Thanks to KH Insider, we’ve been able to check out the latest press release from Square’s website, after the terrific information about the game’s distribution to the US and UK. Read to the bottom to see what the game’s director, Tetsuya Nomura had to say about why the US game was delayed!

Official Press Release

“LOS ANGELES (May 17, 2010) — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep will be available at North American retailers on September 7, 2010. KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep brings to life unexplored worlds from everyone’s favorite Disney stories, and will be appearing exclusively on the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system.

A prequel to the mega-hit series, this pivotal installment takes players back to the beginnings of the KINGDOM HEARTS saga, long before Sora was chosen by his Keyblade. Players will explore iconic Disney worlds in a unique gaming experience that unfolds through the perspectives of three different main characters: Terra, Ventus and Aqua. Their journeys will take them through Sleeping Beauty’s Enchanted Dominion, the Dwarf Woodlands from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Deep Space from Lilo & Stitch. Additionally, KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep includes four all-new multiplayer modes that allow players to enjoy the action with their friends.

KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep is being brought to life through voice talents including Mark Hamill, Willa Holland, Jesse McCartney, Leonard Nimoy and James Woods. With an enhanced and action-packed battle system accompanied by stellar performances from pop-culture icons, KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep continues to push the franchise forward.

In celebration of the game’s launch, Square Enix and Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC are introducing a limited edition KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep PSP Entertainment Pack, which brings together the stunning visuals of KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep and the robust portable gaming experience only possible on the PSP system. Available in North America, this GameStop exclusive bundle will include a “Mystic Silver” PSP-3000 system, KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep on UMD® (Universal Media Disc), a movie (title to be announced; movie content will not be related to KINGDOM HEARTS series.) as well as a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™.

“The entire development team is extremely happy to announce the North American release date for KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep,” said Tetsuya Nomura, director of the KINGDOM HEARTS series. “We hate to keep fans waiting, but we’ve added some brand-new features for the North American version, so even those who have been following the Japanese version are sure to find a few surprises. In addition, we’ve put together an outstanding voice cast. We can’t wait for everyone to experience this game!”
With more than 14 million copies shipped worldwide, KINGDOM HEARTS is one of the most beloved video game series. Discover the origins of its captivating story on September 7, with KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep.”

New Screenshots!

KH Insider has compiled a great gallery of photos from the game, including many new ones, so thank you, thank you to them and we’ll share a few here.

I know, it feels like it’s been forever and you’re thinking: is this another rumor with no serious or grounded facts behind it? No, dear friends, this is the true news from the Square Enix websites themselves! (Which has also been confirmed by our friends over at KH Insider, as well as the gaming review website, GameSpot.)

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Arrives to the US and UK

The United States release to the PSP will be Tuesday, September 7, 2010. The game drops into stores in the United Kingdom just three days later on Friday, September 10, 2010. Birth By Sleep will be available in English for the US and English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German for the UK.

Trailers!

Along with these highly, highly anticipated dates, the American and European websites have trailers for the game in different languages, so the lovin’ that Kingdom Hearts not only deserves but desires from us, can now be shared across what was once language barriers!

Rejoice Everyone

How excited are you, on a scale of one to ten? So excited you just had an accident? Totally pumped but remaining sane? Freaking out because you still don’t have a PSP? Unsure how you feel about another game without Sora as the protagonist? Share with us!

Before you freak out and go to the streets for celebratory dancing, I must stress that this has not yet been confirmed! According to G4TV, the North American release date of Birth By Sleep is July 27, 2010. Again, this was posted on their website but does not appear on other sites like Game Spot and only appears as Summer 2010 as the release date on the North American Square-Enix homepage.

You’re Killing us, Square!

Let’s hope it’s official! I’m sick of waiting, I’m sure you all are, too. What am I saying, I still don’t own a PSP! Horrible!

My most humble apologies for the lack of news this month, I’ve been busy, busy, busy. Thankfully, we haven’t missed much. What I do have to share is a snippet from the Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep Ultimania hand guide, translated by HEARTSTATION, with Tetsuya Nomura and his discussion on future titles.

Tetsuya Nomura Speaks

“About the next title, Kingdom Hearts 3 depends on Final Fantasy XIII Versus, but development of the next title is already underway. There are two titles other than Kingdom Hearts 3 in conception, and I think I’ll release one within this year.”

