Share to: share facebook share twitter share wa share telegram print page

Sora (Kingdom Hearts)

Sora
Kingdom Hearts character
Sora as he appears in the original Kingdom Hearts
First appearanceKingdom Hearts (2002)
Created byTetsuya Nomura
Designed byTetsuya Nomura
Voiced byJapanese
Miyu Irino
Takuto Yoshina (young)
English
Haley Joel Osment
Luke Manriquez (young)
In-universe information
WeaponKeyblade
HomeDestiny Islands

Sora (Japanese: ソラ) is a character and the main protagonist of Disney and Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts video game series. Introduced in the first Kingdom Hearts game in 2002, Sora is portrayed as a cheerful teenager who lives on the Destiny Islands and has been best friends with Riku and Kairi since childhood. When they plan to go on a journey to see other worlds, they are separated by creatures known as the Heartless, with Sora obtaining a weapon called the Keyblade. Donald Duck and Goofy then recruit him in their journey across various worlds to aid their king, Mickey Mouse, while Sora searches for his friends. Along the way, the trio protects the worlds they visit from the Heartless and other villains.

Sora was initially designed by the Kingdom Hearts series director and character designer Tetsuya Nomura during a discussion between Disney and Square about who the series's protagonist should be. Wanting an original character, Nomura made various sketches of Sora until the design met the approval of Disney. Throughout the series, Sora has been voiced by Haley Joel Osment in the English version and Miyu Irino in the Japanese version. For his depiction as a child in the prequel Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Sora was voiced by Luke Manriquez and Takuto Yoshinaga in English and Japanese, respectively. Sora has made supporting appearances in other games from the series and reprised his role in manga and light novel adaptations of the games.

Sora's character has received a generally positive critical response due to his warm personality and adventurous spirit. His personal and martial growth in the series also received praise, especially in his appearance in Kingdom Hearts II. Since his debut in Kingdom Hearts, he has become popular among the video game community, with high rankings among character popularity polls. Due to its popularity, he was added to Nintendo's fighting video game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a downloadable fighter and revealed to be the most requested fighter to appear in the Super Smash Bros. series.

Concept and creation

Original concept and design

Sora was designed by Tetsuya Nomura as the protagonist of Kingdom Hearts. He was not originally slated to be the protagonist, as Disney wanted Donald Duck to fill the role, while Square wanted Mickey Mouse. Nomura designed Sora with the concepts of the Disney characters in mind, basing his outfit on Mickey Mouse's trademark white gloves, red shorts and giant yellow shoes.[1] Sora originally wielded a weapon resembling a chainsaw; however, the weapon was not well received by Disney, which led Nomura to redesign the weapon into a Keyblade. He was also designed with lion-like features, which were removed as the staff found them to be similar to those of Final Fantasy IX protagonist Zidane Tribal. The design was further reworked after a talk with the Disney staff, and Nomura finished it after a night's work.[2] Because Sora was a new character in the first Kingdom Hearts, Square added Final Fantasy characters who support the protagonist.[3]

Concept artwork of Sora by Tetsuya Nomura

One of the main concepts of Sora's character in the series is that, according to Nomura, he is a normal boy instead of a supernatural being, even though he is deeply connected with other characters from the series. With Sora, Nomura wants to give players the message that even though they are not "important people", they have the opportunity to accomplish great things. This was emphasized in Birth by Sleep's secret ending, which Nomura hoped players would find because it showed Sora's potential to influence everyone's lives. In early versions of development of Birth by Sleep, Nomura thought that Ventus would actually be Sora before being reborn, but due to negative feedback from overseas, that plot line was discarded.[4] Nomura has stated that Sora's name can be interpreted as "sky", since the Japanese word sora (空) means sky. This name was also chosen to symbolize Sora's role and his personality, as well as his close relationship with Riku and Kairi, making their three names together "sky, land, and sea."[5][6] He was also described by Nomura as having an outgoing personality, which allows him to make friends throughout the series.[7] Of all of the characters he has designed, Nomura called Sora his favorite, describing him as "special" after having worked to develop the character over many games.[8] The name of Noctis Lucis Caelum from Final Fantasy XV is also a reference to Sora; Sora and Caelum both mean "sky" in their respective languages, and Nomura considered Noctis to be his latest "son".[9] When Kingdom Hearts II included a note using Sora's handwriting, Nomura wrote it himself.[10]

Development

Following the first Kingdom Hearts, Nomura was worried that players would be unhappy that Sora would start Kingdom Hearts II as a weak character with few powers who once again had to be leveled up like the first title. Therefore, Nomura developed the plot of Chain of Memories to explain how Sora loses his abilities in Castle Oblivion and then starts anew.[11] Additionally, a new mystery regarding Sora's memories of Twilight Town was added in Chain of Memories, which would be explained in Kingdom Hearts II.[12] Sora was given a new outfit to reflect the time spent between Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II.[13] The team in charge of Kingdom Hearts II expressed difficulties in animating Sora's "Valor" Drive Form for having a completely different motion except in Sora's walking animation, which is shared with his regular motion.[14] The Anti-Form was also made to focus on Sora's dark side from the first Kingdom Hearts, where he is temporarily transformed into a Heartless. Gameplaywise, the form was created to be both powerful and troublesome. The fights Sora has with Roxas and Xemnas were meant to surprise gamers, especially in the latter when the player loses control of Sora and Riku has to save him.[10]

After finishing Kingdom Hearts II, Nomura wanted to give Sora a rest from the series in order to focus the following games on other characters from the series.[5] Moreover, the events from the endings of Coded and Birth by Sleep hinted at a new mystery regarding Sora's character, which would be revealed in Kingdom Hearts III.[4] Although Nomura stated in March 2010 that Sora would once again be the focus of the next title, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, he stated that Sora would share it with another character with great importance.[15] The switches between player characters Sora and Riku across the game are meant to contrast the style from Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep, which allowed the player to use three characters in their own campaigns, as well as to explain the word "Distance" in the title, because the two characters never interact across their stories.[16] Nomura has stated that the themes of the game are trust and friendship, and that like Birth by Sleep, the story is on par with that of a numbered title. As a result of the game's plot, both Sora and Riku appear in their younger forms from the first Kingdom Hearts game. To avoid misconceptions that Dream Drop Distance was a remake of the original game, Nomura decided to change Sora's and Riku's outfits for most of the game.[17]

