Before we start this review, I need to make one thing very very clear. The Kingdom Hearts game in Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix isn't EXACTLY the same Kingdom Hearts that was on the PS2 over a decade ago. It is a remaster of the Final Mix version of the original game (which was never released in America) that tries to emulate the later games in the series so a consistent play style can be had. It also includes a remaster of Re:Chain of Memories, as well as cutscenes from 358/2 Days, which until now, only appeared on the Nintendo DS.

The goal of this review is to see how this remastered version of Kingdom Hearts stacks up against games of this time period, to see how it has aged, and to compare KH:FM to the original version, to see whether or not a purchase of this game can be justified to whoever may be interested. The format of this review will be as follows. I will run down the list of categories. In each category, I will give each game a separate grade, with the average score of the games being the result for this compilation's scores in each category. Obviously, there is no gameplay in 358/2 Days, so I will not hold that against the compilation.

Graphics - 8

Let's start with Final Mix. There's one thing I was most interested to see when this compilation was first announced. That was whether the graphics would look considerably aged despite being remastered. When I purchased the Ratchet and Clank HD Remaster over a year ago, I came away disappointed because the games didn't look touched up all that much and felt too much like the originals, in that it didn't deserve to be updated at all if that was the treatment it was going to get.

Final Mix's graphical updates may not seem readily apparent, because the game keeps the cutesy look it is known for, and nothing looks terribly out of place. In this respect, the game passes, because the goal of any remaster (on a graphical front) should be to simply bring the game from the past to the present, without making it feel awkward. This is more impressive when you consider that the original game assets were lost by the developers, and had to remake a lot of things from the ground up.

Overall, one has to be pleased that the game retains a familiar look, and that everything is as it should be, staying true to the series style.

FINAL MIX - 8

Moving on to Re:Chain of Memories, I have to admit something here that I'm only slightly embarrased to say. Until I played Re:Chain of Memories in this remaster, I hadn't actually played the original. I had played the Game Boy Advance version, and am familiar with the story, but I hadn't tried the PS2 version until somewhat recently. After playing the remaster first, the original felt drab and ugly in comparison somehow, which surprised me, since the original doesn't even look that "bad". To me, the difference is night and day, although there are still a handful of things that could have been updated or fixed.

RCoM - 7

And then there's the newest one of the bunch, 358/2 Days, which as noted before, was a DS exclusive until the time of this compilation's release. I should note at this point but a full remake of 358/2 Days was planned but had to be scrapped, and thus replaced with the cutscenes due to time constraints. I think it's safe to say I was disappointed, but let's focus on what 358/2 Days does offer us.

It offers us beautiful graphics for one, which should be expected of a game that is entirely cutscenes and text logs. For a game that was originally made for the DS, the cutscenes on the PS3 game look so far better, that if you didn't know better, you'd think this was 358/2 Days debut in the series. Don't get me wrong, it could look better, and the PS3's capabilities aren't even challenged a bit. But you have to admire the work that goes into upscaling a game from such a small screen to the big screen while making it look hundreds of times better.

DAYS - 9

Sound - 8.3 (rounded down to 8)

Raise your hand if you remember the theme of the original Kingdom Hearts. When I first booted up the game, the first thing we see is the always faithful and true "Simple and Clean". I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a fan of the PLANITb remix. I think I prefer it to the original song. Going into the game, I was instantly washed over in nostalgia, as the memories kept flooding back to me once the iconic tune came into my eardrums.

Aside from my fanboyish obsession with that song, the rest of Final Mix also feels nostalgic, while new. Maybe it was just that I hadn't played the game in many years, but the tunes felt crisper, the sounds reverberated better, and the highs were higher than they've ever been.

The voice acting stays the way it was, if there was a change, I didn't notice it. It was a bit of a shock hearing whiney snot nosed Sora, as he sounded much more like the teenager he is in following installments, but it was not an unwelcome one. They could have deepened the pitch of Sora's voice if they wanted, and I doubt anyone would have cared, but count me among those who are happy to hear the voice they remember.

FINAL MIX - 9

Re:Chain of Memories however, feels a tad more rushed, which is a shame, since there are less instances where they needed to up their game. I can't be too disappointed however, as ultimately, everything sounds as it should.

Sora, and the other characters have noticeably changed over the years, and that's incredibly apparent after playing Final Mix, and then moving on instantly to RCoM. This is understandable, as there is a 5 year difference in time between the original Kingdom Hearts and the original Re:Chain of Memories. It may be alarming, and a bit confusing to those coming across the series for the first time, but Sora's voice more or less stays this way for the rest of the series. So once you get over the initial shock of a deeper voice, you grow to accept that this is who Sora is.

Oh, and "Simple and Clean" returns. That's something too.

RCoM - 7

But 358/2 Days saves the day, and the score. The fully voiced cutscenes are beautiful, and show how the quality of the series has improved with time, and practice, while retaining the casualness the series is known for. The remaster doesn't change this. There isn't much else to say.

