Jay Snook reviews: A new adventure that takes you to new worlds and brings tough new challenges for Sora and Riku.
—
It has been a few years since fans have had a chance to return to the world of Kingdom Hearts, and things have changed since then. The organization 13 is gone, and so are they threat of heartless from taking over the worlds. It is a game that is safe for kids to play with no real violent scenes and only a few dark scary images.
When I originally heard of Kingdom Hearts, I was in no rush to buy it. A friend told me it was an amazing game and I would love it. So one year I asked for it for Christmas, but it took a few more years for me to actually play it. Once I finally did, I was not that impressed until I got past the first few worlds. Once that happened I was hooked, it has a great blend of Disney characters, Final Fantasy characters and new characters that blended together make a one of a kind game. When Kingdom Hearts 2 cam out, it was better than the first game in every way. The worlds were bigger, the villains tougher and the plot was much more intricate than before. Between these two games Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories came out, which was an decent handheld game with the cut-scenes in 3D, but the game itself had an okay story line and graphics that were alright but did not match up to the graphics of the big console games. So naturally when this game came out I was afraid it would be the same issue, okay game with good graphics, but I am glad to say this is not true. Not only are the worlds a blast to play in, but the graphics are amazing. They are very well done for a handheld game, and the new bosses can be a real challenge.
The plot this time is that Sora and Riku meet up with Master Yen Sid to take their Mark of Mastery exam to become full fledged keyblade masters. This will not be an easy test, and their will be many challenges along the way. But almost from the beginning, something goes wrong. Old enemies reappear, and some new man in a black coat keeps appearing in many of the worlds you visit. You get to visit new worlds based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tron: Legacy, Fantasia, The Three Musketeers, Pinocchio and many other wonderful films. The new enemy this time are called dream eaters, and they range from little pests to tough bosses and bigger enemies that can be a pain to beat. The mechanics are similar, and the plot is an original one that like past games you won’t really understand what is going on until near the end.
There are also many new features that may this a game worth playing. You can collect recipes to make you own dream eaters that can make a big difference in how you deal with groups of enemies. In time they can gain levels and get new abilities that will make the game a bit easier for you. You get to pick up to three of them at a time, so it is important to obtain and use the correct combination for the journey ahead. You also need to give them attention sometimes by either stroking them or poking them, and this not only helps raise their HP and level, but builds your affinity with them which means they will like you better. Their are also some mini games you can play with them that are a fun way to strengthen your party. There is also Flick Rush, which is a fun chance for players to fight against other dream eaters to gain recipes for new dream eaters , new abilities and a good way to get your team stronger. You can also play with your friends on here via streetpass.
The graphics are amazing. I had a blast watching when each level was completed and a keyhole was closed, the way this is animated is very visually stimulating. The new worlds were a lot of fun, and the bosses can be a real challenge. It was also fun to go around and try to collect items, gain experience and obtain new dream eaters. The best thing about this game is that once you complete it, there is many new challenges for you, including two new difficulty levels. You can collect a total of three new keyblades, fight a real tough new boss, and also go into secret and special portals on each world. These provide new challenges to help you collect rare dream pieces and fighting the bosses over again was a real challenge for me. These bosses have more health and can be real tough to beat, but once you do there can be some great rewards earned.
It is a little strange at first how you have to jump between Riku and Sora all the time by having your drop meter get depleted, but once you get the hang of this the game is very fun to play. There are also items that make it last longer, which are good to have if you begin to drop at an inopportune time. The way you drop between worlds is also a great new feature, and the tasks you have to complete to enter new worlds can be frustrating, but it is a joy once they are finished. This game also has some great plot twists and surprises that will make sense only if you have played the games before it, so it is advised you do that before you decide to play this one. If you don’t their may be some confusion as to what is going on throughout the game.
If you are a fan of Kingdom Hearts, you must play this game. If you liked Kingdom Hearts 1 or 2, this is a game you should definitely run out and buy. It really an awesome game that can be played by fans of all ages.