Kingdom Hearts 3 is finally here!
But what is Kingdom Hearts (KH) you say? Well, the simplest way to explain it would be: imagine inserting yourself into the plot of your favorite Disney films to fight the forces of darkness. Who wouldn’t love that? Oh, and there’s some characters from the Final Fantasy video games thrown into the mix, too.
The game may have a 3 in the title but it is actually the thirteenth game in the series. Sound confusing? You have no idea. But if you’re new to the world of KH, don’t let that frighten you away. Most of the games are fun, well-crafted ways to spend your free time but if you want to jump in feet first with Kingdom Hearts 3, that is definitely doable. There are in-game “Memory Archives” that will catch you up on the important details of games past so you won’t be left in the dark (hopefully).
On this journey, you’ll take control of spiky-haired Keyblade wielder Sora and his absolutely mind-boggling array of combat abilities as you travel from one Disney/Pixar world to another. The frenzied combat from previous games has been taken up a couple of notches for KH3 with Keyblade transformations, dazzling finishing moves, shot lock commands, Flowmotion, and an assortment of magic spells. Add to that the ability to summon classic theme park attractions, like the Mad Tea Cups, and even more Disney friends, like Ariel, Stitch, and Wreck-It Ralph, and you’ve got everything you need to stomp anything wicked that comes your way.
Accompanying Sora are shield-wielding Goofy and spell-slinging Donald Duck, as well as a variety of world-specific heroes like Hercules, Rapunzel, and Baymax, each with their own array of skills and screen clearing Team Attacks. This is the aspect that makes this series really shine: putting you right in the center of the action of classic Disney/Pixar films. Seeing Woody lasso enemies with his pull-string or Marshmallow (the ice monster from Frozen) freeze them solid never fails to put a gigantic, nerdy smile on my face. And let’s not forget the thrill of exploring the many massive, beautiful worlds, from riding the door conveyors through Monsters, Inc.’s Monstropolis to sailing your very own pirate ship in the Caribbean.
The over-arching story of the series may be a bit muddled at times (to put it mildly) but the magical experience more than makes up for it.
Kingdom Hearts 3 is available for XBox One and PS4 systems.
If video games aren’t your thing but you’re still intrigued by the concept of a story of friendship, love, and darkness vs. light spread across familiar Disney locations, be sure to check out the Kingdom Hearts manga!
Did you know? The library catalog has games for multiple systems, including Nintendo DS/2DS/3DS, Wii/Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, and Nintendo Switch! Just a heads up that some video games cannot be requested or renewed. Check with your local library if you have any questions.
