10.04.04 - 12:22 PM
While the big PlayStation 2 sequel to Kingdom Hearts won't be out until sometime next year, the GBA sequel, Chain of Memories is due next month in Japan. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is to be a direct follow-up to the best-selling PS2 game, picking up right where the first left off. The gameplay is different this time around, with battles being card-based. Square Enix has also commented that the title will somehow manage to feature not only voice acting and a vocal theme song, but FMV scenes similar to console games, which - obviously - is not common on GBA titles.
While Chain of Memories follows up on the original title, it's also a lead-in to the bigger sequel, Kingdom Hearts II. KHII is to pick up after CoM, though it will play like the first Kingdom Hearts, with battles being action-based as opposed to card-based. Not a whole lot is known on this one yet however, since Square Enix isn't releasing much information with its release still a ways off.
If you've had enough of my rambling, you can get to the meat of this update, which is news writer Chris Winkler's previews for each title. Linked below, they should bring you up to speed on both games if you need a refresher, or be a good introduction if you didn't know anything about them in the first place.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is due out November 11th in Japan, with a tentative North American release scheduled for late 2004. Kingdom Hearts II is expected to release in both Japan and North America in 2005.
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| Mike Salbato |