In response to rumors saying that Sora's story would end in Kingdom Hearts III, Nomura answered that Sora is the protagonist of the series and that his role will end once the series ends.[4] For this game, Nomura was interested in giving Sora a new costume, but was worried about doing so because of the popularity of the character's Kingdom Hearts II outfit. In the end, he decided to create a new one as Kingdom Hearts III was a new numbered title.[18] Nomura also revealed that Sora is the same proportions as in previous games; however, they "muted the volume on his hair—it's not as wild." Regarding updating Sora's look from his Kingdom Hearts II design, Nomura noted that the basis for the resulting design is a mix between Sora's costumes for Kingdom Hearts II and Dream Drop Distance, one that is "a lot more sleek and sporty" since "Sora does a lot more... acrobatic [and]... action-oriented movements".[18] Sora's new skills in Kingdom Hearts III were inspired by those of Terra from Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Birth by Sleep in order to surprise gamers with new powers related to the Keyblade, with other skills that were influenced by Sora's and Riku's powers from Dream Drop Distance.[19] For the Monsters Inc. world, Nomura considered giving Sora a monster costume similar to the one Boo wears in the movie, but Pixar gave the idea to actually change Sora into a monster. Sora's final stage in Kingdom Hearts III was left ambiguous though Nomura suggested it might be related to the Square Enix game The World Ends With You.[20]

For Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Sora's main designs by Tetsuya Nomura were used as alternate costumes. The several designs Nomura developed for the character, which range from his first appearance to Kingdom Hearts III, were praised by the media.

According to Super Smash Bros. series director Masahiro Sakurai, Sora had been the winner of the Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U Fighter Ballot in 2015, and Sakurai was well aware of the various fan campaigns advocating for Sora's inclusion in the series.[21][22] Sakurai described Sora's inclusion as a "huge undertaking" and "perfect" as the concluding fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.[21] Sakurai also felt that it was "impossible" for Sora to appear in the series, but after Sakurai met a Disney executive at an awards show, Nintendo, Disney, and Square Enix began negotiations to include him.[23] According to Luigi Priore, Vice President of Disney and Pixar Games, the company recognized that having Sora in Smash Bros. was something that fans had been asking for a long time, and the team was delighted to make it happen. "Knowing the passion of Kingdom Hearts fans, we were not surprised [by the reaction], but we were thrilled," Priore added. "It's been incredible watching all the videos and commentary online."[24] Nomura was actually more hesitant than Disney about Sora's inclusion because of potential conflicts with the lore established in the Kingdom Hearts series at first, but seeing the positive reception by the public led him to conclude that "the end result was really great."[25] Sora was designed as a floaty, light, and aerial fighter. The majority of his moves are inspired by his appearance in the original Kingdom Hearts, but per the limitations of the licensing agreement, Disney characters were not included as spirits or cameos.[26]

In April 2022, during the interview with Nomura at Famitsu, he said that "Kingdom Hearts 4 will explore the contrast between the real world known as Quadratum and the fictional worlds of Kingdom Hearts". He further said that "Sora also looks more realistic due to him being in that world. However, if he were to return to his own world, his appearance would look similar to [how he would look with] the shaders used for Donald and Goofy."[27]

Casting

Haley Joel Osment voices Sora in the English version of the series.

Sora is voiced in Japanese by Miyu Irino, who used his normal voice for the beginning; Irino was filmed with cameras during voice recording to provide a reference for Sora's mouth movements.[28] As Irino grew older, he struggled with sounding as young as Sora, who remained the same in Re:coded as his data form. By Kingdom Hearts III, Irino faced more issues during recordings of the game. After finishing the game, Irino wondered if he might properly portray Sora in sequels due to his age gap.[20]

In English, the character is voiced by Haley Joel Osment. Due to Sora's lack of growth across the franchise, Osment faced the challenge of properly giving him the tone of a teenager; "I think he's a little bit older now [in Kingdom Hearts 3] than he was in Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2. But early on, you know, I started this when I was 12, and my voice had started to change and everything. So learning how to manipulate that and keep the voice sounding young while still preserving the range of emotions that Sora had; that was a unique challenge." In retrospect, Osment found the idea of ending Kingdom Hearts III as an emotional moment as, while the series is not ending with this installment, the narrative is giving a proper closure to the story started by the antagonist Xehanort.[29] There have also been comments also with Osment and being praised by the media. Gaming Target's Matt Swidder, who mentioned Osment "makes a perfect fit for Sora".[30] On the other hand, Osment's work in Re:Chain of Memories was noted to have made a poor impact in his portrayal as the young lead, as he no longer sounds like in the original Kingdom Hearts game.[31] Louis Bedigian from GameZone remarked on Osment's continuous work in the sequel Kingdom Hearts II.[32] RPGamer still praised Osment's performance in the game, still finding him suitable for the protagonist.[33] Koinya lamented the fact Miyu Irino's work was never made available for the Western audience, considering him talented alongside Mamoru Miyano (Riku).[34]

Characteristics

Sora appears as a boy with spiky brown-hair who, when first introduced, wears a red shirt, red pants, and a white and blue jacket covered by keychains. Upon traveling to certain worlds, Sora's appearance is altered by Donald Duck's magic to adapt to different environments and keep his origin from another world a secret; for example, he turns into a merman in underwater environments.[35] After undergoing significant growth in Kingdom Hearts II, Sora is provided with a new, black outfit by Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. When battling, Sora's outfit can change into other designs depending on the player's choices.[36] The primary form of Sora's Keyblade is the Kingdom Key (キングダムチェーン, Kingudamu Chēn, lit. "Kingdom Chain"), but through the use of in-game keychains, the Keyblade can assume a variety of unique forms.[37] During Kingdom Hearts II, Sora dual-wields Keyblades, their forms depending on the player's use of keychains.[36]

