KINGDOM HEARTS: MELODY OF MEMORY

Disney Sing-Along Songs spiked up with a hefty handful of anime hair gel

Unfortunately for Kingdom Hearts fans nothing in this series is ever optional, and it’s always bizarre. For any other franchise this rhythm game would be nothing more than a cute side-diversion. Melody Of Memory is that, but also promises to “hold the secret of his final plan” (possibly referring to baddy Xemnas) and connection to Kairi, so expect some franchise-wide lore to get your teeth into.

But if you are just here for the songs, you can expect a lot on that front. Melody Of Memory has over 20 characters from the franchise fingersnapping their way through over 120 songs. So far we’ve seen Sora, Donald, and Goofy joined by the likes of Hercules, Aladdin, and Riku. Music from the Kingdom Hearts games will be joined by Disney classics, and each song will give you the opportunity to relive classic moments from the series’ Disney-inspired worlds.

Visually it seems most inspired by the first couple of Kingdom Hearts games, though we’ve already seen a fair amount of variety in the type of rhythm action that awaits, from flying through the air collecting notes to battling incoming enemies on an everstretching road in time to the beat, and even boss battles where the music swirls around the edge of the arena. Four modes are promised, including online battles that pit musically-inclined Kingdom Hearts fans against one another. Play it again, Goofy.

“OVER 20 CHARACTERS FROM THE FRANCHISE FINGERSNAPPING THEIR WAY THROUGH OVER 120 SONGS.”

Even boss battles get a musical treatment as you whack in time to the beat.

If this image doesn’t make you teary-eyed already, you’re not the target audience.

Above Key (ahem) worlds like the Destiny Islands gets revisited in this musical, magical throwback to Kingdom Hearts’ incredibly complicated history.

Above With over 120 songs and online battles, this’ll be a hard drive mainstay.

Above Kairi’s connection to this mysterious figure adds to the complex lore.