Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is the last major franchise release until Kingdom Hearts 3 and its collection of experiences teases that fact every step of the way. With gameplay slices new and old, it’s a prime showcase of not only where this series has been, but also where it’s headed. Without saying too much, the future is looking pretty darn bright.
Kingdom Hearts 2.8 is divided into three separate parts: a PS4 remake of 2012’s Kingdom Hearts 3D for 3DS, a collection of cinematics called Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover and a Kingdom Hearts 3 prologue called A Fragmentary Passage. All of these parts blend together nicely, but it’s no secret that the last member of that trio is what most fans should be excited about.
A Fragmentary Passage is basically a demo for Kingdom Hearts 3 and what a glorious demo it is. The first thing players will likely notice about it is just how gorgeous its visuals are. Despite not being built on a proprietary graphics engine, the level of detail in design is fantastic. Streets have nuanced textures, all blades of grass act as they should and Heartless new and old look as furious as ever. Even though I noticed an occasional framerate hitch during some particularly epic boss battles, it never pulled me from the action. I was too busy gawking at the varied environments and vistas that lay ahead.
Thankfully, this section of the collection plays just about as good as it looks. In terms of movement, players take control of fellow Keyblade-wielder Aqua. While her traversal was often criticized for its “floatiness” when she debuted in Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, that attribute has since been transformed into a wonderful asset. Your character feels immensely powerful on her feet and in the air. Between a brisk running pace, double jumps and air dashes, there’s almost nothing on any map that feels out of reach. This girl is a hero and you’ll feel like one by virtue of her abilities alone. Oh, and those longstanding camera issues are totally fixed too.
In terms of combat, A Fragmentary Passage doesn’t introduce much. However, what it does bring to the table is pretty solid. New powerful moves, called Situation Commands, charge up as you engage in a melee or magic style. The ability that becomes available depends on the player’s tactics – they look great and I used them a ton in boss battles. In many ways, this installment tightens up existing combat instead of weighing it down with additional depth. It’s the purest and best incarnation of the tenants that made this series so great in the first place.
Of course, not everything can be sunshine and roses. As great as this demo is, it’s over far too quickly. My playthrough lasted just under three hours on normal difficulty and, while the narrative does pay off hugely in the end, it takes a while to get there. There also isn’t much of a reason to replay it either. Players can customize Aqua’s clothes by completing 51 different objectives, but the challenge associated with those tasks feels like it should offer something more than cosmetics. I think everything possible was done to make the finished product feel meaty, but you can’t mask what’s missing.
The other two parts of this collection aren’t worth quite as much analysis. The biggest feat of Kingdom Hearts 3D, of course, is its conversion from 3DS. The remake looks fantastic at 1080p. All that low-res grain is replaced by slick models that have a very polished, last-gen look. However, for better or worse, it’s the exact same game.
Its hallmark feature, the Drop mechanic, has players switching between protagonists at timed intervals. Spirits are cuddly little pals you create using recipes. Players can take time out of their game to buff these helper characters by petting them, but the feature was clearly designed for the 3DS touch screen as opposed to thumbsticks. These additions were a mixed bag in 2012, and that’s still true now. That being said, the game’s traditional combat and dozen explorable worlds are just enough to make it interesting.
Back Cover is something that should be watched, but it’s by no means a substantial asset to the package. It’s an hour-long origins story that, while acted and presented well, is fairly generic in plot. That being said, we suspect it will be fairly important for Kingdom Hearts 3.
All in all, Kingdom Hearts 2.8 is largely made a fantastic package by its short but amazing new content. Taken as a single world, it’s probably the best world fans could ever ask for. With Kingdom Hearts 3D, enthusiasts are likely well aware of what they’re getting. The trio of inclusions feel thin even compared to other Kingdom Hearts remake compilations, but it’s still our best insight into Kingdom Hearts 3 to date. If this new stuff is as good as what’s coming, Square can take as long as they need to get it done.
Kingdom Hearts 2.8 HD Final Chapter Prologue is available now on PS4.
What do you think of Kingdom Hearts 2.8 so far? Is it worth the $60 price? Tell us in the comments section.