Across the series, Sora is depicted as a cheerful teenager who cherishes his friendships and relies on them for his strength.[38] As a result, several of Sora's enemies use his friends as bait to use the Keyblade for their purposes.[39] During the first game, it is discovered that Sora was not meant to wield the Keyblade, which only chooses him in the absence of its intended owner, Riku.[40] However, Sora's greater strength of heart causes the Keyblade to reject Riku in favor of Sora.[41]

Appearances

In Kingdom Hearts series

In Kingdom Hearts, Sora, Riku, and Kairi plan to leave their home on the Destiny Islands to explore new worlds.[42] They are separated when the island is attacked by the Heartless;[43] in the process, Sora obtains a Keyblade that he uses to eliminate the Heartless.[44] Arriving in Traverse Town, Sora allies with Donald Duck and Goofy, who are under instruction from their missing king, Mickey Mouse, to follow the "key".[45] The three travel across worlds in their Gummi Ship in search of their missing friends,[46] sealing the worlds' "Keyholes" along the way to protect them from being consumed by the Heartless. They are opposed by an alliance of Disney villains led by Maleficent, who seeks out the seven Princesses of Heart to unlock the Keyhole that leads to "Kingdom Hearts",[47] a repository of knowledge and power, and the source of all hearts. Riku, who has come under Maleficent's watch, fights with Sora on several occasions under the belief that Sora has replaced him with new friends.[48] As the group travels to Hollow Bastion and defeat Maleficent, Riku becomes possessed by Ansem,[49] who reveals that Kairi's heart is in Sora's body.[50][51] To save Kairi, Sora impales himself with Ansem's Keyblade, briefly transforming him into a Heartless before Kairi restores Sora to human form.[52][53] After taking Kairi to safety, Sora, Donald, and Goofy defeat Ansem at the open door to Kingdom Hearts.[54] From inside the door, Mickey and Riku help Sora and his friends close it to prevent the Heartless within from escaping, with Mickey and Sora using their Keyblades to lock the door.[55] Separated from their friends again, Sora, Donald and Goofy continue their quest to reunite with Riku and Mickey.[56]

In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Sora's group stumbles upon a fortress known as Castle Oblivion, where Naminé is forced by the group Organization XIII to manipulate their memories in order to turn Sora into their slave.[57] After Sora and friends defeat the Organization members controlling the castle, Naminé helps restore the trio's memories to their state prior to entering Castle Oblivion, at the cost of their memories of the events in the castle. This requires them to sleep in the castle for the restoration of memories to be completed.[58]

In Kingdom Hearts II, Sora reawakens along with Donald and Goofy in Twilight Town once his Nobody, Roxas, merges within him.[59] They visit Mickey's master, Yen Sid, from whom they are reacquainted with Organization XIII.[60] Sora embarks with Donald and Goofy to find Riku and King Mickey, traversing new and unfamiliar worlds to eliminate the threat of the remaining Heartless, Nobodies, and local villains. Learning that the Organization has abducted Kairi to force Sora to gather more hearts for them,[61][62] Sora's group rejoins Mickey and arrives at the Organization's fortress in the World That Never Was, where they reunite with Kairi and Riku. After being separated from the others, Sora and Riku defeat Xemnas, after which a doorway appears that allows them to reunite with their friends on the Destiny Islands.[63]

Sora makes a minor appearance in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, the majority of which is set as he sleeps to recover his lost memories from the events of Chain of Memories; it is also established that Xion, an experimental replica of Roxas created by the Organization, inadvertently hinders the restoration process until she joins with him.[64] In Kingdom Hearts Coded, a computer program based on Sora's likeness serves as the primary protagonist of the game, finding out the truth behind a mysterious message found inside Jiminy's journal.[65] A four-year-old Sora appears in the prequel, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep;[66] after Ventus, one of the protagonists, has his heart damaged following a confrontation with his dark side, Vanitas, his heart finds its way into Sora, who accepts it into his own heart.[67] In the game's secret ending, set after the events of Kingdom Hearts II, Ansem the Wise tells Aqua about Sora's adventures, and how he may help all the people connected to him. In the final scene, Sora decides to save them after reading Mickey's letter.[68]

In Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Sora and Riku undertake a Mark of Mastery exam in response to Xehanort's return.[69] The two are sent to awaken several worlds submerged in sleep after the defeat of Ansem. Sora is lured into a deep slumber by Xehanort's incarnations, who plan to turn him into a vessel for Xehanort's heart.[70] Riku and his friends save Sora and bring him back to Yen Sid's tower, where Riku dives into Sora's heart and awakens him. Because of Sora's failure, he does not achieve the rank of Keyblade Master.[71][72] In the ending of Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, Yen Sid reveals that Sora has lost most of his powers as a consequence of Xehanort's attempted possession, and advises Sora to seek out Hercules, who has gone through a similar experience.[73]

In Kingdom Hearts III, Sora goes on a journey to regain his strength, particularly the "power of waking" (眠りし心を解放する力, Nemurishi Kokoro wo Kaihō-suru Chikara, lit. "Power to free a sleeping heart) required to restore the hearts of Ventus, Aqua, and Terra while also looking for a chance to restore Roxas. Sora engages prepares with Master Xehanort and the thirteen seekers from the new Organization XIII.[74][75] Although Sora's missions end in failures, upon finding Vanitas' body, Sora manages to properly use his strength and restore Ventus.[76] Sora and the other Keyblade wielders go to Graveyard of their predecessors to fight Xehanort but are nearly killed by the amount of Heartless.[77] After being restored by Namine, Sora uses his Power of Waking to give his friends another chance with Kairi's help.[78][79] After their return to the graveyard, Sora manages to restore Terra and defeat the Organization with the group.[80] However, the original Xehanort kills Kairi,[81] causing him to track him to his hometown where Xehanort accepts defeat after as he goes to the afterlife, giving Sora his χ-blade. Sora uses his power of waking to restore Kairi despite learning the risks of its overuse, which causes him to fade from existence.[82]

