Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III], the complete collection for those who have never played it - Review

It's absurd to think how much time has passed since the first Kingdom Hearts, a true Action/RPG gem capable of brilliantly uniting characters from Final Fantasy with those from the most disparate Disney universes. And to still be talking about it here only confirms the value this franchise holds for Square Enix, an esteem that is not limited to merely numerical terms, but rather to the quality and affection for what this fusion of talents represents.

Praising it (with some ups and downs) might seem too easy, but it's definitely harder to re-appreciate the characteristics we now know better than the back of our hands. Kingdom Hearts Collection represents an easy-to-read product or, even better, very simple to understand who it's aimed at: that player who has never had any contact with the brand, who has heard about it from more than a few friends, and who can't wait to enter an immense and quite intricate universe.

To be more precise, it is a complete product, a package that combines three collections that we have already had the opportunity to examine in the last generation: Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts III including the Re Mind DLC.

Content-wise, it's something astonishing but that doesn't bring many novelties compared to previous debuts (very similar to the All-In-One Package released last year). The basic idea is simple: if you've already "devoured" it on other platforms, we don't think it's so indispensable, unless you want to enjoy the improvements that more updated hardware guarantees without any compromise. For new players, well, what awaits you is an unforgettable journey that will entertain you for hundreds of hours. Guaranteed!

A Leap Back in Time

The author of this text personally experienced the evolution of the Eastern-style Action RPG, a change that saw the JRPG genre transition from a turn-based combat system to a more dynamic one with an over-the-shoulder view and real-time attacks. Back in 2002, Kingdom Hearts was a waking dream, a magical epic that today we certainly wouldn't call perfect, but which captivated with its story and the intelligent use of the soundscape to fuel the events: after all, the legend started right here.

Kingdom Hearts, at least in the beginning, stages a genuine story, the epic battle between Light and Darkness, in the shoes of a young "hero" named Sora, ready to travel through various Disney and Square Enix worlds accompanied by two unlikely allies: Goofy and Donald (tasked by King Mickey to find the key's wielder). Defeating the villains led by Maleficent and, consequently, unraveling the mystery of the "heart of all worlds" is just the beginning of a saga that has been with us for 25 years.

As we mentioned earlier, should you decide to purchase this collection, you will find everything you need to enjoy it to the fullest: the three main Final Mix chapters, the interludes Chain of Memories and Birth by Sleep (the latter considered one of the most engaging thanks to a three-campaign system and a deep plot), and Dream Drop Distance, a rather divisive title due to a not-so-brilliant "drop" system. Obviously, just as happened in previously released collections, we will find some titles only as a collection of cutscenes: very useful for better understanding the lore between the various main chapters. 

How does it perform technically on PS5?

Playing every single chapter of the Kingdom Hearts Collection on current-generation consoles can only be advantageous in terms of fluidity and resolution. However, these aspects prove almost imperceptible compared to older versions, and probably only a "particularly trained" eye would notice them. It's also true that loading times are almost immediate, and technical improvements are noticeably detailed in the latest episodes: Birth by Sleep a fragmentary passage and Kingdom Hearts III.

Setting aside a plot management in the final stages that didn't convince more than a few players, the last chapter was already technically majestic in itself, in addition to packaging a particularly reactive combat system. Playing it on PS5 means having a rock-solid frame rate, fewer uncertainties, and increased resolution (on PS4 Pro, some latencies were sometimes present).

For the rest, we found this collection a bit lazy, with still poorly curated cutscenes (taken from the PS3 remasters) and on-screen text (subtitles, to be clear) not defined in the best way: and you'll notice it more when playing on a large 4K TV. Minor details, mind you, but it's necessary to point them out when faced with a re-release that should be more optimized for PS5.

In any case, Kingdom Hearts Collection still enchants, and let's face it, the real problem would be not having enough time to dedicate to all the video games in this compilation: the hours to spend with Sora and friends are impossible to quantify.

Is Kingdom Hearts Collection worth the price of admission?

If you've never boarded this magical train, the answer is yes! And on this, we have no doubt. The journey that awaits you is as majestic as it is wonderful, and you'll understand it as soon as you delve into Kingdom Hearts II, a title that not only deepens the combat system but also introduces the beloved Organization XIII.

For those who played it back on PS2, finished it multiple times on PS3, and didn't miss it on PS4, then they might probably take a step back and not consider this purchase. In their hands, they would find a product that introduces very little compared to previous collections, apart from some aesthetic content and the ReMind DLC for KH3. 

Kingdom Hearts Collection offers excellent value for money on both PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2, a version probably more recommended for those who immensely love the franchise and want to enjoy the experience on the go. Not to mention that a single purchase creates an infallible infrastructure capable of best supporting the enjoyment of the highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts 4.