Kingdom Hearts II

The actual concept of Kingdom Hearts is really quite silly, and it had no right being as good as it was. Dumbo and Tidus in the same game? We’re not in Kansas anymore! Yet Kingdom Hearts happens to be one of the standout titles on the PlayStation 2. Individually examined, its parts are incredibly lacklustre; but the whole managed to chuck in an extra hidden ingredient – the magic of Disney, perhaps – and created a game that was more than the sum of its parts.

In the tradition of Square-Enix sequels, Kingdom Hearts has been a long time coming. It was 2002 when the original saw a New Zealand release, and now, 4 years later, Kingdom Hearts 2 is nearly upon us. But what does it bring to the table? Gamers are used to getting yearly sequels that rehash content: games that merely put on a new coat of paint and call themselves original. But 4 years means that gamers expect more than a rehash.
As far as the plot is concerned (and we at NZGamer are above spoilers), the game carries on from where the last one finished. Players will once again assume the role of Sora as he wields the Keyblade in his quest to rid the Disney universe of the Heartless. You’ll visit old friends in familiar worlds, but you’ll also visit new worlds that have been included.

Worlds based on Disney properties such as Pirates of the Caribbean. Yes, Jack Sparrow is here in all his glory. Natch! But even more exciting than Jack Sparrow is the fact that Kingdom Hearts 2 branches out into some of the more exciting Disney licenses: like Tron. Yes, Tron. End of Line, indeed.

So the magic of exploring the worlds of Disney is certainly present, but what about the gameplay? Kingdom Hearts was a bit of a mess in that regard; jumping was a nightmare, combat resorted to frantic button-mashing, and whoever invented the Gummi Ship needs to burn in Hell.

Unfortunately, the Gummi Ship returns, and jumping is still a little suspect. However, the gameplay has received significant upgrades. Being a Square-Enix game, Kingdom Hearts 2 makes use of many of the company’s staples, such as limit breaks and summons. Additionally, a new Drive mode has been included, which sees Sora merging with other characters for an attack of mammoth proportions. However, whether or not the game requires players to resort to mashing ‘X’ again remains to be seen.

In terms of graphics and sound, Kingdom Hearts 2 is a class act. The levels are all well-designed and boast a great sense of style, and while the PlayStation 2 is getting on a bit these days, the game certainly holds its own against the torrent of Hi-Def stuff that is begging for your custom. Being a Disney game, Kingdom Hearts 2 has access to the classic soundtracks of the source material, but also makes use of well-known, A-list voice actors for the character voices. We’re not just talking about Haley Joel Osment; Kingdom Hearts 2 has actors like Geoffrey Rush and Christopher Lee lending their talents of extraordinary calibre. To be concise, like all Square-Enix games, the production values of Kingdom Hearts 2 are off the scale.

It’s been a long wait for Kingdom Hearts 2, but with the gameplay improvements, fresh story, and quality presentation, it looks like the wait will have been worth it. The only question remains is whether or not Square-Enix will put any effort into the PAL translation of the title. Can we expect massive borders instead of full-screen glory? Stay tuned to NZGamer for a full review at the end of the month.