Opening Menu

Oh no! The water! I'm in big trouble if I don't fetch it!
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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 player's input.

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 and Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

• In Kingdom Hearts, the artwork is "Beach". The player is given the option of starting a new game or loading an existing save file.
• In Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, the artwork is replaced with "Wind". 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.
  • Starting from the PlayStation 4 version of the HD remaster, players can also access the game's Theater Mode from the menu. The PlayStation 4 version requires downloading the DLC patch, while subsequent versions have Theater Mode from the start.

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories

• In Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, the artwork is "Deck". Reverse/Rebirth replaces this with "Card". The player is first prompted to press the Start button, which then gives them multiple options: start a new game as Sora or Riku, load an existing save file, play Link Mode, or adjust the brightness with or .
• In Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, the artwork is "Crossroads - Morning Star", with Reverse/Rebirth replacing it with "Crossroads - Dawn". The player has the option to start a new game, load an existing save file, or access Theater Mode after beating Sora's story (completing Reverse/Rebirth unlocks the cutscenes for Riku's story).
  • In the HD remaster, there is also a "Back" option to return to the overall collection screen.

Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

• In Kingdom Hearts II, the artwork is "Ocean". 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 is replaced with "Late Summer". 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 358/2 Days

• In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, the artwork is "Boundary". The player has the option to play either Story Mode or Mission Mode or access Theater Mode after clearing the game. Selecting Story Mode gives the player the option to either start a new game or load a previous save file. In the English version, selecting Mission Mode gives the player the option to play either solo or multiplayer, whereas in the Japanese version, it simply sends the player to the Wi-Fi group menu.
• The HD compilations simply present the game's story as a nearly three-hour film. The player has the option to play the film from the beginning, select a chapter, view the extras, or return to the overall collection screen.

Kingdom Hearts coded and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

• In Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, the artwork is "All Smiles". The player has the option of starting a new game, loading a previous save file, or accessing the Avatar Menu or Theater Mode.
• The HD collections present the game's story as a three-hour film. The player has the option to play the film from the beginning, select a chapter, view character files, or return to the overall collection screen.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and 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 player's choices.
  • In Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, if the player starts up the game with no game save files on their system or if their most recently loaded save file is the Final Episode, the artwork is "Soar". If the player's most recently loaded save file is of Terra, Ventus, or Aqua's campaigns, the artwork changes to their respective artwork derived from "Soar".
  • Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep changes the no save files or Final Episode artwork to the game's promotional artwork, which also appears if the player's most recently loaded save file is the Secret Episode. Terra, Ventus, and Aqua's individual artwork is also changed to match the promotional artwork.
  • 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 Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix adds a "Back" option, which returns the player to the overall collection screen.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD

• The artwork is "Sea of Clouds".
• The player has the option of starting a new game or loading a previous save file.
  • The option to load is selected by default if there is at least one save file.
• Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD adds the option to return to the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue menu.

Kingdom Hearts χ, Kingdom Hearts Union χ, and Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover

• Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover has the artwork consist of an in-game graphic of the Foretellers overlooking Daybreak Town. The player has the option to start the film from the beginning, select a specific chapter, read bios of the characters, or return to the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue menu.

Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-

• The artwork features an in-game graphic of Aqua near the Castle Town.
• The player has the option to continue from an existing save file, start a new game, load a past save file, configure their controls, access Theater Mode, or return to the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue menu.

Kingdom Hearts III and Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind

• The artwork is "Promise". Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind adds Kairi standing in the waves with Sora, holding her own paopu fruit.
• The player has the option to start a new game, continue from their most recent save file, load a past save file, configure their controls, access the Memory Archives, Theater Mode and tutorials under a "Special" tab, or go to the PlayStation Store on the PlayStation 4 version or Microsoft Store on the Xbox One version. A message labeled "Before You Stream..." can also be accessed with . Prior to version 1.06, the "Special" tab's contents were listed individually on the opening menu. In Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind, the player can also access a "Downloadable Content" tab and choose to play the Re Mind, Limitcut Episode, or Secret Episode scenarios, or access Data Greeting, a Slideshow feature, or a live recording of Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World of Tres- under an "Orchestra" tab.

Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory

• The artwork is of the game's boxart.
• The player's only option is to press any button to start the game.

HD Compilations

• For all three of the HD Collections players can choose which game they wish to play which are listed horizontally from left to right.
  • The order for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX is Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.
  • The order for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX is Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix, and Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded.
  • The order for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD, Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-, and Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover.
• Below the games has a credits section which has lists the official credits for that particular HD Compilation set and an Extras section for being able to switch the wallpaper format for the main menu of the PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 system. These are unlocked by completing each game individually with each wallpaper design based off the theme from each game.
• For the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX compilation, the six games in this set are listed vertically from up to down on the left side of the screen with the games from the 1.5 set listed first, followed by the ones from the 2.5 set.
  • Below this are the credits from both compilation sets with the ones from 1.5 listed under "Credits 1.5" and the credits from the 2.5 listed under "Credits 2.5" and an Extras section which can allow the player to access the wallpaper design from the original compilation games to change the wallpaper format for the PlayStation 4's main menu once each game is completed individually.
  • For the Xbox One version of this compilation, "Extras" was replaced with "Screen Options" for adjusting the screen.