Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories

 PlayStation 2
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 388 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 232 out of 388
  2. Mixed: 101 out of 388
  3. Negative: 55 out of 388
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. cidgrad01
    Oct 25, 2013
    2
    I played the remastered version included with the recent 1.5 HD Remix release. I love Kingdom Hearts: FM, but I’ve found Re:CoM so bad that I felt the need to give it its own review. It is still applicable since it’s the same game from the PS2 release only with sharper graphics.

    Re:CoM is miserable and tedious. I had thought the switch to a card battling system meant that battles would    I played the remastered version included with the recent 1.5 HD Remix release. I love Kingdom Hearts: FM, but I’ve found Re:CoM so bad that I felt the need to give it its own review. It is still applicable since it’s the same game from the PS2 release only with sharper graphics.

    Re:CoM is miserable and tedious. I had thought the switch to a card battling system meant that battles would be turn-based and strategic. Instead gameplay is half action RPG like the original KH and half card battler. It fails at both.

    Coming straight from KH you will feel the urge to attack like normal since it seems the same engine has been used for combat. The difference now, though, is that you have to pay attention to what card from your deck is active (displayed in the lower-left) when you hit the attack button as well as if the enemies are playing any cards (displayed lower-middle). Whoever’s card is higher carries out the attack, though everything still occurs in real time and with the same drawbacks found in KH’s combat system, like bad camera angles & hitting people with magic often being a pain.

    The key to success is choosing lots of “CP” when you level up, which allows you to carry more cards. That in turn, though, makes your deck more difficult to navigate through during battles. This means you will want to arrange your card deck in a way that keeps shuffling through it during battle to a minimum, but since you’re constantly getting new cards & more CP to expand your deck, that means you spend an inordinate amount of time editing your deck. Even then, you may have an excellent deck and plenty of cards to stop that attack the boss is about to launch, but you’re only going to have a second or two to sift through your cards and find it.

    You also have to worry about your inventory of special map cards, which are used in moving from room to room in the environment. The map cards have different properties that will be reflected in the rooms you create. It’s another thing that sounds intriguing but ends up being another level of tedium. The vast majority of map cards do nothing but present you with different layouts for grinding levels. And all but two of the worlds are the exact same areas you already went through during KH (Aladdin, Little Mermaid, etc), with the exact same music, so there’s no sense of exploration but repetition, instead. Many of the boss fights are even the same, like Guard Armor & Jafar Genie. The world areas are so redundant, in fact, that I skipped all of their text-only cutscenes after the first area b/c they add nothing to the overall plot of the game.

    Re: CoM’s only saving grace is its introduction of new characters and some pretty interesting, fully voice-acted story material. I originally went straight to KH2 from the first game back in the day and felt lost, so it was nice to finally get those gaps filled in. The problem is that you only get to see this new stuff between worlds, so to see it you need to slog through the 90% part of the game that sucks.

    I beat Sora’s story & am now having a fierce internal debate as to whether or not to play through Riku’s. I want to see what happened with him, but holy crap, I really, really don’t want to play this terrible game anymore, especially if I can’t build a Sonic Blade deck and carve through bosses with my eyes closed. Ugh.    … Expand
  2. DudeFromIceland
    Sep 20, 2014
    4
    I love KH and KH2 but this game is the most frustrating piece of garbage I have played in a long time. The card battle system takes all the fun out of fighting enemies. The story and the characters are the games only saving grace I am afraid, I this hadn't had the Kingdom Hearts name, I never would have picked this game up.
  3. pr0phacy
    Sep 17, 2015
    0
    While the first Kingdom Hearts were far from a perfect game, I had fun with the first Kingdom hearts, so I decided to try the chain of memories on the HD remix.

    This game is absolutely terrible. The game suffered some of the same problems as the first game - indicative of either low budget or lazy programming, especially the sound engineer during battles. The same audio would be looped    While the first Kingdom Hearts were far from a perfect game, I had fun with the first Kingdom hearts, so I decided to try the chain of memories on the HD remix.

    This game is absolutely terrible. The game suffered some of the same problems as the first game - indicative of either low budget or lazy programming, especially the sound engineer during battles. The same audio would be looped over and over again as the AI kept spamming the same attack, to a point that it felt better to mute the TV entirely and play the game in silence.

