Kingdom Hearts

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1277 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,103 out of 1277
  2. Mixed: 106 out of 1277
  3. Negative: 68 out of 1277
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  1. genesisdoes
    Oct 2, 2020
    8
    Kingdom Hearts is quite the unique game, linking the two beloved worlds of Final Fantasy and Disney. Despite neither catching very much of my interest throughout my life, I always had a fondness for Kingdom Hearts. Its a very nostalgic property for me. I used to play KH1 and KH2 a lot as a child but never got very far, always getting stuck due to difficulty or lack of knowledge as to whereKingdom Hearts is quite the unique game, linking the two beloved worlds of Final Fantasy and Disney. Despite neither catching very much of my interest throughout my life, I always had a fondness for Kingdom Hearts. Its a very nostalgic property for me. I used to play KH1 and KH2 a lot as a child but never got very far, always getting stuck due to difficulty or lack of knowledge as to where to go next. I finally decided I would stay dedicated and play through the whole game.

    Despite what most fans will tell you about the controls being outdated and future games being generally better experiences, I still had a lot of fun with Kingdom Hearts. It was pretty difficult at times, especially with the final boss but I managed to get through it on normal difficulty. I've played through most of KH2 at the time of me writing this (November 2019) but I'm stuck on the Roxas battle. Even without having completed it, I definitely prefer the sequel for it's improved gameplay and more interesting worlds to explore. Regardless, the original is still very much worth playing.
    I beat this game in February of 2019.    … Expand
  2. Xrayplayer
    Oct 16, 2020
    8
    Kingdom hearts is a great game but far from perfect.

    the camera can be uncooperative the combat machines can get repetitive at times in the first half of the game. But in the second half there's a handful of upgrades to your abilities there's nice amount of depth to your arsenal you can get a lot of Useful items and magical powers and your party members can also be helpful... the battles    Kingdom hearts is a great game but far from perfect.

    the camera can be uncooperative the combat machines can get repetitive at times in the first half of the game.

    But in the second half there's a handful of upgrades to your abilities there's nice amount of depth to your arsenal you can get a lot of Useful items and magical powers and your party members can also be helpful... the battles themselves are so much fun and the bosses are some of best thing the game can offer they're challenging in good way and required some serious skills to win and it feels so rewarding when you win and you get better and better at this game.

    the biggest flaw in the game are the unskippable cutscenes it's so annoying especially during the hardest boss battles after you die you need to rewatch them again.

    it's easy to get lost in some of the levels so you need to pay attention to the story.. the story is great I love the characters and the plot and the Disney worlds are great they are well designed with catchy and amazing soundtrack.    … Expand
  3. dottorfrizzino
    May 18, 2021
    10
    this game is a MASTERPIECE so iconic even today, ireally enjoyed the ps2 version even more on the 1.5 !
  4. thc-200
    Mar 18, 2021
    10
    Its **** awesome, I play this game since I have memory and ever I finish I love it more
  5. DarkSoulAxel
    Apr 10, 2021
    9
    Amazing game for sure. Kingdom Hearts 1 was a childhood game for me but even without nostalgia, I would hold it in high regard. It looks great, has an interesting story, charming characters, interesting Disney based worlds, a somehwat simple but satisfying combat system and nice boss fights and music. I love the HUD, I love graphics, I love the magic/MP system, I absolutely love that ideaAmazing game for sure. Kingdom Hearts 1 was a childhood game for me but even without nostalgia, I would hold it in high regard. It looks great, has an interesting story, charming characters, interesting Disney based worlds, a somehwat simple but satisfying combat system and nice boss fights and music. I love the HUD, I love graphics, I love the magic/MP system, I absolutely love that idea of having a key as a sword that changes with certain keychains and overall, this game is a must have for Action-RPG fans.… Expand
  6. yBazara
    Jun 18, 2021
    8
    [ENG] I really liked this game, despite having some ''bad'' graphics for the ''nowadays'' time, I got used to the graphics, and what impressed me was the great story developed about friendship, companionship and adventure, I found the game very difficult when fighting the bosses, but it was a very fun challenge, I recommend it a lot

