Post by Bob Ness on Jun 17, 2010 8:37:51 GMT -5
Visuals- 9.1/10
The visuals look the same as they do in the first game, with a few exceptions. It doesn't have the lifeless, zombie look as much as it used to, and, when Sora, Donald, and Goofy go to some worlds, such as the Pride Lands, they look a little different. I look forward to going to these worlds, just because of the awesome designs. Not only that, but the Gummi ship flying is SO much better. There are more ships to choose from, and it actually looks like you're flying through space. The Final Fantasy characters in the game look GREAT. Auroun never smiled (he was pretty rude, actually), Seifer wore the same outfit (even though he's a kid in this game), and Cloud looked...well, annoying (in my own opinion).
One of my favorite designs are the drive forms. Those are just AMAZING. When I usedfirst used one, my mouth just dropped open. It was probably one of the coolest forms I'd ever seen Sora change into, and I was quite sad to change back. I also really like the keyblades. I usually go with the Kingdom Key, but, in one world, I actually used every keyblade I had. Each once looks unique (although Oathkeeper is the coolest, I think). One MORE thing I loved were the black cloaks of Organization XIII. If you study them close enough, you can see that each cloak is different. Demyx's shoulder blades come out more, Axel's cloak is much tighter then the rest, Xaldin's is bigger...stuff like that shows they actually put time and thought into each character.
Sound- 9.6/10
I enjoyed Sora's voice in this game much more did I did in the first game. He doesn't sound so childish anymore (probably because he's fifteen). Not only that, but he also says some of the funniest things. Riku's voice acting is also great (though he sounds older then sixteen). And, Kairi's voice...I actually came to LIKE her when I heard her voice. MUCH better then the very girl-ish voice found in Kingdom Hearts. Donald and Goofy have the same, great voices. Jack Sparrow has an AMAZING voice, even though he's not voiced by Johnny Depp. My favorite voices, though, came from the Organization members. Every time I heard one of them talk, I'd love it, especially Quinton Flynn's (Axel's) voice acting
The music in this game is also pretty good. Each Disney world has it own music, copying after the movie it comes from. My favorite music is in Disney Castle. Mickey Mouse Club March was the song, and I remember it from when I was little, thus the reason I could be heard across the street belting it out. The sounds are also great. Guns, swords, Xemnas's lightsabers...each one has its own unique sound.
Gameplay- 9/10
I think the controls in this game are much easier then the controls in the other game. To look around, you no longer have to use the L1 or R1 buttons, which was a pain for me during battles. You also have the new HANDY DANDY REACTION COMMANDS! These saved my life more times then I can count. If I can't reach the 'bad guy', I'll have to use reaction commands with one of the characters from my party, or just by myself. Sometimes, you HAVE to do a reaction command to keep yourself from dying.
This is an action RPG game, like the other game, of course. In my opinion, it's probably the funnest action RPG out there. But, that IS just my opinion. One thing I really enjoy about the gampeplay, other then the reaction commands and the drive forms and the summoning are the Moogle shops. If you get enough crystals or certain objects, you'll be able to make NEW objects, like Drive Recoveries or Mega Elixirs. The Munny is also more plentiful then it was in the first game, meaning you can buy more.
As for the Gummi Ship rides, I was impressed. I'm actually having fun doing these now. You can fight mini-bosses, upgrade your ship, and, like I did, make a new one (just be sure to add guns to it, though...I made that mistake). In these levels, you can get more of those items that Moogles can synthesize and create important items with. Which is, of course, great.
Story- 9.4/10
You start off playing as Roxas, the most annoying character in the entire game. In my opinion. I don't want to offend anyone, but his whole story-line and playing time is boring. Yeah, it's vital to the plot, but I'm better off handing it over to someone who actually LIKES killing harmless bumble bees and keeping a little girl's ball in the air for a minute. The whole Axel fight near the end of the Roxas part, though, was just great.
After that, you continue from where you left off in the first game. No, strike that. You continue from where you left off in Chain of Memories. Sort of. It's rather confusing. Sora pretty much forgot what had happened during Chain of Memories, so you're kind of starting from the first game, though it picks up where it left off in Chain of Memories; Sora wakes up. HE tries to remember where they left off, and he comes to the conclusion that they must find the king and Riku. While in Twilight Town, hanging out with Roxas's less annoying friends, you learn about the Nobodies, and, later, Organization XIII. I was a little surprised to find Maleficent kind of helping you out, though I do wonder what actually happened to her.
All-righty, I actually have to bash on the game a bit. The Atlantica level, where the little mermaid resides, is a pointless world. Luckily, it is optional (but I didn't figure that out until AFTER I finished it and got no experience points). You get nothing in this world except for a crappy keyblade which I never even used. The only plus out of this world is the fact that Sora sings, and it sure is funny.
Overall- 9.5/10
Some people say this game is nowhere near as great as the first. I say differently. Not only is it much easier, but it also has the coolest costume designs (even though Tron's world makes me dizzy), it has even more characters, and Sora looks darn cute as a lion (in the Pride Lands). I'm actully playing through this game, AGAIN, for, I dunno, the 20th time? It's just so much fun, and every time I play it, I discover something new (like that rare heartless Donald killed RIGHT when I captured it...)