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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! 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No, you did not misread this article's title! In a co-sponsorship with ALFHEIM NORDIC AS, we are giving away to one lucky winner the Kingdom Hearts Chess Set, valued at US$700! In order to enter the giveaway, you must be following KH13 on Twitter, and retweet the giveaway post. The winner must also have PayPal, as we wil transfer the funds to cover the board + shipping fees for the winner. You must make the pre-order yourself through Square Enix's store website. So what are you waiting for? Participate now to get a chance at winning this exquisite piece of décor! We will be picking the winner on Monday, October 18th. In case you wish to take a closer look at the chess set itself, you can view them on our Gallery below: View full article

U-Treasure has announced that pre-orders are currently open for the Kingdom Hearts Trinity Ring Necklaces. These products are rather unique as they can be customized with unique gems and character-related quotes and symbols. The pre-order period for this product ends on November 1st, 2022, and shipment is expected to occur on February 1st, 2022. Additionally, they come in gold and silver variants. The former costs ¥66,000 (approximately $583) and the latter costs ¥22,000 (approximately $195). You can view the Trinity Ring Necklaces, their respective store pages, and the character-specific options via our galleries below: Kingdom Hearts Trinity Ring Necklace (Silver) Kingdom Hearts Trinity Ring Necklace (Gold) Sora：Blue Topaz Riku：Blue Sapphire Kairi：Pink Tourmaline Roxas：Orange Sapphire Axel：Red Garnet Xion：Black Diamond Naminé：Diamond Terra：Citrine Aqua：Aquamarine Ventus：Peridot These are undoubtedly standout pieces of merchandise, and their customization factors make them readily more appealing. Are you considering purchasing one of these necklaces, and if so, what character options will you pick? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

During the Kingdom Hearts 20th anniversary trailer, Square revealed that numerous pieces of merchandise are in development, such as the chess set and suitcases! The suitcases currently lack a store page, but based on an article by the Japanese website Gamer, there will be 5 variations of this product. The only type that has been revealed so far is themed after Sora. You can view the revealed images for the upcoming Kingdom Hearts III suitcase via our gallery below: We will keep you up to date on when this product receives more information and is added to stores. View full article

Following the announcement of Sora joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the official Square Enix Youtube channel shared the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Announcement trailer. This trailer reiterates that the games are coming to Nintendo Switch, but also reveals that Dark Road will be concluding this Winter. No details on whether this will affect the English version too were provided. Celebratory merchandise has been announced to be arriving too, including the highly anticipated chess set! Lastly, a 20th Anniversary Event was announced! Details regarding this event will revealed at a later date. You can view the 20th Anniversary trailer below: You can view the English version of the announcement trailer below: View full article

Square Enix Japan has announced a new item available for pre-order for their E-Store, a silicon ice cube tray in the shape of the Kingdom Key from Kingdom Hearts! The Kingdom Hearts Silicon Ice Tray will be releasing on December 25, 2021, and is priced at ¥2,200, which converted to USD is roughly $19.71. This is not an official price however, it's just a converted one. You can view the Kingdom Hearts Silicon Ice Tray through our gallery below: You can view the store page for this item on Square Enix Japan's official E-Store. UDPATE: This item is now available to pre-order from the North American store! Its provided release window is July 2022 and it's priced at $19.99. View full article

Square Enix has revealed that the highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts chess set, titled "Alba & Ater," meaning white and black, is now available to pre-order from their North American, European, and Japan digital stores. This product is a recreation of the chessboard and pieces Young Eraqus and Young Xehanort were seen playing with during the opening hours of Kingdom Hearts III. You can view the officially revealed images of the Kingdom Hearts III Alba & Ater Chess Set below: Additionally, the Chess Set has varying release dates and prices dependent on the region: North American store - $699.99 - July 2022 release window European store - €749.99 - July 29, 2022 release date specifically provided Japan store - ¥77,000 ($690.10 as a rough, unofficial conversion) - April 30, 2022 release date Do you intend on pre-ordering this impressive chess set despite its astounding price? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

Square Enix has revealed new enticing merchandise for fans to pre-order from their North American store, the Kingdom Hearts Series Playing Cards. These cards were formerly exclusive to Japan for multiple years, but they will soon be accessible to western fans. Considering their appealing designs with fantastic key art from the series and recent character renders, they can even be used for decorative purposes. The Kingdom Hearts Series Playing Cards will be released on April 2022 for $28.99. You can view the Kingdom Hearts Series Playing Cards via our gallery below: Do you see yourself purchasing this stylish merchandise? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

