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Square Enix has announced that previous Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary cafe exclusive merchandise, a die-cut memo pad set, is now available to pre-order via the Square Enix Japan store. Costing ¥2,640 and releasing on April 28th, 2022, these items are essentially note pads that purchasers can place atop various surfaces, like fridges. You can view official images of this product via our gallery below: Eventually, someone will be able to make a Kingdom Hearts-themed household with all of this merchandise...

During the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary stage event, a lengthy Q&A session was held between fans and crucial staff members of the series. These questions and responses have been shared by event participants, and we have translated them below. Twitter users Aibo and toro_cocoron0te are among the most prominent posters of these questions and answers. The translation work throughout this article has been done by our team's Ryuji. Further, we will update this article accordingly when more translations are provided, and more questions are found: Q1. Does the finale of Dark Road imply that the Player's heart is now inside Xehanort's? A1: Play Dark Road and you will find out. Q2. This is the first time in KH that there is a story branch (the Yozora battle). What is the meaning behind this? A2: Since Yozora is so strong, I thought it would be better to put something in the game "if he loses". Q3. Was Ephemer aware of the player's true intentions in Union Cross' finale? A3: It was a pretty sad farewell, but there's more to Ephemer than meets the eye. A "Missing Link", if you will. All of the questions will be answered once you play Missing Link. Q4: When did Naminé and Ansem first meet? A4: In Castle Oblivion. Q5: Riku's hair was cut in Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance. Who cut it for him? A5: Well, you all wanted his hair to be cut, so I answered your prayers... Q6: Please tell us about the return of Roxas and Xion. A6: There were some doubts on whether to bring them back or not, but everyone had such strong feelings for them, so we decided to bring them back. More Missing - Link information was also revealed during this Q&A: About Kingdom Hearts: Missing - Link Smartphone game, to be released for Android and iOS Promises to have action elements to be as faithful as possible to the main series Max of 6 players can play together. Screen orientation can be switched between portrait or landscape. The story, chronologically speaking, is between Union Cross finale and before Dark Road's start. All of the mysteries we've had so far will be explained. Keywords: Scala Ad Caleum, Founding Father Ephemer, Keyblade Wielders of a Secret Society Closed Beta Test is scheduled for Fall of this year (Details on how to enter are still unknown, however) Two systems: A story mode where you progress through quests, and a mode where you walk around (Comparable to Pokémon Go, but with ways to play it even without having to walk around in real life) In this walking mode, you'll collect pieces and strengthen your Keyblades. Q&A Corner tweeted out by @toro_cocoron0te There are however, these two questions: "Several questions regarding Demyx's true identity sparked among multiple attendants. Answer-wise, they just said: "Well, if I answer them NOW, I won't be able to draw their true potential, now will I? There are two people whose identities are not yet known in the Organization, all of which will be revealed in the future." "Human Nobodies are not marked. They're like pure-blooded Heartless, whereas the others are marked at birth." About Kingdom Hearts IV Not much can be said from it. More information will only come at a very later date, way after E3’s period. (We only revealed this much to avoid it being leaked early.) All of the footage in the trailer is rendered in real-time by the game engine. Trailer’s engine is in Unreal Engine 4, but KH4 will be developed using the new Unreal Engine 5. The logo style has changed because we’re done with the Seekers of Darkness saga. A new world is currently in development. Nomura was uncertain on whether to call it Verum Rex or KH4, but ultimately decided on KH4, due to concern that the name Verum Rex would not connect to Sora. The narration on both trailers (Missing - Link and Kingdom Hearts IV) is done by a character you have known for a long time. (@toro_cocoron0te speculates it might be Young Xehanort) UPDATE( 4/11/2022): Audrey of Aitai Kuji has provided translations for information we did not yet cover, viewable below. This information is sourced from the coverage of Japanese publication, Gamer.

During the currently ongoing Kingdom Hearts 20th anniversary event, merchandise retailer Super Groupies has announced that they will be launching 45 wearable accessories in Summer 2022. Event participants have shared images of the advertisements, viewable below:

Sony Japan has announced that to celebrate the Kingdom Hearts 20th anniversary, they will be selling commemorative Walkmen. Unfortunately, even when viewing the announcement page, no images of this item have been revealed. However, those who sign up with their Sony ID will receive a 10% coupon. We'll be share to share further news on this unique and unexpected product when it is discussed in a greater capacity. UPDATE (4/15/2022) : The announcement page has been updated to state that the walkman will come with a pair of wireless headphones and "etc," whatever the latter means. There are still no images for this upcoming product.

