Kingdom Hearts II
by Square Enix
List Price:
Our Price: $12.31
You Save: $7.68 (38%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $9.97 (click here)
Category: Video Games
See more product details and other editions
Product Summary
Author: UnknownBrand: Square Enix
Audio: English (Unknown)
Published: 2006-03-28
Release Date: 2006-03-28
Platform: PlayStation2
Model: 90411
Publisher: Square Enix
Product features:
- Explore both new and familiar worlds from Kingdom Hearts, plus new Disney worlds to the Kingdom Hearts franchise, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Beauty and the Beast and Mulan
- A more advanced battle system that allows for a wider range of commands, powerful new combos, and cooperative attacks with members of your party, introducing another layer of strategy
- All-new Drive command that lets Sora change into a variety of new forms, altering his skills and abilities
- A revamped camera system that keeps you in the middle of the action
- New transportation system that takes Sora and friends from world to world in the style of theme park rides
Video Game Reviews of Kingdom Hearts II
Customer Review: Anticlimactic...
Summary: 3 Stars
When I wrote my review for Chain of Memories, I hadn't yet finished it, but I have finished KH2, and I'm sure I got every secret place, item and battle in the whole game (not that they were many, or hard to find.) I did this because I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything and blame the game for not having something that I just hadn't found yet. This is why this review is so much delayed and in the end, a big reason why it's so much of a spoiler. Rest assured, if you read this review through to the end, you'll learn a thing or two about the game's storyline. Then again, what else are reviews for?
I'll start with the positive aspects of the game, then move on the gripes. First off, this game is the sequel (and sort of the other half) to Kingdom Hearts 1. In KH1, we met Sora, a boy who just happens to be the chosen Keyblade Master, and his friends Riku and Kairi. Pretty soon, however, their world was swallowed by Darkness and Sora found himself entwined in a battle to save numerous different worlds from this darkness (called the Heartless.) He's joined in this venture by Donald, Goofy, and a few other disney characters periodically.
In the sequel, which takes place after the Game Boy game "Chain of Memories," in which Sora lost his memory and chose to regain it through some unexplained form of Hybernation, you actually start out as a character other than Sora. Because of this, Kingdom Hearts begins with a mystery. Who's this Roxas character? Where's Sora?
This aspect is perhaps one of the best in the entire game, as I found Roxas to be compelling, mostly because of the strange and confusing situations he finds himself in.
Once Roxas's part of the game is over, you're in control of Sora again and the game progresses in much the same way it did in the first game, visiting worlds and meeting Disney characters. Saving worlds from heartless, with one difference. In this game, there's a new enemy; the Nobodies. A race of strange creatures that are created at the same time Heartless are. Nobodies are physically stronger than Heartless, but they attack much less often.
In this game, Sora visits the Land of Dragons, where he gets to interact with Mushu and Mulan, the Beast's Castle, which is in grave danger, of course, the Olympic Underworld, where Hades is still causing problems, the Hundred Acre Wood, Atlantica (home of the little Mermaid,) Port Royal (where Jack Sparrow hangs out,) Agrabah, where Jafar is about to make his comeback, Halloweentown and Christmastown, home of Santa and his elves, the Pride Lands, where Simba reigns, Disney Castle, where Mickey's in charge, the Timeless River; a doorway into the past (Steamboat Willie,) Hollow Bastion, which the Squaresoft characters seem to have chosen for their home, Space Paranoids, and lastly, the homeworld of the Nobodies themselves.
I have to say that I liked the concept of the nobodies almost as much as the Heartless. They're technically supposed to be without hearts, but they seem less void-like than the heartless did. What can I say? Nothingness is hard to describe.
I think it's worth mentioning that the cinematics in this game were done much better than in the first, with almost all cinematic images done using more complex character models, instead of two-thirds of them like the first game. I enjoyed the mini-games in the hundred-acre wood and the graphics used during those mini-games, frequently showing the letters on the page in a way that reminded one quite distinctly of the Winnie the Pooh movies, which was a nice touch. Atlantica was largely mini-games in which you have to press certain buttons at certain times to complete a song, but I'm a fan of Dragon's Lair, so I liked the effect. I was very pleased with the KH interpretation of Pirates of the Carribean, and I liked Sora's reaction to hearing that Santa Claus really existed. But a much bigger thrill, for me, was in Agrabah. The story of the original game covered, in a basic sense, the storyline of the first Aladdin movie, and the Agrabah in the second game covers, in a basic sense; "The Return of Jafar," one of my favorite direct-to-video Disney movies ever. Far better than the vast majority of direct-to-video, or even theatrical animated sequels. I found every second in the Timeless River to be a treat; plain and simple. Also, Tron has been integrated into the KH mythos, and I couldn't be happier about it. I love the Tron concept and storyline, and I feel it worked in the context in which it was used.
The gummi ship engine has been much improved, although they're still confusing as heck to assemble, and the gummi courses can be confoundedly difficult if you're going after the more difficult levels. I actually spent more time on the gummi courses than neccesary in this game because it was fun, and it felt like I was doing something.
