Review — Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is a bundle containing two games and a cinematic, set in the acclaimed Kingdom Hearts series, a collaboration between Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios. This “game” is meant as the last introduction to the long awaited Kingdom Hearts III, the third instalment in the main series of this franchise. Kingdom Hearts II dates back from 2005, and since then Square Enix has littered the world with spin-offs and side stories.
While most of these have been met with praise, it is Kingdom Hearts III that is the game the people want right now. With The Final Chapter Prologue, Square provides their playerbase with a remaster of Dream Drop Distance, a game set after the events of Kingdom Hearts II, a one-hour long cinematic providing details into events not shown in the browser game Kingdom Hearts X, and a completely new albeit short game, Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep — A Fragmetary Passage, set after the events of the Birth by Sleep spin-off.
Switching out
The first game, Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD, is a HD remaster of Dream Drop Distance, a Nintendo 3DS game reworked for PS4 and originally released in 2012. In Dream Drop Distance, the player takes control of Sora and Riku alternatively, as they are put to the test to improve their skills with the Keyblade, the franchise’s iconic weapon. This test, the “Mark of Mastery” exam, sees the main characters trying to save parallel versions of seven different worlds, with the player switching control between Sora and Riku. This test needs to prepare the duo for the return of Master Xehanort, the franchise’s main antagonist.
Playing with two character in essentially the same worlds may seem like a bother, but the developers managed to mix up the events for both characters in a way you never feel like you’re playing through the same world twice. When this game released on the 3DS, it was mostly met with positive reviews, owing to the story and the improved combat and “drop” system, that lets the player switch between the two characters on the fly. There is not much new to say for this remaster. The game remains fun and engaging to play, and the touchscreen controls seem to have been ported well enough. The choice for this game as a remaster makes sense, as it set as a prelude to Kingdom Hearts III.
The real deal
The most interesting part of this bundle is the second game, Kingdom Hearts 2.0: Birth by Sleep — A Fragmentary Passage. This game is a sequel to Birth by Sleep, a spinoff released in 2010 for the PSP and reworked in 2014 for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix, and shows the player what happened with Aqua, one of the main three characters, after that game’s conclusion. Birth by Sleep is set ten years before the original Kingdom Hearts game and focusses on the characters Aqua, Terra and Ventus. The ending of Birth by Sleep, without trying to spoil it for those who haven’t played it yet, sees Aqua trapped in the realm of darkness, with Ventus locked away and Terra lost. In A Fragmentary Passage, the player takes control of Aqua as she tries to find a way out of the Dark Worlds and learns about the fate of her friends and the worlds in the realm of light.
A Fragmentary Passage probably comes as close to what Kingdom Hearts III will be like as possible, featuring the same fluid movement and combat as shown in the 2015 E3 gameplay trailer. Aqua flutters about the battle scenes, with fluid and graceful attacks, both on the ground and in the air, and which can be alternated with magic and situational commands. These situational commands are triggered by continuously attacking enemies, either with your keyblade or with magic (which is conveniently quick slotted by the way).
The game looks and sounds great. The worlds through which Aqua travels are magnificently rendered and show a lot of detail. The usually colourful and playful Disney worlds you came to know from most other instalments of this franchise are now tainted by darkness. The areas are surprisingly vast. While the main road ahead is mostly clear, there are options for exploration and there are some secrets to uncover (keep your eyes open for the Zodiac Chests). The game is certainly short, as I finished it in about two hours on the easiest difficulty, but finishing the story unlocks a NG+ feature. But is the game worth replaying? Not so much, although the game provides numerous side quests in the form of optional objectives. These unlock additional garments for Aqua, but none of them provide in-game advantages. Trophy hunters will certainly find some replayability, as that platinum trophy requires multiple playthroughs.
Money’s worth?
Combined with the HD remake of Dream Drop Distance and the cinematic Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover, this bundle provides players with a refresh on the lore and some additional story elements as preparation for Kingdom Hearts III. But, while entertaining, A Fragmentary Passage still feels like a glorified demo for Kingdom Hearts III. For true fans of the Kingdom Hearts series, this bundle is a must. On the other hand, true fans might have played Dream Drop Distance already, and will most likely hesitate to dish out €60 for a remake, a short animated movie and a demo. Will newcomers or casual fans of the series be prepared to pay such a steep retail price? I’m inclined to say no. Is the game worth playing? That it sure is. But what do we really want? You guessed it, Kingdom Hearts III.
4/5
Reviewed for PlayStation 4
