56 out of 58 people found the following comment useful :- Everything a sequel could ask for, 13 April 2006
Author:
SSJAniFan from Pine Valley, California
Arguably one of the most anticipated games since the first shots were
revealed in summer 2003, Kingdom Hearts 2 had much hype living up to
it. After all, the first Kingdom Hearts was a very enjoyable
action-RPG. It combined the worlds of Disney and Final Fantasy, filled
with a massive story, full-on interaction with the various Disney
worlds, quickly paced battles that challenged the reflexes and wits,
and fun little mini-games to pass the time. It wound up becoming a hit,
despite its shortcomings such as an annoying camera and a series of
weak series of "Gummi Ship," shooting levels. In 2004, a Game Boy
Advance title Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories was released, which
bridged the events of the first game and its upcoming sequel. With
appetites whetted, fans eagerly anticipated the release of the PS2
sequel over a year later. And now, with it finally out after 3 1/2
years, you may ask, "Was it worth the wait?" You bet it was.
First, the graphics. They are simply beautiful. The designers perfectly
captured the animation in the first game, and despite that, the new one
looks even better. From the cartoony steamboat of Steamboat Willy fame
to the Beast's flowing cape, the movements, designs, and animations can
almost be mistaken for a finished animation cel. Its interesting to
that all of the returning Final Fantasy characters sans Cid have
received all out makeovers, and instead of a more anime-ish look like
the first game, they now sport some slightly more realistic designs.
Story wise, KH II is just as good as the first. Yes, a certain major
villain from the first is back, and yes, you're traveling worlds trying
to beat Heartless, but thankfully, it's not a rehash. It has quite a
few interesting twists and turns and even a few very emotional moments,
starting with the beginning, which interestingly enough, doesn't
feature Sora at all, but an entirely new character. And by the time
Sora returns, we wind up caring for this new character quite a bit, and
actually wind up missing him. And Mickey fans rejoice: while the Mouse
only appeared for about a minute of the first game, this time around he
has a much larger role.
Gameplay wise, Kingdom Hearts II excels. Although the platforming is
gone, Square has made sure that you won't be bored. Some tasks include
a wild ride on Aladdin's magic carpet, helping Mulan join the Imperial
Army, singing in a duet with Ariel, and helping an amnesiac Winnie the
Pooh get enough honey to eat on an insane adventure that goes
throughout the 100 Acre Wood and even on the text of the Pooh book
itself. The combat, well, it takes the cake. The new system is
incredibly deep, filled with Reaction commands that let you perform new
combos against enemies and bosses, Limit attacks that let you perform
combination attacks with your various party members, and the drive
gauge, which not only enhances the power of your summon monsters, but
also allows Sora to merge with his allies into a full blown powerhouse
warrior. The Gummi Ship segments are no longer a chore: gone are the
slow-moving bland environments from the first game, instead giving us a
fast paced blast fest that does a much better job of replicating the
old quarter munchers of yore. And did I mention the fact that the
camera has improved greatly?
There are many new tunes that each perfectly fit each new world, with
the themes from the returning worlds also coming back. I have little
complaints overall, in fact, my biggest gripe is I would have loved to
hear "What's This?" being played during the Christmas portion of the
Nightmare Before Christmas world. Voice wise, well, Haley Joel Osment
once again shines as Sora, Christopher Lee is absolutely brilliant as
Diz, and of course the usual Disney VAs such as Wayne Allwine, Tony
Anselmo, and Bill Farmer, are perfect. Best of all, most of the cast
members have voices, including returning ones who didn't in the first
such as Chip and Dale, the rest of the Winnie the Pooh cast, and Cid.
Only a few do not have voices, such as Uncle Scrooge McDuck(which is a
shame, as I would have loved to hear Alan Young) All of the returning
Final Fantasy cast members, save Cloud, have new voices though, and
range from good(Squall/Leon) to disappointing(Aerith).
Kingdom Hearts II is definitely worth the time we've endured, as well
as the $50 dollar price tag. This is a must buy title and it leaves me
anticipating just what the unbeatable team of Disney and Square will do
next.
46 out of 50 people found the following comment useful :- Sora's triumphant return, 4 April 2006
Author:
kaboomzor from United States
The first Kingdom Hearts game was a genre-defining title. Squaresft had
a huge hit on its hands, spawned from its partnership with Disney, that
no one really expected. When the sequel was announced, fans of the game
(myself included) were overjoyed. And now that it's here, we know that
our reaction was justified.
This game is everything it promises to be and more. Everything, from
the graphics to the gameplay, has been completely redone, with stunning
results. It still shows the same crisp look and feel you expect from
Square, but with a new polish that's readily evident.
The game feels the same, but different - like an old car with a brand
new engine. Sora jumps and attacks with speed and flourish, just as he
did in the first game. Only this time, they've thrown in a couple new
features for you to play with - the Drive and Limit functions.
