Animation Source Forums

100% finished!




Hello,
I've finished Kingdom Hearts a couple of times now, and I am amazed by the level of intergrity you have with the environment in this version. After hard working, I've mastered all the forms and such, but I have yet to defeat Sephiroth.

Anyways, I'm going to post my impressions of the game.

[EDIT] Posting replies to this is now open!

Time for the list:

1.0: Generalization and comparison
1.1: Rankings, opinions and criticism
1.2: Plot summary (*Warning! Possible spoilers!*)
1.3: Complete summary

Warning. Chapter two of this report will contain spoilers. Do not read unless you want to know the ending and some quests, or you have completed the game.

2.0: Some notes.
2.1: The Wolflux Way
2.2: Some cutscene critisism
2.3: Intro Full Mode Video
2.4: Ending FMV

Part 1

Generalization and comparison

KH2 is the sequel to the famous Kingdom Hearts that took the world completely by surprise. Before KH was created, Square-Enix entered a cooperation with Disney Entertainment to make it, and people turned out to be quite sceptical to the game's final outcome. However, when people began playing the game they realized how well Square-Enix and Disney had done with it, thereby becoming surprised over the quality of the plot. Noone had expected KH to turn out as great as it was.

Compared to other Square-Enix games, though, the first Kingdom Hearts was quite small. Square-Enix (once called Squaresoft) had already created several Final Fantasy games, amongst them the three most popular ones called Final Fantasy 7, 9 and 10. Final Fantasy 7 and 9 had a more in-depth plot, which resulted in Squaresoft-fans missing the interaction with the world around them during the times of KH1. When Final Fantasy 10 came out, however, Square-Enix standards were heightened to those degrees, but fans were let down by the coming of FFX-2. Kingdom Hearts could never surpass the standards of Final Fantasy X.

Then Kingdom Hearts 2 came, and revived the Square-Enix's aumont of fans again. This time people were astounded (again) by the well-created graphics, interaction, etc, etc. However, there was one main difference; now Kingdom Hearts had recieved the standards of the Final Fantasy series. This was very surprising, indeed, because the fans had expected KH2 to be just another game.
But personally, the enthusiasm for KH2 is going to fall once Final Fantasy 7 comes out for PS3... If Õkami didn't steal it already.

----------------------------------------

1.1

Rankings, opinions and criticism

Let's start with the rankings.

KH Rankings:

Graphics: 8/10, Minor flaws with the characters. Some times they would move around like they were lagging, and even blur slightly.

Sound: 10/10, Very well intergrated, a definite winner.

Music: 10/10, holds the Square-Enix standard of compositions well.

Plot: 9/10, Very strong plot, but unfortunately, too short and cliché-like. More on this in Criticism.

Mapping: 7/10, Unfortunately, the mapping and environments is where Kingdom Hearts fails. Sometimes it's too logical, or too (even childishly easy), and sometimes you may be stuck for hours, missing that very little detail hidden amongst thousands of others. Very little interaction.

FMV's: 9/10 Well made, but with minor flaws.

Overall: 8-9/10


KH2 Rankings:

Graphics: 9/10, Square-Enix hasn't got it quite yet, but a major improvement from KH1. Looks like Sora's got bracers (in fact most of the characters), though.

Sound: 10/10, Again, just as expected from the Square-Enix way.

Music: 10/10, See above.

Plot: 9/10, Very strong plot this time, but slightly confusing if you haven't played the KH GBA game. One minus point.

Mapping: 10/10, The new Reaction commands has created better interaction with the environment, and slight changes to mapping has made this game a mastergame.


