In theory, Chain of Memories has a smart way of Metroid-ing our main characters in preparation for Kingdom Hearts II. A way in which this gradual loss of memories and abilities is thematicallly relevant to the overall story. This is effective, and I can't stress this enough, ONLY in theory.

In practice, Chain of Memories is almost unbearable if not for the interesting and complex story developments that take place within it. The gameplay attempts to combine the hack-and-slash combat of the original with an obtuse, unorthodox card system that just does not do it for me at all. Although I can appreciate some balances, interesting mechanics and the great menu navigation, this game feels like a Frankenstein's monstrosity of two gameplay styles that do not mesh together, whatsoever.

Characters like Naminé, Axel and Larxene are enjoyable, with great moments that are only truly present in cutscenes. The story takes a dive for the intricate and complex, which may be incomprehensible to people who are not fully committed to it. Other than that, Chain of Memories is a slog I have absolutely no intention of going back to. I can't recommend this to anyone, despite the fact I did enjoy the story and some details in the design.

In the journey to discover my appreciation for Kingdom Hearts, this has definitely been a speed bump that I can only hope is aliviated with the next game in the series.

Reviewed on Oct 16, 2021


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