Listen here, nerds; gaming discourse always seems to go in the same direction. Everyone always talks about the best characters, weapons, abilities, or levels; never do I hear a brave soul venture to discuss one of gaming’s most ubiquitous features. I, of course, am talking about the health bar—an often underappreciated work of art.

I’ve come across many health bars in my old, decrepit, mid-twenties age. There’s something to be said for games that are able to craft their own unique health bar creation. A health bar can be remarkable for many reasons, ranging from how well it represents the general aesthetic of the game, to how informative it is in regards to your health-related concerns, to sometimes for just how irresistibly bizarre, and goofy, it looks. 

Health bars have long wished to garner the respect they so rightly deserve. I—being the oh-so merciful ruler (i.e. the biggest nerd)—will oblige. Here are seven picks for health bars that are truly the epitome of remarkable. 

Super Mario Sunshine (2002)

Kicking off the list is a somewhat controversial title, since some consider it to be the black sheep of the mainline 3D Mario titles: Super Mario Sunshine. Not to get overly political or anything, but I’m an anti-summer and anti-beach person. Super Mario Sunshine is the rare exception to this rule. 

This includes the game’s pleasant-looking, sun-inspired health meter, which looks like the sort of cartoonish sketching you’d jot down in your textbooks as you try to brave through the perils of math class.

Resident Evil (1996)

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the Resident Evil series, which is hardly a joyous or upbeat experience. While these kinds of games aren’t my cup of tea, the health bar of the Resident Evil franchise deserves praise for simply how unique it is. 

The game uses an ECG (electrocardiogram) to measure the status of your character; it’s the most appropriate thing that I’ve ever seen in anything. Like, nothing—not even the casting of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool—can hold a candle to this magnificent decision.

Pac-Man World Series (1999-2005)

Don’t tell anyone, but one of my core beliefs is that the Pac-Man World series deserves an HD remaster. There are plenty of aspects about this underrated platformer series I cherish deeply, including its simple health bar that makes me giggle with how perfect it is every time. 

Making a health bar that wasn’t based on the legendary pie design would’ve been an insult to our thick yellow boy, so this health bar is an example of when people do their one job and do it well.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom (2003)

Is there anything more befitting of the sponge that lives in a pineapple under the sea? With the remaster just recently being released, I got to thinking: Has any game ever used underwear as a main commodity as much as Battle for for Bikini Bottom? 

Before any nerds reference, like, some obscure Commodore 64 game, let’s just say it’s not every day you see underpants used to tally hit points.

Kingdom Hearts Series (2002-Present)

I’m not even going to attempt to begin to explain Kingdom Hearts, but I will say that the health bars serve, in a way, as the perfect symbolism for the convolutedness of the series. This monstrosity is actually kind of hilarious to look at.

The health bar also serves as one of the better visual representations of growth in an RPG that I can think of. Seeing your tiny wedge grow into an entity longer than the equator line is immensely satisfying. 

Spider-Man on GameBoy Advanced (2002)

Not only is Spider-Man my favorite character fictional character in existence, but I remember playing this game a ton. When my mom would drive me to school, I’d spend some time trying to beat whatever level I was stuck on; I swear the boss fight against Shocker was impossible.
The health bar came in the form of a literal red web that would see chunks of it disappear. Despite how arbitrary the amount of damage you took seemed, the thing was just plain rad.

Conker’s Bad Fur Day (2001)

This should be pretty self-explanatory for anyone that enjoys good things (i.e. chocolate, which is an extremely good thing). While a lot of the jokes and crudeness of Conker’s Bad Fur Day don’t exactly age well, the boldness and “how in the world is this game real?” sentiment of the game can’t be understated. 

Honestly, I’d put forth a bill to the senate to have more games use chocolate—or any number of other delectable treats—as their health bars. 

Originally published September 3, 2020.

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“You’re giving me / Too many things lately,” says the opening verse of Kingdom Hearts‘ iconic track “Simple and Clean” by Hikaru Utada. And that’s certainly how Kingdom Hearts fans may feel right now, but positively, of course. With Kingdom Hearts 4 finally on the way (and looking good), those who love the magical video game world have a lot to celebrate. And any fans at Coachella got to experience the magic of the franchise in a whole new way. Hikaru Utada opened their set with a performance of Kingdom Hearts’ nostalgic theme and sang one other fan-favorite song during their performance.

One Twitter fan captured a look at the magic of “Simple and Clean” come to life.

Long-time fans of Kingdom Hearts will know that the franchise first released 20 years ago, in 2002. And “Simple and Clean” quickly became the song of Kingdom Hearts. For some, that’s twenty years of belting out “Simple and Clean is the way that you’re making me feel tonight.” It honestly makes us emotional just seeing the video of it, performed now in 2022 with the series still as popular as ever. So we can’t imagine what it was like to see Hikaru Utada perform in person.

The full version can be listened to, here:

To the even greater delight of Kingdom Hearts fans, the singer also sang the song “Face My Fears” during their Coachella set. This Hikaru Utada song was the opening theme in Kingdom Heart 3. 

Hikaru Utada and Skrillex‘s “Face my Fears” even has a fully Kingdom Hearts music video.

If you are a fan of a franchise, you get a thrill of delight whenever it pops up somewhere unexpected. And, in this case, seeing such nerdy Kingdom Hearts Easter eggs coming out of Coachella feels especially fun. “Whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later one,” but for now, we’ll enjoy all these Kingdom Hearts treats.

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Kingdom Hearts 4 footage begins in the trailer at the 4:12 mark. We see Sora all grown up and awakening in a city. He meets Strelitzia, a new (to the world of the main games) character who introduces him to the updated world of the game, Quadratum. This cityscape is hyper-realistic and definitely gives a new look to Kingdom Hearts’ universe. Of course, trouble still lurks in the form of monsters. It seems like the Heartless may live on in Kingdom Hearts 4. And we get to see Sora take on a huge shadow beast with his Keyblade.

Of course, despite the game’s gritter introduction, the Disney magic lives on. At the end of the Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer, we reunite with Donald Duck and Goofy. And they remind us that, at its heart, Kingdom Heart remains a franchise influenced by Disney’s many magical worlds.

But speaking of, eagle-eyed fans think they have seen one of Disney’s newer acquisition makes an appearance in the trailer. Could Star Wars join Kingdom Hearts‘ world in Kingdom Hearts 4? Fans point out that the forest setting we glimpse in the trailer feels reminiscent of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi‘s Endor. And could that be the foot of an AT-ST, we spy?

Probably, it’s too early to tell. But since Star Wars is technically a Disney property, we may yet see it appear in Kingdom Hearts.

