Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 118 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • gameplay
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory Game Cover
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory isn't perfect, but the fanservice is so good, I can almost overlook my disappointment in Kingdom Hearts 3.
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"Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory" is a rhythm action game with over 140 songs from the Kingdom Hearts series and Disney worlds. Play as over 20 characters in single or multiplayer mode, with four different game modes including online battles. Its gameplay is similar to "Theatrhythm Final Fantasy," with traversal between worlds. The game continues Kairi's story from the end of "Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind" and hints at the next Kingdom Hearts game.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 118 reviews
music30 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions
  • The game features a fantastic selection of music from the Kingdom Hearts series, providing a nostalgic experience for fans.
  • Gameplay is engaging and accessible, with multiple difficulty levels catering to both newcomers and rhythm game veterans.
  • The co-op and multiplayer modes add a fun social element, allowing players to enjoy the game together.
  • The story content is minimal, primarily serving as a recap of previous games, which may disappoint those looking for new narrative developments.
  • Some tracks do not fit well within the rhythm game format, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • The game can feel repetitive over time, with limited variety in gameplay mechanics and challenges.
  • music108 mentions

    The music in "Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory" is widely praised for its nostalgic and immersive quality, featuring a vast selection of over 140 tracks from the series that resonate deeply with fans. The gameplay effectively integrates rhythm mechanics with the iconic soundtrack, making it accessible for newcomers while offering challenges for seasoned players. However, some players express disappointment over the limited local multiplayer options and the absence of certain beloved tracks, particularly from "Kingdom Hearts III."

    • “The music from the Kingdom Hearts series is one of the best aspects of the series, and to have an entire game dedicated to just listening and feeling the music is not only a great idea but Square Enix really followed through with a great game.”
    • “The game's main mode, World Tour, takes players on a musical journey through the Kingdom Hearts universe, with each stage featuring iconic locations and battles set to a catchy and immersive soundtrack.”
    • “It's a perfect blend of music, gameplay, and storytelling that will keep you engaged and entertained for hours on end.”
    • “My partner and I were having a lot of fun playing side by side but quickly realized that out of all the songs they put into this game, you can only play about 20 of them locally.”
    • “I wish I could say more about it, but all you do is go to a world, play a couple of songs, and go to the next.”
    • “First, there are no good Disney songs here.”
  • story72 mentions

    The story in "Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory" primarily serves as a recap of the series, with only a small amount of new content that may disappoint those seeking a deeper narrative. While it effectively summarizes the overarching plot and integrates music into the storytelling, many reviewers suggest that players interested solely in the story should consider watching cutscenes online instead. Overall, the game is seen as a celebration of the franchise's music and lore, appealing mainly to long-time fans rather than newcomers.

    • “Melody of Memory is like walking through the story as a whole from beginning to current with a small fragment of new story at the very end, and I personally loved that.”
    • “The game is packed with familiar faces and plot twists that will delight fans of the franchise, and the music is seamlessly integrated into the storytelling.”
    • “Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a pleasant, nostalgia-packed experience providing a plot recap which fans of the series probably need right about now.”
    • “Kingdom Hearts' story is an absolute, utter mess, and the gameplay of KH3 was so button-mash-happy and overfilled with prompts that it was just outright boring at times.”
    • “This game reduces the story to little more than a recap, and focuses entirely on the gameplay - which, by the way, is fantastic!”
    • “For me as a long-time fan of the series, this game was extremely disappointing not only because of what kind of game it is and the overinflated launch price for such an empty package, but because it was a game where they had the potential to do a lot more when it comes to the story.”
  • gameplay32 mentions

    The gameplay of "Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory" is a unique blend of rhythm mechanics reminiscent of titles like Guitar Hero, offering an engaging and intuitive experience for fans of the franchise. While the game features a substantial tracklist and high replayability, some players find the rhythm challenges repetitive and the gameplay can be difficult for newcomers. Overall, it serves as a nostalgic and satisfying way to experience the series' music, though it may lack the depth and variety of traditional Kingdom Hearts gameplay.

