Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is the latest entry within the Kingdom Hearts franchise that takes songs throughout the soundtracks from varied games within the collection and provides them a rhythm motion game makeover. But like lots of the facet tasks launched outdoors of the principle numerical entries, devoted followers won’t need to miss out. What about everybody else although? Is there sufficient being supplied on this dive into the previous of the collection to fulfill these aching for the following foremost game within the franchise? The reply is: sure, however with a number of caveats.
Music is an integral a part of every game within the collection, and now it is being put entrance and heart for the primary actual time within the collection. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a celebration of the musicality of many of the franchise. While this does lead to some rhythm game enjoyable, these searching for a extra fulfilling expertise could be dissatisfied.
Offering over 100 completely different tracks throughout lots of the games within the collection (with some notable absences), Melody of Memory duties gamers with hitting choose buttons to coincide with the rhythm of every music to take out Heartless and different enemies from throughout the collection. Each stage is round two minutes or so and sees a staff of three characters working alongside a musical observe whereas being positive to hit corresponding targets on the proper moments (as lacking means you are taking injury).
Each stage is predicated on the assorted worlds launched all through the franchise and might be taken on with three completely different issue ranges. To open extra worlds and progress, you must accomplish varied missions in every stage equivalent to defeating a sure share of enemies or ensuring to not miss too many notes. When it really works, it actually does as Melody of Memory‘s music mixed with the basic motion sound designs of the Kingdom Hearts franchise could make every profitable button press really feel very satisfying.
But that is solely when it really works. As you may think from such a big selection of songs, not each observe is suited to a rhythm game of this sort. Some tracks are extra eventful than others, and a few do not fairly line up the downbeats along with button prompts in addition to you may hope. It may even really feel a bit messy at instances as a result of the tougher difficulties throw extra prompts at you in shorter increments, however the timing of the button press itself would not change. The button presses all the time really feel simply half a step or so off from the music, however it turns into far tougher to regulate to when it’s worthwhile to function sooner.
Then there are two different varieties of levels to shake it up, for higher or worse. There are Memory Dives, which see Sora float via an empty house whereas the button prompts fly towards the display. But fairly than the standard stage structure that takes gamers via a small tour of every world, these Memory Dives play out cutscenes from the respective worlds. This is generally seen for the Kingdom Hearts 3 levels, which is just a little disappointing, and some different selection alternatives. Finally, there are a number of boss battles.
These boss battle levels change the angle as soon as extra and provide a extra dynamic sort of feeling than the usual or Memory Dive levels. But the boss battles and Memory Dives change the button prompts from what you may get adjusted to throughout the usual levels. It can really feel just a little disorienting at first and even counterintuitive should you grasp enjoying the usual levels, however they do work after a short adjustment interval.
Although Memory of Melody is not an extended expertise should you play it simply sufficient to unlock all of the worlds and get to the ending, there’s a lot to dig into for many who need to accomplish that. Unlockable tracks (which might be synthesized, similar to the principle games), artwork, and extra are all supplied for many who really need to full all the things this expertise has to supply.
Without giving an excessive amount of away, Melody of Memory is certainly a Kingdom Hearts title. It’s sort of like Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded in that devoted followers won’t need to overlook this one an excessive amount of. Really, this can be a game made for these followers anyway because it provides a enjoyable option to re-experience the music of the collection with some enjoyable Disney extras. With bite-size levels which can be straightforward to soak up, it’d assist alleviate the pains of ready for the following title just a bit.
Rating: Three out of 5
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on November 13th. A PS4 code was supplied by the writer for the aim of this assessment, and it was reviewed on a base mannequin PS4.
