Kingdom Hearts KINGDOM HEARTS INTEGRUM MASTERPIECE Review
RELEASE DATE: Jun 13, 2024
DEVELOPER: Square Enix
PUBLISHER: Square Enix
“Review Copy Provided By Square-Enix”
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Back in 2002, when Kingdom Hearts first launched, I was completely engrossed in the challenge of battling Sephiroth in the Coliseum. The struggle was intense and lengthy, stretching for hours, and unfortunately, it was bedtime before I could finally defeat him. Reluctantly, I left my PlayStation 2 running throughout the night, eager to complete my mission the following afternoon. When I finally triumphed, the feeling was nothing short of exhilarating—a major video game victory that marked my first significant boss defeat.
Now, in 2024, I'm revisiting those fond memories by playing through the Kingdom Hearts series again, this time on modern platforms like Steam, and in handheld mode on my reliable ROG Ally, Legion Go, and Steam Deck. The magic of Kingdom Hearts remains potent, imbued with a timeless charm and excitement that seems carefully crafted into its design. The nostalgia is certainly a factor, with the game's universe filled with beloved Disney characters and fantastical worlds. Yet, Kingdom Hearts transcends mere nostalgia.
The narrative of Kingdom Hearts intricately weaves grand themes of friendship, the power of love, and selfless care. It delves into the profound implications of wielding power responsibly. These themes resonated deeply with me as a child and continue to hold significance. The moments when Sora prioritizes the greater good or navigates his rivalry with Riku are profoundly moving, illustrating the game's rich, emotive storytelling and its personal, human touches amid tales of magical powers and encroaching darkness.
Reflecting on the game today, its emotional and narrative impact remains undiminished by time. The same sense of adventure and emotional engagement that captured my imagination years ago is just as compelling in my latest playthrough.
Since my last experience with Kingdom Hearts III was on its excellent PC port over three years ago, the landscape of PC gaming has evolved significantly. The introduction of the Steam Deck has revolutionized handheld gaming, prompting a broader need for Linux compatibility via Proton and ensuring that modern PCs can effortlessly handle the demands of the Kingdom Hearts series originally designed for consoles like the PS2 and 3DS. This shift influenced my decision to focus on the performance of these games on handheld devices like the Steam Deck, as well as traditional gaming setups like the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go.
Initially, the transition of these games to the Steam Deck was fraught with challenges. The earlier versions available on the Epic Games Store were notorious for their erratic performance on this device, often requiring cumbersome workarounds just to play them. Fortunately, Square Enix collaborated with a third-party developer to address these issues, significantly smoothing the gameplay experience upon their release on Steam. Aside from a few minor residual issues, these versions have quickly become my preferred way to enjoy the series.
Starting with the HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMix, these titles were particularly problematic in terms of compatibility on the Steam Deck in the past, showing a plethora of quirks even on Windows-based PCs. In an effort to identify and resolve a specific issue, I decided to start with Re: Chain of Memories from the collection. To my delight, the FMV cutscene at the game's commencement played flawlessly, requiring no adjustments. Once in the game, the performance was impeccable, with over five hours of battery life on a Deck OLED while targeting a smooth 90 FPS. Anyone familiar with previous attempts to run these games on a Steam Deck would understand the significance of this improvement.
As for Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, it's worth noting that while the gameplay is vastly improved, certain cutscenes still run at 30 FPS regardless of settings. Despite the option to adjust the game resolution to 800p, none of the games I tested could fully utilize this setting, operating internally at 720p without stretching to fill the screen—a minor disappointment, although preferable to alternative issues.
While the core narrative elements of Kingdom Hearts have aged gracefully, some aspects like the Gummi Ship segments feel outdated and disrupt the game's pacing. Nonetheless, these quirks are somewhat charming, reflecting the experimental nature of the PlayStation 2 era that pushed the boundaries of gaming.
Each installment of Kingdom Hearts showcases technological progress in gaming, from enhanced textures and more complex worlds to detailed character models. For instance, in Kingdom Hearts 3, the level of detail is impressive, from Sora's action figure-like appearance in the Toy Story world to the realistic portrayal of the Pirates of the Caribbean setting.
Despite the increasing protectiveness of Disney over its intellectual properties, Kingdom Hearts remains a testament to successful brand collaboration, continuing to enchant players with its unique blend of storytelling and gameplay.
With the availability of Kingdom Hearts on handheld devices like the Steam Deck, fans can now enjoy the series without an internet connection, making it more accessible than ever. This portability is a significant boon for RPG enthusiasts. As I revisit these games in 2024, they reaffirm their enduring charm and excitement, making them highly recommendable for both new players and those revisiting Sora's journey.
