Review:Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (Oh God, What Have I Done?!)

[TheFinalPersonaKeyblade 1,029]

Okay,before I begin this review, I just need to get a flame shield real quick, because this review is gonna get real heated (no pun intended). I'm about to get furious, so if you don't want to see me get enraged, click that back button.For the rest of you, enjoy the next couple of minutes.I will show no mercy.

 

Story:Since most of the people on this site know the plot of this game, I'll summarize the vital parts. The game starts with Roxas becoming a member of the Organization as it takes place near the end of the original Kingdom Hearts. During his time there, he befriends a guy named Axel and a girl named Xion. They hang out with each other after they finish their tasks from the Organization. At some point, some internal struggle between the members starts to arise, including Xion's existence. As it turns out, Xion is a replica of Sora's memories of Kairi created by the Organization to absorb all of Roxas' power so that Sora never wakes up. Roxas, then, leaves the Organization after this revelation. Afterwards, Xion and Roxas duke it out, and Xion ultimately dies in Roxas' arms, leaving nothing behind but a seashell. Roxas, completely fuming with anger, storms the Organization's stronghold, now having the ability to dual-wield. Riku, knowing Sora would never wake up without Roxas, goes up to him to defeat him. However, the only way Riku could win the fight is if he tapped into the darkness. Roxas is defeated, but at the cost of Riku losing his original form and now taking the appearance of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness.DiZ sees the unconscious Roxas and he is taken to DiZ's lab, and sent to a virtual Twilight Town. From there on, the events of Kingdom Hearts II commence. Honestly, this game has the worst pacing out of any other game in the franchise. I'll admit it, though, the final parts of the game are top-notch, I do like Xion as a character, and Roxas isn't too bad, either. It's too bad the rest of the game's story is f***ing atrociously paced. It doesn't help that this game took me the longest to beat.

 

Presentation:The music in this game is still as good as the other games in the series, then again, it's a given, considering this is Yoko Shimomura we're talking about. On that subject, Xion's reorchestrated theme is absolutely beautiful. The voice acting is fine, nothing really worth talking about.

 

 

Gameplay: Oh God,here we go.In this game, you play as Roxas as he goes through his time at the Organization. You have "multiple" tasks, including stealth, collecting emblems, and defeating Heartless.With that said, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days has the WORST,MOST ABYSMAL, MOST INFURIATING GAMEPLAY THE SERIES HAS EVER SEEN!!! It's horrifically unbalanced difficulty-wise, the boss fights are godawful, it's boring as shit, and the combat system is one of the worst I have ever played! And don't get me started on the stealth missions! KINGDOM HEARTS SHOULD NEVER HAVE STEALTH EVER AGAIN! The stealth is basically "stay behind the guy at all times", with no thought put into it. The boss fights are bullshit. They either have hitboxes that are way too small,fly away from you, or give way too much damage, even on the easiest difficulty. The combat system is the worst in the series, IMO. It feels slow, stiff, and hard to control. Also, there's a mission mode, which lets you replay any of the missions you have completed. However, noting the unfairly high difficulty, you might want to only try it out in multiplayer. Oh yeah, there's also a multiplayer mode, in which three other players can join you in Mission Mode. I don't know how it fares, since I don't know anybody in my area who has the game.

 

Final Verdict: Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is the worst game in the franchise BY FAR! It has a terribly paced story, the combat system is putrid, and the boss fights are some of the worst I have ever played against. Compared to every other game in the series, EVEN RE:CODED, 358/2 Days is a borderline travesty! I know this is going on deaf ears, considering, well, this is KH13, but I cannot recommend this game at all. Honestly, even if a Kingdom Hearts game has a less than stellar story, the gameplay makes up for it and then some. Hell, KHII and BbS are some of my favorite games of all time. Days gets neither right. I may love the Kingdom Hearts series to no end, but I cannot, for the life of me, like Days.

 

Score:3.2/10

[Pangoro "Sen" 445]

I honestly have to agree with you for most of this. The story is quite poorly paced, and the combat is DEFINITELY god-awful. And the main reason I like Kingdom Hearts is for the gameplay, so a Kingdom Hearts game with bad gameplay isn't exactly a good Kingdom Hearts game. And the bosses, to me, were the worst part of this game. Especially since either no major thought is put into them, or they're insanely annoying. With that being said, I still do like this game. A guilty pleasure, I guess you could say. The story, while poorly paced, is still really good. And I admittedly had a lot of fun with the game's multiplayer. So while yes, you're right on all accounts, I have to disagree with you on how awful it is. Different strokes for different folks, and all that.

[Hero of Light XIV 2,381]

Nope, don't agree. Still love it. Would play it again. Especially if it ever got a full 3D remake in the future.

[Fates Chance XIII 307]

I can agree with you on the bosses but I had no problem with the pacing of the story and the combat wasn't the worst- wasn't the best but I didn't mind it. I quite love the game and have played it many times over. I guess it just comeseems down to what's a deal breaker and where your tolerance for these things are. I don't mind less than stellar gameplay if I can get deeply invested in the story and characters- something I find days does really well. Throughout the story,even on my 1st playthrough, I found myself getting really invested in the characters and loving all the back story and little nods to the main story. Could some things have been done better? Well sure, even kh2 (a game I consider to be the best in the framchise) has its issues in areas- but it just comes down to if you are able to overlook them. If u can't, that's fine 1 playthrough was enoughoping for you. Can't bash you for having an opinion.

[Philip Ellwell 5,487]

I can agree on stealth missions and unfair hit boxes. 

The rest I decline to comment on, so as to avoid making an argument over anything.

[The 13th Kenpachi 4,279]

The story is good but everything else is a no no

[SirBuckford 43]

358/2 Days is tied with BBS for being my 3rd favorite KH game, with KH1 being 2nd and KH2 being 1st.