Kingdom Hearts II Review

By Luke Albiges Published 5 April, 2006

Square Enix takes the Mickey.

Version tested: PlayStation 2

Collaborations are all about give and take. On paper, this one shouldn't work - Disney's output must be among the most universally enjoyed and recognised in all of cinema while Square-Enix caters for stat-happy but significantly smaller console audiences with its (mostly) glorious catalogue. But in the end, this is exactly why it does work. With legions of mutually exclusive fans for each of the two parties, Kingdom Hearts II is able to enjoy a much greater target audience than almost any other videogame. Characters courtesy of industry legends of both RPG and animation creation; the technical expertise of one of gaming's most prolific talents; recreations of some of the most memorable settings and moments ever committed to film. To be frank, there was never any real danger of this going wrong and sure enough, Kingdom Hearts II delivers where it counts.

Aside from how downright beautiful the game is (and this is one of the most impressive PlayStation 2 titles you will ever see - the stunning intro cinematic sets the scene superbly and the quality is maintained throughout), the first thing you'll notice is how much the pace and structure of the game has changed. While the original was happy to open with a bizarre scavenger hunt, KHII turns the tables on experienced players by dropping them into the oversized shoes of Roxas. His story pans out as you work out what you're doing for the first couple of hours before Sora takes over and rightful order is restored but as the narrative progresses, you'll learn more and more about this mysterious character Roxas that opened your adventure.

'Kingdom Hearts II' Screenshot battlefix

Level up for new abilities. Like a Dragon Punch, apparently.

And it isn't too long before the Keyblades start to fly, either. With greater control over the camera and a much more fluid and showy battle system, Kingdom Hearts II symbolises everything an action RPG should be. Combat is admittedly pretty simple, using only one button until abilities are learned for counters, guarding and rolling, but your mind will never have time to dwell on this - you'll have too much on your plate trying to get your head around just how many enemies Square Enix expects you to deal with at once. And it's times like these when the game is really at its best, throwing legions of flying foes, rooms full of towering enemies and even at one point forcing you to take on a thousand opponents at one time. It's crazy, relentless and oh-so-flashy and we wouldn't want it any other way. Sora can also activate Drive abilities to merge with either Donald or Goofy to become more powerful, gain new skills and even dual wield Keyblades for a limited time. Which, we can officially tell you, is pretty damn awesome.

While returning to the locations featured in the last game is still entertaining, it's the new worlds that really steal the show. Pirates Of The Caribbean proves to be the game's real coup, showcasing a fantastic set of enemies, quests and cut-scenes that could very well be straight out of the movie, but that isn't to say that the others are letdowns. Far from it, in fact, and from the illuminated glory of Tron's Space Paranoids world to the epic battles that take place when you visit Mulan, the quality of locales is constantly high - with one exception. Atlantica is no longer a true world, adventuring ditched in favour of a slightly broken rhythm action mini-game. It just about works but it's more a chore than anything else. Aside from that, spot on.

Although worlds, characters and combat have obviously improved between games, it's the method of travelling between locations that really stands out and takes the 'Most Improved' medal. The Gummi Ship sections that were once nothing more than an ugly joke now take their cues almost directly from Lylat Wars - it's a frantic space blaster that looks the part and isn't far short of being worth the asking price of the game on its own. As before, new parts can be earned to create your own personalised craft and there are even novelty bonus ships available to the best pilots. You can throw hours at this section of the game without even realising and you won't regret doing so for a second.

'Kingdom Hearts II' Screenshot 16

Roxas gets to do battle with this hulking Nobody very early on.

And so we come onto the story. Kingdom Hearts II's narrative may be the very reason that the word 'tenuous' was introduced. As before, you'll find yourself traipsing from place to unrelated place and dropping into the action of the film - it isn't until things start to unfold about Roxas and Sora later in the game that it really catches its stride. Towards the end, things start to tie up a little more acceptably and although simply visiting film sets and helping out the cast may not seem wonderfully relevant at times, it'll all make sense in the end. Well, sort of. A cautionary word to newcomers, however. To best enjoy the story, you'll want to have played both the original game and the GBA card spin-off Chain Of Memories. It's not essential but there are a surprising amount of references and continuations - who would have guessed that the lowly GBA stopgap would have set the scene for one of Square Enix's biggest games of the year?

