KH4 Re-Reveal Hopes And Expectations

[1millionsquats]

I realise what I'm opening myself upto here when I say this, but all I expect from KH4 is a Ratatouille moment where I'm mentally transported back to KH2 when I watch the opening video.

Small, small, tiny winy, little expectations

My posts probably make it seem like I hate every aspect of Kingdom Hearts 3, which is not true, but here's another one to add to the pile:

They need to make the Opening good again. I think Skrillex completely botched that theme song, and the visuals are so weak. For one, Dream Drop Distance already took care of recapping (most of) the series up until that point and tease the Master Xehanort confrontation. It also had way better rhythm regarding how scenes flow into each other.

In KH3's opening, they rush past every scene with these terrible smoke transitions and the camera spinning all over the place. Their attempt at creating a metaphor between the clash of light and darkness and the chess game also falls flat and leads to very bland, empty scenes where most of the space is empty.

It would be wonderful if they managed to give the new opening a dreamlike quality like 1 and 2's. There are so many cool visuals in those. KH2 right off the bat, hits you with Riku and Kairi fading, leading into Sora jumping off the Paopu tree as Destiny Islands and its sunset melt away. Bam! Sora falls onto the first platform of Hollow Bastion with Donald and Goofy. When he runs up the stairs to where he first meets Beast, there's a hard cut and he's already looking at an unconscious Kairi before facing off with Dark Riku. That's kind of how dreams go! I could go on and point out all of the amazing, creative transitions and ideas in this but then I'd just be describing every single shot. Whoever storyboarded these sequences is godlike.

 

[2 quid is good]

As far as it 'feeling' how KH2 made us feel... a lot of that is just choosing how seriously we take this stuff. I'm going to invest in the game in earnest to the best of my ability, rather than point and laugh at the contrivances and occasionally embarrassing dialogue. But in order to do that, one needs to alter their thinking and expectations a bit. You can't go in expecting Shakespeare. I can pick apart KH's storytelling all day, every game not called KH1 is loaded with story moments that I consider to be unfathomably stupid, but sometimes its easier to just focus on the characters, the moments that DO work, and the whimsy. I'll only be harsh if I feel like NOTHING is working, which, luckily, hasn't happened yet in Kingdom Hearts.

I agree with your post but just wanted to clarify that I was literally talking about the opening, but also if this is directed at me, I'm certainly not one of the KH fans who expect the level of writing from KH that I do from other games, and I DO in fact focus solely on the characters. I do think KH2 was very good for that, and I had very few expectations for KH3 but one of them was the continuation of characters plots. Which, iunno, I guess technically it was there, but not really at all.

I genuinely enjoyed the first 10 hours I spent with KH3, but the last half was torrid for me, I was practically begging for a reason for the game to make me care about what was going on, and in the end I decided to just turn off and enjoy the cool final boss rush. Like, I'm well capable of enjoying mediocrity but even this was a step too far for me. I hope you are right about KH4 but personally I'm more than happy to wait until there's a sort of consensus about the game before getting it.

 

[Launchpad]

but also if this is directed at me

Dw I was speaking generally! I definitely agree that character writing took a nosedive in KH3. Sora doesn't really activate as a character with personal motivation until Re:Mind, and the supporting cast also feels underestimated and under delivered upon. While the friendship of SDG was done extremely well, I also am desiring more storytelling with Donald and Goofy than KH3 (or the previous titles) gave... I know they're fuckin Donald and Goofy, I don't want them going through a depression arc, but it'd be nice to see them express specific feelings and have progressive character moments too.

As for the opening movie... yeah, KH4 should go full trippy. Less recap than before, just a few KH3 bits and then heaps of foreshadowing would be sweet

 

[GreyouTT]

I expect a Yozora tutorial showcase that just so subtly recreates the Vs13 2011 trailer.

 

[Darkspawn]

I expect a Yozora tutorial showcase that just so subtly recreates the Vs13 2011 trailer.

Whatever the tutorial is, I hope they don’t show us anything from it pre-release.

 

[PikaPal]

The trailers to not reveal every last little thing about the game. Like seriously they were exciting back then but it's crazy going back to them and realizing just how much stuff they showed including most of the end game stuff.