In the aftermath, as depicted in the Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind DLC, Sora finds himself in the Final World, where he is accosted by a young man, Yozora, who claims he was sent to save him. The two end up in a different world, Quadratum, where they engage in a fierce battle in which Sora emerges victorious; if defeated, Sora transforms into a crystal statue. In the rhythm action game Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, Kairi recalls Sora's adventures in a dream world she creates within her own heart to search for clues for his whereabouts. Towards the end of her dream, Kairi confronts an illusion of Xehanort, who nearly overpowers her until Sora remotely takes control of her body and defeats him.[83]

A 2D cartoonish avatar version of Sora wearing his original outfit in Kingdom Hearts is also present in the online community-based social gaming networking service, Kingdom Hearts Mobile.[84]

In the Kingdom Hearts IV trailer, Sora is seen fighting a giant Heartless in the world of Quadratum.[85]

Other appearances

Outside Kingdom Hearts, Sora appeared as free limited-time downloadable content in the Final Fantasy crossover game World of Final Fantasy in January 2017.[86] In 2019, Sora appeared in the mobile game Disney Emoji Blitz to commemorate the release of Kingdom Hearts III.[87] Sora appears as a playable fighter in the Nintendo Switch crossover fighting game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate via downloadable content, which was released on 18 October 2021.[88]

Sora also appears in various Kingdom Hearts media adaptations, including a manga series written by Shiro Amano and a series of novels by Tomoko Kanemaki, which adapt his role in the video games.[89][90] In a collaboration between Square Enix and Japanese fashion brand SuperGroupies, Sora's image was used to create clothing based on his design from Kingdom Hearts III.[91]

Reception

Popularity

Sora's character was very well received by gaming media. Magazines have called him as one of the best[92][93][94][95][96] and iconic character in video games.[97] In an ASCII Media Works poll in which fans voted selected whose video game or manga character would like to name their children after, Sora's name was second in the male category.[98] Chris Penwell of PlayStation LifeStyle named Sora as his favorite character for having "A relatable personality."[99] Sora has the most appearances as hero in Square Enix RPGs, according to Guinness World Records's "The records held by Gamer's Edition 2020 cover characters".[100]

Various types of merchandising have been released based on Sora's character. There are several types of action figures which show Sora with a different appearance such as his original form, the Kingdom Hearts II design and others variants.[101][102] Other accessories has also been released.[103][104][105][106][107] In October 2021, during the reveal of the 20th Anniversary of the Kingdom Hearts trailer, an Ichiban Kuji-based Sora merchandise was made, and is set to be released in 2022.[108] In that same year, Square Enix also made a tote bag and tamagotchi, depicting Sora.[109][110]

Critical response

Critics and fans have generally praised Sora. When Sora was first revealed in 2002, GameSpot's Giancarlo Varanini regarded him as "an appropriate amalgamation of the Square and Disney universes." He also comically noted that Sora "doesn't look like much, but you know how it goes."[111] A 1UP.com writer called Sora "one of my all-time favorite Square characters", praising his cheerful personality.[112] Gamasutra commented on Sora's journey along the series in their feature "The Birth of Collecting: The Osiris Archetype In Games" by Jason Johnson; while comparing Sora with Isis, Johnson found Sora's adventure appealing.[113] IGN praised Sora's resilient character, noting how such an ordinary "youngster" could face up to his challenges during his adventures for the sake of friendship,[114] while RPGFan's Nicole Monet Kirk labelled him as an "extremely likable hero".[115] Furthermore, in the book "Interactive Storytelling for Video Games: A Player-Centered Approach to Creating Memorable Characters and Stories", it is noted that while Sora follows a "standard hero archetype", his character becomes more believable and strong when worrying about his friends' fates.[116] Louis Bedigian from GameZone mentioned that "Sora had something rarely found in video-game characters: depth" also praising his role in Kingdom Hearts.[32] Game Informer's Bryan Vore found that in Kingdom Hearts II, Osment has improved in voicing the character, praising his work.[117] He was third in 1UP.com's "Top 5 Most Irritating RPG Protagonists" with writer Bob Mackey commenting he is "a human version of Mickey Mouse", criticizing his original outfit and relationship with Riku and Kairi, and finding him to be less popular than the Disney characters featured in the series.[118]

Sora's transformations in the various Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts II were commented to be entertaining by Julia Reges from AllGame due to how varied they are.[119] Also reviewing Kingdom Hearts II, Greg Bemis from G4TV praised Sora's development in the game, including his growth and the fact each of his attacks from the title are entertaining.[120] Although Computer and Video Games also found an improvement in Sora's movements due to sequences made with the Reaction Commands, they found them "fairly straightforward."[121] RPGamer's Cortney Stone stated that Sora now moved "like an acrobatic honed fighter" in contrast to his "adolescent awkwardness" seen in the first Kingdom Hearts, and remarked on Sora's transformation into a lion seen in the sequel as enjoyable.[122] His new outfit was also well received by GameSpy, who found it to be an improvement from the original one that looked like a "wardrobe from Mickey Mouse's closet".[123] GamesRadar had similar opinions and particularly focused on Sora's transformation and his new abilities.[124] Game Informer viewed Sora's Drive Forms as well as his combined techniques with other characters as one of the best additions to the gameplay.[117] Sora also received negative comments regarding his characterization. In January 2007, Sora was listed the fourth "biggest dork" of 2006 by Game Informer, citing the Atlantica singing portions of the second main game.[125]