DAYS - 9

Addictiveness - 7

Finally, the gameplay comes into the range of discussion. I'm not ashamed to admit that ever since the announcement of the compilation, I was looking forward to playing the Final Mix edition of Kingdom Hearts, which again was previously only available in Japan.

Here's what the Final Mix edition adds to the base game:

-Recolors of old heartless to make them stand out more
-New Heartless, weapons, enemies, abilities, and cutscenes
-New Ansem Reports, Gummi Ship Missions, and secret movie
-Beginner Mode (gives the player a Ribbon, an EXP Chain, 8 Power Ups, 8 Guard Ups and 4 AP Ups at the start, but neither of the secret movies can be seen.)
-Increased Difficulty on "Standard". This mode is called Final Mix, and is slightly harder than the States Standard.
-Increased Difficulty on "Expert". This mode is called Proud, and is far more difficult, a challenge for all.
-Event Skip. This is a welcome addition, as now you can skip a cutscene if you died after a long one, and want to get back to where you were.
-New Bosses (Mainly "The Unknown")

There is more I am not including, as I don't think they are worth mentioning, but this isn't the exact same game you are used to.

That said, I played through the game on Final Mix difficulty, and was pleasantly surprised by the increase in challenge. I didn't falter however, and found that I enjoyed this more than I enjoyed the original all those years ago. The game has significantly improved, as now the right stick controls the camera (before, R2/L2 were bound to the camera), and Sora handles a lot better in the field. Adding to this, it made several more changes to adapt to the series after the fact, which is a very good thing, as the original was clunky at times.

The challenge added to the fun. And really, that's why we play games. To be challenged AND have fun.

FINAL MIX - 9

Now, Re:Chain of Memories on the other hand, was a disappointment.

I didn't like the card battling system when I played the game on the GBA, and I still don't like it now, all these years later.

For those not familiar with how the Kingdom Hearts games handle, you mainly focus on moving around, and pushing your attack button to attack. It's an action RPG, in every meaning of the word. However, Chain of Memories (and RCoM) changed this for one game (two technically?).

Now you are forced to keep an eye on your cards in the corner of the screen while moving around, and focusing on your opponent's cards so you can either break them, or avoid having your cards broken. Unless you are good at being cross eyed, this can be an exercise in futility, as if you are like me, you will prefer to just focus on the game, and bash your attack cards out as fast as you can in the hopes that your opponent's cards are weaker than yours and that your cards aren't broken.

It was a nice idea, but it failed, because of how you cannot really take a break from the action to plan ahead. And that is why you don't see that system in use anymore.

I didn't have fun playing this game. I'm sorry.

RCoM - 5

No gameplay in 358/2 Days, however, I will say that I did sit through all the cutscenes in one run, and found the cutscenes compelling. I'll elaborate in the story department.

DAYS - N/A

Depth - 6

The original Kingdom Hearts suffered from a lack of things to do once you finished the game. Sure you could go and do colliseum events or fight the handful of secret bosses, but it always felt a little weak compared to other games of the genre.

Well it appears Square Enix agreed, because in Final Mix, they add among other things, Gummi Ship Missions and more enemies/secret bosses. Added to what they already had, Kingdom Hearts finally feels complete, and as deep as it deserves.

Some of those things you can do can be tiring and annoying, like finding all the trinity marks or all the dalmations, but others are interesting (like battling Sephiroth!), but in the end, there's something for all types, and enough to have completionists logging heavy hours into the game.

I personally haven't done everything yet (my backlog is huge) but taking into account how much time I took to complete just one world 100%, I'd say that I'm finally satisfied with the content available.

FINAL MIX - 9

And again, Re:Chain of Memories brings down the score. Aside from collecting all the cards in the game and maxing out your level, there really isn't anything to "do". And you'll find literally 90% of the cards by just playing the game normally. The other 10% are either rare drops or hidden in the Room of Rewards. Generally speaking, the hidden things are where you expect them to be.

You could count the Reverse/Rebirth (or Riku Mode) story as "depth", but I count it as part of the main game, because Riku's story is every bit as important (if not more) than Sora's.

RCoM - 3

358/2 Days has no gameplay, again. There are a few text logs you can unlock as you progress in the story, but it is mostly stuff that the characters talked about in the story, or stuff that is available in the data logs in other games.

DAYS - N/A

Story - 7.3 (rounded down to 7)

I'm going to be frank, but this is my least favorite part of the original game. It always has been and it always will be. The story is weak, not fluid, and it felt like an experimental prod, more than an elaborate and carefully planned story.

For a first foray for the franchise, it's not bad, no, but it's not good. The story has several holes, and plot no nos that are no longer evident future games of the series.

Don't get me wrong, I love the first game, and treasure it as one of the PS2 classics of old, but I do think the story is weak in comparison to the rest of the game. As the remaster only remastered things, not remake entirely, or rewrote, I cannot in good conscience praise Final Mix.

