The team at Square Enix are hard at work with the fourth main installment in the beloved Kingdom Hearts franchise. Whilst we wait, they have treated fans with an updated collection of the first three games, plus spin offs. Is this collection worth your time? Or are you left longing for the fourth installment?
Back To The Disney Magic
I’ll admit, I was late to the Kingdom Hearts‘ party. I never played the original titles but I gave the third installment a chance when it launched on PS4. I instantly fell in love with this weird and wonderful franchise. I am a huge Disney fan and so the opportunity to visit these classic worlds was too good to turn down. Therefore, you can imagine my excitement at the announcement of a collection of Kingdom Hearts, compiling this wonderful franchise into one package. However, I’m left with some mixed feelings.
If you are a newcomer to this franchise, strap in, as you are in for a weird and very convoluted storyline. The series follows protagonist Sora, a young boy wielding a magical weapon called the Keyblade. Sora travels across various Disney worlds and environments, seeking to save them from dark creatures, known as the Heartless. This is the easiest way to explain what is a very confusing narrative. However, the sheer joy of exploring these memorable locations is enough to entice any Disney fan. The campaigns will take you hundreds of hours across every game in this collection. Thus, it is a sheer joy to be able to experience Sora’s epic adventures once again.
Almost Complete Collection
It’s an important question to ask what exactly is in this collection. The Kingdom Hearts Collection includes all three original main titles plus the remixed versions and all the spin offs, bar one. Bizarrely, the collection is missing Kingdom Hearts: Melody Of Memory. I have longed to play this rhythm game on modern consoles so I was disappointed at its lack of inclusion. Still, the sheer amount of content available at launch is staggering for newcomers to the franchise.
Sadly, for veterans of the franchise, there is actually no new content whatsoever. I would have loved a new spin off included to help bridge the gap between the third and fourth entries. It’s hard to recommend this collection to someone who already has all the games. Gameplay remains the same as it was, although that’s not a bad thing. Firing off different Disney styled abilities and having classic characters help you battle the Heartless, remains as fun as it ever was. Still, for the price the developers are charging for this collection, there should have been some noticeable improvements or upgrades in the gameplay department. It comes across as a quick attempt at making money.
Complete List Of Games In The Kingdom Hearts Collection:
KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind
The Magic Has Never Looked Better
Although I am disappointed with the lack of gameplay improvements, I am left pleasantly surprised by the technical additions. Every game in this collection runs at 60fps or thereabouts. Kingdom Hearts 3 benefits from this the most, making this game feel so much more smooth and responsive with the improved framerate. The bombastic set pieces in the third instalment look so much better with the increased fidelity. The visuals for each game have also received upgrades. Every Disney location and character looks stunning in glorious detail. The 4k visuals make this collection the best way to experience the Darkseeker Saga.
With the introduction of native PS5 versions of these games, comes better loading times. This is extremely noticeable on the older or the previously handheld exclusive titles. Everything loads substantially quicker than its original versions. Kingdom Hearts has always been a vibrant and gorgeous series and these technical improvements have only intensified its beauty. Animations and cutscenes remain stellar, I could watch Sora execute Disney themed abilities like the rocket from Toy Story or boarding the Black Pearl from Pirates Of The Caribbean all day!
Out Of Sync
When it comes to audio design and soundtrack for the Kingdom Hearts Collection, I’m left with an array of thoughts. The classic voice acting and sound design are still there and wonderful, when they are working properly. Throughout the titles I experienced some annoying sound issues where the audio would cut out or stutter. This really takes you out of the moment during the emotional scenes or the climatic battles. Seeing beloved Disney characters stutter through their words really sours the mood!
Thankfully, the soundtrack remains in tact and does not suffer from these issues. Composer Yoko Shimomura’s epic collection of tracks is still beautiful to hear. The blend of orchestral themes and memorable Disney melodies remains outstanding. I could listen to the music from these games all day. Superb!
Verdict
For newcomers of the series, this is the quintessential package to experience the beauty and epic journey of Sora and the Kingdom Hearts saga. There are hundreds of hours of content, brilliant and in depth games which put you right in the heart of a Disney movie, and a killer soundtrack that will have you smiling ear to ear. Although there are some visual and fidelity improvements, for veterans of the series who already have these games in their collection, it’s hard to recommend this for such a steep price. However, if you can see past the price, these games remain truly magical!