    On top of this is the terrible battle system Square decided to tag into the game. Not only did you have to pay attention to a real time battle on screen (running around, dodging, and attacking the right targets.) You must also pay attention to a separate card system, making sure your attack cards is a higher number than your enemies - imagine doing math while you're getting shot at on a battlefield.    … Expand
  4. Broseph14
    Mar 13, 2015
    3
    I really don't like this game. But the really sad thing is if the presentation and battle system were better this would easily be in my top 3 of the franchise. The story is quite slow but picks up and the ending is quite good since it explains what happens to the trio after kh 1. BUT the battle system is garbage. You use cards instead of commands or the regular battle system and they makeI really don't like this game. But the really sad thing is if the presentation and battle system were better this would easily be in my top 3 of the franchise. The story is quite slow but picks up and the ending is quite good since it explains what happens to the trio after kh 1. BUT the battle system is garbage. You use cards instead of commands or the regular battle system and they make battles that I can deal with on Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 final mix really hard. The two main problems are: 1 you can run out of cards and have to waste time to "reload" them and 2: You cant use the conventional block and since the dodge roll is nearly useless, unless you can organize your thoughts in a stressful situation to use "card breaks" which can be annoying to organize when the boss is using their desperation move. Also presentation sucks and I USUALLY don't care about presentation in a game but the level design is in excusable. The game uses cards to generate your next area which may sound small but is a big issue! I.E if you use a "calm bounty" card in atlantica and then in twilight town the area minus the textures is exactly the SAME!!!
    and finally there is barely any voice acting which makes the events in your boring bleak adventure even more drawn out. Even as a massive fan of the series and usually defend the games with my life, this is unacceptable even by my standards SE if you remake the game WITHOUT the cards I will change my view but 3 remakes later I dont think this will happen    … Expand
  5. AngelB
    Jan 16, 2018
    0
    This game is garbage. The Card Mechanic literally doesn't work. The enemy has way too much of an advantage. Youtube it or play it on Easy mode if you must. Trust me. This game is exactly like having a conversation where you keep getting interrupted and can't get a single word in.
  6. kingdomhearts
    Aug 25, 2009
    1
    This game was horrible. When I first heard about the remake coming out on ps2, I thought it would be great, but I was wrong. In the game, you start off not knowing anything, but you get a little better, but then you start seeing constant card breaks when you are fighting, and just when you try to unleash your most powerful combo...*chink*card break...The reason a rated higher than a zero This game was horrible. When I first heard about the remake coming out on ps2, I thought it would be great, but I was wrong. In the game, you start off not knowing anything, but you get a little better, but then you start seeing constant card breaks when you are fighting, and just when you try to unleash your most powerful combo...*chink*card break...The reason a rated higher than a zero (and i wasn't inclined to at first) is because it kept me occupied for about 3 hours before i realized that if it is going to take three hours or more of button mashing with cards in each world, this would be an incredibly boring game.… Expand
  7. Arez
    Aug 13, 2016
    1
    I played the remastered version included with the recent 1.5 HD Remix release. I love Kingdom Hearts: FM, but I’ve found Re:CoM so bad that I felt the need to give it its own review. It is still applicable since it’s the same game from the PS2 release only with sharper graphics.
  8. NicoCC
    Aug 1, 2021
    1
    Who was the degenerate that decided this was a good game to make and a valuable addition to people's entertainment "bank"? Seriously, go and swat flies in the kitchen, I promise it will be more interesting and you'll also have more fun.
  9. Zetastein
    Jan 20, 2020
    0
    Its mostly a retelling of the first game and made a lot of unnecessary bad decisions and changes. Ignore the fan boys that rate based on nostalgia.
    All it does it lead up to the best kingdom hearts game and it doesnt have much more to be worth playing.
  10. ASSASSIN_TRISTA
    Apr 4, 2022
    0
    where do i start........ KINGDOM HEARTS 1 RESKIN WITH NEW CUTSCENES IN BETWEEN WORLDS. THE CARD SYSTEM IS ASS BECAUSE MARLUXIA BLOCKS ALL YOUR **** CARDS AND THEN STUN-LOCKS YOU INTO A CORNER AND DESTROYS YOU OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS GAME IS **** NOMURA YOU HAVE DIISAPOINTED ME SEVERELY I'M DONE SO MUCH KINGODM HEARTS 4 BETTER BE A LOT BETTER AND YOU FFVII PART 2 BETTER NOT BEwhere do i start........ KINGDOM HEARTS 1 RESKIN WITH NEW CUTSCENES IN BETWEEN WORLDS. THE CARD SYSTEM IS ASS BECAUSE MARLUXIA BLOCKS ALL YOUR **** CARDS AND THEN STUN-LOCKS YOU INTO A CORNER AND DESTROYS YOU OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS GAME IS **** NOMURA YOU HAVE DIISAPOINTED ME SEVERELY I'M DONE SO MUCH KINGODM HEARTS 4 BETTER BE A LOT BETTER AND YOU FFVII PART 2 BETTER NOT BE SCREWED UP.… Expand
