Editorial ► KINGDOM HEARTS III First Impressions Review (Spoiler Free)

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Pooh is great but there were other ways to incorporate it into KH3 if they wanted Pooh in.

Agreed they could incorporate him better; I’m just saying there’s a reason he continues to remain a constant thought the series.

 

[shady543]

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Lol for the mini cooking games the main one I'm having issues with is the shaker. Just can't time it right. but it's funny to see Sora drop it so I don't mind xD

not sure if it's spoilers so just spoiling it in case

Okay so, Corona was definitely the best "redo the movie" world ever by far. I mean it helps the world was super big and had a lot to do. And I really liked getting to be a part of Rapunzel's journey to discover the things outside like playing in the water together and collecting the birds for her. It was super cute. And her excitedly yelling the whole time in general.

Which is why I was very disappointed when they had to go and do what I was afraid of and have her not be a party member anymore just because they felt the stupid need to follow the movie exactly and have her cut her hair. Or rather, that they did that and also made her hair integral to her combat. It made her super fun when you first go through but now it kinda sucks, I almost would have preferred her using a frying pan and Flynn using something else like a dagger or sword. It really sucks it bummed me out right in the middle of the world especial since the mini-game was super cute and the end gauntlet of enemies and that FINAL HEARTLESS were super great. I loved it all. Shame they couldn't go without doing something to spoil it for me.

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Oh yeah I agree about Corona. It's my favourite world so far just because Rapunzel was fantastic and really made me feel the excitement of exploring everything the world had to offer, not just explore to find all the treasure. The splash scene was adorable, so was the dance mini game. What I found awkward though was that throughout the level she had way more interactions with Sora than Flynn, so when she got paired up with Flynn it looked awkward despite it being fine in the movie haha.

But yeah, came in expecting to love Toy Story and not Corona, but came out with the opposite thoughts. Toy Story's level design and plot was a major let down for me. I was more interested in Andy's backyard and room but it was the most linear part of the world.

 

[Neo_]

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But yeah, came in expecting to love Toy Story and not Corona, but came out with the opposite thoughts. Toy Story's level design and plot was a major let down for me. I was more interested in Andy's backyard and room but it was the most linear part of the world.

Yes! Galaxy Toys feels more like the Dead Rising mall than Toy Story (lol), but at least running through the ventilation gave me TS2 vibes.

 

[mriku90]

Pooh should have gone the way of a summon ala Bambi in KH1.

 

[Sora2016]

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Lol for the mini cooking games the main one I'm having issues with is the shaker. Just can't time it right. but it's funny to see Sora drop it so I don't mind xD

not sure if it's spoilers so just spoiling it in case

Spoiler Show

Oh yeah I agree about Corona. It's my favourite world so far just because Rapunzel was fantastic and really made me feel the excitement of exploring everything the world had to offer, not just explore to find all the treasure. The splash scene was adorable, so was the dance mini game. What I found awkward though was that throughout the level she had way more interactions with Sora than Flynn, so when she got paired up with Flynn it looked awkward despite it being fine in the movie haha.

But yeah, came in expecting to love Toy Story and not Corona, but came out with the opposite thoughts. Toy Story's level design and plot was a major let down for me. I was more interested in Andy's backyard and room but it was the most linear part of the world.

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I guess all of Flynn and Rapunzel's bonding was off screen. When they left SDG they at least camped together. No idea if they almost drowned and shit again. I would guess yes? So yeah, they sorta skipped all that.

I can't say I liked it more than Toy Box myself tho. I actually really loved the design of Galaxy Toys and how creative they were with the different areas and brands. And I actually liked the story as well, not to mention how it actually contributed to the overall plot more. I mean Corona did a bit with the new 7 hearts thing. But I feel that won't come to fruition in this game? Maybe. We shall see.

I do wish Andy's backyard was bigger tho, if we discussing that, I was expecting a few more houses to be able to to explore honestly. But I guess the area is literally just called his house lol.

 

[notnow123487]

I’m in corona and wow having the actual actors makes the dialogue so much less cringy.

 

[furusatoe]

My god, the Hundred Achre Wood was just a huge waste in potential, wasn’t it? I hate that style of mini game and they make you play it three times over?? I just aimed randomly and hoped I’d rack up enough points.

The Monster’s Inc world might be the first disappointing (full) world. It needed more location variety. Loved fighting the Unversed though. Perfect thematic match with the world, and it’s nice having them back for the first time since BBS. The Vanitas bits were great, too.

Question about something Sora says to Vanitas though:

He says something like, “You’re the one from the cathedral!” What is he referring to? I don’t recall Vanitas showing up in 3D, and that would have been the only time Sora could have met him.

 

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Also, aren’t keybaldes supposed to be upgradable in this game? I’ve already gone through around four worlds and, to my memory, haven’t received any instruction about it.

 

[notnow123487]

Also, aren’t keybaldes supposed to be upgradable in this game? I’ve already gone through around four worlds and, to my memory, haven’t received any instruction about it.