All in all, Kingdom Hearts II represents an incredible technical achievement as well as a meaty dollop of fan service for Square Enix and Disney fanatics alike. But it runs thicker than that. What the game might lack in freedom is more than made up for by the absorbing cinematics and exhilarating action when enemies burst onto the screen, not least the bosses - quick time events may be all the rage these days but when we say that moments are comparable in quality and impact to the knife fight with Krauser from Resident Evil 4, you know you're onto a good thing here. A delightful and robust action RPG (with the emphasis on the former), Kingdom Hearts II is remarkably accessible and just about lives up to the enormous hype that has surrounded it. It's pretty simple, very linear and slightly lazy in places but there can be no denying that it still manages to earn a place among the most beautiful and exciting adventures of recent years for gamers of all ages.

That's universal appeal for you.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
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About Luke Albiges

Read more articles from Luke by visiting the Luke Albiges archive page.

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Comments (58) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ProfessorLesser #1 6 years ago

    First!

    No further questions, yerronor.

  • Teeth #2 6 years ago

    Don't play the "First" game, Prof, it's beneath you.

  • DDevil #3 6 years ago

    But when is it out over here? I want to get my missus off my back about it.

  • trav #4 6 years ago

    But when is it out over here? I want to get my missus off my back about it.

    US PS2 and a copy of this. I won't be seeing mine for a while.

    Good thing I've got Oblivion while I wait for my turn.

  • Kon #5 6 years ago

    Awfully small review. Strange that everyone seems dissapointed by the game. Mostly because its far too easy and just a button masher (as in the X button. Just.).

  • brainbird #6 6 years ago

    It's been a long time since I was as excited to play an RPG on a home console as I am now for Kingdom Hearts 2.

  • Hicksy #7 6 years ago

    I definitely fancy this...

    ... but not at full price...

    FFXII however... caaaaaching :D

  • Blerk #8 6 years ago

    No mention of the difficulty level, I see. Most reviewers seem to be saying that it's become woefully easy and almost no challenge whatsoever. Would you agree with that?

  • Murbal #9 6 years ago

    Who, me? I've not played it guv.

  • Zero_ #10 6 years ago

    Is the X button the only button you push to attack?

  • PearOfAnguish #11 6 years ago

    Good to see Luke getting some work post GamesTM ;)

  • Feanor #12 6 years ago

    My wife's been playing it on Normal and hasn't found it super easy so far. As a big FF8 fan I must say the stuff with Squall early on in the games is awesome. His voice actor (Angel from Buffy) is perfect. Bring on the FF8 remake!

    /voice echoes

  • DodgyPast #13 6 years ago

    hmmm... still haven't got around to playing the first.

    SO which one should I play?

  • Mr_Brown #14 6 years ago

    I really hate the idea of disney characters in an RPG...which is a shame because this looks awesome and I'm a huge fan of Final Fantasy. Its not got lots of kiddy 'silly' moments with the disney characters has it? If not I think I might try this, just because I'm a FF fan.

  • miiiguel #15 6 years ago

    Kingdom Hearts II aka "Oblivion for girls".

  • Kami #16 6 years ago

    Too many good games... too many... brain can't take it...

    And play the first Kingdom Hearts... jeez, £20 for plat version, should find ex-rental/pre-owned versions even cheaper. Well worth it.

    edit: Anyone who thinks Kingdom Hearts is "childish" or "kiddy" clearly hasn't ever played the game. I was pleasantly surprised with how grown-up and smart the original was, with some good humour which wasn't too much aimed to the younger audience, but not exactly mature humour either. Kingdom Hearts is one of those games which defies logic a bit... it marries everything together really nicely...