Although IGN also praised Sora's growth in Kingdom Hearts II in their article "Kingdom Hearts III: The IGN Concept", they stated that in order to make his role in a future sequel more entertaining, he would need more development making him "be confident, collected and committed to the tasks at hand".[126] Both IGN and Anime News Network said Sora and Riku's stories in Dream Drop Distance were just a preparation for their growth in Kingdom Hearts III, revealing that they are in a romantic relationship.[127][128] Also commenting on his role in a future sequel, GamesRadar stated that having Sora's character older would be necessary to make the story more mature,[129] but Allegra Frank of Polygon felt that Sora's characterization in Kingdom Hearts III was "off".[130] In retrospect, Paste Magazine found Sora's story and links with his two similar other selves to be confusing.[131] Wired regarded Sora as a hero who can make anything possible and wanted this to be done again in Kingdom Hearts III, hoping him to remain his likable traits.[132] Critics panned the relationship between Sora and Kairi, criticizing the latter's continued role as a damsel in distress to be rescued by the former, rather than an ally.[133][134][135] RPGamer criticized Sora's hero's journey for being downplayed in contrast to the final worlds.[33] Sora's fate in the ending was the subject of analysis due to his apparent death after saving Kairi to the point GameRevolution stated that Kingdom Hearts III did not give the audience the happy ending they expected despite ending Xehanort's arc.[136][137][138] With the end of Re Mind, GameInformer said Sora's characterization has been poor as he does not really go through a character arc despite appearing in several games to the point he is still a comic relief comparable to Ash Ketchum from Pokémon and Riku instead comes across more developed protagonist but as a result of tragedy which he does not want Sora to undergo.[139]

Sora was a popular choice for inclusion in the Super Smash Bros. roster among fans[140][141][142][143] and numerous websites, including Screen Rant,[144] GamingBolt,[145] Shacknews,[146] IGN,[147] and Siliconera;[148] although Jeremy Winslow of Kotaku opposed him because the roster already included too many sword-wielding characters,[143] he later admitted that Sora was "kinda cool".[149] Kyle Campbell of USA Today and Wesley Leblanc of Game Informer both praised the character's inclusion, stating that Sora's addition "is a big deal" and "perfect".[150][151]

Upon the reveal of the first Kingdom Hearts IV trailer during April 2022, Polygon noted that there were several fans of the character wanting to know the true location of Sora's apartment from the world of Quadratum which is heavily based on Shibuya, Japan. This led to the discovery that it was in the Regno Raffine building of Aoyama, Tokyo which Polygon found wealthy for the idea of Sora living there.[152] Sora's new shoes were also shown, and fans had mixed reactions to it and the loss of his clown shoes.[153]

