to be made to Birth by Sleep for the Western release and the Mystery Game we've heard so much about.  Take a look!

-- Now we can’t help but think on what the next game in the series is going to be like.

Nomura: First we have to get “Birth by Sleep” to the West (laugh) Everything with that has already bee decided for the most part. We are thinking about added a Critical Mode, and making bosses we thought were a bit weak stronger. And since Megaflare was too strong, we’ll have to adjust that. Some of the event scenes we’re going to change back to the way they were, and we’ll adjust some scenes so that the story is more easily understandable.

-- Since you’ll be changing so much, does that mean we can expect a Final Mix?

Nomura: Well, first we’ll have to see just how much it becomes different from the domestically released version. But we’d really like to be able to release one “Kingdom Hearts” game a year. We don’t want several years to go by without there being anything.

-- In two years it will be the 10th anniversary for the series. Will we have KHIII by then?

Nomura: No no, we’re going to keep that one a secret (laugh). Like I said before, we still have to release “Mystery” game that will connect the series.

-- Can you currently say whether the series will end with the third game, or anything else about it?

Nomura: “Kingdom Hearts” is Sora’s story, but the series that we’re developing now is also the story of one other person. You could say that it is a series where that person is the core.

-- The series you’re developing now!?

Nomura: I can’t say anything more than that (laugh).

 

 

Source: FF-Reunion

What do you all think Nomura's last few words mean?  Be sure to discuss them right here with comments!

Here's an interesting bit of news.  A lot of rumors pertaining to the next Kingdom Hearts title are surfacing.  The title of this game was originally believed to be Kingdom Hearts: Deep Dive, but an anonymous post has is now referring to the game as Kingdom Hearts: Another Dive.  Even more interesting is the URL for the game on SE's website, though the page is a dead end. Tomogirl from KHInsider has translated addition info on the title:

This is a summary blurb on that particular page...

(Possible spoiler???? Although, it's not major sounding at this moment.)

 

Sale date: Unknown

Console: Playstation 3

Price: Undecided

Story: That is about a tale of a different viewpoint of what happened apart of (or in addition to) the world that Sora obtained the keyblade....

So, what do you guys think?  Could Kingdom Hearts: Another Dive be the next installment in the series?  Also, please remember that this is still just a rumor and that NOTHING has been confirmed by Square Enix.

Sources: 2CH, Neogaf, Tomogirl