Rhythm-action spinoff Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory announced for PS4, Xbox One & Switch

After someone unexpectedly found a logo of the game within the files of the upcoming mobile entry chronicling the backstory of series chief antagonist Xehanort, Square Enix have all of a sudden announced Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, a rhythm-based game for current consoles of a similar DNA to the Theatrhythm Final Fantasy releases on the 3DS.

The game will be due sometime in 2020 for current generation consoles PS4, Xbox One and Switch.

From the game's teaser website:

Many characters from the Kingdom Hearts series appear as playable characters!

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Depending on the stage, Disney characters will appear as guests and lend you their strength. The game features a massive catalogue of over 140 songs, including Kingdom Hearts series music, Disney music, and more. Enjoy rhythm-based action through unforgettable music.​

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Kairi having a centre-stage role for half the trailer appears to indicate this otherwise unassuming spinoff game will have integral plot. Furthermore, in light of what Kingdom Hearts III has revealed, is there any significance to the fact this game's subtitle's acronym is 'MoM'? Is there a certain mysterious character in the series whose name can also be distilled down to that very same acronym? Or is this merely a coincidence? Who knows!

Gematsu

 

I’ve just now finally watched the trailer for this now. Wow…

I'm not sure if this is what it says it is, based on the second half of the trailer. I mean that looks like a proper Kingdom Hearts game at the end, not a musical button smasher.

But as for the musical button smasher aspect? I hope there are some Disney songs in it instead of (as in the trailer) Kingdom Hearts original tracks. Regardless, while it isn't my sort of genre it looks significantly more dynamic and interesting than Final Fantasy's Theatrythm series.

 

Kairi having a centre-stage role for half the trailer appears to indicate this otherwise unassuming spinoff game will have integral plot. Furthermore, in light of what Kingdom Hearts III has revealed, is there any significance to the fact this game's subtitle's acronym is 'MoM'?

I'm not sure if this is what it says it is, based on the second half of the trailer. I mean that looks like a proper Kingdom Hearts game at the end, not a musical button smasher.

I think for certain there will be major plot points - I can't really think of any Kingdom Hearts games (inc. spin-offs) that don't carry any major plot points, even if they are tagged on to the very end like Coded - albeit, I think MoM will be entirely based around rhythm gameplay with cutscenes at significant intervals.

Originally, I thought the link between 'Melody of Memories' x 'Master of Masters' (MoM) was an obvious one. Not so sure now. The reveal trailer showed apprentice Xehanort / Terranort closing the ark pod door; the release date trailer showed Kairi in the ark pod. Could be 'Subject X' related, could be Kairi worldline & sleeping worlds related, could be something completely different. Definitely strong suggestions apprentice/young Xehanort / Terranort will play a significant role.

Given Kingdom Heart's reputation, it could also be Master of Masters related - but I think Nomura will save that for post-Xehanort saga / Kingdom Hearts 4.

But as for the musical button smasher aspect? I hope there are some Disney songs in it instead of (as in the trailer) Kingdom Hearts original tracks.

I think they will probably end up using most, if not all, songs that have been present in the franchise - 'Under The Sea' and 'Let It Go' have been announced today, so at least two Disney songs!

I think there could be a couple of remixes in the game too - the Dearly Beloved remix for the game is great!

 

I think they will probably end up using most, if not all, songs that have been present in the franchise - 'Under The Sea' and 'Let It Go' have been announced today, so at least two Disney songs!

I think there could be a couple of remixes in the game too - the Dearly Beloved remix for the game is great!

That Dearly Beloved version is incredible! I'm so used to hearing it as a sad, bittersweet song that it feels strange to hear a more upbeat, jazz lounge style version. And yet it works wonderfully.

I'm glad that there will be Disney songs in this. I love much of the original music too, but the some of those Disney songs are iconic and it would have felt strange to not see them in a music-based Kingdom Hearts game.

I wonder where they'll stand on the licensing for things like Nightmare Before Christmas these days. 'This is Halloween' or something else from that would be lovely to see/hear, but as far as I'm aware they've only used a remix version of the song without vocals in a Kingdom Hearts game.