FINAL MIX - 6

This is one of the rare times where I have to tip my cap to Re:Chain of Memories however.

Sora's story is bland and forgetable, let's be honest. Even when I was a kid, I thought, "Wow, this stupid is a load of crap."

The younger version of me has it right. However, where RCoM shines is the Riku story, which is unlocked after finishing the Sora story. If I have one complaint, it's that the Riku story is about 1/3 of the length of the Sora one.

There's something terribly wrong with that formula. The shorter game is also the one with the most substance. If you switch the two around, RCoM may have been a great game.

But alas, it was not to be. It's a shame too, as most people will miss out on the Riku Story because of how long, bland, and pointless the game is up until you unlock this "side" story.

RCoM - 7

358/2 Days, I'll be honest. I didn't play when it was on the DS. It stands as a regret of mine because I've heard nothing but good things about the game. I've watched a Let's Play of it, which is how I can judge it in terms of graphical and sound updates, but had this been a game with gameplay, I wouldn't have been able to give a fair score.

With that said, I hope that I do not lead anyone astray, or confuse them, but the Remaster edition of 358/2 Days has a beautiful and compelling story that I think needs to be experienced. The story of Roxas as a member of Organization XIII (the bad guys) is sad, and a bit touching.

The characters are interesting and varied, the plot isn't always 100% clear, but by the end, many questions are wrapped up, and new ones are posed, which get answered down the line in other games.

This is how plot progression in a story should be. It's just a shame there was no gameplay to space it all out.

DAYS - 9

Difficulty - 2.5 (rounded up to 3)

For Kingdom Hearts, I played on Final Mix (upgraded Standard). With that, I can say it is the hardest game in this compilation. On Proud (which I gave a look) it was much much harder. You need not fear that this game will be too easy for you, for Proud mode if you aren't careful, can lead to a quick game over even early in the game. There are ways to exploit the game, of course, to make it much easier, but if you are playing honest like me, you will be pleasantly surprised that such a cute game can have a difficulty equal to that of several of today's games, and perhaps harder.

FINAL MIX - 3

Re:Chain of Memories disappoints me one last time, as this game is hilariously broken.

Sonic Blade. Sonic Blade all day long.

You can learn this sleight early, and if you are smart and use plenty of potions... and it works all throughout the game.

Sonic Blade is incredibly broken. I used it well over 500 times in my playthrough. I beat the final boss with Sonic Blade. I'll give it more difficulty though simply because if you don't use Sonic Blade or any sleights, it can be difficult.

RCoM - 2

358/2 Days is the hardest game I have ever played, and is a true test of gamer skill.*

...

...

...

*there is no gameplay in 358/2 Days, and thus, has no difficulty.

DAYS - N/A (though I'd give it a 0 if I could.)

GRADING FOR KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 REMIX
Graphics - 10% (10% of 8 is .8)
Sound - 10% (10% of 8 is .8)
Addictiveness - 35% (35% of 7 is 2.45)
Depth - 20% (20% of 6 is 1.2)
Story - 25% (25% of 7 is 1.75)
Difficulty - 0% (0% of 3 is 0)
Total - 7

I'm going to give bonus points for a lack of bugs, as well as bonus points for staying true to the series, and being way nostalgic.

Overall - 7.5

In the end, this is a fine compilation, even if the score doesn't tell the tale. The Kingdom Hearts games are classics, and I love them, regardless of how good they really are.

When the 2.5 HD Remix comes out (Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix, Birth by Sleep, and cutscenes from Re:Coded) I will be acquiring it. I will play Kingdom Hearts 3 if I ever get a PS4.

I recommend these games for anyone from age 7 and up. I'm not saying kids younger than 7 shouldn't play these games, but the difficulty curve on anything but beginner could be a bit much for them, as the game can be a little tough at times if you aren't careful.

And just for fun, I used my grading system above to give each game a score. Here are the results.

FINAL MIX - 8.15 (before bonus points)
RCoM - 5.5 (before bonus points)
DAYS - 7.5 (before bonus points, loses major points for not being a game.)

Long winded, but enjoyable to read. your writing and paragraph structure made it easier on the eyes too.

Would you have liked real gameplay for 358/2 days?

I like the night-core version of Simple and Clean better than the original (I love both). I'm less familiar with the Planitb remix, but it's nice.

EideticMemory :

Yes, I would have loved to play 358/2 Days, simply because I'd never had a chance to. I appreciate the HD cutscenes telling me what I missed story wise, but gameplay would have been huge, and probably boosted the overall score of this compilation up (since RCoM lowered the scores consistently)

I'm a big fan of the PLANITb remix, though the nightcore one isn't horrible.

3000+ words!? Holy heck, I'm sorry, I just can't stomach this. There's just so... much... that... I... need... to... read...
I actually doubt anyone would actually read through it all, even if your correct grammar rocks and you divide your text in paragraphs where you need to.

EDIT: No offense, I'm sure you did a great job on it, considering your earlier reviews and by the way this one looks.