Silicon Fusion >> Reviews >> Kingdom Hearts

	All Platforms
	Xbox
	GameCube
	PlayStation 2
	PC
	Game Boy Advance

Site Sections:

	Updates
	News
	Games
	Publishers
	Developers
	Reviews
	Previews
	Release Dates
	Editorials
	Glossary
	Contact Us

Review:

21st November 2002:
Kingdom Hearts
An unlikely unison between Square and Disney, will it roar like the Lion King or whimper like Final Fantasy: The Movie?
Posted by John Wasabi - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe

This is not the first crossover in videogame history to shock, take videogame giants CAPCOM; they have been milking the MARVEL versus CAPCOM universe for quite a while now and although its nothing new, we at Silicon Fusion cannot help but fall in love with the idea of a Square and Disney alliance. Kingdom Hearts is a tricky game to try and pigeonhole or describe in a nutshell, you could say it's a perplexing blend of Final Fantasy art blended with bright and colourful nostalgia that one has come to expect from Disney cartoons for the family. In the end, all you have to do is peel the layers, what you will find is that Kingdom Hearts is a role-playing game that although is probably aimed at a younger audience, it manages to entwine the player because above all else, it keeps you coming back for more.

Lets get one thing clear, Kingdom Hearts is not your traditional turn based Role-playing game. All battles are real time with a lock-on attack feature similar to that found in The Legend of Zelda on the N64. The real-time combat consists of using the R1 shoulder button to target and lock on to enemies as you mash the X button repeatedly performing a series of impressive combos. As simple as it may sound; there is a huge element of skill involved in order to actually defeat some of your later foes. Early in the game you can get by mindlessly hacking and tapping away but you'll soon find certain enemies with counter attacks. It is then when you rely on tactics, quick reactions and a bit of luck in order to defeat some of the later bosses. Yes, Kingdom Hearts is primarily targeted at a younger demographic and yes the Disney theme will put a lot of older and hardcore gamers off, but one thing's for sure you'll be dead wrong if you think Kingdom Hearts is a walk in the Park.

Storyline is typically what one can expect from Square, a surreal mix of issues and fantastic storytelling about friendship, adventure, love, sacrifice, and the eternal balance between good versus evil. It is an unforgettable piece of storytelling that people will remember for decades of video gaming to come. However, I found myself dragged through the Kingdom Hearts experience not cause of this, it was the magic and inspiration of exploration and the ever turning corner where you may bump into some recognisable face be it from the Final Fantasy series or a Disney movie you may have watched in the past or recently. It truly is cleverly planned and a voyage down memory lane as you meet and interact with characters from the Square and Disney universe that may have touched us in our lives at some point.

With all this good, surely there's a catch you ask? Well, Kingdom Hearts is not with out its fair share of problems, certain tasks and puzzles are really obscure and don't feel rewarding when accomplished. At times these puzzles feel as though they actually break the flow of the game, after the most awesome battle, you find yourself doing mundane search and collect objectives which really spoils the pacing of the game at times as the high of a battle is then reverted to a low of obscure puzzle solving.

Camera positioning and angles prove problematic as well and actually help lead you to an early grave while in the midst of a frantic boss battle. Yes, there are manual and automatic modes to camera positioning but it is nothing revolutionary or ground breaking. You will also find your fair share of jumping in Kingdom Hearts, whether its to reach the ledge above or to dodge incoming attacks, it is not as refined as other games of the same genre and can get tedious as you try your very hardest to estimate your point of landing only to find you missed it by a mile. Is it a lack of skill on my part? Possibly, but whatever the cause, it's a shame jumping couldn't be made more fun. Square still has a long way to go before it can compete with the likes of Nintendo's Legend of Zelda or Majora's mask, maybe Kingdom Hearts 2? (I can but hope).

If you fancy your Final Fantasy storyline with a dash of real-time combat mixed with an unforgettable cast of characters from the Square and Disney universe, there is very little to fault with Kingdom Hearts. It is solid and well-designed that will have you playing for around 40 odd hours (more if you want to collect every secret) and even then you may be tempted to do it again on Expert difficulty for a special ending. Maybe, maybe not, but one thing is for sure, if like me you want an RPG this Christmas and love the idea of Square and Disney combining forces, Kingdom Hearts is available at your local videogames store now, otherwise lets hope you've been good this Christmas and that Santa delivers.

John Wasabi

Latest Images:

Review Scores:

Graphics:
Sound:
Gameplay:
Length:
Overall:
Click here for our Review Score Guidelines .

Review Summary:

An alliance that really has paid off, Kingdom Hearts will have you engrossed hour after hour and you'll soon find yourself losing time, sleep and possibly even friends. Although not perfect and annoying in some areas, the typical Square storytelling and colourful Disney cast will have you forgiving these faults.

Related Games:

Kingdom Hearts
for PlayStation 2

Screenshots

Review