  11. msmythe365
    Mar 2, 2014
    2
    The main combat system was glorious in the other Kingdom Hearts games, and this one was an unfortunate change. The combat is based on cards, and I couldn't get the hang of it enough to enjoy playing.
  12. Kai82
    Feb 27, 2020
    4
    It enters the list of great games that had a serious flaw like Epic Mickey (Camera), Kid Icarus Uprising (Controls) or Mass Effect 3 (Ending). To be fair it is an 8-9/10 game for me but the horrible battle system destroyed the experience. Here they use a card style battle system in real time battles. It takes a lot of time to get used to it (If you can even get used to it). I had to pushIt enters the list of great games that had a serious flaw like Epic Mickey (Camera), Kid Icarus Uprising (Controls) or Mass Effect 3 (Ending). To be fair it is an 8-9/10 game for me but the horrible battle system destroyed the experience. Here they use a card style battle system in real time battles. It takes a lot of time to get used to it (If you can even get used to it). I had to push myself to play the game and was always annoyed by this. It is a shame because the rest is really good. The graphic and sound are good as always. The story is Kingdom Hearts like. That means it is good for me (fans) but can annoy others. Side-note: Have you ever explained the story of Kingdom Hearts to your friends that don't have played the games? It is an interesting experience and can turn awkward really fast;-). Back to the game. Like I said the story is really good for me as are the characters. You learn something about the Organization and it plays with the concept of memories. I will also praise that they tried something new or different. Overall this is my least favorite Kingdom Hearts game because of the battle system. If you don't agree that's fine for me. I was also on the other end of this type of conversation and admit that this is a thing about preferences. I prefer better systems.… Expand
  13. Empyrea
    Nov 12, 2019
    4
    I played this game for 5 hours (1/3 of the game) until I got stuck and I was playing it in easy mode. This game has the worst battle system that I've ever played. They tried to do a mix between turn-based and real time gamplay and they didn't succeed. Plus, it's a game that doesn't have much new things. It feels repetitive. I just watch some videos on youtube about the argument and watchedI played this game for 5 hours (1/3 of the game) until I got stuck and I was playing it in easy mode. This game has the worst battle system that I've ever played. They tried to do a mix between turn-based and real time gamplay and they didn't succeed. Plus, it's a game that doesn't have much new things. It feels repetitive. I just watch some videos on youtube about the argument and watched the ending and I went on. If you have KH 1.5 do the same as I did: try this game in easy mode but skip it if you have troubles.… Expand
  14. SilverFranko
    Jan 20, 2019
    2
    The story is the only thing that this game has going for it. The card based system is a nightmare to handle with and frustrating when you can't do certain attacks, spells, and combos. Kingdom Hearts is known for it intense fun combat and when you limit that to where you can sometimes make combos happen (if the enemy doesn't break your combo or cards first) it kills the fun factor andThe story is the only thing that this game has going for it. The card based system is a nightmare to handle with and frustrating when you can't do certain attacks, spells, and combos. Kingdom Hearts is known for it intense fun combat and when you limit that to where you can sometimes make combos happen (if the enemy doesn't break your combo or cards first) it kills the fun factor and immersion. On top of the bad combat of the game, there are some instances to where some of the bosses are in some weird places and Sora can't hit them properly or combo them. Then there is the problem to where a battle can last a long time and you will run out of cards. So when you run out of cards you basically have to hope that a Pluto card will randomly appear and help you get back some of your cards, or you will be stuck having to fight with one attack card and one heal that will make the battle even longer unless you die. All in all this game Should of been a Cinematic on the Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Remix. If you hate having cards to judge your attacks and juggling multiple things in battle I suggest watch the story on Youtube, since it's a big part of the story that takes place between Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2.… Expand
  15. RadReviewer
    Feb 8, 2019
    4
    A tedious, confusing system that tried to fix something that wasn't broken. This disappointing combat system is only further emphasized by the fact that the game doesnt know where its going until the last 2-3 hours of gameplay. It feels pointless and drawn out. Unfortunately, like all the games side titles, it is imperative to know this part of the story or the rest will make 0 sense.
  16. WLovecraft
    Nov 30, 2019
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I played this game recently so that I can try and remember what happened in the story. At first it was fun but after the first set of worlds were done and the second appeared I became exhausted with the system and the grind.

