Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

 DS
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 273 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 183 out of 273
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 273
  3. Negative: 24 out of 273
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  1. BasilZero
    Dec 30, 2013
    7
    Game: Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded
    Genre: RPG
    Developer: Squareenix/Disney System: Nintendo DS (NDS) Total Score: 73/100 Value Score: 7.3/10 • Story: 8/10 • Characters: 8/10 • GamePlay: 6/10 • Graphics: 6/10 • Sound: 7/10 • Music: 10/10 • Length: 6/10 • Replay Value: 5/10 • Player Value: 7/10 Pros +Music quality is great +A lot of the memorable cast of Disney    Game: Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded
    Genre: RPG
    Developer: Squareenix/Disney
    System: Nintendo DS (NDS)
    Total Score: 73/100
    Value Score: 7.3/10

    • Story: 8/10
    • Characters: 8/10
    • GamePlay: 6/10
    • Graphics: 6/10
    • Sound: 7/10
    • Music: 10/10
    • Length: 6/10
    • Replay Value: 5/10
    • Player Value: 7/10

    Pros
    +Music quality is great
    +A lot of the memorable cast of Disney characters return
    +Fast paced battles when you actually get them
    +Different types of gameplay modes for those who like variety
    +A great way to re-tell and rehash the first Kingdom Hearts game's storyline
    +Leveling up system is well done like in 358/2 Days.
    +Theatre Mode allows you to watch cutscenes again (must finish game once)
    +Revisit and redo worlds as if you never played them

