Square and Disney together combined to make what could be the most ambitious and innovative action RPG in this decade.
Kingdom Hearts is a collaboration of both Disney and Final Fantasy, from the brilliant guys at Square Enix (Formaly SquareSoft). You play as a boy named Sora, who along with his friends Riku and Kairi, all wonder what it would be like to journey away from their island home. They get seperated, and with the help of a great cast of characters from both Disney and Square find out the truth of "how the way things are". This game has its share of dark and light moments, and it all moves really nicely. Does Kingdom Hearts have the action, plot, and variety though to make it a top RPG game to remember? The answer is a definite yes, though it does have its slight problems here and there.
Story
Normally I start out with gameplay, but I feel a change of pace is needed. The story has a nice flow to it that I don't believe a lot of people realize. It is not easy enough to make an RPG with a flowing story, character involvement, and great memorable events. This game has the increased challenge because of the cross between Disney and Square. The few crossovers in this game that mainly occur between the three newest characters, as well as Goofy and Donald between other characters, all works very well. The characters' interactions all feel very natural, as if the universes were always together in games and/or movies. With all that in mind, the game is lengthy, lasting anywhere from 20-40hrs, depending on skill level, and has more than a number of memorable moments within the story that can appeal to all RPG fans.
Gameplay
Some are used to RPGs and their turn-based battle systems, commands, and other various assortments. Kingdom Hearts, in my opinion, is a great way to make an action RPG. It sometimes can feel like a hack-in-slash game, but nowhere near the amount you see in games like Dynasty Warriors, God of War, and Ninety-Nine Nights; just to name a few. Those are hack-in-slash games, granted God of War is probably the only one truly worth mentioning. You also, as you progress through the game, inherate a number of magic attacks, ranging from all the classics you've come to expect, such as Fire, Blizzard, Thunder, and Aero. The are many more, but I will leave that to the reader to find out. Enemies are paced nicely in variety, granted most of your fights will feature the smaller ones. There will still be times where you come into contact with tougher enemies, and this is where you can indeed get defeated. Boss battles are nice as well, and the fact that some enemies will take forms similar to the worlds you travel to, there is plenty of variety to be had.
Graphics
Graphics are standard. In no way are they bad, they just don't match up to games such as Metal Gear, or even a great RPG series like Final Fantasy. Those games are in a league of their own with what they have accomplished. The graphics engine in Kingdom Hearts though fits so well into the mix of Disney and Square. All likenessess from Disney are spot on and look fantastic. Some of Square's characters from their RPGs though, are actually what some fans may be disappointed at. One thing that fans of those need to keep in mind is that this is not the 90s, and even before that. If those games had been made over the last decade, this is what they would look and sound like. That is why I believe some of the negativity for this game (granted only minor) has been the way it has been. If you never player some of those classics, this will be no problem at all, though at times, compared to the three new characters, they can sometimes look at of place, but don't feel out of place.
Presentation
If you have read this review thus far, then you know of the cross between Disney and Square, and what a triumph it is to see it work as well as it does. There is everything original about this game with what the story brings from both sides of the table. Sora, the main character, fits very well into this story, and Haley Joel Osment voices him with some great quality. Some characters are voiced nicely, while others are "yay" or "nay".It is not major, though I do indeed see where some may not entirely enjoy some of the voice acting. I on the other hand, believe they handled it nicely.
Conclusion
Kingdom Hearts for a long time now has touched fans of both Disney and Square. There is something for fans of both sides, and if you are a fan of both, then you will definitely enjoy this game. It is not a five star game, but it definitely close. With just a bit more refinement to some technical things here and there, this game would get at least a "9/10". With a great story, great gameplay, and variety all over the place, there is nothing you wont enjoy about this game.
Story Score: 9/10
Gameplay Score: 8.5/10
Graphics Score: 8.5/10
Presentation Score: 8.5/10
Overall Score: 8.5/10
Replay Valure: High
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