- Sora has been revealed as the final fighter in the universally-acclaimed crossover fighting title Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
- Sora will be part of Challenger Pack 11, which will release on October 18.
This morning, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate creator and director Masahiro Sakurai announced the final DLC fighter for the universally-acclaimed Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The title, which released in 2018, is famous for its incorporation of characters from not just Nintendo's franchises, but several other video game titles of all kinds, including Mojang's Minecraft, Atlus's Personal 5, and SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog. This time, Sakurai announced that Sora from the Kingdom Hearts series will be the final DLC fighter for the game.
The reveal trailer begins with all the revealed characters standing before the burning Smash Bros. logo from the trailer for the game's original release. The burning logo slowly goes out, but a single flame falls. As the logo's flames go out, all of the characters slowly become still and lifeless. Mario, from Nintendo's 1985 classic Super Mario Bros., suddenly opens his eyes and walks forward towards the single flame on the ground. After hesitating, he reaches in and grabs the flame before throwing it in the air. The flame twirls and is revealed to be the Kingdom Key Keyblade, which suddenly blasts a beam of light, revealing a keyhole. The light from the keyhole begins to light the area and the other characters become alive, turning around towards the light. From the keyhole emerges a sleeping Sora, who floats through before suddenly waking and flying around the area before landing on the ground and retrieving his Keyblade. The complete trailer can be viewed below:
Gameplay-wise, Sora's abilities and moveset are largely based on his abilities from the original Kingdom Hearts. Additionally, his costumes include his attire from Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, and Kingdom Hearts III. Additional costumes include Valor Form and Wisdom Form from Kingdom Hearts II, Ultimate Form from Kingdom Hearts III, and Sora's appearance in Timeless River from Kingdom Hearts II. A new stage was also revealed for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, based on Hollow Bastion from Kingdom Hearts. The stage will also transform to one based on Dive to the Heart, with the background featuring the Dive to the Heart stations featured throughout the games featuring Sora, Riku, Roxas, Xion, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua.
Nine tracks from the original game also will be available as part of the DLC: "Night of Fate", "Destiny's Force", "Shrouding Dark Cloud", "Hand in Hand", "Blast Away! -Gummi Ship II-", "Hollow Bastion", "Scherzo di Notte", "Fragments of Sorrow", and "Destati". There's also a re-arranged version of "Hand in Hand", arranged by series composer Yoko Shimomura, that plays as Sora's victory fanfare when he wins matches. In fact, the game slows down during the final hit just as it does in the series when Sora wins. Additionally, those who have save data for Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory will be able to unlock that game's version of "Dearly Beloved" in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
A scene from "The Last Key" showing the Kingdom Key Keyblade.
A scene from "The Last Key" showing a Keyhole from which Sora emerges.
Sora, as he glides above the other Smash Bros. fighters.
Sora's announcement banner in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Kingdom Hearts logos.
A promotional image showing Sora and the Kingdom Key in Hollow Bastion
A promotional image showing Sora swinging the Keyblade high above a beach.
A promotional image showing Sora casting Blizzaga.
A promotional image showing Sora lunging towards an enemy.
A promotional image showing Sora dodging an attack from Sephiroth.
A promotional image showing Sora hitting Bowser on the head with the Keyblade.
Sora, along with the new stage and songs, are part of Challenger pack 11, and will release on October 18, 2021. Let us know if you'll be playing as Sora in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate!