Kingdom Hearts 3 PC Review
Kingdom Hearts 3 originally debuted in 2019 for consoles. At the time, it was the highly anticipated next step in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, which had gained its fan base since the original game was released in 2002. The overall plot of the Kingdom Hearts series can be incredibly confusing to follow, especially since a large portion of the games were released back-to-back. Despite the confusing nature, the Kingdom Hearts games are still a fun experience for seasoned or new players. PC gamers who have always wanted to play Kingdom Hearts but never got the chance can now thank the Epic Games Store. An exclusive deal between Kingdom Hearts and Epic Games has brought all previously released Kingdom Hearts games to PC for the first time. There are three bundles of games available; Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8, and Kingdom Hearts 3 + Re Mind. It’s no surprise to note that Kingdom Hearts 3 is incredibly stunning, especially since it’s one of the newest games in the franchise and has some of the most advanced graphics to date. However, seeing the settings and characters come to life on a PC is an almost breathtaking experience, especially when players get to watch the cutscenes of the characters interacting. Although Kingdom Hearts 3 has incredibly detailed and beautiful cutscenes, they are still too many throughout the game. This isn’t the PC port’s fault, but players should prepare for multiple cutscenes regardless of platform.
The controls are fairly straightforward to learn, even for non-regular PC gamers. However, there are many different combinations to remember when it comes to memorizing what key combinations do. Luckily, there is a manual to refer to for refreshers on the various key combinations, which players can familiarize themselves with quickly. While it may take a bit of a learning curve when it comes to advanced controls, the basic mechanics are easy to understand and use. It’s entirely possible that after enough time playing the game, the controls will become second nature to players thanks to memorization and muscle memory. However, it may also be advisable to plug in a compatible controller to the computer. Again, PC controls aren’t that hard to learn, but if gamers value the familiarity of learning something new, a ,controller might be the way to go. It’s a bit difficult to switch between Keyblades during combat, but that’s not a downfall but an annoyance. Chances are players will already have their preferred Keyblade equipped at all times, but those who like to mix it up should pay attention to the switching controls. Swapping Keyblades outside of battle isn’t a big deal, but in the heat of the moment in an encounter with the Heartless, it could be the difference between victory or defeat. RELATED: Trinity Armor Encounter Is a High Point for Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Otherwise, combat is very fluid in-game and overall a satisfying hack-and-slash experience. The newer attack, called “Attraction Flow,” is visually dazzling and sure to put a smile on any player’s face. These special attacks are inspired by Disney Parks’ Main Street Electrical Parade filled with neon colors and fun floats. The attacks themselves are actually based on various Disney Parks attractions, such as the Mad Tea Party or Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. Each attack is not only visually pleasing, but it can deal a lot of damage when properly executed.
Just like Kingdom Hearts 3’s original console debut, players have to be mindful of how many save points they have. It can take a while to find the next point, so it’s important to make sure there are enough healing potions around in the event of a particularly challenging battle sequence. The lack of save points along with the many cutscenes can make Kingdom Hearts 3 a challenging experience. However, it’s still Kingdom Hearts and is sure to bring a smile to player’s faces, especially with the crossover to those who haven’t already -explore Disney worlds like Tangled’s Corona or Frozen’s Arendelle. There also seems to be a lot to explore in each world. The first world players encounter, Olympus, is stunning and fun to explore. Despite the fact that players can find a world map in a treasure chest, it doesn’t seem to make the world any easier to navigate. Oftentimes, details seem to be missed as players progress further through the map. Exploring every corner of the world isn’t mandatory to enjoy Kingdom Hearts 3, but it’s pretty frustrating to make a mistake and then launch into a cutscene and subsequent battle. All in all, the Kingdom Hearts franchise coming to PC is something that fans have been waiting for a long time. Kingdom Hearts 3 is a great port that will delight both new and dedicated fans of the series. Whether this is a worthy conclusion to the “Dark Seeker” arc is in the eyes of the beholder, but playthrough-wise, Kingdom Hearts 3 is a great addition to any PC collection. Kingdom Hearts 3 is available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Today Technology was provided a PC code for this review. MORE: Kingdom Hearts: Proud Mode Tips