There is something about the term “boss fight” that implies a
cacophony of raucous musical phrases smashed together to create an epic climax.
Works like Nobuo Uematsu’s “Dancing Mad” and “One-Winged Angel” come to mind
immediately.
But occasionally, the player is allowed to experience an epic
boss confrontation to something a little softer. The effect of these moments is
a unique emotional event that boldly stands apart from the rest of the game.
It’s a beautiful thing when executed well.
Below are some examples of these quieter, more delicate
musical works along with a brief description of their contexts. Keep in mind I
limited myself to Square Enix games. There are some moderate spoilers below as well, so be warned.
1.Kingdom
Hearts II
“The Other Promise”
Adapted from Roxas’s Theme
For fans of the Kingdom Hearts series, the opening hours of
Kingdom Hearts II are both infamously tedious and undeniably melancholy.
Instead of playing as the chipper series hero (Sora) the player must work
through the struggles of Twilight Town as the troubled and confused youth,
Roxas. Despite all his sincere efforts to understand his muddled memories and puzzling
circumstances, Roxas never seems to catch a break. His friends become
frustrated by his bizarre behavior. His life becomes uncertain and broken. His
freewill is largely an illusion. He ends up rejoining Sora, which results in
both his own self-sacrifice and loss of everything else he cares about.
When Sora reawakens (and fans rejoice), he is blissfully
unaware of the tragedy that recently befell his Nobody counterpart. Roxas
inhabits Sora silently, occasionally influencing Sora’s feelings but otherwise
remaining a passive component of Sora’s heart.
Eventually, Sora reaches the world of the Nobodies, a.k.a.
The World That Never Was. Once there, he is confronted by Roxas and their keyblades
clash—presumably inside Sora’s heart. It is at this moment that many gamers
would expect an energetic flood of boisterous music. But instead, this happens:
Roxas isn’t really my favorite Kingdom Hearts character. He’s
not the strongest or the most interesting. He’s not even the most tragic. But
the game’s approach to this fight builds his character into something simply
beautiful. Each aspect of the conflict—the visuals, the mechanics, and especially
the music—takes all the unresolved feelings of one character and confronts the
player. Everything about this moment conveys Roxas’s frustration and defiance.
It eventually communicates his acceptance just as effectively. It’s a
fantastically well executed song choice. Well done, Yoko Shimomura.
2.Final
Fantasy VII Crisis Core "The Price of Freedom"
Crisis Core is another game where a melancholy sense of loss
is balanced with upbeat humor and optimism.
For the sake of giving readers a point of reference, here is one of the themes you hear a lot of in Crisis Core:
Notice the choice of electric guitar as opposed to the
typical RPG orchestra. This game’s music feels strong and epic, but not in a
grand and noble Ocarina of Time sort of way. It’s significantly more personal
and grungy.
Toward the end of this portable gem, main character Zack is
forced to abandon his livelihood and risk everything to save his buddy, Cloud.
What results is a never-ending conflict set to this unforgettable
tune:
For more information (and huge spoilers) regarding why this game is a masterpiece, read
this.
3.Final
Fantasy IX "Sword of Doubt"
Part of Final Fantasy IX’s charm resides in its clever
opening plot. Main character Zidane is part of a band of thieves hired to
kidnap the neighboring country’s princess. Unexpectedly, she wants to be kidnapped. She leaves with
the hero to be swept away midst dangerous terrain and formidable foes.
One such danger presents itself in the form of General
Beatrix of the Alexandrian army. Beatrix boasts amazing strength, having once
bested 100 enemies single-handedly. Of all her character traits, her power is
surpassed only by her determined willingness to be the perfect soldier.
Zidane et al take on Beatrix in the ruins of Bermecia, a
dark, rainy, abandoned city. During the encounter, this is played:
Interestingly, this piece--which is relatively tame for a boss fight--is actually a vamped up version of Beatrix's theme. This translates well for the game's story, in which you discover that Beatrix is actually a much gentler person than she appears during this battle.
4.Chrono
Cross
"People Imprisoned by Destiny"
It’s been a long time since I have beaten Chrono Cross. I started
replaying it two or three years ago, but I had to put it down due to the
increased number of wonderful new games flooding the market. But I will say
that revisiting that game was such a pleasant experience. Its battle system is
brilliant, its story is intricate, but best of all, its soundtrack is ear
candy.
