5/5 ★ – AzulAzuril's review of Kingdom Hearts II.

What a sequel- I personally find Kingdom Hearts 2 to be such a phenomenal game. This was my introduction to the series, and I found the worlds, story, combat, and emotional notes to all be so enjoyable that I became hooked on this franchise for life. There’s so much to discuss about this game, but I do find this title (particularly the Final Mix version!) a masterclass of a title. I first appreciate how bold KH2 is by having a nearly five hour long prologue focused on a character who had never been featured in the series before. While I know this prologue is controversial, I honestly think it’s the best introduction of any KH game. Twilight Town, Roxas, and his story all feel so real, and that’s because we as the players get to spend time with them. I remember the first time I played I was excited to play as Sora, but upon discovering how and why you play as Sora, I was honestly so mad at him as a character, and I only wanted to continue playing as Roxas. Many of the later story beats and emotional arcs in this game and series work because of this prologue. I love the main story and the exploration as Sora that follows. There are so many set pieces and adventures to be had, and with the highest amount of worlds in the series, KH2 always makes the player feel like they’re exploring and doing something new. I love Sora’s interactions with the various Disney characters in this game, and the various encounters he has are all so enjoyable. Some of my favorites include The Land of Dragons, Timeless River, Port Royal, and the 100 Acre Wood. While the game has less exploration than other titles, I think it makes up for it with a focus on combat and story. Now, it’s far less difficult to be frustrated at the game and way easier to focus on your main goals. This helped hook me into the series initially, and I think it makes KH2 a great starting place (even though it’s a sequel). There’s so much else to love about this game- it’s got great music, amazing post-game content, and stellar voice acting. It’s got great art design, great characters, and fantastic action set pieces. I cannot recommend KH2 enough, and if you’ve ever considered trying this series, KH2 is a great place to start.