Few people are casual Kingdom Hearts fans. It either did not click for a particular gamers or it became their number one gaming obsession. It makes sense, too. The mixture of Disney and Final Fantasy makes for one of the most unique RPG franchises of the last 20 years.
We would be remiss to say the aesthetic is the only reason for its success. The real-time combat and character progression is also compelling. With the upcoming release of the whole series for PC, new legions of gamers will get access to it. Before diving into the sequel, here are some things you should know.
10 Play Kingdom Hearts One First
It might be tempting to start with the second game in an attempt to more quickly catch up, but this would be a mistake. The plot of Kingdom Hearts 2 hinges on understanding the first game. Even ignoring the story, the first Kingdom Hearts is simply a masterpiece in its own right. It is simpler than the sequels, but this is ultimately one of its greatest strengths.
9 Play On Proud Mode
Kingdom Hearts 2 is by far the easiest game in the franchise. Anybody slightly experienced in action RPGs can run through the campaign without breaking a sweat on any of the easier difficulty modes. We ultimately recommend playing on Proud Mode. Even then, Proud only feels like a normal difficulty setting. The ending might put up a bit of a challenge, but you can probably go through it without grinding. Of course, novices in gaming in general should go with a difficulty with which they are comfortable.
8 Where To Grind
Unlike the original Kingdom Hearts, the colosseum does not grant Sora experience points. There are still some good places to grind, however. In the original release, the peak in the Pride Lands had a swarm of enemies which could give 10,000 experience points each run through, but this was nerfed for subsequent versions. Instead, the Transport to Rememberance in Radiant Gardens is a solid place, though the battles are difficult here at first.
7 This Is The Definitive Version
Numerous editions of every Kingdom Hearts game exist. Re-releases can often do a disservice to the original versions of games, like the disastrous Silent Hill HD Collection.
This release, however, is all encompassing, at least in terms of content. If it runs as well as it does on the PS4, then PC gamers can be rest assured that it is the best way to play Kingdom Hearts 2.
6 The Intro Is Pretty Long
Kingdom Hearts 2 is great, but many lobbied complaints towards the introduction. It starts off with a completely new character, Roxas, as you go through the last week of his summer vacation. It feels seemingly unconnected until the end but you grow to appreciate it as the story starts to pick up. Rest assured, it turns into a more traditional Kingdom Hearts adventure once the intro ends.
5 There Is A Manga And Novelization As Well
Anybody looking for more Kingdom Hearts content should be happy to know about the existence of a novelization and a manga adaptation. Kingdom Hearts 2 is not the only story available in novel and manga form. Just about the entire saga is available in the two formats. For anyone without the time to play the older games, it is a solid opportunity to catch up on the franchise.
4 You Can Skip Chain Of Memories
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories came out on the Game Boy Advance. Kingdom Hearts 2 came out afterwards, but before the GBA spin-off was remade as Re: Chain of Memories, which is also a part of the PC package.
While most of the spin-offs are vital to understanding the whole story, you can skip Chain of Memories if you are pressed for time. Kingdom Hearts 2 recaps all the game's events. Some important characterization is in Chain of Memories, but it is not necessary.
3 This Is The One Where The Story Gets Weird
The original Kingdom Hearts leaves the door open for sequels, but is a relatively self-contained story. It is in Kingdom Hearts 2 where the story starts becoming more convoluted, earning the series its reputation of not making sense. Given how the story is spread out over so many titles, it is easy to forget key details. At the end of the day, most entries still have an emotional core easy to understand objective.
2 Play Birth By Sleep After, Even Though It Is A Prequel
Also included in the package is Birth By Sleep, a PSP spin-off. Even though it is a prequel, play it only after beating Kingdom Hearts 2. Fortunately, Birth by Sleep is arguably the best game in the franchise. By being a prequel, it introduces several new characters and new narrative ideas. You do go through similar environments three times over because of its structure, but the gameplay and character progression are compelling enough to make playing it a pleasure.
1 It Still Might Be Better To Play On PlayStation
Please remember some key things about the PC version. For one, it is a timed exclusive on the Epic Games Store. Secondly, the package including Kingdom Hearts 2 costs $50. With this in mind, some may prefer buying the PlayStation 4 version, which is playable on PS5 via backwards compatibility. The entire saga goes on sale often for far less than $50. It also comes with the convenience of not having to deal with PC gaming issues like system requirements.