In addition to Kingdom Hearts 4, the 20th-anniversary trailer also shared looks at Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a new mobile game, and Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road. Twenty years after its release date and Kingdom Hearts is still thriving. We can’t wait to get a closer look at and play all these games when they release, especially Kingdom Hearts 4.

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It’s a golden time to be a fan of The Goonies. The last few years has been a non-stop celebration of the 1985 kid’s action-adventure classic. There’s been new artwork paying tribute to the film. As well as movie-inspired ice cream. Josh Gad reunited the cast to entertain us during quarantine. And new Goonies games let you go on your own quests. Now you’ll also be able to find riches for yourself. The Op’s new board game, The Goonies: Escape with One-Eyed Willy’s Rich Stuff, will bring pirate’s treasure to your tabletop.

The third installment in The Op’s at-home escape room Coded Chronicles series—“where players are guided to unlock clues and solve puzzles by a unique code-revealing mechanic”—pays tribute to Richard Donner’s beloved film. It also puts you in direct conflict with the Fratellis. Here’s the game’s official synopsis:

“The Goonies: Escape with One-Eyed Willy’s Rich Stuff takes players on an epic adventure through the trap-filled caverns of Astoria, Oregon. Using the treasure hunting skills of Mikey, Brand, Mouth, Data, Andy, Stef, Chunk and Sloth, players will navigate their way to finding One-Eyed Willy’s rich stuff! Can you get the gang to the Inferno, nab the treasure, and get to freedom all while staying one step ahead of the nefarious Fratelli family?”

The game is also designed to be re-playable. It comes with 8 narrative journals, 8 secret envelopes, 43 clue cards, 7 map tiles, a doubloon, a dry erase map, a dry erase pen, an intermission envelope, and an adventure guide. You can go solo or play with friends. And it has an unexpected playtime of two-plus hours. We also suggest putting the movie on in the background while you do.

If you’re looking for even more adventure, The Op’s all-new Disney Kingdom Hearts Perilous Pursuit co-op board game will let you team up with some other memorable characters. As you “take on the role of Sora, Goofy, Donald and Kairi & Riku on a journey through the memorable worlds of Kingdom Hearts and rid them of Heartless!” Players will collect sets of dice. As you work together “protect each other, attack Heartless, collect potions, and seal the door to save six worlds without letting the darkness take over.”

You can order both games now ($29.99 each). Either for yourself or for any fellow Goonies in your life. It is the holiday season after all. We won’t judge if you keep every copy of The Goonies board game for yourself though. It’s hard to pass up One-Eyed Willy’s rich stuff.

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PC gamers, rejoice. If you’ve been longing to play Square Enix’s weird game bringing together the worlds of Final Fantasy and Disney you finally can. Square Enix announced on Thursday that the Kingdom Hearts series is finally coming to PC courtesy of Epic Games Store. It will be a whole new way to experience the twisting but fun world that has only been available on consoles until now. And the titles will be available from Epic Games on March 30. That’s so soon!

If you’re only somewhat familiar with Kingdom Hearts, which debuted in 2002, the above announcement trailer will give you a peek at the world. It’s both incredibly complex and straightforward. Most of the games follow Sora, a youth who has a Keyblade to fight the Heartless. Those cruel creatures come from the Realm of Darkness and a villain is sending the darkness to consume worlds. Sora fights back with the help of Donald Duck and Goofy, emissaries from King Mickey. They travel to various worlds inspired by Disney films. A lot of weird stuff happens in between. Like, a lot.

Square Enix

Kingdom Hearts‘ story stretches over numerous titles in a chronology you must read a guide to fully understand. Epic Games Store will have four of those titles with 11 Kingdom Hearts experiences in total. Players will be able to get the entirety of the Dark Seeker Saga (the adventure of Sora and friends), which includes:

• Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX
• Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
• Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC
• Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory

You can get full details on each title and experience from Square Enix. If you decide to dive into this world for the first time with the PC release, brace yourself and have a blast.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of The Jedi Mind, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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Prepare your feet for a quest to bring light to the darkness. If you’re going to set out in the world with such a huge task in front of you, you need the right shoes. And SuperGroupies has you covered with their new Kingdom Hearts III collection (via Kotaku). Their designs are thankfully more subtle and stylish than some of the cartoonishly large shoes in the Square Enix game. Let’s be real: Sora’s sneakers are especially ridiculous. But not these! Sora, Riku, Kairi, Roxas, and Axel all inspire these shoes but in a sophisticated way.

SuperGroupie

Eschewing the cosplay accurate route, SuperGroupie instead turned to motifs to match each character. They include details on the insoles and on the shoe tongues. For example, the Roxas and Axel designs have little sea-salt ice cream symbols. Considering how many times the duo sat on the edge of the Twilight Town clock tower enjoying the treat, it’s fitting. Let’s look at that detail first.

SuperGroupie

The Sora boots feature color elements from the protagonist’s costume. The red shoelaces match his hoodie while the yellow stitching around the sole ties in elements of the shoes Sora wears in Kingdom Hearts.

SuperGroupie

This insole has some of the many keyblades Sora wields, plus the paopu fruit he shars with Kairi.

SuperGroupie

And speaking of Kairi, the pink accent on this boot echoes the pink of her outfit. The shoes have silver studs going down the back based on the buttons on Kairi’s dress.

SuperGroupie

Riku’s Kingdom Hearts III look involves a fair amount of belt buckles, so that’s reflected in the below shoes.

SuperGroupie

Roxas’ in-game shoes (not his Organization XIII ensemble) influence SuperGroupies’ footwear for the character. While the Axel boots one hundred percent lean into the dark Organization XIII robes with a removable chain.

SuperGroupie

My compliments to SuperGroupie for taking Kingdom Hearts‘ shoes and making them fashionable. They incorporated buckles, plaid, and more with flair. The made-to-order boots are available starting at 16,000 yen from the SuperGroupie website.

Featured Image: SuperGroupies 

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of The Jedi Mind, available for pre-order now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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Materia Collective

This exciting new exploration of the lore behind the dearly beloved Kingdom Hearts series will feature the talents of arranger Rozen (Sins of Hyrule, Ballads of Hyrule, Children of Termina) and vocalist Reven across sixteen grandiose arrangements. This album is the duo’s second studio album following their highly acclaimed debut, NieR: Glory to Mankind. The duo is making The Keyblade War and its 16 tracks special with live performances. They have the Sofia Session Orchestra & Choir on board, along with returning collaborators the ETHEReal String Orchestra, Ro Rowan, Kristin Naigus, and more.

That is all super cool and impressive, but let’s break down what The Keyblade War is for those who may be unfamiliar with how it fits within the Kingdom Hearts universe. It’s a huge conflict that drives the games, even though it took places long before the series. The Keyblade War weaves along the boundary between light and darkness using themes from across the series. And the Keyblade, a mysterious weapon, chose the hero of the story, Sora.

