The end of an era approaches as Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is ending its run on the Nintendo. No – the game isn’t shutting down but there won’t be any new content after the 11th and final character pack. The studio behind one of the most popular Nintendo Switch games isn’t letting the game go out quietly though – they’re bringing one of the most beloved characters to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Kingdom Heart’s Sora.
The character is one of the many non-Nintendo characters that have joined the game in the three years since its launch. Prior to this characters such as Terry Bogard of Fatal Fury, Sonic, Ryu of Street Fighter and Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid have all been introduced to the game. However, the characters introduced so far don’t share the popularity of Kingdom Hearts’ Sora. The character is the lead in the series which has spanned multiple console generations and also traversed across consoles. Kingdom Hearts is one of the only franchises to have entries in nearly every console since its introduction on the PlayStation 2.
Kingdom Hearts holds a unique place in many players hearts as it was the first time two popular franchises – Disney and Final Fantasy collided. Sora’s many adventures with the Heartless saw him team up with Goofy and Donald and interact with titular characters such as Squall Leonheart, Ariel, Jasmine and more from both worlds. That said, his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate doesn’t bring along his Disney partners. Instead, playing as Sora allows players to use his signature keyblade and his elemental powers in battle. Sora will be available starting 18 October 2021.
Part of a Bigger Celebration for the 20th Anniversary of Kingdom Hearts
Sora’s appearance in Super Smash Bros isn’t the only piece of Kingdom Hearts coming to the Nintendo Switch. Cloud versions of the three main installations of the franchise – Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3 – will be available for hybrid console.
Sora’s appearance in Smash and Kingdom Hearts’ availability on the Nintendo Switch comes on the heels of Square Enix’s announcement of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the franchise. The anniversary which falls on 28 March 2022 should be quite the extravangza with Square Enix announcing special merchandise as well an offline version of Kingdom Hearts: Union χ [Cross] for fans to relive the entire story in Theatre mode. Square Enix has only just teased the celebrations it has planned and is waiting to release more information at a later date.