FMV's: 10/10, Completely flawless, but the intro is quite cliché.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.1.1: Opinions


Once I started the game, I felt like Alue when she got mad at Balto and ran away. The intro was pretty frustrating, because (obviously) it had cutscenes from the KH GBA game (Chains of Memories) which I hadn't played, and I could only sit and watch dumbfolded. "Mmm, at least the graphics and music is good." I thought.
Then I reached an "AHA!" moment! Here was a scene I recognized! The one where Sora was "drowning" and landing on a plateau of birds and blah blah blah, but it wasn't Sora! It was a completely unknown guy I had never seen before! Man, how ticked I was. "Where's Sora?" I asked myself.
Of course I had seen some trailers for this game, and they clearly showed that I played as Sora. Not a mentally confused kiddo named Roxas (no offence to BS Roxas). So, as the game began I thought "Finally I get to see Sora!", then flashbacks of Kairi and the gang appeared. I was like "w00t?!!" when Roxas said "Another dream about him..."........ Well, d'oh. Well, the game continued on, and while I was trying to study the fly that walked on the screen, I suddenly found myself at the Usual Spot. Some talking about a _______ being stolen and the words _______... Wierd. My first impressions weren't pretty good, to be honest. Well, I played the first 45 minutes of the introduction, got the keyblade, defeated some enemies, met Naminé, and found Sora at last. It turned out... well, I'll tell you further after the spoiler warning.

Anyways, roles switches and I start playing Sora. He gets out of the room he was sleeping in, meets up with his friends, and that grasshopper with a diary with only two words: "Thank Naminé". Anyways, they started looking for the King, and the first thing that entered my mind was; "What if those guys at the Usual Spot knows where he is?" So I headed there, and guess what; they did! So, I was directed to the train station, where I was forced to fight countless nobodies for, say, two - three minutes before King Mickey appeared. Some small talk, etc and he's off again, leaving 5k munny, a puch and a sphere for our heroes. I'll keep going from here in part two.

Anyways, after my first hours of the game, I wasn't very impressed. Then things started happening. The plot was developing, and I was learning new stuff all the time, and I even got to meet my favourite disney characters, Cloud AND Captain Jack Sparrow (his body was drawn so he looked like an ordinary beggar though). When I finished the game, my opinion was: I never thought any game could beat Final Fantasy. Well, here it is. The game that bote Final Fantasy.



1.1.2: Criticism

Alright, good opinions over here, bad right here.

Firstly, I want to start with the (few, but they're there) flaws of this game. Firstly, what's with the bracers they've given Sora? He wasn't wearing those in KH1, that's for sure. I mean, seriously, they could at least have tried to keep his teeth like KH Sora's. Anyways, it's not really THAT important.

What I would like to criticise here is Roxas, Riku and the incredibly stupid character named X'i'r...

Firstly off, Roxas. I didn't like Roxas at all, mostly because of his attitude and hair (believe it or not O.o).
Seriously, Roxas is too... wierd. I can't really put a finger on it, but also his character could've used (no, seriously) a makeover and benefit from it.

Riku, however has changed a lot in the short time the two games are split by. Now he has longer hair, he's a darker person, he was in Organization XIII as well. Now how the heck did he get into that thing? It doesn't make sense, because you must be a nobody to be there as far as I know. Anyways, not only has his personality changed, but his clothes looks awful! I mean it!

Then we have X'i'r... One of the Organization XIII members, a big guy with blue hair and an X-shaped scar in between his eyes (friggen what the hell?). Again, I could not recognize him from any game. He's always ranting about Sora completing Kingdom Hearts and unleashing his rage. I did short process of him as fast as I could, just to make him stop appearing -.-'


So, harrassing game characters will stop now, to spare eventual fans of these three guys. Over to criticism of the plot itself.
The plot develops from the happenings in the game Chains of Memories, which undoubtly confuses just as many players as if they were playing Maze for the first time. During the gameplay, however, more of the plot from the GBA game is revealed to clear things up. Also, the maps for Radiant Garden (Hollow Bastion) have been changed, and seriously, the former maps looked waaay better.
And salt-sea ice cream? Need I say more?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.2: Plot Summary! ( * WARNING! SPOILERS MAY BE PRESENT! * )






So, the plot. After playings through the game a couple of times, taking notes and etc etc. I'm going to tell you about the plot in general.

