Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep: Final Mix Jump Festa Trailer

It must be nice to live in Japan. From looking at this trailer, I think it's enough to convince doubters to import this. I definitely will!

New Boss to Fight In Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix

This new boss called "No Heart" is VERY familiar to Xemnas' armor in Kingdom Hearts II. No Heart is a Mirage Arena boss. The battle has him sitting like Xemnas was on his throne in Kingdom Hearts II.

New Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix Images

The official site for Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix updated with a few new images and an awesome wallpaper which you can get below! I wish this game would come to the states. Maybe Square and Disney are secretly preparing the Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix Collection. Good ol dreams. That's what we're made of.

Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Agito XIII TGS Trailer

Okay. Agito XIII is looking amazing. Gameplay? Exciting. Versus XIII? What the hell. If the Kingdom Hearts team is in charge of the gameplay, then why does it look so boring? Slash, slash, AAAAAND slash. I mean, honestly, that's a fricking Behemoth that's taking those boring attacks. Nomura is in charge of this game so I can't give up just yet!

Nomura Speaks on Kingdom Hearts 3DS

Also in other news, Famitsu scored Kingdom Hearts Re: Coded a 36/40!!!

Kingdom Hearts 3 News!

Well I guess our hearts can be put at ease now. At least we know it's a definite but not anytime soon. In two years, it will be the 10th anniversary of Kingdom Hearts and Nomura stated that Kingdom Hearts 3 as a celebration would be impossible as much as he'd want to. Nomura was interviewed by EGMNow and here's the full interview below:

EGM: What is the main theme of Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep?

TN: The major theme of the story of Birth By Sleep is the link that exists between this group of people, the link that ties the heart and soul for the characters in the game. That’s the theme of the overall storyline. The game system is partially inspired by that theme.

EGM: A lot of fans of the series want to know why you’ve decided to keep doing prequels and side stories, while many others want to see where the main story progresses.

TN: For any sequel of the mainstream storyline of the Kingdom Hearts series, that would be Kingdom Hearts III. But the problem is that the opportunity of developing the sequel is not currently [possible]. The team is busy, I am busy. One of the major [unique aspects] of the Kingdom Hearts series, opposed to the Final Fantasy series, is that the entire history of Kingdom Hearts is based on a single unique storyline. There’s a past, present and a future within the same series. I thought that it would be interesting for the franchise to feature some periods of the storyline that haven’t been described yet in the previous titles. That’s why I wanted to create side stories and handheld versions of Kingdom Hearts.

EGM: How much further do you want to go back down that path of the back stories and side stories?

TN: To tell you the truth, I’m a little bit worried because there’s a few undescribed periods of time left in the history of Kingdom Hearts. I’m thinking about what’s going to be next after Kingdom Hearts II, the future that is Kingdom Hearts III. Time has nearly come to [work on] that concept. As you know, Kingdom Hearts Coded takes place in the future, compared to the [first] Kingdom Hearts period of time. In the same way, my desire is to put that concept in Kingdom Hearts III, to think about the future.

EGM: With as many projects that you are working on consistently, is it hard to keep them all straight? How do you organize your time to multitask?

TN: [laughs] Well, for now, the only I [will] manage to do all these simultaneous projects is to sacrifice my private time, my marriage, and my family time.

EGM: When people think Disney, they think cute, its family-oriented, its kind of for kids, but also adults, too. Looking at the past games, the Kingdom Hearts world is a dark place in a lot of areas. Are there any concerns that it could be too complex for children?

TN: It’s true that Kingdom Hearts features a very complex plotline in terms of story, and some might wonder if it is easily understandable for kids. But the research that we have done internally has proven that Kingdom Hearts appeals to the younger, or female adults, too. The initial idea when creating the Kingdom Hearts series was not intended to follow the typical storyline we see in a Disney movie. Rather, a storyline or world that is more inspired by the Final Fantasy series. That was our original intention. I believe that when you’re a kid, you prefer playing with a toy that is made for a more mature audience. So that is the base idea for that.

EGM: Do you think we’ll see Kingdom Hearts III on this generation of hardware?

TN: Yes, it might be possible. It is my desire to develop the next Kingdom Hearts on the existing platform, but the problem with a new console is that it has new technical requirements, new technical limitations, so we need time to make new research for that new title. The development team for Kingdom Hearts is currently leading technical research for concerning the high-definition graphics right now. So, yes, I’m wiling to create something on the existing console because when we aim for another non-existing future console, the release of the title will be far in the future. That’s my concern.

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix Trailer

Another Final Mix. Pretty much, it's the American version plus more new features....Is this content so new that it's couldn't have been added to the American version. Or was the content already planned? It maybe alot of new content for Japanese fans but not enough for me. I'm not going to lie though. That Moby Dick battle looks amazing. New Features in Final Mix include:

• the "mysterious cloaked boss" (from the American version)
• stickers (also from the American version)
• Pete as a D-link
• new additions to mini-games
• another mysterious character in armor (most of you can guess who it is)
• a new secret movie
• English voiceovers
• a voucher for Cloud Strife's (Final Fantasy 7) Kingdom Hearts outfit for Dissidia 012

I've also noticed alot of people starting to complain about the constant use of Simple and Clean in the Kingdom Hearts series. It doesn't bother me at all. Why? Because I could look at anime or any other TV show and it keeps the same opening song for either a couple (13 usually for anime) of episodes or the whole series (like That 70's Show for example). I might import this game though.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix Coming to Japan

And it's coming this Winter. It's pretty much the American version along with the option of English voices. So that means Japan will be getting the crown stickers and an extra boss. New to this version will be the addition of Pete as an ally.

image from [KHInsider]

Kingdom Hearts Re: coded Japanese Box Art

This is good box art. I swear, if this game comes out here in the U.S., it better have the same cover or better (which usually never happens).

