All Articles: Kingdom Hearts III

Kingdom Hearts III, Resident Evil 2, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe unsurprisingly lead NPD’s list of best-selling games from January 2019

Posted on February 21, 2019 by John Scalzo

Kingdom Hearts fans were kept waiting more than a decade for the third game in the franchise, but Square Enix finally rewarded their patience with the launch of Kingdom Hearts III last month. As you might have guessed, fans purchased the game in droves, pushing it all the way to the top of The NPD Group’s list of best-selling games from January 2019.

Two highly-anticipated re-releases, Resident Evil 2 (#2) and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (#3) were close behind, and Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (#7) and Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (#12) also cracked the top 20.

However, while several games had strong starts on the sales chart, the industry overall suffered a decline last month versus January 2018. All together, GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that total sales (hardware, software, and accessories) were down 19% to $893 million.

You can find a full list of best-selling games from January 2019 after the break. (more…)

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New Retail Releases: Kingdom Hearts III, More

Posted on January 28, 2019 by John Scalzo

It’s been a little more than a decade since Square Enix released Kingdom Hearts II for the PS2 back in 2005, but they’ve been very busy producing spinoffs and compilations in the years since.

That all changes this week, as the publisher is finally ready to launch Kingdom Hearts III for the PS4 and Xbox One. The threequel is the first game in the franchise produced exclusively for current-generation consoles, and it will finally give fans a conclusion to the “Dark Seeker Saga”.

A handful of other games will be available on retail shelves this week, but they don’t pack quite the punch as Square Enix’s RPG does.

The Council is an investigative adventure game for the PS4 and Xbox One that gives players the chance to explore an English secret society in the 1790s. Genesis Alpha One will also launch for the PS4 and Xbox One, and it’s a futuristic adventure that’ll allow players to explore and build a space habitat.

PQube’s Song of Memories will be available exclusively for the PS4 this week, and it’s a romantic RPG that also includes an apocalyptic virus.

Finally this week, THQ Nordic will resurrect PS2-era platformer Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy for the Switch. And PM Studios will bring their musical adventure, Deemo, to the Switch… and it also includes support for the Piano Toy-Con from Nintendo Labo: Variety Kit.

That’s it for this week’s new retail releases. But we’ll be back soon with updates for the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

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Watch this Kingdom Hearts III “Gameplay Overview” ahead of next week’s launch

Posted on January 24, 2019 by John Scalzo

Kingdom Hearts III is almost here, and with it a chance to learn more about the franchise’s complicated storyline. But while your average Kingdom Hearts fan might have a bit of difficulty recalling every plot twist from the last 17 years, Square Enix wants to make sure everyone knows how to play the new sequel with this Gameplay Overview video.

Prospective players will learn about Sora’s abilities in battle, including the various Keyblades he’ll be able to wield, as well as magical and Attraction attacks:

As the Heartless invade the universe, players must prepare Sora and his friends to protect the Disney and Pixar worlds against darkness and unlock the mysterious power of the Keyblades, which only the strong of heart can wield. For the first time in the Kingdom Hearts series, the Keyblades have the ability to transform into different forms with powerful new abilities and dazzling attacks inspired by the characters and elements of each world.

Players can also learn how to use elemental magic for offensive and defensive purposes, such as creating ice slides and wind vortexes to navigate through the chaos in battle. Taking the form of classic Disney rides, players can utilize the power of the Attractions, or team up with Donald, Goofy and other legendary characters from Disney and Pixar worlds to turn the tides against the darkness.

Kingdom Hearts III will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on January 29.

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Square Enix puts Kingdom Hearts III in the Pooh Corner with this Winnie the Pooh trailer

Posted on November 11, 2018 by John Scalzo

Microsoft held their X018 event in Mexico City last night, and while it was pretty light on new game announcements, the consolemaker did team up with Square Enix to show off Winnie the Pooh’s inclusion in Kingdom Hearts III.

It looks like players will get to play through a minigame based on Bust-A-Move during their visit to the Hundred Acre Wood, but I think the most important part of this trailer in that Pooh gives Sora a rocket launcher that shoots honey in the shape of a giant bumblebee (and which is naturally named the Hunny Launcher).

