Sort-of new Kingdom Hearts on PS2 this week
By Joe Fourhman | December 2, 2008
What’s this? Am I to pick up a brand new PSTWO game so soon after publicly deriding Haygood over his pining for a backwards-compatible PS3? Oh, I am indeed shamefaced.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is shipping this week… and it’s totally a PS2 game. or rather, a semi-old 3D adaptation of a definitely-old Game Boy Advance game. The GBA version came out in 2004, continuing Sora’s story from the first PS2 Kingdom Hearts game. If you’ll recall, KH1 (2002) ended with Sora, Goofy and MY MAN Donald Duck walking off into the sunset. And then Kingdom Hearts II (also on PS2) came out in 2006 with a strange change in cast… and those of us who made the trip to the GBA [kinda] knew why. However, knowing that not everybody tried out GBA Chains of Memories, Square Enix went to the trouble of turning it into a full-fledged 3D PS2 game for the Japanese market… released as part of Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix in 2007.
Now, still smelling blood in the PS2 waters, Square Enix is finally giving the North American market the PS2 version of Chains of Memories. And at a budget price of $30!
The press release (included after the jump) doesn’t say if PS2 Chains continues the intriguing card battling mechanic found in the GBA version. I initially did not like the card battle concept, but after a few hours of building my deck, as the card-floppers say, I really enjoyed it.
Square Enix also took the opportunity to remind everyone about Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days, coming soon to DS (again, after the jump). 358/2 Days follows Roxas during his days with Organization XIII, which, quite frankly, is the least interesting part of the entire Kingdom Hearts mythos for me. I’m a Disney guy. A Disney guy with a back-compat PS3.
KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories Heads to Retailers Today; KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days Announced for North America
Two New Installments Provide Essential Pieces to KINGDOM HEARTS Saga
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix(R) interactive entertainment products in North America, and Disney Interactive Studios, announced today that KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories has shipped to North American retailers. Additionally, the release of KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days, the first entry in the franchise for Nintendo DS(TM), has been confirmed for a North American release.
With more than 12 million copies shipped worldwide, the KINGDOM HEARTS franchise is one of the most beloved RPGs in video game history. Disney and FINAL FANTASY(R) characters unite in a magical game world, engaging players across the globe with its gripping storyline and action-packed gameplay. Fans can now complete the experience with the arrival and announcement of two key pieces in the KINGDOM HEARTS saga.
About KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories
Originally released in 2004 for Game Boy(R) Advance, this full 3D rendition on the PlayStation(R)2 has finally made its way to North American shores to bridge the gap between KINGDOM HEARTS and KINGDOM HEARTS II. With KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories, fans can complete the saga created by renowned director and character designer, Tetsuya Nomura.
STORY
Sora, Donald and Goofy travel down a long road that meanders through endless fields, and come to a crossroads. As Sora stands in the crossroads, he gazes up at the night sky and thinks of his lost friends.
Just then, a mysterious man approaches from down one of the branching paths. "Ahead lies something you need," he says, "but to claim it, you must lose something dear." The man vanishes before a single path, leading to a castle that eerily resembles a girl's drawing...
In the coming journey, what will Sora and his companions gain, and what will they lose?
FEATURES
-- World-renowned creator and character designer Tetsuya Nomura and his team once again unite the magical world of Disney with the characters of FINAL FANTASY, inviting fans to an enchanting gaming experience
-- An essential piece in the KINGDOM HEARTS franchise, which has shipped over 12 million units across the globe, comes to North America at long last
-- In addition to Sora, players can control Riku in this adventure that bridges the gap between KINGDOM HEARTS and KINGDOM HEARTS II
-- A full 3D remake of the original GBA release, KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories offers a refreshing rendition of the hit title for the PlayStation 2 system
-- The talented voice cast from the North American releases of KINGDOM HEARTS and KINGDOM HEARTS II, including David Gallagher and Haley Joel Osment, return to breathe new life into the beloved characters
-- The mini-game catalog has been completely renewed, now with four brand new experiences accompanying the main adventure
KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) by the ESRB. Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at http://www.esrb.org/ for more information about ratings. KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories will be available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $29.99(USD). The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/khrecom/.
About KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days
Uncover the events that took place during the year Sora was asleep regaining his lost memories. KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days revolves around Roxas, the “other” hero from KINGDOM HEARTS II, and his days as a member of Organization XIII. Follow Roxas and the rest of Organization XIII across the various Disney Worlds, and discover the connection between him, Sora, and the mysterious 14th member, and the reasons behind his eventual departure from the organization. KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days also features a multiplayer mode for the first time, allowing players to control their favorite Organization XIII members!
KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days is not yet rated by the ESRB. Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at http://www.esrb.org/ for more information about ratings. For more information, visit http://www.square-enix.com/na.
Tags: ds, gba, kingdom hearts, kingdom hearts: 358/2 Days, kingdom hearts: chain of memories, PS2, square-enix
Topics: Gameboy, Nintendo DS, PS2 |
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