    I realize now, why they have never remastered this game and it's because it's a bad game. Well, it's not a bad game per se, it's just not very good. There's voice acting, a unique new story, animations, and updated cutscenes at a higher resolution is really cool but my god did the gameplay take a hit. And, I love card games and I love kingdom hearts. But basically, the bosses are really hard in this game and the game expects you to grind, waste time levelling, and mindlessly kill enemies.

    I just want to say, I remember beating this game many years ago and noticing that I can play Riku and do his side of the story but I never bothered to play it because I was just done with the game. Like, the story is new but it's not good. To play Rikus story and expecting it to be better than Sora's story would be a waste of time and that's the thing, I don't think this game is worth the players time.

    I'm sorry but if you're a fan of the KH series, I would suggest that you just watch the cutscenes. The game sucks the life out of you and there are better games to play.    … Expand
  17. David12171
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    Awful, love the first game, i fell in love with the characters and then when I go to the next one to know about the storyline, the game hits me in the face with cards, like give me Blue eyes white dragon or I'm out, and so I did, never want to play it again, did not like it at all
  18. Shmurgen
    Oct 19, 2020
    1
    Worst game I’ve ever played, combat starts off trash and confusing and only gets worse
  19. ZangBang
    Oct 24, 2022
    3
    38/100
    Chain of Memories tells a story that is even better than its predecessor's, thanks to a captivating atmosphere, greater focus on old characters' inner struggles, fascinating new antagonists and a fantastic story pacing that has you constantly hooked. Alas, to this narrative upgrade corresponds an equally massiv gameplay downgrade. Gameplay has many exceptional ideas, but they all    38/100
    Chain of Memories tells a story that is even better than its predecessor's, thanks to a captivating atmosphere, greater focus on old characters' inner struggles, fascinating new antagonists and a fantastic story pacing that has you constantly hooked. Alas, to this narrative upgrade corresponds an equally massiv gameplay downgrade. Gameplay has many exceptional ideas, but they all fail in some way. The progression is characterized by a unique, fun system that allows players to customize their path to the end of the level in interesting ways, but the potential of such an original idea is significantly squandered by some fundamentally dull Level Design structure. The Combat System is incredible: a wonderful balance of real time strategy and action thanks to the deeply addicting card system that rewards strategy and planning as much as reflexes, also adding some fun card-game collecting to the mix. This amazing blend is quickly ruined by some horrendous balancing, where a couple of easily obtainable powerful Abilities can be spammed, removing almost all challenge from the game.    … Expand
  20. Unemportant
    Feb 9, 2023
    3
    Yeahhhh it sucks. I'm sorry I tried. The story was not that "gritty" and nowhere near as deep as people say. The world's are probably the worst in the series other than Arendelle. The combat is so not funny, it's not strategy you just play the better cards and find a **** meta.

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best PS2 Game of 2008
3
#3 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2008
3
#3 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 20
  3. Negative: 2 out of 20
  1. 1UP
    67
    Seriously, though -- for Kingdom Hearts fans who missed out on COM the first time, this is definitely the best way to play it. While the new stuff is small (a few so-so minigames in Hundred Acre Wood, additional voice acting from the Sixth Sense kid, etc.), my memory of Chain of Memories hasn't changed: It's a pleasant little title that reminds me how much I want Kingdom Hearts 3.
    Read full review
  2. IGN
    84
    An impressive remake that improves the presentation of the original GBA version by leaps and bounds while simultaneously streamlining the battle system.
    Read full review
  3. GamePro
    80
    Even though it's not a wholly fresh experience, Kingdom Hearts: Re:Chain of Memories is definitely worth a try, especially if you didn't play the original GBA release.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »