In recent years, Square Enix has undertaken an up-to-date update of all its spin-offs released on portable consoles. Indeed, despite the fact that the Kingdom Hearts saga only has two main episodes, an impressive number of spin-offs have been produced for portable consoles. Knowing that all these episodes act as a real link to the overall story of Kingdom Hearts, it is difficult to be completely up to date on the license. This is why, for several years now, Square Enix has released compilations containing the main games as well as ports of the episodes released on portable consoles. But if PS3 players had been able to rediscover the two main episodes, Kindgom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue skips over it to offer an exclusive adventure with 0.2 Birth By Sleep –A Fragmentary Passage–. Not stingy with content, Square Enix has also added Dream Drop Distance, released in 2012 on 3DS, and Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover. This is an animated film retracing the story of Kingdom Hearts X, an episode released on smartphones and PC. A compilation that arrives a bit like a hair in the soup since this year, PS4 players will also be entitled to a Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 reMIX which will bring together the two main episodes of the series as well as several spin-off remasters. Despite everything, Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue does not become less interesting, quite the contrary.
THE LESS IT IS LONG, THE MORE IT IS GOOD?
Starting with Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth By Sleep –A Fragmentary Passage–, which is in fact only an epilogue to Birth By Sleep, released in 2010 on PSP. If this new episode allows us to learn more about Aqua, who finds herself trapped in the Dark World, it is above all an opportunity for Square Enix to demonstrate what the next Kingdom Hearts 3 will be. Indeed, both games are based on the same graphics engine, namely the Unreal Engine 4. Although it is not the must in terms of graphics, 0.2 Birth By Sleep suggests very good things for the future of the license. Visually, the game displays particularly pleasing scenery to the eye, like the ruined city floating through the air. Likewise, Aqua's animations are much more fluid than in previous games and we take real pleasure in admiring the visual effects of our character's magic attacks. On the maneuverability side, the game also brings its share of novelties by offering lighter movements, almost giving the impression of floating at ground level. Likewise, the attacks follow each other much more easily and make the fights much more fluid than before.
On the other hand, do not expect to find the RPG aspect dear to the saga since the players will begin their adventure with a very high level. As a result, from the start of your adventure, you will have access to the devastating powers of Aqua in order to knock out all the Nevis who come to block your way. If some will regret the fact that the emphasis has been placed on the action, it is nonetheless pleasant to be able to take full eyes from the start of our adventure. A choice all the more logical since it will take you about 2h30 to complete the game. Count five hours instead if you go in search of all the secondary objectives. Although quite short, 0.2 Birth By Sleep is nonetheless an essential game for all fans of the saga, especially since the game brings a good number of responses to the episode released on PSP.
AND THE NEWS?
Regarding the remake of Dream Drop Distance, we must admit that Square Enix has done a more than adequate job. The game does not suffer too much from the pangs of its passage from the 3DS to the PS4, despite the sets which seem much emptier than before. On the other hand, Dream Drop Distance still retains its graphic touch and despite the somewhat poor scenery, the game instantly plunges us back into the Kingdom Hearts universe. On the gameplay side, the game also succeeded in its transition to PS4 and the controls, originally developed for the 3DS and its touch screen, are not too restrictive for the player. Simply, once after hitting 0.2 Birth By Sleep, Dream Drop Distance feels much, but then much, slower. Fortunately, the passage on the big screen makes it possible to obtain a more precise camera, making it much easier to master the "Fluidity" mode, which allows you to launch very powerful attacks on your opponents.
On the scenario side, Dream Drop Distance is one of those dispensable episodes that will bring little material to players wishing to update before Kingdom Hearts 3. Nevertheless, the game has a solid and pleasant scenario to follow. We just regret the fact of having to take care of the spirits by cajoling them. Clearly, if the concept can be nice when using the touch screen of the 3DS, this task becomes really boring on PS4, the fault of daunting actions that require no thought. We are not going to hide the face, Dream Drop Distance is not a must have and if the passage on PS4 is done without a crash, it does not necessarily become a better game.
SMALL COMPIL'
Finally, players will be able to get a little update thanks to Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover. In this animated film, about 1 hour, Square Enix retraces the events of Kingdom Hearts X, an episode released only on mobiles and PC. Here, players will be able to discover more fully the story of the Master of Masters and his six disciples. The opportunity for players to retrace the entire history of the Keyblade War but also to understand how all these characters came to tear each other apart, putting their world in danger. Made entirely with the Unreal Engine 4, this long cinematic allows you to dive back into the origin story of the saga without stuffing yourself with the various text summaries that can be found on the internet. We simply regret the dubbing in English, which is not the most pleasant to the ear. It's a shame, especially since it's impossible to choose the Japanese voices. A recurring flaw in the compilation since Dream Drop Distance and 0.2 Birth By Sleep –A Fragmentary Passage– are also in English.
