Vince Matthews on Digital Disney: A Preview of Kingdom Hearts II
Page 2 of 5
The show begins as we catch up with the KH story, watching pivotal moments
from the first two games. Stellar production values shine right from the opening
scenes. As gameplay begins we’re actually in control of a young boy named Roxas,
and from the bustling burg of Twilight Town set out for adventure. But don’t
mistake this for your average platform, jump from here to there, hack and
slasher. Like all RPG’s this game has a learning curve. In fact, players spend
the first part of the game completing challenges, fights and mini games to get
used to the game controls. In between these errand runs story bits are played
out in weird flashbacks – signature Final Fantasy style.
Mickey and Sora take to the warpath. The weapon of choice? Keyblades.
The cinematics aren’t the only flashy visuals. Gameplay is equally impressive, making this title possibly the best demonstration of the PS2’s graphically capabilities. Battles are starry, effects filled sequences that, at times, could make you swear you’re watching a Disney animated film rather than playing a video game. Once the game gets going you’ll explore more of the vast Kingdom. Just how big is the game world? Well over 100 Disney characters inhabit it – including Chicken Little and Stitch, Donald Duck, Goofy, Tron, Jack Skellington, Mickey Mouse, The Little Mermaid, Jack Sparrow, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and Minnie Mouse – and all act and move just like their silver screen counterparts.
Speaking of parks, the game is just as packed with new destinations. Including Mulan’s snow-covered battlefields, Beauty and the Beast castle, the desert plains from The Lion King and even Pirates of the Caribbean’s Port Royale (as we mentioned Mr. Jack Sparrrow makes an appearance too, but more on that in a second…).
Many Disney ‘lands’ are vividly recreated, and fit together nicely. From Mickey’s black and white 1928 classic Steamboat Willie riverfront to the light cycle playfields in Tron (that’s right, Tron). Disney provides the classics (which are almost all represented in some form). Square lovingly makes sure not a single detail is missed. For example when playing the Steamboat Willie level, an old movie projector provides soothing game ambience while noisily clicking away in the background. It’s like romping around in a virtual Disney park.
Steamboat Willie’s black and white cartoon world, faithfully recreated for the
game.
So the mood is set, how about a comforting voice? This Kingdom Hearts will tout about 8,000 lines of dialogue and feature an all-star cast to voice them. Haley Joel Osment voices Sora, Mena Suvari voices Aerith, Although don’t expect Johnny Depp or the other actors from Pirates to voice their characters here, since they were unavailable. Although some original Disney voices will be reprising their feature film roles like Zach Braff who played Chicken Little, Ming-Na ('ER,' 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within') voices Mulan and James Woods, Hades.