Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories HD Review (PS3)
Story
This game takes place after the events of Kingdom Hearts. Sora, Donald and Goofy continue their journey to find Riku and the King. However, they encounter a mysterious figure, and subsequently ended up on discovering a Castle called Castle Oblivion. In that castle, the mysterious figure told Sora to climb up the castle, to find out his true memories.
Unlike Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, this game has less interactions with Disney characters. The main focus of characters instead is on the Organization members. As the setup of the game takes place in a castle, it is very understandable. All characters in the game are particularly interesting, especially the Organization members.
The story is more darker than the first game, and it is quite interesting to see the interaction between Sora, Donald, and Goofy when they keep ascending in the castle. You will also get to see some interesting displays of emotions by Sora as well as other characters.
Riku's story also takes place in Castle Oblivion, except that he ended up at the basement floors after his escape from the dark realm. Riku's story is also interesting and well-written, where he needs to deal with his issue on darkness. Playing both Sora and Riku stories will give you much better understanding in Kingdom Hearts II's story, as well as Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.
Gameplay
1) Introduction
Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories was first released along with Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix + for PS2 in Japan. The game was a remake of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, originally for GBA. The English version of Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories was released later, and this is the HD remastered version of the PS2 game.
2) Exploration and Progression Section
This game plays more linear compared to Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix HD, as you will need to clear a floor and ascend to the next floor. On every floor, you need to create a World to proceed. After the first floor, you may choose which World you like to start first. Different Worlds have different enemy lineups, but none of them pose great challenge as long as you are good in constructing your deck.
In each World, you will be in a Room, filled with enemies, objects to strike, and doors to unlock. You can strike enemies for a preemptive strike in battle, strike objects to get items such as cards or HP balls, or open a door to proceed to the next room. In non-combat exploration, you can jump, strike or climb ladders as well as do dodge rolls.
To proceed the game and to open new rooms, you need to unlock the regular rooms using Map Cards. Map Cards have different variety, such as a card that allows you to create a room with few Heartless enemies, or create a room with a Save Point. Map Cards have values as well, and you need to consider the conditions of opening a regular room as different regular rooms have different required Map Card value(s). For example, to open a new room in Agrabah, you need to use a Map Card with a value of 1 or greater. Key Rooms also act the same way, as these special rooms can only be unlocked by using specific Key Cards and by using the required Map Cards. Map Cards can be obtained by defeating enemies. As you clear the World's boss, you can proceed to the next floor and choose another World. As you progress, you may face intermediate bosses in between floors.
Sora's playthrough is much longer than Riku's, as he has to complete more generic rooms and Key Rooms, whereas many of Riku's levels require him to fight directly the bosses. Riku's playthrough, the Reverse/Rebirth mode can be unlocked upon completing the game first as Sora.
3) Leveling, Upgrading and Customisation Section
Collect cards by buying card packs from moogles, defeating bosses or by striking objects in different rooms.
As Sora levels up, he can increase his maximum HP stat, increase his CP stat, or learn a new Sleight. CP is a very important stat is allows you to add more cards to Sora's deck. Not to mention, many high valued cards have high CP cost, and these cards are useful when fighting bosses. Sleights are powerful moves that can help you to defeat regular enemies or bosses faster, and they are extremely useful. However, Sleights can only be used by a specific combination of stocked cards, which I will explain later.
Deck construction is simple. You may create a deck with any number of Battle Cards (except zero cards) that you want as long as you do not exceed the maximum CP amount. All Battle Cards have different CP costs, and it is advisable to balance out with your higher valued card with lower valued cards. You may arrange the cards' order freely for Sora's deck, so it can be a good way to gain upper hand in combat.
Battle Cards can obtained by defeating certain bosses, striking objects in different rooms in a Floor, or by buying card packs from Moogle Shop with MP. MP can be obtained by striking objects or selling your cards.
There are several types of Battle Cards in this game. Attack Cards allow you to use regular physical attacks on enemy. Different types of Attack Cards may have different effects. Magic Cards allow you to use magic or summon attacks, and there is a lot of variety of it. Item Cards allow you to reload cards instantly in battle without using the reload command. Friend Cards allow you to summon your friend for attacks, and Friend Cards can only be used or collected during battles. Enemy Cards allow you to use special ability that may give you an upper hand in battle, such as increase of fire damage on enemies.
Riku cannot customise his deck, as his deck is automatically set for every World in his own mode. However, he can hold lots of Enemy Cards at the same time making him stronger than Sora in early levels.