Now keep in mind, I haven’t played the final boss battle of
Chrono Cross in probably twelve years or so. Yet it is one of my most vivid
video game memories, mainly because of this soothing track bursting with a sense of finality:
I’m certain there are many more amazing works out there in
this particular category. Feel free to comment regarding your favorites!
I apologize for the delay in posting my E3 reactions.
You would think that the first few weeks of summer for a teacher would be purely serene downtime during which plenty of blog posts can be constructed, but it just plain isn't. Yes, it has been a much needed time for relaxation, but it has also been filled with the busy task of catching up on all the responsibilities that have been outright neglected during the school year.
Anyway, I had the fantastic privilege of watching all the exciting E3 conferences alongside my husband and some close friends this year. We made a big event out of it and enjoyed getting collectively hyped over the very big reveals. This year's conference, in my opinion, completely overshadowed last year's and was about on par with 2013's. Below are some of my favorite announcements (in no particular order) from the gaming community's most exciting week.
The Last Guardian gameplay was irresistibly enticing
This beautiful experience certainly came to life at the opening of Sony's conference. The interaction between the boy and his colossal feathery friend was heartwarming in all the right ways and certainly left me wanting more. Like a Pixar short film, this gameplay trailer got me to laugh out loud, cringe with fear, and "aww" with welled up emotion all in a few short minutes. It certainly left me impatiently wanting more.
Kingdom Hearts III showcased previously unseen footage
Anything at all that gives me a fresh glimpse into the long awaited 9th installment of this franchise deserves to be listed here. While many consider Kingdom Hearts III to be the third "real" game in the series (because it will be launched on a home console instead of a handheld or mobile device), it will actually be the culmination of the entire first arc labeled "The Xehanort Saga". As such, it will theoretically bring together all the epic foreshadowing of the eight games that come before it, particularly bringing closure to the events of "Birth by Sleep" and "Dream Drop Distance". As a longtime thirteen year fan who has incidentally waited nearly ten years for this game, I can honestly say I am more than a little excited.
Kingdom Hearts Unchained X is officially coming west
Among the many Kingdom Hearts games mistakenly labeled as spin-offs, this game will bring fans the mysterious background of the Keyblade War. It was originally announced as a Japan only release, but E3 made it clear that it would eventually release elsewhere allowing fans in the west to play as well.
Final Fantasy VII remake is no longer a rumor
When the announcement was made back in December 2014 that the PC version of FF VII would be ported to PS4 sometime in 2015, millions of hearts sank. This was not the long awaited remake that so many die hard Final Fantasy fans wanted. I can only conclude that Square Enix must have noticed the tangible collective disappointment and secretly adjusted their plans. While I am quite certain that we will not see this large scale Final Fantasy VII remake for quite a long time, I believe Tetsuya Nomura and his team will do it justice. And I've always been okay with a longer wait if it means we get a better product.
Unravel's reveal was touching
This game looks cute. I like the 2D puzzle platformer genre, and the yarn concept definitely looks intriguing. But what really got me here was how the adorably nervous (understandably so) Martin Sahlin described his humble story regarding his little red yarn doll in front of a massive audience. Here is a person who has seen his imagination come to life, and it is absolutely moving.
Horizon: Zero Dawn helps us imagine what it would be like to hunt robot dinosaurs (but they apparently aren't dinosaurs)
I think this is one of the games my husband was most excited about during the many E3 conferences we watched, and I really can't disagree. This game looks a bit like a mixture of Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Maybe sprinkle some Tomb Raider in there, but there are also elements that--to me--look brand new. There is something very fresh about this trailer. (Incidentally, that's something I look for at every E3, live stream, and expo. It is essential that new franchises show off a certain uniqueness; otherwise, it is far too easy for me to say "I've seen this before" and forget about it entirely.)
Firewatch teases a mysterious character-focused narrative
There's nothing like a couple of quietly charismatic characters and a scenario I've never seen to get me wondering about what kind of story might be told. Firewatch makes me tilt my head with intrigue as I consider the ramifications of being alone in the woods with nothing but a friendly voice over a dinky radio to help you while some unknown creep is roaming through your territory.
