10 Songs We Want in Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

Here are 10 songs from the Kingdom Hearts series (and its related products) we hope make an appearance in the upcoming Square Enix rhythm game.


Published: October 17, 2020 11:00 AM /

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Melody of Memory Boxart

The rhythm game Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is hitting consoles on Nov. 13. While later entries in Square Enix's dearly beloved JRPG series have gotten a bit twisty and hard to follow, one thing that has remained consistent is that the series has some pretty great music. From remixes of classic Disney tracks to the iconic theme songs performed in both Japanese and English by multilingual superstar Utada Hikaru, the Kingdom Hearts soundtracks are an absolute must-listen for fans and newcomers alike. 

With all those amazing songs to choose from, it's unlikely that every great track will make it into the upcoming rhythm game; more's the pity. We're definitely going to see the likes of the original theme song "Simple and Clean," catchy menu tune "Dearly Beloved," and of course, Frozen's breakaway hit "Let it Go." Additionally, currently released trailers have confirmed a number of character themes, including "Sora," "Kairi," "Roxas," and "Xion," and the background music from the Agrabah (Aladdin) and Olympus Coliseum (Hercules) worlds.

However, these confirmed songs represent only a small portion of the 140 tracks that will make an appearance in Melody of Memory. Here are 10 other memorable tunes we'd like to see make an appearance in the game, including a few which you might have forgotten about.

A Backwards Version of Sanctuary / Passion

The opening theme of Kingdom Hearts II - Utada Hikaru's "Sanctuary" (known in Japanese as "Passion") has been confirmed to appear. While we're definitely looking forward to this track, what we're also hoping to see is a version of "Sanctuary" played backward, possibly as some kind of secret or bonus stage. "Sanctuary" contains a number of lyrics deliberately sung by Utada Hikaru and then reversed; as a result, when the whole track is played backward, it features a reflection on the events of Kingdom Hearts I and II from best friend/sometimes antagonist Riku's point of view rather than protagonist Sora's. It would be fun to see this hidden piece of Kingdom Hearts lore acknowledged in Melody of Memory.

Twister Kingdom Hearts Mix (From The World Ends With You)

The spin-off title Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance featured an unexpected but highly celebrated appearance from the cast of fellow Square Enix RPG The World Ends With You. Neku, Shiki, Joshua, and the rest of the gang hang out in the recurring world Traverse Town, where they help Sora and Riku fight off hordes of enemy Dream Eaters. They're accompanied by "Kingdom Mix" versions of three of their game's most memorable tracks: "Someday," "Twister," and "Calling." "Calling" has been confirmed, but we hope to see "Twister" as well, especially given that both songs appeared as DLC in fellow Square rhythm game Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call.

He's a Pirate

The Pirates of the Caribbean world in Kingdom Hearts II isn't many fans' favorite part of the game. The dark, gritty plot and unique animation style (meant to emulate a live-action film). In fact, it came as quite a surprise when a Pirates of the Caribbean world appeared once again in Kingdom Hearts III. However, one element of the Pirates experience that DID stand out was the soundtrack, especially "He's a Pirate," composed by the legendary Hans Zimmer. Can't you imagine playing a stage set to this track while struggling to keep Sora steady on a rolling ship's deck? Come on, Square, let the players (and Sora) embrace their inner pirate!

Shipmeister's / Shipmaster's Humoresque

"Shipmeister's Humoresque," aka "Shipmaster's Humoresque," is an excellent track from the original Kingdom Hearts which has unfortunately been forgotten by many fans. In fact, today, fans can't even agree on its actual name. Why? Well... because it played during the Gummi Ship segments, which weren't exactly the most popular element of gameplay. This catchy tune plays as Disney characters Chip and Dale upgrade your ship, and a version of it can also be heard if you complete the piloting segments with a fully upgraded Gummi Ship. Its appearance in Melody of Memory would be a great tribute to a forgotten yet somehow still nostalgic gameplay element.