The Drive command is a stroke of genius on Square's part - when
selected, you transform into one of 5 forms with the help of your
allies - Valor (Goofy), Wisdom (Donald), Master (Both), Final (Both),
and AntiForm (All allies). The first three are gained as the story
progresses, but Final form and AntiForm are random occurrences. The
Drive forms imbue Sora with new skills and abilities, allowing him to
take down his enemies in ways never thought possible.
Anyone who's played Final Fantasy will recognize the Limit command.
Sora teams up with his partners to unleash a flashy, devastating combo
attack that decimates the enemies around him. Limit attacks do
ridiculous damage and are often graphically stunning. Each ally
(including those specific to the current world) has his own limit
attack, and each one is completely unique.
As with he first game, the story is a brilliantly crafted and well-told
narrative. All your favorite characters from the first game are back,
including some new faces, like Stitch, Tifa, and, of course, the three
stars of Final Fantasy X-2, Yuna, Rikku and Paine (making their
appearance this time as three mischievous fairies that inhabit Hollow
Bastion).
Overall, this is a fantastic and well-thought-out game that anyone who
even mildly enjoyed the first. Games like this really only come once in
a great while, and this should definitely keep you busy until the next
ground-breaking new hit is released.
33 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :- Almost 4 years we waited....and Kingdom Hearts II does not disappoint at all, 28 April 2006
Author:
Splinter_Spy from United States
I have no idea where to start with Kingdom Hearts II. What stands out
is the excellent graphics, catchy voice actors, the amazing gameplay,
and a wonderfully mysterious story.
I will do my best to explain the plot of KHII. It's been a while since
Sora, Donald, and Goofy defeated Ansem, and it appears that the
Heartless are back to their old tricks, but before we learn of them, we
see a new, and mysterious enemy: The Nobodies. Also different, the
first 4 to 5 hours of gameplay are spent playing as a new character,
Roxas. For a while, the story will seem confusing, but once you reach
the end, it will ALL make sense. After a few hours of gameplay, you'll
play as Sora once again, and you'll meet old and new friends alike.
Also going on as a side story, Kairi has forgotten all about Sora, but
is eager to learn more about 'the boy I used to have so much fun with',
and Riku seems to be gone without a trace. Meanwhile, Roxas (who sounds
eerily like Jesse McCartney *wink*) has been dreaming about Sora, and
his past adventures, despite never having met him before, and while all
this is going on, a mysterious new force called Organization XIII is
taking shape....
The gameplay behind KHII is phenomenal. Rather than the basic play
behind KHI, the system has been overhauled with a new thing called
drive form, which allows Sora to increase his power for a limited time.
The MP gauge is also different, which isn't that great. It's the only
flaw of KHII. You'll be hooked within minutes of playing this game.
With appearances from the Disney classic characters Beast, Belle,
Cogsworth, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Jack Sparrow, Will Turner,
Elizabeth Swann, Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, The Peddler, Iago, Chicken
Little, Peter Pan, Stitch, Mulan, Captain Shang, Simba, Nala, Timon,
Pumbaa, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck,
Chip and Dale, Hercules, Megara, Phil the Satyr, Ariel, Sebastian,
Flounder, King Triton, Tron, Jack Skellington, The Mayor, Sally, Dr.
Finkelstein, Lock, Shock, and Barrel. Disney's villains are also back,
including Captain Barbossa, Jafar, Shan-Yu, Hades, Scar, Commander
Sark, The Master Control Program, Oogie Boogie, and Ursula. Square's
Final Fantasy heroes are back as well, including Squall Leonhart, Aeris
(Aerith), Cloud, Auron, Yuffie, Tifa Lockheart, Raijin, Fujin, Seifer,
Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, not to mention the most evil villain in video
game history, Sephiroth is back.
Kingdom Hearts II also has some cool voice actors, including Haley Joel
Osment, Hayden Panitierre, David Gallagher, Sean Astin, Jesse
McCartney, David Boreanaz, James Arnold Taylor, Tara Strong, B.D. Wong,
Mena Suvari, and Robbie Benson.
This is one game you cannot afford to miss. If you play one game on PS2
this year, Kingdom Hearts II should be that game. Don't miss this
clever blend of fun, epic battles, romance, action, adventure, humor,
and gripping suspense.
10/10 --spy
15 out of 19 people found the following comment useful :- An amazing game!, 29 January 2006
Author:
moonside from Canada
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Kingdom Hearts II took what the fans love about the original, twisted
it around into something entirely new (yet familiar!) and added onto
it. Honestly, it is one of the best games I've played in a long time! I
just can't put it down! I won't give away too much of the plot - but it
picks up right where KH: Chain of Memories left off, with Sora on a
desperate search to find his friend Riku. However, he seems to find
trouble with strange, hooded enemies who call themselves the XIII Order
(Japanese version). The "witch" girl Naminé from CoM also makes an
appearance, along with Roxas, a blond kid who, strangely enough, seems
to have memories of Sora and his friends.