You do it at any moogle shop. It gives you instructions when you enter one, have you not touched one yet?

 

[furusatoe]

You do it at any moogle shop. It gives you instructions when you enter one, have you not touched one yet?

I've used the Moogle Shop, but I don't recall a tutorial about keyblade upgrades. I'll look into it; thanks!

 

[Alpha Baymax]

Pooh should have gone the way of a summon ala Bambi in KH1.

Nope, Winnie the Pooh cannot engage in combat. Speaking of Bambi, really wished that Adult Bambi was a summon.

 

[Sephiroth0812]

Question about something Sora says to Vanitas though:

He says something like, “You’re the one from the cathedral!” What is he referring to? I don’t recall Vanitas showing up in 3D, and that would have been the only time Sora could have met him.

That was in DDD actually, in the cathedral of Notre Dame when Sora met Young Xehanort.
The whole "your heart is a prison"-scene.

 

[furusatoe]

That was in DDD actually, in the cathedral of Notre Dame when Sora met Young Xehanort.
The whole "your heart is a prison"-scene.

Thanks; that was the only cathedral I could think of, but I don’t remember Vanitas showing up there.

 

[Sephiroth0812]

Thanks; that was the only cathedral I could think of, but I don’t remember Vanitas showing up there.

He didn't "show up" in a literal sense.
He was just a slightly blurry illusion appearing beside Young Xehanort.

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Thanks; that was the only cathedral I could think of, but I don’t remember Vanitas showing up there.

[video=youtube;X2yjbRhm1YE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2yjbRhm1YE[/video]

It is very much a "blink and you'll miss it" moment.

 

[Alpha Baymax]

Finished Arendelle and The Caribbean, and ohh boy, these two worlds reak favourtism from Nomura and Yasue. Both these worlds have plenty of scenes animated by Visual Works.

 

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[video=youtube;X2yjbRhm1YE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2yjbRhm1YE[/video]

It is very much a "blink and you'll miss it" moment.

lol Sora has an amazing memory I guess! I like how that happens and yet Vanitas' presence is never even mentioned nor reflected upon for the rest of the game.

 

[Sora2016]

Finished Arendelle and The Caribbean, and ohh boy, these two worlds reak favourtism from Nomura and Yasue. Both these worlds have plenty of scenes animated by Visual Works.

I wonder if any top the one from Toy Box tho ;p

I mean I guess I knew the songs from Frozen would be Visual Works. I guess it makes some sense the Caribbean relied on it a bit too give the graphics the were trying to go for.

 

[Laurel]

I try not to get annoyed with the plot but

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Aqua not using magic during her fight with Ansem was dumb, unless she can't use magic without the keyblade.

 

[Elysium]

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I don't like BH6, but the world was alright. And I couldn't help thinking how the first Disney world is about a hero (Hercules) and the last is about heroes, too. Even though the world choices were not favorites for me--and I don't like PIXAR in this series--all the worlds were fine except for Corona, which still had nice environments / minigames. The Caribbean's ending is well-suited to this game, considering the last bits with Sora and Kairi. I posted this in the Spoilers section already, but I loved this game. I think it's probably my second favorite in the series after KH1, passing both CoM and 3D.

I'm glad the final world wasn't too huge--I've never been crazy about the Keyblade Graveyard, unlike the End of the World / The World That Never Was. They did a good job with the final battles though. The way they gave every darkness defeated their own scene was the best way they could have dealt with everything considering there's so much going on in the plot (loved the scenes at the Mysterious Tower and TT / DI that dealt with the connections between them all just prior to the KG, too). I liked visiting all the different worlds to revive everyone, similar to going through the portals in End of the World in the first game.

There are so many callbacks all over the place with this game (and not just with the gameplay). Somewhere near the end there was some light show that looked just like the Simba summon from KH1, the glowing symbol-elevator thing SDG were on reminded me of the the lights-symbols at the start of the Platinum Match with Sephiroth in KH1. There was one point in the scene near the beginning of the KG where someone said some dialogue that reminded me of the scene where Sora is talking about Kairi's heart being trapped inside him just before fighting Riku-Ansem in KH1, too.

Those goat armor things at the end creeped the ever-living f out of me. I know it's been talked on these forums before, and I don't think it's intentional, but I definitely saw quite a lot of religious symbolism here and there, even if it was just my own interpretation. I won't go into deal about what/why.

Now on to finishing what's left of the side quests. I assume Damascus is a reward for most of the battle gates, since I really need that. They should be fun, considering I enjoyed them in 3D. I have all the Keyblades around 4-6, but the Ever After, Arendelle, and Pooh Keyblades are around 7-9. Thankfully I got the cooking Keyblade just before the KG; I still need to complete the second page of the menu though. As far as the summons, I tried them all out, but Meow Wow was the only really good one, although I used Ariel a lot regardless. ;P

Btw, does Sora ever attain a Superglide ability during the side quests? Glide is better than nothing, but still. I'm just happy you can dodge roll from the beginning.