→ SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 Crisp, colorful, and still enchanting, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix is almost everything you could want from an HD remake of the original Kingdom Hearts. The Disney-themed RPG that first introduced the world to keyblade-wielding hero Sora on the PlayStation 2 has been spruced up with stunning HD visuals and Trophy support to delight a new generation of gamers on PlayStation 3, 11 years after its initial release.
Here’s what the 1.5 pack entails: a remastered version of the excellent Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, (an edition previously released in Japan with additional cutscenes and content); an HD remake of its direct sequel, Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories; and the nonplayable cutscenes and story text from the Nintendo DS’s Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.
My quibble on the last one is that it’s not exactly clear from the box text that 358/2 Days isn’t a playable game. Anyone who purchases this compilation expecting toget a HD remake of the DS experience for PS3 will be greeted with nearly three hours of angsty cutscenes about eating ice cream on rooftops (among other story beats) and text wrap-ups of each mission. But given that 358/2 Days is the weakest of the three games, not to mention the one with the least amount of Disney goodness, and I’m not too bummed out that it’s not included.
Kingdom Hearts proper, on the other hand, has never looked or played better than it does in HD 1.5 Remix. From the gorgeous opening cutscene that sets the story and mood for what’s to follow, Kingdom Hearts’ transition to PS3 is seamless. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that this is a remastering of the original, not a remake. The interface has been tweaked slightly to bring it more in line with Kingdom Hearts II, but otherwise the experience remains unchanged – for better and worse. The real-time combat and RPG elements are still as fun as they were 11 years ago… however, the camera is still as wild and wonky as it was back then, too. The suddenly shifting perspective makes using the lock-on button to locate enemies an imperative. Just like exit rows on an airplane, the closest one may be behind you.
The Gummi ship-configuration mechanic remains oddly complex and cumbersome to use, and the space-flight sequences traversing between Disney-themed worlds (in space!) hasn’t aged well. It’s hard to tell if the sudden pop-in of space obstacles and enemy ships is intentional old-school charm or just a byproduct of Kingdom Hearts’ PS2 roots. Regardless, those issues didn’t keep me from enjoying this otherwise stellar adventure back in the day, and they don’t pose a big problem in 2013 either.
The same goes for the HD version of Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, which, while a direct sequel to the first Kingdom Hearts, introduced a brand-new (yet thoroughly enjoyable) card-based battle system that has you attack enemies with moves, magic, and character cards you’ve collected. Despite that abrupt switcheroo, Re:Chain of Memories holds up as an enthralling follow-up that brings Sora, Goofy, and Donald Duck back to the forefront of the action.
THE VERDICT
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix is an excellent way to replay the series’ first two games in crisp, high-definition splendor. Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Re:Chain of Memories are beautifully reproduced – wonky camera and all. Completionists might even enjoy watching Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days’ extended remastered cinematics, though it’s disappointing that the box doesn’t make it clearer that this particular adventure is a non-interactive experience.
IGN dissapointing as allways. I think this at least 9.
Edited by I♥KH