With today being the Kingdom Hearts series' 20th anniversary, I decided to reflect on which scenes in the games impacted me the most. It was a time-consuming process, and my mind will probably change in due time, but each of the following scenes is undoubtedly engraved within my heart. Of course, there’s nothing objective about this list as it’s primarily dependent on nostalgia and personal impact. Still, there's bound to at least be a few most of us agree on. Before beginning the piece proper, I'd like to credit the following individuals: Regular Pat for creating the handy Wayfinder Project, an amazingly convenient tool for finding most of the cutscenes in the series. Identifying the names of most of the aforementioned scenes would have been truly burdensome if not for this resource. Damo279, since the Kingdom Hearts Union χ screenshots I used throughout this piece are from his video compiling the game's final scenes. 20. An Unexpected Bond Re:Coded receives a decent amount of flack, and some of it is justified. However, its Castle Oblivion segment is arguably one of the most underrated finales of any Kingdom Hearts title. Data Sora confronting Data Roxas about accepting his pain, even if it consumes him, is one of the few times I was genuinely moved in this game. Despite this not being the Sora we’ve come to know and love throughout the series, he still is Sora. Further, Roxas’ lashing out afterward is starkly emotive. Frankly, just seeing an iteration of Roxas acting somewhat antagonistically toward Sora directly is noteworthy, especially in Re:Coded, where it is a spread-out, gradual process. Alas, if only the HD 2.5 movie showcased their fight instead of skipping past it. 19. 7 and 13 Due to its platform and genre, I don’t have as much of a connection to Kingdom Hearts Union χ as I do the other games, but following its plot, despite its sporadic updates, was a thrilling experience. The finale contained a bunch of bombshells, such as the final seen conversation between the Master of Masters and Luxu. The revelations regarding the truth of the Foretellers’ being trained to unwittingly harbor the willful Darknesses, Luxu’s immediate opposition to it, and the Master’s chilling attitude were immensely memorable, to say the least. As heinous as the Master’s acts are, the gray morality showcased here has me indescribably excited for his future endeavors and Luxu’s actions. 18. Disorder This is most likely the strangest entry on this list, but this is easily one of the most standout scenes in 358/2 Days and the series as a whole. Roxas finds himself on Destiny Islands and sees Xion in the distance. However, after approaching her, she removes her head and reveals herself to be…Zexion? From then on, it becomes a disturbing mishmash of Riku’s and Zexion’s final conversation from Chain of Memories, with Roxas morphing into various other figures. After realizing that this is essentially a nightmare of Xion’s comprising her struggling with her identity, its oddities become far clearer. Due to its somber subject matter and the legitimately chilling sound design, this is honestly the most unnerving scene in the franchise, and it will likely always stick with me. 17. Fall to Darkness Back to Kingdom Hearts Union χ, the finale contained yet another notable scene; the Player’s false betrayal toward Ephemer and Skuld. The sheer shock value of this scene alone, alongside the eventual reveal of Ephemer and Skuld being the final bosses, was jaw-dropping, to put it mildly. Even as an onlooker of this game, I was amazed by the boldness of this twist, and the eventual reveal of the Player faking it all to deceive the Darknesses makes this initial occurrence even more notable. This scenario reminds me of the classic phrase stating that to deceive your enemies, you must fool your friends first, and while that happens here, it’s severely tragic. Skuld and Ephemer aren’t aware that the Player was not taken over. Moreover, the Player perishes soon afterward. A bitter, sudden farewell for all parties involved. 16. Phantom Promise or Not Chain of Memories has some of the best showcases of Sora’s characterization, and this scene of him, Donald, and Goofy confronting Marluxia exemplifies it. Marluxia threatens Namine to eliminate Sora’s memories which would lead to his demise due to the inherent connective tissue memories boast in this series. However, Sora doesn’t fear this at all. In fact, he dares for the erasure to occur. His faith in himself and his friends piecing himself back together displays how selfless and open-hearted he is. Honestly, reflecting on moments like this when Sora’s selflessness and love for others ultimately led to his eventual banishment makes exchanges like this somewhat ominous. 