Before the unveiling of Kingdom Hearts 4, fans of the series were treated to an unexpected trailer showcasing a new mobile game set in the Kingdom Hearts universe. The series' 20th Anniversary event was chock-full of footage regarding the future of the series, with the reveal of Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link being one of the event's most exciting features.
Long-time fans of the series are familiar with the vast array of platforms its games have been confined to, not excluding title releases on mobile devices. With developers having amassed a great deal of experience in their previous mobile games, fans are hoping that certain elements will return in Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link, while others will remain absent.
10 Character Customization
Kingdom Hearts: Union X [Cross] marked the first instance in the series where the player was allowed to create and customize their character. The unveiling of the Missing Link trailer has informed fans that they will be able to do this once more, but the extent of the customization is unclear.
Though the unique variation of outfits seen in the trailer promotes an idea of limitless customization, there may only be a select number of outfits available. The outfits shown in the trailer seem to conform to one particular style, inferring that there will be restrictions placed on how a character can be experimented with. Missing Link would be a much more appealing game if this feature is quickly remedied.
9 Scala Ad Caelum Exploration
The climax of Kingdom Hearts 3 allowed the player to explore the ancient city of Scala ad Caelum. Given its appearance in the final trailer for the game, fans were excited to explore the location in its entirety, but sadly this was not to be.
Confined to one room, and then a slightly larger one in the Re Mind DLC, fans were disappointed about how little they got to see of this beautiful world. With Missing Link primarily set in Scala, there is a high probability it will be much larger than its previous depictions.
8 Improved Pacing
Union X [Cross] told what was arguably one of the most engaging stories present in the series, but how it was delivered made it difficult to follow. For the most part, each story update came with a series of levels that bared little relevance to the overall plot, but Missing Link has the chance to change this.
Set solely in Scala ad Caelum, it is likely that the player will be spending a great deal of time exploring its expansive dominion. Though the trailer showed a series of other explorable worlds, Scala as a hub world may permit its story to be told with better pacing.
7 An Appropriate Grind
Kingdom Hearts mobile games are notorious for the time and effort it takes to level a character up. As a largely loved JRPG trope, grinding is seen as a challenging, but rewarding endeavor that provides a feeling of accomplishment to the player.
Unfortunately, the majority of mobile games include in-game transactions that permit quicker leveling. Though this is a convenient feature for those willing to pay, those who hope to level on their terms may find the entire process becoming much more arduous than they would have once thought. Hopefully, Missing Link's leveling system will permit an easier grind than its predecessors.
6 Unique Keyblades
As the series' primary weapons, Keyblades have become some of the most iconic means of combat in gaming history. Union X [Cross] marked the first series entry wherein the player could level up their Keyblade, but perhaps a level of customization could be administered in Missing Link.
Given the unique array of Keyblades present in the Missing Link trailer, it seems likely that these weapons will be alterable. Their plain and simplistic designs suggest that Keyblade growth will result in a change in aesthetic, alongside an improvement in combat abilities. Though it is hard to imagine other means of altering these weapons, fans are eager to wield keys that convey their personalities.
5 Regular Updates
Though the beginning of Union X [Cross] saw it receiving regular story updates, its consistency slowly diminished over time. With weeks turning to months, fans of the title were only seldom given the story pieces they desired, resulting in a lack of interest and understanding of the overall plot.
The story of Missing Link needs to be updated regularly to distance itself from its previous mobile games. Regular story updates will allow for a more coherent story while also preventing it from becoming stale.
4 Engaging Side Events
Though many fans are excited to learn of Missing Link's story, some are eager to uncover the new title's side events. Union X [Cross] had a habit of incorporating a variety of different adventures to fill in the gaps in its story, so this new entry will likely aim to do the same.
The absence of the Colosseum in Kingdom Hearts 3 was a shock to long-term fans, but with the announcement of Missing Link, it may return. The multiplayer capabilities could enhance its once limited design by allowing multiple fans to combine forces to overcome their enemies.
3 New Enemies
Throughout the many entries in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, many iconic enemies have gained the chance to make multiple appearances due to their popularity and fascinating designs. With the Missing Link trailer revealing the presence of Darkside, fans are eager to see what other evil creatures will appear.
Kingdom Hearts 3 enemies will likely return due to their already existing models, but it would be more exciting to see a small array of new enemies and bosses making the cut. Though there will likely be a few new additions to the bestiary, it would be a shame for Missing Link to rely too heavily on its previous enemies.
2 More Of Brain's Backstory
Introduced as one of the most important characters in Union X [Cross], it is likely that Brain will be playing a vital role in Missing Link's plot. Though he is only briefly seen during the trailer's final moments, it is safe to assume that his involvement will not be limited to brief shots and allusions.
Confirmed to be a different Brain to who fans are familiar with, this new rendition of the character may serve to tell the story of Brain after the events of the Union X finale. With many theories suggesting that Luxu took control of Brain's body, Missing Link may serve to explain why.
1 Exciting Combat
Given the previous iterations of Kingdom Hearts mobile games, fans of the series were ecstatic to discover the gameplay segment of the Missing Link trailer. No longer confined to two-dimensional backgrounds and sprites, this upcoming title seems equally promising as Kingdom Hearts 3.
The Missing Link trailer has revealed that combat will be nothing like how it was in its prior mobile titles. It appears that Kingdom Hearts 3 will be acting as the core inspiration for the game's combat, but how much will be transferable to mobile hardware? The trailer's combat looks promising, but hopefully, there are more exciting abilities and skill sets than what has been shown thus far.
Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link is set to receive a closed beta test in 2022.