    Can't speak for KH2, but I want it. I want it a lot.
    Edited by 1 at 05/04/06 @ 15:43

  • tengu #17 6 years ago

    "Kingdom Hearts II aka "Oblivion for girls"."

    Oh my God, talk about reaching. Two games which have nothing in common beyond the fact they're lumped under the 'RPG' umbrella genre. Tell me, do you think that Gradius is 'Halo for girls'? I mean, they're both shoot em ups, right?

  • smelly #18 6 years ago

    Well this and dragons quest 8 are the two reasons i'm buying a new ps2.

    "Kingdom Hearts II aka "Oblivion for girls"."

    Hmm. Well (from talking to a mate who's into rpgs) Oblivion is a "dumbed down" version of morrowind. It's not a 'proper' rpg at all apparently, more of an action adventure (like zelda). That DOESNT make it a bad game however. So Im still going to get it

    The original Kingdom hearts was a "proper" jap rpg..

    So you could argue that oblivion is the cut down girly game. But I havent played this sequel yet, or oblivion so I cant comment.

    Although I take it youve not played KH2 either?
    Edited by 1 at 05/04/06 @ 15:57

  • Scientist #19 6 years ago

    "The original Kingdom hearts was a "proper" jap rpg."

    What does that mean exactly?
    I was under the impression that it wasn't a "proper" RPG and was always suppsoed to be some kind of action RPG hybrid.

  • Pike #20 6 years ago

    Well, smelly, I guess your friend is a bit of an idiot then. Oblivion is not dumbed down version of Morrowind. It is just more polished. It is far more of a proper rpg than Kingdom Hearts will ever be.
    Edited by 1 at 05/04/06 @ 16:18

  • Azu87 #21 6 years ago

    Kon, when you play KH2 on Proud Mode, button smashing isn't enough. Or it isn't enough for me at least. If you just smash X, you'll be dead pretty quick. Of course not every battle is hard as hell, but I've had parts in the game that I had to see the Game Over screen over a dozen times (and I've played it only for like 17 hours). Some enemies kill you in two strikes (and I mean NORMAL ENEMIES, not just the bosses). Saying KH2 is easy is bullshit. Maybe if you start it on Normal, but I have found KH2 to be a lot harder than the first game. In the first game all that was hard was the beginning (when you died from two or three attacks) and Malificent while she was in Huge Dragon Mode. I've died more in single parts of this game than in KH1 altogether.

    Maybe KH2 is easier if you play Normal Mode first and then go it through on Proud Mode (IGN reviewer said he did that), but that's just rational. You've played the damn game for 30 to 50 hours, so you know most of the tricks.

    There are ways to make this a little harder. For example, DON'T use Experience Boost, Item Boost or Reaction Boost. Those don't simplify the game, but you don't get as much experience points (and because of that you won't get as much levels), get as much HP from items or do as much damage when using Reaction commands. Those are the things you CAN be without, while the gameplay isn't affected (meaning you have all the different attacks and stuff).

    Someone asked, so I'll answer. You do have other attack buttons than just X. The triangle is of course used for the Reaction Commands, but you get some attacks you can use by pressing the square button.
    Edited by 1 at 05/04/06 @ 16:21

  • trevd72 #22 6 years ago

    so if it is easy then we should play it on the hard setting from the off, to make up for this i would assume.

  • statix101 #23 6 years ago

    I suppose the UK version will be the usual Square 50Hz squash'o'vision, i.e..shit

  • tengu #24 6 years ago

    "Well, smelly, I guess your friend is a bit of an idiot then. Oblivion is not dumbed down version of Morrowind. It is just more polished. It is far more of a proper rpg than Kingdom Hearts will ever be."

    That's because Kingdom Hearts is more like a platform game with minor JRPG stylings. Not like Oblivion in any way, shape or form, but certainly no less a great game for it. Really though, trying to draw comparisons between the two games is simply stupid imo.

  • smelly #25 6 years ago

    @Pike Dont shoot the messenger!

    All i know is i loved morrowind, but am a bit busy at the moment so havent played oblivion yet (although tbh DQ8 and KH2 appeal more).