15. Closing the Door The Kingdom Hearts I ending sequence is classic and its placement shouldn’t require much explanation. Admittedly, I can’t deny that my love for this scene, and many forthcoming ones, primarily stems from nostalgia. Still, the effectiveness of Sora and Kairi parting ways, the worlds’ restorations, and the beginning of "Simple and Clean" hitting as soon as Sora’s and Kairi’s hands leave each other is such magnificent timing. It’s simply a fantastic ending sequence that undeniably struck many of us since our first viewings. 14. Darkness' Call Despite its mixed reception, I adore Dream Drop Distance’s endgame for a multitude of reasons. One of those reasons stems from Riku’s final conversation with Ansem, where Riku frankly acknowledges his mistakes, even questioning his fittingness for the Keyblade. His honesty and lack of fear here say volumes when speaking in front of Ansem Seeker of Darkness himself. Additionally, the revelation of Riku being a Dream Eater is a noteworthy, excellent twist. Riku’s growth is stellar, and seeing it so transparently depicted here is remarkably satisfying. 13. Place to Belong Days has several impressive scenes, with one of the more memorable ones being Axel’s confrontation with Xion in front of Twilight Town’s mansion. Axel is really the star of this exchange, as his simultaneous adoration and frustration with Xion and Roxas reach a boiling point. “…I’ll always be there to bring you back” is an iconic line, perfectly encapsulating Axel’s fervent desire to keep the three of them together for as long as possible. 12. Vexen's End Speaking of Axel, him eliminating Vexen in Chain of Memories is, as the kids say, ‘kino.’ Throughout this title, Axel remains a consistent enigma. His true allegiances are shrouded in whatever personal goals he’s pursuing, and it isn’t until this instance that the sheer strength of his determination is showcased. Personally, I find him burning Vexen in Re:Chain of Memories more brutal than the chakram stab in the GBA version. Regardless, Axel’s absence of hesitation makes this a grim departure, and Sora’s exclamation at who precisely these black-robed fellows are aligned with those of us who experienced this game before Kingdom Hearts II. 11. My Friends Are My Power! My favorite scene in Dream Drop Distance is right before Sora’s final boss in The World That Never Was. While there is a fair amount of exposition here detailed between Xemnas and Xigbar, I found it to amplify the already present tension emitted from Sora’s shock. It also made the tragedies that took place in Days more prominent in efficacy. Still, even in the face of these veiled truths, Sora’s cheesy yet effective faith in his friends allows him to strive further, even taking Xigbar aback. That visual alone of Sora with the other central cast members makes this scene a top pick. 10. Kairi Awakens Of all the moments in the original Kingdom Hearts, Sora’s Sacrifice is the most emotionally impactful. Even when removing all context, the imagery of Sora stabbing himself to restore the Princess’ hearts is astounding. The musical choice here is also notable, resulting in this scene being one of the first I think of in relation to this title. Roxas’ and Namine’s eventual creation also stems from this sacrifice, making it truly hallmark. 9. Dreams Connected Putting an opening here may be cheating somewhat, but this is my favorite visual sequence for any Kingdom Hearts introduction. The well-timed musical beats with the imagery are sublime. It also excellently recaps the previous two games in engaging, distinct ways. 8. Light Expires The Guardians of Light all falling was an appalling sight. From Donald’s Zettaflare to Riku’s final stand, everything here was a bombardment of surprise. However, what elevates this scene for me above all else, is Sora’s emotional breakdown, highlighting his disconcerting sense of self-worth. As it turns out, his reliance on others granting him strength has been too severe, tainting his self-image. Ultimately, seeing Sora, of all characters, lose himself in such a state exemplifies the bleakness of this tragedy. 7. You Admit it / Candid Words The Days trio reuniting provided an indescribable sense of catharsis that few pieces of media have managed to make me feel. Roxas, Axel, and Xion are my favorite of the trios, primarily due to how 358/2 Days' pacing was handled. Its slow-burn focused on the growing friendship between these three, and it was heart-wrenching to see it all ripped away by the end. Honestly, just seeing these three crying and laughing together brought me to tears. 6. Lost Masters The Kingdom Hearts III Epilogue remains one of the most startling sequences in the series, especially with added retrospect from Kingdom Hearts Union χ. Xigbar being Luxu puts so many prior oddities into newer, wilder contexts, and several scenes make inestimable more sense. I still vividly remember my shock when seeing Luxu pull off his hood and my mind scrambling to arrange puzzle pieces into their proper place. 