Alice Chains
Posted on Friday, January 28th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Summer Of Retro Entry #5 – Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Hot of the heels of the original PS2 Kingdom Hearts, Square Enix and Disney set out to capitalize on the runaway success of their Final Fantasy and Disney crossover universe with a follow up, this time on Nintendo’s hot selling GBA handheld.
Lost in oblivion
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories was released in 2004 on the Gameboy Advance. Once more we follow the adventures of Sora – spiky haired master of the keyblade. With his two trusty companions – Goofy and Donald – Sora is thrown into a battle against unknown foes, as he must fight his way through Castle Oblivion visiting famous Disney stories and settings like Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin, and help Pinocchio make his whale escape. The script is funny and cute, but will not make much sense unless you’ve played the first Kingdom Hearts game.
Breaking the mould?
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is an action roleplaying game, the likes of which Square Enix has produced in large quantities over the last 25 years. The template is well known; travel to strange locations, watch a couple of cut scenes, defeat cartloads of monsters, battle with end boss and repeat. For Chain of Memories Square Enix did try to mix the formula a bit, they just didn’t succeed.
Roll your own
Both the action heavy combat and the world you travel through are determined by the games use of cards.Customizabledecks consisting of action cards deals out player moves during combat. An interesting approach at first, but you’ll soon discover, that the combat system is little more than a button masher, where all but the trickiest of bosses can be dealt by beating the ‘A’-button repeatedly.
Combat is abundant and defeated monsters leaves world cards behind. Cards which are used to determine the content of the areas you traverse. The system appears to open the world to player decision; but it only paints a thin veneer of choice over a game universe, that’s generic and linear. Chain of Memories’ levels are little more than tiny, interconnected cubicles that offer no incentive to discover what lies ahead. Variety is completely absent and you’ll only be treated to more tedious combat in tiresome surroundings no matter how far you progress.
Drawn to life
Chain of Memories captures the Disney magic perfectly; animations are cartoon perfect, scenery colourful and detailed. Sound effects are of high quality, alongside a varied orchestral soundtrack.
For the die-Hearts only!
Chain of Memories delivers a splendid looking GBA game, that’s put down by pour game play and uninspired design. Any initial excitement is slowly, but inevitably, lost among the throwaway combat and lack of purpose to the proceedings. Approach Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories cautiously, if you’re not a hardcore fan of the series.
Verdict: Borrow
————
Verdict guide:
Get it – Ebay, Amazon or bargain bin – just find it! This game belongs in your collection.
Borrow – Not worth paying premium dollar for, but worth your time.
Never mind – Might’ve been great in its day, but now …. forget it.
Article is part of the Summer of Retro review series of the Game boy Advance top titles. For complete review list please check: Summer of Retro.
About the Author
Tommy A. is a veteran gamesjourno with several years of work for numerous commercial websites, covering industry news, reviews, previews and various articles. More from the handheld video game scene at Handheld Gaming Age.
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Dirt $3.87 Alice in Chains were initially tagged with the “grunge” moniker, when in fact their haunting, ponderous sound was far closer to the progressive rock of Queensryche. Their second album, Dirt, is a moody, portentous affair, filled with occasionally inspired riffing from guitarist Jerry Cantrell and hair-tossed wailing from singer Layne Staley. Perhaps the band got lumped in with Generation X because… |
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Superunknown $7.03 Tracks include: 1. Let Me Drown 3:51 2. My Wave 5:12 3. Fell On Black Days 4:42 4. Mailman 4:25 5. Superunknown 5:06 6. Head Down 6:08 7. Black Hole Sun 5:18 8. Spoonman 4:06 9. Limo Wreck 5:47 10. The Day I Tried To Live 5:19 11. Kickstand 1:34 12. Fresh Tendrils 4:16 13. 4th Of July 5:08 14. Half 2:14 15. Like Suicide 7:01… |
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Live Facelift [VHS] $9.98 Alice In Chains are one of the few bands to survive the overwhelming hype that was the early 1990’s Seattle “grunge” explosion. Alice In Chains, though from Seattle, are not EXACTLY grunge; instead, the band cultivates an effectively dreary hard rock-metal-grunge hybrid which they define before the hype and continue to sophisticate after it. LIVE FACELIFT captures the band’s homecoming concert at … |