Night on Bald Mountain

Probably the most unexpected Disney character appearing in the first Kingdom Hearts was Chernabog, the massive winged demon from Disney's Fantasia. He's first fought as a surprise boss close to the end of the original game, then later makes a reappearance in the Fantasia-themed world "Symphony of Sorcery" in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. If they're going to pick one song to represent the musically rich Fantasia, it's got to be Chernabog's intimidating boss theme, "Night on Bald Mountain." Hopefully, a Melody of Memory recreation of that boss fight won't be quite so demonically difficult—we definitely remember having to give it multiple tries back when the original was first released!

The Other Promise

This one is a bit of a long shot because it's technically a variation on the character theme "Roxas," which has already been confirmed to appear. However, "The Other Promise" is a rich, elaborate track, representing the conflicted relationship between protagonist Sora and his alternate Nobody self, Roxas. The song ultimately plays during a clash between the two, which is featured in the remade Final Mix version of Kingdom Hearts II as well as the 2.5 collector's edition. Melody of Memory has plenty of options regarding how to stage the track; it could recreate the original fight, or could even have two players working in tandem as Sora and Roxas to complete the song in co-op mode!

Oscurita Di Xehanort

One of the strengths of the Kingdom Hearts soundtracks has always been the iconic villain themes. While a few of them have already been confirmed, including "Dismiss" and "Another Side," one notable snub so far has been "Oscurita di Xehanort" from Kingdom Hearts III. This sinister track plays during a boss fight against not just one, but multiple versions of recurring Kingdom Hearts foe, the titular Xehanort, which received praise from fans as an interesting (and rather difficult) battle. Plus, what would a Kingdom Hearts game be without a fight against some version of Xehanort? This track would be a perfect opportunity for such an epic showdown!

Link to All

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance featured the brand-new "Link" system, which allowed Sora and Riku to team up with adorable Dream Eater allies and utilize their abilities in battle. The Dream Eaters quickly became fan favorites thanks to their bright, eye-catching color palettes and animal-inspired designs. It would be an absolute loss if the Dream Eaters didn't show up in Melody of Memory in some way— and one way to include them would be via "Link to All," the theme song of the Link System. Plus, "Link to All" draws heavily from the popular menu track "Dearly Beloved," and fans would happily embrace any and all versions of the memorable melody (pun fully intended).

Pretty Pretty Abilities

One title which has not yet received a lot of love in Melody of Memory is Kingdom Hearts coded, which began life as a mobile game before receiving a remake called Re: coded. This underappreciated game features an incredibly unique soundtrack, re-imagining familiar Kingdom Hearts tracks in a crisp, technical style—extremely fitting for a game that centers around Sora's adventures in the digital world. One excellent track which could definitely be included is "Pretty Pretty Abilities," which appears when the player learns new abilities or upgrades Sora's existing ones. Maybe a stage featuring this song could even use a pixelated or digital world-inspired art style!

Swim This Way

Melody of Memory isn't actually Kingdom Hearts' first foray into the rhythm-game genre. In Kingdom Hearts II, Sora, Donald, and Goofy had to help Ariel, Sebastian, and the other residents of the underwater city Atlantica put on a musical performance. The songs featured in this segment didn't exactly become fan favorites—possibly because assigning a singing role to Donald Duck wasn't Square's smartest decision—but they're still an important part of Kingdom Hearts' musical history. The fun, bouncy "Swim This Way," with its catchy, memorable lyrics, is the perfect choice to represent Atlantica in Melody of Memory.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory releases on Nov. 11 in Japan and November 13 everywhere else for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.


Did we miss any songs? What tracks would you most like to see appearing in Melody of Memory? Let us know!

Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


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More Info About This Game
Learn more about Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
Developer
Square Enix
Publisher
Square Enix
Platforms
PlayStation 4
Release Date
November 13, 2020 (Calendar)
Genre
Rhythm, Action
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