Materia Collective

The complete track list is as follows:

01. Destati
02. Dearly Beloved
03. Simple and Clean
04. Between Light and Dark
05. Princess of Heart ~Kairi~
06. Sanctuary ~After the Battle~
07. Promise
08. No. i ~interlude~
09. Organization XIII
10. Hollow Bastion
11. Face my Fears
12. Master vs. Master
13. The Final World
14. Darkness
15. Don’t Think Twice
16. The Keyblade War

Materia Collective is releasing The Keyblade War in digital, vinyl and limited edition CD formats. The album will be localized in Japanese for fans in Japan.

The album is available now to pre-order and will ship November 2020.

Featured Image: Square Enix

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Join Becca, Elisa Teague, Kelly Lynne D’Angelo, and Ross Thompson as they play Talisman: Kingdom Hearts from The OP in this enchanting episode of Game the Game! The worlds are under siege from impending darkness, and only you and your friends can save the day. Play as beloved characters from the Kingdom Hearts universe and work together to seal the Door to Darkness.

Want a primer on the rules? Check out How to Play: https://youtu.be/vuZ97ezpkBM

This video is made in paid partnership with The OP. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/34PTz8v

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Gather your friends and prepare to defeat the darkness, because in this episode of How to Play we’re taking a look at Talisman: Kingdom Hearts from The OP! You and your fellow players each assume the role of a character from the Kingdom Hearts universe to save its various worlds from impending doom.

This video is made in paid partnership with The OP. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/34PTz8v

The post How to Play Talisman: Kingdom Hearts appeared first on Nerdist.

The classic tabletop game Talisman and the long-running role-playing game series Kingdom Hearts have surprisingly a lot in common. Both spin compelling stories and immerse players happily in their worlds for hours at a time. So the two make the perfect pairing in the recently announced tabletop game Talisman: Kingdom Hearts Edition, coming soon from The OP (formerly USAopoly) and Square Enix!

This updated edition of the game, expected to release later this year, is for 2 to 6 players. Instead of searching for the Crown of Command, Kingdom Hearts and Disney mainstays Sora, Kairi, Riku, King Mickey, Goofy, and more will be on the hunt for a way to seal the Door to Darkness. Their quest will take them to familiar places like Neverland and Traverse Town, as well as include Munny-themed currency, Gummi Paths, and more nods to the characters and worlds of Disney and Kingdom Hearts.

Talisman: Kingdom Hearts Edition will come with a game board with three regions, custom six-sided dice, and other pieces that artfully combine the original tabletop game and the long-running video game. Game designer Elisa Teague expressed her enthusiasm for playing a part in the two franchises coming together.

THRILLED to announce my new game I designed: #KingdomHearts #Talisman from @USAopoly!
It was an honor to take these properties & design new mechanics that fit my beloved #Disney characters & KH, while keeping the heart & spirit of both games. #tabletophttps://t.co/8QeyiVeBO2

— Elisa Teague ? JoCo Cruise (@GeekyPinup) February 26, 2019

Keep an eye on USAopoly’s social media for more info and a release date for Talisman: Kingdom Hearts Edition soon!

More Disney Tabletop Fun!

• Get a preview of the new Disney Villainous expansion, Wicked to the Core.
• What would a game of D&D with the Disney Princesses be like?
• This song parody puts Moana in a Deep Sea Adventure.

Image Credits: Disney/Square Enix, The OP

The post Bring the Disney Magic to the Tabletop With TALISMAN: KINGDOM HEARTS EDITION appeared first on Nerdist.

Kingdom Hearts III, the long-awaited next installment in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, will be available on January 29. It’s only days away, and while you’re counting the minutes and maybe catching up on everything we know about the next chapter or replaying your favorite games, you can distract yourself by drooling over a new Kingdom Hearts fashion collection from Hot Topic.

We have an exclusive look at the line that includes styles plucked right from the game, from both light and darkness.

What sort of Keyblade attack can I use to bring one of everything into my closet? I’ve been longing for a wider variety of Kingdom Hearts merchandise, and these designs are exactly what I had in mind. Excuse me, an Organization XIII hooded duster complete with the chain and double-ended zipper?! It would make me okay with being a Nobody.

Other styles let you resemble Sora (his Kingdom Hearts II and III hoodies, thank you very much), Riku, Heartless, Axel, and Kairi. I’m also pleased to report there’s a nod to the ever-present sea salt ice cream and the destiny making Paopu Fruit on one of the shirts. I appreciate that the collection includes options from those character hoodies, to t-shirts, to shortalls. It means you can show your enthusiasm for Kingdom Hearts in many situations.

Order or pre-order these items from Hot Topic’s website or pick them up at Hot Topic stores. Scroll below to see the full collection.

Images: Hot Topic

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy. Follow her on Twitter.

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Soon after Kingdom Hearts came out in 2002 (yes, it’s been that long), Disney considered an animated series based on the franchise. Seth Kearsley worked on the pilot episode, but unfortunately, it was never picked up to series. In the latest episode of Animation Investigation, host Hector Navarro used his Gummi Ship to travel to the past and look at the Kingdom Hearts cartoon that could have been—including a peek at never-before-seen art from the pilot episode’s animatics!

[brightcove video_id=”5797306679001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=”rJs2ZD8x”]Kearsley has discussed the course the first season would have followed: act one would have been set on Destiny Islands with Sora, Kairi, and Riku, act two would have gone to Traverse Town where Sora meets Donald and Goofy, and act three would have set up the wild journey ahead. Could you imagine seeing Sora’s adventures in sequential story form? It would be so much smoother than, for example, the way I played the game.

And Kearsley worked with a writer on the game to get the tone right, and he worked with Disney to get the look on model. He was even able to access backgrounds from Aladdin to use in the pilot presentation (those would be the aforementioned never-before-seen images). What a treat this could have been.

Would you want to see a Kingdom Hearts cartoon series? Which characters would you want to see at the center of the stories? Tell us in the comments below.

Images: Square Enix

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

More about Kingdom Hearts!

• Kingdom Hearts 3 has a release date.
• And it’s getting a Frozen world.
• And also a Pirates of the Caribbean world.

[brightcove video_id=”5789762822001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=”rJs2ZD8x”]

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Every year, E3 brings gamers around the world breathtaking presentations, new stories, and innovations that we can’t wait to get our hands on, and meme-worthy moments that don’t happen anywhere else. (“My body is ready” will live on the Internet forever.) The incredible amount of streamed coverage, paired with real-time reactions on Twitter, make us all feel like we’re sitting in the front row of each presentation together… and we have opinions.

