This is a conclusion I reached some time ago, but I'm only just now posting it

 

KH2 is my favourite KH game, but I'm honestly not really sure why. It's full of flaws to the point of overflowing. If I were a more logical being, I think I'd acknowledge that Chain if Memories is the best KH game out there

 

In terms of plot, it is the ONLY KH game to tell a fully functional self contained story, with a defined antagonist, and goal from the start. It successfully characterizes a limited cast, with distinct villains that are enjoyable to watch, and whose motivations aren't clear, but aren't obtuse. Sora as a character experiences a far greater range of emotions in this game than any other KH game before or after. The story also manages to cover some fairly mature themes by the series' standards.

 

But it's not just the story, the gameplay is also something special. Specifically, it's the only game to legitimately let you play as a caster, since filling your deck with magic is as valid as attacks. There's a good variety of useful skills in terms of sleights, too. Because by their nature sleights are limited they actually have useful effects, even on bosses. What's more significant than any of that, though, is the absolutely brilliant solution to perspective issues in 3D fighting games. Because every attack is telegraphed by a bright and distinct card, and any attack can be canceled with a zero card, which you can equip yourself with extensively if you wish. The issue of not seeing an attack coming and being blindsided is all but alleviated.

 

Chain of Memories is probably the best KH game out there

if we're being honest

...

I'm not being honest

KH2 is the best

shut up

 

This is a conclusion I reached some time ago, but I'm only just now posting it

 

KH2 is my favourite KH game, but I'm honestly not really sure why. It's full of flaws to the point of overflowing. If I were a more logical being, I think I'd acknowledge that Chain if Memories is the best KH game out there

 

In terms of plot, it is the ONLY KH game to tell a fully functional self contained story, with a defined antagonist, and goal from the start. It successfully characterizes a limited cast, with distinct villains that are enjoyable to watch, and whose motivations aren't clear, but aren't obtuse. Sora as a character experiences a far greater range of emotions in this game than any other KH game before or after. The story also manages to cover some fairly mature themes by the series' standards.

 

But it's not just the story, the gameplay is also something special. Specifically, it's the only game to legitimately let you play as a caster, since filling your deck with magic is as valid as attacks. There's a good variety of useful skills in terms of sleights, too. Because by their nature sleights are limited they actually have useful effects, even on bosses. What's more significant than any of that, though, is the absolutely brilliant solution to perspective issues in 3D fighting games. Because every attack is telegraphed by a bright and distinct card, and any attack can be canceled with a zero card, which you can equip yourself with extensively if you wish. The issue of not seeing an attack coming and being blindsided is all but alleviated.

 

Chain of Memories is probably the best KH game out there

if we're being honest

...

I'm not being honest

KH2 is the best

shut up

Kingdom hearts had a clear antagonist. Chain of Memories wasn't an original idea. It used rehashed worlds and actually made them more bland. The best part of that game was the cool sleights and playing as Dark Riku. Climbing floors of a castle over and over got kind of boring. That's my opinion though. 

I definitely agree with you on the story; it's by far the most well told and most tense story in the series so far. And I do like that you can focus almost entirely on magic, something you can't really do easily in any other KH game (unless you're playing as Riku, but even that has it's charms). It's certainly one of my favorites. (Should also be noted that I'm referring to Re:CoM; I really despise the GBA CoM.)

 

The game is plenty flawed, though. Enemies can break your cards just as easily as you can break theirs so longer attacks have a good chance of being negated too early, the limited amount of rooms you can generate get hella tedious, and the battle system, while fun and somewhat deep if you can get into it, is awkward as hell and can very easily turn off people who don't want to like the game. I love Re:CoM, but it's not hard to see why a lot of people don't.

Yea I enjoyed Re:CoM for its character development and the fact that Sora had a legit reason to want to take down Marluxia and the other Org. members because they kept screwing with his head. KH2 is still my favorite out of the whole series though, despite its flaws, but I'll acknowledge that Re:CoM may be the overall best compared to the other games. 