In this game, Sora also gets to perform limits, drives and some new summons and spells, while discarding a few old ones, all of which were both useful and cool to try out. But I hope you're in a good mood now, because it's time for the gripes.
Kingdom Hearts 2 is the sequel to one of, if not THE best RPG of all time. It's a sequel that people have been waiting for ever since they beat Kingdom Hearts 1 and got to watch that ending sequence. Because of this, it has some hefty expectations to measure up to.
In the first place, although the graphics were, if anything, a little better in this game than in the last, the aesthetic was not. The first game felt like a life-or-death struggle for the fate of the multiverse because the heartless were a threat that destroyed entire worlds, but in this game, those same heartless are placed on the back burner as a sort of lesser danger, which I wouldn't mind as much if the nobodies had seemed in any way threatening. But aside from the fact that they attack you, they didn't seem to want to really hurt you or smash your world. On the contrary, they seemed like petty thugs and bullies for most of the game, as does Pete; the Disney Villain who works with the heartless in this game. Likewise, in the first game, Sora travels to different worlds in order to lock the heart of those worlds to prevent the heartless from destroying them, but in KH2, he goes to different worlds to open "gummi paths," so that he can reach new areas, which feels less like a vital mission and more like aimless meandering. Again, this is only an aesthetic difference, but one that, I feel, hurt the game.
One difference that's clear almost at once is that the music in this game is FAR inferior to the original game's soundtrack. The first game went all-out with music that made you feel each world you were in and a score near the beginning and end that haunted your soul with the feeling of an everpresent enemy of great power. In this game, the music was merely quaint. A far cry from the soulful tunes of the first.
I have little to say about the Mulan level. It's pretty much what you'd expect, although I didn't see a need for the quest you're sent on upon your return there. Likewise the Beauty and the Beast level, which was, I feel, large and grand-looking enough, but lacked a musical number to really pronounce that.
However, I think no level disappointed my more than the Olympus Colliseum Underworld. In the first game, this was done properly, with multiple wonderful tournaments full of fascinating and stunning enemies, and even bonus matches against Gods, Titans and Sephiroth, but in this game, the tournaments are held in the underworld, which wouldn't have been so bad except that for some reason I can't understand, the developers of this game have decided that underworld colliseum tourneys shouldn't net you any experience, making them basically just a series of battles to be completed because the game says you should. Also, like the nobodies, Hades doesn't seem like such a bad guy in this game. Although he does try to take control of one of the characters, he mostly just puts you through tournaments in which you can't die or gain experience or munny, and so which are basically just there. He has no dastardly plan to take over someplace, and aside from his desire to see Hercules lose for once, doesn't really even seem evil. He's certainly not a threat.
But more than that, I was disappointed with the enemies fought in Olympus in KH2. Cerberus is all well and good, but we fought him in the last game, and moved on to tougher foes. The Hydra shows up, and in a shameful slaughtering of continuity and plain sense, is killed by a multi-beheading, when everyone knows chopping off a Hydra's heads only makes it stronger. Worse yet, the titans make no appearance at all. The Rock Titan shows up once in the beginning to be beaten up by Herc in a cinematic, but you don't get to fight a single God or Titan in this game, aside from Hades, who, as I said, never seems all that threatening. I was looking forward to a battle royale against all four of those nasty titans (maybe even five if you include the cyclops,) but let's face it. You don't get tougher than Titans, even in the Disneyverse, and the fact that you didn't get to fight any in this game felt, to me, like the toughness of the battles was being toned down.
I distinctly remember killing Ursula and her poopsies in KH1, yet for some reason that's never explained, they're back in the second game, which would at least feel a little threatening, except that they fight you in a musical number. -sigh.-
Also, I think the characters and events in Hollow Bastion were very basic and surface-level. I know Hollow Bastion is supposed to be the Squaresoft world, but if so, we should see some Squaresoft-type stuff going on there. Not just Cloud fighting with Sephiroth in a symbolic battle or Leon or Yuffie hanging around, but some of the actual events from some of the games, like we see in the Disney worlds.
Also, the biggest reason I enjoyed the first Kingdom Hearts so much was that everything was so fresh and new. Therefore, the content of KH2 upset me a bit because it contained so many of the worlds I'd already visited. In fact, aside from Pirates of the Carribean and Tron, I don't think a single new Disney franchise was brought into the KH mythos by KH2, which is very upsetting, considering the resivoir they have to draw from. The Black Cauldron, Disney's Robin Hood, the Jungle Book, etc... You can't tell me they just didn't consider it. Wishes to see this sort of thing have been all over the internet. But worse yet, many of the franchises that WERE used in the first KH are left out in this one. There's no dalmations in this game, no Bambi, no Dumbo, no Tarzan (although I'm less sad to see him go,) and no Alice in Wonderland. There's less of a colorful amalgam in this game than there was in the first.