Here are just some of the funniest, smartest, and most intriguing reactions on Twitter from this year’s E3. Give these folks a follow if you’re a fan of live-tweeting and gamer gut reactions.

Bethesda

Bethesda‘s Todd Howard was a rock star at the company’s presentation, which wasn’t afraid to make fun of itself. With meme-worthy videos, a peek at Fallout 76, and a new Elder Scrolls game announcement, Twitter lit up the night of Bethesda’s presentation.

Mr. Todd Howard my wallet doesn't feel so good… #BE3 pic.twitter.com/cJHsmKbW52

— Anthony (@SilverAtrain) June 11, 2018

I sneezed right as Todd said “a blessing” and I thought he said “bless you” and my blood turned to ice

— Sam King (@SamanthaCKing) June 11, 2018

Ubisoft

Assassins Creed Odyssey, which offers a choice of Spartan protagonists, might be the game that stole the show this year. Kassandra and her possible romance options caught the eye of more than one live-tweeter.

Ask the correct question coward #E32018 pic.twitter.com/M4aORGlL4I

— Nibel (@Nibellion) June 11, 2018

Sony

Sony‘s presentation got a lot of attention this week, thanks to a look at Kingdom Hearts III, the frenetic energy of Spider-Man, the gorgeous graphics of Ghost of Tsushima, the jaw-dropping gameplay of The Last of Us Part II, and… whatever it is Death Stranding is. No one’s quite sure still.

You simply can't mess with greatness. #E32018 pic.twitter.com/v4Hd9P8zrH

— Gib of war the 95th (@Gib_reel) June 12, 2018

These animations are unreal. #TheLastofUsPartII pic.twitter.com/XOFwImrzd5

— shinobi602 (@shinobi602) June 12, 2018

Me for the past two years:
"Okay, I don't understand what's happening in #DEATHSTRANDING but I'm sure as soon as I finally see gameplay I'll understand"
Me after seeing gameplay: pic.twitter.com/xvAckokzYg

— Professor Thorgi (@ProfessorThorgi) June 12, 2018

Wow, humbled by the high expectations for #DEATHSTRANDING at the #E3… Now we're hoping we didn't elevate the hype too much 😅

— Kojima Productions (@KojiPro2015_EN) June 7, 2018

Basically everyone today. (Sorry i couldn't resist) @khinsider @KINGDOMHEARTS #E32018 #KingdomHearts3 pic.twitter.com/AJScp1x890

— Venom @ AX soon (@VenomDeathNinja) June 11, 2018

WHERE IS THE LAMB SAUCE, SORA!? pic.twitter.com/qAqMFFQ286

— Rainn (@ExoRainn) June 11, 2018

Nintendo

Nintendo‘s presentation was just on video rather than a glittering stage this year, but that didn’t make their announcements any less exciting for JRPG and Super Smash Bros. fans. Animal Crossing fans, however, had their hopes smashed for seeing their favorite villagers on the Nintendo Switch any time soon. (Although many tried to cast a spell to make it happen.)

There’s also some understandable concern for Mega Man and Mario after Metroid’s Ridley got his claws on them…

Animal Crossing fans watching Smash fans get all the news. #E32018 pic.twitter.com/OSKhg47wrQ

— Reb (@serinide) June 12, 2018

When it hasn't even been 5 seconds since you got back in Smash and Kirby already ate your brother pic.twitter.com/gW71n7nsYM

— Tylor (@theSirToasty) June 12, 2018

New #SmashBros now has Daisy… and Ridley…

Daisy and Ridley…

DAISY RIDLEY!!!!#SmashBrosUltimate #NintendoE3 #E32018 #E3 #BlackNerdE3 pic.twitter.com/TnCJ2g4iW4

— Andre ▶️ #Vidcon (@BlackNerd) June 12, 2018

Y’all not gonna comment how Ridley killed Mega Man and Mario #NintendoE3 #SmashBrosUltimate pic.twitter.com/UjKjgkwrbA

— XITO (@XITOXITOXITO) June 12, 2018

E3 2018

Overall, this year’s E3 has had positive reactions, especially to the number of women featured as protagonists in the most anticipated games coming in 2018 and beyond.

WHO RUN THE WORLD? GIRLS! 🙌🏼 #E32018 pic.twitter.com/drHuJq5ucF

— kae (@idkmybffkae) June 12, 2018

this has been like every e3 game shown so far pic.twitter.com/cTVRYtTeQJ

— sploggles 🎣🍃 (@sploggles) June 11, 2018

What are some of your gut reactions from the show? Let us know in the comments below.

Featured Image: Nintendo (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)

More from E3!

• Why is Waluigi being snubbed again by the Super Smash Bros. series?
• You can play as Mew in the new Pokémon game!
• Super Mario Party looks like it’ll maximize the properties of the Switch

[brightcove video_id=”5794448371001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=”rJs2ZD8x”]

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You can count on a Kingdom Hearts action figure line to include protagonist Sora, and the various key Disney characters he encounters. But a report at Gamespot this week made us feel like the real kings, as we learned that not only are Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy entering the Grid and getting Tron-ified, but that we’re also getting action figures of the original Tron and Sark!

It’s not clear whether these sport the official likenesses of Bruce Boxleitner and David Warner (an inquiry to which Diamond Select hadn’t replied as of press time), but they certainly look close enough for comfort. Tron comes packed with Goofy and a Shadow, while Donald, true to his general penchant for finding trouble, is packed in with bad guy Sark, as well as good guy Sora.

The wave’s not entirely Tron-based, however, as black-coat Mickey comes with a Shadow Assassin and a Shadow.

You can expect these three-packs towards the end of the year, available in specialty stores for $25 apiece; as with others in the Kingdom Hearts line, there will likely be less-deluxe versions at other retailers for lower price points.

Clearly, the team at Diamond Select fights for the users. A full-scale Recognizer is probably out of the question, but we’d gladly take more OG characters like Flynn, Yori, and Sark’s guards. Throw in a build-the-MCP collect-and-connect diorama and you’d have us hooked.

Are these the Tron figures you’ve been waiting for? RES-olve to tell us what you think in comments!

Images: Diamond Select

More toys, more joys

• An amazing Ninja Turtles figure set and diorama for Comic-Con.
• Don’t cry! I Love Lucy Funko Pops are coming.
• How are Hasbro’s non-movie Deadpool toys?

The post Diamond Select KINGDOM HEARTS Toy Line Adds TRON and Sark appeared first on Nerdist.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me. The Kingdom Hearts III (KH3) trailer debuted at Sony’s E3 Expo press conference on Monday evening began with those familiar notes, leaving no doubts about the latest world revealed for the upcoming game. On the heels of announcing the Frozen addition to the title during Sunday’s Microsoft conference, Square Enix revealed Pirates of the Caribbean is back. And this time, the live-action rendering looks much improved compared to Kingdom Hearts II‘s Port Royal setting. Watch the action in the trailer below:

The best part about a new Pirates-inspired world? Sora, Donald, and Goofy get themed costumes, which I am entirely in favor of.

