Disney & Square Enix to create "Kingdom Hearts Mega Mix"

"Kingdom Hearts Mega Mix" will be the very first game in the next-generation Kingdom Hearts series, and the first game in that to feature Mickey Mouse appear entirely playable while Donald Duck, Goofy, and Sora appear entirely playable continuously.

The character of Sora's mother will be finally visible to the audience throughout the next-generation Kingdom Hearts series of video games, but they do not show her face on screen at all; this character compares to either Christopher Robin's mother in "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" or Mac and Terrence's mother in "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends". However, whenever she appears in the video games, she can either be seen from behind, the neck down, in silhouette, or with objects to block her face from viewing it.

More than 300 Disney characters will appear throughout the 40 playable worlds - as well as in Hollow Bastion, Twilight Town and Disney Town worlds - and the only non-playable world in the game known as Princesses of Heart - all appearing throughout Kingdom Hearts Mega Mix. In addition, characters from the Final Fantasy series will be appearing in 5 playable Final Fantasy worlds.

Sora, Riku, Kairi, and all of the other original characters from that series who have appeared in all three PlayStation 2/3-only games that requires Dual-Shock Analog controller, will appear throughout the game. The game is being presented by Disney Interactive Studios and Square Enix, and will be released first in Japan and North America by fall 2012, and in the PAL region (Europe & Australia) by fall 2013.

Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse - and Eddie Carroll, the voice of Jiminy Cricket - have both been sadly passed away. Bret Iwan & Phil Snyder, will both take over for the voice-over roles of Mickey Mouse and Jiminy Cricket for the "Kingdom Hearts Mega Mix", a PlayStation 3-only game that will feature 50 playable worlds plus the only non-playable world (Princesses of Heart).

The only Disney characters who don't speak at all throughout the video game were Pongo & Perdita and the 99 Puppies. Tinker Bell does not speak at all in Kingdom Hearts Mega Mix either, because the Pixie Hollow setting is being cut from the video game. Tinker Bell, like she was in Disney's House of Mouse (1st & 2nd Series), will be communicating in a wide range of facial expressions and other parts of body language, as well as the tinkling sound effects being heard.

Christopher Robin does not appear in the 100 Acre-Wood playable world via Twilight Town in "Kingdom Hearts Mega Mix"; he was being replaced by Sora, who takes care of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga & Roo, Rabbit, Owl and Gopher.

Riku himself will now only appear playable during boss fights beginning with Kingdom Hearts Mega Mix, because King Mickey Mouse has been added as its fourth playable character in the next-generation Kingdom Hearts series. Square Enix - http://www.squareenix.com - and Disney Interactive Studios - http://www.disneyinteractivestudios.com - will both release the video game in the following regions:

* Japan and North America - fall 2012
* PAL Region (Europe & Australia)- fall 2013

More than 300 Disney characters from various Disney animated cartoon shorts, films from the Disney animated features canon, live-action/animated films from Walt Disney Pictures, and characters from various Disney theme park attractions will finally appear throughout the video game.

Characters from the Final Fantasy series of video games will appear throughout the game - and so as Sora, Riku, Kairi, and all of the other characters who have been originated from the first Kingdom Hearts series.

Haley Joel Osment won't reprise his voice-over role as Sora for the next-generation Kingdom Hearts series; however, an upcoming replacement has yet to be named to take over for the role of Sora. Kath Soucie will still reprise her voice-over role as Sora's mother (who was finally being visible to the audience, but her face was never shown to viewers).