Fallout 4 demonstrates its breadth and depth of gameplay
I don't know about you guys, but I was thoroughly impressed with Bethesda's first ever E3 conference. To me, they came off as being far more professional than Ubisoft or EA, and they had quite a bit to show off despite being newcomers. Fallout 4 was absolutely the highlight of their event, and it showcased a lot of cool features. In particular, I enjoyed their character creation, settlement building, and interaction with the MC's companion.
Uncharted 4 gameplay and writing made me smile from ear to ear
The original announcement that Uncharted 4 was coming brought forth a kind of somber tone for the series. There feels like something rather final to it. Maybe it was the deep blue color scheme of their second teaser (the one where Drake first appears, not the one where Sully does a voice over while the camera pans over a bunch of adventure gear). Maybe it was the fact that Nathan Drake has aged. Maybe it's the downright funereal title, "A Thief's End" that does it. Either way, I both highly anticipate and slightly fear playing Uncharted 4. As much as I am 100% confident that they know what they are doing, I don't want Naughty Dog to do anything too drastic with my beloved Uncharted characters.
So when they tossed some new gameplay onto the big E3 screen, I didn't really know what kind of sequence we would be seeing. Would it be another sneaky combat sequence like the cave/forest mashup we saw last time? Or would it be something dark like the Nathan Drake teaser? I was rather relieved to see some typical Uncharted banter, including some beautifully crafted humor between Sully and Drake. I thought I would get an ominous or even teary cutscene. What we got instead had me laughing and cheering and getting excited about seeing the old gang take on another big Indiana Jones-esque adventure.
Recore allows you to save your puppy... by turning it into a gorilla
Here's another game that doesn't look like any other game I've played. The characters were instantly endearing, and the concept paves the way for new and interesting gameplay. I hope Recore lives up to the many possibilities it represents. Not to mention I love how strong female characters are becoming more of a matter of fact thing instead of a big deal due to their rarity.
Honorable Mentions:
New Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness was announced.
Just Cause looks like a whole lot of mindless, destructive fun
Rise of the Tomb Raider will include more tombs than the 2013 reboot
Trackmania looks full of fun and laughter
World of Final Fantasy looks sweet and probably includes some fan service for long time fans
No Man's Sky still boasts amazing possibilities of exploration
HoloLens has unexpected potential if they can overcome stumbling blocks
Fire Emblem: Fates still looks good, and will arrive in 2016
For Honor's trifecta of knights, vikings, and samurai certainly impressed
Anno 2205 allows players to build futuristic moon cities
Super Smash Bros. lineup is joined by Roy and Ryu (albeit a bit before the official start of E3)
With last night’s successful Bethesda conference on my mind
and the many possibilities on the horizon as the rest of E3 approaches, I have managed
to motivate my lazy summer self to write about how excited I am this year.
Let me clarify my intentions for this wish list. There are
many things I hope to see over the next few days, so I am going to maintain a
focus on things that would truly make my day. These can fall anywhere on the
realistic spectrum from “that could totally happen” to “that’s never going to
happen, but it would indeed be awesome.”
Let’s cut to the chase before conferences actually begin!
1. Some Kingdom Hearts details are revealed
I would love to hear a little more about the franchise that
defined my childhood. There are so many things I can imagine for Kingdom Hearts
3, but I’ll stick to some nifty ideas I have had and steer clear of spoilers.
I would like to see the following worlds appear in Kingdom
Hearts 3:
Shibuya (from The World Ends With You)
Tangled
Frozen
Pixar worlds
Big Hero 6
Another Final Fantasy world apart from Radiant
Garden
Chrono Trigger world (long shot, but hey… this
is a wish list!)
Marvel Cinematic Universe
It would also make my day to hear about these characters either
(A) debuting for the first time or (B) returning after a long absence:
Noctis from Final Fantasy XV
Tidus (reappearing and older than he was in KH1)
Zack Fair (reappearing and older than he was in
Birth by Sleep)
Kefka from FFXI
Zidane Tribal from FFIX
The World Ends With You characters
The Avengers
Rocket and Groot
Before anyone asks why I didn’t include Star Wars on here,
let me just say that I am not opposed to the idea. I just don’t particularly
wish for it either.
2. Rise of the Tomb Raider receives a PS4 release
date
And let’s say it is released a mere three months after the
Xbox One release. I can wait that long.
