(Played Final Mix on a PS5)
Kingdom Hearts II improves on the general gameplay like no other. The stark differences between 1 and 2 is surreal. It’s like playing the first game in a series to playing the sixth, not to the second. It was remarkable to see their budget skyrocket.
The game itself was really carried by its own charm and fun gameplay. With quick time events combined with amazing animation, every single fight was a blast, even smaller ones. Here is the however though: the story itself is... well... Kingdom Hearts. I enjoyed the original for the fact that it was basic. It was “anime guy meets Disney guys. They go to Disney worlds, fight evil the end”
Not even just that though, Kingdom Hearts II worlds just feel so separate from the rest of the story. I don’t give a fuck about another Hercules level, I want to know what tf the organization is up to. Whereas in the original Kingdom Hearts, visiting each world had a purpose. It was still to experience whatever Disney property but it still felt like it had weight. In Kingdom Hearts II, I could’ve gone through playing none of the worlds other than radiant garden and Tron world. Those were the only ones with any relevance to the story at all.
Don’t get me wrong though, each world was fun—well, I can do without more Hercules Jfc. It just felt like needless filler when I was actually more interested in its awkward convoluted plot.
It use to be “anime boy goes to Disney worlds to find answers” to “anime boy goes to Disney worlds because he’s lost and/or bored.” The Disney stuff is just happening around them rather than to them. I find that to be a bummer.
Regardless, Kingdom Hearts II is an absolute delight to play. I wish they said Darkness more in this one like they did in Chain of Memories and the original. I miss the Darkness.
Anyways! It’s a great follow up!
Kingdom Hearts II improves on the general gameplay like no other. The stark differences between 1 and 2 is surreal. It’s like playing the first game in a series to playing the sixth, not to the second. It was remarkable to see their budget skyrocket.
The game itself was really carried by its own charm and fun gameplay. With quick time events combined with amazing animation, every single fight was a blast, even smaller ones. Here is the however though: the story itself is... well... Kingdom Hearts. I enjoyed the original for the fact that it was basic. It was “anime guy meets Disney guys. They go to Disney worlds, fight evil the end”
Not even just that though, Kingdom Hearts II worlds just feel so separate from the rest of the story. I don’t give a fuck about another Hercules level, I want to know what tf the organization is up to. Whereas in the original Kingdom Hearts, visiting each world had a purpose. It was still to experience whatever Disney property but it still felt like it had weight. In Kingdom Hearts II, I could’ve gone through playing none of the worlds other than radiant garden and Tron world. Those were the only ones with any relevance to the story at all.
Don’t get me wrong though, each world was fun—well, I can do without more Hercules Jfc. It just felt like needless filler when I was actually more interested in its awkward convoluted plot.
It use to be “anime boy goes to Disney worlds to find answers” to “anime boy goes to Disney worlds because he’s lost and/or bored.” The Disney stuff is just happening around them rather than to them. I find that to be a bummer.
Regardless, Kingdom Hearts II is an absolute delight to play. I wish they said Darkness more in this one like they did in Chain of Memories and the original. I miss the Darkness.
Anyways! It’s a great follow up!