    [PT-BR] Gostei muito desse jogo, apesar de ter uns    [ENG] I really liked this game, despite having some ''bad'' graphics for the ''nowadays'' time, I got used to the graphics, and what impressed me was the great story developed about friendship, companionship and adventure, I found the game very difficult when fighting the bosses, but it was a very fun challenge, I recommend it a lot

    [PT-BR] Gostei muito desse jogo, apesar de ter uns gráficos um pouco ''ruim'' para a época de ''hoje em dia'' eu me acostumei com os gráficos, e o que me impressionou foi a ótima história desenvolvida sobre amizade, companherismo e aventura, achei o jogo bem difícil na luta contra os bosses, mas foi um desafio muito divertido, recomendo demais    … Expand
  7. jacktwelve
    May 29, 2022
    9
    Absolute classic of a game. For a 20 year game it trully held up to the test of time. With its epic boss fights, Cool attack animations, Memorable story, godtier music. Whats not to love.
  8. nenzzz
    Sep 29, 2021
    9
    Honestly one of my best memories as a kid picking out the box and not knowing what kinda game i was getting. So much charm and colour with interesting characters, worlds and gameplay absolute masterpiece later games kinda diluted the magic down but on its own a masterpiece.
  9. ThomasSWT
    Oct 25, 2021
    9
    Where it all started... This game has a great nostalgia effect on me, but it's not just nostalgia, this game is a forever classic. What make this game unique compared to other games in the series is the perfect combination of Square Enix and Disney in a balanced mixture. It's magical story is something you won't experience again in the series. It's definitely a must-play.
  10. TeemoTime
    Jan 31, 2023
    9
    As soon as I saw Final Fantasy x Disney, I hoped on that good stuff faster than the speed of light. Simple plot compared to the rest of the series, a great first JRPG for people who don't like JRPGs.
  11. Frosstype
    Oct 28, 2021
    8
    The 3rd best KH game behind KH2 and KH3:ReMind and those two for me is 2 of best games of all time! KH1 is not one of the best games for me but it doesn't mean its not amazing! It's the origin of the franchise which gives it a lot of respect for it but gameplay is lacking in a lot of ways with several rough edges.
  12. Zer0xl
    Nov 20, 2021
    8
    The quality in kh1 is very good, the combat is rough after you play the next numbered games, but it's not bad, and it didn't aged poorly.

    The Pacing is Very good, every disney world feels connected to the whole plot.

    I still prefer 2 slightly, but they are in the same spot in my Kingdom hearts Tier list.
  13. Mr_Fish
    Jun 15, 2022
    8
    even on a first playthrough there's something about this game that just feels nostalgic
  14. Denderotto
    May 6, 2022
    9
    Playing this game for the first time is a incredible experience, especially if you already are a fan of Disney and Final Fantasy; there was nothing like this before. Some problems such as the platforming sections and the bad camera makes me not give a bigger score, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a big experience that started a fantastic franchise.
  15. Diaboliste
    Jun 4, 2022
    8
    the best game ps2 graphics good level design good scenario taking a secret cutscene for regular players too bad there are only disney worlds and not final fantasy
  16. RenTheJoker
    Aug 29, 2022
    10
    Kingdom Hearts is one of the video games of all time. Don’t change my mind.
  17. SideOrderoLemon
    Apr 24, 2023
    9
    One of the most versatile action rpgs of that generation, Kingdom Hearts breathes fresh life into the genre setting a standard for those to come even today. A magical combination of Final Fantasy and Disney may sound ridiculous but mixes fluidly in the context of the game. Kingdom Hearts is filled to the brim with charm and whimsy and brings out the kid in anyone. The story of KingdomOne of the most versatile action rpgs of that generation, Kingdom Hearts breathes fresh life into the genre setting a standard for those to come even today. A magical combination of Final Fantasy and Disney may sound ridiculous but mixes fluidly in the context of the game. Kingdom Hearts is filled to the brim with charm and whimsy and brings out the kid in anyone. The story of Kingdom Hearts has become an absolute joke nowadays, but the first game has a pretty fun and exciting story, in some places anyway. To say this game is without flaw is to deny it of its charm, and makes it more appreciative the longer time goes to where the controls feel like it was just released weeks ago. If you ever get a chance, definitely pick up the HD Remix.… Expand
  18. MacArron23
    May 15, 2023
    8
    Nostalgia User, as good as i remembered
    ......................................
  19. aaronnmp96
    Jan 31, 2023
    9
    Crazy that they mix Disney and Square characters and it works, the video game
  20. Unemportant
    Feb 9, 2023
    8
    One of my first games and it still holds up as an absolute classics. Say what you will about the series it clearly started out pretty strong.
  21. ReviewsAreBS
    Feb 26, 2023
    10
    While combat mechanics aren’t very deep, the intricate level design and semi-coherent story make this the best in the series. The soundtrack and visuals are legendary, I don’t really need to say much more.