The gameplay itself is stunning. The battle system has been upgraded
from Kingdom Hearts, and while it still contains abilities, magic, and
the basic style, it has several add-ons. KHII introduces the "drive"
system, which allows Sora to morph with another character and wield
dual keyblades- trust me on this, it's amazing. :) Furthermore, there
are "reaction commands" available when fighting certain enemies that
allow Sora to do some pretty cool moves (riding on some Heartless,
throwing them in the air, dodging them, etc). And, if that wasn't cool
enough, Sora can now do co-op moves with his support characters, which
can inflict massive amounts of damage.
The game is most definitely worth a play. It is far longer than the
original Kingdom Hearts, with more than one visit required to the
worlds. It has new worlds (including Timeless River, ingeniously done
in black and white) and new characters, both from the Final Fantasy and
Disney worlds. The graphics are stunning, upgraded from KH, yet still
remaining its cartoonish charm.
Expect to put in 60+ hours on this game, when it comes out. Everything
about it has captivated me, from the characters, to the story, to the
mini games, to the battles. I can't wait to see how Square handles the
North American release (or how the English voice actors compare to the
stunning Japanese voicing I've seen so far). I would definitely
recommend people to play this game, when they get the chance!
12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :- Absolutely beautiful..., 4 July 2006
Author:
thumpergirl03 from United States
I love this game! As a huge fan of KH1,i must say that KH2 carries on
the story perfectly. The graphics have improved, and i must say that i
like the extended version of The nightmare before Christmas. It also
has more songs from the movies, including Part of your world, and
Beauty and the Beast (after you defeat Xaldin). I think Hailey Joel
Osment is perfect as Sora, Christopher Lee is brilliant as Diz, and all
the other voice overs are good as well. And there's more worlds too
including the fabulous Pride Lands, and Mulan just to name a few. The
only complaint i have is that you don't hear the Circle of life in the
Pride lands. By the way the new characters are just as likable as the
familiar ones.
All in all, this is my most favorite PS2 game and like KH1 it's a good
game for Disney and FF lovers alike.
24 out of 41 people found the following comment useful :- Kingdom Hearts 2 is going to rule the first one!, 4 January 2006
Author:
Doug Danmana (dougthehedgehog@hotmail.co.uk) from United Kingdom
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Kingdom Hearts 2 was only just released in Japan. Already it has
captivated the American and European market, and people cannot wait to
get their hands on it.
Kingdom Hearst 2 is more anticipated than Square-Enix other upcoming
game Final Fantasy XII.
OK so you have completed The first game, already stormed through Chain
of Memories? So you should know about this strange cloaked order called
XIII
Sora is on his quests again to find his friend Riku, the only problem
is it seems his memories of Kairi are slipping and hers of him also,
she turns to Selphie and gone on to say "Me,Riku and that other boy
used to play all the time, but i'm starting to forget his voice"
The XIII are after Sora, but for unknown reasons. A young boy who lives
in twilight town has a dream about Sora. This "Blond haired Kid" has
been said that his name is in fact "Roxus".
Has Namine had any effect on the actions that are now taking place? And
what is Diz really doing?
Sora along side Donald and Goofy, travel to many different worlds such
as: Ancient China The Underworld Beast's Enchanted Castle Pride Rock
Atlantica Cyber Space (Tron) Christmas Town & Steamboat Willie
There are still many unknown worlds too and new modes of gameplay make
KH2 a must own Game for 2006!
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :- The best of them all, 5 January 2008
Author:
Ref 65 from Ireland
Kingdom Hearts2 (in my opinion)is the best game I've ever played.The
animation and graphics really impressed me.It's a sequel to Kingdom
Hearts and Kingdom Hearts:Chain of memories.In the game,Sora is still
continuing his search for Riku but evil awaits....
I have played this game over again and I still love it.If you haven't
heard of this game then I suggest you play the first one.Then play this
one.
I don't know how people hate it 'cos I don't see anything wrong or bad
about it.Kingdom Hearts fans won't be disappointed or maybe they will
because I was not.Enjoy the game!
Severely Overrated., 22 April 2008
Author:
etherealed from Canada
First of all, let me state that I loved the original Kingdom Hearts. I
grew up as a Disney child and I still have all of my old VHS tapes. I
am also a Final Fantasy lover, so Kingdom Hearts offered the
combination of nostalgia and modern entertainment.
An ideal combination of challenging combat, large-scale platforming,
and Square's typical top-notch production created one of my favorite
games. I eagerly anticipated the sequel for a very long time - and was
then severely disappointed.
