KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- Review Summary

Engaging stories, deep combat: Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 offer engaging stories, memorable characters, and a blend of action and RPG elements. The games feature diverse worlds, challenging bosses, and deep combat systems that reward player skill and exploration. Many consider KH2 to be the best in the series.

Remasters improve visuals, gameplay: The remastered versions of Kingdom Hearts offer improved graphics, smoother frame rates, and quality-of-life enhancements. These improvements enhance the overall experience, making the games more enjoyable for both returning fans and newcomers. The PC port is considered a solid and faithful recreation of the originals.

Dynamic, fun combat system: The Kingdom Hearts series features a dynamic and fun combat system that blends physical attacks, magic, and special abilities. The combat system evolves throughout the series, with each installment adding new mechanics and options. Boss fights are exciting and cinematic, requiring mastery of combat mechanics and strategic planning.

Disney, Final Fantasy crossover: The unique blend of Disney and Final Fantasy elements is a major draw for many players. The game effectively integrates familiar characters and worlds from both franchises, creating a magical and unforgettable experience. This crossover appeal is a key aspect of the series' charm and success.

Birth by Sleep expands lore: Birth by Sleep introduces new playable characters, worlds, and gameplay mechanics, expanding the lore and story of the Kingdom Hearts universe. Each character has a unique playstyle and perspective on the story, adding depth and variety to the experience. Many reviewers consider Birth by Sleep to be a standout entry in the series.

Frequent and disruptive game crashes: A prevalent issue across multiple platforms is frequent game crashes, often leading to lost progress and save data corruption. Many players reported crashes occurring every 10-20 minutes, sometimes during crucial moments like boss fights or cutscenes. The crashing issue appears to be related to memory leaks, compatibility issues with AMD GPUs, and general poor optimization, with some players unable to play for more than 10 minutes at a time.

Specific game design flaws: Several reviewers criticized specific design choices in certain Kingdom Hearts titles. Kingdom Hearts 1 has navigation issues, tedious grinding, and frustrating boss designs. Birth By Sleep's combat feels clunky, its story is nonsensical, and it requires completing the game three times to get the true ending.

Clunky camera and controls: Many reviewers found the camera and controls in the older Kingdom Hearts games to be clunky, awkward, and frustrating, especially in combat and platforming sections. This is due to the game's age and control issues that were not properly adapted for PC. Some reviewers also mentioned the camera getting stuck in odd angles and the gamepad controls being universally awful.

Convoluted and confusing storyline: The Kingdom Hearts storyline is often described as convoluted, confusing, and difficult to follow, especially for newcomers. The overarching story is delivered in small quantities across multiple games, requiring extensive knowledge to fully grasp the plot. Some reviewers also found the story to be childish or poorly executed.

Audio glitches and game-specific crashes: Several reviewers reported experiencing audio glitches, such as sound cutting out, volume fluctuations, and overlapping sound effects. These issues can be disruptive and affect the overall gameplay experience. Some reviewers also noted specific instances of crashes in certain games or during particular moments, such as after boss fights or during cutscenes.

Chain of Memories: Card combat: Chain of Memories significantly deviates from the series' standard gameplay with its card-based combat system. This system requires strategic deck-building and card combinations, which some players find unique and engaging, while others find it complicated and frustrating. Some reviewers suggest that the story is the only worthwhile aspect.

Birth By Sleep: Command Decks: Birth by Sleep introduces the Command Deck system, a departure from traditional MP-based magic. Players equip and level up commands, melding them for new abilities. Some find the system customizable and strategic, while others feel it can trivialize fights or require external guides for optimal builds.

Mix of games/cinematic experiences: The collection includes a mix of playable games and cinematic experiences. Some titles, like 358/2 Days and Re:coded, are presented as movies composed of cutscenes, offering a passive viewing experience rather than interactive gameplay. This approach allows players to experience the story without engaging in gameplay that may be considered less enjoyable.

Exploration of Disney worlds: The games involve exploring various Disney-themed worlds, each serving as a level with a distinct visual atmosphere. Players journey through these worlds to solve problems, battle enemies, and progress the story. The worlds are consistently designed with love and are varied.

Re:Coded's varied gameplay/leveling: Re:Coded features a complex leveling system and unique gameplay segments within each world, including puzzle platforming, detective work, and even FPS sections. However, some reviewers found the cutscene movie presentation boring and the alternative combat segments subpar.

Runs well on Steam Deck: Many users report that the game runs well on Steam Deck, often at a solid 60 FPS. This makes it a viable platform for playing the game on the go. Some users have reported that the game runs flawlessly out of the box on Steam Deck.

Variable frame rate performance: The game's frame rate performance varies, with some users achieving smooth 60-120 FPS gameplay. However, others experience lag and struggle to maintain a stable frame rate, even with V-sync adjustments. Unlocking FPS above 60 has no effect for some users.

Cutscenes locked at 30FPS: Cutscenes are often locked at 30 FPS, even when the game otherwise runs at a higher frame rate. This discrepancy can be jarring for some players. Some users have reported that the cutscenes are locked at 30 FPS on the Steam Deck as well.

AMD RDNA 3 issues resolved: Initial reports indicated major issues on AMD RDNA 3 GPUs, including crashes and bugs. However, a driver update from AMD has resolved many of these problems, making the game playable on these cards. This highlights the importance of driver compatibility for optimal performance.

Great value, recommend playing: The collection is highly recommended, especially for newcomers, offering great value and a good starting point to the series. Many suggest waiting for a sale, but overall, the games are considered worth the price due to the amount of content and quality.

Mixed feelings on specific titles: Some reviewers express mixed feelings, recommending certain games within the collection while disliking others. This suggests that the quality and enjoyment vary across the different titles included.

Chain of Memories: watch cutscenes: Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is often considered the weakest entry. Many suggest watching cutscenes or Let's Plays instead of playing due to its card-based combat system.

Great for Disney/FF fans: The series is highly recommended for fans of Disney and Final Fantasy, blending elements from both franchises. Reviewers highlight the unique combination of characters, worlds, and stories.

Specific play order matters: Reviewers suggest specific viewing/playing order for the games and movies to best understand the story. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is often recommended to be watched after Kingdom Hearts II.

Games and movies included: The collection contains four full games (KH1, Re:Chain of Memories, KH2, and Birth By Sleep) and two non-playable HD movie compilations of cutscenes from 358/2 Days and Re:Coded. These movies provide essential story context, especially for understanding Roxas and Organization XIII.

Birth By Sleep is a prequel: Birth By Sleep is a prequel set before KH1, introducing three new protagonists (Terra, Aqua, and Ventus) with intertwining storylines. The Final Mix version includes extra content like Arena matches and a playable extension to the secret ending.

Disney and Final Fantasy mix: The Kingdom Hearts series blends Disney and Final Fantasy elements, featuring Disney worlds, characters, and music alongside Square Enix characters. This fusion creates a unique, though sometimes cheesy, experience.

Spin-offs are story-critical: Non-numbered Kingdom Hearts titles, like Chain of Memories, 358/2 Days and Re:Coded, are important to the overall story, filling in narrative gaps between main entries. Watching 358/2 Days unlocks bonus content in Re:Chain Of Memories.

Separate menus, connected stories: Each game in the collection can be accessed through its own menu with separate settings and save files. The games are all connected, requiring close attention to the story, cutscenes, and lore entries to avoid confusion.