Side note: I own an Xbox One, but do not want to encourage
Crystal Dynamic’s choice to alienate their long term fans in favor of a quick
buck. So we will hopefully be purchasing this game for a Sony console. Because business.
3. Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts is announced for 3DS
So this could totally happen at the Square Enix conference,
and that would be fantastic. I’ve already detailed how this game could work in
my very first blog post, and I welcome the surreal feeling of seeing something
I wrote about months ago coming to life at E3.
4. An HD remake of Final Fantasy VII bundled with
FFVII: Crisis Core released for PS4
So I am convinced this one is not going to happen. My
brother pointed out this morning that there are rumors abounding yet again, but
I just can’t seem to get over the disappointment of last year’s PlayStation
Experience announcement. They made it pretty clear there that they were only
porting the PC version onto PS4. No touchups. No enhanced musical scores. It
would be a dream come true of this were all some creepy ruse and they really
were listening intently to what fans want. I just can’t let myself be vulnerable
to this one again after the huge let down last year.
Jokingly, I came up with a wistfully enticing collector’s edition
pre-order bundle. It could include the blu-ray for Advent Children, the
reimagined soundtrack to both games and the movie, a hard-covered art book, a
hand painted knights of the round figurine, and a set of glass materia complete
with display case. Oh, and a $20 credit toward Final Fantasy XV. Because why
not? This is a wish list after all.
5. Limited Persona 5 details announced
So I don’t want to know too much about Persona 5, since this
is a franchise that just needs to be experienced. But I am curious about a
couple things that would not ruin the surprises that are surely embedded inside
this definite masterpiece.
First of all, I want to know the official release date. It
is immensely satisfying knowing that Persona 5 should be released in the East
and West simultaneously, but I still need to know when.
Second, I’m curious about the voice cast for Persona 5. I
doubt this will be announced anytime soon, but if it was, I would like to hear
about participation from the likes of Travis Willingham, Nolan North, Colleen
Clinkenbeard, Monica Rial, and (of course) Yuri Lowenthal. It just wouldn’t be
right to have a Persona game without Yuri Lowenthal.
6. Mass Effect 4’s main character and other details
revealed
We know so little about this one. I mainly want to discover
more about the character that will define the next arc of this series.
Additionally, it wouldn’t hurt to hear where they plan on taking this universe
next, and whether or not it takes any steps forward in terms of a divergent
ending based on your actions throughout the series.
7. Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem
Nintendo. Please, please tell me why I want to play this. It
looks bizarre. I very much want to like it. I just need to know why. I trust
that putting these two great things together will make a brand new game that
can’t NOT impress me. But I want some encouragement here, and maybe something
spectacular to convince me that I am not crazy for wanting this one.
8. Any fantastic new IP
I am sure there is someone out
there that had an as of yet unknown stroke of brilliance that they will
announce either today or tomorrow. I look forward to that and hope it is every
bit as wonderful as the rest of these things that have made my list.
So I’m sure I am leaving something out, but my husband is
telling me it is time to publish. No time for proof reading or tweaking my
words or phrasing. The Microsoft conference is about to start after all! I will
do my best to document the most exciting announcements throughout the next few
days. I look forward to all the exciting news and hope this is an E3 akin to
2013’s (not last year’s… that one was kind of a letdown).
There is something bittersweet about anticipating a new
game.
First, the sweet.
There is the enveloping excitement that emerges immediately
when a project is officially announced. Then follows the unbridled hunger for
that first teaser trailer. Theories begin to fly regarding mechanics, design,
story, and characters. Gameplay footage is showcased as development progresses.
Clues are excavated from every screenshot, video, and announcement made public.
Then, the bitter.
Uncertainty plagues fans. Release dates are either announced
ridiculously far in advance (causing an unbearably long wait), surprisingly
late (leaving fans in the dark for longer), or are delayed completely (when the
industry can’t keep up with the timeline they set without sacrificing quality).
Some projects are brought to the public’s attention only to go silent for years
(e.g. The Last Guardian).
It seems like my own personal list of games I am eagerly
expecting ebbs and flows like waves on the sand. There are dry spells usually
around summer and Christmas when release dates are more common and new projects
are in their early stages around the world. Then there are times (like now)
where there are a plethora of expected masterpieces that I impatiently await.
