Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memoryreleases this Friday, and with it comes the next step in theKingdom Heartssaga. Rather than taking that step forward, though, Square Enix is bringing players down memory lane, exploring the history of the franchise through one of its most defining features, the music. This will be a wholly different experience than any otherKingdom Heartsgame to date, so players shouldn’t go in expecting the same exploration fromKingdom Hearts 3or the in depthcombat systems ofKingdom Hearts 2, but can rest assured knowing they’ll see some familiar faces and places during their journey.
Despite this focus on nostalgic elements,Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memorywill surely be a blast for players new to the franchise as well. These players may not be as familiar with the music, levels, or characters, but this game acts as a great way to get to know those things. more than anything, the music ofKingdom Heartsdoesn’t need to be accompanied by the game’s often convoluted story in order to be enjoyed and appreciated, andMelody of Memorymakes sure that players can do both of those things whether they’re familiar with the franchise or not.
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What is Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory?
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memoryis a rhythm action game by Square Enix, and serves as adirect sequel toKingdom Hearts 3 Re:Mind. Though it is technically a sequel, most of the game takes place in memory, as Kairi narrates the events of the manyKingdom Heartsgames in order leading up toKingdom Hearts 3. Players will travel along musical staves fighting various enemies from the game to the beat of over 140 tracks from the previous games. What’s more, though it won’t move the story forward significantly, there are some hints dropped about the future of theKingdom Heartsfranchise as well.
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory Release Date and Platforms
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memoriesreleases on November 13th, so interested fans don’t have to wait long to jump right into the action. At the moment, the title will only be available on PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One, and there are currently no known plans for a PC version. Beyond that, there also hasn’t been any announcement about a dedicated PS5 and Xbox Series X version of the game, but thenext generation consoles will be able to playKingdom Hearts: Melody of Memorythrough backwards compatibilityanyway.
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory Features
Aside from its surprisingly satisfying solo rhythm gameplay,Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memoryalso features two different multiplayer modes. Players can tackle levels together in local co-op, and can even go head to head, sabotaging each other as they run through the level in online competitive multiplayer. Classic RPG elements from the franchise aren’t missing either, as players can obtain characters and level them upmuch like in otherKingdom Heartsgames. Finally, each track can be played in a variety of different ways, as there multiple different kinds of difficulty levels that can be applied.
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory Special Editions
Unlike many games these days, purchasingKingdom Hearts: Melody of Memoryis actually very simple. The only pre-order bonus for the game is on PlayStation, where pre-ordering will net players a unique theme. There are also no special editions either, so players simply need to spend the $59.99 on the standard edition of the game on whichever platform they prefer. The only real decision to be made is whether to buy the physical or digital copy of the game, both of which provide the exact same experience. That said, theSwitch version ofKingdom Hearts: Melody of Memoryhas an extra game mode.
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memoryis available November 13th on PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