4) Combat Section
The game plays similarly with Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix HD, but has a big difference. All actions in battle except dodging, jumping, or walking requires you to use a card. A physical attack, magic attack, or Sleights require cards to be use. Sora and Riku can execute a physical combo attack by attacking the enemy three times by using three cards.
You may also stock cards to create an ever more powerful combo attack, and you can mix your stocked cards with any cards, such as Attack Cards and Magic Cards. If you use specific combination of stocked cards, you can execute Sleights on enemies. This applies to both Sora and Riku. Stocked cards value will total up all three cards' value, making enemies difficult to break your cards.
Each card has their own value, and your opponents will use cards as well to attack you. If you use a high valued card to break an enemy's card, you can cancel out the opponent's move and attack them. Same valued cards against enemies' card can also break them. For example, you use a Fire card with the value of 9 to break the enemy's card and attack it directly. Enemies can also break your cards if you play lower value cards than theirs.
Bosses can also use Sleights, and they can be powerful if you are low leveled. You can break their Sleights by using zero valued cards, or use stocked cards with higher value to break their Sleights as well. If you have run out of cards to be used, you can reload your cards to gather back all of your cards. However, the first card used in stocking cards cannot be regained until the battle is over, except a certain condition.
Riku has two special abilities in battle besides Sleights. First, he can access the Dark Mode by card breaking enemies. This mode allows him to deal higher damage and use special Sleights. Second, he can use Duel to break enemy attacks. Duel is executed by using a same value card against enemy's card, and you need to break the enemy's card repeatedly within a time limit. If you are able to do so, Riku can use powerful attacks to damage the enemy, and his Dark Mode even increases the Duel moves' damage. However, if you cannot break enemy's cards within the time limit, you will be stunned and the enemies can have a free attack on you.
5) Gameplay Conclusion
The overall gameplay is great, and I appreciate the deep yet easy to learn card system, where it mixes both action RPG and card battle genres effectively. The camera system is much better than the first game, and many of the Sleights animations are very cool looking. My only issue with the game is the lack of sidequests to be done compared to other Kingdom Hearts games.
Graphics
Great HD remastered graphics.
Like Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix HD, this game has great remastered graphics. The characters and the environments look great in HD. complimenting the Disney characters, original characters, and Final Fantasy characters' styles. Some of the character models in cutscenes look a bit static, especially when it comes to character's facial animations when they are not close by.
Sound
Kingdom Hearts games always have good quality of voice acting, and this is no exception. Sora's voice actor may sound older, but that is because the first game was made in 2001, whereas this game's English version was first released on PS2 in 2008. Thankfully, Square Enix kept up the consistency for Sora's voice actor, but I wish they did so for other characters' in the game, such as DiZ and Namine.
The soundtrack is good, fitting in every world and situations. Unlike the first game's HD version, this game does not have remastered soundtrack except one or two pieces.
Replay Value
This game has not much replay value, unless you are playing the Reverse/Rebirth mode as Riku or tackling other difficulty modes in the game, You may also opt to collect all of the cards as both Sora and Riku. Sora's card collection will take a longer time to collect as there are many Enemy Cards to be collected, and they are considered to be quite rare compared to other types of cards. Riku's card collection can be completed much more quickly as many of his card will be preset for every floor. Otherwise, you may also try to obtain all of the Trophies in the game.
Conclusion
What I like most about this game is the very addicting card battle styled gameplay mixed with action and RPG elements. The story and characters are also well-written, and you can play as either Sora or Riku in this game with their own unique battle styles. Unfortunately, this game has not much replay value as there are no side quests to be done in this game other than collecting all cards. Regardless, this is a good Kingdom Hearts game and one of the best games with card battle system implementation.
Score
Story: 9/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 8/10
Final Score: 8.5/10.0 or 34/40
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Interesting and darker story.
- Addicting and fun card battle system.
- Challenging and fun boss battles.
- Nice remastered HD graphics.
- Improved camera system.
- Allows you to play as Sora or Riku with their own unique abilities.
- Many cool looking Sleights to be used.
- Great voice acting.
- Good music.
Cons
- Minor static character expressions in certain cutscenes.
- Too linear progression and repetitive.
- No remastered soundtrack.
- No sidequests.
- Low to moderate replay value.
Find out Sora's true memories in Castle Oblivion.
