Kingdom Hearts 2

The Basics:
Platform: PS2
Developer: Square Enix
Price: $49.99
ESRB rating: E10

Summary: Great graphics, great story, great sequel.

Note: Parents need to know that this game has a lot of mostly bloodless, action-packed fighting scenes. Beautiful graphics come at the cost of some commercialism, as all of the characters and backdrops are from Disney movies or the Final Fantasy series of games. However, a plot that is generally positive demonstrates the importance of friendships, loyalty and kindness.

Families who do play this game may want to discuss the rather unique mixture of Final Fantasy and Disney characters. Does the use of existing and familiar characters diminish or increase the appeal of the game? Do they act as you expect they would, or does the game introduce new things about their attitudes, approaches, etc? If you were creating a video game, would you make up your own character, or use one that you already like?

Further Breakdown:
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Best for ages: 12+
Playability: Medium. Item and skill management system is complex.
Graphics: High. Movie-quality introduction. Great graphics throughout.
Reading Level: Medium. Some reading is necessary to play.
KidScore Rating

Ages 3-7: Red
Ages 8-12: Yellow
Ages 13-17: Green
Violence Amount: Yellow
Fear: Yellow
Illegal/harmful: Yellow
Language: Green
Nudity: Green
Sex: Green

Review:
Many things make KINGDOM HEARTS 2 a great game. A deep and involving storyline and outstanding graphics make this game a worthy sequel. Even players who are new to the series may enjoy this game.

Players who are familiar with the first Kingdom Hearts game and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories for the Game Boy Advance will quickly find themselves comfortable with the characters and the plot since Kingdom Hearts 2 references a lot from the first two games. Players new to the series are given a chance to catch up through a number of dream sequences shown early in the game.

Memories, the parting and uniting of close friendships, love and mystery are all intertwined in the complex plot of the game. Continuing the unique characterization of the first two games, all of the characters are either from Disney movies or the Final Fantasy series of games. The main protagonist through all of the games is Sora, now a young teen in this game. Chosen by the "keyblade" (a magical key/sword) Sora and his friends Donald Duck and Goofy are tasked with a number of missions.

These missions range far and wide, in Disneyfied backdrops such as Agrabah or Beast's Castle (From Beauty and the Beast). Most missions are segmented, linked with a common theme. For example, in the Land of Dragons, Sora and Co. help Mulan gain the trust of the commander so she can join the army and bring honor to her family name.

Throughout the game, the player faces two main foes. The kind of cute-looking black blobs known as "the Heartless" will be instantly recognizable to fans of the first two games. New to Kingdom Hearts 2 is "the NoBodies". With zipper-like mouths and odd elongated bodies and appendages, NoBodies are a bit more menacing and disturbing.

A host of other features makes the game a sure winner. From flying from mission to mission in a fully customizable "gummi ship" (co-piloted by no less than Chip and Dale!) to mini-missions scattered throughout, the game has a lot of fun surprises tucked up its sleeve.

With the introduction of the nobodies, plus the fact that Sora is now a bit older, there are indicators the game is designed for a slightly more mature crowd than the first two games. Still, the plot maintains the positive, upbeat nature of the first two games and the graphics can't be beat. Overall, with a playing time of easily over 30 hours, Kingdom Hearts 2 offers a lot of value and a lot of entertainment.