 

[OrionGold]

My posts probably make it seem like I hate every aspect of Kingdom Hearts 3, which is not true, but here's another one to add to the pile:

They need to make the Opening good again. I think Skrillex completely botched that theme song, and the visuals are so weak. For one, Dream Drop Distance already took care of recapping (most of) the series up until that point and tease the Master Xehanort confrontation. It also had way better rhythm regarding how scenes flow into each other.

In KH3's opening, they rush past every scene with these terrible smoke transitions and the camera spinning all over the place. Their attempt at creating a metaphor between the clash of light and darkness and the chess game also falls flat and leads to very bland, empty scenes where most of the space is empty.

It would be wonderful if they managed to give the new opening a dreamlike quality like 1 and 2's. There are so many cool visuals in those. KH2 right off the bat, hits you with Riku and Kairi fading, leading into Sora jumping off the Paopu tree as Destiny Islands and its sunset melt away. Bam! Sora falls onto the first platform of Hollow Bastion with Donald and Goofy. When he runs up the stairs to where he first meets Beast, there's a hard cut and he's already looking at an unconscious Kairi before facing off with Dark Riku. That's kind of how dreams go! I could go on and point out all of the amazing, creative transitions and ideas in this but then I'd just be describing every single shot. Whoever storyboarded these sequences is godlike.

I think the problem with some of KH3's prerendered action sequences were how fast some of them were.

 

[Perkilator]

Whenever KH4 crawls back out of the pit, all I hope for is this:

• A continuation of the stinger with Donald and Goofy, that leads to Kairi and Aqua saving them
• Gameplay of Kairi and Aqua in the Underworld
• A new look at Sora's gameplay in Quadratum, and a closer look at the "scrap and build" mechanic
• A new look at the apparent Star Wars world
• Minimal drops of story info

 

[Launchpad]

• A continuation of the stinger with Donald and Goofy, that leads to Kairi and Aqua saving them

This is the only thing I bristle against. I hate storytelling across trailers, and trailers as a form of pacifying entertainment for fans. I like the idea of Kairi saving D&G, but I don't wanna see how they get out of trouble with Hades until the game is out. In a perfect world, that cliffhanger was meant to stand alone and pique our interest.

Definitely would love to learn more about scrap and build. KH3 already gave us a 'bigger better and newer' KH game, so KH4 has the burden of not only having to be new, but prove why we shouldn't just boot up KH3 again (from a gameplay perspective)

 

[Sonofjafar]

• A new look at Sora's gameplay in Quadratum, and a closer look at the "scrap and build" mechanic

What is this “scrap and build” you speak of? Did Nomura mention it in an interview after the trailer we saw?

 

[Darkspawn]

What is this “scrap and build” you speak of? Did Nomura mention it in an interview after the trailer we saw?

It’s one of the commands in the command menu where Summon would normally be. I think Build is in the trailer, but Nomura explained it as the “Scrap and Build” mechanic, suggesting there will be some kind of construction/deconstruction feature. No further detail has been given though.

I’m currently torn on whether I want the next trailer to feature a stinger of Xehanort in Quadratum mirroring the DR Q&A artwork, Cloud showing up in Quadratum, or a Vader reveal.

 

[Dandelion]

This is the only thing I bristle against. I hate storytelling across trailers, and trailers as a form of pacifying entertainment for fans. I like the idea of Kairi saving D&G, but I don't wanna see how they get out of trouble with Hades until the game is out. In a perfect world, that cliffhanger was meant to stand alone and pique our interest.

Somewhat agree, though I hasten to add that no one needs to save Donald and Goofy because Hades is going to break some rules and reunite them with Sora so that their trip down there isn't another trailer-fodder nothing burger, and so Kairi doesn't just take up Sora's old role of traveling the Disney worlds with Donald and Goofy.

(This is my dream)

 

[Launchpad]

Somewhat agree, though I hasten to add that no one needs to save Donald and Goofy because Hades is going to break some rules and reunite them with Sora so that their trip down there isn't another trailer-fodder nothing burger, and so Kairi doesn't just take up Sora's old role of traveling the Disney worlds with Donald and Goofy.