When you start the game, you see scenes from KH Chains of Memories, the GBA version (only it's in 3-D), then you get to meet Roxas. You start up in Twillight Town, and then it's fourty-five minutes with recaps and tutorials. I won't spoil them for you, no problem. After a while, I learn about the Nobodies and I find out; Roxas is Sora's Nobody, created when Sora became a heartless in KH1. Nobodies were the empty shells that the Heartless left, which grew their own will. So basically, Roxas was Sora's alive half.
At the Haunted Mansion, which turned out not to be haunted, Roxas fought Axel, a guy from Final Fantasy 7, who manipulated fire. Roxas drew out the Keyblades Oblivion and Oathkeeper and fought him, wielding those two AT ONCE! Of course, Axel got his butt whooped. Anyways, after the fight he blabbers about something, then it's through the next door where he finds sleeping pods. Within two of them, Donald and Goofy are sleeping. Then he finds Sora's pod, and after some cutscenes, Roxas becomes Sora and you finally get to play as him.

That was the beginning. I don't want to spoil the complete plot for you here, but a small summarization.

Sora ventures out and finds out about Organization XIII. They're up to no good, so Sora and co. starts a new adventure to find them and rid themselves of them. Their leader is named Xemnas (Ansem) (X removed), which actually is a fake named Xehanorth (sp?).
The plot is pretty good, but there are some wierd moment in it. I'm giving you those in part 2.

---------------------------------------------------------

1.3

Complete (and short) summary!

The game has a pretty good plot, and a very good structure. Also, the characters are pretty well made, the music is good and playing it is very comfortable. It has its wierd moments and its share of flaws, but definitely a good game.
For those who haven't played any of the KH Series, buy KH1, play it through, buy KH Chains of Memories to GBA, play it through and finish with KH2.

Reccomendation: Must-have

--------------------------------------------------------

Side notes: Adding more to part two tomorrow.

Part two!

2.0

Some notes

The following report contains various in-depth information, and detailed descriptions of some, if not many, cutscenes, battles, gameplay, etc.

In other words: DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T LIKE SPOILERS!

Reader's discretion is advised.

------------------------------------------

2.2


2.1

The Wolflux Way

Completing the game by using the Wolflux Way isn't as simple as it sounds. I had a lot of trouble with it, and could spend hours just thinking about an obvious solution. Well, I'll let you know my "specialized" (*cough*noob*cough*) tactics right here. I'm only going to take into account two-three worlds here.


Twillight Town

The first stage of this world is pretty simple, as it's firstly a tutorial world. Here you learn the basics of KH2, and you meet Seifer and his gang, battle in the Struggle tournament, and you also get to defeat the champion. I will not give away his name ('cause I can't remember it xD).
Anyways; you start out as Roxas in the game, and your first mission while playing him is simple; find the missing ______ (photos). Well, I asked around in Twillight Town, and tried to rush it so I could get to see Sora again. I asked around and didn't pay much attention to the first seventeen conversations. Move over to the Old Lady straight in front of you first, and locate her cat (R-2 button). After that, she'll go around with some blaming stuff, and then she redirects you to the young girl at the Candy Shop. She goes on blaming you as well. It ends with Roxas and the gang goes to blame Seifer and HIS gang... This is a never-ending circle. Ultimately, I managed to play myself to the first combat. Here I get to choose what weapon to use. It's a staff, a club and a defender. I chose the club for Offense mainly. Then I get to fight Seifer, and after whooping his sorry butt and wiping the floor with his head, he puts his tail between his legs and runs off. Jumping up and down in ecstacy at that time, I soon came to learn I had a more difficult task ahead of me; fighting nobodies. So, after playing for a while, I reach that haunted mansion (of course, AFTER having run around the whole town, finding annoying clues to the seven wonders of TT), and all of a sudden I'm attacked by a nobody. Then, I gasp at this, Roxas' struggle club is transofrmed into a keyblade! *GASP*
So, I fight the Nobody, and ended up near dead before I first realized the "Reversal" reaction command... So, I spammed the triangle button, along with the X button, and managed to kill it quite easily. After that fight, I gave myself a good whack on the head.