This game takes place after the events of Kingdom Hearts. Sora, Donald and Goofy continue their journey to find Riku and the King. However, they encounter a mysterious figure, and subsequently ended up on discovering a Castle called Castle Oblivion. In that castle, the mysterious figure told Sora to climb up the castle, to find out his true memories.
Unlike Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, this game has less interactions with Disney characters. The main focus of characters instead is on the Organization members. As the setup of the game takes place in a castle, it is very understandable. All characters in the game are particularly interesting, especially the Organization members.
The story is more darker than the first game, and it is quite interesting to see the interaction between Sora, Donald, and Goofy when they keep ascending in the castle. You will also get to see some interesting displays of emotions by Sora as well as other characters.
Riku's story also takes place in Castle Oblivion, except that he ended up at the basement floors after his escape from the dark realm. Riku's story is also interesting and well-written, where he needs to deal with his issue on darkness. Playing both Sora and Riku stories will give you much better understanding in Kingdom Hearts II's story, as well as Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.
Gameplay
1) Introduction
Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories was first released along with Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix + for PS2 in Japan. The game was a remake of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, originally for GBA. The English version of Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories was released later, and this is the HD remastered version of the PS2 game.
2) Exploration and Progression Section
Explore every past Disney worlds that you have visited in the previous game in memory.
This game plays more linear compared to Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix HD, as you will need to clear a floor and ascend to the next floor. On every floor, you need to create a World to proceed. After the first floor, you may choose which World you like to start first. Different Worlds have different enemy lineups, but none of them pose great challenge as long as you are good in constructing your deck.
In each World, you will be in a Room, filled with enemies, objects to strike, and doors to unlock. You can strike enemies for a preemptive strike in battle, strike objects to get items such as cards or HP balls, or open a door to proceed to the next room. In non-combat exploration, you can jump, strike or climb ladders as well as do dodge rolls.
To proceed the game and to open new rooms, you need to unlock the regular rooms using Map Cards. Map Cards have different variety, such as a card that allows you to create a room with few Heartless enemies, or create a room with a Save Point. Map Cards have values as well, and you need to consider the conditions of opening a regular room as different regular rooms have different required Map Card value(s). For example, to open a new room in Agrabah, you need to use a Map Card with a value of 1 or greater. Key Rooms also act the same way, as these special rooms can only be unlocked by using specific Key Cards and by using the required Map Cards. Map Cards can be obtained by defeating enemies. As you clear the World's boss, you can proceed to the next floor and choose another World. As you progress, you may face intermediate bosses in between floors.
Sora's playthrough is much longer than Riku's, as he has to complete more generic rooms and Key Rooms, whereas many of Riku's levels require him to fight directly the bosses. Riku's playthrough, the Reverse/Rebirth mode can be unlocked upon completing the game first as Sora.
3) Leveling, Upgrading and Customisation Section
Collect cards by buying card packs from moogles, defeating bosses or by striking objects in different rooms.
As Sora levels up, he can increase his maximum HP stat, increase his CP stat, or learn a new Sleight. CP is a very important stat is allows you to add more cards to Sora's deck. Not to mention, many high valued cards have high CP cost, and these cards are useful when fighting bosses. Sleights are powerful moves that can help you to defeat regular enemies or bosses faster, and they are extremely useful. However, Sleights can only be used by a specific combination of stocked cards, which I will explain later.
Deck construction is simple. You may create a deck with any number of Battle Cards (except zero cards) that you want as long as you do not exceed the maximum CP amount. All Battle Cards have different CP costs, and it is advisable to balance out with your higher valued card with lower valued cards. You may arrange the cards' order freely for Sora's deck, so it can be a good way to gain upper hand in combat.
Battle Cards can obtained by defeating certain bosses, striking objects in different rooms in a Floor, or by buying card packs from Moogle Shop with MP. MP can be obtained by striking objects or selling your cards.
There are several types of Battle Cards in this game. Attack Cards allow you to use regular physical attacks on enemy. Different types of Attack Cards may have different effects. Magic Cards allow you to use magic or summon attacks, and there is a lot of variety of it. Item Cards allow you to reload cards instantly in battle without using the reload command. Friend Cards allow you to summon your friend for attacks, and Friend Cards can only be used or collected during battles. Enemy Cards allow you to use special ability that may give you an upper hand in battle, such as increase of fire damage on enemies.
Riku cannot customise his deck, as his deck is automatically set for every World in his own mode. However, he can hold lots of Enemy Cards at the same time making him stronger than Sora in early levels.