As exciting as the confirmation of yet another location is, let’s focus on some of the other tidbits in the trailer. Xehanort’s multiple forms are coming together and plotting–his Heartless and his Nobody, a.k.a. Fake Ansem and Xemnas–and this is exceptionally bad news. Riku and Dark Riku are seemingly in the same place. And while in Arendelle, Organization XIII member Larxene hinteed to Sora and co. that she’s gathering seven new pure lights, seven new hearts. Gulp. So, presumably, she’s after Elsa to collect her hearts, in addition to more princesses. Plus, Axel/Lea and Kairi. What?!

Kingdom Hearts III will be available on January 29, 2019. Read about everything we know so far .

Images: Square Enix

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

More news from E3 2018!

• New Shadow of the Tomb Raider jungle gameplay.
• Bethesda unveils a sequel for Doom.
• Kingdom Hearts 3 welcomes a Frozen inspired world.

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The Kingdom Hearts series has secured a place in our hearts as a perfect combination of two of the things we love the most: video games and Disney. We love it so much that we can almost forgive the fourteen year wait between Kingdom Hearts II and its true sequel, Kingdom Hearts III. As announced at last night Kingdom Hearts Orchestra concert in Los Angeles, the highly anticipated game has been pushed back to January 29, 2019. And at the Microsoft E3 2018 press conference, we finally got a chance to see a brand new trailer for the game.

The primary focus of this trailer is the new Frozen inspired world that takes Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy into Arendelle, where they encounter Elsa for the first time. And it appears that their quest in that world will be to prevent Elsa’s heart from becoming corrupted. Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff also make an appearance in the trailer as the game’s heroic trio get used to the cold.

For the first time, Kingdom Hearts III will be visiting Pixar worlds as well, including Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., both of which are glimpsed in the new trailer. However, Tangled‘s Rapunzel also gets a few key moments in the footage, and we see the return of Hercules. More ominously, we see what’s become of Aqua when Mickey and Riku finally find her.

Are you excited about the latest trailer for Kingdom Hearts III? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: Square-Enix

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The Kingdom Hearts Orchestra World Tour kicked off in Los Angeles on Saturday night ahead of E3 Expo. Director Tetsuya Nomura stopped by the incredible, moving concert featuring the work of the game’s composer Yoko Shimomura with some special announcements about Kingdom Hearts III (KH3), while saying more news would come at E3. Nomura confirmed the release date for the game and apologized that it’s a bit later than planned. Kingdom Hearts III will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on January 29, 2019.

https://twitter.com/KINGDOMHEARTS/status/1005683145990025216He shared a brief video sneak peek of KH3, too, including a look at Riku, Roxas’ friends in Traverse Town, a sequence in Corona that looked like a mini-game with Rapunzel, a newly revealed attraction ability featuring the carousel, and a glimpse of Remy from Ratatouille pulling on Sora’s hair and controlling his actions. It’s unknown if the scene is from an entire Ratatouille themed world—could you imagine killing Heartless in the Pixar movie’s France setting?!—or more of a sidequest area, like Hundred Acre Wood has been in past games, or a set-up scene for a Summons/Link with Remy. Whatever it is, I’m on board for having the most talented rodent chef I know in the game.

The concert featured familiar themes and medleys tying the many Kingdom Hearts games and their characters together, and the orchestra also played a new piece from KH3, “Toy Story Medley.” The music included pieces of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from the film and battle music from the upcoming game. We went hands-on in Toy Story World

What do you think about the release date? Is it much later than you anticipated? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Images: Square Enix

More games news!

• Anthem gets an epic trailer.
• Battlefront II is adding Clone Wars content.
• Learn all about Jedi: Fallen Order.

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On Thursday evening, I played an hour and a half of Kingdom Hearts III (KH3). I wielded my Keyblade against a Titan on Olympus. I fought in battle as a robot in Toy Story world. I hung out with my besties Sora, Donald, and Mickey again, and they’ve never looked better. And they should look better, because Kingdom Hearts III is the first new game in the main, numbered video game series since 2005. Thirteen years of progress in game development appears to have made KH3 a title that will have visuals to match the compelling story.

This game will wrap the Dark Seeker Saga that began in the first Kingdom Hearts. The battle of light vs. dark/good vs. evil in the Disney-meets-Final Fantasy world is coming to an end with resolutions for the hero Sora, the villain Xehanort, and everyone in between. The hands-on preview didn’t delve into plot points, with the exception an Organization XIII member appearing in the Toy Story world; the demo was all about experiencing the changes in gameplay.

Graphics

Textures, lighting, interactivity with the environment around you—all of these are better in KH3. I ran around Andy’s room and Galaxy Toys, leaping on as many surfaces as possible. You can roll around on balls, knock items off shelves, and jump on practically anything (more on that in a minute). Taking the time to explore is rewarding because of the way the environments react to you.

The characters look sharper, more detailed. I’ve noted this in KH3 trailers, but it’s more evident during gameplay. The toy versions of Sora, Donald, and Goofy have a plastic, porous texture. Hamm has scratches and faded spots to show wear and tear. (What is Andy doing to his toys?!) Even the backgrounds have character: climbing around inside the vents of Galaxy Toys feels grimy, and the rain-covered surfaces on Olympus feel slippery.

Lighting is more careful and directed this time around, too. During a panel before the demo, Kingdom Hearts III co-director Tai Yasue noted the light was built into the textures in the past. Now, they shine different light sources into scenes to give them a more realistic look. He also pointed out the worlds are more populated with background characters, a statement supported with a shot of Corona from the Tangled world where citizens occupied the space around the town square naturally.

Movement

As noted, you can jump onto most objects you encounter. And if you just move forward, Sora sort of automatically adjusts, maneuvering over or around obstructions with ease, and even running up walls. The vertical aspect of movement is especially emphasized in Olympus, where I dashed up sheer rock faces and cliffs to get to the Rock Titan, dodging to the left and right to avoid boulders falling over the edge. To say it’s easier to move isn’t quite the right way to describe it. Movement’s more intuitive and fluid. It’s worth taking a few minutes to race around and see what you can do.

Combat

Combat is where you’ll find the biggest improvements and changes in Kingdom Hearts III, and I’m here for it. The prologue, Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage, has the closest combat system to what I experimented with in KH3, so I’d recommend playing it before the new game’s release as a base—KH3 goes above and beyond it, though.

