Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

THE GOOD:
~The storyline is a good bridge between Kingdom Hearts I and Kingdom Hearts II.
~Graphics are better than most GBA games.
~The audio is very well done for a handheld game.

THE BAD:
~The card system is complicated and has one very big flaw.
~Battle cries are irritating and may frustrate players.

SUMMARY:
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, the so-called "bridge" game between Kingdom Hearts I and II, is an exemplary show of how good Game Boy Advance games can get. It's fast-paced, detailed, and, like its Playstation similars, has a great, engaging storyline. This is (or was) the game to beat for all GBA games of the future. It's been incredibly successful, and anyone can see why. With the famous name of Kingdom Hearts and the quality of the game in general, who WOULDN'T buy it? I'd like to meet them.

Anyone who hasn't played CoM may tell you that KHII left some things unexplained. What they may not realize, however, is that it was explained in this game. This is REALLY the game where we meet Organization XIII (some of Sora's new enemies), a fact that many don't know. Although some people will tell you that playing it isn't necessary, to a hardcore fan, it's needed to complete the KH experience. And although nothing new happens in the Disney-themed worlds of KH, something DOES happen to Sora that explains the beginning of KHII (although I won't spoil the story for anyone who wants to see for themselves).

Graphics are amazing, for this platform, and show off the capabilities of the Game Boy system, which, sadly, has been almost entirely replaced by the DS and PSP. There is more depth and detail that is often not seen in similar games, so it's worth a look now, and it's definitely worth a look a few years from now, even if you do end up playing it on a DS. The audio, too, surpasses many other GBA games.

The great thing about the gameplay is that you can decide whether to fight the Heartless or not. They just appear as little Heartless who chase you around, but they're easy to avoid. Of course, you'll need the cards they drop if you want to move on the game, but if you're conserving your health, it's pretty great. Also, the attacks that the characters pull off are fun to watch (and do!)

The main problem with the game, however, is the battle system. Gone were the days of simple run-and-slash! Now, there is a "card system", which uses cards for every swing of the Keyblade or spell cast. There are also doors everywhere which require certain cards. And here, folks, is THE flaw: the only way to get these cards is to win battles against Heartless. Unfortunately, the card you get is random, and it's possible to spend days searching for ONE card. In my opinion, the card system was the biggest mistake in this so-close-to-perfect game.

Also, a main drawback with the audio is the battle cries, especially Sora's. You'll wish that the audio really WASN'T as great as it is after the hundreth time you hear Sora shout "Let's go!" or "HA!" And the Organization XII member's calls are, if possible, even more annoying. "Hee hee!" "WAUGH!" and other calls make you want to destroy the person as soon as possible to save yourself from such torture!

But, in the end, is this game worth it? Absolutely. And the best part is that now that it's an older game for an obsolete system, you can even get a good deal on it. Best purchase on a video game, you may ask? Maybe. I don't really know much about value on other games, but for me, this was the best purchase I ever made. From the very intelligent and creative minds of Square and the wonder and fantasy of Disney, Chain of Memories is a meld that shows what Kingdom Hearts is all about, and will delight fans of the series (and even fans of just Square or just Disney). And you will enjoy it, despite its flaws. I guarantee it!