References

  1. ^ Kevin Gifford (8 July 2009). "Tetsuya Nomura Discusses Kingdom Hearts' Past, Present". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  2. ^ Famitsu Staff (1 February 2010). "A Tribute to Sora". Weekly Famitsu (in Japanese) (1105). Enterbrain.
  3. ^ "Tetsuya Nomura Opens Up About Kingdom Hearts 3: "I Do Feel a Little Sad When I Think Some Characters Will Probably Never Appear Ever Again"". US Gamer. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b c キングダム ハーツ バース バイ スリープ アルティマニア (in Japanese). Square-Enix. 2010. pp. 616–623. ISBN 978-4-7575-2788-1.
  5. ^ a b キングダムハーツII FINAL MIX+ アルティマニア (in Japanese). Square-Enix. 2007. ISBN 978-4-7575-2013-4.
  6. ^ "Sora Biography". IGN. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  7. ^ Famitsu Staff (27 August 2009). キングダム ハーツ バース バイ スリープ [Tetsuya Nomura Interview]. Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain and Tokuma Shoten.
  8. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (18 March 2010). "Tetsuya Nomura Interviewed at Twitter". Andriasang. Archived from the original on 22 March 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  9. ^ "JE 2013: Interview with Tetsuya Nomura (ENG)". Finalland. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b Famitsu Staff (December 2006). "キングダム ハーツ II Final Mix". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain and Tokuma Shoten.
  11. ^ キングダム ハーツ 358/2 Days アルティマニア [Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Ultimania] (in Japanese). Square Enix. 1 January 2009. ISBN 978-4-7575-2578-8.
  12. ^ Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. December 2004. ISBN 978-4-7575-1344-0.
  13. ^ IGN Staff (26 September 2003). "TGS 2003: Kingdom Hearts II Details". IGN. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
  14. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (4 May 2005). "Tetsuya Nomura on Everything". IGN. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  15. ^ Famitsu Staff (4 March 2010). "Tetsuya Nomura Interview". Weekly Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain.
  16. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (19 January 2011). "Kingdom Hearts 3DS Named, Trailered and Discussed". Andriasang. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  17. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (30 January 2011). "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Sora and Riku to See Clothing Changes". Andriasang. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Tetsuya Nomura On Kingdom Hearts III And Kingdom Hearts Unchained X[chi]". Siliconera. 18 June 2015. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  19. ^ "Kingdom Hearts III Shows Sora at His Most Powerful". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  20. ^ a b Kingdom Hearts III Ultimania. Square Enix. 2019.
  21. ^ a b Good, Owen S. (5 October 2021). "Sora's Smash Bros. appearance answers a 6-year-old question". Polygon. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  22. ^ Gilliam, Ryan (21 October 2021). "Here's how hard it was to bring Sora to Smash Bros., according to Sakurai". Polygon. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  23. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (21 October 2021). "Masahiro Sakurai Explains How Sora Came To Super Smash Bros. Ultimate". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  24. ^ Fanelli, Jason (10 November 2021). "From Splatoon To Sora: The Life And Times Of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  25. ^ Wallace, Kimberley (14 June 2022). "Nomura Reveals More On Kingdom Hearts IV And The Series' Future With Final Fantasy". GameInformer. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  26. ^ Thomas Wilde (5 October 2021). "Sora from 'Kingdom Hearts' is the last addition to the 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' roster". GeekWire. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  27. ^ Michael McWhertor (14 April 2022). "Kingdom Hearts creator explains why Sora looks 'normal' in Kingdom Hearts 4". Polygon. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  28. ^ スタジオベントスタッフ (2002). Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. デジキューブ. pp. 510–514. ISBN 4887870426.
  29. ^ "Haley Joel Osment on Growing up in Kingdom Hearts". USGamer. 16 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  30. ^ Swider, Matt (25 October 2002). "Kingdom Hearts review". Gaming Target. UGO Networks. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  31. ^ "Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories Review". IGN. 1 December 2008. Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  32. ^ a b Bedigian, Louis (20 March 2006). "Kingdom Hearts II preview". GameZone. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  33. ^ a b "Kingdom Hearts III Review". RPGamer. 12 February 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  34. ^ "Review: Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix". Koi Nya. 3 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  35. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Donald: Okay, guys. Prepare for landing. / Sora: Land where? In the sea? We'll drown! / Donald: Not with my magic, we won't. Just leave it to me.
  36. ^ a b Square Enix (28 March 2006). Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Goofy: Two Keyblades! / Merryweather: This journey's gonna be twice as difficult as your last. / Flora: Your garments also have other powers---but you will have to discover what they are as you continue on your journey.
  37. ^ Birlew, Dan (2003). Kingdom Hearts Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames Publishing. ISBN 0-7440-0198-6.
  38. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Sora: I've become a part of their heart just as they've become a part of mine. And if they think of me now and then...if they don't forget me...then our hearts will be one. I don't need a weapon. My friends are my power!
  39. ^ Square Enix (28 March 2006). Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Saïx: So, you really do care for her. In that case...the answer is no. / Sora: You rotten...! / Saïx: Are you angry? Do you hate me? Then take that rage, and direct it at the Heartless.
  40. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Riku: Let the Keyblade choose...its true master. /.../ Sora: But that's impossible. How did this happen? I'm the one who fought my way here with the Keyblade! / Riku: You were just the delivery boy. Sorry, your part's over now.
  41. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Ansem: Know this. The heart that is strong and true shall win the Keyblade. / Riku: What? You're saying my heart's weaker than his? / Ansem: For that instant, it was.
  42. ^ Square Co., Ltd. (2002). Kingdom Hearts Instruction Booklet. Square Co., Ltd.
  43. ^ Turner, Benjamin (3 September 2002). "Kingdom Hearts Review (PS2)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  44. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Sora: The Heartless? / Yuffie: The ones who attacked you, you remember? / Leon: Those without hearts. / Yuffie: The darkness in people's hearts—that's what attracts them. / Leon: And there is darkness within every heart. / ... / Leon: The Heartless have great fear of the Keyblade. That's why they'll keep coming after you no matter what.
  45. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. King Mickey's Note: Donald, Sorry to rush off without sayin' goodbye, but there's big trouble brewin'. Not sure why, but the stars have been blinkin' out, one by one. And that means disaster can't be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I've gotta go check into it. There's someone with a "key"—the key to our survival. So I need you and Goofy to find him, and stick with him. Got it? We need that key or we're doomed! So go to Traverse Town and find Leon. He'll point you in the right direction. P.S. Would ya apologize to Minnie for me? Thanks, pal.
  46. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Goofy: Hey, why don't you come with us? We can go to other worlds on our vessel. / Sora: I wonder if I could find Riku and Kairi... / Donald: Of course. / Goofy: Are you sure? / Donald: Who knows? But we need him to come with us to help us find the king. / Leon: Sora, go with them. Especially if you want to find your friends. / Sora: Yeah, I guess.
  47. ^ "Kingdom Hearts for PlayStation 2 (2002)". MobyGames. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  48. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Maleficent: You see? It's just as I told you. While you toiled away trying to find your dear friend, he quite simply replaced you with some new companions. Evidently, now he values them far more than he does you. You're better off without that wretched boy. Now, think no more of him, and come with me. I'll help you find what you're searching for...
  49. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Sora: What? You... You're not Riku. / ... / Sora: Tell me. Who are you? / Ansem: It is I, Ansem, the seeker of darkness.
  50. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Ansem: The Keyhole cannot be completed so long as the last princess of heart still sleeps. / Sora: The princess...? Kairi's a princess? / Ansem: Yes, and without her power, the Keyhole will remain incomplete.