    He's a complete rpg nerd, and he reacons it holds yer hand too much.

    That said, he'd probs hate Kh2 too.. So i'm withholding judgement until i play.. Although I guess my time is gonna be taken up with DQ8 over the coming months!
    (it better do, i'm buying a new ps2 purely to play it!)

  • Pike #26 6 years ago

    Tengu: I agree and I think miiiguel's comment was just as silly as smelly's.

    Edit: Fair enough, smelly. I thought you were actually getting into the argument regarding which game was the most proper RPG out of KH and Oblivion.:)
    Edited by 1 at 05/04/06 @ 16:32

  • Kon #27 6 years ago

    Thanks for the input Azu. I didn't play the game nor am i planning on doing so anytime soon. There's far too much stuff i want too play right now, and far too little time.

    I have to say though, while the options you adjudicate seem to balance the default game mode by some degree, it sounds as if i need to play it while holding myself back so as not to overcome the game too easily. That just seems like too much of a chore and not at all fun. And changing the damage enemies deal by a few times hardly seems like a good substitute for clever AI routines.

    Don't think i hate the game/square/disney or whatever. Its just that by the look of it, it seems to lack a bit on the gameplay side of things. Though i must say it does look great.
    Edited by 1 at 05/04/06 @ 16:34

  • Blerk #28 6 years ago

    Is it now going to be impossible to have any kind of RPG thread without it turning into an argument about Oblivion?

  • Singularity #29 6 years ago

    142 days until release? You are officially having a laugh.

    No, not you.

    /sulks

  • smelly #30 6 years ago

    turning into an argument about Oblivion?

    I'll let you know once i play it once i finish DQ8 and KH2..

    So early next year (once it's been fully patched/updated.. lol)

  • Blerk #31 6 years ago

    142 days until release? You are officially having a laugh.

    Actually there's no official date for release in Europe yet. So it might be 142 days, but it also might be more. Or less. But knowing Squenix it'll be more.

  • Goodfella #32 6 years ago

    "Don't think i hate the game/square/disney or whatever. Its just that by the look of it, it seems to lack a bit on the gameplay side of things. Though i must say it does look great."

    ---

    I've played the game and you've inadvertantly summed it up, it lacks gameplay (same as the first game) but it looks and sounds so damn good.

    Make your choice.

  • smelly #33 6 years ago

    It'll be the same when the new zelda comes out, everyone will be going on saying "haha, not as good as DQ8", or "haha, better than game Y"

    at the end of the day, who cares? They're all good games!

  • Xerx3s #34 6 years ago

    "Hmm. Well (from talking to a mate who's into rpgs) Oblivion is a "dumbed down" version of morrowind. It's not a 'proper' rpg at all apparently, more of an action adventure (like zelda). That DOESNT make it a bad game however. So Im still going to get it "

    If Oblivion isnt an RPG, then nothing is. Oblivion may not be as diehard as Morrowind, its still the very essence of RPG itself. Its a game for everyone, why would a game just be for boys or girls? Several girls out of me class are hardcore FPS gamers who would beat most men....

  • ilmaestro #35 6 years ago

    Without reading the review or playing the game, kudos to EG for actually waiting for an English language version to review for your predominately English speaking audience (and for having the review in the same month as the game's release). EDGE and GamesTM, take note.

  • Azu87 #36 6 years ago

    "I have to say though, while the options you adjudicate seem to balance the default game mode by some degree, it sounds as if i need to play it while holding myself back so as not to overcome the game too easily."

