Kingdom Hearts II presented me with some issues. I have therefore reviewed this game in two seperate ways. In context with the first Kingdom Hearts game, KH2 has left me slightly disillusioned. If I consider this game as an abstract and of its own, KH2 is actually an extremely good game. So let's start with 'in context' - this is the bit where I got a little dissapointed. I played the first Kingdom Hearts when it was released a few years ago and it amazed me. However, I load up KH2 and start to play, and I realise - was the first game played in vain? Why are we seeing characters I killed off reappearing? Is this just lazy design, or can they pull off a really good excuse? Well, in my opinion this is in part very lazy design and ideas. It's really off-putting playing a sequal where you meet the same characters and villains again. It makes you think all that effort was useless. Another thing which niggles me about KH2 is its easiness (I am playing on Standard Mode). The new battle and reaction command options make battle almost effortless, all you need do is press triangle when it tells you, and dodge a bit. Skill is almost effortless. Battle seems the name of the game here... ok, there are a few minigames, but I almost miss getting lost in the first KH wondering what the hell I have to do next and where I should go. This is all fixed, because you are told exactly what to do and if you don't know the way and you try to go the wrong way, you'll also be restricted from areas until you find the right path. This takes out the element of annoyance of being 'stranded' mid game not knowing what's next, but in other ways thats almost part of the fun. In my opinion the levels have got shorter (even those which we re-visit, Hollow Bastion, Agrabah etc.) and seem to all follow a generalised pattern of play. However, I must remember that this is KH2 - the game I have been waiting on for years. Therefore, I feel a necessity to 'like' it. This is why I have also thought about the game 'out of context'. The easiest example of this is the two hour long (long!) introduction bit that you have to play through before you even see the title of the game. Here I was sorely dissapointed, if Square Enix & Disney wanted to make a new game then why not just make a new game without the KH label? Ok - so there were a few random references... I'm left thinking at this point, have I missed out some huge chunk of the storyline? Anyway... I battle on through this weird start and get to the main bit, what we've all been waiting for... and at this point I'm relieved if just a little confused. I won't spoil any plotlines for you readers who haven't yet played! For its good points, KH2 does become strangely and highly addictive, even though its battles are pretty easy going and its levels shorter than before. Maybe this is part of the addiction?? Another bonus is the addition of character information so you won't be kept guessing as to where you've seen those Disney characters before (although the 'new' alert in the start menu does grate after a while if you don't keep on top of it). As a game of its own standing, I can probably say I enjoy KH2 - although if they are making a third then they had better think up a few newer ideas. I would still rate this (forgetting its KH relatives), its graphics are good even though yet again the scores on some of the levels we revisit haven't been rewritten either (forgiven with Hollow Bastion because that music is the best!). As a sequel to KH1... call me hard to please but... this doesn't completely wash.
After a 3+ year wait, the third game in the Kingdom Hearts series finally makes it's way to American shores. But, is it worth it? The answer is very simple. YES. Kingdom Hearts 2 is, quite possibly, one of the... Read Full Review
It is good to play the first Kingdom Hearts before playing this one. There is a lot more to do in Kingdom Hearts 2 then in the first one. There is a lot of mini games to play and missions to accomplish. The storyline has... Read Full Review
