I finished the PS3 HD Remix version (which is essentially the same exact game but with HD while still running at 30fps) and tried also the PS2 by pure curiosity and out of spite.

The remake of the original Chain of Memories isn't well seen, being an action card game that translated well on the GBA gameplay while the PS2 version put the KH 2 engine (you can notice it by the menus, definitely feels closer to that than KH 1).

This said: this is an overhated game. It plays fine once familiarize with the system and it plays fine in the 3D environment. I get why the 2D one worked much better (both for combat and exploration, especially the latter being so much isometrical), but this still translated pretty well. Some fights were really fun, but I'll admit that without a proper deck and preparation the majority of the Organization XIII fights will inevitably kick your butt.
Skip the story of this one or watching it on YouTube instead of thinking to play on beginner instead if a sin.

Eu consigo entender o que o Nomura tava tentando fazer com esse jogo, é um sistema de combate que poderia ter sido bem interessante se tivesse sido um pouco mais aprofundado. Mas o fato de Chain of Memories ter sido originalmente um jogo de GameBoy Advance inevitavelmente limitou sua capacidade de entregar algo realmente satisfatório, e o remake infelizmente não expandiu o sistema de cartas tanto quanto poderia.

A estrutura das fases do jogo também é muito cansativa, é literalmente uma reciclagem de quase todos os mundos do primeiro Kingdom Hearts, o que faz sentido pela história (já que o Sora explora áreas criadas a partir das suas próprias memórias), mas também acaba deixando o ritmo do jogo bem maçante. Além disso, a história desses mundos em si também foi praticamente inalterada e quase tudo que acontece neles é irrelevante pra narrativa principal de Chain of Memories. Em outras palavras, cada andar do Castelo Oblivion é um balde de filler que você tenta terminar o mais rápido possível pra chegar nas partes do jogo onde realmente acontece algo.

Não é um jogo ruim, e a história é bem interessante (e crucial se você quiser saber o que acontece entre Kingdom Hearts 1 e 2), mas poderia ter sido muito melhor. Em geral, é só mediano.

Chain of memories, in classic spin off fashion, completely changes the battle system from real time action to a strange deck building semi randomized dungeon crawler. It isn't fantastic and gets old pretty fast but not awful and has a fair bit of strategy and different builds you can play around with. The real draw of chain of memories is that it starts to bring the Kingdom Hearts original story into its own, introducing the mysterious Organization 13, which are some of my favorite villains in gaming.

Like so many others before me, i tried the mechanics but couldn't really get into it. I made it to wonderland where i had enough. Not because of that world (although the Trickmaster really ticked me off), i guess it could have been anywhere as i didn't have fun. There is however really essential story in the many cutscenes, especially if you play these games in order. The stuff with Organization 13 really intrigued, and the members remind me of the Espada in Bleach for some reason (even the numbering between them). Also a really interesting plot about memories for Sora and dealing with the darkness for Riku. Much meatier than anything the last game had to offer in the story department. Looking at the cutscenes on youtube like a movie is definitely worth it if you also abandon the game!

Conclusion: Story is worth a lot more than 2,5 stars, but the game play is 2 stars max for me.

The story is good, but it gets no points for that because it's just a series of cutscenes disconnected from the legendarily awful gameplay. Even if you love the card-based combat system 99% of the game is just fighting the same completely easy enemies over and over and over and over. Before the final battle, you have to do (exactly) 100 regular enemy encounters in a row, with a counter counting down from 100 and everything. They're completely easy and you get through them by just pressing the same button over and over again (which you've been doing for the entire game), and that pretty much sums up RE:COM.

El sistema sigue estando bastante roto, te puedes cheesear el juego con una baraja para farm y una para bosses. No recompensa la habilidad y languidece muchísimo en los bosses con gimmick. Y para rematar al llegar a Riku el gameplay cambia por completo, a sabiendas de que el sistema base no acaba de funcionar. En general el gameplay es regulero.
Con todo, muy underrated este juego.
La historia es muy buena, el aura de misterio le hace mucho bien. La organización tiene presencia y se introduce bien, y es una buena preparatoria para el 2.

A frustrating- yet necessary- entry to the Kingdom Hearts saga, Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories is a 3D remake of the Gameboy Advance title of the similar name (hence the "RE"). Like Chain of Memories, this game utilizes a card combat system, whilst still maintaining the frantic nature of Kingdom Hearts enemies throwing themselves at you.

Re:Chain of Memories itself isn't BAD by any means, especially once you figure out how to build a competent deck of cards. However, even after figuring out the new combat system, the game becomes a cheese-fest devoid of any challenge. "Slates" as they're called, are special attacks that allow Sora to attack enemies without much issue (unless someone stops your attack, which isn't likely). Specifically, "Lethal Frame" - an attack that freezes time and deals several powerful attacks on a single enemy AND deals splash damage- practically breaks the game. Hit any boss with this attack, and you're sure to win without breaking a sweat.

I am playing through Re:Chain of Memories for the SECOND time in my life, because I promised my YouTube channel I would. I am playing purely for content creation's sake.

My advice: If you want the store between Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2, go to YouTube. Watch the cutscenes. Fold some laundry. In the end, you'll be a much happier person.

A little over a year ago I decided to make a conscience effort to fight through my back log as much as possible. To try and stop replaying the same games over and over when there are so many I hadn’t played. One major thing I’ve learned is I will never be able to play every game I want to play before I die. We only have so much time and sometimes you just need to know when to call it and say this game just wasn’t for me. While Kingdom Heart Final Mix was definitely for me but unfortunately the follow up Kingdom Hearts Re: Chained Memories was unfortunately one of those games I had to call and end it early.

The main reason for this is while I in no way think it’s a bad game, I don’t know why they completely changed the action rpg gameplay to a card game you play to battle. I really gave it a fair shot but it just wasn’t a fun or engaging experience. I believe there is a reason Kingdom Hearts never again went back to this type of gameplay in the other dozen or so entries in the franchise. Not only does the gameplay not really hit with me but it felt way to unnecessarily grindy. Between the RNG of the cards you receive and needing certain cards to open certain doors I just didn’t have the patience or want to to finish this game.

I want to continue my journey through the Kingdom Hearts series so I watched a in depth video about the story of Chained Memories and I’m so glad I did because I don’t think I could have played the 25 or so hours of playing cards it would have taken to beat the game. Again I’m not saying this is a bad game or saying I don’t recommend it, just that it’s not for me and that if playing a game of cards to swing your sword against your opponent doesn’t sound appealing it may not be for you either.

Games of 2024 Ranked
https://www.backloggd.com/u/DVince89/list/games-i-played-in-2024-ranked-1/