I only liked Chain of Memories's gameplay.As for the plot it was really lackluster and more or less just there so it can make sense of the beginning of KH2

 

Sure it's an expected plot for a Gameboy Advance game back then but it's jarring to see the plot in the Ps2 remake where they should've added more to it ....at least in my opinion

 

 

I love the game I really do but it's far from being the best in the series

Kingdom Hearts II is the best.

Kingdom Hearts II is the best.

I agree, but really, it's not. We jsut like it for some reason. Every aspect of the game is very flawed, it jsut has a mysterious likable quality nobody can explain

Kingdom hearts had a clear antagonist. Chain of Memories wasn't an original idea. It used rehashed worlds and actually made them more bland. The best part of that game was the cool sleights and playing as Dark Riku. Climbing floors of a castle over and over got kind of boring. That's my opinion though. 

He still makes a good point though. Chain of Memories had a lot of perks that I don't really acknowledge that much, and while it isn't my most favorite game of the series (and for me to call it the "arguably best" is a bit of a stretch), I still say it's way more valuable and endearing than most fans care to give it credit for.

 

Plus, as an argument towards the whole rehash thing, at least it still felt fresh enough before Days and Re:Coded kept doing it. I personally don't mind world revisitation that much as long as there's always something new put in it, and there has been plenty of that throughout the series in my eyes.

I agree, but really, it's not. We jsut like it for some reason. Every aspect of the game is very flawed, it jsut has a mysterious likable quality nobody can explain

 

Also, I don't really see how it's any more flawed than any other KH game out there, and if you really want to get into the nitpicking territory (which to me is the only way to see that many flaws in KH2 of all games), then you may as well call out every game in the entire series, so why bother? Enjoy the dang games!   

He still makes a good point though. Chain of Memories had a lot of perks that I don't really acknowledge that much, and while it isn't my most favorite game of the series (and for me to call it the "arguably best" is a bit of a stretch), I still say it's way more valuable and endearing than most fans care to give it credit for.

 

Plus, as an argument towards the whole rehash thing, at least it still felt fresh enough before Days and Re:Coded kept doing it. I personally don't mind world revisitation that much as long as there's always something new put in it, and there has been plenty of that throughout the series in my eyes.

 

Also, I don't really see how it's any more flawed than any other KH game out there, and if you really want to get into the nitpicking territory (which to me is the only way to see that many flaws in KH2 of all games), then you may as well call out every game in the entire series, so why bother? Enjoy the dang games!   

Giving too much thought to games in my middle name.

KH2 has overly shallow in terms of gameplay, the difficulty balance is awful, the cutscenes are overly long and many oft hem are incredibly poorly executed. Sora's character is changed bizarre ways, the tutorial is way too long and very obtuse. The reaction commands were way too simple. 

Like I dunno, KH2 is the only KH game that's legitimately mixed across the board, and yet I can't help but love it

Kingdom hearts had a clear antagonist. Chain of Memories wasn't an original idea. It used rehashed worlds and actually made them more bland. The best part of that game was the cool sleights and playing as Dark Riku. Climbing floors of a castle over and over got kind of boring. That's my opinion though. 

It's an original idea, it just re-uses the worlds from KH1 but for a justifiable reason.

He still makes a good point though. Chain of Memories had a lot of perks that I don't really acknowledge that much, and while it isn't my most favorite game of the series (and for me to call it the "arguably best" is a bit of a stretch), I still say it's way more valuable and endearing than most fans care to give it credit for. Plus, as an argument towards the whole rehash thing, at least it still felt fresh enough before Days and Re:Coded kept doing it. I personally don't mind world revisitation that much as long as there's always something new put in it, and there has been plenty of that throughout the series in my eyes. Also, I don't really see how it's any more flawed than any other KH game out there, and if you really want to get into the nitpicking territory (which to me is the only way to see that many flaws in KH2 of all games), then you may as well call out every game in the entire series, so why bother? Enjoy the dang games!   

I think it's because CoM was RIGHT after kingdom hearts. It just didn't feel like a fresh new game. And the card system was hard to get used to after the KH combat style. But I do recognize the pros as well. Using certain cards to level up your character and create different sleights with a combination of different cards is innovative and new. Can't say they didn't take chances with this one.