The official Square Enix E-Store Twitter account has announced several new pieces of Kingdom Hearts III merchandise. These items are the following: Monogram Pen Case Monogram Vanity Pouch PC/Tablet Case Monogram Backpack Carry All Bag Each of these items has a release date of December 25, 2021, though their prices obviously vary. You can view each of the items via our gallery, as well as links to their respective Square Enix E-Store pages below. Keep in mind that the prices in dollars are merely rough conversions. Kingdom Hearts III Carry All Bag - ¥16,280 ($147.72) Kingdom Hearts III Monogram Pen Case - ¥3,850 ($34.93) Kingdom Hearts III Monogram Vanity Pouch - ¥5,940 ($53.89) Kingdom Hearts III Monogram PC/Tablet Case - ¥7,480 ($67.87) Kingdom Hearts III Monogram Backpack - ¥13,200 ($199.77) UPDATE [Sept 4, 2021]: These items are now available for pre-order in the Square Enix NA Store. They are set to release in April 2022. You can pre-order by clicking the links below. Kingdom Hearts III Monogram Pen Case ($34.99) Kingdom Hearts III Monogram Vanity Pouch ($53.99) Kingdom Hearts III PC/Tablet Case ($67.99) Kingdom Hearts III Monogram Backpack ($199.99) Kingdom Hearts III Shoulder Bag ($147.99) Do you find any of these newly revealed pieces of merchandise appealing? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

Square Enix Japan has revealed a new item available for pre-order from their E-Store, the Munny Pouch from Kingdom Hearts II! This product will assuredly emit nostalgia for many long-time fans. The Kingdom Hearts II Munny Pouch will be releasing on December 25, 2021, and it is priced at ¥3,300, which is roughly $30.19. However, keep in mind that this converted US dollar price is not official. You can view the Kingdom Hearts II Munny Pouch via our gallery below: You can view the store page for this item on Square Enix Japan's official E-Store. To be honest, I'm a bit surprised that Square hasn't sold merchandise like this already, but it's certainly rather fitting. Do you see yourself ever purchasing this product, either for decoration or practical use? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

Square Enix Japan has revealed 5 Classic Kingdom Pouches available for pre-order from their E-Store. These pouches are based on the Classic Kingdom minigame collectibles present in Kingdom Hearts III. You can view each of these items via our galleries below, as well as links to their respective store pages. Keep in mind that the provided US price conversions by us are not official. Kingdom Hearts III - The Musical Farmer - Classic Kingdom Pouch - ¥2,750 ($25.17) Kingdom Hearts III - Mickey's Circus - Classic Kingdom Pouch - ¥2,750 ($25.17) Kingdom Hearts III - Beach Party - Classic Kingdom Pouch - ¥2,750 ($25.17) Kingdom Hearts III - The Karnival Kid - Classic Kingdom Pouch - ¥2,750 ($25.17) Kingdom Hearts III - Building A Building - Classic Kingdom Pouch ¥2,750 ($25.17) These products are unexpected yet undeniably charming. Do you see yourself purchasing any of these Classic Kingdom Pouches if they become available in regional stores? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

Square Enix Japan has unveiled 3 new products fans can now pre-order on their E-Store. These items consist of a Kingdom Hearts III-themed reusable folding bag, a Kingdom Hearts III-themed trunk bag charm coupled with a reusable bag, and a sea-salt ice cream bag charm also coupled with a reusable bag. All 3 of these products are releasing on January 22, 2022. You can view each of these items via our galleries below, as well as links to their respective store pages. Keep in mind that the provided US price conversions by us are not official. Kingdom Hearts III Reusable Folding Bag - Emblem - ¥2,970 ($27.18) Kingdom Hearts III Bag Charm & Reusable Bag - Trunk - ¥3,960 ($36.23) Kingdom Hearts Bag Charm & Reusable Bag - Sea Salt Ice Cream - ¥4,950 ($45.30) This is certainly unconventional merchandise, but that is a norm for Square at this point. Do you find any of these pieces of merchandise appealing, and would you purchase them if they made their way to other regional stores? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

U-Treasure has revealed 4 Kingdom Hearts-themed Crown Necklaces dubbed "Piece of Prologue" currently available for pre-order on their digital store. You can view each of these Crown Necklaces below as well as respective links to their store pages. Keep in mind that the US dollar conversions provided are not official prices. Additionally, the Kingdom Hearts "Piece of Prologue" Sliver Necklace is the only one of these products to have a limited pre-order period, which begins today and ends on October 19, 2021. Kingdom Hearts "Piece of Prologue" K18 Yellow Gold Necklace - ¥110,000 ($1,003.56) Kingdom Hearts "Piece of Prologue" Crown Platinum Necklace - ¥121,000 ($1,103.91) Kingdom Hearts "Piece of Prologue" K18 Pink Gold Necklace - ¥110,000 ($1,003.56) Kingdom Hearts "Piece of Prologue" Sliver Necklace - ¥16,500 ($150.53) Do you find any of these Crown Necklaces appealing and would you consider purchasing any of these types? Let us know in the comments below! View full article