5. Birth by Sleep This is an unoriginal and almost cheesy pick, but the secret ending of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix still amazes me. It’s a visual treat boasting intense combat and the masterful “Fate of the Unknown.” When I was younger, I viewed this scene on YouTube countless times, transfixed by what this breathtaking cinematic alluded to in the future, or as we’d come to learn, the past. 4. Blank Points Blank Points needs no words. It expertly weaves in prior series elements, culminating in a tear-jerking finale where the burden Sora bears is evident. The swapping between multiple perspectives and times amplifies the weight Sora carries. Following the melancholic atmosphere Birth by Sleep tends to embrace, Blank Points provides a profound sense of hope for the future. 3. I've Been Having These Weird Thoughts Lately Yozora remains an enigmatic existence. Still, the Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind Secret Episode gave us a decent lens regarding his personality and what to potentially expect from the future. And, the scene when losing against Yozora probably gave us more than what any of us expected. Between Sora’s crystallization and Yozora waking in a recreated shot from Final Fantasy Versus XIII, I was quite literally speechless for longer than I’d like to admit. Then, of course, the addition of the original Kingdom Hearts opening quotes was the cherry on top, ultimately providing a distinct sensation reminiscent of my childhood memories of magical wonder with the series. 2. Tears If there’s one scene that made me cry unrestrained, it was this one. Xion’s acceptance of her fate, combined with the fading memories and Roxas’ mystification at the events before him, is almost too much to bear. Further, Xion’s hopeful grasping for Roxas to fulfill her wishes despite the memory conundrum is endearing amidst all the grief. A scene is undeniably effective if it still impacts you after dozens of viewings, and this cleanly fits that bill. The updated scene in HD 1.5 with the shown battle between the two is also very much appreciated. 1. Kingdom Hearts III Ending Kingdom Hearts III’s ending managed to make me feel what I thought was impossible with an entry this long-awaited; simultaneous satisfaction and yearning. The sheer sight of the vast cast playing together on Destiny Islands always causes me to have a joyous smile when combined with the phenomenal “Don’t Think Twice.” Furthermore, the updated visuals near the launch of Re Mind only enhanced my appreciation for this segment. Finally, and most notably, Sora’s fading by the end left me hooked. While I completely understand the distaste for this final shot, I've remained enthralled by its implications and what the future will be like with this altered cast. With the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event arriving April 10th, 2022, us fans will certainly have a whole new era of Kingdom Hearts to look forward to. I, for one, can not wait, and am eagerly looking forward to making more memories with this franchise. Which Kingdom Hearts scenes are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!

Square Enix and Bandai Japan have unexpectedly announced that Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Tamagotchi will be available for pre-order from March 28th and end on May 5th, with a planned shipment window of October 2022. Details of this Tamagotchi release have been summarized by our team's Ryuji, viewable below: General Information Two types of the egg shell exist. In the example image posted below, Sora is Dark Mode, Kairi is Light Mode. Whichever you choose is up to your own personal preference. There will be over 20 characters to play as, but the way it works is that if you buy the Tamagotchi, it will start off with KH1 Sora, and have the chance to randomly grow up into another. Kingdom Hearts Tamagotchi - How To Play You can feed the character Paopu Fruit or Sea-Salt Ice Cream. Sometimes Heartless will appear on the screen, and you can defeat them. You can view the official images of the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Tamagotchi below: You can pre-order the Dark Mode and Light Mode Tamagotchis via Aitai Kuji for ¥3,100. More information regarding these products can be viewed via Bandai Japan's official website. UPDATE 12/3/2022: The Dark Mode and Light Mode Tamagotchis are available for purchase via Amazon for $24.99. This merchandise is certainly unconventional, but undeniably appealing for particular crowds. Do you intend on purchasing this item? Let us know in the comments below!

