KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
- March 30, 2021
- Square Enix Business Division 3
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games Store"Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue" is a compilation of three games that serve as a prologue to the main series entry, "Kingdom Hearts III." It includes a high-definition remaster of "Dream Drop Distance," a movie adaptation of "χ Back Cover," and a short episode titled "0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage – ." The games follow Sora, Riku, and other characters as they prepare for a final showdown against Master Xehanort and his minions, the Heartless. The compilation provides necessary backstory and sets the stage for the events of "Kingdom Hearts III."
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Reviews
- Dream Drop Distance offers a fun gameplay experience with improved mechanics and visuals, making it a solid entry in the Kingdom Hearts series.
- A Fragmentary Passage provides a beautiful and engaging glimpse into Aqua's story, showcasing impressive graphics and gameplay that builds excitement for Kingdom Hearts 3.
- The collection includes essential lore through the movie Back Cover, which helps tie together the overarching narrative of the Kingdom Hearts series.
- The collection is considered overpriced for the amount of content it offers, with many feeling it lacks value compared to previous bundles.
- Dream Drop Distance suffers from a convoluted story and gameplay mechanics that can feel tedious, particularly the drop system and Dream Eater management.
- Technical issues, including frequent crashes and performance problems on certain hardware, detract from the overall experience.
- story198 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in the Kingdom Hearts series, particularly in "Dream Drop Distance" and related titles, is often described as convoluted and confusing, heavily relying on time travel and dream navigation elements that detract from its coherence. While some players find the character development and connections to the overarching narrative leading to "Kingdom Hearts 3" interesting, many criticize the plot for being filled with retcons and inconsistencies, making it less accessible for newcomers. Overall, the narrative is seen as essential for understanding the series' progression, but its complexity and reliance on prior knowledge can be off-putting for casual players.
“This game is more of a character study than the plot-heavy stories in the rest of the series, and it really only connects to the main story at the end.”
“It takes place in the distant past of the KH world, and sets up characters and plot points that are relevant in the ending of KH3 and, supposedly, beyond.”
“The story bridges BBS to KH3, hence the title 'Final Chapter Prologue' being a prologue and having important story elements for KH3.”
“On top of all that, Dream Drop Distance has the most confusing story in the whole series, introducing time travel as a main plot element, taking place in settings that may or may not be the dreams of individuals or worlds, and detailing the villain's convoluted plan for every game in the series so far.”
“The story is a complete mess.”
“I don't think the story is worth experiencing because it actively ruined Kingdom Hearts for me, hence why I'm accepting the story from this point on as bad fan fiction.”
- gameplay87 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the reviewed titles is a mix of familiar mechanics from previous Kingdom Hearts games, with some new elements like the drop system and Dream Eaters, which can be both engaging and occasionally monotonous. While the combat is generally praised for its fluidity and fun, some players feel that the lack of depth in move sets and the short playtime detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the visuals and design of the worlds are highlighted as impressive, making the gameplay enjoyable, especially for fans of the series.
“The gameplay of Dream Drop Distance is fun.”
“Despite being a Nintendo 3DS game, this game manages to feel like a PS2 game, or more precisely, it has Kingdom Hearts 2's gameplay vibes.”
“The music is still phenomenal and the gameplay is diverse and challenging.”
“The gameplay is decent but a very short experience.”
“I know it's 'fragmentary,' but 2 hours gameplay-wise is pitiful.”
“The amount of gameplay was not generous.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics in this collection represent a significant leap forward from previous Kingdom Hearts titles, showcasing stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 4. Players have noted the impressive detail and fluidity in combat, with HD upgrades making older games like Dream Drop Distance look fantastic on current consoles. While some minor texture issues were mentioned, the overall aesthetic and production quality are praised as a major highlight, setting high expectations for Kingdom Hearts 3.
“The game is running on Unreal Engine 4, and you can definitely see a huge graphical difference between the Kingdom Hearts games of the past and now.”
“The wonderful visuals show off what Square Enix has accomplished with the Kingdom Shader.”
“I love the game, KH 0.2 was a lot of fun to play through, the graphics are beautiful and it's awesome to really get to look at what KH3 will be like.”
“Visuals are now in HD, but you can see some of the odd textures in some levels and character models if you're nitpicky.”
“And it looks like they didn't really finish rendering the graphics?”
“But if you compare them side-by-side, it's literally night and day in terms of graphics.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is inconsistent, with significant frame drops, stuttering, and freezing issues reported on various platforms, particularly affecting titles like KH1, KH2, BBS, and DDD. However, performance on the Steam Deck is notably better, with smooth gameplay and impressive battery life, despite some audio stuttering. Overall, while the visuals are praised, the optimization leaves much to be desired on most systems.
“It's fun and very high performance.”
“Tested the game on the Steam Deck and it works perfectly with no drops (pun intended) in performance whatsoever, as well as 5 hours of battery life on a single charge without any tweaking to settings.”
“Ddd has the same optimization issues as 1.5+2.5.”
“However, despite my best efforts, I can't seem to stop KH1, KH2, BBS, and DDD from dropping a ton of frames, stuttering, and freezing.”
“Don't get me wrong, they're lovely to look at, but... the performance is just terrible.”
- music14 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, with a whimsical and fun soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the standout tracks from various Disney worlds, particularly noting the "Mickey Mouse music" as a highlight. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's enjoyment despite some gameplay monotony.
“It's just pure fun, the music is great, it's super silly and whimsical, no one dies or gets trapped in purgatory for all time (for once).”
“That said, the music is very, very good, as is the norm with this series.”
“The music is great and makes the game even better.”
“The soundtrack of 'The World Ends With You' sneaks in.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, although some enjoy it for the story progression and boss battles. However, frequent crashes can hinder the grinding experience, leading to frustration. Overall, while grinding can be rewarding, it is often marred by technical issues and pacing concerns.
“But the combat remains quite slow and tedious apart from the often excellent boss battles, even on higher difficulties.”
“I love grinding and I save as often as I can, but with the amount of crashes I've had to experience?”
“I'm just grinding because the story will help me dive into KH III.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as appearing to be a cash grab, with users expressing frustration over the lack of availability and poor communication regarding the game's release. Despite some acknowledging it as a full game, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment in its monetization strategy.
“So far it just seems like another cash grab.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional response to "Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance," highlighting a sense of confusion that is both profound and impactful. This unique emotional experience sets the game apart, evoking a mix of feelings that players find difficult to articulate.
“At first, I didn't know how to feel about Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance because it was the first time a game made me feel peak confusion.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through the intriguing designs of the foretellers and the mysterious master, which adds a playful and engaging element to the plot.
“I love the design of the foretellers, and the mysterious master adds humor and intrigue to the plot.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game initially suffers from numerous bugs and game-breaking glitches, but multiple patches have been released to address these issues, enhancing stability for players with an internet connection.
“The game disc you buy is filled with tons of bugs and game-breaking glitches. However, as of the writing of this review, Square has released four patches that fix the issues, so the game is truly the definitive Kingdom Hearts collection; if, of course, you have your PlayStation 4 connected to the internet.”
“The stability of the game is a major concern, as frequent crashes and freezes disrupt the gameplay experience.”
“Despite the potential for a great experience, the constant technical issues make it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game's packaging is misleading, claiming six adventures while only offering four playable ones, which may impact its overall replayability.
“The only misleading thing about the packaging is that it says you're getting six adventures, but only four are playable.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
