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Critics lately have been kind of harsh towards the new Kingdom Hearts. Sure it's a little slow at starting the story up once you start playing as Sora. But the first 3 or 4 hours of the game were pretty much basically story catching everyone up in the events of Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts : Chain of memories.

For those of you that havn't played either of the first two you will be severely lost in the story, thus you will probably not appriciate this title as much as someone who has completed at least the first one.

From my point of view, having played both of the others, the story makes perfect sense, and can still get a little confusing....
(-------Spoiler Highlight at your own Risk ------------)
Sora finds out he can't use his keyblade to defeat Heartless, because when he does it releases a heart that another enemy faction (Organization XIII, which were vaguely introduced in KH1 but expanded on in Chain of Memories) uses for their own evil deeds.This is where the story gets confusing because they introduce Ansem the wise, which isn't the Ansem you defeated in KH1 instead that was a guy running around pretending to be Ansem. Like I said the story gets a bit confusing at times.

Graphics
Grphically this game pushes limits, especially in Port Royal (for those of you who have been living under a rock for the last year or so, is the Pirates of the Carribean section) They have the movements/gestures of Jack Sparrow down perfectly, right down to his facial expressions. (This would have been a perfect time to use a world relevant costume for Sora and the gang, maybe a pirate outfit, even a realistic Sora, and co.) Yet as it is, it puts the "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" twist into the game.

Sound
The sound FX remains petty much the way it was in the first one. The music remains true to each world, some familiar tunes play in Disney worlds, witch is expected. For instance, you hear the theme song for worlds you expect to hear them from such as;
Agrabah (Aladdin)
Beast's Castle (Beauty and the Beast
Atlantica (Little Mermaid)


Story
As mentioned Before the story slows up a bit after you start playing as Sora, you visit each Disney world with basically nothing to do but find the keyhole fighting off Heartless. Seems like you're only there to say "hey" to your old pals from the first game. After you've visted a few worlds the story picks up and at a quick pace.
(Spoiler highlight)
You arrive in Hollow Bastion at that point, and find a computer that can give you answers you've been looking for, which in turn zaps you to the world of Tron) When you get outside of the computer the area you are at is surrounded by Heartless and your newer enemies the nobodies. Everyone capable of fighting is there, including Mickey. You go from one area to the next helping out a comrade in fighting the heartless. Yuffie, Tiffa, Leon, and Cloud. That's when Maleficent helps you against the Organization.... yes that right Maleficent. Brain boggled yet?

Side Quests?
There are quite a few just like in the last. In the very first town you start in (which seems to be a key world to everything) You have posters which allow you to help townspeople with various mini games, such as delivering the mail via skateboard, or swatting bee's with your keyblade and everything in between. In other worlds such as Space Paranoids (Tron) you have the bike mini game from the movie. You also have old mini games returning,Such as Olympus Colluseum only this time it's in the realm of Hades (you'll see why).

Controls
Same as in the last game except now you have reaction commands that are enemy specific, some may be a reversal, some may be a hinder. Also these specialty commands allow Sora to let loose all new moves which are brilliant for plowing through enemies quickly. The camera system has been moved to the Right analog stick, for more control over the camera, which also makes swimming much easier.

Score
Personally I loved the game, though as a gamer I felt some things should have been expanded on, but that's what sequels are for right?
I give this game a
9.5 out of a possible 10
Keep your game running, and never lose hope.