Kingdom Hearts
Square
Genre:
Action/RPG
Players:
1
Type/#:
DVD
/
1
Overall Rating
94
%
Graphics and Sound
When it comes to this review, I'm not sure who is happier. On one hand, I
finally played the one game I have wanted more than any other since it was
announced at E3 two years ago. On the other, everyone around me finally gets
a break from hearing me talk about the game whenever I can work it into a
conversation. Some may question the objectivity of this review but if that
were the case, that score would read 100 and not the 94 you see above.
The most fitting starting place I can find for this review is the sound.
When questioning just how much production value when into this game, you
need not look any further than the cast list. When a game has enough draw to
it that it can score voice talent like Haley Joel Osment, Sean Astin, Billy
Zane, David Boreanaz, and Mandy Moore; voices from the original movies like
Scott Weinger, James Woods, Jodi Benson, and Gilbert Godfried, you know
you're in for a treat. The voice work is miles beyond anything that has
appeared in a video game. Even some of the vocal mismatches such as Lance
Bass as Sephiroth and the 'filler' voices sound great.
When it comes to music, let me get one thing out of the way right off the
bat. Although this is a Disney production, at no time do any of the game's
characters break out in a song and dance number. On that note, the
soundtrack is exactly what you would expect from Square. From Utada Hikaru's
theme song 'Simple and Clean' to the simplest of victory tunes, everything
is fantastic. Disney fans will get a kick out of hearing new versions of old
Disney favorites like 'Under the Sea' and 'The Mickey Mouse Club March'.
Graphically, Kingdom Hearts is just as breathtaking. Seeing how
Square was able to blend both the Disney and Square characters and worlds is
really something to see. Just trying to pick out a favorite level was a real
chore. Every level in the game stays very true to the movies - even down to
the smallest details. Some Disney purists are sure to point out some minor
inconsistencies, but I am convinced those are people you just can't please.
The character animation is some of the best I've seen in a game, especially
Donald and Goofy. Whereas most characters have a 'computer' like movement,
the characters move like they were in a Disney animated feature. If the
overall presentation isn't enough to get excited, the visual in-jokes, such
as the Fantasia mops cleaning Mickey's castle or the Cactaur Gummi Ship
design, are sure to please both Disney and Square fans.
Gameplay
Instead of just going on about what I liked, I thought it better to start
with what I didn't like. Yes, even me, Disney fan number one, found problems
with the game. First, the camera system needs a lot of work. While not as
disorienting as the one found in Super Mario Sunshine, KH's
camera will leave you dizzy during some of the game's more intense,
free-roaming battles. Even with the ability to rotate the camera anywhere
around you, there are times when it is down right impossible to see where you are. As with any camera system, things become a little more
manageable as the game progresses and you learn to deal with its nuances.
I was also less than impressed with the whole 'Gummi Ship' system. One of
the major turning points of any Final Fantasy game is when your party
finally receives the airship, and KH follows in that tradition, only
with it's own unique spin. Whereas most Final Fantasies allow you to
just fly the airship over the map, KH requires you to pilot, and even
build, your own airship. At the start of the game, Donald and Goofy have a
very standard ship. As you progress through the game, you can collect
blueprints and gummi blocks that enable you to design your very own costume
ship. As cool as the feature seems at first, it's very hard to learn and has
no noticeable effect on the game. The Starfox-like levels that make
up the actual traveling between worlds tedious and not much fun.
Given all the surprises in store for players, I'm not going to talk much
about the story. Even if I mentioned just one or two of the game's story
elements I'd feel like the guy who just walked out of Empire Strikes Back
and yelled to the waiting crowd 'Darth Vader is Luke's father!' Without
going into details, there are a few parts of the overall story that are
worth mentioning.
For the most part, Kingdom Hearts takes on a very 'Never-ending
Story'-like story. After being transported to another world by a magical
storm, Sora finds himself lost in another world. He soon runs into Donald
and Goofy who are looking for the Keyblade Master - who just happens to be
Sora.
As it turns out, a group known as the Heartless are slowly destroying worlds
(both Disney and Final Fantasy) and only the Keyblade Master can stop
their progression. The three soon set out on an adventure spanning nine
Disney worlds including Wonderland, Agrabah (Aladdin), Halloween Town
(Nightmare Before Christmas), and Atlantica (The Little Mermaid). After
that...well, you'll just have to play the game now won't you. But trust me,
some of the surprises in store are unbelievable.
Many detractors of the game questioned just how 'adult' this game could be.
How deep could a conversation with Donald Duck or Goofy get anyway? Another
point brought up by Disney fans is how much would Square mess with familiar
Disney properties. Well - suffice to say both sides should be more than
pleased by what Disney and Square have been able to pull off. Sharp-minded
FF fans will even pick up on what could be one of the first hints as
to how all the games relate to each other.
Difficulty Level
Kingdom Hearts has a strange way of fluctuating between hard as hell
and way too easy. The most difficult thing to get used to is the combat
system. Because it is in real-time and everything is happening so fast all
at once, things can get hectic. Given that this is a Disney product, many
were concerned that the game would be too easy. Having played through over
75 percent of the game, I can assure you this is clearly not the case. From
what I've seen, the boss battles in KH easily rival the toughest of
FF bosses - including the 'Weapons'. However, KH is able to
keep things even and gives you ample time to gain your bearings (and levels)
between tough fights, making for a well-balanced game. But when all else
fails, there's always the Kingdom Hearts guide from Brady games to
help you through some of the game's rockier moments.
Those looking for even more challenge can try finding all 99 Dalmatian
puppies, collecting the 'Lost Magic Arts', collecting the Ultimate Weapons,
completing all of the cups in the Olympus Coliseum, finding all of the
Trinity Marks or trying the game in Expert mode.
Game Mechanics
Unlike most Square RPGs, Kingdom Hearts takes on a completely new,
real-time combat system. For the most part, the game plays very similar to
Zelda: OoT. You control Sora while the computer controls the other
party members (you can customize their AI in the options menu). On the
bottom-left side of the screen is your standard RPG menu. By either pressing
up and down on the D-pad or Right analog stick you can choose what you want
the action button, X, to do. The first slot is Attack (or talk when near
NPCs) and will be your 'default' setting. Second is the Items and Inventory;
this is where you choose items and who to use them on. Next is Magic - this
is to list all of your spells/summons. You can also hit R1 to bring up a set
of 'spell hot keys' which you set in the options menu. Last is the ????
slot. This changes depending on the situation. During battle it becomes your
special attack command (Sonic, Throwblade...) depending on what ability you
have set, Open when you are near a chest, or Lift when near moveable
objects.
You gain EXP after each kill and everyone shares EXP equally, meaning that
if a monster gives 2 EXP, everyone gets 2 EXP. You also get EXP by pulling
off combos, dodging, or doing other special things in combat. As you fight
monsters, they drop orbs that contain mana, health, and money as well as
chests. Unlike other RPGs, you aren't rewarded with X amount of money after
you beat an enemy. Instead, what you collect is what you get. You can gain
abilities like 'Treasure Magnet' and 'Lucky' to get more money and have it
attract to you.
In the end, KH is a very strong RPG, even without the Final
Fantasy and Disney influences. Even if you would rather take a bullet
than sit through anything Disney, KH is an excellent game and worth
picking up.
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