 

I meant to post this the other day. Apparently the track list has been leaked/revealed.
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2...ody_of_memory_complete_list_of_songs_revealed

KINGDOM HEARTS
Dive into the Heart -Destati-
Destiny Islands
Bustin' Up on the Beach
Kairi I
Night of Fate
Destiny's Force
Traverse Town
Shrouding Dark Cloud
Welcome to Wonderland
To Our Surprise
Olympus Coliseum
Go for it!
Squirming Evil
Hand in Hand
A Day in Agrabah
Arabian Dream
A Very Small Wish
Monstrous Monstro
Under the Sea
An Adventure in Atlantica
This is Halloween
Spooks of Halloween Town
Captain Hook's Pirate Ship
Pirate's Gigue
Hollow Bastion
Scherzo di Notte
End of the World
Fragments of Sorrow
Guardando nel buio
Simple and Clean
KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX
One-Winged Angel (from FINAL FANTASY VII)
Another Side

KINGDOM HEARTS Re: Chain of Memories
The Force in You
Naminé
Castle Oblivion
Forgotten Challenge
Lord of the Castle
KINGDOM HEARTS II
Sanctuary ~opening version~
Lazy Afternoons
Sinister Sundown
Tension Rising
The 13th Struggle
Roxas
Sora
The Afternoon Streets
Working Together
Magical Mystery
Reviving Hollow Bastion
Scherzo di Notte
Desire for All That Is Lost
Waltz of the Damned
Dance of the Daring
The Home of Dragons
Fields of Honor
Vim and Vigor
The Underworld
What Lies Beneath
Rowdy Rumble
Monochrome Dreams
Old Friends, Old Rivals
Part of Your World
Adventures in the Savannah
Savannah Pride
Space Paranoids
Byte Bashing
Sinister Shadows
The 13th Dilemma
Sacred Moon
Deep Drive
Riku
Darkness of the Unknown
KINGDOM HEARTS II -FINAL MIX-
What A Surprise?!
Happy Holidays!
The Other Promise
Rage Awakened
Fate of the Unknown
KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days
Musique pour la tristesse de Xion
Secret of Neverland
Crossing to Neverland
Fight and Away
Vector to the Heavens
Another Side -Battle Ver.-

KINGDOM HEARTS Birth By Sleep
The Promised Beginning
Future Masters
Terra
The Secret Whispers
Risky Romp
Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
Castle Escapade
The Silent Forest
The Rustling Forest
The Tumbling
Ventus
Enter the Darkness
Radiant Garden
Black Garden
Black Powder
The Encounter -Birth by Sleep Version-
Mickey Mouse March
Up Down Adventure
Hau'oli, Hau'oli
Mákaukau?
Daydream upon Neverland
Neverland's Scherzo
Rage Awakened -The Origin-
Aqua
Dismiss
KINGDOM HEARTS Re: coded
Wonder of Electron
No More Bugs!!
KINGDOM HEARTS 3D [Dream Drop Distance]
Traverse in Trance
Hand to Hand
CALLING - KINGDOM MIX -
Le Sanctuaire
La Cloche
Majestic Wings
Access the Grid
Digital Domination
The Fun Fair
Prankster's Party
One for All
All for One
Sacred Distance
Deep Drop
L'Oscurita dell'Ignot
L'Impeto Oscuro
The Eye of Darkness
KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-
Wave of Darkness I
KINGDOM HEARTS III
You've Got a Friend in Me - KINGDOM HEARTS III Version -
Happy Hair Day
Monster Smash!
Let It Go
Robot Overdrive
Graveyard Labyrinth
Rise of the Union
Don't Think Twice

KINGDOM HEARTS Orchestra -World Tour- Album
Destati
Piano Collections KINGDOM HEARTS
Hand in Hand
Working Together - Allegro vivace
Sora - Allegro con brio
Piano Collections KINGDOM HEARTS FIELD & BATTLE
Medley of Conflict
Other Titles
Circle of Life
A Whole New World
Beauty and the Beast

I think I was hoping for more Disney songs, but I guess some are mixed in with the others. I wonder if some of the Disney songs will actually be the instrumental versions heard whilst exploring the worlds in the games (This Is Halloween, for example, might be the version without versions heard whilst exploring Halloween Town).

Other than that, that's quite an extensive list and more than enough to fill the game.

 

I wonder where they'll stand on the licensing for things like Nightmare Before Christmas these days. 'This is Halloween' or something else from that would be lovely to see/hear, but as far as I'm aware they've only used a remix version of the song without vocals in a Kingdom Hearts game.

From what I can remember, it is the remix version in MoM - I think Deep Jungle (Tarzan) and The Caribbean (PoTC) are not included because of licensing issues.

Just completed it last night (354/354 stars) and it was a thoroughly enjoyable rhythm game - outside of the last 15-20 minutes, there's nothing actually new to the franchise, but those 20 minutes definitely start opening up the next Kingdom Hearts saga (won't go into spoilers as it's still a very new game).

I could absolutely see the next game being either a Dream Drop Distance setup interchanging between Mickey / Riku or a Birth By Sleep equivalent with Mickey, Riku & Kairi.

 

I guessed some tracks might have licensing issues. PoTC should be strictly a Disney property (unless rights shifted) but Tarzan is still very much with the Rice-Burroughs family, I think. I remember it being credited quite distinctly in Kingdom Hearts 1 and it is one reason why we haven't seen much of it since.

I'm curious to see how this game ends but I'm unsure when I'll get round to this game. Whenever it is cheaper, perhaps.