If you're a fan of Kingdom Hearts, you've no doubt heard the news about Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix +. This two disc set includes not only the "director's cut" version of Kingdom Hearts II -- replete with new boss fights (Roxas vs. Riku, etc.), new costumes, new cut-scenes, and a mysterious Crown minigame -- but also what is essentially a remake of the GBA game Chain of Memories. Aptly named Re: Chain of Memories, the GBA game has been ported to PS2, getting considerably glitzed up in the process. While Chain of Memories' card battling system is intact, the game has been redone in the typical Kingdom Hearts fashion, including animated cut-scenes with voice over action.
The game has not yet been confirmed for U.S. release, but we managed to get our hands on an import copy of Final Mix + to check out the hullabaloo. First off, are the new additions and remake of a GBA game compelling enough to buy the games a second time? After some play time with Re: Chain of Memories, we're fairly convinced that if there is a U.S. release, there is enough content here to justify a purchase for any Kingdom Hearts enthusiast.
Even though the graphical makeover transforms the GBA game into a PS2 Kingdom Hearts doppelganger, the gameplay is drastically different -- people who enter Re: Chain of Memories keyblade-a-swinging are in for a rude awakening. The card battle system is honed much more towards strategically timed hits, rather than the button mashing fest that is typical of KH games.
You can play sort of haphazardly -- things just get exponentially more difficult for you if you do. The secret to battle seems to be trying to find a balance between card management and keeping track of your enemies in the 3D world. After using a card to unlock a door, you can explore the boxy room you just created. The heartless are scattered around the world like they are in KH I and II, but when you interact with them, you are sent off into a battle scene rather than fighting them right then and there. From here, you can cycle through your deck of cards with the trigger buttons. Using the Triangle button, you can add up to three cards into a combo set. Press Triangle again to release the combo string on your enemy.
It can get a bit hectic trying to pay attention to your deck, and your foes' deck, all the while dodging their attacks in the 3D world. If your enemy plays a larger card at the same time as your attack, your card will break. This wouldn't be as devastating an occurrence if it weren't for the fact that each time you reshuffle your card deck (by holding the Circle button with the shuffle card selected) it refills with a smaller and smaller card count.
This difference in gameplay can be a bit jarring at first. Since the game looks like Kingdom Hearts I and II, you feel like it should play like KH I and II. It takes a bit of mental restrain to hold back from spamming the attack button and wasting your cards needlessly. If you feel like you would be able to get over this hurdle, Re: Chain of Memories certainly looks great. And for those who did not play the GBA game, filling out a bit of the storyline between KH I and II couldn't hurt. Here's hoping for a U.S. release.