  51. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Ansem: Don't you see yet? The princess's heart is responding. It has been there all along. Kairi's heart rests within you! / Sora: Kairi... Kairi's inside me?
  52. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Sora: A Keyblade that unlocks people's hearts... I wonder. / Goofy: Sora? / ... / Sora, hold on! / Donald: No, wait! / ... / Sora... Sora! / Kairi: Sora.
  53. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Kairi: Sora? Is that you? / Goofy: Uh-oh! / Kairi: This time, I'll protect you. / Goofy: Kairi! / Sora: Kairi, thank you.
  54. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Goofy: Gawrsh, is that all that's left of the worlds taken by the Heartless?
  55. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Mickey: Now, Sora! Let's close this door for good! / Donald: Close it, quick! / Sora: But... / Mickey: Don't worry. There will always be a door to the light. / Goofy: Sora, you can trust King Mickey. / Riku: Now! They're coming!
  56. ^ Square (15 November 2002). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Donald: Well, now what do we do? / Sora: We've gotta find Riku and King Mickey.
  57. ^ Square Enix (2 December 2008). Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Larxene: You're so stupid. Don't you get it now? That's what Naminé's powers are about! She can enter, rearrange, and even create new memories---of anything, even things that never happened. The girl you've been trying to protect all this time---is really a manipulative witch who shackles people's hearts! / Sora: Then...my memories...are all... / Larxene: Oh, you do get it! Lies, lies, all lies! Just Naminé's illusions, nothing more.
  58. ^ Square Enix (2 December 2008). Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Naminé: You won't be able to remember anything about what happened here. / Sora: Not even you? / Naminé: I'm sorry. It's the only way, I'm afraid. Sora, you have a choice. You can lose your memories of this castle and reclaim your old one...or keep your memories here and give up the memories that you've lost.
  59. ^ Square Enix (28 March 2006). Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Riku: Will it work? / DiZ: If we can maintain the simulated town until Naminé finishes chaining together Sora's memories. / Riku: What will happen to Roxas? / DiZ: He holds half of Sora's power within him. In the end, he'll have to give it back.
  60. ^ Hollinger, Elizabeth (2006). Kingdom Hearts II Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames Publishing. ISBN 0-7440-0526-4.
  61. ^ Square Enix (28 March 2006). Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Saïx: Pitiful Heartless, mindlessly collecting hearts. And yet they know not the true power of what they hold. The rage of the Keyblade releases those hearts. They gather in darkness, masterless and free... until they weave together to make Kingdom Hearts. And when that time comes, we can truly, finally exist.
  62. ^ Square Enix (28 March 2006). Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Saïx: If it's Kairi you're worried about, don't. We're taking very good care of her.
  63. ^ Square Enix (28 March 2006). Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Kairi: You're home.
  64. ^ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (29 September 2009). Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (Nintendo DS). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Riku: Xion...your memories...they really belong to Sora. / Xion: So you mean...I'm like a part of him? / Riku: When his memories were scattered, some of them...found their way inside you. Now, Sora has been put to sleep so that we can piece together his memory. Except... / Xion: You can't, because part of it is inside of me. That means...he can't wake up. / Riku: Yeah. You got it.
  65. ^ "Interview with Tetsuya Nomura and Hajime Tabata". Famitsu. 1 October 2007. p. 33.
  66. ^ "Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep". Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2 November 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  67. ^ Square Enix PDD 5 (7 September 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (PlayStation Portable). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Sora: Hey, can you hear me? / Ventus: I heard your voice. /.../ Ventus: Would you mind if I stay here with you? / Sora: Sure, if it'll make you feel better. / Ventus: Thank you.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  68. ^ Square Enix PDD 5 (7 September 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (PlayStation Portable). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Riku: Your mind's made up / Sora: Yeah. /.../ Sora: Kairi, I... it's just they really need me. I have to go. I am who I am because of them. / Kairi: See you soon.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  69. ^ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (31 July 2012). Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (Nintendo 3DS). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Yen Sid: Only a true master can teach you the proper way. Both of you are self-taught Keyblade wielders--an impressive feat. However, the time has come for you to let go of preconceived notions, forget what you know about the Keyblade, and begin your training again with a clean slate. Very well, then. Sora and Riku, let your examination begin.
  70. ^ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (31 July 2012). Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (Nintendo 3DS). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Xehanort: Your heart will sleep forever in the folds of darkness. And your body will be another vessel for me. So light gives way to darkness. Good night, Sora.
  71. ^ Reed, Ashley (3 December 2014). "Kingdom Hearts history - One of gaming's most complicated stories explained". gamesradar. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  72. ^ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (31 July 2012). Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (Nintendo 3DS). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Yen Sid: Sora and Riku, you both deserve the honor. However, one of you braved the realm of sleep again to unlock the final Keyhole and save a friend. Riku, I name you our new true Keyblade Master.
  73. ^ "PC Review - 'Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue'". WorthPlaying. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  74. ^ Corriea, Alexa Ray (16 June 2015). "Kingdom Hearts III Shows Sora at His Most Powerful". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  75. ^ Nakamura, Toshi (20 June 2013). "Here Are Some Things To Expect in Kingdom Hearts 3". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  76. ^ Square Enix (2018). Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Ventus: The power of waking... / Sora: I can't. I still don't have it yet. / Ventus: You never lost it... It sleeps...until someone needs it... Call to it... / Sora: I am calling...with all my heart.
  77. ^ Square Enix (2018). Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Sora: They're gone. Kairi, Donald... Goofy, the King... Gone forever. What do we do?
  78. ^ Square Enix (2018). Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Sora: You're wrong. My heart is strong. / Xehanort: What do you think the power of waking is? It's for traversing hearts to reach worlds. Not for traversing worlds to reach hearts. There's a high price to pay for wielding such power foolishly.
  79. ^ Square Enix (2018). Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Sora: I found you! / Kairi: You see? I had no doubts that you'd pull through. /Sora: The light in the darkness. It was you. You're the one who kept me from fading away. / Kairi: All I did was believe that you wouldn't.
  80. ^ Square Enix (2018). Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. 'Terra: ...and protect...my friends! / Sora: Terra! Now! / Terra: Aqua! Ven!
  81. ^ Square Enix (2018). Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Master Xehanort: You require motivation. / Sora: Kairi!!!
  82. ^ Square Enix (2018). Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Mickey: Sora, listen. The power of waking isn't to go chase hearts around! Even if you do locate Kairi, you might never come home to us again. / Sora: I will. And we'll both be back before you know it.
  83. ^ "Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a Disney Re-Imagining of Theatrhythm". IGN. 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  84. ^ "Message from the KINGDOM»KH MOBILE". blog.jp.square-enix.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  85. ^ McWhertor, Michael (10 April 2022). "Kingdom Hearts 4 announced, will kick off Sora's new story arc". Polygon. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  86. ^ "Sora From Kingdom Hearts To Join World of Final Fantasy As A Free DLC This Winter". Siliconera. 27 October 2016. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  87. ^ "Disney's "As Told by Emoji" Series Tackles Kingdom Hearts III". Laughingplace. 8 February 2019. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  88. ^ "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's final character is Sora from Kingdom Hearts". Polygon. 5 October 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  89. ^ Amano, Shiro (2007). Kingdom Hearts II Volume 1. Tokyo Pop. ISBN 978-1-4278-0058-9.
