Just recently replayed this one, and honestly, it's still one of the strongest in the series. While I think KH2 outshines it, I think KH3 is a bit of a step down, and I'll tell you why. While combat in KH3 is way more fun, KH1 shines in it's other aspects. The Disney worlds actually tie in to this game's overarching story. While that seems like it's not very important, it makes the game feel like a real universe, and every game after this just makes the Disney worlds filler, and it's pointless. But KH1 just has so much charm. So many interactable things in each world, so much character building from the main cast, it's all so much and adds to the charm. It's wonderful, and a great opening to one of the best game series ever. Also the magic system is way better in this game than the other ones. Not sorry.

Absolutely the best KH game. People always say that this is the best one, and they're right. While losing some of the best parts of KH1, like the integration of the overarching story in with the Disney worlds, or just a lot of the charm of that game, KH2 builds in the other departments. The combat has been significantly enhanced. It's pretty much an entirely new combat system, like how magic got a complete rework from KH1, or how the ground combat got completely undercooked and now aerial combat is the way to go. And then the addition of Drive Forms really change the game. Drive Forms make using normal Sora feel worthless, as Valor (the first form you even get) just sweeps everything. But where the game really shines, other than combat of course, is it's development of the story. It builds up from KH1 and Chain of Memories, and if you're playing in release order (which is how you should), then the brand new characters just show up and have no real introduction, and it brings in this aspect of mystery around them. It is a very great game, and I hope to platinum it soon.