“As from next year, I want to put out a title with multiple main characters.”

“The series won’t end in Kingdom Hearts 3, more like the conclusion of the Xehanort saga.”

“It’s not the case that when Sora’s story is over another hero’s story will begin; Sora will be the hero until the end.”

Cue Ridiculous Fanning!

There are so many possibilities for new storylines that I don’t even know where to begin speculating. I myself am quite interested in Nomura’s comment about XIII Versus and how a new Kingdom Hearts depended on it. Could this mean that the mysterious Noctis and his crew may appear in Sora’s world? I can only hope so. The sheer epic-ness leaves me speechless.

Warning! This interview with Tetsuya Nomura will feature tons of information and spoilers for the entire game of Birth By Sleep. If you don’t care and want to thoroughly read about the deep and engrossing plot that is this franchise, in case you’re afraid of missing something when you finally get the chance to play, read on, my friends, read on. If you don’t want this game ruined for you, go away, now!

Endless appreciation and thanks must be given to KH Insider, who translated this.

Plot Mysteries Interview

In this title, where our eyes are apt to be drawn to points that elucidate the mysteries of the past, it is by no means easy to grasp the full details of the story. As usual, we’ve gone after Mr. Nomura with the questions from the game that have been simmering away. (Interviewer: Yuuko Oono)

– Considering the conversation between Sora and Ventus in the ending of the Last Episode, is this saying that the “just-born heart” that Ventus connects with in the opening is Sora’s?

Nomura: Yes. At first we supposed that it could be Sora before he was born, but because of opinions from overseas that “the heart doesn’t exist until after birth”, we discarded that portrayal.

– Ventus awakens with Sora’s help, but at first his eyes are blank, and when he first meets Terra and Aqua he falls asleep under their barrage of questions.

Nomura: At that time, although Ventus has awakened, his heart is not fully formed. The imagery is the same as the first week after Roxas entered the organization in “KH Days”, when he was spacing out.

– This time we saw a “rite of succession” – is that a required condition for becoming a Keyblade user?

Nomura: That’s essentially correct. In terms of the rite itself, the successee just has to make the successor grasp their Keyblade – if this rite is performed by a Keyblade Master, and if they have suitable power, the Keyblade will choose that person as a Keyblade user, and appear before them. Terra, Ventus, all have passed this rite. Sora is the only exception.

– The Keyblade succession can only be performed by a Keyblade Master, but we see Terra performing this rite with Riku – does this mean we can consider Terra a Keyblade Master?

Nomura: No. Terra was not awarded that title by his Master Eraqus, so no matter how Master Xehanort flatters him he is not a Keyblade Master. But that’s just a matter of whether or not he’s achieved the official title. Even Eraqus recognized that Terra possessed suitable power to be a Master, which is why he was able to perform the rite for Riku.

–In Aqua’s chapter, on the Destiny Islands, was Aqua originally intending to perform the Keyblade rite for Sora or Riku?

Nomura: Yes. When Aqua met Sora and Riku, she was on the point of realizing that she may end up having to fight Terra. At that point she was going to perform the rite of succession for Sora, but realized that Terra had already performed the rite for Riku. Not wanting Sora and Riku to end up fighting like she and Terra in the future, she didn’t perform the rite for Sora. This is the meaning behind her murmurs that “One must not get too close to a chosen one,” and “I must not make them walk the same path.” When she tells Sora he must save Riku if he ends up walking the wrong path, she’s projecting her own thoughts onto Sora.

– By the time of “KHI”, have Sora, Riku and Kairi forgotten about Terra and Aqua?

Nomura: That’s right. In “KHI” Kairi herself says that she’s lost all her previous memories, that she “doesn’t remember anything before coming to the Destiny Islands”, and it would be pretty easy for Sora to forget. After all, I think for a child of 4 or 5 years old to remember a person they met only once and exchanged just a few words with would be quite unnatural. Only Riku, who was told by Terra “Don’t tell anything of today to anyone,” may simply be keeping quiet.

– If Terra wasn’t the one who stole Aurora’s heart in his chapter, who actually did steal it?

Nomura: It was Master Xehanort and Maleficent. In “KHI” it was shown that beings of darkness like Maleficent and the Heartless are able to steal people’s hearts. The theory is that Terra, who has light residing in his heart, is not a being of darkness and therefore didn’t steal Aurora’s heart.