  90. ^ Kanemaki, Tomoko (2008). Kingdom Hearts, Volume 1. Disney Press. ISBN 978-1-4231-0395-0.
  91. ^ "新進気鋭の４名のアーティストが集結". Super Groupies. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  92. ^ Famitsu Staff (11 February 2010). "Most Popular Characters as Voted On By Fans". Weekly Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain: 127.
  93. ^ "Sora - Top 25 Japanese RPG Characters". UGO Networks. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  94. ^ "Los 30 mejores héroes de los últimos 30 años". Hobby Consolas. March 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  95. ^ "100 best heroes in video games". GamesRadar staff. 9 November 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  96. ^ Vore, Bryan (3 December 2010). "Readers' Top 30 Characters Results Revealed". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  97. ^ "50 Most Iconic Video Game Characters of the 21st Century". Glixel. 23 November 2016. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016.
  98. ^ "20 Most Popular Anime/Game Names to Give Children". Anime News Network. 12 August 2010. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  99. ^ "Why Sora (Kingdom Hearts) is a Stand Out Gaming Character". PlayStation LifeStyle. 4 April 2019. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  100. ^ "The records held by Gamer's Edition 2020 cover characters - including Fortnite, Spider-Man and Pikachu". Guinness World Record. August 2019. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  101. ^ "Kingdom Hearts: Sora Action Figure". Amazon. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  102. ^ Vikki Blade (10 April 2022). "These new Kingdom Hearts 3 collectible figures are now ready to pre-order". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  103. ^ "These KINGDOM HEARTS Boots Protect Your Feet from the Darkness". Nerdist. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  104. ^ "Did you know there's 12 Kingdom Hearts novels? Well, you do now!". Destructoid. 21 July 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  105. ^ "The best Kingdom Hearts merch". Pocket Tactics. 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  106. ^ "Kingdom Hearts 2 Sora and Riku Plush Dolls Announced". 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  107. ^ "Kingdom Hearts Perfumes Inspired by Sora and Riku Are Available to Pre-Order". 19 January 2022. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  108. ^ "Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Event & Merchandise Announced". Screenrant. 5 October 2021. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  109. ^ Stephanie Liu (14 February 2022). "Kingdom Hearts 3 Tote Bag Will Have Sora and Mickey Dolls". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  110. ^ Brian Ashcraft (29 March 2022). "Kingdom Hearts Celebrates 20 Years With Tamagotchi". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  111. ^ Varanini, Giancarlo (3 April 2002). "Kingdom Hearts Preview". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 12 October 2004. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  112. ^ "Kingdom Hearts (PS2) Review". 1UP.com. UGO Networks. 1 January 2000. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  113. ^ Johnson, Jason (14 October 2009). "The Birth of Collecting: The Osiris Archetype In Games". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 9 May 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  114. ^ "Sora Biography". IGN. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  115. ^ Kirk, Nicole Monet. "Kingdom Hearts review". RPGFan. Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  116. ^ Lebowitz, Josiah; Klug, Chris (2011). Interactive Storytelling for Video Games: A Player-Centered Approach to Creating Memorable Characters and Stories. Focal Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0240817170.
  117. ^ a b Vore, Bryan (17 March 2006). "Kingdom Hearts 2 Hands-On Preview And Movies". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
  118. ^ Mackey, Bob. "The Top 5 Most Irritating RPG Protagonists". 1UP.com. UGO Networks. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  119. ^ Reges, Julia. "Kingdom Hearts II review". AllGame. All Media Group. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  120. ^ Bemis, Greg (11 May 2006). "Kingdom Hearts II review". G4TV. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  121. ^ Stone, Cortney (22 February 2006). "Kingdom Hearts II Preview". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  122. ^ Stone, Cortney. "Kingdom Hearts II - Staff Review". RPGamer. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  123. ^ Theolbad, Phil (30 August 2004). "Kingdom Hearts II Preview". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  124. ^ Vestal, Andrew (11 May 2006). "Kingdom Hearts II - Hands on". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  125. ^ "Top 10 Dorks of 2006". Game Informer. No. 165. Cathy Preston. 1 January 2007. p. 58.
  126. ^ Clements, Ryan (28 July 2009). "Kingdom Hearts III: The IGN Concept". IGN. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  127. ^ "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Review". IGN. 17 July 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  128. ^ "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Review". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  129. ^ Towell, Justin. "7 things the new Kingdom Hearts needs to be great again". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  130. ^ Frank, Allegra (24 January 2019). "Kingdom Hearts 3 ends the series with a whimper". Polygon. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  131. ^ "Stop Comparing Kingdom Hearts to Metal Gear Solid". Paste Magazine. 7 February 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  132. ^ Muncy, Julie. "Playing Kingdom Hearts III Feels Like Coming Home". Wired. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  133. ^ "Kingdom Hearts fails most of its women". Polygon. 13 August 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  134. ^ "Análisis de Kingdom Hearts III para PS4 y Xbox One". HobbyConsolas. 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  135. ^ "Kingdom Hearts 3: Re Mind review: Throw away the key". Shack News. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  136. ^ "Latest Kingdom Hearts III Re:Mind Trailer Shows Off Final Fantasy Characters, Kairi In Battle, And More". GameInformer. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  137. ^ "Kingdom Hearts 3 ending explained - What do all those endings really mean for the future of the series?". GameInformer. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  138. ^ "Kingdom Hearts 3 Ending explained What happens to Sora in the final scene?". GameRevolution. February 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  139. ^ Stewart, Marcus (30 May 2022). "I Wish Kingdom Hearts' Sora Was More Like Yakuza's Ichiban Kasuga". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  140. ^ "Most Popular Super Smash Bros. DLC Character Fan Predictions According to Twitter". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  141. ^ "Here's the most-wanted Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighters broken down by region". GameRevolution. 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  142. ^ "Smash Bros Fans Can't Get over This One Character Not Being in the Game". WGTC. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  143. ^ a b "Smash Bros. Ultimate Fans Split on Kingdom Hearts' Sora as Final DLC Fighter". Kotaku. October 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  144. ^ "Super Smash Bros Ultimate: Kingdom Hearts' Sora Should Join as DLC". Screenrant. 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  145. ^ "12 Characters We Would Like To See As DLC In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate". GamingBolt. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  146. ^ "Shack Chat: What is your fantasy video game crossover?". Shacknews. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  147. ^ Thomas, Lucas M. (16 November 2007). "Smash It Up! - Veterans Day". IGN. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  148. ^ "What Should the Final SSBU Character Be?". Siliconera. October 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  149. ^ "I Was Wrong, Sora In Smash Bros. Is Kinda Cool To Play". Kotaku. 20 October 2021. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  150. ^ "Sora's Inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a Perfect Series Sendoff for the Game's Creator". GameInformer. 7 December 2018. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  151. ^ "Here's why Sora joining the cast of 'Smash Bros. Ultimate' is a big deal". USAToday. 5 October 2021. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  152. ^ "Kingdom Hearts fans found Sora's swanky new real-world Tokyo apartment". Polygon. 11 April 2022. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  153. ^ Zack Zwiezen (10 April 2022). "RIP Sora's Big-Ass Clown Shoes, 2002-2022". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.

Bibliography
Kembali kehalaman sebelumnya