Re: Coded Japanese Cover Looks Swell! [Kingdom Hearts Insider]

Oh No!! No Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep for the PSPgo

You saw this coming right? I definitely did! We all know that PSP modding or should I saw "custom firmware" is a thorn in Sony's ass. To try and combat this Sony released to PSPgo which still to this day no one has been able to hack. They also introduced digital downloads to support the handheld. I think the PSPgo was a a downright failure. It's like they made something that looked "cool" and then kicked it out the door. The PSPgo had the potential to be so much more but now we have the "community" making the older models of the PSP what they should've been. Fun. Not fun as in playing games illegally but fun as in the creative aspect (such as themes). I'll talk about that later in another post.

I think Square Enix's decision to release this title as UMD-only is letting you know that they have amazing fans out there. They know they've created an amazing product and they know that this game will sell well regardless of not being sold digitally. How many of you out there own a PSPgo anyway? Five, right? Thought so. I'm kidding. Arizona Daily Star's writer Phil Villarreal and IGN contacted Square Enix and they responded:

"Square Enix, Inc. currently has no plans to release Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep through the PlayStation Store."

This commercial right here would have you thinking it would be available for the Go. The deception!!! Hopefully it'll be released online after the game has it's run.



No "Go" for Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep [because i told you so]

Utada Goes on Hiatus

On August 9, Utada announced on her blog that she was going on a 2-5 year hiatus. Reasons for the hiatus included that fact that she's been singing since she was 15 and also that she wanted to rest, study and learn new things. Here's the translation of her blog:

I can't believe how quickly time goes - it's already been 12 years since my debut with "Automatic," which was called "that sensational video of dancing in a low ceiling room."(lol) I was 15 at that time.

Lately when I first meet someone they say, "Oh so you're still 27~! I thought you would be around 30, since I have this image that you have a very long career~. And you looked quite grown-up when you debuted."

27 years old, it's young in a sense . . . but not that young in another sense.

When I think back I find I've always worked on music ever since I was 15. Spent my life overprotected by people around, so that "Utada Hikaru" can stick to music. People say I have plenty of life experience for my age, but as a matter of fact what I've experienced is quite lopsided.

I have had chances to do something uncommon thanks to this job. I thank you all my fans, all my staff from the bottom of my heart.

That said, there is this part of me which has stunted since around 15, when I started living my life focused on artist activities. That is the part, important as a human being.

Over the past 12 years I've challenged various things as an artist, and I think I've grown up a bit through those experiences. And I need to grow up as a person, aside from music, to evolve further.

Based on those thoughts I have made a big decision!

I am going to stop flashy "artist activities" for a while and focus on "human activities, " starting from next year.

This is not a "retirement announcement"! Nor is this "rest" or "recreation."

This period is going to be the period form me to face the real me as a person, by studying something new eagerly and humbly, seeing and learning things in this while world I don't know yet. I think that's something that should be called "human activities," different from "artist activities."

And that should lead to my growth as an artist too, as a result.

Of course I may be making music or singing as I like, during that time.

When the time comes that I realize I have grown up a little as a person, and I feel the need to let you all hear my music, that is about time I should do so.


I didn't like it just to hide without showing up in front of my fans, and to jump into "human activities" with no regrets, I'm gonna go on full-throttle to do music activities till the end of this year!

First of all, I'm gonna release Single Collection vol 2 in upcoming autumn. I've made a lot of singles after the relase of vol 1.

This time I'll put some new songs in it!

Maybe 4 songs or so, 5 hopefully . . . ! I'm right in the middle of recording, trying to make them something that can tell you my recent feelings, change of my heart. Pleae wait for a while, I'll let you know as soon as the release date is fixed.

Other than that there are more things already fixed and I'll tell you about them soon! Like, a CM I appear in and such . . . expect a lot!

I thank all the staff of EMI being receptive to my offer to take off from artist activities from next year.

I've always made them nervous or worried, still they've always believed in me, supported me. Thank you very much.

I can focus on "human activities" with an easy mind thinking they will wait for my return, believing me.

I guess each one of you has a different impression on my decision, but please believe me and wait for my return. I have no idea how long it gonna be - 2 years or 5 years, but I shall return, more matured. Give me some time.

Well before that I'm gonna release new songs in autumn, then winter and there should be some opportunities to show you recent me, as well as interact each other. So that's all for today. (Also I'm thinking of starting twitter for a limited time! That way I can reply to you directly)

Last of all, thank you for reading this long message. I hope this can help to tell you my current feeling, as much as possible.

August 9th 2010



Utada Hikaru

at 8:00 PM


Yep. No Utada for awhile. Utada is well-known for contribution to videogames  such as "Simple and Clean" in Kingdom Hearts and "Passion" and "Sanctuary" in Kingdom Hearts II. Even though she's going on hiatus she does plan to release a second singles compilation album this coming fall. It will include 4 or 5 new tracks.