Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX is the best HD collection yet produced, a passion-fueled love letter to patient fans, and a visually arresting introduction to characters, worlds, and gameplay that deserve every beautiful pixel.

Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix offers old fans a great excuse to play some of the series’ older installments while also giving curious newcomers the best way to get their first fix.

Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix is a good compilation. The first, masterful chapter comes to new life thanks to updated graphics, while the Re:Chain of Memories remake falls a bit behind.

With top notch voice acing and spectacular music, beautiful visuals and a veritable raft of fan favourite characters, Kingdom Hearts still has the goods after all these years and will afford a good 40 or so hours of solid and engrossing gaming for fans new and old.

Unlike many other repackaging efforts, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMIX does just enough positively, while leaning on its own greatness to create a worthwhile addition to one’s video game collection.

This will be the most complete Kingdom Hearts game ever. And it’s in HD! Finally we can go back and fight with Sora, Donald and Goofy. The disappointing aspect of the package is the lack of Kingdom Hearts II, while 358/2 Days feels a bit strange.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix is a solid collection that brings back some of the magic Square-Enix created on the PlayStation 2.

Fortunately, Square Enix hasn't merely cashed in on the nostalgia, and has fired on all cylinders to provide these games with a loving upgrade at a outstanding price point.

Barring a few antiquated (but manageable) mechanics that are still in place in the first Kingdom Hearts, HD ReMIX captures the essence of the franchise quite wonderfully.

Completionists might even enjoy watching Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days’ extended remastered cinematics, though it’s disappointing that the box doesn’t make it clearer that this particular adventure is a non-interactive experience.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX is a second chance for anybody interested in the franchise's background. This nicely remastered version has no apparent correlation with Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories, which can be a disappointment. If the adaptation had been complete, we would be talking about an outstanding game.

Just like in the first go around, there’s a lot to do in this game.

So if you’re even partially interested in seeing what all the fuss is about, you should definitely give this HD compilation from Square Enix a shot.

The core of this collection is the excellent original game, and that’s where your attention should be. The other two lowly offerings are inessential bonus ­features.

A rock solid HD remastered edition of two of the best action RPG games released so far.

An HD remake of the highest order. [Dec 2013, p.84]

It’s a nice curio to have on the disk, we suppose, but any fans picking up Kingdom Hearts 1.5 will almost certainly be after a high-end version of the original rather than these frivolous extras. As Square Enix takes what will probably be a decade to release Kingdom Hearts III, this expensive-feeling re-release and a matching 2.5 for the sequel will be a more than adequate stopgap.

It's an easy recommendation for both lifelong Disney fans and Square diehards alike. [Issue#236, p.80]

If you are interested in trying Kingdom Hearts before the third game releases or want to revisit the first two games in the series, this is a fantastic buy. And hey, it's pretty much a certainty that if this game does any kind of numbers, we should expect a "Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix" before too long.

A breath of fresh air for fans of Kingdom Hearts and a great way to revisit the past of the series while waiting for its future to unfold.

The absence of Birth by Sleep is both remarkable and disappointing, and it's definitely a shame we can't play Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. Other than that, however, this is pretty much the ultimate collection for Kingdom Hearts fans, seeing as it enables them to finally follow up on the story appropriately.

If you are new to the series you should think hard, if you really need the whole package. Even though I'd recommend the first Kingdom Hearts to anyone, this particular edition is one for the fans, really.

The genre may have changed a lot over the past decade or so, yet the original Kingdom Hearts still stands as one of its most memorable champions. Sure, a number of its mechanics are a little outdated but considering how well the game has been ported, the wealth of additional features, and bargain price, there’s little, if anything, to complain about.

A fantastic collection of three of the earliest Kingdom Hearts games and stories. There isn’t a mountain of must-play new material here, but the updated visuals, bonus content, adjustable difficulty, and trophy support for all three games should make a repeat playthrough of the games as satisfying as the first.