In honor of this spring’s greater than average
quantity/quality of upcoming games, below are 11 games I am incredibly excited
about.
11. No Man’s Sky
I hesitantly trust that No Man’s Sky lives up to all the
hype. I know how excited people are (I am too), but I have this fear that it’s
going to end up like Fable: lots of raised hopes only to lead to unnecessary let
downs. Because, like Fable, I can totally see No Man’s Sky being an excellent
game. But I can also see it not quite living up to all the lofty expectations.
If No Man’s Sky ends up being a solid A- game, I really hope that people refrain
from criticizing it for not being an A+.
I mainly want to play No Man’s Sky to make good on the
promise that I can be the first to discover my own planet.
10. The Legend of Zelda: Wii U
Riding Epona as she naturally doesn’t
run into trees? Leaping off her back while firing arrows at my enemies? Playing in a
vast open Hyrule akin to Skyrim? Yes please!
Enough said.
9. Quantum Break
I was saddened by the news that Quantum Break would be
delayed but hopeful that the extended development time would ensure a quality
product. I feel like this gem has been flying under the radar for months, so if
you haven’t seen anything about it, please watch the embedded video below. It gets really interesting around the 5 minute mark.
Quantum Break’s physics/time based gameplay looks like a
blast. Its visuals are gorgeous and eerie. I hope it lives up to my
expectations, and the delay ends up benefiting the project as a whole. I can
honestly say that this is my most anticipated Xbox One exclusive as of yet.
8. Danganronpa 3
I think most people would agree that the high school
experience was pretty awful. Sure, there might be some popular kids who enjoyed
it pretty thoroughly, but even they might say that high school did a disservice
to them by not preparing them for a world that doesn’t care how attractive or
athletic they are. Well our high school days were nothing compared to the horrible,
upside-down world of Danganronpa.
This series has a pretty fantastic formula. Take a group of “ultimate”
high school students who all excel in one oddly specific area of life. Trap
them somewhere. Force them to murder a classmate and get away with it if they
ever want to escape.
What ensues is a murder mystery teen social mashup that
delivers better than I would have ever guessed. These games are full of crazy
twists, humorous dialogue, and creative storytelling.
I played the first game in the series when it was ported to
Vita, and I loved it. But I was dubious regarding the success of Danganronpa 2:
Goodbye Despair because I couldn’t foresee how it could even work. How could
there be more crazy twists when the underlying secrets of the first game were,
for the most part, exposed? But sure enough, I was wrong. The second game was
every bit as wonderful and shocking as I could have hoped. I have no idea how
writer Kodaka (friends with Kotaro Uchikoshi) will make a third game that still
surprises his fans, but I now have confidence he can do it.
If you enjoy Zero Escape’s suspenseful story, Phoenix Wright’s
courtroom battles, or Persona’s social links, you will probably enjoy
Danganronpa. Start with the first entry, Trigger Happy Havoc. Meanwhile, I will
be eagerly awaiting Danganronpa 3.
7. Rise of the Tomb Raider
When a close friend recommended the 2013 reboot to the Tomb
Raider franchise, I was cautiously optimistic. Here was a franchise I had
always liked that seemed to be falling behind the times in terms of mechanics,
innovation, graphics, and character development. Well. I guess you could say the
old Lara Croft is “developed” (overly so!), but not in a relatable way…
Comparison composite via howmanly.com, left image via GameInformer.com, right image via laracroft.wikia.com
You can imagine my pleasant surprise at the new character
model for Lara. Her redesign leaves her looking real, healthy, and strong. Her
personality was also given a complete overhaul, and it did wonders for the
series.
The Tomb Raider reboot takes Lara back to her origin story,
in which she is mentally naïve, physically inexperienced, and emotionally desperate.
I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh take on a classic character and hungrily
anticipate Rise of the Tomb Raider, the next entry in the beautifully resurrected
franchise.
Unfortunately, Rise of the Tomb Raider appears to be a timed
exclusive for Xbox One (which makes no sense, considering Tomb Raider has
always been for the most part a PlayStation thing). Out of an effort to support
Sony, we will try to wait it out and purchase the game on PlayStation 4
whenever it is released for the system. I'm sure we won't be the only ones
either. Hopefully that will help send a collective message to Crystal Dynamics
that their loyal fans are more important than a quick cash grab.
