Tetsuya Nomura discusses a new mechanic "Athletic Flow", Summons, and Keyblade transformations in Kingdom Hearts III

[Jake 1,488]

In a recent interview with Game Informer, Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura discussed more gameplay details for Kingdom Hearts III. While talking with Game Informer, Nomura discusses the new mechanic introduced in Kingdom Hearts III called Athletic Flow" (Japanese name), where it allows Sora to propel himself using the environment to reach new areas normally inaccessible. This mechanic also allows Sora to run up the cliff during the Rock Titan boss battle in past trailers. In English, this mechanic is known as "Flowchain".

 

You can check out the quote from Tetsuya Nomura below:

 

"It’s a new mechanic that we’re implementing in Kingdom Hearts III. The Japanese name is Athletic Flow. I don’t know what the English final name is just yet. It’s based on the Flow Motion mechanic, and it’s basically revamped and introduced as a new mechanic in Kingdom Hearts III. You’ll be utilizing the environment to propel yourself to an area that you’re not normally able to go to, or again, running up the cliff during battle. Those can be expected in each of the different worlds you’ll be traversing through."

Furthermore, Nomura also discussed summons and how it's more pretty compared to previous games, and how they're expressing summons in Kingdom Hearts III. You can check out the quote below.

 

"If I could provide a glimpse, I’ve made it more pretty. Not just the literal modeling, but it’s more about how we’re expressing it that has become more pretty."

Nomura also confirms that Keyblade transformations are based on what Keyblade you use, and there are 2 different forms that each one can take. However, Keyblade transformations are not finalized yet and they are subject to change.

 

You can check out the quote below:

 

"First and foremost, each keyblade will have its own form that it can transform into, and it’s different per keyblade. There are at least two different forms it can take. For example, in Toy Story, you saw the giant hammer and then the drill. Another one was at the beginning of the trailer where you saw Sora shoot arrows and it [then] turned into a bazooka, so there are two different forms. It also has multiple layers in terms of transforming; you start out with your first phase of transformation, and if you successfully connect your combos, the [next] transformation will happen. We’re still trying to finalize the specifications, but that being said, it is subject to change, so it might evolve into something even more impressive."

 

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[SRKTVAMDGRLXN 232]

In a recent interview with Game Informer, Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura discussed more gameplay details for Kingdom Hearts III. While talking with Game Informer, Nomura discusses the new mechanic introduced in Kingdom Hearts III called Athletic Flow" (Japanese name), where it allows Sora to propel himself using the environment to reach new areas normally inaccessible. This mechanic also allows Sora to run up the cliff during the Rock Titan boss battle in past trailers. In English, this mechanic is known as "Flowchain".

 

You can check out the quote from Tetsuya Nomura below:

 

 

Furthermore, Nomura also discussed summons and how it's more pretty compared to previous games, and how they're expressing summons in Kingdom Hearts III. You can check out the quote below.

 

 

Nomura also confirms that Keyblade transformations are based on what Keyblade you use, and there are 2 different forms that each one can take. However, Keyblade transformations are not finalized yet and they are subject to change.

 

You can check out the quote below.

 

 

 

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JAKE, I LOVE YOU (AND THE KH13 STAFF, OF COURSE).

 

So, does that mean that, for example, in Tangled world, if we want to reach Rapunzel's tower, we'll have to use this "Athletic Flow" and not Flowmotion? Also, summons in KH3 are more pretty? Huh? What exactly does that mean?

[Jingilator 922]

 

JAKE, I LOVE YOU (AND THE KH13 STAFF, OF COURSE).

 

So, does that mean that, for example, in Tangled world, if we want to reach Rapunzel's tower, we'll have to use this "Athletic Flow" and not Flowmotion? Also, summons in KH3 are more pretty? Huh? What exactly does that mean?

 

He most likely means visual-wise.

[Headphone Jack 1,147]

athletic flow sounds like parkour and that's fine with me.

 

if it's basically a more toned down version of flowmotion then count me in. flowmotion was nice but i hated rolling into a wall and then suddenly going into flowmotion because of it. 

[Awesome Sauce 634]

So a different version of Flowmotion? What happened to the "Free Run" mechanic from earlier trailers, then? Was that scrapped?

[GroovingOnUp 163]

Athletic flow seems automatic.

 

Seems like you lock on to something and you automatically scale it.

[waytothexdawnx 1,159]

Not sure how I feel about this yet.

[Rob 5,571]

The Japanese name is Athletic Flow. I don’t know what the English final name is just yet.

 

A real shame that this has to happen period. There shouldn't be any changes in the name, especially over simple names (like Kingdom Chain in Japan becoming Kingdom Key overseas). An issue since the beginning. Rob still cringes when he watches the JP trailers of KH3 (BBS and 0.2) saying Shootlock then the overseas trailer says Shotlock. One letter removed. Really? Then you see Sora actually "shooting" things or more precisely...you have Disney movies outright saying "shoot" in films.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Thank you for this overwhelming awesomeness, Jake!

 

Hmm, Athletic Flow, eh? I think that's gonna be the official name of the Free Run mechanic that Nomura had implied would be a part of Sora's skillset back when the E3 2015 trailer rolled around! As many have mentioned, it seems to be a more balanced version of Flowmotion, which I can appreciate!

 

Summons being more pretty may mean something else...this is Nomura we're talking about, so summons may end up being more than just eye candy!

 

As for Keyblade Transformations, that's awesome, because this means that we get to experiment with different transformations and stick to whichever one fits our playstyle the most! I certainly loved the Hyper Hammer/Drill Punch, and I'm sure there will be even more awesome transformations to tinker with!

 

Gahhh, the excitement is real! :')

[Jayden2602 40]

Thank you for this overwhelming awesomeness, Jake!

 

Hmm, Athletic Flow, eh? I think that's gonna be the official name of the Free Run mechanic that Nomura had implied would be a part of Sora's skillset back when the E3 2015 trailer rolled around! As many have mentioned, it seems to be a more balanced version of Flowmotion, which I can appreciate!

 

Summons being more pretty may mean something else...this is Nomura we're talking about, so summons may end up being more than just eye candy!

 

As for Keyblade Transformations, that's awesome, because this means that we get to experiment with different transformations and stick to whichever one fits our playstyle the most! I certainly loved the Hyper Hammer/Drill Punch, and I'm sure there will be even more awesome transformations to tinker with!

 

Gahhh, the excitement is real! :')

Thank god its a more balanced version of flow motion. Flow motion was cool but it was very easily spammable. It give you a lot of invincibility frames. 

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Thank god its a more balanced version of flow motion. Flow motion was cool but it was very easily spammable. It give you a lot of invincibility frames. 

 

Yep! It looks like this time around it'll be a more balanced out feature!