The official Japan Twitter account for Final Fantasy VII Remake has released new artwork commeorating the Kingdom Hearts franchise's 20th anniversary! Cloud is depicted akin to the Sora on the original Kingdom Hearts box art! Earlier this year, Square Enix shared Kingdom Hearts art celebrating Final Fantasy VII's 25th anniversary. You can view the commemoratory artwork via our gallery below:

The official Tokyo Disney Resort website has shared details on the Kingdom Hearts Disney ambassador hotel rooms announced last month. The starting reservation price for staying in a room is ¥77,500 (approximately $686.74). Reservation opportunities initiate on December 6th, 2021. These rooms commemorate the Kingdom Hearts franchise's 20th anniversary and will be present from January 6th, 2022, to April 27th, 2022. In addition, unique purchasable products, decor, and Kingdom Hearts-themed menu items will be available. Let's provide a brief rundown of the aforementioned inclusions: 2 postcards with various Station of Awakening imagery will be granted, alongside a paper bag with its exterior decorated with Kingdom Hearts symbols. A Kingdom Hearts-themed handbag will also be available for ¥5,500 ($48.75). Further, a special cake set (¥2,500) and drink with paopu fruits atop (¥1,300) will be purchasable. The former has decorative mini cardboard stands of Sora, Roxas, and the Oathkeeper and Oblivion Keyblades. Speaking of Keyblades, the room key is a miniature replica of the Oblivion Keyblade. Lastly, the rooms have a treasure chest designed by their appearances from the games and contain a "secret" item that is unspecified. The photo of the room reveals bedsheets of Sora and Kairi's throne artworks with several framed pictures on the walls that seem to be from the Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory boxart. You can view each of these revealed items via our gallery below: You can read more detailed information on these hotel rooms via the Tokyo Disney Resort blog and the dedicated Kingdom Hearts page.

This has certainly been a hectic week, huh? From the reveal of Sora joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as its final DLC fighter to the trailer dropping for the Kingdom Hearts 20th anniversary next year, there is an unprecedented degree of content for fans to look forward to. However, it's easy to have forgotten or passed by the intricacies of all the news due to everything that was announced. Therefore, we have compiled and detailed every bit of information fans should be aware of from this week. Sora Joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate So, first thing's first; Sora's inclusion as the final DLC fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. This is obviously the most significant fraction of news, and every fan is undoubtedly aware of it by now. Still, for those who haven't yet dived into the specifics, let's break down his fighting style, the content arriving with his inclusion, his release date, and more. Before discussing Sora's moveset, Sakurai revealed that Sora was the top requested fighter from the fighter ballot for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. After talking to former Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, though, they decided not to disclose these results to the public to avoid needless harassment aimed towards the involved developmental parties. Thankfully, Sora has managed to make his way into the series regardless, even if it was a game later. Sakurai repeatedly emphasized that immense cooperation was needed to make this impossibility occur, which genuinely is a miracle. Further, Sora's Japanese and English voices will be implemented during release. Sora's introduction trailer misled at least most of us, I think. It begins where the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate first started, the stage of indescribable darkness with the series logo hanging in the sky with every character present. However, the fire burning from the logo quickly burns out, leading to a single flame remaining on the ground. Afterward, each of the characters reverts to their statue forms, devoid of life. Though perhaps invigorated with life by the remaining flame, Mario steps off his statue stand and walks toward the remaining light. After some notable hesitation, he shoves his arm into the fire and throws what seems to be an enkindled blade into the air. Suddenly, the flames vanish, and the identity of the blade becomes apparent; the Keyblade. It shoots out a beam of light, causing an enormous keyhole to appear. As Simple and Clean Orchestral begins to play, Sora slowly arrives in a familiar sleeping posture before opening his eyes. The rest of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate cast finally regains their life, their statue forms dissipating. They each turn back and gaze at the figure engulfed by this shining light. Sora, now awake, begins to soar through the air in delight as each character stares in wonder. Finally, Sora lands on his feet, and after summoning the Kingdom Key, Sora is Finally Here! appears on the screen. It was a truly magical trailer that perfectly encapsulates how when Sora sees the heart in something; it becomes real. As a playable character, Sora was designed to be approachable and easy to play as, unlike other DLC members of the roster who require exceptional dedication to use feasibly. He is an airborne and, community memes aside, floaty fighter. Additionally, his weight