Operation Backlog Completion 2026

New Kingdom Hearts III Trailer Shows Mini-Games

 Video games  2 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Apr 162018
 

During the flood of Kingdom Hearts III news at February D23 Expo, we learned that there would be at least one Game & Watch style mini-game.

Now we know a lot more. Giantland is only one of many.

This weekend, a Kingdom Hearts Union χ fan event called the Dandelion Meeting took place. While it was mainly focused on KHUX, they also revealed that there will be over 20 mini-games based on classic Mickey Mouse cartoons and old LCD games.

The trailer was then released for everyone else to see.

In the new trailer, Sora receives a game device from none other than Hayner, Pence, and Olette (yes, the Twilight Town trio is back), which lets him play these mini-games.

Some people have started blaming the mini-games for KH3 not being out yet, which is an odd stance to take. They’re just simple mini-games. I doubt they’ve slowed down development that much.

These games, which are collectively called Classic Kingdom, will also be playable in Union χ sometime before Kingdom Hearts III launches.

KHUX is also getting some new features… and a chance to get your name in Kingdom Hearts III.

The “Make Your Mark” campaign will let 300 players have their KHUX name appear in Kingdom Hearts III, based on certain criteria explained in the link above. If you’re a KHUX player, there is an entry form you can complete between now and May 1 if you want a chance at being selected.

Anyway, thanks to KH Insider’s coverage of the meeting, we also have a few other things to think about.

During the Q&A, they revealed that a new world is coming to KHUX and Kingdom Hearts III will include a summons from that world. They also said that the new Union Leaders will be tied in with Kingdom Hearts III.

With these Union Leaders, you’ll see them tied in with KH3. You’ll see hints of their existence. Their stories interwine a bit with KH3, but they will have their own fate and Nomura has already plotted it out. There is meaning behind them, even in their names and even in spelling. We will continue to explore their narrative.”

All in all, some interesting details from the KHUX event! I was going to review Xenoblade Chronicles 2 today, but I decided to cover this first. I also realized that I apparently never reviewed Finding Paradise, so you can expect to see that soon, as well.

What do you think about the Kingdom Hearts III mini-games?

The Great Gaias is Alive and Coming Soon!

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Apr 132018
 

All the way back in 2014, I wrote about three video game Kickstarters I hoped to see succeed.

It was a doomed post. None of those three Kickstarters made their goals.

However, one of the three has returned to life! The classic JRPG-inspired The Great Gaias, which I noticed in 2016 appeared to still be in development, has a release date! It will be out on June 22.

(Once I’ve played a few more of my backed games, I really should write a follow-up crowdfunding article.)

The Great Gaias is a turn-based RPG with 17 playable characters, a 60+ hour story, multiple endings, and more. I’ll admit I’d more or less forgotten about it, but once I saw the update, I was excited again.

The Steam page is now up, and there is also a new trailer. Let’s take a look.

Not only is it back, but it still looks good – better than ever, in fact.

I’m happy the developers were able to make this game after all, and I look forward to seeing it when it launches in June. What do you think of The Great Gaias?

Thoughts on the New Final Fantasy XV DLC

 Video games  1 Response »  Tagged with: , ,
Apr 112018
 

We skipped the latest Final Fantasy XV news in favor of discussing the Wild Arms mobile game, so let’s go back to it now.

At PAX East, Square Enix officially announced the next four DLC episodes for Final Fantasy XV.

They’re collectively called the “Dawn of the Future” DLC and are intended to show “a future everyone longed for” with an “alternate grand finale.”

Here are their official descriptions and working titles.

Episode I: Ardyn
“The Conflict of the Sage”
This story portrays the struggles of Ardyn. Witness the resentment he harbored towards Lucis for over 2,000 years, and his clashes with the Astrals.

Episode Side Story: Aranea
“The Beginning of the End”
A side-story about the Starscourge depicted from the Niflheim’s perspective. The final day of the Empire turns out to be Aranea’s worst day.

Episode II: Lunafreya
“The Choice of Freedom”
This story’s about Luna’s fate, which not even death can free her from. Her battle to save the one she loves overturns the destiny dealt to the Lucian King.

Episode III: Noctis
“The Final Strike”
Parting ways with the Astrals, Noctis embarks upon his final battle in order to attain the ideal future for all his people.

(They also announced that the Comrades multiplayer expansion will be released as a standalone product this summer.)

Episode Ardyn sounds out of keeping with the “future” theme, since it should be depicting events of the past, but it’s the DLC I wanted the most.

Episode Aranea appears to be shorter than the others, since it’s described as a “side story” rather than being numbered with the others.

Episode Lunafreya and Episode Noctis (and yes, it’s ironic to get an Episode Noctis when the entire game focused on him) are the ones most obviously connected to an alternate future. Luna will help Noctis overcome his destiny and he’ll reach an ideal future.

Alternate ending DLC is… odd. It’s not particularly what I hoped for, but it’s less frustrating than DLC that feels necessary to tell a complete story. Still, I’d have traded it for DLC actually expanding Luna’s role in the plot and maybe showing us Iris during the time skip.

But it is what it is. I just hope Ardyn’s DLC isn’t a part of the “alternate grand finale,” since we need to learn about his past, not an alternate future.

What do you think about the upcoming Final Fantasy XV DLC? Are you planning to get any of it? Let me know in the comments.

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