Improves upon the original Kingdom Hearts while having some minor issues.
Graphics: The graphics engine has been built from the ground up. So yes everything is improved upon. Sora has grown taller and looks more his age. The game has taken a darker tone with all these guys in black coats (Organization XIII) The Disney characters have been brought to life once again. The environments from the Disney worlds are kinda smaller. But whatever. There is some but very very rare slowdown only during one battle.9/10
Gameplay: The biggest change in the series is the combat and gummi system. Sure the combat was simple and tedious. This one isn't simple but sometimes tedious. The combat now includes multiple commands using the triangle button. These are called reaction commands. These commands enable you to do some pretty cool looking attacks. Another new gameplay element is the Drive system. This allows you to merge with either Donald of Goofy. This merging will gives you a temporary boost in power speed and skill. Merging with Goofy gets you Valor Form: a form that allows the handling of two keyblades and increased attack power, speed, and combos. Merging with Donald gets you Wisdom Form: a form based on magic and magic combos, you kinda float above the ground and shoot magic bullets out of your keyblade instead of the usual hitting. The merging of both Donald and Goofy leads to Master Form. This form is a blend of Valor and Wisdom. This form has great attack, speed, magic, and combos. I do tell you though that these forms last only a little bit. There's a new bar called the Drive bar. You must fill that up to the desired amount to go into whatever form. You can fill it up by killing enemies, collecting new Drive orbs, or using Drive recovery items. If you use drive too much though you'll go into Anti-Sora drive. Which actually makes you into a Shadow like Heartless and gives you insane combos but weak attack and low defense. Another new element in combat is the Limi system. In certain worlds like Mulan you can perform what Final Fantasy fans might remember as Limit Breaks. This is a joint attack of Sora and that world's character. In Mulan you perform an attack that launches fireworks, and Mushu meteors and whatnot. These cost all of your MP. Now onto the reworked elements. The magic system is now reworked. You now have an actual bar. Each magic cast takes off the bar. Fire has been reworked into a spinning ring of fire around you, while blizzard took the fire's shoot idea. There are new magics like Magnet, Reflect. Cure has been reworked also. Using is once takes all your MP but it is effecting in a circular range. When you use all of your MP you go into MP recharge. Which is when your MP bar turns pink and then starts filling up again. The gummi ship is back and is more action oriented. Simple but I like it. The gameplay has some of it's problems though. The magic system is dissapointing. The game somehow is like a button masher in some areas. Hey you can't be perfect right? 9/10
Sound: This time the sound is great. All the actors from the original Kingdom Hearts has returned. Haley Joel Osment has come back as Sora and does a great job. Some of the actors for the Disney characters dissapoint though. They couldn't get the original actors so they had people that micked their voice. It worked but it didn't work for some. Simba didn't sound right. The music is beautiful once again. Over the four years waiting for this game I have learned to enjoy Japanese music. So the theme song is fine with me. Kinda catchy. The other themes from the movies and the original have been remixed. Can't really complain much. 10/10
Story: The story is more complex and serious this time. Sure the Disney characters kinda lighten it up but the overall story is serious. There's this kid Roxas who lives in Twilight Town. He is also a Keyblade bearer. I won't say anymore because that will ruin it. Sora then wakes up from sleeping in a pod (play Kingdom Hearts Chain Of Memories). He reunites with Donald and Goofy. They learn of this ogranization called Organization XIII. Well this has thirteen members and they want Sora for some reason. So Sora goes on a journey to keep looking for Riku, a way to get home, find the King Mickey, and find out what the Organization is planning. It's serious and plot twists are about. 10/10
Replay Value: This time there's a lot of replay value. Once again the different weapons you pick in the beginning determine what abilities are learned. Jiminy's Journal is also a great thing for replay value. It keeps track of everything. So if you want to fill it up you sure as hell can. There is once again a secret ending. Only if you complete Jiminy's Journal completely. Trust me quite a big task. The tournaments are back and this time more fun. There are conditions and whatnot so it makes them more challenging. I forgot to mention that the game is easy intially but thanks to three difficulty modes (Easy, Normal, and Proud) you can play again on a difficulty suited for you. 10/10
Overall this game was well worth the wait. It has it's mistakes but no one can make a perfect game. So if you're looking for a good action adventure game rent it. If you're a Square-Enix and Disney fan here's your perfect holiday/birthday present.