(This is my dream)

To be honest I'm very torn. Kairi is the most whimsy-starved character of our main trio, and an adventure (or even just a single world) with Donald and Goofy could really help unearth some much needed joy from Kairi. D&G improve Sora a lot and Kairi could use some of that benefit as well...

But on the other hand, time grows short and we only get so many main titles. Haley, Tony, and Bill are all alive and well. The people want SDG and I'm willing to forgive any plot contrivance that expedites their reunion so we can have another traditional KH. D&G aren't very important players in the story and their benefit is less diegetic than it is practical... they make Kingdom Hearts work, and their absence is always felt, so getting them back with Sora asap is top priority.

 

[Darkspawn]

I still stand by my idea from a different thread that D&G should be separated in the Unreality worlds/realms/whatevers and Sora should have to reunite with them individually. Give it a few worlds before the trio is all back together. It’d be cool to see Sora have individual interaction with each of them rather than them being a single unit the whole time. I really enjoyed how Remake and Rebirth handle the party in this way.

Could also lead to some funny bits depending what situations they find themselves in while stranded in the Disney worlds.

 

[Launchpad]

I still stand by my idea from a different thread that D&G should be separated in the Unreality worlds/realms/whatevers and Sora should have to reunite with them individually. Give it a few worlds before the trio is all back together. It’d be cool to see Sora have individual interaction with each of them rather than them being a single unit the whole time. I really enjoyed how Remake and Rebirth handle the party in this way.

Could also lead to some funny bits depending what situations they find themselves in while stranded in the Disney worlds.

I like this, but I'd assert that Sora and Donamd should reunite first. Goofy's so easygoing that I don't see much of interest in a one-on-one dynamic with Sora. But if Sora and Donald had to go together for, like, half of a world without Goofy, I think we'd see shit hit the fan in a really funny way. The KH version of Donald is such a catty old bitch and without Goofy as a buffer, he and Sora will really get to bicker.

 

[MATGSY]

This is the only thing I bristle against. I hate storytelling across trailers, and trailers as a form of pacifying entertainment for fans. I like the idea of Kairi saving D&G, but I don't wanna see how they get out of trouble with Hades until the game is out. In a perfect world, that cliffhanger was meant to stand alone and pique our interest.

Let's be real here, they're getting roasted by Hades and conveniently wind up in Quadranum so we get the same old party yet again.

 

[Squood!]

Let's be real here, they're getting roasted by Hades and conveniently wind up in Quadranum so we get the same old party yet again.

Ngl that'd be unironically stupid.

Sora had to break the rules of reality to end up there, Riku needed to use the Power of Waking. And yet Donald and Goofy just get killed by Hades which should just mean they're trapped in the underworld?

 

[MATGSY]

Ngl that'd be unironically stupid.

Sora had to break the rules of reality to end up there, Riku needed to use the Power of Waking. And yet Donald and Goofy just get killed by Hades which should just mean they're trapped in the underworld?

KH is equal parts lengthy exposition and complex rules for major events and shit just sorta happening. With the later frequently occuring with Disney characters. This is a series where Xehanort has to follow strict rules to make time travel happen while Merlin can summon a time door whenever and another time door appears before Pete for no discernable reason beyond just because.

So yeah, I believe in DG getting to Quadranum via dumb luck.

 

[Launchpad]

KH is equal parts lengthy exposition and complex rules for major events and shit just sorta happening. With the later frequently occuring with Disney characters. This is a series where Xehanort has to follow strict rules to make time travel happen while Merlin can summon a time door whenever and another time door appears before Pete for no discernable reason beyond just because.

So yeah, I believe in DG getting to Quadranum via dumb luck.

Yeah, if Hades were to send D&G to Quadratum, and the rest of the cast never knew how or why that happened, I don't really see an issue. Riku went there in the span of five minutes. It's not going there that's impossible, it's getting back.

The big picture stuff like Xigbar, MoM, and Yozora can be a bit more tightly wound and sequentially told, but getting SDG together again doesn't need to be that complex. SDG going to Disney worlds *is* the selling point of Kingdom Hearts. It's the formula this series runs on.

 

[Perkilator]

I think at the very least, my big hope with KH4 is that it’s announced to be multi-platform on release.