Kingdom Hearts Collection I-III Review

Kingdom Hearts Collection I-III (Switch 2) Review

I’ve been having these weird thoughts lately, like is any of this for real or not? Is Kingdom Hearts truly on Switch 2 as a native version?

The Kingdom Hearts series debuted more than 20 years ago, and for the first time ever, is now fully available on Nintendo platforms. We’ve had it piecemeal before, whether in some of the numerous handheld entries or the woebegone (and mercifully murdered) cloud version of Kingdom Hearts 1.5+2.5 previously available on Nintendo Switch. The full collection is made up of three separate applications on Switch 2. There’s “Kingdom Hearts-HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-,” which contains the most “game” of the three apps. It has the first two numbered games in the series, both in their enhanced “Final Mix” forms, as well as the HD remastered versions of Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories and Birth By Sleep. Two other games, 358/2 Days and Re:coded, are included in cinematic form, which arguably might be the best way to “play” those games. 1.5+2.5 ReMIX by itself is more than enough Kingdom Hearts to occupy most people until Kingdom Hearts IV comes out in 2027. For the most part, the four playable games are somewhere between good and great, with Kingdom Hearts II being the clear highlight.

The Switch 2 collection also includes Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind. The former is, bluntly, lore-dense completionist content. It has Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance in non-3DS HD form as well as Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage- that is a smaller game that equal parts follows up Birth by Sleep, intersects with the original game, and sets up Kingdom Hearts III. It’s confusing, but if you’re deep in this stuff, it makes sense I swear. This package also includes an hour-long summary of the mobile game Kingdom Hearts χ. If you want to know the complex web of Kingdom Hearts, you have all the pieces here.

And then there’s Kingdom Hearts III, which is the most recent game in the series and comes complete with the DLC Re Mind. This is the least complicated game in the collection because it’s just a single game and its post-launch DLC. And Kingdom Hearts III is a triumph for the series, with the best action-RPG combat and some of the best storytelling.

Not every single game in this multi-game collection is a winner. Chain of Memories is an acquired card-combat taste. Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance are both fine. Kingdom Hearts 1 is ambitious but a little rough around the edges. They don’t really seem to know the best way to design platforming in that game, but that’s also low-key expected from the first entry in this wild franchise. However, Kingdom Hearts II and III are both incredible video games. The second game is where the series starts to find a more consistent flow. The action-oriented combat leans more into fun combos. The exploration in each world is more straightforward and less reliant on some of the pesky platforming in the first game. The story, courtesy of the foundation laid previously, starts to really lean into the twisty (but sensical) plot. The third game is somewhat of a victory lap of the fact that in the 14 years between II and III, the world of Kingdom Hearts expanded over nigh-endless spinoffs, but when you focused on Sora and the main quest, you can still hit on those juicy emotional beats and impactful moments. Also the combat variety and world design is at an apex. Kingdom Hearts III’s combat is some all-timer action-RPG stuff.

Across the board, every game runs well on Switch 2. We’ll have more details on performance in a future video, but this is a fantastic way to experience this series, whether you’re sticking to your TV or on the go. Most of the visual issues I ran into are more just because some of these games are older HD remasters of games from a decade or two ago. The best comparison is one that seems to hold true with a lot of Switch 2 games: it’s on par with a PS4 Pro.

To Nintendo fans who haven’t experienced Kingdom Hearts in its full splendor, this is an incredible time to jump in. These games are largely excellent action RPGs that are jam-packed with an out-there emotional story filled with oodles of Disney and Square Enix references. The curious thing I experienced while replaying a lot of these games is seeing the trajectory of how Kingdom Hearts seems to gain more and more confidence to be its own thing and not just reliant on its Disney influences. But even from the very first game, this is a series that uses Disney as a means to tell Sora’s story with familiar fairy tale tie-ins. It’s truly incredible storytelling that, for as easy as it is to poke fun at names like “358/2 Days,” tells an intricate, rewarding tale.

Summary

Pros

• Kingdom Hearts II and III are legitimately incredible
• Runs well on Switch 2
• So much video game in one giant-sized package

Cons

• Some games show their age

Worldwide Releases

Related Content

• Kingdom Hearts Collection I-III [S2]

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