is among the lowest of the playable cast, being lighter than even the likes of Isabelle and Young Link. When it comes to cosmetic alterations, Sora can change into various outfits representing different Kingdom Hearts games. However, it is only his attire that alters, not his actual character model. This means that this is still the original Kingdom Hearts version of Sora wearing these outfits. Moreover, aside from main outfits from several of the Kingdom Hearts games being present, specific forms have also made their way into the title. Sora's 8 costumes are listed in their respective P1-P8 order below: The original Kingdom Hearts design Kingdom Hearts II main outfit Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance design Kingdom Hearts III main outfit Kingdom Hearts II Timeless River design (Has dedicated facial expressions) Kingdom Hearts II Valor Form Kingdom Hearts II Wisdom Form Kingdom Hearts III Ultimate Form The outfits from P1-P4 have wonderfully recreated artwork of Sora from the respective games. In addition, there are also 5 Spirits reflective of the designs from P1-P5. The Wisdom Form outfit has the Recusant's Sigil on its chest from the Dream Drop Distance design because P7 is an alternate skin of P3. So, while not a pure representation of Wisdom Form, the point comes across, and this can also be seen as a new take on the design, even if that wasn't the intended case. You can view each of Sora's official renders across his 8 outfits in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate via our gallery below: Generally speaking, Sora's moveset is pulled from how he plays as from Kingdom Hearts. For example, his standard 3-hit combo has several variations depending on how long the attack button is held, and the swings are reminiscent of his swordplay in the games themselves. Some abilities from the source material have arrived, too, like Hurricane Blast being Sora's down-air, Sonic Blade being his side-special, and Counterattack being his down-special. Magic is Sora's netural special, and it cycles through Firaga, Thundaga, and Blizzaga in that order when used. Each spell has neat unique effects dependent on situational contexts, so there is an undeniably deep mental game players will have to be cognizant of on the fly. Speaking of cycles, Sora's taunts also do just that. While not providing any beneficial effects, Sora's taunt cycles through castings of Stopga, Aeroga, and Curaga. Personally speaking, I find this to be a terrific way to feature some of the spells that didn't make their way into the moveset proper. Pay respects to Graviga, though. Due to how he excels in the air, Sora's edge guarding game is top-notch, boasting ludicrously adept recovery. Even though his weight is relatively light and his attacks are stated to be moderate in speed, it's clear that this iteration of Sora can more than hold his own. In the presentation, Sakurai forgot to detail Sora's dash and dash attack, leading him to briefly tweeting about them afterward. The stage that arrives with Sora is the beloved Hollow Bastion, specifically its original Kingdom Hearts version, which makes sense given how Sora's default design and his abilities are based on the franchise's first entry. Combatants stand on a moving platform that begins from Rising Falls before soaring and giving players detailed views of this lovingly recreated world. Additionally, when players are on their last stocks or when the match is running low on time, the stage transforms and becomes a Dive to the Heart station that depicts the imagery of a character's heart. The Dive to the Heart stations that can appear are as follows: Sora Riku Roxas Xion Terra Ventus Aqua Official screenshots of the Hollow Bastion + Dive to the Heart stage can be viewed via our gallery below: Oddly enough, even though Sakurai stated earlier in the presentation that he will forgo the details of Sora's Final Smash, wanting us to see for ourselves, and only providing the name, "Sealing the Keyhole," he then showed it in the middle of Sora's real-time combat demonstration. "Sealing the Keyhole" consists of literally sealing opponents within a keyhole and then within a door emblazoned with the iconic Super Smash Bros. logo. Afterward, Sora performs the keyhole sealing maneuver from the original Kingdom Hearts before the door explodes, severely damaging its occupants. It's a novel original Final Smash that captures the essence of Sora's tasked actions throughout the first game. Moreover, as revealed during the end of this combat showcase, when Sora defeats a foe at the end of a Stamina Battle, the game slows down, referencing the same effect that occurred when prevailing in key battles in the original Kingdom Hearts. Sora has 2 victory poses as shown below: There are 10 songs included with purchasing Sora, and each track is from the first game. Unfortunately, none of these tracks have been arranged and are instead simply their original versions. These songs are listed below: Night of Fate Destiny's Force Shrouding Dark Cloud Hand in Hand Blast Away! -Gummi Ship II- Hollow Bastion Scherzo Di Notte Fragments of Sorrow Destati Dearly Beloved -Swing Version- (If the player has save data of Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory on their Nintendo Switch) Also, while not a track that can be played during battles, Sora's victory fanfare is an arrangement of Hand in Hand composed by Yoko Shimomura! The Spirit Board contains 8 obtainable Spirits who can be viewed