The article below may include some spoilers for Kingdom Heart 3.
Kingdom Hearts is officially a trilogy; this action-adventure rpg follows sora, a young boy with tremendous power, and his devoted classic Disney companions, Goofy and Donald.
Your endeavors begin as Sora. Alongside your noble sidekicks, you travel the wondrous worlds of Disney and Pixar to defeat the forces of evil known as the darkness, enforced by critters known as “Heartless”.
Kingdom Hearts 3 was officially released in the United States on January 29. It is available to play on platforms such as PlayStation 4, PS4 Pro, XBOX One, and XBOX One X.
In KH III, you get to chance meet the bookmarks of your childhood: Woody and Buzz, Sully and Mike, Princess Ariel, King Simba, and many more. Newer faces join the battle like Princess Elsa and Ana, Wreck-it-Ralph’s very own Ralph, and Big Hero 6’s sextet.The line up seems like a dream come true; you could only imagine the adventures that await.
To our dismay, it seems that we are left without Final Fantasy Characters this time, which feels incomplete. At least you don’t have to fight Sephiroth again, right? Logically, it doesn’t make much sense to omit them, as their stories still remain incomplete. Fans have several complaints about this decision, as it felt like a let-down. Perhaps there is a future for these characters, even if not in KH3’s focus. There is a heart-wrenching Final Fantasy Easter egg out there worth discovering for FF fans.
Kingdom Heart III is nostalgic. Regardless of the fact that its origin began over a decade ago, it doesn’t stray from the richness of its roots. Its bouncing vibrancy is to be commended. Its polished features remind gamers of how far the series has come.
Critics may claim that the cutscenes are too long, but fans absolutely live for them. They are the substance that add to the adventure. It’s like watching a movie you can participate in.
The subtle moments are endearing; there’s evident care for reminiscing and appealing to the anticipation of fans all over the globe. The game even features an mock-Instagram loading screen. There is awareness of the audience, and the franchise isn’t ashamed to relate to modern times as a series that existed beyond Instagram.
In most RPGs, a hero loses their abilities, embarking on a journey dedicated to gaining them back. However, Sora’s adventure, although still made with the same formula of re-learning his abilities, is cleverly paired to his fate.
The story is written to suit Disney and anime lovers alike, giving enough fan-service to keep you hooked. KH3 is dedicated to discussing undiscovered territory in its lore.
The graphics, however, also display flaws. To experience it best, you’d have to get the Xbox One X. Considering the amount of time spent on the game, the resolution should have come close to perfect. It has no excuse. Games like Red Dead Redemption and God of War have been exceptional in their execution.
Kevin Murnane, Consumer Tech from Forbes, gives us detailed insight on the topic in his article, Kingdom Hearts 3′ Is A Technical Disappointment On The Xbox One And PS4 Consoles, “Resolution in Kingdom Hearts 3 is fixed at 2560 X 1440 on the One X, 2304 X 1296 on the Pro, 1600 x 900 on the base PS4, Resolution on the base Xbox One is the same as the Switch in handheld mode. That’s terrible.”
So why has Square Enix compromised crisp graphics along all platforms? Perhaps KH3 will get a remaster somewhere down the line as many games do, (allow me to inappropriately insert my admiration for Okami’s gorgeous remaster here).
On a lighter note, the game includes secret stories worth discovering. Fans all around the world experience the similar feelings about the game. Not only are they placed in the settings of different magical worlds, but they’re brought back to a simpler time when they’d turn on their ps2 after getting home from school to enjoy a couple of hours of adventure. Immediately as the game loads, there’s an emotional tenderness that induces a knot in your throat as a result of those memories. It’s a whiplash of mushy, heartwarming moments as Yoko Shimomura’s Dearly Beloved plays over the sentimental, wistful, uplifting, tender memories of KH3’s predecessors. Hilary Utada still manages to sweep you off your feet once again with a new hit, “Face my Fears”.
The gameplay is embellished by many more side-quests and quirks, where the player can spend more time exploring worlds. In reality, there isn’t anything too detrimental to complain about. The mishaps don’t outweigh the otherworldly fun gamers will have. Battles, although saturated with several special attacks that make winning quite easy, are still as enjoyable as ever.
The gameplay is smooth: you can choose to ignore prompts, switch up your abilities, and even play on “Proud Mode”, (the highest difficulty mode, with its own special rules and restrictions on keyblades and medals). KH3 allows gamers to adjust to their preferred level difficulty, a choice that feels right for a variety of audiences. The extra characters that join you in the other worlds will fight alongside you, rather than substituting Donald and Goofy all together.
KH3’s struggles support its intricate lore, which the franchise has often been criticized for, confusing players on what the goal of the trio is. The meaningful themes that are a signature of Disney-anything, such as heroism, friendship, and dedication, are occasionally lost in the boiled down, finer details that are being highlighted. The storyline feels less linear, and intent seems to have been fogged up in its execution compared to the other games.
To some degree, some fans feel as though they should know the lore behind each Disney world introduced, at least to the point of being able to appreciate that world’s inclusion. Initially it may not seem important to the world of Kingdom Hearts, so it is vital to emphasize the importance of the inclusion of that Disney realm.
Fans complain that a major element is still missing, as it’s not as impactful as the previous games. There is no significant closure in its ending; in fact, fans are left with more questions than they first started with. In order to fix this issue, Square Enix and Disney would have to put DLCs in their best interest to give the closure the game deserves. Alternatively, KH3 may have a follow-up that truly gives that closure. Regardless, it’s not to say that KH3 isn’t a thrilling action-adventure.
Fans consider KH3 as a must-play for all KH fans, as it continues on the legacy of the series. It’s recommended for gamers to watch a summary of all seven Kingdom Hearts games, as it’ll help them get a better grip of the storyline moving forward.
Whether you prefer watching the gameplay, or actually immersing yourself in the world of Kingdom Hearts, you’re in for a treat that brings you back to a time when you were younger.
Disney and Square Enix continue to impress even years after their last release. In the misadventures of early adulthood, KH3 has invited all my childhood memories into my mental space.
Alma Tovar
Features Editor