Kingdom Hearts 2 is nothing but a large budgeted sequel that forgot its
roots. The platforming elements are almost entirely wiped away in favor
of linear, forgettable worlds that you can usually complete in an hour
or less. They offer you nothing. I believe the only level I enjoyed was
the first within a massive town that was actually worth exploring.
The combat was severely compromised. I know many will argue with this
point but hear me out. Previously we had combat that forced us to make
critical choices, learn attack patterns and fight challenging bosses.
In this game many of the boss fights can only be won with the "God of
War" button timing madness that all mainstream games must now have by
some unwritten game developer's code. You can hack and slash the life
out of a boss all you like, but the only way you can defeat (some of)
them is by pulling off one of these button-timed events. Perhaps it's
just me, but I don't feel satisfied killing off a massive hunk of metal
20 times my size just by hitting a triangle like the screen told me to.
The Dodge Roll move (my favorite form the original) was removed, and
the entire game feels like it takes on the attitude that fighting "guns
a blazing" is the only way to do things. It is true that the new forms
Sora can undertake are fun and a nice addition, but they are merely
flashy show-offs that far too much energy went into instead of
developing the worlds.
Story wise I think this game actually took the series further downhill.
I will not reveal anything so as not to spoil, but character attitudes
towards each other seem to have altered. Also somewhere along the line
Goofy and Donald completely switched roles. Goofy now takes on the
smart and sensible roll while Donald is just plain greedy and a little
out of touch with the world. The FF characters are even taken down a
notch... the voice given to Aerith in this game is absolutely dreadful.
This game is yet another sufferer of Square's modern disease I like to
call "Mainstream Flash". Basically this means you give the audience eye
candy, a couple of "cool" features and cut back on many other elements.
The games seem to be leaning more and more mainstream and that is
saddening, because Final Fantasys and other Square originals used to be
shining gems in a sea of mediocre attempts. I give this game a 5/10
because of the graphics and what it COULD have offered us. These games
offer so much potential, and Square completely ignored that fact in
this sequel.
Anyone else feel as I do?, 27 February 2008
Author:
lenicoconutty from United States
Kingdom Hearts, this game is truly amazing. The story BEHIND all the
running around fighting heartless is indescirbable. People tend to call
this a "sad game" which it is, but in the end is all pretty much happy.
The words the characters speak are very deep, and really make you
think. For instance, "A scattered dream is like a far off memory, A far
off memory is like a scattered dream. I want to line the pieces up,
yours, and mine" Those are the first words said when the game is
beginning when you've chosen what mode you would like to play in.
(Might I add that it was 'Soras' voice who said that.) The game itself
shows excitement, sadness, complexity, and charm. Anyone with
experience in this game knows exactly what I'm talking about,
especially when I say that the game is "deep" within someones heart.
How does Namura come up with something like this? It's so interesting.
If you go on you tube, and type in the Twilight Town song, listen to
it, and read the comments - you'll see I'm not the only one who thinks
of Kingdom Hearts (1 and 2) can make you cry just thinking about it.
It's so tempting that this game makes me feel weird. Heck, if I could,
I would want to be able to some how be transported in this game just to
interact with the characters. Yes, I know that sounds crazy and stupid,
but it's true.
Kingdom Hearts is so unique that I haven't seen anything like it since
Final Fantasy, which is obviously why because they were made to be
linked together. But as I begin to conclude my review of the Kingdom
Hearts series, may I suggest that you *really* listen to what their
saying in the story line, and maybe you'll get a sense of what I'm
trying to show you about it. Overall Kingdom Hearts is the best game
I've ever played, and I would hate to see it fade away like it wasn't
anything important.
- the understood.
Not just about the hype., 15 February 2008
Author:
anifreak93 from United States
Kingdom Hearts. The game that changed the way people look at games. It
was unexpected; Disney and Final Fantasy? Surely it was destined to
fail! But no, no, it was just the opposite. The game that captured a
world. However, one ADD preteen failed to see the wonder of Kingdom
Hearts. I had never enjoyed the first game, because I couldn't even get
past the first world. I dismissed it as a fad game, and left it at
that. Then, many years later, out came the sequel. The commercials
sparked something in me, but I dismissed it. "It's probably as stupid
as the old one." "Just another fad game", I called it. Finally, my
curiosity was too much. After the major frenzy had past (and the prices
had gone down) I bought the game. I had no memory card inserted,
figuring I wouldn't get into it, just like the first game. But I played
it. And I played it. All through the night I played it. A skeptic
turned fan within the opening FMV sequence. The graphics are beautiful.
