Kingdom Hearts Union χ

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Kingdom Hearts Union χ
キングダムハーツ ユニオンクロス Kingudamu Hātsu Yunion Kurosu
Developer(s)	Square Enix SUCCESS Corporation BitGroove Inc.
Publisher(s)	Square Enix
Release date(s)	September 3, 2015 / April 7, 2016 / June 16, 2016 January 25, 2018
Genre	Smartphone RPG
Game modes	Single-player, multi-player
Ratings	CERO: N/A ESRB:Everyone 10+
Platform(s)	iOS, Android, Fire OS

"To discover the end, a journey must start at the beginning."

—Tagline

Kingdom Hearts Union χ, previously titled Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ (キングダムハーツ アンチェインドキー, Kingudamu Hātsu Ancheindo Kī), is the ninth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series, released on iOS and Android. It features plot and gameplay elements from the Japan-exclusive web browser game Kingdom Hearts χ[chi], and is free to play with optional in-app purchases. It is the first Kingdom Hearts game to be released on smartphone platforms.

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ was first announced on May 12, 2015. During Square Enix's E3 Conference on June 16, 2015, a trailer for the game was released showcasing gameplay. Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ was released in Japan on September 3, 2015 and in North America on April 7, 2016.

In April 2017, the game was rebranded with the Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross] content update, featuring multiplayer and a theater mode.

In June 2020, the game was rebranded again as Kingdom Hearts Union χ Dark Road that will contain both Kingdom Hearts Union χ and Kingdom Hearts Dark Road.

Online service for the game has ended on June 17, 2021 for Japan, and June 30, 2021 for the global server. Following the 4.40 update, players are able to download an offline version of the app that will consist of a theater mode with all story cutscenes, avatar and Keyblade customization, Classic Kingdom minigames, and records from the online version.

Development

While there were rumors of a localization for the web-browser based Kingdom Hearts χ[chi], the smartphone game wasn't publicly referenced until April 14, 2015, in an interview with Tetsuya Nomura. The game was officially revealed on May 12, 2015, with the official title revealed in Famitsu magazine the following day.

On December 7, 2015, Version 1.1.0 was released. It raised the maximum level of Keyblades, added Adamantite Ore and matching quests, added Upright and Reversed Keyblade slot bonuses, and Special Attack Bonus.

On March 31, 2016, Version 1.2.0 was released. It raised the maximum Player level to 300.

On April 7, 2016, Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ was released in North America, starting at version number 1.0.0.

On August 4, 2016, Version 1.3.1 was released for the Japanese version. For the English version, it was called Version 1.1.2, and released on September 1, 2016. It added a Perks system for Avatar Parts, a daily Lux Boost function, and the ability to set up to three decks per Keyblade.

On November 2, 2016, Version 1.4.0 was released for the Japanese version. For the English version, it was called Version 1.2.1, and released on November 10, 2016. It added the Nova system.

On March 23, 2017, Version 2.0.0 was released for the Japanese version. For the English version, the update was released on April 6, 2017. It renamed the game to Kingdom Hearts Union χ, and added Union Cross multiplayer mode, Theater Mode, Medal Traits, Tutorial Quests, raised the cap for buffs and debuffs to 7, and the cost cap for Medals to 20.

On July 13, 2017, Version 2.2.0 was released for the Japanese version. For the English version, the update was released on July 20, 2017. It added completion percentage and icons to the Quest screen, MVP rewards for Union Cross, and a Perk filter feature for Avatar Parts.

On September 21, 2017, Version 2.3.1 was released for the Japanese version. For the English version, the update was released on September 28, 2017. It added the Pet System, increased the amount of jewels obtained as login bonus, made adjustments to several Story Quests, and changed the special attacks of all 4★ and lower Medals to match the 5★ version.

On November 2, 2017, Version 2.4.0 was released for the Japanese version. For the English version, the update was released on November 8, 2017. It added Booster items, the Mission feature, and added Auto battle to quests.

On January 18, 2018, Version 2.5.0 was released for the Japanese version. For the English version, the update was released on February 1, 2018. It added a low resolution option, and the option to display draw odds for Medal deals.

On March 23, 2018, Version 2.6.0 was released for the Japanese version. For the English version, the update was released on March 25, 2018. It added PvP Mode, 7★ Medals, Keyblade subslots, an optimize button for Keyblades, allowed players to skip certain Story Quests, and reduced the required materials for upgrading Keyblades, while removing some materials and matching special quests.

On July 12, 2018, Version 2.7.0 was released for the Japanese version. For the English version, the update was released on July 19, 2018. It added the option to flee from Raid battles, made damage indicators easier to read, and made some adjustments to the UI in PvP.