In the end, there's one thing more I was discontented with, and that's the "door to the light" premise. In the first game, we're repeatedly told that Sora will be the one who opens the door to the light, and in this game, a door to light does open, but it doesn't create the kind of changes described in the original. Originally, it was said that the reason the worlds were disconnected and secret is that the central light of their multiverse had been hidden away, and Sora's quest to defeat the heartless was partly a quest to uncover that light by scraping away the darkness, which he almost succeeds in doing at the end of the first KH, but not quite.
But in the second game, the importance of the door to light is relegated to a mere doorway between the light side of the world and the dark side, and no kind of grand restoration takes place, like at the end of the first game.
Also, I'm probably the only one who cares, but I was a little annoyed that the level cap in this game was 99, whereas in the last game it went all the way up to 100.
I guess that on the whole, I was disappointed, but then, my expectations were pretty high. If you want me to try to summarize all this in three words, I think "not severe enough," pretty much covers it. I found it to be pretty bland. The good isn't as bright as in the first game, the darkness isn't as dark, and the characters are less vibrant and distinct. Where the first game gave me hope and Chain of Memories made me feel like there was a grand adventure awaiting, this game was anticlimactic, and so it made me sad. I mean, it's not a bad game. It's very well made, and I liked certain parts of it, but I can't give it as good a grade as most people do.
Description of Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts II follows Sora Donald and Goofy on their continuing quest. It has been one year since the events of Kingdom Hearts. The story begins in Twilight Town a quite burg nestled between night and day. Sora and friends are joined by a vibrant new cast of characters including King Mickey himself! Together they will encounter countless dangers in worlds both familiar and brand new.Features: Explore both new and familiar worlds from Kingdom Hearts plus new Disney worlds to the Kingdom Hearts franchise such as Pirates of the Caribbean Beauty and the Beast and Mulan. A more advanced battle system that allows for a wider range of commands powerful new combos and cooperative attacks with members of your party introducing another layer of strategy. An all-new "Drive" command that lets Sora change into a variety of new forms altering his skills and abilities. A revamped camera system that keeps you in the middle of the action. Brand new transportation system that takes Sora and friends from world to world in the style of theme park rides. Cameo appearances by popular Final Fantasy characters. A large ensemble cast of Disney characters and a new cast of original characters designed by renowned artist Tetsuya Nomura.Format: PS2 Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: RP UPC: 662248904115 Manufacturer No: 90411PlayStation2 Games
Computer and Video Games
Bestsellers in PlayStation2 Games
Army Men: Sarge's Heroes 2Playstation; The 3DO Company; Release date: 2001-03-21; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $50.00
Blue Thunder Racing WheelPlayStation2; Video Games
AC CablePlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $9.98
V3fx Racing Wheel 2Logitech; Performance; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $124.50
Sly 2: Band of ThievesSony; Sony Computer Entertainment; Release date: 2006-06-15; Published: 2004-09; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $11.00
Price in other shops:
Eye Toy Groove (No Camera)Sony; Sony Computer Entertainment; Release date: 2006-06-15; Published: 2004-04; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
Universal Game System RF AdapterMadcatz; Nintendo 64; CE
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
DDR Multi-Platform Super Sensors Energy Non-Slip Dance Pad (PS/ PS2/ Xbox/ PC/ Mac) with DDR Extreme (PS2)DDR; PlayStation2; Video Games
DDR Energy Wireless Dance Pad (PS/ PS2 & Xbox) and DDR Game Flow (PS2)DDR; ddr; PlayStation2; Video Games
Dance Dance Revolution Tournament Metal Dance Pad with DDR Konamix (PS1 & PS2)DDR; PlayStation2; Video Games
Price in other shops:
Similar Video and PC Games
Final Fantasy XIISquare Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2006-10-31; Published: 2006-10-31; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $10.53
Price in other shops:
Kingdom Hearts Re:codedSquare Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2011-01-11; Published: 2011-01-11; Nintendo DS; Video Games
Best price: $13.49
Price in other shops:
SIB 64MB Memory Card for Sony Playstation 2SIB; SIB; Video Games
Best price: $2.97
Kingdom Hearts II Official Strategy Guide (Bradygames Signature Series) (Bradygames Signature Series) (Bradygames Signature Series) (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames))by Elizabeth Hollinger, Matt Berner, David Cassady, Greg Sepelak
BradyGames; Published: 2006-03-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.94
Price in other shops:
Kingdom Hearts 358/ 2 DaysSquare Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2009-09-29; Published: 2009-09-29; Nintendo DS; Video Games
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops:
PlayStation 2 Console Slim - BlackSony; Sony; Release date: 2007-07-13; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $179.95
Final Fantasy Xby Unknown
Square Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2006-09-08; Published: 2001-12-19; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $10.58
Price in other shops:
Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memoriesby Unknown
Square Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2008-12-02; Published: 2008-12; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $15.46
Price in other shops:
PlayStation 2 Memory Card (8MB)by Unknown
Sony; Sony Computer Entertainment; Release date: 2006-09-21; Published: 2006; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops:
Kingdom Heartsby Unknown
Square Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2006-06-15; Published: 2002-09-17; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $14.89
Price in other shops: