The Kingdom Hearts 3 box art looks much different from any other of the series, and the trailer gives away a few surprises of the upcoming Disney game.
The Kingdom Hearts 3 box art pays homage to the Kingdom Hearts 1 box art, with the characters all perched on a building’s edge in a nighttime setting. The characters included are Sora, Kairi (holding her keyblade!), Riku, King Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Lea, and surprises Roxas, Xion, Naminé, Ven, Terra, and Aqua.
The last six are a surprise because the last we saw of them, they were all pretty much dead. Roxas and Xion were absorbed back into Sora’s heart, as was Naminé into Kairi’s. Aqua is ‘Norted, Terra’s body was taken over by Master Xehanort, and Ven’s heart was lost as he fell comatose. With the 13 denizens of light finally assembled, it seems like Master Xehanort is going to get a run for his money in trying to start the second Great Keyblade War.
In a trailer released for the Kingdom Hearts TGS event in Japan, Sora is on the search for Roxas in the digital Twilight Town with Hayner, Pence, and Olette. They apparently find him, as the trailer ends with an exciting shot of Roxas taking off his Organization XIII hood.
Some other highlights of the trailer are Aqua fighting a version of Darkside, Axel/Lea crying tears for his lost best friend, Sora using Facetime to try to get in touch with Riku, the Repliku from Chain of Memories showing up to fight Sora, and many of the original Organization XIII villains gathering together (was that Ansem the Wise comforting Zexion, or was it Luxord with thicker facial hair?).
Related: Kingdom Hearts queerbaiting: Will KH3 see Sora and Riku as a couple?
In terms of the Disney worlds showcased, we get a better look at the Big Hero 6 world’s combat, Davy Jones shows up to taunt Captain Jack Sparrow, and we finally get to hear what Rapunzel’s Japanese voice will sound like.
Kingdom Hearts 3 releases on January 29, 2018 for Xbox One and PS4.