Link System

Link is the new word for Summons. You can still call upon your pals, but now they have a different name and more detailed controls. I linked up with The Little Mermaid‘s Ariel using “Lagoon” and Wreck-It Ralph‘s Ralph using “8 Bit.” A new addition to the Kingdom Hearts franchise, Ralph can build blockades and then wreck them. You can use his help to block in Heartless or split off a section of the battlefield, or you can tap into his brute strength to rush your enemies. Ariel, on the other hand, is more elegant. You can use her watery form to dive into Heartless or splash them, and her finishing move is like a small version of the Bellagio water fountains in Las Vegas that you can orchestrate for maximum effect. I’m going to need more gameplay time to nail the nuance of using the Links in the most optimal way and to appreciate the graphics and attention to detail. Ralph, for example, appears by coming out of the Fix-It Felix Jr. game.

Keyblades

I’m not much of a magic user, so I rely on the strength of my Keyblade for combat. Learning what combos a specific Keyblade can do and what its advantages are has been one of my favorite parts of past games, but I’ve found it frustrating to only be able to use a single blade in battle. Also, I’m enamored with all the designs and I don’t like to pick favorites because then I don’t see them all.

But now, you can switch between Keyblades during combat. I’m a button masher, so seamlessly transitioning between Keyblades is something I need to work on, but noting the contrasts between what the Toy Story, Tangled, and Monsters, Inc. Keyblades can do incentivized me to become better. Varying attacks and animations makes combat more engaging, less repetitive. I found myself excited about fighting every pack of Heartless instead of feeling, “Ugh, again?” because I wanted to try other techniques.

Attractions

Summoning Attractions also contributes to making battles more varied and unique. As a Disney Parks ride or die, my heart leaped when I called the Mad Tea Cups, Big Magic Mountain, and Pirate Ship into action. They’re stylized as if they’re part of the glowing Main Street Electrical Parade, which gives them all a cohesive aesthetic despite their distinct characteristics. Here, like in other areas of the game, the focus is on interactivity. The attractions don’t operate independently; you ride in them and direct them to attack your enemies. The visuals are a little distracting; the screen was so crowded with activity—like cascading water and fireworks—that I found the attractions hard to control and aim, but it’s likely a matter of getting used to this style of gameplay.

A few other welcome changes: it doesn’t appear that you have to swap out members of your party. Woody and Buzz joined the group as additions, not replacements. Bigger party sizes means you don’t have to miss out on leveling up Donald and Goofy, and you have more firepower on your side. Additionally, teaming up with different party members leads to various combos and effects. All of that in concert with the alterations listed above and other additions like being able to jump into robot suits in Galaxy Toys makes me enthusiastic about combat in KH3. And I’m usually a player who gets stressed out about combat.

Square Enix will be announcing the specific 2018 release date for Kingdom Hearts III early in June, likely at E3.

Images: Square Enix

Amy Ratcliffe is a Managing Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

More games to play!

• God of War‘s new photo mode is too perfect.
• Mega Man games are getting rereleased on cartridges.
• Watch the trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2.

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Update, 9/10/18:

Square Enix revealed a new trailer for Kingdom Hearts III at Tokyo Game Show on Monday, and it focuses on the world inspired by Disney’s Big Hero 6. We already knew the streets of San Fransokyo would be part of the next game, but this is our first real look at Baymax, Hiro, and the rest of the team in action. Though brief, the footage shows Sora’s Big Hero 6 Keyblade transformations and also a look at Gummi Ships in action.

Release Date and Consoles

Kingdom Hearts III will be available on January 29, 2019 on PS4 and Xbox One.

The Story

Square Enix’s synopsis of Kingdom Hearts III says: “Believing light and darkness must remain in balance, Master Xehanort seeks to spark war against the ‘tyranny of light’ to restore equilibrium. In an effort to undermine Xehanort’s plot, Sora, Donald, and Goofy search for seven guardians of light and the ‘Key to Return Hearts,’ while King Mickey and Riku search for previous Keyblade wielders.”

Director Tetsuya Nomura confirmed to Game Informer in 2014 that KH3‘s plot picks up after the events of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. It’s about the seven lights and the 13 darknesses facing off in the final battle.

Returning Characters

For the most part, none of the returning characters shown in trailers so far will surprise you. Sora, Donald, and Goofy continue to be the primary party traveling from world to world. Duh. The story will also include King Mickey and Riku, as well as Aqua (which probably means more Ventus and Terra). Past friends will likely return for the Summons feature, such as the glimpse of Ariel we see in helping Sora in the Tangled world.

On team darkness, we have Xehanort, Marluxia, Xemnas, Ansem, Maleficent, Hades, and Pete. And the surprise: Vanitas.

Worlds

Exploring the different locations of Kingdom Hearts is perhaps the most exciting part of the game. Discovering which world has just been unlocked is a thrill. That said, learning about the worlds ahead of time comes with its own buzz. Nomura said at D23 Expo Japan that Kingdom Hearts III will have ten worlds, but it’s not clear if that means ten locations total or just ten Disney or Pixar worlds. Here’s what we know about:

Big Hero 6

Picture what San Fransoyko would look like in a video game. Now imagine that game is Kingdom Hearts. Pretty excellent, right? This is the only world we haven’t seen gameplay footage or images from, only the above concept art. I’m not okay with the Heartless that resembles Baymax, but I am okay with more Big Hero 6.

Toy Story

The first Pixar world to be announced for Kingdom Hearts, the Toy Story themed spot set in what looks like Andy’s house will see Sora and pals shrink down to toy size and change form to look like action figures.

Mount Olympus

Hercules has been part of the past Kingdom Hearts games, but only through the Coliseum. In both games, players spend time at the Coliseum training and doing combat for trophies instead of exploring and following a story like on other worlds. But now, players will actually get to go to Olympus.

Tangled

The Kingdom of Corona will host Sora, Donald, and Goofy in the next game. We’ve seen a glimpse of Rapunzel’s tower in the background and the gameplay. Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, a.k.a. Eugene, are both in Sora’s party in this fight. Rapunzel’s hair should offer some interesting options.

Monsters, Inc.

Welcome to Monstropolis! Revealed at D23 Expo Japan in February 2018, the world features Sully, Mike, and Boo. Sora, Donald, and Goofy turn into cute monsters while hanging out with the Monsters, Inc. crew.

Twilight Town

Twilight Town, the home of Roxas and Nobodies, will return in KH3. Nomura has mentioned Sora will begin the game here, so Twilight Town will be Kingdom Hearts III‘s tutorial world. The Old Mansion, where some bizarre things with Roxas and Organization XIII happened in Kingdom Hearts II, is back too, and so is the Mysterious Tower, home of Yen Sid (it’s technically part of Twilight Town, but it’s kind of a world apart).