    It was the best use of Disney IPs in a video game when I first played it 20+ years ago and that remains true to this day.
  22. CharlotteBelmon
    Sep 4, 2023
    8
    For its first outing, Kingdom Hearts is a great game, and in a bubble, an amazing game of its era. Despite being one of, if not the weirdest mashups in gaming, Final Fantasy and Disney (although more leaning on the Disney side of things for the first game), Kingdom Hearts strangely works. The game, as well as its main original characters, strike a good balance between the two seeminglyFor its first outing, Kingdom Hearts is a great game, and in a bubble, an amazing game of its era. Despite being one of, if not the weirdest mashups in gaming, Final Fantasy and Disney (although more leaning on the Disney side of things for the first game), Kingdom Hearts strangely works. The game, as well as its main original characters, strike a good balance between the two seemingly clashing art and writing directions of its creators, with Disney's whimsy and childlike adventurousness and Final Fantasy taking care of the serious and more engaging parts of the story.

    Speaking of the story, the first game in the series is a lot lighter than the rest of the franchise, which came as a bit of a shock to me, as you always here horror stories about Kingdom Hearts' convoluted story, which is what made me pick up the 1.5 + 2.5 HD Collection on Ps4 (In case you're wondering, the HD remakes are the way to go with this game. Better graphics, more moves that make the game less frustrating and more fun). The story has main protagonist Sora going on an adventure with Disney's Donald and Goofy throughout various classic Disney films, such as Hercules, Peter Pan, Aladdin and more in order to find and save his friends Riku and Kairi, all of which were separated due to mysterious shadow monsters called the Heartless. On top of this, Sora can wield the magical Keyblade, a key shaped sword that can rid the Heartless for good. Like I said, its a lot simpler than the rest of the franchise, but it just about kept me interested until the end. Emphasis on the "just about", as the story tends to take a backseat during most of the Disney worlds, where Sora goes about helping the characters from the films in their on condensed story, some original to Kingdom Hearts, and some just straight up being the films they're based on. Its alright for a first game, but nothing ground-breaking or incredibly interesting until the later parts of the game.

    Gameplay-wise, the combat is quite fun. Sora can attack with his Keyblade in melee combat, or use it to cast classic Final Fantasy spells. This being said, I never really used the spells except for the first couple of times using them. This was when I realised that the offensive spells are very underwhelming, and not worth using when you could use your MP for healing or protective spells, or your time going up to the enemy and using the Keyblade. Melee is really the only way to go. There are also various summons you can use. Summons are unlockable moves where Sora calls upon a Disney character and they help out in the fight, such as Simba from the Lion King attack enemies with his roar, or Tinkerbell providing continuous healing. I used these moves every now and again, as they require having Donald and Goofy as party members, which means giving up having the Disney character from the world your in, which is a shame because they don't show up again after completing the world. As a whole, the gameplay is fine, just feels slightly dated in some parts.

    In conclusion, Kingdom Hearts is a game worth your time, and definitely a must play. While it pales in comparison to other games in the series, it still just about holds up today as a legendary start to a legendary franchise. Stick with the game and the series as a whole, and you'll find a new obsession that you will not regret.    … Expand
  23. APolChrome
    Aug 30, 2023
    9
    Qué bueno que es Kingdom Hearts. Ha sido una auténtica sorpresa en todos sus aspectos para bien. Hace todo tan bien que me parece una obra maestra. Que Disney cediera derechos de sus personajes para un RPG me parece genial, sobre todo si es para esto. Quiero hablar de muchas cosas del juego así que no pierdo más carácteres de Metacritic.