below: Kairi (1 Star - Novice) Ventus (2 Stars - Advanced) Aqua (3 Stars - Ace) Terra (2 Stars - Advanced) Riku (3 Stars - Ace) Xion (2 Stars - Advanced) Axel (2 Stars - Advanced) Roxas (5 Stars - Legend) In the Japanese version specifically, Aqua's and Axel's names will be denoted with the "KINGDOM HEARTS series" because their names match with other spirits. It is also worth noting that there are no direct references to Disney outside of the Mickey keychain on Sora's Keyblade. This was certainly done for copyright reasons, and it was even taken so far as to alter the characters' Dive to the Heart stations to remove any connotative Disney imagery. Sora will be released for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on October 18th, 2021. His character bundle, which consists of him, the music tracks, spirits, and the Hollow Bastion stage, costs $5.99. Alternatively, he is included in the Fighter's Pass 2 bundle. For a more in-depth look at Sora's fighting prowess, check out Sakurai's overview of him below (timestamped): You can view Sora on the legendary Super Smash Bros. Ultimate banner artwork via our gallery below: You can view the full Sora character trailer for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate below: Yoko Shimomura and Tetsuya Nomura shared personal comments regarding Sora's inclusion in this hallmark fighting game, which you can view below: Official screenshots of Sora in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate can be viewed via our galleries below: The Rest of the Kingdom Hearts Games Are Coming to Nintendo Switch While technically part of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate presentation, this is a separate matter. Sakurai announced that Kingdom Hearts - HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX-, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind will be playable on the Nintendo Switch via Cloud Gaming. For those unaware, Cloud Gaming is a service where games are streamed from an online source. Therefore, a high-speed internet connection is recommended when utilizing this service. No release dates or prices for any of these Cloud versions have been revealed yet. The name of this collection is the Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece for Cloud, though the titles can be bought individually. As a neat bit of trivia, the Integrum Masterpiece part of the title was the name for the All-in-One collection in Japan. Kingdom Hearts Dark Road Ending This Winter Soon after the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate presentation for Sora concluded, Square Enix shared the 20th Anniversary trailer for the Kingdom Hearts franchise. The most notable new announcement in this trailer is that Kingdom Hearts Dark Road will be concluding this Winter. All of the remaining content, including the ending, will be released at once. In addition, the Kingdom Hearts Dark Road game will also be receiving its offline mode version 5.0 update. No specific date on when this content will drop has been provided. However, since it simply states Winter, I believe it's safe to assume it to be releasing sometime from January 2022 to March 2022 since, even though late December is when Winter initiates, they would have likely stated that month specifically in the trailer if it were releasing then. Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Event At the very end of the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary trailer, Square Enix revealed that a Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Event is planned. No details on when this will occur or the like have been provided yet, though. This is just a guess on my part, but since the original Kingdom Hearts was released in March 2002, I think this Anniversary event will be held in March 2022. Check out the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary trailer below if you haven't already: Merchandise Of course, it can't be a celebration without merchandise. So the final bit of news in the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary trailer is that there is a plethora of planned, celebratory merchandise. The 2 products shown off during the trailer were the highly anticipated chess set, which is now available for pre-order, and Kingdom Hearts III suitcases currently in development. Also, while not all necessarily anniversary items, several other Kingdom Hearts-themed products were revealed this week. You can view each of the items revealed below: Kingdom Hearts ~20th Anniversary~ Ichiban Kuji Sora and Kairi Figures Kingdom Hearts III Alba & Ater Chess Set Kingdom Hearts Keyblade Silicon Ice Tray Kingdom Hearts Mouse Pad 20th Anniversary Kingdom Hearts III suitcases Lastly, while not merchandise, the announcement of Kingdom Hearts-themed guest rooms returning to the Disney ambassador hotel at Tokyo Disney Resort this Winter is noteworthy. And that is all of the essential information that all fans should know of from this wild week of immense news drops. The 20th Anniversary of the Kingdom Hearts franchise has not even truly begun yet, and we're already being provided staggering news that will surely amplify once we hit 2022. What are you looking forward to from the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary and what types of celebratory occurences would you like to see? Additionally, how thrilled are you to finally play as Sora in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Let us know in the comments below!