    No, that's not what I meant. I mean, think about games like Gran Turismo and the like. You CAN have all kinds of things in them that make it a bit easier for people who don't have the time or the will to really put an effort to master the game. I like to think that all those Item Boosts (you get more HP from potions), Reaction Boosts (Reaction attacks do more damage) and Combo Bonus (the last attack does more damage depending on how long the combo is) are the same kind of ways to make the game a bit easier for children and the "not-so-good-players". You have so much different abilities that you have to choose between new special attacks and Boost abilities. I'm just saying that if you want some challenge, DON'T use the Boost abilities, although sometimes the game got so hard that I HAD to use Reaction Boost and Fire Boost. Those are things that don't make the gameplay any more simple (as I already explained, this way you actually have all the moves but Sora doesn't become this super fighting machine that has no problems killing everyone while getting better at fast speed), so if you leave Experience Boost off your Ability list, you're not excatly holding yourself back, as you have to really think of strategies like how to beat those bad enemies or bosses that keep killing you. Then again, if you DO have problems with some part of the game, but the experience boost on and go level up a bit, as it's faster that way.

    I mean, I'm definitely NOT holding back, it's the opposite. I'm trying my best not to die, but I still do. Of course not all enemies kill me with two attacks, that was the extreme example. It's just that you can't just button smash while reading your favorite book at the same time. There are a lot of fights that are easy. The thing is, even when you can easilly defeat all the enemies, so can they kill Sora and his companions quite fast if you don't follow what's happening on the screen.

    "I've played the game and you've inadvertantly summed it up, it lacks gameplay (same as the first game) but it looks and sounds so damn good. "

    Imo, it doesn't lack gameplay. You DO have to smash the X button a lot (although you have the triangle and square buttons too), but that's compensated especially by the boss fights that are everything but simple (at least most of them are). The gameplay doens't just come from overly complex combos, but from dodging the worst attacks, guarding at the right time and choosing right moments when to attack and as I said, this doesn't hold good for just bosses, but for many enemies too (especially the different kind of white Nobodies). Sometimes it's even important to choose the right Drive Form. Valor Form might not be good because it's hard to get close to the enemy. Sometimes Wisdom Form isn't good because the projectiles you shoot don't hit the enemy because it moves too fast.

    And of course one of the cool things in KH is, that even if you smash the buttons everything looks great, and you don't just seem to repeat the same combo all the time, as some special moves require the enemy to be at the right distance. I know you have sometimes thought that it's kinda funny when you see some games' characters doing all these cool moves in the cinematics but then the character is all stiff in the actual game. That's not the case with Kingdom Hearts.

    And the story in KH2... It's just great, although, I have to admit it starts too slowly. You like have this... quite fast paced beginning that lasts for about four hours. Then you switch to Sora and you just visit some Disney Worlds that have no relevance to the actual plot of KH2. Still, that changes after 12 or 13 hours, when things start to happen. Other than that the experience is just great.

  • Daryoon #37 6 years ago

    My wife's been playing it on Normal and hasn't found it super easy so far. As a big FF8 fan I must say the stuff with Squall early on in the games is awesome. His voice actor (Angel from Buffy) is perfect. Bring on the FF8 remake!

    David Boreanez isn't voicing Squall anymore. He, Aerith, Ansem and a few others have got completely different actors. Which means no more Billy Zane, and they replaced him with someone not even half as good ;_:

    But then they did get Christopher Lee in, so...

  • Steroyd #38 6 years ago

    yeah pretty nice review where's the frikken European release date, hopefully we won't have to wait as long as we waited for Dragon Quest 8 to finally get released here next week.

  • Talha #39 6 years ago

    Oh my God - this game is really making waves accross the internet.

    I hate to admit it, but I - I might just buy it!

  • Umbala #40 6 years ago

    I know this may seem old but...

    so I guess this is on equal level with Halo, then?

  • Pachinko #41 6 years ago

    PAL release date stands at 25. august.

  • Blerk #42 6 years ago

    PAL release date has not been announced. Anything you have read is speculation.

  • nickthegun #43 6 years ago

    Cockpunch for using "one of the the most impressive PlayStation 2 titles you will ever see" cliche.

    Everytime a PS2 game with good graphics comes along everyone seems to stand in awe of them. Its not a speak and spell, ya know.....

  • Mr_Brown #44 6 years ago

    Think I might take the plunge on Kingdom Hearts 1...better not be a waste of £9.99 though :p

    Also is Rogue Galaxy going to get a PAL release?

