Kingdom Hearts IIIis not officially a thing yet.According to series director Tetsuya Nomurait is comingsomeday… but any word of its actual existence is shrouded in secrecy behind the mysterious Chocobo-guarded doors of Square Enix.
And while a lot of people are starting tolose interestin the once fresh, once revolutionary series, I can’t help but be excited by how awesome a new, properKingdom Heartssequel could potentially be. (Forget all those crazy,insanely-namedspinoffs!)
One of the best parts about theKingdom Heartsseries is discovering what Disney movies and characters will be featured as levels and companions in the games. As a massive Disney fan, there is nothing better than jumping from one surprising Disney level to the next with a familiar and beloved Disney character by your side.
But I want more! So far theKingdom Heartsseries has included a fair number of awesome Disney levels, but so many amazing Disney properties still remain untouched. For a Disney super fan like me, the possibilities forKingdom Hearts IIIare endless …
We all know that Dumbo has already been featured as a summon inKingdom Hearts. But imagine how cool an entire level revolving around thealmost-too-touching-for-wordsanimated feature could be?
The level:The circus.The circus is a suitably creepy and visually interesting set piece, and Heartless versions of the deranged characters that populate the environment (clowns, lion tamers, human cannonballs!) would make great enemies for Sora and the gang.
Featured characters:Dumbo.Mrs. Jumbo.Timothy Q. Mouse[summon!].The Ringmaster[final boss!].The characters set up the level goals perfectly: Dumbo needs to save his locked-up mother from the evil Ringmaster; only Sora, Donald, and Goofy (with the assistance of Timothy Q. Mouse and that “magic” feather) can help him do this! Throw in something about thedarkness, and you have the perfectKingdom Heartslevel!
Admittedly, the sole reason I want to be able to play aBambilevel inKingdom Hearts IIIis so I can stab the Hunter in the face with Sora’s Keyblade. Seriously. Ihatethat guy.
The level:The forest.Forest levels are a necessity in RPGs. Why not have one set in the adorable and dangerous world ofBambi?
Featured characters:Bambi.Thumper.Flower[summon!].The hunter[final boss!].Having Thumper showing you the way through a maze-like forest? Flower using his stink attack summoning power to stun enemies? And, again,stabbing the hunter in the face with a Keyblade? Sounds pretty much perfect.
Okay, get ready for some serious Pixar love. The fact that not one Pixar movie has been featured in aKingdom Heartsgame is an absolute injustice. And, of all the Pixar masterpieces,The Incrediblesmight be the best one to get aKingdom Heartsmakeover.
One of the most fun parts about theKingdom Heartseries is seeing the transformations of main characters Sora, Donald, and Goofy into themed versions of whatever world they are visiting (see:the animal formsin theLion Kinglevel inKingdom Hearts II).
Seeing the three main characters in red Spandex suits sporting individual super powers would be worth the price of admission alone.
The level:Syndrome’s island.Syndrome’s island lair offers a vast array of beautiful locations and the potential for a wide variety of different gameplay. Remembersliding along the tree branchesin theTarzanlevel in the firstKingdom Hearts? Imagine a similar sequence that finds Sora, Donald, and Goofy running with Dash atop the crystal clear waters around the island.
Featured characters:Mr. Incredible.Elastigirl.Violet.Dash.Jack-Jack.Edna Mode.Frozone[summon!].Syndrome[final boss!].An epic, robot-filled battle with Syndrome is a given. As is interacting with all the different members of the Incredible family. But I want a shop run by Edna Mode that offers a variety of armor upgrades!
I know, I know, most people don’t likeCarsvery much. (For the record, I kind of love it.)
But with what I just said above regarding character transformations, can you blame me for wanting to see Sora, Donald, and Goofy ascar versionsof themselves? I’m sorry, it would be beyond amazing.
The level:The Radiator Springs Grand PrixJust asThe Little Mermaidwas turned into arhythm minigameinKingdom Hearts II, I would love to see aCars-inspired minigame level with nothing but racing. Could be fun!
Featured characters:Lightning McQueen.Doc Hudson.Sally.Luigi.Mack[summon!].Chick Hicksand/orFrancesco Bernoulli[final boss(es)!].Sorry, Mater. you’re able to watch this one from the pitstop. As much I loveCars, evenIthink you are a little annoying …
The most obvious of all the choices,Toy Story hasto make an appearance inKingdom Hearts III. It is arguably Disney/Pixar’s most recognizable movie and would make a perfect level in the game. It’s also freakin’Toy Story!*
The level:Andy’s playroom.In a throwback to theAlice in Wonderlandlevel in the firstKingdom Hearts, Sora, Donald, and Goofy could shrink down and travel through a giant, oversized version of Andy’s playroom. Is this an obvious choice? Totally. But it would still be a great level to play.
Featured characters:Woody.Buzz Lightyear.Jessie.Bullseye[summon!].Mr. Potato Head.Slinky Dog.Hamm.Rex.The toy aliens.Emperor Zurg[final boss!].Of course I would love to play a level next to Woody and Buzz Lightyear, but think about the amount of great supporting characters that could be featured in aToy Storylevel! Sora could ride on Bullseye (my favorite Pixar character!)! He could go on missions with the little green aliens! He could battle Emperor Zurg! I WANT TO DO ALL THIS RIGHT NOW!
