There’s no keeping a successful series down, is there? So the strategy guide for KINGDOM HEARTS: BIRTH BY SLEEP came out in Japan yesterday and Game Informer has some rough translation of an interview the creator, Tesuya Nomura wherein he dishes a little about the future of the series. Apparently, he’s not got one, not two, but no less than three more entries in the series in mind and he’d like to have more main characters aside from Sora.
“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.”
You know, it’s been, what, eight years since the release of the first KINGDOM HEARTS and I still haven’t gotten over how… bizarre it is to see Mickey, Donald and Goofy posing alongside FINAL FANTASY-style characters. Especially when they have those moody angles of these funny animals trying to look badass. I don’t know… perhaps some worlds can never be reconciled in my all-too-fragile mind. I do find it amusing that since that the Imagination water show at Disney World inspired these games, Disney’s been on making their movies more and more part of a cohesive universe. Seriously, when I was looking for Princess playsets for my nieces while Christmas shopping last year, I couldn’t help thinking of all these princesses as basically being part of their own Justice League, now.
-- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Comics and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia. Watch out for the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover collection this March - - available for pre-order now on Amazon.com.