On June 22, 2020, The Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross] app was rebranded as Kingdom Hearts Union χ Dark Road and contains both Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross] and Kingdom Hearts Dark Road.

For a full list of updates and changes, visit the Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ / Union χ page on the Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ Wiki.

Story

Prior to the Keyblade War, Strelitzia, a member of the Dandelions selected to be one of the new Union leaders once the war ends, attempts to convince Player to join the Dandelions. Quest 726: Daybreak Town Heartless Hunt Pt. 1 However, she is eliminated by an unknown individual, who then steals her rulebook and takes her place as Union leader. Quest 730: Target: Silver Hammer Frame Pt. 2

After being saved by Ephemer and Skuld following the conclusion of the Keyblade War, Player is brought to another realm, where the Dandelions have assembled as per Ava's instructions. Upon entering this new realm, everyone loses all of their memories of their previous world, with the exception of the five wielders chosen to become the new Union leaders.

Following Ava's orders, Ephemer, Skuld, Ventus, Brain, and Lauriam gather at the Keyblade Graveyard to meet with their fellow Union leaders, with Lauriam being the last to arrive. Quest 730: Target: Silver Hammer Frame Pt. 2 Together, the five enter the Foretellers' Chamber in Daybreak Town, where Brain looks through a copy of the Book of Prophecies that he finds. Ultimately, they decide to keep the Unions united under a Union χ to prevent future conflicts between Keyblade wielders. Brain decides that in order to celebrate, they should make creating new Spirits their first task, sending Ephemer, Skuld, and Ventus to collect the supplies while he and Lauriam prepare to synthesize the materials. Quest 735: The Shiny Hammer Pt. 5

Meanwhile, Player resumes their missions, initially reliving through the events leading up to the Keyblade War, and later making use of the newly created Union χ, joining a party of fellow Dandelions and traveling to new worlds. Soon, Player begins having nightmares of the Keyblade War. Chirithy, concerned about the frequency of Player's nightmares, reports this to Ephemer and Skuld, who encourages Chirithy to protect Player from the truth. Afterward, Ephemer and Skuld begin to investigate new impending darkness in the world. Quest 670: Target: Chill Ripper Pt. 5

Maleficent, who had somehow managed to travel back in time, finds she is unable to take over her world in the past. She encounters an unknown figure called Darkness who explains that the world she is in is only a data simulation, created to prevent her from interfering with the past. Quest 841: Sweeping Away the Heartless Pt. 1 Refusing to let her stay, due to the damage her knowledge of the future could cause, Darkness guides her to the tower in Daybreak Town, telling her to use the lifeboat at its center to return to the real world and to her time. Lauriam investigates Strelitzia's disappearance, aided by his fellow party member Elrena, before confronting Maleficent in the tower. However, Maleficent defeats him and escapes. Quest 940: Sweeping the Area Pt. 5 Upon returning to the real world, Darkness instructs Maleficent to use another pod to return to the future. Meanwhile, glitches begin appearing in Daybreak Town. With Player's help, Brain discovers the glitches are an effect of the datascape being forcibly connected to a data world that was never connected to the original Daybreak Town. Quest 871: The Control Room While searching the Book of Prophecies for a solution, Brain finds the Master's list and discovers that Ventus is not one of the intended Union leaders, suspecting that Ventus was manipulated into replacing Strelitzia. It turns out he is the one responsible for Strelitzia's demise, having been manipulated by Darkness (who was disguised as Ava) into doing so. Quest 960: To the Race Track! Pt. 5 Lauriam returns to the tower and gets into a heated fight with the others when he mistakenly assumes they had something to do with Strelitzia’s death. The situation worsens when Ventus reveals that it was he who killed Strelitzia, before Darkness emerges from him and reveals itself to the others. Quest 965: Pest Control Pt. 3

While talking with the entity, the Union Leaders discover that Darkness inhabited Ventus with no specific goal or motive. Darkness also claims that Ventus wanted power, and that taking the spot of a Union Leader would have satisfied that desire - so it manipulated Ventus into striking down Strelitzia. Ephemer counters that Ventus would not go to such lengths, but Darkness states that the method of obtaining power does not matter. Lauriam realizes that this means Strelitzia specifically did not need to die, and he attacks Darkness - but he is defeated easily in his weakened state. Brain steps forward and asks Darkness further questions. Darkness instead claims that it inhabited Ventus because such was written in the Book of Prophecies - and that Darkness and the Master of Masters are old friends. Brain finally asks if Darkness is the only one of its kind in the room, to which it agrees. With all the answers he needed, Brain summons his Keyblade and battles Darkness alongside Ephemer and Skuld. Quest 970: Pest Control Pt. 8