    • “Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a unique and innovative game that combines the beloved characters and worlds of the Kingdom Hearts franchise with the rhythm gameplay of titles like Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution.”
    • “The gameplay involves hitting notes in time with the music, using a variety of controls that make the experience feel intuitive and engaging.”
    • “Gameplay is simple but fun.”
    • “Kingdom Hearts' story is an absolute, utter mess, and the gameplay of KH3 was so button-mash-happy and overfilled with prompts that it was just outright boring at times.”
    • “Gameplay gets repetitive after a while, as each track is a different combination of each other.”
    • “The later part of the game is significantly weaker than the beginning and doesn’t seem fitting, repetitive gameplay, great jump in difficulty between standard and proud.”
  • replayability9 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability, featuring a vast selection of over 140 tracks and various gameplay modes that encourage players to master different difficulties and unlock collectibles. With engaging mechanics and a mix of challenges, players can expect potentially hundreds of hours of enjoyable gameplay, making it a worthwhile investment despite its price. Overall, the combination of a rich setlist and diverse objectives enhances the game's replay value.

    • “While this title may seem overpriced at first (it is now $50 as I'm writing this), it does have a lot of replayability and a ton of songs to go through.”
    • “Excellent music that encompasses over 140 tracks from the series. Well-executed mechanics and beat maps. Good amount of variety between field battles, boss battles, memory dives, and more. Objectives and additional difficulties provide strong replay value with lots of stuff to unlock.”
    • “You get a lot of songs with 10 hours of gameplay, with the added replay value of mastering from easy difficulty to absolute sweat lord performer mode.”
    • “What we have here is a fun and engaging rhythm game with potentially hundreds of hours of replayability and a killer setlist of music to back it up.”
    • “Excellent music that encompasses over 140 tracks from the series. Well-executed mechanics and beat maps, along with a good amount of variety between field battles, boss battles, memory dives, and more. Objectives and additional difficulties provide strong replay value with lots of stuff to unlock. Versus mode, even offline, provides some fun unique hooks.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the art style and overall visuals, while others criticize the recycled assets from older platforms and the distracting nature of certain visual elements. Players note challenges with depth perception and input responsiveness, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many still appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and the game's artistic direction.

    • “Kingdom Hearts is one of the best games; I like the graphics, the storyline, and the gameplay.”
    • “Recycled graphics from PS2 and PSP games; the most difficult songs seem unfair, and the crafting system feels unnecessary.”
    • “The old art style and MIDI music feel cheap; Kairi lacks agency (and you can’t even play as her until the very end!). Missed inputs have delayed feedback.”
    • “Visuals can be distracting, and there is minimal new story content.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is praised for its great overall performance, indicating effective optimization that enhances the user experience.

    • “Great performance overall.”
    • “The game runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I appreciate the options to tweak settings for better frame rates.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply resonant, as the nostalgic music evokes strong feelings and memories, enhancing their overall experience.

    • “Just playing it and listening to the music takes me back; it has all my favorites, and even now I get emotional listening to them.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highlighted through a pivotal scene that reveals the character's past in Radiant Garden, alongside a moment of maturity where she acknowledges her current limitations and chooses not to accompany Riku and Sora on their quest, showcasing her growth and self-awareness.

    • “We get one scene fleshing out what happened to her in her past when she still lived in Radiant Garden, and one character development scene where she shows maturity by admitting she's not strong enough yet to join Riku and Sora in their adventures, instead of insisting on going with Riku to save Sora.”
    • “We get one scene fleshing out what happened to her in her past when she still lived on Radiant Garden, and one character development scene where she shows some maturity by admitting she's not strong enough yet to join Riku and Sora in their adventures instead of insisting on going with Riku to save Sora.”
    • “The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, leaving many characters feeling one-dimensional and underexplored.”
    • “I was disappointed by how little growth the characters experienced throughout the game; it felt like they were stuck in the same place from start to finish.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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