Since its debut in 2002, the Kingdom Hearts series has enchanted gamers around the globe with its unique combination of both Final Fantasy and Disney characters. The series has earned a dedicated fanbase by blending action-packed RPG adventures with a rich tapestry of beloved intellectual properties. As someone who missed the boat as a kid—when the allure of a magical multiverse was arguably at its peak—Kingdom Hearts has always felt like a bit of an enigma.
The series’ convoluted canonical order and the challenge of finding the necessary systems to play each game only added to its mystique. With the release of the Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece Collection on Steam, Square Enix has bundled the entire series into one convenient package, offering both long-time fans and newcomers like myself a chance to dive into the series from the beginning.
The Breakdown
Reviewing each game in the Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece Collection individually would be both redundant and lengthy, and there exist extensive discussions over the past 20 years attesting to the series’ quality. However, the collection’s presentation can be a bit confusing for those new to the series with three bundles, broken down as such:
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX
- Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
- Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories
- Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (Nintendo DS cutscene collection)
- Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
- Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
- Kingdom Hearts Re: coded (Nintendo DS cutscene collection)
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
- Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD
- Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover (Feature movie)
- Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage
Kingdom Hearts III & Re Mind DLC
- Kingdom Hearts III
- Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind DLC
The collection is organized in release order, featuring 10 mainline entries, three movies to fill in story gaps from Nintendo DS games, and some DLCs. Steam discounts the whole package at A$ 144.95, although the option to purchase each bundle separately makes it easier to start small before diving in.
The Story
Despite being around for a long time, this release on Steam opens up the games to those unfamiliar. For those newcomers, the core of Kingdom Hearts revolves around Sora, a young boy who dreams of leaving his island home to explore new worlds. His wish comes true when the Heartless—dark creatures that wreak havoc across various realms—begin to invade.
Armed with the iconic Keyblade and joined by Disney characters like Donald and Goofy, and a revolving cast of over 300 Disney characters from Aladdin to Captain Jack Sparrow, Sora embarks on a quest to confront these dark forces. Over the course of the series, Sora faces numerous foes throughout what is ultimately an extremely convoluted story, but one that is always entertaining.
How Does It Run?
The remastered collection on PC showcases these games in a new light, with improved visuals and performance. However, there are some issues to note. On AMD GPUs, I encountered green screens during cutscenes on my laptop, though this was resolved on my PC rig. This could potentially hinder the experience for those without a second system to run the games and make it unplayable (or unfollowable) which is a shame.
Aside from that, the games generally run smoothly, though some of the older mechanics and graphics might feel dated. The occasional buggy gameplay and visual imperfections can be overlooked if you’re accustomed to older titles, but if you’re sensitive to aging mechanics, the earlier games in 1.5+2.5 ReMIX might be less appealing.
Certain aspects of the gameplay, such as awkward camera controls and card-based combat in some entries in particular, reflect the series’ age and the platforms that have come and gone with it. Sora’s jump function in the first game in particular caused me a few moments of nostalgic controller-mashing rage. These issues are more pronounced in the earlier titles and improve drastically in later entries.
There is also some sticky tape and glue holding the handheld titles together, including scrapping them altogether and just making the cutscenes into movies. This is an unfortunate necessity if you want to follow the core storyline, and it should probably be more clearly specified but it’s a nice inclusion at the least. If you’re along for the ride long enough to get there you will likely be fine with a film to fill in the gaps.
Final Thoughts
Throughout the collection, you’ll constantly ask “How the hell did this get made?”. The utter madness of merging the Disney universe and Final Fantasy is a baffling yet awesome meeting of worlds. Outside of the recent trend of multiverse-styled brawlers and horror film cameos in games like Mortal Combat X, no other game offers the surreal experience of battling shadow demons alongside Mickey Mouse. Despite having a few years between myself and a worn-out Lion King VHS tape, the thrill of venturing through Pride Rock and other Disney worlds with a PS2-era sheen makes for a potent mix of nostalgia and gaming glory.
The games truly capture the magic of gaming and the adventurous creativity that modern gaming often lacks. It also manages to hit the nostalgia button square on the nose like a heavyweight boxer going for a first-round knockout. This will certainly scratch the itch for those looking to relive their childhood gaming years. But for those whose nostalgia isn’t immediately tied to those games, the games themselves still offer a great action RPG experience worth the price of admission.
Ultimately, Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece offers the most comprehensive way to experience the long-running series and is a treat for RPG and Disney fans alike. Should you choose to wield the Keyblade you’re in for hundreds of hours of fun, certainly getting your money’s worth at A$144.95 for the whole package. Despite the quirks of age, the true charm of the series – going to battle with Donald Duck and Goofy—always mitigates the minor frustrations.
For a newcomer, this collection provides a valuable gateway into a complex series with a vast array of titles, making it more accessible. For the faithful, it’s a walk down memory lane that should live up to expectations.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: A creative world and story; Fun cast of characters; Nostalgia hits in every frame
Lowlights: Aged mechanics that can hinder the experience; Issues on certain systems
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: Windows PC
Available: Now
Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece is available on Steam now for A$ 144.95
Review conducted on PC with a pre-release code provided by the publisher.
