Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

 Game Boy Advance
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 37
  3. Negative: 1 out of 37
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  1. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    72
    Although billed as the bridge between the first and second PS2 "Kingdom Hearts" adventures, Memories feels more like a "Golden Girls" clips episode - lots of reminiscing and recapping in lieu of new hijinks. [Jan 2005, p.143]
  2. GMR Magazine
    70
    The levels are repetitive, boxy mazes with nothing interesting in them aside from battles, and the story's for fans only. Still, it's a technically excellent and fun game that begins to wear only through repetition and ease. [Jan 2005, p.84]
  3. games(TM)
    70
    Chain Of Memories' biggest problem is the repetitive nature of most of the rooms. In order to build up anything that even resembles a decent set of cards you'll need to repeat fights countless times to earn Moogle Points and experience, and the relatively limited number of different Heartless in each area can make this something of a chore.
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  5. GameCritics
    70
    And as a videogame, there's not much in Chain of Memories that I haven't seen before…except card breaks and room synthesis.
  6. GamePro
    70
    Conceptually, Chain of Memories is a good idea but when awkward hybrid gameplay meets plotlines based on afterthought ideas, it's just a perplexing mess.
  7. GamerFeed
    70
    The combat system is card based, but just pressing the A button enough will most likely guarantee you victory regardless of the situation.
  8. Pelaaja (Finland)
    70
    The card-combat mechanic does not work quite as well as it could, and the game is a bit too linear and the combat repetitive. Still, the magical union of Final Fantasy characters and Disney's different fantasy worlds give the game enough appeal and charm to keep you playing until the end. [June 2005, p.77]
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  9. Nintendophiles
    67
    A mildly amusing game that half-heartedly struggles to maintain the feel of its predecessor while still maintaining an air of uniqueness. It'll definitely serve to entertain, though those who haven't played the original game may be a little lost.
  10. Play Magazine
    62
    The plot is basically a device to rehash the stories of the original Kingdom Hearts. [Jan 2005, p.86]
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  11. Edge Magazine
    50
    This is more than just a cynical cash-in conversion, but in pitching itself as a kind of '1.5' iteration it's never clear if the game is a necessity or a distraction for devotees of the Kingdom Hearts universe. For all but the most ardent follower, its off-target execution will imply the latter. [Feb 2005, p.80]
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Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2004
5
#5 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2004
8
#8 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2004

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 287 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 223 out of 287
  2. Mixed: 45 out of 287
  3. Negative: 19 out of 287
  1. Welterweight426
    Aug 17, 2012
    7
    A good game. However, the card system is rather...annoying. The story is good and there is a lot of content. Unfortunately the card systemA good game. However, the card system is rather...annoying. The story is good and there is a lot of content. Unfortunately the card system really diminishes the game.… Full Review »
  2. SuperkenGaming
    Jan 5, 2017
    7
    Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
    De Ja Vu
    Chain of memories is a direct sequel to kingdom hearts… This time your search for king Mickie    Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
    De Ja Vu
    Chain of memories is a direct sequel to kingdom hearts…
    This time your search for king Mickie takes you to the castle of oblivion…
    Your objective of the game is to make it up this castle 1 floor at a time…
    And conveniently each of these floors revisits your memories as the higher you go the more you forget and remember at the same time..
    Perfect opportunity for developers to get lazy and just recycle… and that’s exactly what they did…
    Chain of Memories is Just the original kingdom hearts put into a card combat format with the excuse of memory loss…
    There’s nothing new to see here other than a few characters in the kingdom hearts lore…
    But as for Disney characters and worlds.. its revisiting the exact same places in the original… this is one of those rare instances where you’re better off watching all of the cut scenes for the story on YouTube than actually spending 20 hours of your life playing through.. which is a shame because the game is actually really good and has potential to be addictive…
    Unlike the hack and slash meets 3d platformer style of the original, chain of memories is more of a dungeon crawler meets hack and slash card game… you go into a room.. kill some heartless for xp and at the end of the fight they also drop a card… you use these cards to open new doors in these dungeons…
    And what’s in these rooms are dependent on the card you play…
    The only rules to the cards you can use on the door is that the number has to match or be higher.. And rarely you’ll need to match or be lower for the card value... and each card has its own perk such as more heartless, treasure room, a shop to buy cards for combat among many other things…
    and for combat you attack with these cards in real time…
    The highest value gets the hit.. It’s very fast paced and rarely requires any thinking... but definitely requires bit of strategy… but it’s all very accessible preventing you from raging during battles…
    You build up your deck with attack, summon, and magic cards you get throughout the world in breakable items, shops, and story progression… but your deck does have a max amount of cp.. so it’s going to be a while until your deck is full of 5 plus value… and as you level up you get to choose if you increase this cap, your hp, or learn a new slight move which is pulled off by stacking 3 weaker cards together for a more powerful attack… which gives reason to not just toss the weak cards to the side or sell them.. And you do have allies by your side, but you have to catch their cards mid battle to call them in to do an attack much like a summon… they aren’t there fighting with you the whole time like in kingom hearts 1.. which is fine as the battles are miles easier here…
    It’s a great concept but again... the worlds and the story....even the boss fights, theyre just compact versions of the real thing..… it’s all recycled from kingdom hearts 1…..which kills this game…
    Kingdom hearts 1 is the superior game.. If you want to experience these Disney world’s play that one instead... you do play as someone else in the final chunk of the game that I’m not going to say for spoilers... But even they are revisiting the same spots too…
    Chain of Memories is included in the collection and is definitely worth at least checking out... But don’t be surprised when boredom kicks in as you never see anything new…
    I give Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
    a 7/10    … Full Review »
  3. JamJamer
    Jul 26, 2023
    0
    Looking for a fun and relaxing game to play? Check out 144mahjong.com/mahjong-chain-game! It's an addictive and enjoyable tile-matching gameLooking for a fun and relaxing game to play? Check out 144mahjong.com/mahjong-chain-game! It's an addictive and enjoyable tile-matching game that will keep you entertained for hours. Give it a try and challenge yourself to complete the chain of tiles. Happy gaming!… Full Review »
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