Kingdom Hearts II Preview

1up.com has an in-depth preview of the much anticipated Kingdom Hearts II RPG. The second mashup between SquareEnix and Disney is expected in the states sometime in late Spring or early Summer. From the article: "If the first Kingdom Hearts was a crazy experiment, then the sequel is the final product, refined and polished in dozens of small-but-important ways. One of the most obvious improvements is the game's massively higher budget; though the first looked nice, Kingdom Hearts II is one of the best looking games the PS2 has ever -- or will ever -- see. From photorealistic models to 'I can't believe it's not PS3' massive battles, the game convinces the aging PS2 hardware to do things that seem nearly impossible."

Comments

I can't wait

[MBCook]

I can't wait for this game. I played the original, not expecting much (Disney has made some nice games, but at the same time...) and I was BLOWN AWAY. The game was fantastic.

I wanted to like Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories for the GBA but I just couldn't get into the whole "Action Card Battle" thing (the battles were terrible, so I didn't get far).

I can't wait for this one though. This is one of the few games I will just go out and buy (instead of rent). It is good to hear the graphics are shaping up nicely (the original did a great job, so that doesn't surprise me too much). I guess I'm a bit sensitive to this because I've been playing Shadow of the Colossus right now. While the game is amazing in scope and feeling, the graphics have serious problems (in my opinion) and I think they should have kept it over for the PS3 (what a launch title, huh?)> While the game looks good, it is just DYING for some anti-aliasing or anisotropic filtering to kill the shimmering on the ground. The textures all look muddy and the game could really benefit from some high dynamic range. The framerate suffers too (not too much, but enough that you can notice it). The camera absolutely sucks when you are in close spaces (but that is true of most games). It is a great game and I can't wait to finish it, but with it's issues and the issues of Psychonauts (the last game I played, should have done it on the XBox) I'm a little sensitive to it right now.

But I can't wait to play this game.

OK, now that they have the good graphics

[Psykechan]

Maybe they will actually do something with the gameplay.

I wanted to like the first Kingdom Hearts; I really wanted to. The problem was that not only wasn't it fun but it was tedious and annoying to play. Graphically it was beautiful. Aurally it was superb. The setting was engrossing but in the end, this is a video game and if it doesn't have at least some sort of passable gameplay then it won't be worth even trying to play.

Tetsuya Nomura has shown us that with KH and with FF:CC (another game that I really wanted to like) that he can give us wonderful worlds in which to flounder loosely around. I really want to like KH2 but I'm not holding my breath.

Re:The rush to upgrade

[DrWho520]

Remember, this is Sony. You know, the company that has developed an entirely new media format so that it can make millions in licensing fees and so we have to buy movies in a new format all over again. Question: Why create an enormous new format and then have the standard codec by MPEG2? Better question: Why have a new physical format at all if you have a newer compression algorithm, MPEG4, that has had a decade of mathematical refinement? Best question: Which format with Jenna choose to show off her assets in the future?

It should be plainly obvious to the astute gamer that consoles are reaching a point of diminishing returns. There will be no more quantum leaps in console hardware (NES -> SNES -> N64, PS1 -> PS2) in the near future. See Xbox360. Unfotunately, those in the know are completely overwhelmed by the unwashed masses who continue to shell over bucks to the parasitic sequel hosting media whore that is the Sony PS*. It will be very interesting to compare the latest developed PS2 games with the early PS3 games. I predict the next game market crash (another one is coming) will occur when an end-of-life-cycle console title looks and plays better than a next generation title. The Xbox to Xbox360 is already dangerously close to this situation.

I am tired.

Glad this isn't released on some kiddie console!

[Anonymous Coward]

I heard you could summon Bambi and score MAJOR DAMAGE!!! Good Thing I'm not playing kiddie games like MARIO anymore, lol, I'm really gonna enjoy this disney game for grown-ups!

Posting as AC, because sometimes, the truth, even if it hit you in the ass, wouldn't be recognized by any of you blind fools.

Its out in japan

[XellDx]

The headline is wrong, this is a RePre/bview.

Double post fun.

[XellDx]

The headline is wrong, this is a Review, not a Preview. Sorry for the double posts, oddly enough I can't click preview when talking about it. Yay.