Kingdom Hearts Ii

There have been many Kingdom Hearts games since its inception, but the second is where it really found its footing, and, arguably, is it at its best. The action role-playing game follows Sora, a boy trying to find his friends and traveling through a number of Disney-themed worlds along the way. With that premise, you would expect the game to target a younger audience. A mashup of Final Fantasy, Disney, and original characters sounds strange, but somehow Square Enix manages to pull it off. Fans of both will be pleased by great acting and intricate, thematic environments. The multitude of worlds gives a constantly shifting cast of characters, each fleshed out and accurate to the source material. Much of the cast is voiced by the original movie or game actors, meaning complete immersion in the world and no jarring changes. The star-studded cast includes greats like Hayden Panettiere, Tate Donovan, and Zach Braff. However, the game is still very much an action RPG. There are attributes, weapons, level-ups, gear drops and more. It lends itself well to hardcore players, but you can still get through without. If I had to describe the game in one word, it would be earnest. The beautiful blend of different worlds sits atop a prevailing theme of teamwork and friendship. That may not appeal to everyone, but the depth and emotion in the story is second to none.