It's an original idea, it just re-uses the worlds from KH1 but for a justifiable reason.

I don't know; it felt kinda gimmicky to me. Using cards to unlock worlds based on your memory? It felt like a huge ghost town because I knew the NPCs weren't real.

I enjoyed this game a lot, it was really special. The story was awesome and funny to watch like for example the organization fighting each others by words. In addition, the gameplay was one of the widest games if not the widest of them when it comes to variety of abilities and attacks to make and discover. Furthermore, the idea of the cards and places to open and making your own way through the story gives the series new elements and exciting puzzles.

 

The game's idea was not just to fight rashly and get to your known way through the story by just walking, but instead, it makes you think how to reach to your target cleverly and how to fight them cleverly. I do agree that some of the fans didn't like it as much as it should've been, who knows maybe because they were only action/classic RPG fans and they were not used to such things and maybe because of variety of reasons but I should admit that this game was not made rashly at all and it's ideas were awesome to be proud of as a KH game.

I wouldn't really call Chain of Memories the best kingdom hearts game in my opinion. I agree with you with the story though. That's why it is one of my favorite kingdom hearts games just because of its story mode. 

Seconded!

It Doesn't Matter What Everyone Else Claims About The Gameplay.  I Can Understand How The Card-Based Battle System Works -- It Is MUCH Easier In The PS2/PS3 Remake Compared To The GBA Original Version.  For Instance, You Cannot Undo Stocked Cards On The GBA In Case Of A Mistake, But You Can In The Remake.  The Nice Thing About The GBA Version Is How Much Darker Its Music Sounds, Sora's Style Of Going Through The 100-Acre Wood, And It WAS The First Handheld KH Game, Which Was Nice To Take Wherever You Go.

Besides, The Possibilities With Arranging The Deck Seem Nearly Endless.  This Adds Creativity To The Gameplay And Makes It Feel Like You Have More Control.

 

In Terms Of Story, I Think It's Interesting How Goofy Seems To Be The Smartest Member Of Sora's Team In It.  While Donald Is Worried And Getting Scared, Jiminy Is Feeling Doubtful, And Sora Is Becoming Namine's "Puppet", Goofy STILL Notices Numerous Things Going Wrong Before This Get Out-Of-Hand.  Plus, Goofy Seems To Get Just About As Much Dialogue As Sora While Donald And Jiminy Get Less.

No Surprise, Considering The Theme Is Based On Friendship And Trust.

 

Overall, I Personally Believe "Kingdom Hearts:  CHAIN OF MEMORIES" Is A Well-Made Game And My SECOND FAVORITE Of The Series!!

Giving too much thought to games in my middle name.

KH2 has overly shallow in terms of gameplay, the difficulty balance is awful, the cutscenes are overly long and many oft hem are incredibly poorly executed. Sora's character is changed bizarre ways, the tutorial is way too long and very obtuse. The reaction commands were way too simple. 

Like I dunno, KH2 is the only KH game that's legitimately mixed across the board, and yet I can't help but love it

You could look at it that way. OR:

 

KH2 greatly expanded upon and evolved the traditional gameplay of KH1, the enemies were more fun to beat up, the story and cutscenes got into way more depth than it's predecessor and recaptured a lot more memorable moments than any game before that. Sora became a much more complex and mature character, being able to express distaste, anger, confusion skepticism, and pain along with his typical cheerful, positive, friendly, trusting, and carefree personality, and the tutorial allowed you to grow with and care for a new interesting character which many have become attached to, as well as a new interesting way to start a new game. The reaction commands looked very cool and marked the introduction of more dynamic gameplay to the series, which has continued to evolve (and they are frankly a personal hallmark to the series for me). I don't have to be confused about why I love Kingdom Hearts II, because I know everything I love about the title. Yeah, there may be a few flaws here and there, but what game doesn't? I don't think it's that mixed across the board. To me, the positives far outweigh and outnumber the negatives.