Frozen

Is anyone surprised to learn a Frozen-themed world is coming to Kingdom Hearts III? Sora and his pals are dropping into Arendelle right before Elsa unleashes her powers and runs away into the mountains. And of course they get to do battle against Marshmallow.

Gameplay

With a few different trailers showing gameplay–all available on YouTube–we have a glimpse of new features. One of the notable changes appears to be how the Keyblades work. Previously, you only received a world’s Keyblade after you’ve completed it. But in the Tangled, Monsters, Inc., and Toy Story worlds, Sora appears to have the themed Keyblade while fighting on the world; perhaps he’ll receive it upon arrival instead? Or at least, his blade will transform temporarily and he’ll get to add the new style to his inventory after he’s done on the world.

The other highlight I noticed is how it seems Sora doesn’t have to swap out Donald and Goofy for temporary party members. I don’t like having to rotate Donald and Goofy out since they’re Sora’s permanent party, and I want to level them up. But on all the worlds, the classic trio is shown fighting alongside two more characters–Rapunzel and Flynn, Woody and Buzz, and Mike and Sully.

Update, 5/29/18:

Nerdist joined a small group of journalists in going hands-on with a ninety minute preview of Kingdom Hearts III. Gameplay took place on Olympus and in Toy Story World, the first Pixar world in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. The most notable takeaway was how many more variables combat has now between links (formerly known as summons), the ability to switch between Keyblades during battles, and calling upon attractions. Learn all about our experience with the demo in this post.

Update, 4/18/18:

Kingdom Hearts III will have minigames! Via Polygon, the upcoming game will include minigames steeped in nostalgia. They’ll be styled like ’80s LCD games and be inspired by some of Disney’s Mickey and Friends shorts. The above trailer shows The Barnyard Battle, Musical Farmer, Giantland, and The Karnival Kid, but Kingdom Hearts Insider reports over 20 LCD games will be KH3.

If you want to sample these games ahead of Kingdom Hearts III, they’ll also be included on Kingdom Hearts Union χ Cross, the mobile Kingdom Hearts game.

The gallery below features more images from the upcoming game, and the official Kingdom Hearts III site has even more.

What about Kingdom Hearts III are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.

Images: Square Enix

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

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Like with any game, the higher level you attain in Kingdom Hearts, the better equipped you are to defeat enemies. The most powerful Heartless become less intimidating and take less resources and time to defeat the higher you climb. But via Kotaku, one gamer has taken leveling up to a bananas extreme. Twitch streamer AaroneousGaming spent 210 hours on Kingdom Hearts I Final Mix‘s lowest gameplay levels in order to build Sora up to a Level 100 character. Yes, 100—all spent grinding on the island home of Sora, Riku, and Kairi–the island home that is the intro and tutorial level in the game.

https://twitter.com/AaroneousGaming/status/965482288803926016AaroneousGaming started this endeavor on January 2. Why? Well, why not, I guess? You can set lots of arbitrary goals for games and pour yourself into completing them. I can absolutely see how this kind of angle would be appealing to streamers and people viewing; it’s something different than just following a game’s narrative.

But still, I can’t get over how tedious this must be (says the person who does the same tasks over and over again in Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley). Destiny Islands is a tutorials location. It’s where you learn the mechanics of combat in the game without actually being harmed by opponents. So, you play around, get the hang of battles, and head off into brave new worlds…or you stick around and do the same tasks over and over again to get to a high level.

At 3pm CST I'll be starting the Lvl. 100 KH1FM play through. I'll play for 1.5-2 hours before switching to KH2FM to begin the Lvl. 99 Roxas grind. Fair warning, I will be doing the mini games on day two to get the extra AP. I hope to see you guys there!

— GrindGod (@GrindGod__) February 20, 2018

If you’re wondering what it would be like to start the game with this kind of power, you’re in luck. AaroneousGaming’s kicking off a Kingdom Hearts I Final Mix play through with his high-powered Sora. This mission starts Monday, and you can tune in at Twitch.

What’s the maximum number of hours you’d spend on the island? Do you have this kind of patience? Let me know in the comments.

Images: Square Enix

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

More Kingdom Hearts!

• The latest Kingdom Hearts III trailer adds Monsters, Inc.
• Is Kingdom Hearts coming to Disney Parks?
• Kingdom Hearts mashed with other video game worlds.

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When the next Kingdom Hearts game was announced in 2013, fan discussion immediately turned to an important topic: which worlds will the next installment include? Kingdom Hearts III is finally arriving sometime in 2018, and we know it will feature worlds inspired by Tangled, Big Hero 6, Toy Story, and Monsters, Inc among others. But what if Sora, Donald, and Goofy could travel to other video games or franchises? Picture a mash-up heaven where you could drop them into a variety of locales.

Via Polygon, DeviantArt user Vitor-Aizen has imagined the unstoppable trio in other settings, and now I want a Kingdom Hearts alternate universe where they fight Heartless in every game ever. Like, for example, Journey:https://twitter.com/VitorAizen/status/963438299334565888

Or what if they popped into a more realistic setting, like the one in Resident Evil 4.

https://twitter.com/VitorAizen/status/963112158195277824

That reminds me a little of Port Royal, the Pirates of the Caribbean world in Kingdom Hearts II.

Sora and his team are right at home in more cartoony stories, too–like Despicable Me.

https://twitter.com/VitorAizen/status/963216436775833600

Vitor makes the images using 3D models and maps, free 2D renders, and Photoshop. Hop over to his DeviantArt gallery to see dozens of Kingdom Hearts mash-ups with everything from The Simpsons to My Neighbor Totoro. Related: I would melt/freak out if Kingdom Hearts had a Studio Ghibli world.

What video game world would you most like to see Kingdom Hearts combined with? Share your thoughts with me in the comments.

Images: Square Enix

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

Unlock more Kingdom Hearts stories!

• KH3 theme song revealed.
• Look at all these KH Mystery Minis.
• Toy Story confirmed for KH3.

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Kingdom Hearts is a game rich with worlds, characters, and different outfits, which makes it an ideal property for toys. Funko‘s dipped its vinyl toes into the Disney and Final Fantasy game with a wave of Pop! figures in early 2017, and now they’re back to fight more Heartless with Mystery Minis and a second series of Pop! toys. They’re going beyond the Disney characters this time and including the likes of Sora, Riku, Roxas, Axel, and more—to which I say, yay!

This is one occasion when you can’t go wrong with any selection from a Mystery Mini blind box. You can get Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Sora in their standard hero attire, and you’ll find some Organization XIII cloaked characters mixed in.

And it’s Funko, so of course there are exclusives. Toys “R” Us has Goofy, Donald, and Sora in their Tron world attire.