    El gameplay me parece genial. El sistema de    Qué bueno que es Kingdom Hearts. Ha sido una auténtica sorpresa en todos sus aspectos para bien. Hace todo tan bien que me parece una obra maestra. Que Disney cediera derechos de sus personajes para un RPG me parece genial, sobre todo si es para esto. Quiero hablar de muchas cosas del juego así que no pierdo más carácteres de Metacritic.

    El gameplay me parece genial. El sistema de combate es increíble, pareciendo simple al principio, pero siendo muy complejo en las partes finales del juego. Los hechizos son una locura y hay una variedad tremenda, aunque hay algunos que están destinados a coger polvo en ese menú, pero que pueden llegar a servir en ciertas ocasiones. Las habilidades (o no sé como llamarlas) añaden mucha variedad al gameplay, habiendo para ocasiones de todo tipo. Desde volteretas como en Dark Souls hasta poder ver la vida de los enemigos, pasando por añadir más golpes a tu secuencia o tener golpes devastadores al final de estas, hace que el gameplay se sienta diferente y al tener limitado el numéro de estas, añade un toque estratégico.

    Los mapas me han parecido muy buenos. La exploración en estos para el reducido tamaño de estos entá muy bien conseguida y sientes como si estuvieses en un mundo y no en un nivel más del juego. A esto le sumamos que cada uno tiene una mini historia acorde al universo del mismo y nos quedan unos mundos llenos de personalidad con los que podemos rememorar nuestra infancia. En estos también hay varios coleccionables, el más destacable los 99 cachorros dálmatas, que añaden una capa más a la exploración.

    Audiovisualmente es increíble. Pensar que este juego salió en 2002 (un año en el que ni siquiera había nacido) me parece una locura. Las animaciones, el estilo artístico de la animación de Disney llevado al videojuego... Todo es precioso en este juego. Y la OST es de las mejores que he escuchado nunca. Canciones que pueden ponerte la piel de gallina con solo escucharlas un momento. En este aspecto, el juego es un 10.

    La historia de este juego me ha encantado. Sobre todo porque no se han limitado por ser Disney la otra mitad. Es una historia que habla sobre temas muy complejos y que tiene muchos giros muy inesperados. Empieza siendo una aventura de 3 amigos, y termina siendo un viaje memorable que termina en salvar al mundo. Mis dieces para los escritores de la historia del juego.

    En resumen, Kingdom Hearts me parece una obra maestra con un nivel de pulido increíble en todos y cada uno de sus aspectos. Nomura habrá tenido algunos errores en su carrera, pero cuando quiere, nos demuestra que puede crear obras maestras. Debes jugarlo.    … Expand
  24. Gonyaestaba
    Jul 20, 2023
    8
    Despite the fact that Kingdom Hearts is one of my favorite games, it is undeniable to say that it has some flaws such as the camera that sometimes does not work quite right, another flaw is the script which is good for the game but compared to the following games it is much simpler than the following although despite these flaws that I have just mentioned, it does not mean that you do notDespite the fact that Kingdom Hearts is one of my favorite games, it is undeniable to say that it has some flaws such as the camera that sometimes does not work quite right, another flaw is the script which is good for the game but compared to the following games it is much simpler than the following although despite these flaws that I have just mentioned, it does not mean that you do not have fun with this game and also note that there are many details… Expand
  25. lizardkingg
    Jul 21, 2023
    10
    Easily one of the best PS2 games of all time. Great story, revolutionary gameplay, & incredibly creative blend of the Disney/Final Fantasy worlds.
  26. PR9Gaming
    Aug 12, 2023
    9
    Pretty sure this game spawned the soulslike genre from the simple question of "what if an entire game was like the Sephiroth fight?".
  27. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    10
    A game I will never forget. I loved this so much as a teen, every moment is ingrained in my memory.
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Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best PS2 Game of 2002
2
#2 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2002
5
#5 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2002

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. Game Informer
    95
    The battles that unfold are as beautful as they are intense, and as difficult as they are easy to manhandle. [Oct 2002, p.76]
  2. Play Magazine
    80
    To say that Kingdom Hearts is magical is an understatement. As cinematic experiences go, it's exquisite. It's not the finest in terms of action, but overall, it's wonderful. [Oct 2002, p.74]
  3. GameZone
    91
    Has a few flaws, but its unique character pairings and jaw-dropping graphics make this a remarkable RPG.
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