Next month will see the release of an all new title in the storied Kingdom Hearts franchise. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory will be a rhythm action spin-off that takes place after the events of Kingdom Hearts 3.
But Square has released a demo of the game, giving players an opportunity to take it for a test drive for free before the actual launch of the title.
If you’re considering trying Melody of Memory, it’s a good idea to try it out for yourself first with the demo, as it is not your typical Kingdom Hearts experience. This is something more akin to Thetarhythm Final Fantasy. It’s a rhythm based adventure in which you play through the game’s storied soundtrack.
There will be over 140 songs included in the game, with many of them coming from the world of Disney.
The demo features four field battle music stages and two co-op stages. That means you’ll be able to try out a full six songs to see if you like the format.
Just remember, if you play the demo and decide to pick up the actual game, your progress will not carry over. You’ll be starting from scratch.
You can get the demo on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The inclusion of the Switch was big news for a lot of longtime fans. While we’ve seen titles like Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance release on Nintendo platforms in the past, this is the franchise’s first foray into the world of the Switch.
However, don’t expect to see Kingdom Hearts 4 appear on the platform. That was described as “unlikely” by legendary game director Tetsuya Nomura, who heads up the Kingdom Hearts franchise.
If you think that Melody of Memory is skippable and that it won’t play a huge role in the story of Kingdom Hearts moving forward, history does not support your hypothesis.
While there have only been three main numbered Kingdom Hearts adventures, there have been a wealth of handheld and mobile games released for the series. Every single one of them has had a huge impact on the main story.
That means anyone planning on following the often confusing story of Kingdom Hearts will need to know what transpires in Melody of Memory.
Of course, if you hate rhythm games, there will most assuredly be cutscene movies posted on YouTube within days of the game’s release on November 13, 2020.