Despite Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix being a little rough around the edges, it’s still one of the best HD collections around. Things like the controls do take away from the overall experience, but these are fairly minor next to the value you’re getting. The updated graphics make it a must for fans or eager newcomers to experience.

Overall this is a package that can be had at a fairly budget price, so if you are a fan, then go ahead and pick it up and enjoy reliving some of the your favourite moments.

This anthology is worth picking up for Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix alone – the other items herein are delicious cherries on top of a massive sundae of RPG goodness, sprinkled with Disney magic.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMix successfully brings a PS2 classic to the modern age with a noticeably impressive visual update, improved camera controls, and, for added fun, secondary and tertiary Kingdom Hearts content all contained on one disc (as opposed to spread across disparate platforms).

Ten years have taken its toll on Kingdom Hearts, but the foundations have aged well. If you can't wait for Kingdom Hearts III, this can be a great way of reliving the origins of the franchise.

There’s a wealth of new content here, and it’s all been given the love and care this beloved franchise deserves. Whether you’re a veteran, or somebody who doesn’t know the business end of a keyblade, give this a shot. [October 2013, p81]

We are still not that fond of the first Kingdom Hearts. It divided the gaming community back then between those who hated it and those who build a shrine to it in their bedrooms. There was no middle ground. And there still is none today. [October 2013 p.84]

Not quite as good as you remember, but still worth revisiting. [Nov 2013, p.75]

In Kingdom Hearts HD Remix 1.5 the only substantial component is the remake of the first chapter: yet magical, dreamy, although obviously less outstanding than at the time of its release.

With elements of design seriously lacking, it just doesn't feel like Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX was remixed enough. That said, the core game is still great, even after all these years.

If you've never played Kingdom Hearts before, then Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix is the best possible starting point.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix offers a great opportunity to live the beginnings of an epic saga. Even if it didn't include Chain of Memories and 358/2, this would be a great experience for all those that missed its launch 10 years ago and for those who did play it and fell in love with its story and characters.

It’s not a perfect collection, but a decent bundle with Kingdom Hearts Final Mix serving as the main attraction. If you’ve never played Kingdom Hearts, this might be a good opportunity to get acquainted with the series.

The Kingdom Hearts series has aged and this just doesn't feel as much fun as it used to do. But if you're a fan, this is still worth checking out.

While Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX is certainly not the perfect introduction to the series that newcomers may have expected, it does a decent job of recapturing the magic of the original release in glorious high-definition.

This HD remake offers a lot of bang for your buck with hours upon hours of gameplay. Although it's just the main game that truly delivers a good combination of story, fan service and combat. The other two titles doesn't even come close to the level of the original, which is a shame.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix offers a wide look at the first chapters of the series and, even if the collection doesn’t cover the whole saga, it’s worth playing. Nevertheless the lack of extra content makes the game mostly directed to those that haven’t played the saga yet and want to catch up.

This compilation is an excellent opportunity for those wishing to explore the series without missing a beat of the script, in addition to providing first titles never released in Europe. The port is of good quality and we appreciate being back in the world of Kingdom Hearts, in HD and with reworked music and various improvements to the gameplay.

The three experiences complement one another with unique elements and welcome context that is a treat for longtime fans and newcomers alike; plus, there's enough variety to keep everyone engaged for the 50 or 60 hours it can easily take to absorb everything.

Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix will probably not convince non-fans of the series. It’s the same type of cozy Disney/Square-Enix mix as always but also with the same type of bad controls and unbalanced difficulty level as the original.

It just about passes muster as a stopgap release to tide fans over until the long-awaited Kingdom Hearts 3, but those looking to rekindle fond memories may find nostalgia's bubble all too easily pricked.

The nostalgia present in the Disney worlds is a treat for all, and it's easy to get attached to the cast. However, there's very little about the gameplay that impresses, and those bits that do try and get away from the uninteresting battles are frequently interrupted or still have issues plaguing them.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX is, without question, the best version of Kingdom Hearts to date. But it also serves as an excellent reminder that the things we love aren't always built to last.