KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

About

"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."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue screenshot

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 231 reviews

story11 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Dream Drop Distance offers engaging gameplay with a unique flowmotion mechanic and a variety of Disney worlds, making it a fun experience.
Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep - A Fragmentary Passage is a visually stunning tech demo that provides insight into Aqua's story and showcases the potential of Kingdom Hearts 3's engine.
The inclusion of Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover, while a movie, helps to tie together the lore and provides context for the events leading into Kingdom Hearts 3.

The collection is criticized for its high price relative to the content, offering only one full game, a short demo, and a movie, making it feel less valuable compared to previous collections.
Dream Drop Distance suffers from technical issues, including frequent crashes and performance problems, particularly on certain hardware configurations.
The convoluted story and mechanics, such as the drop system and Dream Eater management, can be frustrating and detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

story
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
82%
7%
The story of the Kingdom Hearts 2.8 collection is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its emotional depth and connections to the overarching narrative, while others criticize its convoluted plot and reliance on prior knowledge from earlier games. Key components include a short but impactful prologue leading into Kingdom Hearts 3, as well as a confusing storyline in Dream Drop Distance that introduces time travel and various character arcs. Overall, familiarity with the series is essential for understanding the story, which some fans find rewarding, while others view it as a disjointed and messy continuation of the franchise.
- “Our love for the series is due to that specific reason, it’s full of heart and we’re invested in the story.”
- “Whether you're a long-time fan or someone looking to catch up before Kingdom Hearts III, 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue offers some fascinating story developments, some new gameplay experiences, and a chance to dive even deeper into the franchise's lore.”
- “The story bridges Birth by Sleep to Kingdom Hearts III, hence the title 'Final Chapter Prologue' being a prologue and having important story elements for Kingdom Hearts III.”
- “I thought the story jumped the shark big time, and young Xehanort is the worst addition to the series, an utterly worthless joke of a villain that takes himself way too seriously for a series that's convoluted and full of Disney characters.”
- “The story is a complete mess.”
- “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.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
68%
8%
The gameplay in the Kingdom Hearts series has seen notable improvements, particularly with the return of familiar mechanics and the introduction of new features like flowmotion, which enhances movement and combat fluidity. While some players appreciate the depth and variety offered, others criticize the mechanic bloat and limited progression options, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite these issues, many agree that the combat remains engaging and reminiscent of the beloved Kingdom Hearts 2, making it a solid experience for both newcomers and long-time fans.
- “The demo is actually very good, with great gameplay, and it has a surprisingly good amount of things to do: a single run may take 2-3 hours, but it is extended by the optional objectives.”
- “Gameplay is more similar to Kingdom Hearts 2, which is fluid and fun.”
- “Despite being a 3DS game, this game manages to feel like a PS2 game, or more precisely having KH2's gameplay vibes.”
- “You're getting one game, and in my humble opinion, it's a game with tons of mechanic bloat.”
- “There is nothing inherently unplayable about this game, but it feels like every decision and new mechanic introduced in this game is extremely half-assed.”
- “It's telling when the most entertainment I got from this package were the cutscenes and two hours of gameplay.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
15%
15%
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its quality and how it enhances the overall experience. While some found it appropriate but not particularly special, others highlighted it as one of the best soundtracks in the series, complementing the vibrant art direction. Overall, the soundtrack is described as whimsical and fun, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere.
- “The music and visuals are really strong, and even old areas get some nice new areas to accompany them.”
- “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).”
- “It may have the best art direction and music in the series, and that sounds crazy when you realize that this is the same series that houses 'Simple and Clean' and 'Castle Oblivion.'”
- “The soundtrack is okay, appropriate, but I didn’t feel it was that special.”
- “Travelling through Quasimodo's world, I reached Esmeralda and despite there being a save point there, I chose just to continue the story without saving, believing there would be no issues. Alas, that was not meant to be. I chose to interact with her, the music stopped, and the game closed itself down, thus losing quite an amount of progress from travelling in the game, including leveling for both characters and party members.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their impressive quality, showcasing significant improvements over previous titles, particularly in character models, textures, and environmental detail, thanks to the use of Unreal Engine 4. However, some users have noted compatibility issues with modern graphics cards, which can hinder the experience. Overall, while the visuals are strong and engaging, the graphical options remain basic, reflecting its nature as a console port rather than a full remake.
- “The graphics are amazing, the combat is addicting and interesting.”
- “There are certainly other visible changes, such as the graphics, which have been slightly improved with the remaster showing more defined textures, crisp character models, and colorful environments.”
- “The game is built using the Unreal Engine 4 and there is a clear graphical improvement over the rest of the games, especially when it comes to character models, lighting, reflections, and special effects.”
- “And speaking of issues, please be aware that Dream Drop Distance, the main game in this collection, is basically unplayable on modern AMD RDNA 3 graphics cards.”
- “The graphical options are still basic though and are a reminder that this is mainly a console port, not a remake or next-gen remaster.”
- “It’s a short and dark story that also intertwines with the events narrated in the first Kingdom Hearts but, more importantly, it is a tech demo originally conceived to show what Kingdom Hearts III would have been like in terms of graphics and gameplay.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
Overall, the optimization of the game is mixed; while some users report smooth performance, particularly on the Steam Deck, others experience significant frame drops, stuttering, and freezing issues, especially in earlier titles like KH1 and KH2. Despite the game's visual appeal, these performance problems detract from the experience for many players.
- “Ddd runs smoothly, but as one would expect, 0.2 really pushes my deck to its limit with all the rendering each level has to do.”
- “It's fun and very high performance.”
- “Tested the game on the Steam Deck and it works perfectly with no drops 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.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while the vast, empty Disney worlds can feel lacking, later levels provide a return to classic Disney comedy that adds some charm, particularly with amusing character designs like the "funny keyblade people."
- “The Disney worlds are hilariously empty and devoid of life, and are way too big, but the later worlds offer some good old-fashioned Disney comedy that redeems it somewhat.”
- “Haha, funny keyblade people.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, particularly during combat, although boss battles are often highlighted as a positive experience. While some enjoy the grinding process, frequent crashes detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “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?”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance" evokes a strong emotional response, blending confusion with excitement, particularly through its impactful moments and hints at future gameplay in "Kingdom Hearts III." Players appreciate the emotional depth it brings to the series, heightening anticipation for what's to come.
- “It is one of the most emotionally charged moments in the series, and the glimpses of Kingdom Hearts III's level design and combat philosophies have me hyped for that game.”
- “At first, I didn't know how to feel about Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance because it is the first time a game made me feel peak confusion.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of 358/2 is criticized for lacking proper communication and advertising, leading to frustration among players who feel the game is not adequately available for those who would enjoy it.