I think it's because CoM was RIGHT after kingdom hearts. It just didn't feel like a fresh new game. And the card system was hard to get used to after the KH combat style. But I do recognize the pros as well. Using certain cards to level up your character and create different sleights with a combination of different cards is innovative and new. Can't say they didn't take chances with this one.I don't know; it felt kinda gimmicky to me. Using cards to unlock worlds based on your memory? It felt like a huge ghost town because I knew the NPCs weren't real.

You have to keep in mind that this was made with the Gamboy Advanced in mind. Sure, they could have just as easily made a Final Fantasy I-VI style adventuring game with a closer resemblance to Kingdom Hearts 1, but they had to both build this game within the specifications of the GBA AND make Kingdom Hearts II on the PS2 at the same time. With that in mind, they couldn't fill a game with 10+ new worlds that nobody was going to see in 3D (before they even considered making a remake), and they wanted to essentially create a sort of "portable KH1 experience" that also furthered the story, so that way they could cater to both old AND new players. Also, this wasn't RIGHT after Kingdom Hearts, there was still a good 2 years between releases and Kingdom Hearts II was just around the corner, the timing felt very relevant, especially since about half of those worlds didn't return for KH2. Plus, the card system felt very GBA, it made sense to have that be part of a portable Nintendo system, and I'm really surprised by how well it made the transition to PS2.

 

Also, what KH game wasn't gimmicky in one way or another? Aside from KH1, each addition to the franchise had at least some kind of element or "gimmick" that was emphasized to set it apart from the other games, and I think each gimmick is essential to the series' growth. Although I have to admit, I do wish the cards got more connected to the overall story itself. Just why DID everything, story-wise, have to be ruled by cards? Gameplay-wise it makes sense, but the Organization never clarifies why they decided to use cards as the ruling force in the castle. Was that how the castle worked already? Or did Luxord just decide to play a joke on everyone and request Xemnas to make the use of cards the only way to conduct operations there? Again, the idea is cool, I just wish they tied it in a bit better. Otherwise the cards feel very welcome to me, even as part of the story.

You have to keep in mind that this was made with the Gamboy Advanced in mind. Sure, they could have just as easily made a Final Fantasy I-VI style adventuring game with a closer resemblance to Kingdom Hearts 1, but they had to both build this game within the specifications of the GBA AND make Kingdom Hearts II on the PS2 at the same time. With that in mind, they couldn't fill a game with 10+ new worlds that nobody was going to see in 3D (before they even considered making a remake), and they wanted to essentially create a sort of "portable KH1 experience" that also furthered the story, so that way they could cater to both old AND new players. Also, this wasn't RIGHT after Kingdom Hearts, there was still a good 2 years between releases and Kingdom Hearts II was just around the corner, the timing felt very relevant, especially since about half of those worlds didn't return for KH2. Plus, the card system felt very GBA, it made sense to have that be part of a portable Nintendo system, and I'm really surprised by how well it made the transition to PS2.

 

Also, what KH game wasn't gimmicky in one way or another? Aside from KH1, each addition to the franchise had at least some kind of element or "gimmick" that was emphasized to set it apart from the other games, and I think each gimmick is essential to the series' growth. Although I have to admit, I do wish the cards got more connected to the overall story itself. Just why DID everything, story-wise, have to be ruled by cards? Gameplay-wise it makes sense, but the Organization never clarifies why they decided to use cards as the ruling force in the castle. Was that how the castle worked already? Or did Luxord just decide to play a joke on everyone and request Xemnas to make the use of cards the only way to conduct operations there? Again, the idea is cool, I just wish they tied it in a bit better. Otherwise the cards feel very welcome to me, even as part of the story.

Yeah that was another gripe I had. The cards held no value to the overall story. Have the cards been mentioned besides in KH: CoM? No. That's my issue. It's probably the same thing with Dream Eaters too. We'll never see them again, I know it. 

 I also hate the idea of "visiting memory worlds". It's just bad story writing even if there's a decent explanation. I do love how in KH2 Final Mix, you can battle the Organization members from Castle Oblivion without cards. It's much more fun and it flows better. I wish they didn't use the cards in CoM. 

