I used to be within the passenger seat of my cousin’s Mazda 3 as we sat within the drive-thru line at Whataburger. To go the time, I assumed to do what anybody else would do in my place — clarify the ever-complicated lore of Kingdom Hearts. It ought to be acknowledged that my cousin is in his early 20s’ and hasn’t seen or heard something about this franchise since he watched me play Kingdom Hearts II again in 2006.

You’ll be able to think about the look of horror on his face as I break down — game-by-game — a really abridged abstract of what occurs in Kingdom Hearts. It was a really entertaining automotive experience. However then, he requested me a query that took me abruptly: ‘do you keep in mind Mushroom Kingdom Hearts?’

That’s an excellent query. Do you?

The crossover of all time

Mushroom Kingdom Hearts was an April Fools’ prank pulled by Digital Gaming Month-to-month (EGM) of their April 2007 problem. It was slated as a model new spinoff or sequel to Kingdom Hearts within the period between Kingdom Hearts II and 358/2 Days. The related article boasted that “over 41 Nintendo characters” can be becoming a member of the already stacked roster. 

I recall being a dumb little youngster, seeing this, and really believing it was actual. And right here I’m, a dumb, fully-grown grownup utilizing my place as a author for Destructoid to let you know that I nonetheless want it was actual. So as to add, I imagine we’ve by no means been in a greater place to make Mushroom Kingdom Hearts actual.

I’ll begin with the obvious level in favor of this Disney x Sq. Enix x Nintendo polyamorous triad: as of late, it appears as if the sequence is in some way re-entering the realm of video video games. In Kingdom Hearts III, the Toy Field world options ads for a sport referred to as Verum Rex, and the principle character of this sport, Yozora, may be very a lot tied to Sora indirectly. If Tetsuya Nomura is planning to take a online game character and throw him into the world of one other online game character, he might simply as simply let Sora workforce up with Mario and Luigi to defeat a heartless Bowser. It’s a state of affairs merely begging to occur.

Additionally, it’s not as if Mario hasn’t been making some cross-dimensional strikes recently. The truth that Mario + Rabbids is now a franchise is proof sufficient of that. If that’s allowed to exist, there isn’t any cause in any respect that we will’t toss Sora, Donald and Goofy right into a world primarily based on Splatoon or Donkey Kong the place they grow to be large anime monkeys or inklings. Are you able to think about a boss battle with a heartless Mr. Grizz? Or, possibly King Ok. Rool will get tempted to embrace the darkness by Maleficent and Pete? I’m salivating.

I do know some readers could be inclined to level out that Disney and Nintendo are each notoriously protecting of their IP, and wouldn’t let this crossover occur in 1,000,000 years. However, hear me out: the 2 firms have already labored collectively to convey Sora to Tremendous Smash Bros. Final, so the precedent for collaboration is already there. Additionally, Sq. and Nintendo have a wealthy historical past of teaming as much as convey us titles reminiscent of Tremendous Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and the early days of the Last Fantasy sequence.

I do know that it’s most unlikely it will ever occur, not to mention be thought-about by the powers that be. However, that received’t cease me from saying that it completely ought to occur. Mushroom Kingdom Hearts is such a wonderful crossover thought for a sequence of which the muse is a crossover.

However, greater than that, it’s such a superb prank that I utterly forgot about till it got here effervescent again to the floor while at Whataburger. I suppose all I’m saying is that, with Kingdom Hearts 4 coming quickly — or, earlier than I grow to be geriatric, no less than — it’s not fully not possible to make a visit down the warp pipe to let Sora, Donald, and Goofy meet Mario, Luigi, and Toad.