*The more I think about it, the more I realize thateveryPixar movie would make a greatKingdom Heartslevel.Monsters Inc.?Finding Nemo?WALL-E?! Instead of narrowing it down to a few, let’s just putallof them intoKingdom Hearts III. Thanks, Square Enix!
I have no idea why there is so muchBlack Cauldronhate. Yeah, the movie is noLittle Mermaid, but it is an engrossing, surprisingly dark adventure that I kind of loved when I was a kid. (BLU-RAY RELEASE, PLEASE!) There was also aclassic adventure game based on the moviereleased in the late ‘80s that was also pretty great. And if the movie can make a great adventure game, aKingdom Heartsappearance is obviously the next logical step!
The level:The Horned King’s castle.Nothing screams “Kingdom Hearts” like a dark castle filled with horrible undead monstrosities, led by one of the scariest and most terrifying Disney villains ever created. Seriously, the Horned King gave me nightmares as a kid. And by “as a kid” I mean “yesterday.”
Featured characters:Taran.Princess Eilonwy.Fflewddur Fflam.Gurgi[summon!].Hen Wen.The Horned King[final boss!].The Black Cauldronis full of many great characters: Taran, the unlikely hero; Eilonwy, the beautiful princess; Gurgi, the comic relief. And one of the characters, Fflewddur Fflam, would fit in perfectly in a game populated by oldFinal Fantasycharacters. He is like an older version ofEdwardfromFinal Fantasy IV!
Yup, this would be a terrible level to feature inKingdom Hearts III. But people make a big fuss about trying to create a game that makes people cry. Creatinganythingthat is based onFox and the Houndwould make me cry. Heck, I once saw aFox and the Houndlunchboxand eventhatmade me cry.
“Copper, you’re my very best friend!”
BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
The level:The cottage.Mist-covered fields. A peaceful forest. Winding brooks. Could be a beautiful level.
Featured characters:Tod.Copper.Big Mama[summon!].Vixey.The bear[final boss!].Hey, remember that time when Tod told Copper that he was his very best friend? And then Copper said that Tod was his best friend, too? And then they get older and … and they … BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Another Disney movie that I think is completely underrated. Whether you like the movie or not,The Hunchback of Notre Damewould make a greatKingdom Heartslevel. So great, it may actually be a reality! (There arerumorsaHunchbacklevel will be featured in upcoming spinoffKingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.)
The level:Notre Dame.The massive church featured in the movie has all the makings of a great videogame level. First off, it’s huge, filled with many twisting hallways and secret passageways. In addition, it’s tall, allowing the level to be more vertical than horizontal. Imagine the platforming sections as Sora traverses up to the bell tower! That wouldn’t result in frustrationat all!
Featured characters:Quasimodo.Esmeralda.Phoebus.Clopin.Victor,Hugo, andLaverne[summons!].Frollo[final boss!].Frollo is one badass villain. Evil, psychotic, and genuinely scary. He would give Maleficent a run for her money as one of the mainKingdom Heartsvillains.Hellfire, indeed.
EFF YEAH, MARY POPPINS!
The level:The rooftops of London.Fine, I admit it: I just want to sing“Chim Chim Cher-ee”and dance around with some chimney sweeps. WHY IS THAT SO WRONG?!
Featured characters:Mary Poppins[summon!].Bert.The Bankschildren.Admiral Boom.Mary Poppins is such a positive, loving movie, that I really can’t imagine there being a final boss … or reallyanyenemies, for that matter! But just give me a level where I can summon Mary Poppins to hang out with while riding on one of thoseamazing carousel horsesand I will be one happy guy.
With other live-action movies already making it into theKingdom Heartsgames (Pirates of the Caribbean,Tron, etc.), I am genuinely shockedWho Framed Roger Rabbit?has yet to make the cut. Also,Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spinat Disneyland is a ridiculous ride, and I want to see that kind of zany energy brought toKingdom Hearts.
The level:Hollywood/Toontown.This has the potential to be a classic “light world/dark world” scenario. In Hollywood, all the set pieces could look “realistic”, like thePirateslevel inKingdom Hearts II, with Donald and Goofy being the cartoon characters in the real world. In Toontown, the roles could be reversed.
Featured characters:Roger Rabbit.Jessica Rabbit.Eddie Valiant.Baby Herman.Benny the cab[summon!].Judge Doom[final boss!].Judge Doom would obviously be a great addition to the ever-growing cast of incredible villains in theKingdom Heartsgames. And if the tradition of using the same original Disney voice actors in the games continues, that would meanKingdom Hearts IIIwould star Christopher mother effin’ Lloyd.
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What do you think? Do you agree that these would make great levels inKingdom Hearts III? What Disney levels and characters wouldyoulove to see in the still-not-announced game?
I am not a game designer by any means — and some of these ideas may be terrible — but as a Disney fan, I can’t help but be excited by the prospect of playing some of these Disney levels and meeting some of these Disney characters inKingdom Hearts III.
Come on, Square Enix. Can you please make this poor Disney fan’s dream come true?
