Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2 Review
Kingdom Hearts 1
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Developed by: Square Enix
Release Date: September 17, 2002
Genre: Action role-playing game
ESRB: E

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Synopsis:
Kingdom Hearts (Japanese: Hepburn: Kingudamu Htsu?) is a Japanese/American video game series developed and published by Square Enix. It is a collaboration between Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios, and is under the direction of Tetsuya Nomura, a longtime Square Enix character designer. Kingdom Hearts is a crossover of various Disney settings based in a universe made specifically for the series. The series features an all-star voice cast, which includes many of the Disney characters' official voice actors and well-known celebrities such as Haley Joel Osment, David Gallagher, Jesse McCartney, Hayden Panettiere, Christopher Lee, Willa Holland, Jason Dohring, Mark Hamill, and Leonard Nimoy. Characters from Square Enix's Final Fantasy series make appearances and interact with the player and the Disney characters. The series centers around the main character Sora's search for his friends and his encounters with Disney and Final Fantasy characters on their worlds, though the most recent games have centered around other characters central to the series' storyline.

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Gameplay:
You start out as Sora, a young teen. He is seperated from his friends by Heartless. Not soon after you obtain the Keyblade, a sword shaped like a sword. Now this is confusing, just like the whole series in my opinion. You later meet different Disney Characters like Goofy, Donald Duck, and others like King Mickey (Mickey Mouse). The entire series takes place as you (Sora) battling Heartless and taking tasks from various Cartoon Characters. The entire game sounds like a joke; but it is surprisingly good. Also the game features different characters from Square Enixs other series: Final Fantasy. The game does have quite a difficulty in some "quests" as you have to battle bosses, and even though there are Disney Characters implanting that the game is made for children, as a 10 year old I could not beat those parts. You travel across Planets and fight different Disney Characters, like Pirates of the Caribbean and Maleficent. The game has lots of interesting but predicting twists. A character creation would be awesome in this series, and maybe the ability to choose your side or your teamates, like I would choose Mickey, Donald, and the Old Man from Up, if they made a 3rd release to the game (not including hand held versions) The game though is great in my opinion, and I can't wait for a 3rd one of the series. This game is a definite buy, and I think will keep you occupied for hours.

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Graphics:
The graphics are cartoony, maybe even Anime you could say. I really like them, it would just be weird if they had a realistic feel like now days graphics. And for the time this game came out, the graphics are great. I really think the graphics are one of the game ruining things though, I think a game like this or any RPG should focus on its graphics. The graphics do fit more or less thanks to the Character Scenario with adding Cartoon Characters. Maybe the developers could pay more attention to details there are a lot of blank walls, that could use lines for bricks and such. And when moving fast the game lags, I don't think this was my PS3 either; I think they should use the system they have for Final Fantasy, that would make the next game gorgeous.
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Controls:
The controls in the game are fairly easy to use, all you really need to know to succeed is how to attack and move. This like most action games is a button smashing game, there's really no obstacles or objectives, just beat the crap out of evil Disney Characters. You really won't use many of the controls, as most are useless or techinical stuff not need unless your really into it. I really think the controls fit the game.

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Ratings:
Graphics: 8
Controls: 7
Gameplay: 8
Replay Value: 7
Overall: 8

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Kingdom Hearts 2
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Developed by: Square Enix
Release Date: March 28, 2006
Genre: Action role-playing game
ESRB: E

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Synopsis:
Kingdom Hearts II (Japanese: II Hepburn: Kingudamu Htsu Ts?) is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and published by Buena Vista Games and Square Enix in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console. The game is a sequel to the 2002 Disney Interactive and Square collaboration, Kingdom Hearts, which combined Disney and Square elements into an action role-playing game, though it is significantly darker in tone than its predecessor. The game's popularity has resulted in a novel and manga series based upon it and an international version called Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, released in March 2007.

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Gameplay:
Kindgom Hearts 2 is a lot like one, much like most sequels. In my opinion though, it is 100x times better. There are less glitches and the game runs so smooth. The realism dropped a lot compared to one. In Kindgom Hearts you play as Sora a young teen who get displaced from his home by Heartless and finds a sword (Keyblade) shaped like a key. He then ditches his friends and goes on adventures with Disney Characters and in a twist also meets up with Final Fantasy characters. Kingdom Hearts 2 is a lot darker than the first. The second one, is just a battle. You learn to fight at tournaments (awesome), you join King Mickey and go into the Tron World, and you even fly with Chip and Dale through space! The game though like I previously said, has no realism. The game is "wacky", which is should be since it was made for a younger audience. In this game you make your way through various worlds, which all lead to different Disney Characters, including, Snow White, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse, and much more. Your best buddies are the adorable Goofy and (not-so)hilarious Donald Duck. Your main bosses in the game are Organization XIII. These characters resemble humans which I think are. The game is very confusing and I was having a hard time following what was happening. I still think this game is fun because of button smashing and hitting Disney Characters. I was hoping for a lot more in this game after playing the first Kingdom Hearts.

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Graphics:
The graphics are a lot better; but very similar to KH 1. They are cartoony (maybe anime). And the fluid movements in this game is what brings it too life. Graphics were one of the few problems with the first Kingdom Hearts, and I think they're a lot better than the first; but a few problems like, pixels showing up on circles and edges, and the occasional lag when moving fast like in the first.
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Controls:
The controls are very easy and the same as the last game. I really got tired of mashing "X" and "Square". But like the last game this is a button smashing game, and it's still quite fun. I'm not fond of "X" being the talk button when approaching people I would rather have select or "O"; but they made it how they made it. The controls don't draw from the gameplay and suit the game.

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Ratings:
Graphics: 9
Controls: 7
Gameplay: 9
Replay Value: 8
Overall: 9