Japan Envy: Limited edition game consoles, Kingdom Hearts edition

Sometimes I feel like I could just throw my money in Square Enix’s general direction. I know that’s a funny thing to say, given my recent disdain for certain Final Fantasy titles that will not be mentioned, but for some reason I keep going back to Square Enix for more, particularly when it comes to Kingdom Hearts. The release date and a limited edition 3DS for the latest Kingdom Hearts title have been announced, and I am really liking the 3DS’s design.

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Even if you don’t like Kingdom Hearts, you’ve got to admit that’s a pretty sleek design! I particularly like the pink crown and the contrast it provides. Now, I’ve never bought a limited edition console before, and I’m definitely not going to start here, but that won’t stop me drooling over it a little bit.

Kingdom Hearts 3D will be released on March 29th in Japan, which is soon enough that I think it’s high time we catch wind of a localization (c’mon, it’s bound to happen). Of course, if you want the 3DS, you’re going to have to import. The first print run of the game will also include a limited edition AR card, which unlocks a difficult to obtain Dream Eater in the game.

Square Enix also sent out a few new screenshots for the game. One, in particular, is pretty interesting to me:

Now maybe I’ve been out of the loop, but I honestly didn’t realize Axel would be in the game (those of you who’ve played Kingdom Hearts should know why). Admittedly I was a bit of an Axel fangirl back in the day, so it’s nice to see him make a comeback.
EDIT: Well, it has quickly come to my attention that I am incorrect! That’s not Axel, but Lea, as is evident in his lack of certain distinct facial markings. I haven’t played enough of Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep to know much about Lea, and I won’t spoil it for you all, but needless to say he isn’t all that different from Axel. Now finishing Birth By Sleep before Kingdom Hearts 3D comes out is a top priority! 
Though I should probably know better than to get too excited for a Kingdom Hearts title these days, I’m going to continue to be optimistic for this one. Are any of you planning on picking it up when it comes out? 

About Anne

Also known as apricotsushi. Anne can be written with the kanji for apricot (杏), and sushi was the most quintessentially Japanese thing I could think of when I was 13, resulting in my goofy, albeit memorable, nickname.

9 thoughts on “Japan Envy: Limited edition game consoles, Kingdom Hearts edition”

  1. That’s a nice looking console. Pity I’m not such a fan of the games (though no idea why. I love Square Enix and Disney).

    BTW, have you considered picking up Boom Street?

  2. I like the looks of the system, Anne, although I think I’d like it more if it only had the pink crown and not the writing/words on it.

    As for the game: I think it looks really good graphics-wise, but I probably won’t get it. You know why? I’ve never played a Kingdom Hearts game! I was really interested in the original game for the PS2 back in the day, but the gameplay just didn’t look like something I’d be interested in.

    I guess I should give it a try at some point, though, just to see if I was right or wrong to ignore this series for so long.

    Have you played either of the PS2 games, by the way? If so, would you recommend them?

  3. Hey GamesAndBiz!

    Ah, Boom Street. I will forever wonder why Nintendo decided to change the name from Fortune Street to Boom Street for EU/AU. What does the “boom” even mean? Puzzling…

    Anyways, it is a game I’m interested in, but for various reasons it’s just not at the top of my list at the moment. Do you have it? If so, what do you think?

  4. Good point, Bryan! Maybe sans text and move the crown just a little bit lower and make it a tad bigger, and it’d be perfect!

    Funnily enough, you don’t strike me as a Kingdom Hearts sort. The gameplay really consists of mashing x or the equivalent button over and over, and the story has gotten so convoluted that I barely know what’s happening anymore (I just go with it).

    I played both PS2 title when the first came out and haven’t visited them since… So needless to say, it’s been a while. I pretty much preferred 2 over 1, but if you’re in it for the story it’s definitely easier to understand if you start with 1. Just stay far away from 358/2 Days (DS)… I bought that in Japanese right when it came out and was really disappointed with the battle system and repetitive missions. I think the DS really limited what the game could do. Hopefully that will change with the 3DS?

    Actually, you could very well start with Birth By Sleep for the PSP, as it’s a prequel to everything that happens in the main series. I’m actually having a lot of fun with that one at the moment.

    Honestly, I’m not even sure why I keep going back to the series. It’s probably just a nostalgia thing, as the first Kingdom Hearts really grabbed me when I was young. Square Enix always adds just enough to each new installment to get me excited about it again…

  5. Anne: Yeah, the thing that has kept me from trying any of the Kingdom Hearts games is the gameplay. I really don’t like button-mashers, although there have been a few exceptions (Muramasa for the Wii being one of them). I find the graphics pretty darn appealing, though — which is why I’m always waffling as to whether I should finally jump on board or not. Anyway, maybe I’ll pick up the first PS2 one or the PSP one eventually…

  8. That is pretty cool-looking, and while I haven’t played the Kingdom Heart games yet, my oldest really likes them – they’re some of the only games she actually plays and woudl probably love that system

  9. Hi Chalgyr!

    That’s great to hear that you daughter enjoys Kingdom Hearts! She’d definitely love this system, too, then. Too bad it’s Japan-only! It pains me to see all these neat limited edition systems come out when I already have a 3DS… I’ve never been one to buy multiple versions of systems I already own.

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