Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory releases this Friday, and with it comes the next step in the Kingdom Hearts saga. 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 other Kingdom Hearts game to date, so players shouldn't go in expecting the same exploration from Kingdom Hearts 3 or the in depth combat systems of Kingdom 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 Memory will 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 of Kingdom Hearts doesn't need to be accompanied by the game's often convoluted story in order to be enjoyed and appreciated, and Melody of Memory makes 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 of Hearts Melody of Memory gameplay

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a rhythm action game by Square Enix, and serves as a direct sequel to Kingdom 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 many Kingdom Hearts games in order leading up to Kingdom 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 the Kingdom Hearts franchise as well.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory Release Date and Platforms

kingdom hearts melody of memory demo release date

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memories releases 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 the next generation consoles will be able to play Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory through backwards compatibility anyway.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory Features

kingdom hearts melody of memory screenshot

Aside from its surprisingly satisfying solo rhythm gameplay, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory also 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 up much like in other Kingdom Hearts games. 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

Kingdom Hearts Melody Of Memory Criticisms

Unlike many games these days, purchasing Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is 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, the Switch version of Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory has an extra game mode.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is available November 13th on PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.

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