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Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
A bizarre title, but is Square-Enix's handheld action-RPG as weird as it sounds?
Written by Chris Schilling, 10 September 2009
The name's not the only surprising thing about this latest entry in the Disneyfied role-playing series (and we're assured it'll make sense by the time we reach the climax anyway). For starters, the DS game is going to be rendered in full 3D, so don't go expecting a similar art style to the GBA's Chain of Memories. But while the DS isn't the most powerful console on the market, it miraculously does justice to the famous House of Mouse environs and Square's own characters. You'll be battling through Neverland, Hallowe'en Town and Agrabah among others, and all are instantly recognisable - particularly to those who've played the earlier PS2 games.
Shock number two comes in the form of the game's protagonist - it's not spiky-haired Sora. Instead, you'll be taking control of the equally Shockwaves-fond Roxas, who series veterans will know as Sora's Nobody (a kind of alter ego without a heart formed when Sora temporarily lost his...it's complicated). The game fills in the gaps between the first adventure and Kingdom Hearts II, explaining how Roxas ended up in a virtual recreation of Twilight Town, eventually resulting in him reuniting with Sora to restore the latter's memories.
PlayZine Issue 41
For our latest Kingdom Hearts coverage, click here to download PlayZine Issue 41 for free.The game itself is a little more familiar, playing very similarly to the PS2 games. In other words, you explore various Disney-themed worlds, bash enemies alongside cartoon chums with the Keyblade and level up your character with new abilities and powers. Rather than shoehorn in stylus controls, Square-Enix has wisely opted for a button-based approach.
The way Roxas develops is handled somewhat differently, however, and it's the new Panel system that most intrigues us about this engaging spin-off. It's basically a twist on your standard RPG character development, as you slot in augments into a series of panels, combining their powers to unlock further abilities. You're encouraged to experiment to test out the effects gained from pairing certain items together - often with unexpected results.
Elsewhere, you'll get the chance to play co-operatively with up to three friends, tackling discrete sidequests which aren't part of the main game but which can contribute to your own character's development. So if you're getting your chops busted by a boss while flying solo, you can rope in some pals to help you grind your way to glory.
With some of the best graphics on the system and what looks like a very intriguing - albeit possibly confusing for newcomers - story, trendy labelmate The World Ends With You could see its position as Best DS RPG under threat.
Kingdom Hearts coverage available in PlayZine Issue 41 - click here to download it for free!
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