Kingdom Hearts II2005

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix A timeless masterpiece There are games you play through, and there are games that accompany you throughout your life. Kingdom Hearts II definitely belongs to the second category for me. What at first glance seems like an unusual mix of Disney and Final Fantasy turns out to be one of the most emotional and playfully impressive action RPGs of its generation. The combat system is simply fantastic to this day. The speed, different drive shapes, Reaction Commands and enormous variety of possibilities provide a combat experience that even many modern games do not achieve. Especially on the Critical difficulty level, Kingdom Hearts II shows how much depth is actually in its combat mechanics. And then there are the optional boss fights. The data organization XIII, Sephiroth and of course Lingering Will are among the highlights of the entire genre for me. Here not only damage and equipment count, but above all timing, understanding of the mechanics and the ability to learn from his mistakes. The soundtrack also deserves its own declaration of love. Yoko Shimomura has created music that not only accompanies fights and scenes, but also gives them a soul. Pieces like The Other Promise or Vector to the Heavens remain in the memory for a long time. Of course, the game is not perfect. Some Disney worlds feel a little too short, the plot can seem confusing for newcomers and the level design is quite linear in places. But these weaknesses fade in the face of what makes the game right. After my full run on Critical and reaching all trophies, I can only say: Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix is not just nostalgia. It is an exceptionally good game, which still convinces today by its quality. It is about friendship, loss, identity and the question of what constitutes a person. And between all the spectacular fights, this game always manages to touch you emotionally. My conclusion: 10/10 – A masterpiece that more than deserves its place among the best action RPGs of all time. May your heart be your guiding key.

Translated from German·Show original