6. Fire Emblem: If
Finally, a Fire Emblem in which you are the (customizable) main character. Since Awakening balanced perfectly the old school elements of
Fire Emblem with many new and welcome features, I believe Fire Emblem: If will
be free to improve further on the series thanks to Awakening’s success. And the
character models will finally have feet!
5. Final Fantasy XV
I had the immense pleasure of playing the Final Fantasy XV
demo when it was released, and I must say I was thoroughly impressed. Many old
school FF fans are dissatisfied with the current state of things, particularly
that Final Fantasy XIII has taken such a massive chunk of development time and
effort when they could have moved on to other things. But I think Final Fantasy
XV is really going to get everything back on track.
Its design brings me back to what Final Fantasy VII felt
like in terms of atmosphere. The universe seems like a strange amalgam of
modern and fantasy. One minute you are in a lush landscape filled with bizarre
fantasy creatures. The next you find yourself in a convenience store parking
lot next to your rockin’ black convertible. Familiar Final Fantasy feelings
come rushing back. Remember what it felt
like when you first discovered Final Fantasy VII was an open world? Remember
seeing the grand expanse that was Final Fantasy X’s Calm Lands for the first
time? Remember learning the draw system and milking it to maximize every spell
in Final Fantasy VIII? Remember managing your gear in Final Fantasy IX to make
the most of each battle? And while the essence of the game certainly has that
nostalgia factor, Final Fantasy XV feels revitalized, refreshing, and novel. Plus the soundtrack is going to be amazing.
4. Uncharted 4
I know this is going to be a fantastic game. Naughty Dog has
proven to their fans time after time that they will do what it takes to build top
notch products. If you don’t believe me, watch Grounded: The Making of The Last of Us. It’s clear how hard these
guys (and ladies) work. If they do anything short of our expectations, it is
because the hardware, gameplay, or other such circumstances demand it. But in
the end, they are going to ensure that the experience they provide to fans is
the best one they can create.
That being said, there have been criticisms regarding
Uncharted 4’s gameplay showcased at the 2014 E3. I have a hard time believing
the final product will suffer from these same criticisms. Naughty Dog isn’t
done. Games frequently do not end up matching with their early gameplay trailers.
So graphical limitations that seem to be there now may not be there by the time
the game is released. Case in point, check this out.
In other words, they are still learning. The game is still
evolving. And I trust Naughty Dog to do it right. That being said, the gameplay
here looks super fun.
3. Persona 5
Every Persona fan salivated in unison over the Persona 5
trailer released earlier this year; so much so that if they had all been
gathered in Cowboys Stadium to watch the trailer on the massive jumbotron,
their drool would have filled the place like a fish bowl. That’s because the
video Atlus released was slick. It
was filled with style, intrigue, and a completely fresh atmosphere.
I want Persona 5. In fact, my husband and I have been
brainstorming for months trying to decide how both of us can play it
immediately after it comes out without spoiling the story for each other. Do we
take turns playing in a room closed off from the world? Do we track our
calendar days so that whoever is ahead in the game can watch the other person?
Do we get two copies and play simultaneously in separate rooms like a couple
who've let their love die out? We are still debating the best solution.
2. Kingdom Hearts III
There is almost no game I long for more than Kingdom Hearts
III. The first installment came out in 2002 just before I turned fourteen. I
remember soaking in its imaginative story as a kid. I loved every piece of it,
including the Disney influence that so many feared would never work. Kingdom
Hearts II came out in late 2005, meaning I had to wait over three years for the
full blown sequel. I remember the horribly long wait between KH1 and KH2.
Once Kingdom Hearts II came out, I think a lot of people realized
the beauty of this universe. Suddenly, it wasn’t just a Disney/Square Enix
crossover. It was an epic clash of light and darkness. It was a coming-of-age
tale revolving around themes everyone on the planet can relate to (including
love, friendship, loyalty, burdens, tenacity, and sacrifice). But along with
Kingdom Hearts II came something else: the extensive wait for the next big
game. Sure, there were smaller games in between (that—believe it or not—are instrumental
to the overarching story), but every fan of the series knows that there are big,
unresolved issues that only Kingdom Hearts III can address.
This franchise has matured with me. I feel like I have grown
up with Sora and the gang. As I have become a more complex person, the
characters have developed more multifaceted personalities right there with me.