The characters are unforgettable. The worlds are unbelievable. Within
the next few days, I fought to the final boss, went online and found
spoilers, joined forums, looked on the official sites. Today, you could
mention the words "Kingdom Hearts" to me, and you will unleash a
hurricane. I will pour out all the spoilers I know, my theories about
the characters, express my undying love for Organization XIII, and urge
you to go play the game that very second. Maybe there's a bigger
Kingdom Hearts II fan out there than me, but I haven't met them yet. I
give it a ten out of ten, because that's as high as this scale goes. In
reality, no scale could possibly contain the beauty that is Kingdom
Hearts.
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Kingdom Hearts II (2005) (VG)
56 out of 58 people found the following comment useful :-
Everything a sequel could ask for, 13 April 2006
Author: SSJAniFan from Pine Valley, California
Arguably one of the most anticipated games since the first shots were revealed in summer 2003, Kingdom Hearts 2 had much hype living up to it. After all, the first Kingdom Hearts was a very enjoyable action-RPG. It combined the worlds of Disney and Final Fantasy, filled with a massive story, full-on interaction with the various Disney worlds, quickly paced battles that challenged the reflexes and wits, and fun little mini-games to pass the time. It wound up becoming a hit, despite its shortcomings such as an annoying camera and a series of weak series of "Gummi Ship," shooting levels. In 2004, a Game Boy Advance title Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories was released, which bridged the events of the first game and its upcoming sequel. With appetites whetted, fans eagerly anticipated the release of the PS2 sequel over a year later. And now, with it finally out after 3 1/2 years, you may ask, "Was it worth the wait?" You bet it was.
First, the graphics. They are simply beautiful. The designers perfectly captured the animation in the first game, and despite that, the new one looks even better. From the cartoony steamboat of Steamboat Willy fame to the Beast's flowing cape, the movements, designs, and animations can almost be mistaken for a finished animation cel. Its interesting to that all of the returning Final Fantasy characters sans Cid have received all out makeovers, and instead of a more anime-ish look like the first game, they now sport some slightly more realistic designs.
Story wise, KH II is just as good as the first. Yes, a certain major villain from the first is back, and yes, you're traveling worlds trying to beat Heartless, but thankfully, it's not a rehash. It has quite a few interesting twists and turns and even a few very emotional moments, starting with the beginning, which interestingly enough, doesn't feature Sora at all, but an entirely new character. And by the time Sora returns, we wind up caring for this new character quite a bit, and actually wind up missing him. And Mickey fans rejoice: while the Mouse only appeared for about a minute of the first game, this time around he has a much larger role.
Gameplay wise, Kingdom Hearts II excels. Although the platforming is gone, Square has made sure that you won't be bored. Some tasks include a wild ride on Aladdin's magic carpet, helping Mulan join the Imperial Army, singing in a duet with Ariel, and helping an amnesiac Winnie the Pooh get enough honey to eat on an insane adventure that goes throughout the 100 Acre Wood and even on the text of the Pooh book itself. The combat, well, it takes the cake. The new system is incredibly deep, filled with Reaction commands that let you perform new combos against enemies and bosses, Limit attacks that let you perform combination attacks with your various party members, and the drive gauge, which not only enhances the power of your summon monsters, but also allows Sora to merge with his allies into a full blown powerhouse warrior. The Gummi Ship segments are no longer a chore: gone are the slow-moving bland environments from the first game, instead giving us a fast paced blast fest that does a much better job of replicating the old quarter munchers of yore. And did I mention the fact that the camera has improved greatly?
There are many new tunes that each perfectly fit each new world, with the themes from the returning worlds also coming back. I have little complaints overall, in fact, my biggest gripe is I would have loved to hear "What's This?" being played during the Christmas portion of the Nightmare Before Christmas world. Voice wise, well, Haley Joel Osment once again shines as Sora, Christopher Lee is absolutely brilliant as Diz, and of course the usual Disney VAs such as Wayne Allwine, Tony Anselmo, and Bill Farmer, are perfect. Best of all, most of the cast members have voices, including returning ones who didn't in the first such as Chip and Dale, the rest of the Winnie the Pooh cast, and Cid. Only a few do not have voices, such as Uncle Scrooge McDuck(which is a shame, as I would have loved to hear Alan Young) All of the returning Final Fantasy cast members, save Cloud, have new voices though, and range from good(Squall/Leon) to disappointing(Aerith).
Kingdom Hearts II is definitely worth the time we've endured, as well as the $50 dollar price tag. This is a must buy title and it leaves me anticipating just what the unbeatable team of Disney and Square will do next.
46 out of 50 people found the following comment useful :-
Sora's triumphant return, 4 April 2006
Author: kaboomzor from United States
The first Kingdom Hearts game was a genre-defining title. Squaresft had a huge hit on its hands, spawned from its partnership with Disney, that no one really expected. When the sequel was announced, fans of the game (myself included) were overjoyed. And now that it's here, we know that our reaction was justified.
