The various Kingdom Hearts novels have ranged from being very good substitutes for the original games (Dream Drop Distance) to lackluster, too-abridged adaptations (Kingdom Hearts). As we enter author Tomoco Kanemaki’s version of the latest game, Kingdom Hearts III: The Novel Volume 1: Re:Start!! does well in handling some key characters but is less successful at using the often-lengthy original cutscenes to further explain the lore.
Which is surprising, considering Re:Start!! features A LOT of talking.
Re:Start!!, as its name suggests, covers the beginning of Kingdom Hearts III. After failing his Mark of Mastery exam Sora is tasked with grinding back to level 100, regaining his lost powers as well as gaining a new one: the Power of Waking. Meanwhile, other characters prepare for the destined encounter between light and dark in their own ways.
For much of the novel, the adventure takes a distant backseat in the story. I mean, halfway through the novel, the narration welcomes readers to the Mysterious Tower for the third time…which is followed by talking there and then more talking elsewhere. Considering that Mysterious Tower is not a playable world in Kingdom Hearts III, that’s a lot of chitchat and information being dispensed right in a row. While characters and the narration discuss what’s going on as a result of the events in Dream Drop Distance, most of the dialogue is ripped from Kingdom Hearts III; it doesn’t make the complicated story any clearer than the game does. (Seriously, how do Riku and Mickey just casually get new Keyblades?! And how did they break in the first place?!)
It isn’t until the last 30 pages where we get to have the first full, non-tutorial Kingdom Hearts Disney world experience: Toy Box, home of Toy Story characters Woody and Buzz. Even then, in a new world where Sora visits an awesome toy store and is sucked into a video game, Kanemaki’s adaptation doesn’t quite capture the majesty of the game. At least it adds another dynamic to the novel besides Sora repeatedly wishing to be stronger or Riku and Mickey trying to track down Aqua thanks to the game-obsessed Rex, a suspicious Buzz, and the other Toy Story characters.
Speaking of Aqua, her journey chronicled in 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage- is covered in Re:Start!! This was a surprise to me, although perhaps it shouldn’t have considering it was originally the prologue to Kingdom Hearts III. However, her story is shown after Olympus rather than before. Regardless of the order they should have been presented here or in the game, both excel in showing the two Keyblade wielders’ worry at their weakened state. Aqua, alone in the realm of darkness, finds her sanity being chipped away. Sora has lost his powers before, but the stakes are higher than ever — plus the Organization is popping up with enigmatic statements while Maleficent and Pete are searching for a strange box. While Sora is usually the optimistic one in the group, this concern shows the more introspective side of him, the part that was intuitive enough to know someone else was in his heart.
There were a few other missed opportunities in my opinion, like elaborating on Kairi and Lea/Axel’s reunion since her kidnapping. But there were a few little details here and there that help cover some of the game’s odd decisions. Like, nice to hear you talk, Phil! Grand Magic and Keyblade transformations aren’t introduced, but the (unnamed) Team Attacks are as a result of actual inspiration instead of a random gameplay ability. Amano’s few artpieces are well done including this hilarious shot of Hades absolutely THRILLED to see some old allies:
Even after pondering it for a while, I’m not quite sure if I liked more than disliked Kingdom Hearts III: The Novel Volume 1: Re:Start!!. Maybe it should have added the Kingdom of Corona for more adventure. Or maybe it needed to focus on the “restart” in the title and end before Toy Box. If you just want Kingdom Hearts III in novel form, you’ll probably think I’m being too harsh. But if you wanted more introspection or excitement like in some of Kanemaki’s other Kingdom Hearts novels, your eyes will be glazing over at the seemingly-endless dialogue that doesn’t have the game’s exploration to divide it up.