The themes of the games have matured as well. Just try playing Birth By Sleep
(included in Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix) and not feel the emotional weight of its
story.
I cannot wait to see what 10-ish years in the making will do
for Kingdom Hearts III. I hope its theme of maturation continues and we see a
truly developed, dynamic world with the same spectacular cast of characters. I
hope the game maintains Sora as his same old good hearted self while simultaneously
addressing the heavy burdens he carries. I hope to see some more intense Square
Enix characters thrown into the mix, including a fully grown Tidus (he was a
kid in Kingdom Hearts I, so why not let him grow up with Sora too?), a
villainously insane Kefka, and a mischievous Zidane Tribal. I hope the game has
Shibuya (from The World Ends With You) as a playable world, and I hope the
gameplay feels both balanced and powerful. But no matter what they do with it,
I know Tetsuya Nomura has a crazy intricate plan that I will love.
1. Zero Escape 3
Okay, so I cheated a little. I put Zero Escape 3 on this
list despite the fact that it has not been announced yet. But as I stated in my
previous post, “The Dangerous Nature of Hype,” I have succumbed to the
excitement. My hopes are up.
The Zero Escape series is the smartest game I have ever
played. Its writing is quite frankly genius, and I have never experienced
anything as exciting before or since. Maybe it’s because of my love for math,
psychology, video games, and a good story. All of these elements come together
beautifully in 999 and Virtue’s Last Reward.
I have written quite a bit regarding the Zero Escape franchise.
I was also extremely fortunate to have many excited readers view my articles after
Uchikoshi generously retweeted my husband’s link to this blog. So you guys
already know how I feel. In fact, many of you probably guessed that this would
be number 1. Now all I can do is look forward to the other ten games on this
list and hope this will be released among them soon enough.
I've been playing a lot of Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Curtain Call as of late, primarily due to the recent release of Chrono Trigger and The World Ends with You DLC. I have just passed the 40,000 Rhythmia mark in addition to the 70,000+ I collected from the first game, yet I feel just as entertained by Theatrhythm as I was when I first played it (if not more so).
I admit almost bashfully that part of the satisfaction I experience is due to the immensely satisfying reward system within the game. I know it seems silly to enjoy unlocking crystal shards, earning gold stars in my record book, and gathering up CollectaCards, but I just can’t help it. The creators did a fantastic job giving me a reason to keep coming back for more tapping, holding, and sliding. But that isn't the only rationale for why I love Theatrhythm, nor is it my primary reason.
Theatrhythm takes music that is both expertly composed and emotionally resonant and creates something new with it.
The music is well-written. They have passionate back stories. And they have the player’s memories to tie it all together. Theatrhythm takes all those elements and reveals them at their maximum potential by allowing players the opportunity to vividly and retroactively experience feelings they had at the climax of a game. Plus it’s fun to tap along.
It’s something I wish I could do with every epic video game moment because quality music is such an instrumental (pun intended) part of that climax. Chrono Cross’s “People Imprisoned by Destiny” and Persona 3’s “Battle for Everyone’s Souls” are perfect examples of songs that I vividly recall experiencing for the first time and would love to relive. And while songs from Chrono Cross are a distinct possibility, it disappoints me to think that I will most likely never play a game like Theatrhythm that utilizes the dynamic, catchy soundtracks of franchises like Persona. But I digress.
Knowing that so much of Theatrhythm’s strength comes from this trifecta of story intricacies, skillfully constructed music, and emotional appeal, I have to make a case for the perfection that could be Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts.
First off, Kingdom Hearts is epic, endearing, and filled with layered narrative. It has a loyal following, beautiful scores by Yoko Shimomura, and—thanks to its prolonged gaps between releases—plenty of nostalgia and emotional appeal. However, this in itself is not enough to make a good argument for its success were it to be made. Fortunately, I have included here several additional reasons why I think Kingdom Hearts could work.
1. A plethora of characters to choose from
Surprisingly, one of the most common criticisms I’ve seen on the web happens to be what I consider one of its greatest strengths. I have seen many forum posts and comments beneath articles stating that Kingdom Hearts simply doesn’t have enough characters to substantially fill the game. I beg to differ.