– Who is the hero “similar to Terra” that Zack aspires to be like?

Nomura: As in the original game, it’s Sephiroth. In “KHI FM” and “KHII” Sephiroth was portrayed as a being of darkness, but at the time of “KH BbS” we don’t know whether or not he was a being of darkness.

– What’s the meaning behind the several puzzling images in Terra’s chapter where we cross over into his mind?

Nomura: Firstly, when he hears the name of the masked boy from Master Xehanort at the mysterious wasteland, and we see an image of Aqua and Ventus defeated, that’s a hint of the future. On the Destiny Islands, when he makes Riku his successor, he has a special view of him and catches a glimpse of his future. However, this isn’t to say that Terra has the ability to see the future – it was a directive nuance intended to portray the future connection between Terra and Riku.

– Was Master Xehanort the one who delivered the final blow to Master Eraqus?

Nomura: Because it was necessary to avoid showing such a cruel scene, it’s difficult to tell from the presentation, but that’s right. Terra saw this happen right in front of his eyes, so when he realized at the Keyblade Graveyard that Master Xehanort intends to harm Ventus and Aqua, this drives him to anger, saying, “Not only my father Eraqus…” As an aside, although he says “my father”, and we see from Eraqus’ words that he thinks of Terra like a son, Terra and Eraqus are not actually father and son. Also, in his final moments Eraqus falls towards Terra – an important meaning is hidden in this scene.

– In a memory scene in Ventus’ chapter, we see Master Xehanort send Neoshadow Heartless after Ventus. But the Heartless only appeared in the world of light at the time Ansem Report 1 from “KHI” was written – were Ansem the Wise’s student Xehanort’s experiments with darkness not his first?

Nomura: As Yen Sid says in “KHII”, the Heartless cannot be separated from the darkness in people’s hearts, and have been around for a long time. Beings of darkness can draw out the darkness in the heart, so Master Xehanort could summon the Neoshadows with his own hands. In the same way, when Xehanort and Ansem the Wise’s students begin to perform the first experiments on the darkness of the heart, artificial Heartless were created in large numbers.

– In this title, the dark influence of the Heartless isn’t breaking down the walls between worlds, so in this period before Gummi Ships, why are Donald and Goofy able to travel to the Mysterious Tower?

Nomura: You can think of it as being thanks to Yen Sid, and also because the Mysterious Tower is a loophole world in the first place, so it comes under slightly different rules than the ones that connect the other worlds. By the way, when Donald and Goofy visit the Mysterious Tower in “KHII”, they say “Isn’t this tower strange!” even though they know it from “KH BbS”. This is because the floors are constructed differently to the previous time they visited, which is strange (laughs).

– Are the Unversed of a similar nature to the Heartless?

Nomura: That’s right. The Heartless are born from the darkness of the heart, and Unversed are born from negative emotions, so you can call them relatives (laughs). To make them fundamentally similar, we made the designs similar. However there’s one difference in that the Heartless are seeking hearts, whereas the Unversed behave according to Vanitas’ will, and emotionally. For example, the Flood portray feelings of irritation.

– In “KHI” when Sora stabs the “Keyblade of people’s hearts” into himself to release his heart and Kairi’s, Sora’s Heartless and Nobody were born. When Master Xehanort and Terra: Xehanort stab themselves with the Keyblade, were his and Terra’s Nobodies not created?

Nomura: That is not yet clear. However I will say that the fixed sentiment that remained just after Master Xehanort stabbed himself with the Keyblade was not a Heartless.

– When Vanitas calls Aqua a “spare”, is he talking about raw materials for making a χ-blade?

Nomura: Yes. She was a “spare” prepared in case Ventus did not survive the fusion process with Vanitas. Aqua was recognized by Eraqus as a legitimate Keyblade Master who viewed light as absolute, and holds a strong heart of light. So if Ventus were to fail she could have been used as material for the χ-blade.

– Comparing the Organization members when they were human to when they were in the Organization, apart from Xehanort, only Isa and Braig have differently-shaped ears and differently-colored eyes – why is this?

Nomura: It’s a question of whether or not they’re deeply connected to Xehanort. In Braig’s case, comparing the scene where he’s injured in his battle with Terra and flares up at Xehanort, his appearance afterwards changes, which hints that something happened with Xehanort in between.

