There are many different reasons why people play video games. Some play so they can experience the wonderment of new and different worlds, some play games so they can face challenges that they can’t face anywhere else and some people play games for the chance to relive that special feeling of play that they haven’t felt since they were children.
Seldom is there a video game that allows you to do all three of these things at the same time, but “Kingdom Hearts 2” for the Playstation 2 is definitely one of those rare gaming experiences.
“Kingdom Hearts 2” is the sequel to the 2002 Disney/Square Enix joint effort, Kingdom Hearts. Like its predecessor, KH2 allows the gamer to travel to many different Disney- themed worlds (i.e. The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean, Aladdin, A Nightmare before Christmas, etc.) and interact with the people or creatures that live in them.
This is a lofty concept, and one that, if not done well, would do a great disservice to the millions and millions of people who call themselves fans of the various Disney properties. I am happy to say that this is not the case; each and every world you visit has been excellently brought to life and is truly a joy to behold.
In KH2, you again play as Sora, along with Donald and Goofy (yes, that Donald and Goofy), in your continuing adventures to defeat the evil heartless, Nobodies, and the nefarious Organization XIII. Then, reunite with your friends that you got separated from in the first KH’s.
The story is really the only weak point to KH2. It’s not that it is a bad story; it’s just so convoluted that at times it just feels like a thin attempt to justify the reason why you are visiting all these Disney-themed worlds.
This in no way should detract you to such a degree that you should even consider not buying or playing this game, because even with its flaws, and compared to stories found in other video games, the KH2 storyline is Shakespearean in quality.
Another area where you can tell a lot of time and effort went into is the graphics; every world you visit is glorious where even the smallest detail just jumps off the screen at you. The cut-scenes (where much of the story is conveyed) are simply amazing. I often found myself pausing the game so that I could take in its rich, lush detail.
The audio, much like the visuals, is incredible. Each character, from the Disney to the Final Fantasy characters, to the new ones created just for this game, is expertly voiced.
Many of the original actors who voiced the Disney characters in the movies have returned to bring life to them in this game. Simply put, the production value is unmatched (except maybe for the original Kingdom Hearts).
Controls are spot on, allowing you to have many different ways to vanquish your enemies and interact with your environment. Some other critics have called this game a button masher; they think that blindly pressing buttons will get you through the game.
This is a sentiment that I couldn’t disagree with more. Square Enix has provided an intricate and yet easy way to use the control scheme.
Simply put, whether you play games on a regular basis or just play them once in a blue moon, you should definitely be playing this one. So put down this newspaper and run, don’t walk, to your nearest video game store, or place of rental and pick up this game.
It’s products like KH2 that make me proud to call myself a gamer.
Kingdom Hearts 2 for the Sony Playstation 2 gets a 9.5 on a scale of 1 to 10.