Including only characters original to the series gives us Sora, Riku, Kairi, Aqua, Ventus, Terra, Roxas, Naminé, Xion, Axel/Lea, Ansem the Wise, Ansem Seeker of Darkness, Xemnas, Xehanort, The rest of Organization XIII, Data Sora, Data Riku, Vanitas, and Eraqus. The cast could easily be broadened with some of the Disney cast (particularly Mickey, Donald, and Goofy). Some of the more prominent Final Fantasy characters could also add to the mix (including “Leon”, Cloud, Sephiroth, Aerith, etc.). Finally (albeit unlikely), I would include the main five characters from The World Ends with You due to both their involvement in Dream Drop Distance and their Square Enix roots. This would lend itself to a cast of 40+ without even depending on a bunch of Disney characters getting added into the mix.
2. Fantastic music from seven (soon eight) games
Yes, some of the main themes repeat. But there is still an appropriate amount of music to be considered here. Consider the following tracks pulled from the first game alone. Note that (to my knowledge) I didn’t even have to pull any Disney tracks to compile this list. I also believe that the later games actually show a greater diversity in their soundtracks, which would help.
Hikari
Destiny Islands
Kairi’s Theme
Night of Fate
Destiny’s Force
Traverse Town
Shrouding Dark Cloud
Blast Away III
Hollow Bastion
Scherzo Di Notte
Destati
Forze Del Male
Always on My Mind
Simple and Clean
So from the first game alone, I pulled 14 tracks that stand out quite well. If the same quantity can be pulled from the other six games that are currently released, that would include nearly 100 songs to play. While Curtain Call boasts an impressive 200+ songs, I think it is important to keep in mind that 100 songs from less than half the number of titles is equally remarkable. And keep in mind, Disney tracks could always be included to further satisfy the already excellent selection of music.
Again, since these were only pulled from the first game, there are many impressive pieces that we are missing out on here, many of which are my favorites (looking at you, “Unbreakable Chains”). But I think my point stands that there is in fact more than enough quality music to make a Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts.
3. Easily adapted feature zones
Feature zones are included in each music stage of Theatrhythm as a means to break apart each type of music stage into memorable parts. This also serves to provide players with a particular goal mid-song as they strive to summon powerful allies, ride fast chocobos, or see the extended version of a video mash-up.
The feature zones from each Battle Music Stage (BMS) could be seamlessly implemented into a Kingdom Hearts adaptation through the inclusion of Disney summons as seen in Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2. Instead of Ifrit, Shiva, and Bahamut (among others), the game would include the familiar likes of Simba, Genie, and Mushu. Another option—if Disney summons seem a bit too small compared to the grand Final Fantasy affairs—would be to implement Sora’s Drive Forms at this point in the stage, allowing him to use Valor, Wisdom, Limit, Master, Final, or Anti Form.
Similarly, Field Music Stages (FMS) could substitute the use of a gummi ship in the feature zone instead of riding a chocobo. The player’s successful input of touch, slide, and hold commands could be the primary factor in determining how grand a gummi ship they receive for the short time they have it. This would easily parallel the various chocobos and their different speeds.
Finally, the Event Music Stages (EMS) could be increased in number due to the sheer quantity of Kingdom Hearts cut scenes, something the Final Fantasy series can’t even compare to. Traditionally, each Final Fantasy title only has one EMS to play through, most likely due to the lack of usable clips from some of the earlier games in the series. However, I roughly calculated the time it would take to watch every cut scene so far that takes place in Sora’s universe, and I came up with a number just over twenty-one hours. Twenty-one hours! Even if my calculations are slightly erroneous, that is an insane amount of footage to pull from. It is easy to conclude from that ridiculously high number that pulling enough iconic clips from across each game would be simple enough; in fact, the creators of a Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts could even include 2 or 3 EMS pieces with ease and still have plenty of extra footage for each feature zone.
4. The possibilities are endless
It is exciting to think of all the possible directions the Theatrhythm franchise could take. I honestly believe Kingdom Hearts would not only be an incredibly enjoyable installment but also a logical one. Whether it be changing the CollectaCards to match the cards found in Chain of Memories, or adapting the Record Book to reflect the feel of Jiminy’s Journal, I can already see how great Theatrhythm would be if it were to accommodate the Kingdom Hearts realm.
What would you expect from a Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts? Leave your ideas and comments below! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some tapping to do.