Meanwhile, as Player continues to investigate the glitches, they have multiple encounters with Darklings which repeatedly state the words "Not You". Chirithy finally demands to know why the Darklings are following them if Player is not who it wants, but the creature does not respond and is destroyed once again. Chirithy ponders whether Darklings are drawn to Keyblade wielders, much like how the cy-bugs are drawn to the beacon - and who this wielder would be, if it is neither Player nor Ephemer. Regardless, Player and Chirithy return to Daybreak Town. Quest 976: Saving Sugar Rush

After a fierce battle, Darkness defeats Brain and Skuld, leaving only Ephemer standing. Ephemer admits that he cannot win, and Darkness suggests calling the fight, but Brain defiantly suggests that Darkness is intent on stopping the Union Leaders for some purpose. Darkness explains that it can ride data signals very easily, and Brain asks why there was a need to hide inside Ventus. Darkness again cites the Book of Prophecies, but Skuld interjects that destiny is no excuse for Darkness's actions. With new resolve, Skuld and Brain stand up once more and summon their Keyblades. Darkness changes its story - while Darkness is many, in order to be one it needs a will. By taking hold of Ventus, Darkness could split into pure darkness and pure light - "willful and distinct". Lauriam awakens and realizes that it was Darkness rather than Ventus who killed Strelitzia, so he stands up and summons his Keyblade as well. Additionally, Player suddenly appears through a portal to aid the group. Darkness dismisses the superior numbers, stating that Daybreak Town will still succumb to darkness regardless. The lifeboats were meant to be the last line of defense if Darkness could not be defeated - once one pod is used, the data world begins a process to seal itself, ideally trapping Darkness inside it. Since Maleficent had used a pod to escape, the process had already begun. Ephemer refuses to believe that Ava would throw away the dandelions in such a way, and the group prepares to fight Darkness once more.

Darkness disappears for a moment, before re-appearing and announcing that it cannot be destroyed, as it has no form. Darklings suddenly appear through a portal and surround Ventus, all stating "You", to Player's shock. Ventus gets up to dispel Darkness and the Darklings with a flash of light, and he maintains an aura of light as he speaks to Darkness. Ventus announces that, much like how Darkness used Ventus to reshape itself, Ventus will reshape Darkness into something that can be defeated. Ventus summons his Keyblade, but Lauriam tries to stop him, saying he does not want to lose Ventus too. Ventus reassures Lauriam, and strikes at Darkness anyway.

In the real Daybreak Town, Darkness attempts to check the computer in the lifeboat room, only to be interrupted by Luxu, who walks in holding a figure wrapped in white. He states that the Master of Masters told him to be there, and he opens up one of the pods. He places the white-wrapped figure in the pod, calling it "a seed of light to be planted in the future. The true Dandelion." Five pods remain unused.

In the data Daybreak Town, Darkness and the Master of Masters speak on a cliff overlooking the town. The Master reveals to Darkness that the Book of Prophecies does not give every detail of the future - only what the Gazing Eye sees, which parts of that the Master deems important, and which parts of that he would allow Darkness to know. Further, the Master explains that the lifeboat's time travel will cause its passenger to lose their body; to reclaim it, there must be a medium to rebuild their body, as well as someone who remembers them. The Master can therefore utilize the Gazing Eye as a medium, and Luxu as a source of memories, to travel to the future - which he used to create the Book of Prophecies. While there, he saw a world that he "can't even conceive". Darkness asks about the seven lifeboat pods and the "seven crowns", and the Master says that they are for the seven lights, though he does not know their identities. Quest 977: Darkness Looms

Gameplay

Player using an array of medals to combat a Heartless.

Much like in its preceding iteration, Kingdom Hearts χ, players are able to create and customize their own unique characters. Gameplay primarily takes place in hand-drawn, two-dimensional overworld areas that players can explore and navigate, interact with NPC's, open chests for prizes, and initiate battles by coming into contact with wandering Heartless. Battles are a hybrid of the quick-paced, action-based combat familiar to the series and a more traditional turn-based combat system. By tapping a single enemy on the screen, or swiping to hit multiple enemies, players can deal basic damage. Rapidly tapping or swiping results in a quick combo. After the combo is complete, the enemy takes their turn. Normally the player character always attacks first upon engaging an enemy, but certain scripted factors may allow the enemy to attack preemptively.

Players can install Medals into their Keyblades to strengthen them and gain access to powerful special attacks for use in battle. During battle, the Medals are displayed in the Keyblade carousel on the bottom left corner. By touching the medal and dragging it to the center of the screen, players can activate the Medal's special attack. Doing so consumes special attack gauges, displayed in the Special Gauge next to the Health bar. Players can purchase new Medals from the Moogle Shop with Jewels, or earn them in Quests and special Events.

