The gaming world was shocked by the announcement that Sora would beSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate’s last DLC fighter. Speculation regarding the final addition to the Fighters Pass had been ongoing, and many had dismissed Sora because of his association with Disney. Nevertheless, Masahiro Sakurai and the rest of theSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateteam surprised everyone and showcased the iconic keyblade wielder. Sora’s moveset and costume changes were highlighted, but one alternate skin stood out from the others. For those unfamiliar with its origin, the “Timeless River” form may have been a little peculiar.
This impression comes as no surprise since the Timeless River level first appeared some fifteen years ago inKingdom Hearts 2. Despite appearing exclusively in that game, players familiar with the level will instantly recognize the inspiration behind Sora’s distinct black-and-white color scheme. Such a departure from the game’s otherwise colorful palette and modern character designs seems strikingly out of place. After all, the only other character who stands out as much as Sora’s Timeless River design is probablyMr. Game & Watch. There’s much more to Timeless River than this character skin, however.
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Timeless River, Steamboat Willie, and Kingdom Hearts 2
As previously stated, the name “Timeless River” refers to a level that was featured inKingdom Hearts 2. In theKingdom Heartsfranchise, most levels are based on different Disney franchises, and Timeless River is one such level. The level hearkens back to Disney’s roots and was modeled after the aesthetic ofSteamboat Willie, an animation produced when Disney was only five years old. In addition to being one of the first films to utilize synchronized film and sound,Steamboat Willieis considered Mickey Mouse’s debut film. It remains an iconic animation despite its age, influencing the likes ofCupheadin addition to Timeless River.
InKingdom Hearts 2, Timeless River is a level with many unique features. It’s one of the few levels, for example, to which players do not travel via Gummi Ship. Moreover, Timeless River is one out of a handful of levels in which Sora, Donald, and Goofy’s outfits change in accordance to the level’s art style (other examples of this include theLittle Mermaidlevel, theNightmare Before Christmaslevel, and thePirates of the Caribbeanlevel). Within Timeless River, Sora and Co meet a retro Mickey Mouse and Pete, both of whom appear as they did in 1928. Although not a major part of the story, the Timeless River level stands out among otherKingdom Heartsstages.
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Sora in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The iconic look of his Timeless River design may have been what ledSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatedevelopers to include it among Sora’s other color variations. What’s odd is how different this skin is from his other looks. InSmash Bros., Sora’s color variations will include his outfits from theKingdom Heartstrilogy as well as his outfit inKingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance(originally released for the 3DS). His other costumes are based on his in-game “Forms”. An outlier to all of these looks, the Timeless River design is the only one based on an in-game level. The retro design and custom facial expressions are a charming addition, but they certainly seem like a peculiar choice compared toSora’s Smash Bros. Ultimate outfits.
Some fans were convinced Disney would never approve of Sora’s inclusion inSmash Bros.How Nintendo managed to reach an agreement with Disney remains unknown, and whether it was Nintendo, Disney, or evenSquare Enixwho pushed for Sora’s inclusion will most likely remain a mystery, too. By extension, the reasoning behind decisions concerning his appearance and moveset may never be revealed. The only thing to be sure of is that this announcement was the result of long, exhausting conversations, and the fanbase has every reason to give thanks to Masahiro Sakurai and his team.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimateis available now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
