Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix

Standard Edition
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Buy @ GAME
Limited Edition
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Buy @ GAME

Oh be still our beating hearts! It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago(!) something so beautiful would be released by Disney and Square-Enix (then Squaresoft) on the PS2. This captured our imagine from the moment that we saw the trailer all those years ago and it’s thanks to them that we were introduced to Utada Hikaru. Yes, Kingdom Hearts (KH) is back!

Well, actually, this ISN’T the version that was released in the west all those years ago. This actually the Final Mix version that was released in Japan after it’s Western release. The difference between the releases is that there was a couple of extra additionals added to the game, which in parts, led you to the future games in the franchise. But we’re now in glorious HD! Oh to be in our teenage year again. The only issue is with so long having passed is trying to remember where everything was (and remembering all the frustrating bits too!) and it’s everything we remember (even if they did have to build the game again seeing as some original files had been lost!). Oh and of course, they’ve added trophies too!

But it’s not titled 1.5 for any reason. Also included on the disc is Re: Chain of Memories (Re:CoM). It’s a remake of the DS game Chain of Memories,but it never made it to this side of the Atlantic. Basically, you’re playing through Kingdom Hearts again, visiting the worlds but the game play is based on cards. Where in most KH you could get away with button bashing, Re:CoM involves a bit more of a strategy. Building you deck, you need to take into consideration that some cards can only be used once a battle or sometimes just once. Considering that this was sort of a bridge game between the first two games, you get to view the story from both sides, that is, the side of Sora & Riku.

The final addition to the 1.5 HD Remix line up is 358/2 Days. Sadly, this isn’t the game itself, but merely the full motion videos from the DS game along with the diary & character info from it (however, it does provide you with quite possibly the 6 easier PS3 trophies ever!) But why include this here considering it came out AFTER KH2…simple; this is how Roxas fits into the KH2 story line so it makes sense to include it here.

If you still get it, the Limited Edition version of the game comes with an art book  (or should we say, the artbook IS the case in which you game is included in!) To be honest though, we were a little disappointed with the book as it is full of artwork that we’ve seen before and suppose it’s maybe more for those that haven’t seen it or just want to get their hands on the limited edition.

To be honest, we don’t care about all the fancy stuff. We just wanted to get our hands on one of our favourite PS2 games. But the great thing about this release is that it will bring the Kingdom Hearts franchise to another generation of fans….so the question is…when can we expect Kingdom Hearts II.5 HD Remix…..

There is just one more question though….what’s with the cover art being a little Game of Thrones-y?

Rating: 5/5