This game is everything it promises to be and more. Everything, from the graphics to the gameplay, has been completely redone, with stunning results. It still shows the same crisp look and feel you expect from Square, but with a new polish that's readily evident.
The game feels the same, but different - like an old car with a brand new engine. Sora jumps and attacks with speed and flourish, just as he did in the first game. Only this time, they've thrown in a couple new features for you to play with - the Drive and Limit functions.
The Drive command is a stroke of genius on Square's part - when selected, you transform into one of 5 forms with the help of your allies - Valor (Goofy), Wisdom (Donald), Master (Both), Final (Both), and AntiForm (All allies). The first three are gained as the story progresses, but Final form and AntiForm are random occurrences. The Drive forms imbue Sora with new skills and abilities, allowing him to take down his enemies in ways never thought possible.
Anyone who's played Final Fantasy will recognize the Limit command. Sora teams up with his partners to unleash a flashy, devastating combo attack that decimates the enemies around him. Limit attacks do ridiculous damage and are often graphically stunning. Each ally (including those specific to the current world) has his own limit attack, and each one is completely unique.
As with he first game, the story is a brilliantly crafted and well-told narrative. All your favorite characters from the first game are back, including some new faces, like Stitch, Tifa, and, of course, the three stars of Final Fantasy X-2, Yuna, Rikku and Paine (making their appearance this time as three mischievous fairies that inhabit Hollow Bastion).
Overall, this is a fantastic and well-thought-out game that anyone who even mildly enjoyed the first. Games like this really only come once in a great while, and this should definitely keep you busy until the next ground-breaking new hit is released.
33 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :-
Almost 4 years we waited....and Kingdom Hearts II does not disappoint at all, 28 April 2006
Author: Splinter_Spy from United States
I have no idea where to start with Kingdom Hearts II. What stands out is the excellent graphics, catchy voice actors, the amazing gameplay, and a wonderfully mysterious story.
I will do my best to explain the plot of KHII. It's been a while since Sora, Donald, and Goofy defeated Ansem, and it appears that the Heartless are back to their old tricks, but before we learn of them, we see a new, and mysterious enemy: The Nobodies. Also different, the first 4 to 5 hours of gameplay are spent playing as a new character, Roxas. For a while, the story will seem confusing, but once you reach the end, it will ALL make sense. After a few hours of gameplay, you'll play as Sora once again, and you'll meet old and new friends alike. Also going on as a side story, Kairi has forgotten all about Sora, but is eager to learn more about 'the boy I used to have so much fun with', and Riku seems to be gone without a trace. Meanwhile, Roxas (who sounds eerily like Jesse McCartney *wink*) has been dreaming about Sora, and his past adventures, despite never having met him before, and while all this is going on, a mysterious new force called Organization XIII is taking shape....
The gameplay behind KHII is phenomenal. Rather than the basic play behind KHI, the system has been overhauled with a new thing called drive form, which allows Sora to increase his power for a limited time. The MP gauge is also different, which isn't that great. It's the only flaw of KHII. You'll be hooked within minutes of playing this game.
With appearances from the Disney classic characters Beast, Belle, Cogsworth, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, The Peddler, Iago, Chicken Little, Peter Pan, Stitch, Mulan, Captain Shang, Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Chip and Dale, Hercules, Megara, Phil the Satyr, Ariel, Sebastian, Flounder, King Triton, Tron, Jack Skellington, The Mayor, Sally, Dr. Finkelstein, Lock, Shock, and Barrel. Disney's villains are also back, including Captain Barbossa, Jafar, Shan-Yu, Hades, Scar, Commander Sark, The Master Control Program, Oogie Boogie, and Ursula. Square's Final Fantasy heroes are back as well, including Squall Leonhart, Aeris (Aerith), Cloud, Auron, Yuffie, Tifa Lockheart, Raijin, Fujin, Seifer, Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, not to mention the most evil villain in video game history, Sephiroth is back.
Kingdom Hearts II also has some cool voice actors, including Haley Joel Osment, Hayden Panitierre, David Gallagher, Sean Astin, Jesse McCartney, David Boreanaz, James Arnold Taylor, Tara Strong, B.D. Wong, Mena Suvari, and Robbie Benson.
This is one game you cannot afford to miss. If you play one game on PS2 this year, Kingdom Hearts II should be that game. Don't miss this clever blend of fun, epic battles, romance, action, adventure, humor, and gripping suspense.
10/10 --spy
15 out of 19 people found the following comment useful :-
An amazing game!, 29 January 2006
Author: moonside from Canada
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Kingdom Hearts II took what the fans love about the original, twisted it around into something entirely new (yet familiar!) and added onto it. Honestly, it is one of the best games I've played in a long time! I just can't put it down! I won't give away too much of the plot - but it picks up right where KH: Chain of Memories left off, with Sora on a desperate search to find his friend Riku. However, he seems to find trouble with strange, hooded enemies who call themselves the XIII Order (Japanese version). The "witch" girl Naminé from CoM also makes an appearance, along with Roxas, a blond kid who, strangely enough, seems to have memories of Sora and his friends.
The gameplay itself is stunning. The battle system has been upgraded from Kingdom Hearts, and while it still contains abilities, magic, and the basic style, it has several add-ons. KHII introduces the "drive" system, which allows Sora to morph with another character and wield dual keyblades- trust me on this, it's amazing. :) Furthermore, there are "reaction commands" available when fighting certain enemies that allow Sora to do some pretty cool moves (riding on some Heartless, throwing them in the air, dodging them, etc). And, if that wasn't cool enough, Sora can now do co-op moves with his support characters, which can inflict massive amounts of damage.
The game is most definitely worth a play. It is far longer than the original Kingdom Hearts, with more than one visit required to the worlds. It has new worlds (including Timeless River, ingeniously done in black and white) and new characters, both from the Final Fantasy and Disney worlds. The graphics are stunning, upgraded from KH, yet still remaining its cartoonish charm.
Expect to put in 60+ hours on this game, when it comes out. Everything about it has captivated me, from the characters, to the story, to the mini games, to the battles. I can't wait to see how Square handles the North American release (or how the English voice actors compare to the stunning Japanese voicing I've seen so far). I would definitely recommend people to play this game, when they get the chance!
12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Absolutely beautiful..., 4 July 2006
Author: thumpergirl03 from United States
I love this game! As a huge fan of KH1,i must say that KH2 carries on the story perfectly. The graphics have improved, and i must say that i like the extended version of The nightmare before Christmas. It also has more songs from the movies, including Part of your world, and Beauty and the Beast (after you defeat Xaldin). I think Hailey Joel Osment is perfect as Sora, Christopher Lee is brilliant as Diz, and all the other voice overs are good as well. And there's more worlds too including the fabulous Pride Lands, and Mulan just to name a few. The only complaint i have is that you don't hear the Circle of life in the Pride lands. By the way the new characters are just as likable as the familiar ones.
All in all, this is my most favorite PS2 game and like KH1 it's a good game for Disney and FF lovers alike.
24 out of 41 people found the following comment useful :-
Kingdom Hearts 2 is going to rule the first one!, 4 January 2006
Author: Doug Danmana (dougthehedgehog@hotmail.co.uk) from United Kingdom
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Kingdom Hearts 2 was only just released in Japan. Already it has captivated the American and European market, and people cannot wait to get their hands on it.
Kingdom Hearst 2 is more anticipated than Square-Enix other upcoming game Final Fantasy XII.
OK so you have completed The first game, already stormed through Chain of Memories? So you should know about this strange cloaked order called XIII
Sora is on his quests again to find his friend Riku, the only problem is it seems his memories of Kairi are slipping and hers of him also, she turns to Selphie and gone on to say "Me,Riku and that other boy used to play all the time, but i'm starting to forget his voice"
The XIII are after Sora, but for unknown reasons. A young boy who lives in twilight town has a dream about Sora. This "Blond haired Kid" has been said that his name is in fact "Roxus".
Has Namine had any effect on the actions that are now taking place? And what is Diz really doing?
Sora along side Donald and Goofy, travel to many different worlds such as: Ancient China The Underworld Beast's Enchanted Castle Pride Rock Atlantica Cyber Space (Tron) Christmas Town & Steamboat Willie
There are still many unknown worlds too and new modes of gameplay make KH2 a must own Game for 2006!
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
The best of them all, 5 January 2008
Author: Ref 65 from Ireland
Kingdom Hearts2 (in my opinion)is the best game I've ever played.The animation and graphics really impressed me.It's a sequel to Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts:Chain of memories.In the game,Sora is still continuing his search for Riku but evil awaits....
I have played this game over again and I still love it.If you haven't heard of this game then I suggest you play the first one.Then play this one.
I don't know how people hate it 'cos I don't see anything wrong or bad about it.Kingdom Hearts fans won't be disappointed or maybe they will because I was not.Enjoy the game!
Severely Overrated., 22 April 2008
Author: etherealed from Canada
First of all, let me state that I loved the original Kingdom Hearts. I grew up as a Disney child and I still have all of my old VHS tapes. I am also a Final Fantasy lover, so Kingdom Hearts offered the combination of nostalgia and modern entertainment.
An ideal combination of challenging combat, large-scale platforming, and Square's typical top-notch production created one of my favorite games. I eagerly anticipated the sequel for a very long time - and was then severely disappointed.
Kingdom Hearts 2 is nothing but a large budgeted sequel that forgot its roots. The platforming elements are almost entirely wiped away in favor of linear, forgettable worlds that you can usually complete in an hour or less. They offer you nothing. I believe the only level I enjoyed was the first within a massive town that was actually worth exploring.
The combat was severely compromised. I know many will argue with this point but hear me out. Previously we had combat that forced us to make critical choices, learn attack patterns and fight challenging bosses. In this game many of the boss fights can only be won with the "God of War" button timing madness that all mainstream games must now have by some unwritten game developer's code. You can hack and slash the life out of a boss all you like, but the only way you can defeat (some of) them is by pulling off one of these button-timed events. Perhaps it's just me, but I don't feel satisfied killing off a massive hunk of metal 20 times my size just by hitting a triangle like the screen told me to. The Dodge Roll move (my favorite form the original) was removed, and the entire game feels like it takes on the attitude that fighting "guns a blazing" is the only way to do things. It is true that the new forms Sora can undertake are fun and a nice addition, but they are merely flashy show-offs that far too much energy went into instead of developing the worlds.
Story wise I think this game actually took the series further downhill. I will not reveal anything so as not to spoil, but character attitudes towards each other seem to have altered. Also somewhere along the line Goofy and Donald completely switched roles. Goofy now takes on the smart and sensible roll while Donald is just plain greedy and a little out of touch with the world. The FF characters are even taken down a notch... the voice given to Aerith in this game is absolutely dreadful.
This game is yet another sufferer of Square's modern disease I like to call "Mainstream Flash". Basically this means you give the audience eye candy, a couple of "cool" features and cut back on many other elements. The games seem to be leaning more and more mainstream and that is saddening, because Final Fantasys and other Square originals used to be shining gems in a sea of mediocre attempts. I give this game a 5/10 because of the graphics and what it COULD have offered us. These games offer so much potential, and Square completely ignored that fact in this sequel.
Anyone else feel as I do?, 27 February 2008
Author: lenicoconutty from United States
Kingdom Hearts, this game is truly amazing. The story BEHIND all the running around fighting heartless is indescirbable. People tend to call this a "sad game" which it is, but in the end is all pretty much happy. The words the characters speak are very deep, and really make you think. For instance, "A scattered dream is like a far off memory, A far off memory is like a scattered dream. I want to line the pieces up, yours, and mine" Those are the first words said when the game is beginning when you've chosen what mode you would like to play in. (Might I add that it was 'Soras' voice who said that.) The game itself shows excitement, sadness, complexity, and charm. Anyone with experience in this game knows exactly what I'm talking about, especially when I say that the game is "deep" within someones heart. How does Namura come up with something like this? It's so interesting. If you go on you tube, and type in the Twilight Town song, listen to it, and read the comments - you'll see I'm not the only one who thinks of Kingdom Hearts (1 and 2) can make you cry just thinking about it. It's so tempting that this game makes me feel weird. Heck, if I could, I would want to be able to some how be transported in this game just to interact with the characters. Yes, I know that sounds crazy and stupid, but it's true.
Kingdom Hearts is so unique that I haven't seen anything like it since Final Fantasy, which is obviously why because they were made to be linked together. But as I begin to conclude my review of the Kingdom Hearts series, may I suggest that you *really* listen to what their saying in the story line, and maybe you'll get a sense of what I'm trying to show you about it. Overall Kingdom Hearts is the best game I've ever played, and I would hate to see it fade away like it wasn't anything important.
- the understood.
Not just about the hype., 15 February 2008
Author: anifreak93 from United States
Kingdom Hearts. The game that changed the way people look at games. It was unexpected; Disney and Final Fantasy? Surely it was destined to fail! But no, no, it was just the opposite. The game that captured a world. However, one ADD preteen failed to see the wonder of Kingdom Hearts. I had never enjoyed the first game, because I couldn't even get past the first world. I dismissed it as a fad game, and left it at that. Then, many years later, out came the sequel. The commercials sparked something in me, but I dismissed it. "It's probably as stupid as the old one." "Just another fad game", I called it. Finally, my curiosity was too much. After the major frenzy had past (and the prices had gone down) I bought the game. I had no memory card inserted, figuring I wouldn't get into it, just like the first game. But I played it. And I played it. All through the night I played it. A skeptic turned fan within the opening FMV sequence. The graphics are beautiful. The characters are unforgettable. The worlds are unbelievable. Within the next few days, I fought to the final boss, went online and found spoilers, joined forums, looked on the official sites. Today, you could mention the words "Kingdom Hearts" to me, and you will unleash a hurricane. I will pour out all the spoilers I know, my theories about the characters, express my undying love for Organization XIII, and urge you to go play the game that very second. Maybe there's a bigger Kingdom Hearts II fan out there than me, but I haven't met them yet. I give it a ten out of ten, because that's as high as this scale goes. In reality, no scale could possibly contain the beauty that is Kingdom Hearts.
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