– Roxas, the “Sora + Ventus” Nobody, was able to use a Keyblade. In contrast Xemnas, the “Terra + Master Xehanort” Nobody, wasn’t able to use a Keyblade. Why is this?

Nomura: I’d rather that point remain a mystery. It’s possible that he intentionally wasn’t using one.

– In “KHI”, the robed man, Ansem the Wise’s apprentice Xehanort’s Heartless (the body of Xehanort’s Heartless before he inhabited Riku’s body), appeared on the Destiny Islands. Is this because it was Master Xehanort’s home world?

Nomura: That may be one reason, but if he somehow had some of Terra’s memories, we can consider that it might be because he had laid eyes on Riku previously. In terms of the elements of Terra and Master Xehanort, I think the questions of how their power is related and divided, as well as who has whose memories and heart, will become a key to the story after this one.

– Is that to say that there’s a possibility that within Xehanort’s Heartless, the darkness that sleeps in Riku’s heart, there might remain something of Terra…?

Nomura: That’s also a riddle connected to the next story, so everyone please use your imagination.

Websites, games radar and VE3tro have been releasing new screenshots of Birth By Sleep, including those with English subtitles. Check out a few nice shots here.

Birth By Sleep Photos

Spoilers!

Beware, this news may be a spoiler if you’d rather not know what enemy will be showing up in Birth By Sleep! Thanks to KH Insider’s forum members, the following news has been somewhat confirmed.

The Story Begins

Richard Epcar, who has voiced Xehanort, including his Heartless, Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, in the following Kingdom Hearts games, Kingdom Hearts II and its final mix, Re: Chain of Memories and 358/2 Days, will be returning yet again to voice Xehanort in Birth By Sleep.

The Wonders of the Internet

The reason why I mentioned this news was somewhat confirmed is because a Kingdom Hearts fan had asked Richard, via Facebook, if the ‘small voice acting’ he had done for Birth By Sleep, after a released cut scene, had been for Xehanort. Richard’s response was, and I quote, “alright, you got me.”

What’s in Store?

Okay guys, you’ve all had some good ideas, thoughts and discussions about the Birth By Sleep game. What are your opinions, now knowing that Xehanort will be showing up?

Even though we all knew and have been waiting for the release of Birth By Sleep to North America, it hadn’t yet been officially confirmed by Square Enix. Well, the wait is over! Square’s North American site has now announced the game’s travel overseas.

North American Quote

“LOS ANGELES (March 16, 2010) — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that KINGDOM HEARTS Birth By Sleep will be released in North America this Summer. Coming exclusively to the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the game is a prequel that reveals the untold origins of the popular KINGDOM HEARTS franchise.”

PAL Territories Too!

Let’s not forget about European fans, though. One day after the confirmation for North America, Square Enix announced that Birth By Sleep will be in Europe, a relief I’m sure to thousands of fellow fans.

European Quote

“London (17th March 2010) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories and Disney Interactive Studios, today announces KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep will be released across PAL territories summer 2010, exclusively for the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system.”

Square Enix Is Rolling

With all of the websites being released for the new territories, it seems like Square is quickly approaching the most important news: A final release date!

Posted on his website this week, voice actor Josh Keaton, who played young Hercules in the Disney film from 1997, will once again be providing the voice of the demi-god for the English release of Kingdom Hearts – Birth By Sleep.

If you look at the film credits in confusion, seeing Tate Donovan listed as the voice of Hercules, Josh was cast specifically as Hercules when he was teenager and since Birth By Sleep takes place in the past, it only makes pleasant sense that they would ask Josh to take on the job and not Tate, who was part of the Kingdom Hearts cast for adult Hercules!

Other Roles

Josh Keaton has also done voice acting for the super popular Metal Gear Solid series, where he was cast as Ocelot in Snake Eater, Portable Ops and Guns of the Patriots. He has also done acting work for three Spider-Man video games, Naturo: Clash of Ninja 2, and was the voice of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the recent cartoon, The Spectacular Spider-Man.

The Works Begins

Wonderful news! English voice acting is underway and like the magic of the other Kingdom Hearts games, they are sticking with a cast of voices we all grew up with while watching Disney films.