    Cons
    -Storyline does not bring anything new to the actual universe of Kingdom Hearts
    -Gameplay tries too much to be full of different styles of gameplay which can become tedious or just annoying.
    -Controls are annoying at times due to the lack of buttons on the NDS especially the camera controls
    -Due to the lack of buttons, switching through menus is a one way trip so you have to re-cycle through your list of commands before getting back to the one you want to.
    -Sound quality at a few times seem like its worse than KH 358/2 days which had decent sound effects.
    -Cutscenes are mostly now cardboard cutouts with a few stances which is a poor decision on the re-design of the game.
    -The shortest Kingdom Hearts game in the entire series.    … Expand
  2. ChronoFlareZero
    Jan 14, 2011
    7
    The story does need some work, and it is by far the weakest in the entire series. Not to mention that the game is terribly short and it has a tendency of dragging on. But good graphics especially for the DS, fun gameplay, and a good amount of replay value despite the convoluted story makes up for it.
  3. Chammy
    Feb 14, 2013
    6
    This has to be the KH title I enjoyed the least. The gameplay is good (even if backdoors sometimes frustrate me and are a little repetitive), it's the story I didn't like much. Seems to me it was just an excuse to visit for the bazillionth time the worlds from KH1. I like avatars though, and some things of the gameplay that are innovative, such as 2D battles or the different endings inThis has to be the KH title I enjoyed the least. The gameplay is good (even if backdoors sometimes frustrate me and are a little repetitive), it's the story I didn't like much. Seems to me it was just an excuse to visit for the bazillionth time the worlds from KH1. I like avatars though, and some things of the gameplay that are innovative, such as 2D battles or the different endings in castle oblivion.… Expand
  4. ashketchum
    Jul 18, 2017
    6
    Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded is a fairly short game. It can feel boring at times, due to level design that feels uncreative. This results in the levels feeling small and uninteresting. The virus-levels are annoying, and they feel like padding to fill space, as they are bland and too common. The battle system is pretty good, though, and is fast and enjoyable once you get the hang of it. The gameKingdom Hearts Re:Coded is a fairly short game. It can feel boring at times, due to level design that feels uncreative. This results in the levels feeling small and uninteresting. The virus-levels are annoying, and they feel like padding to fill space, as they are bland and too common. The battle system is pretty good, though, and is fast and enjoyable once you get the hang of it. The game also features a good soundtrack.… Expand
  5. Welterweight426
    Jun 20, 2012
    5
    This game is the worst Kingdom Hearts game ever created. The story is awful and the game is boring. The leveling system was somewhat interesting but overall this game was stupid and a waste of time.
  6. jafs741
    Jan 18, 2011
    6
    well i buy it and all i have to say is disappointed because the game story is very boring and repetitive and besides the story is very short too but i have to say nice graphics
  7. MrHayden4495
    Mar 11, 2013
    5
    If there was any game that could be pulled out of the series that would not affect the overall story of the series, it would be this game. I understand if it was a cell phone game that was just ported to the DS, but Square Enix treats it as an important title. It's not needed, because players already know what will proceed after playing BBS. With that said, the story is meaningless andIf there was any game that could be pulled out of the series that would not affect the overall story of the series, it would be this game. I understand if it was a cell phone game that was just ported to the DS, but Square Enix treats it as an important title. It's not needed, because players already know what will proceed after playing BBS. With that said, the story is meaningless and is worth nothing to talk about. Gameplay is.....ok. The RPG elements are done well, with the customization of Digital Sora. But other than that, the camera is outright broken, and some of the gameplay can be counter-intuitive. For example, a mission will tell you to ignite 5 Heartless. So, I shot fire at the Heartless, but the shot is SO powerful, since my level is so high, and it kills the Heartless instantly. So it doesn't count. You COULD try to remove Level Up chips, but this is way too tedious and against any normal strategy the player can conjure.… Expand
  8. Chris5667
    Jun 28, 2020
    6
    Lo que tenemos aquí es un juego con una jugabilidad adictiva, escenarios maravillosos (aunque ya vistos previamente la mayoria) y un apartado gráfico bastante destacable para DS, pero con una narrativa bastante pobre que nos brinda una historia si se quiere tonta y prolongada de manera bastante absurda e innecesaria, a tal punto que en las ultimas fases del juego (que no son mas que unaLo que tenemos aquí es un juego con una jugabilidad adictiva, escenarios maravillosos (aunque ya vistos previamente la mayoria) y un apartado gráfico bastante destacable para DS, pero con una narrativa bastante pobre que nos brinda una historia si se quiere tonta y prolongada de manera bastante absurda e innecesaria, a tal punto que en las ultimas fases del juego (que no son mas que una excusa barata para hacerlo mas largo) el juego se vuelve repetitivo a mas no poder y el seguir rompiendo los dichosos cubitos se vuelve mas que cansino. Conclusión un juego que en mi opinion cumple con su objetivo de entretener pero que sin duda es muy inferior a la mayoria de juegos de la saga sobre todo de pesos pesados como el maravilloso Birth By Sleep.… Expand
  9. Luia_94
    Dec 15, 2018
    7
    Un buen action rpg. Divertido aunque tampoco pierdes mucho si no lo juegas.
  10. Geek4LGBTQ
    Oct 16, 2019
    7
    Story okay, gameplay pretty fun, worth playing if you're a fan of kingdom hearts
  11. Raado-san
    Jul 26, 2020
    5
    unfortunately the story is weak in the part of the game maybe the gameplay much better than the KH days for a DS but i see no point for this one to exist.
  12. DanWiiDSWiiU3DS
    May 29, 2022
    5
    Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded was the first Kingdom Hearts game I have ever played and... it was certainly an introduction. The gameplay itself is fine enough but nothing all too special and the music is also pretty decent overall (with the Destiny Islands track in particular being a favorite of mine), but the game really doesn't do much for me, if I'm going to be honest. It doesn't really doKingdom Hearts Re:Coded was the first Kingdom Hearts game I have ever played and... it was certainly an introduction. The gameplay itself is fine enough but nothing all too special and the music is also pretty decent overall (with the Destiny Islands track in particular being a favorite of mine), but the game really doesn't do much for me, if I'm going to be honest. It doesn't really do anything bad, but it doesn't really do anything that makes it stand out to me. It's an overall pretty average game to me and it honestly feels a bit... pointless, if that makes any sense, as it doesn't really do anything outside of making me go through the first Kingdom Hearts but on a handheld instead. Overall, this game is pretty average. It isn't good or bad, just... meh.… Expand
  13. MacArron23
    Sep 6, 2023
    6
    Is just a revisit of KH1, still a fun gameplay though. The last cutscenes are crucial. So just play it if you have time, if you dont just watch the movie on YT

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best DS Game of 2011
4
#4 Most Discussed DS Game of 2011
15
#15 Most Shared DS Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 58 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 40 out of 58
  3. Negative: 4 out of 58
  1. Cubed3
    May 9, 2011
    90
    Thanks to its familiar settings, independent storyline, and range of gameplay styles, Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded works well not only as an introduction to the series, but also as a continuation of what is most likely the zaniest storyline in gaming today.
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  2. Game Over Online
    Mar 21, 2011
    70
    Kingdom Hearts Re:coded is a game that feels fragmented. It failed to live up to its potential when it comes to treading new ground, as it falls back into the same familiar territory that fans have already visited and seen. It is not a bad game by any means, but this latest Kingdom Hearts game just isn't what it could have been in regards to giving the series a boost and the breath of fresh air that it needed.
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  3. Gamer Limit
    Mar 10, 2011
    55
    Kingdom Hearts re: Coded is the weakest of the series mostly out of a sense of just existing to kill time until the next 'actual' installment.
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