Opening Menu

The Opening menu (or Start-Up Menu) is normally one of the first things the player sees upon starting up a video game, and is usually the first aspect of the game to require the players imput.

In the Kingdom Hearts series, this menu typically consists of the games logo and options for the player to pick from, both accompanied by a piece of artwork on a white (sometimes black) screen, and an arrangement of Dearly Beloved playing in the background.

Kingdom Hearts & Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

• In Kingdom Hearts, the artwork is of Sora standing in the ocean with a fish skeleton hanging from his mouth while holding a stick. The player is given the option of starting a new game or loading an existing save file.
• In Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, the artwork has been changed to an image of Sora standing with his hood up and holding a large flag. A third menu option is added that allows the player to view a trailer of the then-upcoming Final Fantasy X-2.
  • In the HD remaster, the trailer option is replaced with a "Back" option, which returns the player to the overall collection screen.
  • In the Playstation 4 version of the remaster, players can also access the games Theater Mode from the menu, provided they've downloaded the patch.

Kingdom Hearts II & Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

• In Kingdom Hearts II, the artwork is of Sora standing in the ocean with a partially-eaten sea salt ice cream hanging from his mouth. The player is given the option of starting a new game or loading an existing save file.
• In Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, the artwork has been changed to Sora and Roxas sitting on an invisible platform eating sea salt ice cream together on a sunset backdrop. The player can access Theater Mode from the menu upon clearing the game.
  • In the HD remaster, a "Back" option, which returns the player to the overall collection screen, is added to the options.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep & Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix

• Both versions of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep have four alternate menu screens that change depending on the players choices.
  • If the player starts up the game with no game save files on their system, the artwork is that of the games cover artwork (on both respective versions). The menu also reverts to this artwork if the players most recently loaded save file was that of the final episode.
  • The menu changes to focus on either Terra, Aqua, or Ventus' artwork depending on which of their respective save files where recently loaded by the player. The artworks in question are, again, from the respective boxarts of the two versions.
  • On both menus, the player has the option of starting a new game, loading an existing save file, and, upon clearing at least one of the three characters stories, access to the Trinity Archives.
  • The HD remaster of Final Mix adds a "Back" option, which returns the player to the overall collection screen.