Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has finally added Sora from Kingdom Hearts as a playable fighter on the game's roster. With such a highly-requested character finally joining Smash Bros., it is natural for there to be high expectations for Sora in terms of how the character was adapted into the game. Even with that expectation, though, the way in which Sora was faithfully represented in Smash Bros. Ultimate makes him worth the wait.
Sora is the most recent of many popular characters added to Smash Bros. Ultimate as DLC. Though some popular characters only entered Smash Bros. as Mii Fighters, long-time picks like Steve from Minecraft and Banjo-Kazooie surprised fans with their additions. Sora can be counted among these long-awaited characters considering his placement in the Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot and the outpouring of support from fans over the years.
Sora's inclusion as a fighter marks the end of Smash Bros. Ultimate's long development, acting as the game's final DLC character. Even still, it is clear that a significant amount of effort was taken by the development team to faithfully represent both the character and Kingdom Hearts in as accurate a way as possible, making the time it took waiting for him to arrive in Smash Bros. worthwhile.
Sora's costumes in Smash Bros. Ultimate reference a number of entries within the Kingdom Hearts series. His eight alternate skins resemble a variety of looks the young hero has sported, selected from Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts III, and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. These costumes are more elaborate than mere recolors and even include the stylized, greyscale model of Sora from KH II's Timeless River world. With all of Sora's classic looks recreated, fans can play as their favorite version of Sora regardless of which game they most connect with.
In addition, Sora's art renders on Smash Ultimate's character select screen are based on official artwork of him from Kingdom Hearts. While he maintains the age and stature of the first KH game regardless of costume, these renders provide an added level of acknowledgment and respect to each individual title - not just the series as a whole.
Smash Bros. Ultimate recreates Sora's moves from Kingdom Hearts faithfully as well. Sora is able to perform three-hit combos with his normal attacks, a staple of Kingdom Hearts combat. His other moves reference the series as well; for example, Sora's up-smash resembles the Magic Flash technique from Kingdom Hearts 3, and his down-smash draws inspiration from the Finishing Leap move in Kingdom Hearts 2. Even Sora's high jumps and aerial mobility is a reference to how Peter Pan taught Sora to fly in the original Kingdom Hearts. Adapting so many of Sora's classic abilities in Smash Ultimate gives the character an extra level of recognizability for fans of the Kingdom Hearts series.
Sora also has access to his Kingdom Hearts magic abilities as part of his move set. His neutral-special cycles through Firaga, Thundaga, and Blizzaga magic - with his taunts visually referencing three other varieties as well. This added feature helps differentiate Sora from other Smash Bros. sword fighters, making him feel like a distinct and worthy addition to the game's roster.
Sora is not the only Kingdom Hearts character given recognition in Smash Bros. Ultimate; various other important characters from the series are shown in his Hollow Bastion stage. Directly referencing visuals from the Dive to the Heart setting, the stage's background depicts important characters to the overall story of Kingdom Hearts. Besides Sora, visuals of the characters Riku, Roxas, Xion, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua can appear. Kingdom Hearts is a long-running series with many beloved characters, and the acknowledgment of other fan-favorites who have impacted Sora helps represent the series in ways Sora's inclusion alone could not achieve.
However, there are a few key figures from the Kingdom Hearts series missing from Smash Bros. Ultimate. Depictions of Disney characters in Sora's stage are censored, so Sora's long-time friends Donald Duck and Goofy do not appear. Still, Sora's signature Keyblade weapon retains its Mickey Mouse keychain in Smash Ultimate, so fans can enjoy the small nod to Sora's Disney origins.
Sora's inclusion in Smash Bros. Ultimate is also accompanied by a number of songs from the Kingdom Hearts series. Kingdom Hearts' soundtrack has many recognizable songs, a great deal of which are composed by acclaimed composer Yoko Shimomura. A total of nine songs were selected for use in Smash Ultimate, including the recurring tracks "Hand in Hand" and "Fragments of Sorrow." A new arrangement of "Hand in Hand" was also prepared for use in Sora's victory screen. Notably, none of the music in Kingdom Hearts originating from other Disney properties appears in Smash Ultimate with the final list containing only original tracks.
Given how Cloud originally had only two Final Fantasy songs in Smash Bros., nine music tracks being added with Sora is a welcome compromise. Sora's inclusion in Smash Ultimate likely involved a great deal of negotiation and supervision, as shown by the strict censorship of Disney properties represented. Licensing music can also be difficult if the rights to a song are owned by a number of individuals or corporations, which may have occurred. While Kingdom Hearts' nine-song list in Smash Ultimate seems low compared to Castlevania's 34 arrangements or Fatal Fury's 50, their inclusion into the game was arguably as unlikely a feat as Sora himself being added and will likely please many fans.
While it took many years to achieve, saving Sora as the final DLC character for Smash Bros. seems like the most appropriate way to include him. Even before the release of the DLC, Smash Ultimate's character reveals were met with incredulity and excitement, introducing characters whose inclusion had been thought to be impossible. This feeling persisted as DLC characters were added to the roster, with the Challenger Pack 11's final character being a matter of much speculation. With Sora as the most requested character in Smash Bros. and a deal with Disney seen as unattainable, ending the development of Smash Bros. Ultimate with Sora, the most "impossible" character, seems like the most worthwhile way to celebrate the end of the game's production.
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