4) Combat Section
Use Sleights for special attacks.
The game plays similarly with Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix HD, but has a big difference. All actions in battle except dodging, jumping, or walking requires you to use a card. A physical attack, magic attack, or Sleights require cards to be use. Sora and Riku can execute a physical combo attack by attacking the enemy three times by using three cards.
You may also stock cards to create an ever more powerful combo attack, and you can mix your stocked cards with any cards, such as Attack Cards and Magic Cards. If you use specific combination of stocked cards, you can execute Sleights on enemies. This applies to both Sora and Riku. Stocked cards value will total up all three cards' value, making enemies difficult to break your cards.
Each card has their own value, and your opponents will use cards as well to attack you. If you use a high valued card to break an enemy's card, you can cancel out the opponent's move and attack them. Same valued cards against enemies' card can also break them. For example, you use a Fire card with the value of 9 to break the enemy's card and attack it directly. Enemies can also break your cards if you play lower value cards than theirs.
Bosses can also use Sleights, and they can be powerful if you are low leveled. You can break their Sleights by using zero valued cards, or use stocked cards with higher value to break their Sleights as well. If you have run out of cards to be used, you can reload your cards to gather back all of your cards. However, the first card used in stocking cards cannot be regained until the battle is over, except a certain condition.
Riku has two special abilities in battle besides Sleights. First, he can access the Dark Mode by card breaking enemies. This mode allows him to deal higher damage and use special Sleights. Second, he can use Duel to break enemy attacks. Duel is executed by using a same value card against enemy's card, and you need to break the enemy's card repeatedly within a time limit. If you are able to do so, Riku can use powerful attacks to damage the enemy, and his Dark Mode even increases the Duel moves' damage. However, if you cannot break enemy's cards within the time limit, you will be stunned and the enemies can have a free attack on you.
5) Gameplay Conclusion
Addicting card system with intense boss fights.
The overall gameplay is great, and I appreciate the deep yet easy to learn card system, where it mixes both action RPG and card battle genres effectively. The camera system is much better than the first game, and many of the Sleights animations are very cool looking. My only issue with the game is the lack of sidequests to be done compared to other Kingdom Hearts games.
Graphics
Great HD remastered graphics.
Like Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix HD, this game has great remastered graphics. The characters and the environments look great in HD. complimenting the Disney characters, original characters, and Final Fantasy characters' styles. Some of the character models in cutscenes look a bit static, especially when it comes to character's facial animations when they are not close by.
Sound
Great voice acting. Good yet too familiar soundtrack.
Kingdom Hearts games always have good quality of voice acting, and this is no exception. Sora's voice actor may sound older, but that is because the first game was made in 2001, whereas this game's English version was first released on PS2 in 2008. Thankfully, Square Enix kept up the consistency for Sora's voice actor, but I wish they did so for other characters' in the game, such as DiZ and Namine.
The soundtrack is good, fitting in every world and situations. Unlike the first game's HD version, this game does not have remastered soundtrack except one or two pieces.
Replay Value
Low to moderate replay value.
This game has not much replay value, unless you are playing the Reverse/Rebirth mode as Riku or tackling other difficulty modes in the game, You may also opt to collect all of the cards as both Sora and Riku. Sora's card collection will take a longer time to collect as there are many Enemy Cards to be collected, and they are considered to be quite rare compared to other types of cards. Riku's card collection can be completed much more quickly as many of his card will be preset for every floor. Otherwise, you may also try to obtain all of the Trophies in the game.
Conclusion
A unique action RPG with card battle styled gameplay.
What I like most about this game is the very addicting card battle styled gameplay mixed with action and RPG elements. The story and characters are also well-written, and you can play as either Sora or Riku in this game with their own unique battle styles. Unfortunately, this game has not much replay value as there are no side quests to be done in this game other than collecting all cards. Regardless, this is a good Kingdom Hearts game and one of the best games with card battle system implementation.
Score
Story: 9/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 8/10
Final Score: 8.5/10.0 or 34/40
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Interesting and darker story.
- Addicting and fun card battle system.
- Challenging and fun boss battles.
- Nice remastered HD graphics.
- Improved camera system.
- Allows you to play as Sora or Riku with their own unique abilities.
- Many cool looking Sleights to be used.
- Great voice acting.
- Good music.
Cons
- Minor static character expressions in certain cutscenes.
- Too linear progression and repetitive.
- No remastered soundtrack.
- No sidequests.
- Low to moderate replay value.
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