Kingdom Hearts III will be released for the Xbox One and PS4 on January 29, 2019.

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Kingdom Hearts III lets its hair down in a new trailer featuring the cast of Tangled

Posted on November 5, 2018 by John Scalzo

Square Enix has dropped yet another trailer for Kingdom Hearts III from their magical tower… and I mean that quite literally, as this video clip takes us to the Kingdom of Corona and the world of Disney’s Tangled:

As Rapunzel leaves her mysterious tower for the first time with the help of charming bandit Flynn Rider – Sora, Donald and Goofy join the pair on their adventure to the kingdom, taking on the Heartless along the way. The new trailer also showcases some of the unique combat players can enjoy in the Tangled-inspired world as the team defeats the Heartless with the help of Rapunzel’s magical golden hair.

Kingdom Hearts III will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on January 29, 2019.

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Square Enix will bring Dragon Quest XI, Life Is Strange 2, Kingdom Hearts III, and more to Gamescom 2018

Posted on August 7, 2018 by John Scalzo

Germany’s annual Gamescom event is the biggest gaming show in Europe, and organizers are getting ready to host the 2018 edition from August 21st through the 25th. As usual, Square Enix will have a big presence in Cologne, and the publisher has unveiled their slate of playable demos coming to Gamescom this year.

RPG fans will no doubt be drawn to Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age and Kingdom Hearts III, while gamers looking for something a little more action-packed will be able to try out Avalanche Studios’s Just Cause 4 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Dontnod Entertainment will also be on hand to showcase their upcoming narrative adventure, Life Is Strange 2.

More information about all the demos set to be available within Square Enix’s Gamescom booth can be found after the break. (more…)

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Capcom’s Resident Evil 2 remake wins “Best of Show” at E3 2018 from Game Critics Awards

Posted on July 2, 2018 by John Scalzo

The “media and influencer outlets” represented by the Game Critics Awards have selected this year’s Best of E3 winners. Capcom crawled away with “Best of Show” thanks to the Resident Evil 2 remake.

Meanwhile, Media Molecule’s Dreams won “Best Original Game,” while fellow Sony stablemate Marvel’s Spider-Man won “Best Console Game” and “Best Action/Adventure Game.” The Game Critics Awards honored a rather diverse slate of games this year, giving “Best PC Game” to BioWare’s Anthem, “Best AR/VR Game” to Tetris Effect, and “Best RPG” to Kingdom Hearts III.

Unsurprisingly, the massively-popular Super Smash Bros. Ultimate took home “Best Fighting Game.”

Among non-playable games, a “Special Commendation for Graphics” was awarded to CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077, Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II, and Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima. The Last of Us Part II also received a “Special Commendation for Sound” and Cyberpunk 2077 also collected a “Special Commendation for Innovation.”

The full list of winners can be found after the break. (more…)

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Anthem nabs five nominations in Game Critics Awards’s Best of E3 2018 roundup

Posted on June 28, 2018 by John Scalzo

Every year, the Game Critics Awards, a consortium of more than 50 major publications that cover the video game industry, gets together to choose the best games at the E3 Expo. The nominees for “Best of E3 2018” were announced this morning, and BioWare’s Anthem lead the way with five nominations (including “Best of Show”).

From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is also in the running for “Best of Show,” and it’s standing close behind Anthem with four total nominations. After that, a mob of games collided in third place with three nominations apiece (including Battlefield V, Dreams, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Resident Evil 2, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate). All but Battlefield V and Dreams are also up for “Best of Show.”

The PS4 was the most-honored platform with 58 nominations, followed by the PC (with 55), the Xbox One (with 51), and the Switch (with 10).

Several games that clicked with fans at home during the pre-E3 press conferences (including Cyberpunk 2077, Death Stranding, The Last of Us Part II, and many others) weren’t eligible for nomination because they weren’t available to play by the judging panel.

But most of those games will likely get another shot next year (especially since I expect to be old and gray before Death Stranding is released), and you can find all of this year’s nominees after the break. The winners will be announced this coming Monday, July 2. (more…)

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