  • Blerk #45 6 years ago

    Rogue Galaxy is not confirmed, but I'll be astonished if SCEE don't publish it over here themselves.

  • Mr_Brown #46 6 years ago

    Yeah probably 6 months after the US release...I think I'll import, was just hoping to save a bit of money.

  • Azu87 #47 6 years ago

    Roque Galaxy IS going to be released in Europe. The funny thing is, that even though SCEE HAS confirmed it, SCEA hasn't. So America may never see RG. Apparently it will be released in September.

  • Talha #48 6 years ago

    @nickthegun : Wow, you are amazing. By your standards (1) good PS2 games should not be reviewed by EG and (2) even if they are, IF THEY HAVE GOOD GRAPHICS, they should be criticized for this.


  • Blerk #49 6 years ago

    The funny thing is, that even though SCEE HAS confirmed it, SCEA hasn't. So America may never see RG.

    Source? I haven't seen a press release, nor are there any release dates apparent.

  • Steroyd #50 6 years ago

    apparently according to IGN (like i go to them for release dates), they have the Japaneese release date of December 8th 2005, and a European release date of september 30th 06'.

    http:// uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/729/729765.html

    That's the only release date i've come across for this game in Europe so.... it may not be reliable depends on IGN's track record really.
    Edited by 1 at 06/04/06 @ 13:46

  • Blerk #51 6 years ago

    Given IGN's huge UK-focus I'm sure this is entirely true. i.e. most likely it's a mistake.

    As far as I am aware, there has been no Western release confirmed as yet. I am sure this will change, though.

  • Feanor #52 6 years ago

    "David Boreanez isn't voicing Squall anymore. He, Aerith, Ansem and a few others have got completely different actors. Which means no more Billy Zane, and they replaced him with someone not even half as good ;_: "

    Do you have a link to prove this because IMDB claims it is David Boreanez, and they're usually pretty reliable.

  • nickthegun #53 6 years ago

    Wow, you are amazing
    Thanks!

    My standards also include saying 'NO!' to poor supposition, bad sentence structure and statements written entirely in capitals.

    It just makes me laugh when a game with good graphics comes out on the PS2 and people seem to be stunned that it can produce something with more graphical finess than 3d Monster Maze.

  • doctor_nick #54 6 years ago

    Amazon UK are still saying 26 May 2006 for release which you'd probably tend not to believe, but Play also says 26 May. Doesn't really matter since I'll still be churning through DQ8 anyway.

  • Azu87 #55 6 years ago

    Well, the news about Roque Galaxy coming to Europe was in one of my country's biggest gaming magazines.

    I'll translate the best I can:

    "SCEE has announced that they will release Level 5's (best known from Dark Cloud and Dragon Quest VIII) new RPG, Roque Galaxy, in Europe. The announcement is quite surprising considering that at least at the moment there are no plans to release the game in the US, where RPGs usually tend to be released months before Europe.

    *Insert more text that's telling what the game is all about*"

    So... yeah. They say SCEE has confirmed this.

  • dudefella #56 6 years ago

    great, Rogue Galaxy is looking pretty pimp

  • Pachinko #57 6 years ago

    I disagree with the review. Basically it's a cartoon you watch while hammering X like a madman. It's definitely one of the easiest games around - on Proud mode I did die a few times, but only a few, and the gameplay felt like it was something tacked on in between the cut scenes. It can be entertaining, but only if you don't wish as much to PLAY as to WATCH. But - is that the point of games? The point of games IMO is to PLAY, whereas the watching is better left to movies. The question is, of course, where you draw the line, but the review should express this better.

  • tengu #58 6 years ago

    Well, I had a great time playing the game. The combat is some of the most fun and satisfying I've ever experienced in a game, and there is no way you can get through the whole game simply by pressing X repeatedly. At the very least, some of the bosses simply wouldn't allow for it.

    It had a lot of cutscenes, sure, most JRPGs do, but you aren't forced to watch them, the game simply wouldn't make sense if you don't.

    I had a great time with the game, and think the review pretty much nailed it.