Those are rad, but but my personal favorite exclusive Mystery Minis are Halloween Goofy, Donald, and Sora. These are the outfits they get when they visit The Nightmare Before Christmas world. They’re available at Hot Topic.

I need everyone to take note of how cute they are. They could only top the Halloween looks with Sora, Goofy, and Donald’s Atlantica outfits from The Little Mermaid world.

Board your Gummi Ship and fly to the gallery below to see the second series of Kingdom Hearts Pop! figures and the Pete and Heartless Mystery Mini exclusives. Which of these Pop! figures and Mystery Minis will you be flying through space to track down? Let us know in the comments.

Images: Funko

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

Summon more Kingdom Hearts!

• See Donald and Goofy in Kingdom Hearts costumes at the parks.
• Watch game play from Toy Story world in Kingdom Hearts 3.
  Don Kingdom Hearts apparel and accessories.

GameStop exclusive

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Disney Parks don’t, for the most part, lack in merchandising. They have plenty of apparel, toys, snacks, and Mickey ears for you to spend money on–except when it comes to the Kingdom Hearts franchise. It’s hard to find evidence of the Disney and Final Fantasy combo video game in the theme parks. But maybe that’s about to change

Thanks to Inside the Magic, we learned Donald Duck and Goofy appeared in their Kingdom Hearts costumes at Epcot on August 31 at a Cast Appreciation Party. It’s probably a good thing I was nowhere near the event because I would have lost my mind in an unbecoming fashion over meeting these guys in person.https://www.instagram.com/p/BYebCusgNqd/

The Kingdom Hearts characters almost never appear in the parks. In the past, Donald, Goofy, and even Sora have appeared at Halloween events. We’re not in the Halloween season yet (that kicks off in Disney Parks in mid-September), so maybe they’re dusting off the costumes and prepping them for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. Or maybe it’s more. Maybe we’re finally going to see a Kingdom Hearts presence at Walt Disney World and other resorts.

Donald Duck and Goofy make an appearance in Kingdom Hearts attire at Cast Appreciation Party at Epcot!https://t.co/lNv7VY5ffQ pic.twitter.com/HaVXAiK7z2

— KH13 · for Kingdom Hearts (@KH13com) September 4, 2017

Kingdom Hearts III is on the horizon with a 2018 release date. They’ve been promoting the next, long-awaited chapter of the game this year with new trailers and the announcement about having a Toy Story world. To boost the hype, they could do character meet and greets. They already have the costumes on hand. And as far as merchandising? Forget about it.

They could sell t-shirts, Organization XIII hoodies, pins, costume hats, and Keyblades. Do you know how much moolah you could squeeze out of Keyblade replicas? They could offer miniature sizes of the various keyblades and so much jewelry. Plus, they could sell sea salt ice cream popsicles!

Do you want to see Kingdom Hearts characters and products in Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments.

Want to read more about video games?

• Mario is no longer a plumber.
• Learn about Atari’s new handheld console.
• Does Uncharted need Nathan Drake?

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Featured Image: Square Enix/Disney

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After dropping a new trailer for the long-awaited Kingdom Hearts 3 in June, game director Tetsuya Nomura appeared at D23 Expo’s Level Up! panel on Saturday to share a look at a new world and a release date. Are you ready? For the first time ever, Pixar is coming to Kingdom Hearts 3 with a world based on Toy Story.

When Sora, Donald, and Goofy enter the world of Andy’s toys, they shrink down and become toys. Game footage showed the heroic trio meeting Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and friends. No, you’re losing it.

Pixar worked closely with Nomura and Square Enix to develop a brand new story exclusively for the game, and John Lasseter was on board from the beginning. Pixar’s Jason Katz took on the task of story supervisor. Pixar employee Tasha Sounart, who worked on Toy Story 2, helped develop the Kingdom Hearts‘ characters toy looks.

The trailer shows the trio beginning their explorations of Toy Story world in Andy’s room but also out in the world, fighting the Heartless. One exciting sequence shows Sora getting into a robot-type toy and operating it in a battle. I want to summarize that encounter with a series of exclamation points, but you can see for yourself in the above video.

As for the release date, Kingdom Hearts 3 will be here in 2018. What’s another six plus months after years of waiting? We can do it.

What do you think about the addition of Toy Story? Would you rather have seen another Pixar world? Sound off in the comments.

Images: Square Enix/Disney

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Kingdom Hearts III news is on the horizon. Square Enix and Kingdom Hearts will have a presence at Disney‘s upcoming D23 Expo, and we know we’ll learn about a new world for the game and get another trailer. Maybe we’ll even score a release date? Hopefully?

I’ve only recently fallen into the rabbit hole that is Kingdom Hearts, and by fallen into the rabbit hole, I mean I’ve become obsessed. With announcements coming, I needed (needed!) to find some chic apparel and accessories to wear my Kingdom Hearts fandom on my sleeve. So, in case anyone else has a desire to cover themselves in all things Keyblades and crowns, these are my top picks:

Carry your charms

Keep a Keyblade by your side at all times with this charm necklace from Hot Topic. It incorporates cute elements from the game like the Paopu fruit, Sora’s necklace charm, and more. This necklace isn’t subtle, but sometimes you don’t want subtle.

Town pride

Show your commitment to the weird and wonderful place that is Traverse Town with a custom hand printed varsity jacket. Or, if you’d prefer to display your allegiance to Heartless Academy, Aperture Design Co. has that, too. Get them at Etsy.

Keep your enemies close

You don’t have to wait for the music cue that tells you a Heartless is close by. Just wear this dress from Angelyque’s Pixels, and you’ll know where they are at all times. She also has these beaded earrings:

Fight in comfort

If you’re racing around in your Gummi Ship, you need to navigate in maximum comfort. These Kingdom Hearts yoga pants from Drip Dye are ideal for that or getting in shape to take down the next big boss.

Keep your way

Don’t lose track of your path. Wear an acrylic laser cut Wayfinder necklace from Chinook Crafts. It works as both a Kingdom Hearts accessory and/or a lovely flower pendant.

Clip it back

Make sure you don’t miss any Kingdom Hearts news because your hair is falling in front of your eyes with this Sora-inspired bow from Hot Topic. (Related: how do most of the Final Fantasy characters see around their hair?! I constantly want to give them bobby pins and trim their bangs). And if you need to hold all your questing gear, there’s a backpack as well.

Put a Keyblade on it

A Keyblade that is also a ring? This piece of jewelry by Devlin Design Studio is creative and classy.

What Kingdom Hearts apparel and accessories do you have on your list? Tell me in the comments.

Images: Hot Topic, Aperture Design Co, Angelyque’s Pixels, Drip Dye, Chinook Crafts, Devlin Design Studio

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