Chain of Memories is great for creating any kind of strategies, and that's what I like about Chain of Memories

The fact that you can use a Magic-Only set without any kind of repercussion is great

 

But still Kingdom Hearts II is still gonna be my favourite, it's that much fun

Chain of Memories is great for creating any kind of strategies, and that's what I like about Chain of Memories

The fact that you can use a Magic-Only set without any kind of repercussion is great

 

But still Kingdom Hearts II is still gonna be my favourite, it's that much fun

I definitely agree with you on that. Kingdom Hearts 2 is also my favorite!

Annoying gameplay, a story that we'll forget in the end, just a couple cutscene's.

 

No sir, it wasn't the best KH-Game.

Annoying gameplay, a story that we'll forget in the end, just a couple cutscene's.

 

No sir, it wasn't the best KH-Game.

 

Annoying gameplay, absolutely, but it's got a plot integral to the Dark Seeker saga and lots of cutscenes.

Yeah that was another gripe I had. The cards held no value to the overall story. Have the cards been mentioned besides in KH: CoM? No. That's my issue. It's probably the same thing with Dream Eaters too. We'll never see them again, I know it. 

 I also hate the idea of "visiting memory worlds". It's just bad story writing even if there's a decent explanation. I do love how in KH2 Final Mix, you can battle the Organization members from Castle Oblivion without cards. It's much more fun and it flows better. I wish they didn't use the cards in CoM. 

I'm sure that the Dreameaters will be back some day, just probably not KH3. Also, no, I love the card system from CoM. I can't imagine the game being played in any other way, the cards worked very well. And again, the memory worlds, in the context of CoM itself, worked pretty well to me. It was fun to fight the Organization in KH2, but I wouldn't say that it was the absence of the cards was the selling point.

I'm sure that the Dreameaters will be back some day, just probably not KH3. Also, no, I love the card system from CoM. I can't imagine the game being played in any other way, the cards worked very well. And again, the memory worlds, in the context of CoM itself, worked pretty well to me. It was fun to fight the Organization in KH2, but I wouldn't say that it was the absence of the cards was the selling point.

The selling point? That's not mine either. Mine is the different attacks they use and the difficulty attracts me to use my arsenal to beat them. If you like the card system, that's totally okay too. I did like the story and I loved playing as Riku. It was a new experience because, besides Roxas, it was the first character you could actually play as and Riku was actually very powerful. 

  I can't see Dream Eaters coming back tbh. I don't see any purpose they serve outside of the dream realm. Which is okay with me because I wasn't too fond of them either. It seemed like Nintendo held down Nomura and forced him to implement a customizable, cuddly, touch screen companion like a few other games they have. 

The selling point? That's not mine either. Mine is the different attacks they use and the difficulty attracts me to use my arsenal to beat them. If you like the card system, that's totally okay too. I did like the story and I loved playing as Riku. It was a new experience because, besides Roxas, it was the first character you could actually play as and Riku was actually very powerful. 

  I can't see Dream Eaters coming back tbh. I don't see any purpose they serve outside of the dream realm. Which is okay with me because I wasn't too fond of them either. It seemed like Nintendo held down Nomura and forced him to implement a customizable, cuddly, touch screen companion like a few other games they have. 

Actually, they were his idea to begin with. It's not some gimmick forced upon him from Nintendo. And while the DreamEaters would likely not be appearing out of the Dream Realm any time soon (ignoring that one scene from the end of DDD), I still doubt that we'll never see them again. There's always the chance of re-exploring the Realm of Sleep for whatever purpose. And I was very fond of the Dream Eaters, I was getting tired of having to fight the Heartless in every game. It's always fun to get a new enemy to fight, and it's even more fun to have some enemies that you can turn into your allies too. It was a very good idea in my opinion.

Annoying gameplay, absolutely, but it's got a plot integral to the Dark Seeker saga and lots of cutscenes.

If i remember it right just 2 each floor.