Each individual Medal can be leveled up and upgraded, granting it new skills, traits, and status boosts. By maxing out a Medal's Special Attack Bonus, their Nova ability is automatically upgraded. By tapping the Nova icon on the right side of the screen during battle, players can unleash their Nova ability on all enemies; it doesn't consume any special attack gauges, but it can only be used once per quest. Additionally, certain especially powerful Medals have their own unique Supernova abilities. By holding the Supernova icon (located underneath to the Nova icon), players can select the Supernova Medal and unleash the attack. Like Nova, it doesn't consume any gauges, but can only be used once per quest.

In addition to customizing their own avatars, players also have access to a Dream Eater Pet. Aside from customizing the Pet's appearance and name, players can also equip them with Medals to level them up. The higher the Medal's individual rank, the more points the Pet gains. With each level, they gain useful Tricks they can bring into battle. Additionally, having an active Pet gives the player a sixth Medal slot to use in battle. The damage multiplier offered by the sixth slot depends on the Pet's level.

Coliseum

Upon reaching story quest 130, players gain access to the Olympus Coliseum, which is divided into two categories: PVE and PVP. In PVE mode, they battle waves of enemies in a series of increasingly challenging gauntlets. Clearing the blocks earns Coliseum Coins, which can be used on the Coliseum Boards to earn prizes. In PVP mode, players face off against hologram data copies of other players, controlled by the in-game AI. Each week, specific Keyblades are chosen to be used. In PvP, Medals can't be equipped on more than one Keyblade. Players each take turns dealing damage to one another. After both players complete their turns, whoever dealt more damage wins the round. When a player wins two out of three rounds they win the match.

Union Cross

Players can undertake online cooperative quests, either with their own Party members or random players, to earn Cross Coins, which can be used on the Cross Boards to collect prizes. The quests are all done in real-time, much like in a MMORPG, however once a player engages the enemy it turns into the traditional turn-based system. Union Cross quests typically have timed bonus challenges that will appear randomly in the quest. Clearing it within the time limit increases the number of Cross Coins all players earn.

Changes from Kingdom Hearts χ[chi]

• Cards have been replaced with Medals.
• Players are able to switch genders and Unions at any time.
• Overworlds have been replaced with the Quest system.
• Action Points have been overhauled; they now function as a stamina system that enable the player to enter Quests and start Raids.
• BP has been removed.
• Lux and EXP have been consolidated.
• New Heartless have been added.
• New Keyblades have been added:
  • Stroke of Midnight
  • Fairy Stars
  • Sleeping Lion
  • Counterpoint
  • Fenrir
  • Darkgnaw
  • Missing Ache
  • Diamond Dust
  • Bad Guy Breaker
• New Worlds have been added:
  • Castle of Dreams
  • Enchanted Dominion
  • Game Central Station
  • Niceland
  • Cy-Bug Sector
  • Candy Kingdom

Worlds and Characters

Daybreak Town Player Chirithy Ira Invi Aced Gula Ava Moogle Ephemer Master of Masters Mickey Mouse Donald Duck Goofy Chip and Dale Skuld Ventus Brain Strelitzia Lauriam Elrena Darkness Luxu Dwarf Woodlands Snow White Seven Dwarfs The Prince The Queen Magic Mirror Wonderland Alice Cheshire Cat Doorknob White Rabbit Mad Hatter March Hare Queen of Hearts Card Soldier

Agrabah Aladdin Abu Guards Jasmine Genie Carpet Jafar Iago Cave of Wonders Guardian Sultan Olympus Coliseum Hercules Philoctetes Cloud Hades Cerberus Sephiroth Beast's Castle Beast Belle Cogsworth Lumière Chip Mrs. Potts Wardrobe Maurice Gaston Enchanted Dominion Maleficent Maleficent's Raven Aurora Prince Phillip Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather Samson

Castle of Dreams Cinderella Prince Charming Grand Duke Jaq Fairy Godmother Lady Tremaine Anastasia Drizella Lucifer Game Central Station Niceland Wreck-It Ralph Fix-It Felix, Jr. Cy-Bug Sector Calhoun Cy-Bug Candy Kingdom Vanellope King Candy Sour Bill Other Xemnas Xigbar Xaldin Vexen Lexaeus Zexion Saïx Axel Demyx Luxord Marluxia Larxene

Gallery

• 

  Logo for Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ.

• 

  Logo for Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross].

External links

• Official NA Site
• Official JP Site