Its hip to be SQUARE!(and Disney I guess!)

User Rating: 9.2 | Kingdom Hearts II PS2
By vyrizzle | Review Date:
Gameplay: First thing is first. This isnt a usual turn based RPG. This is a hack and slash RPG. So with that said, you would think that there wasnt much to the battle system, but your wrong. There is so much going for this battle system it is unbelievable. From the usual button mashing, you are also given a selection of combo strings and finshers for your character. On top of that, each weapon will carry a different attribute to help you along the way. This will range from increasing drop rate of items, to increaseing the speed at which your MP is regained once it is drained. Also, you get special moves with each partner in the game. Each character that you combine with carries a different move, but they all just deal MASSIVE damage quickly to your enemies. Along with the the hack and slash, you are given magic. The magic is pretty limited, but useful in crucial times. Just like in the last game, summons are also included. That arent as many summons in this game, and to be honest, they arent really that useful. On top of all of this, you get 4 different special forms. These forms use the "drive gauge" which is a point system that is used to turn you into a super form. Each form carriers a different stat emphasis(i.e. one will carry increased strength while another can carry increased magic attack) that can easily turn the tide of a boss battle.

Graphics: What can i say about this game. Sweet brilliance in the graphics department. The CG sequences will blow you away as well as mostly all of the in game graphics. All the worlds still retain their Disney feel while still looking good. From the ways that enemies materalize in front of you, to the objects in the distance, everything looks sleek and smooth. The magic particle effects and stars that shoot from the sword when striking an enemy show know signs of jaggies or flaws with them at all. Just pure brilliance! If you played the last game, just think of that, but stepped up another 5 levels.

Story: I dont think i could speak enough about the storyline of this game since i am a sucker for stories. It has to be one of my favorite stories in a game ever. At first it starts you off playing as another character named Roxas that you know nothing about. Then you head back into playing as Sora and continue your quest to find your friends. At first, i gotta admit that the story was a little slow. They had you going back to previous worlds(and some new ones) without really advancing the story much. But after the second play through of most of the worlds, the story really begins to takes its twists and turns that will boggle the heck outta your mind. Just like the last game, there will be parts where you will have no idea what is going on, and others where once they explain what happened, everything will become crystal clear. This story has so dramatic twists that it will tug at your heart strings and cause you to want this game to never end. The character development is done so well, that you feel you really know them and you can relate to them.

Final thought: All in all this is one heck of an amazing game. Even if you feel that the battle system is a little clunky, or there is another problem somewhere else, you owe it to yourself to play this game for the story. So if you havent played the first one, you are gonna want to pick that game up first before this one, cause otherwise it will make little sense to you. So if there is one reason to play this, its the story!

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