Anyways, I kept playing around in Twillight Town, earning some munny and fighting Seifer for experience. Around level 6, I headed for the Struggle tournament. My first fight was against Hayner, the leader of, what I now call Roxas' gang, The Usual Guys. After an easy fight, I get to fight Vivi after a cutscene. Ultimately, it turns out Vivi was a Nobody in disguise (Vivi first starred Square-Enix games in Final Fantasy 9). After the fight, I meet a guy named Axel, After a short fight, I meet another guy named Diz. After that cutscene, I have to Struggle with their champ, Setzer. Wasn't too hard, really. So, the Wolflux way in Twillight Town is, in short, kick everybodys butts, reach an uber level, and finish the tutorial town with as little time spent in it as possible. Yeah, I'm a lazy stray-wolf.

After getting to play Sora again, I entered a blue train and went on the Yen Sid's palace, which from there it's quite obvious what to do (even for me) so, well, I won't spoil anymore of Twillight Town for ya Time to move on to the next world; Hollow Bastion.


Hollow Bastion

Yep, good ol' hollow bastion. The place where you fought against Maleficent, saved Kairi and worked your way through the endless tortures of the mazes there. Oh, how I miss (not) those days.

Oh well, when I arrived in Hollow Bastion, I couldn't recognize the place because I had arrived in the Hollow Bastion city, not the castle. Some boring conversations took place, then I saw some heartless, and Goofy went "Looks like we hafta be ready for fightin'."-something-kinda...
So, I took Sora around the city to get to know it, when all of a sudden I realize; "Wait... isn't that duck Uncle Scrooge?!" after I have passed him a zillion times. He's up to his normal moneymaking buisness again, and he's trying to remake the salt-sea ice cream. Man, I later came to find one of those in a box containing a picture of Sora and his gang... *sigh*
Anyway, after I walked around a bit, I met Yuffie. She was talking about how fun it was that they were back and told them to meet her and the ang at Merlin's. Ehm... Isn't Merlin's house in Traverse Town? I ask myself, and there goes four hours of gameplay searching the world map thoroughly with the gummi ship.
Hehe, I know. I play it the noob's-way.

Anyway, I don't want to spoil everything that happens here. Hope you enjoyed "The Wolflux Way".

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.2
Some Cutscene Criticism

Basically there is just one cutscene that must have some bad criticism:
The last one.

It's a little too boring when Sora carries Riku in the the room they fought Xemnas in at the end of the game. Some recaps on things we already knew, some boring dialogues (spelling?) and overall, just a boring experience.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.3

Intro FMV

See opinions in above post.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.4

Ending FMV

Will not spoil for you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, I hope you enjoyed this thorough review. Give me opinions and correct me on things I'm wrong about, please.

Wolflux over and out.

Reserved for further updates (if any)

Posting replies now open, still working on the review.

I'm going to post walkthroughs here soon, so that'll be fixed. Thinking of making a thread linking to the walkthroughs here. I hope it'll be stickied if I can be bothered. I have mapping on RMXP to do as well, so my schedule is booked. And considering exams and everything, this'll take its precious time.

And good luck with completing the game, it was worth every effort for me.

The GBA game, Chains of Memories is coming out as a 3D PS2 or PS3 game in 2008-2009, by the way... I bit late, but.

Great work! I have to say something to all those confused.

Play Chain of Memories and you shall not be confused! As for who the guy at the end of the intro is, the game kinda explains it as it goes on! xD. But it can be a tad confusing, but I love all of the games and KH3 looks great from what I have seen. Also for all those who have not got a GBA, have no fear, Chain of Memories is heading for Play Station, though I am unsure if its PS2 or PS3.

I am happy to announce that I passed the exams of 10th grade with stars!!!

So, I'm now restarting this walkthrough/review-hybrid thread. Feel free to correct anything I'm wrong about, or if it is something I've missed.

Thanks for being patient.


Small update has been made in "The Wolflux Way".

The review is, as of now, finished.