Not much news to report this week other than some new rumors with no sources to support them, regarding the North American release of Birth By Sleep. However, we do have an interview to share with the music composer of Kingdom Hearts, Yoko Shimomura, courtesy of Rebirth:Wings, which was translated by HEARTSTATION. This was in a special booklet that came with the last edition of Famitsu magazine.

Yoko Shimomura’s Beginning

I began learning the piano at a very young age, and I also went to a musical college for junior college, so I definitely wanted to have a job that was related to music. But, I didn’t want to be a piano teacher or something like that. I wanted to do something a little different.

By some chance, Capcom was among the university’s job offers at that time. I’d worked in a casual position at an event in which Capcom was on display the previous year, so at the time I felt a kind of affinity to it, like ‘I’ll get in for sure…’

I was in charge of many different pieces at Capcom, but Street Fighter II was the most popular. I tried to match the imagery with the background while writing music for each stage, and I wrote themes for each character with their nationality in mind. I also produced sound effects and the like.

But, I thought I’d better try and impress people with different things, and one day, the person who was helping me with the arranged music for Street Fighter II said to me, ‘the way this melody bounces is wrong, isn’t it?’ But, since it had already been submitted, I replied, ‘it fits’, and I was surprised with his answer of ‘not at all!’ (laughs)

It was a big hit, and I was over the moon to see children playing Street Fighter II overseas. I had originally joined the industry wanting to write RPG music, but when Capcom also dabbled in that industry with ‘Breath of Fire’, they only put me in charge of one piece of music. And so, I left Capcom and took Square’s company entrance test.

Joining Square

With Square, I worked on many collaborations such as those for ‘Live A Live’ and ‘Super Mario RPG’, but the most famous was ‘Kingdom Hearts’. In Kingdom Hearts, there are pieces of music that were Disney originals, but there was still the pressure of writing new versions without wrecking the feel of that world.

On the other hand, Kingdom Hearts had a heavy story, with themes of dark and light. Mr. Nomura told me, ‘I’d like pieces in the style of Verdi’s Requiem.’ And so, I wrote ‘Destati’, but at the time I wondered whether I hadn’t made a mistake, it being Disney and all.

But, when I wrote the theme for Hollow Bastion in the latter half, it felt like suddenly the Disney worlds and the serious music were connected in one thread. I can’t really explain it in words, but inside me, there was a moment when I became very satisfied with it.

I myself don’t really understand what it is that fans often call the ‘Shimomura style’. When I first started the job, I thought that individuality was important, and I gave myself a complex not knowing what my own individual style was. Now, when people speak of a ‘Shimomura style’, I wonder if perhaps my individuality is coming out after all, and I’m very happy.

I still can’t pick a definitive ‘me’ piece, though.

The songs I write are like my babies, and I love each and every baby; I can’t single out one. It feels like… they’ve all left my nest, but I’d like for them to still think of me from time to time! I also enjoy working on things other than games, and I’d like to do it again, but I think game music is my base. The music changing when you press a button, the music changing when the boss changes form… that sort of fun, interactive-feeling music can only be found in games.

When I think about it, I guess I really do love games.

(From Kingdom Hearts, the track I have the most profound memories of is) the title music, Dearly Beloved. Fundamentally, it only uses four chords, but as the series grew it was lengthened, and the number of sounds increased. I think music is a very deep thing.

Q&A

Who is a game music composer that you admire?
Shimomura: Mr. Kouji Kondou. He’s very kind, and writes great music; he has a good character, too. He makes me want to work hard too. (laughs)

What game music do you admire?
Shimomura: ’Flying in the Sky’, from Dragon Warrior III. I think if I ever wrote something like this, I could die happily. That’s the impact it has.

Which instrument do you like for tone quality?
Shimomura: The oboe, which I wanted to play but couldn’t.

How long does it take to write a piece?
Shimomura: Well, Balrog’s theme took 20 minutes. Each track is different, but it has taken up to three months before.

How many pieces have you written?
Shimomura: There’s about 1000 of mine on iTunes at the moment. But the ones I wrote in my Capcom stage aren’t included in that.

A word to those setting out to become a game music composer?
Shimomura: Please make sure to treasure things other than music, too. Pieces can be born from many kinds of stimulation, and so I read many books, and travel overseas.

Your Thoughts

I was happy to read that Yoko felt so deeply about the track, Dearly Beloved. That music really does envelop the complete ambiance of Kingdom Hearts in such a simplistic manner!